Chapter 111: Idol Hitting the Charts

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Idol Hitting the Charts

They left Yanggu County and traveled all the way to Changlu County.

The orderly divine procession followed its route without stopping, planning to procure supplies in the nearest major city before nightfall.

Suddenly, a tall, sturdy figure appeared in their line of sight. Holding a broadsword horizontally, he blocked the road ahead, a defiant smile on his face as he stared down the procession.

From within the procession, Ye Yonglie frowned and shouted, "Who goes there? If you wish to issue a challenge, you should properly submit a letter of challenge. Once we reach the next city, Lord Fang Can will grant you an opportunity to spar."

As he spoke, the entire procession of carts and horses did not stop, continuing to press forward.

They had long anticipated people blocking their path like this. It was always the same: someone trying to fight Fang Can to make a name for themselves.

If they failed, they could just say there was no shame in losing to the number one on the Rising Dragon Leaderboard.

But if they succeeded, any future mention of Fang Can would be tied to his defeat. This kind of fame was countless times more effective than the Acting Method.

As the procession advanced, three Heart Image Martial Artists strode forward, preparing to shove this troublemaker out of the way.

This served both to clear out the small fry and to screen for the truly strong.

’If he can’t even defeat three ordinary Heart Image Martial Artists, what right does he have to challenge Fang Can? He must be dreaming.’

As they stepped forward, the three Heart Image Martial Artists unleashed their Heart Images, only to find them part like water striking the tip of a blade, easily split asunder.

’He’s...’ The men exchanged a look, all realizing he was going to be a handful.

The feeling was surprisingly similar to when they had sparred with Fang Can. This was another Martial Artist who could conceal his Heart Image.

"Heh, since you made the first move, don’t blame me for what happens next."

The man gave his thick arms a light twist, and in the next instant, his body vanished.

A BOOM echoed as the rock beneath his feet shattered, and a fissure tore across the ground.

In a mere instant, the man’s towering figure had forced his way within ten feet of the three Heart Image Martial Artists.

As the Heart Image Martial Artists’ pupils contracted, an enormous broadsword swung toward them, rapidly growing in their vision. It came smashing down with a wild and domineering blade intent.

"HAAH! HAAH! HAAH!"

Facing the rushing gale, the men tried to resist, crossing their hands to block, but it felt as if the entire world was crashing into them.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!!

Following three metallic clashes, the bodies of the three Heart Image Martial Artists were sent flying by the flat of the broadsword.

In just an instant, the procession had halted. The hands of the musicians and chanters froze, their gazes all converging on the uninvited guest.

’Yes, this is how it should be!’

Feeling every eye in the crowd turn to him, Wan Chenyu felt a phantom thrill of excitement. ’I was born for the spotlight!’

The thought of the pained, despairing, yet helpless expressions on these rabid fans’ faces after he defeated Fang Can made him barely able to contain himself. ℯ

"What are you panicking for!"

Seeing the procession had halted, Ye Yonglie frowned in displeasure. "Keep the music playing, continue the performance. It’s just one troublemaker. Do you not even have that much mental fortitude?"

At Ye Yonglie’s words, the caravan members returned to their duties. The musicians resumed playing their instruments, the poets resumed their recitations, and the tense atmosphere once again relaxed.

"Tsk!" Wan Chenyu clicked his tongue, quite displeased to see the procession restore its order.

But in the end, he said nothing, because he had his own procession as well.

At that moment, several miles away, a procession of several thousand people was heading this way, continuously playing suonas.

Just as Ye Yonglie had said earlier, any Martial Artist with a bit of fame had their own worshippers.

Wan Chenyu was, naturally, no exception.

As an expert ranked 325th on the Hidden Dragon Leaderboard in the Great Yan Country, he had rapidly gained immense popularity back home and was now one of the nation’s hottest rising star Martial Artists!

Therefore, as was standard for the deification process, he was naturally furnished with a standard divine procession.

Normally, as "gods" of two different "sects," conventional etiquette dictated that even for a spar, a formal letter of challenge should be sent for an official battle.

But Wan Chenyu couldn’t be bothered with all that red tape and simply had his divine procession plow straight toward them.

In his view, as long as he could win, and keep on winning, all other trivial matters would make way for him.

He had even had all the musical instruments in his procession replaced with suonas. Meanwhile, he had gone ahead to intercept Fang Can, preparing to beat the number one on the Rising Dragon Leaderboard to a pulp.

’When the time comes, these rabid fans will witness their god’s miserable defeat, their faith shattered. And then they’ll hear the sound of suonas approaching from the distance... their state of mind then...’

Wan Chenyu was already fantasizing with malicious intent.

In the shadows, a few companions who had come with him couldn’t help but facepalm at Wan Chenyu’s antics.

"Wan Chenyu is really going too far. To humiliate him like this is a bit... over the top," Li Zhengyang said helplessly.

They were all part of the Great Derivation’s new generation of Martial Dao deities, and they had indeed come this time to knock Fang Can down a peg.

After all, those in the same trade are destined rivals. Ever since Fang Can, the number one on the Rising Dragon Leaderboard, made his debut, the loyalty of their own worshipper groups had become somewhat unstable. There were even signs of small-scale defections. This was simply outrageous.

"There are always winners and losers in a martial arts spar," a refined-looking youth to the side said with a gentle smile.

"Wan Chenyu is right. If he can’t even endure this level of humiliation, what’s the point of practicing martial arts? He might as well go home and sleep."

"The reason Wan Chenyu’s progress is the fastest among us is because of that pure, focused heart of his. It’s also why those great families allowed us to come out."

"These are just squabbles among the younger generation. It wouldn’t be proper for even Jiejian Mountain to interfere, would it?"

"After all, it was Jiejian Mountain themselves who invited all the Transcendent Body Martial Artists under heaven to come. Now that someone’s actually shown up, they can’t be sore losers about it, right?"

...

While the few of them were talking, four or five more Heart Image Martial Artists had already fallen at Wan Chenyu’s feet.

He showed a fair bit of restraint in his attacks against them. Aside from broken bones and torn tendons, he inflicted no fatal injuries. They would fully recover after three to five months of rest.

Watching the Martial Artists fall one by one amidst the music, Wan Chenyu raised an eyebrow. "Finally willing to come out?"

As he stared, the door to the sedan chair opened, and a handsome youth parted the curtain, revealing the upper half of his body.

The youth’s expression was placid as he swept his gaze over the scene. When he saw the fallen Martial Artists, his brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes landed on Wan Chenyu. "You did this."

"That’s right. I came looking for trouble today." Wan Chenyu made no effort to hide his malicious intent.

"Good." Fang Can didn’t elaborate, his gaze shifting to the left. "And the four of you over there. Are you coming out on your own, or do I have to invite you out?"

"Hmph, no need for them. I’m enough by myself." Before Wan Chenyu could finish speaking, he saw a monstrous sea of blood surging toward them.

’This Heart Image...’ Wan Chenyu’s eyes widened. Faced with this immense Heart Image, his method of solidifying his spirit was no longer of any use.

He felt as if he had become a small skiff, in danger of being swept away by the sea of blood at any moment.