Chapter 505: The Grand Showdown (1)
A Tense Negotiation
Although he held quite a bit of intelligence on Luke Shaw and had a full understanding of his methods, actions, and personality traits, Dai Yunkai still felt a long-forgotten pressure when facing the man in person.
He simply couldn't gauge his true intentions.
"Mr. Shaw is quite the comedian. You're asking for our help, but what assistance could we possibly provide?"
Luke glanced at him, speaking in a flat tone.
"Haven't you been helping all along?"
"You seem to be speaking with double meaning, sir."
Luke chuckled twice, taking a sip of tea. "Some things are best left known in the heart; there's no need to speak them aloud."
Zhang Jiu's challenge was, in fact, an act of disruption—disrupting certain traditions left behind in China. To ensure the smooth progress of his plan, Luke had prepared for contingencies. Yet, after waiting for a long time, no one came to talk to him.
He wasn't an idiot; he understood clearly. He and Zhang Jiu had become a gun, used to deal with the "tumors" of the ancient martial arts world and the Daoist sect.
Realizing this, Luke smiled strangely.
The world was truly interesting. He had always been the one using others as guns, never imagining the day he would become the gun himself.
"Mr. Dai, do you have any other business? If not, please leave. I have work to attend to."
"Then I won't disturb you."
Although Dai Yunkai was unwilling to leave, the conversation had reached this point, and he had no choice but to stand up. Luke pointed to the wooden box on the table.
"Take this with you. Da Hong Pao doesn't suit my taste. Leaving it here would be a waste."
"It's a small token of my regard, Mr. Shaw. Please don't stand on ceremony."
Luke shook his head. "One takes money to ward off disaster for others. Since I can't do your bidding, I naturally can't take your gift. I understand this principle. Take it with you. If you insist on leaving it, I'll simply have to move to a different hotel."
Dai Yunkai frowned. He remained silent for a moment, but ultimately picked up the wooden box and turned to leave. Accompanied by security personnel, he left the hotel and returned to his car.
The Unwilling Gun
Seeing him, Qi Jianqiu immediately asked,
"How did it go? Did you succeed?"
"This isn't the place to talk."
The car started and stopped at a warehouse inside a factory complex.
Qi Jianqiu asked again, "Did you fail?"
Dai Yunkai silently shook his head. Seeing this, Qi Jianqiu sighed.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy. What was his reaction?"
"He said that in tomorrow's match, Zhang Jiu will lose."
Qi Jianqiu was stunned. "What does that mean? Lose? After all that fanfare, he's going to lose? Is he crazy or stupid?"
"I think it might be a form of retaliation."
Qi Jianqiu grew increasingly confused. "Retaliation against whom? Who provoked him?"
Dai Yunkai pointed his finger upwards. Qi Jianqiu instantly understood and couldn't help but say angrily,
"That kid is simply being unreasonable! He started this whole thing! No one forced him. The higher-ups were just going with the flow. Does he really have to act this way? He's too petty."
"Luke Shaw is an extremely intelligent person. People like him share one common trait: arrogance. Don't judge them by common sense. Moreover, he only said he might lose; he didn't confirm it. The actual result remains to be seen tomorrow."
"What if he really loses?"
"Then he won't get the Heavenly Master's Strategy. I don't think he's that impulsive."
Qi Jianqiu was exasperated.
"Dealing with people like this is a real headache."
The Exchange of Treasures
The night passed quietly, and the Grand Showdown arrived.
Luke, accompanied by Linda, Jiu, and a host of bodyguards, arrived promptly at the foot of Longhu Mountain. This particular duel was slightly unusual. It wasn't held in a public venue, and attendance was limited to just over three hundred people: a few prominent figures from the ancient martial arts world, some media reporters, and the rest were members of the Daoist sect.
Derek walked up to the stone table at the very front, carefully placing a box down. He spoke with extreme seriousness.
"The Tiger Fiend Scripture is inside."
"If Jiu loses, all the name plaques will be returned immediately, and the Tiger Fiend Scripture will also belong to the Daoist sect."
As his words fell, all eyes turned toward the box. Many showed greedy expressions. After all the recent hype, the Tiger Fiend Scripture had become the dream of every martial artist, just as the Heavenly Master's Strategy was for the Daoist sect.
It was a supreme treasure that could change one's destiny. Whoever obtained it could ascend like a soaring dragon.
Thinking of this technique, even some Daoist members showed excitement. While Daoist scriptures were good, their cultivation speed was a major issue; it took at least twenty years of hard practice to achieve anything. The Tiger Fiend Scripture was different—a fast-track method. Zhang Jiu became virtually unbeatable in just one month. Who wouldn't envy that speed?
Derek had made his statement. Now, it was the Daoist sect's turn.
A middle-aged Daoist priest, over forty years old, stepped out of the crowd, holding a sandalwood box. Instantly, all attention focused on the box.
The Heavenly Master's Strategy!
The Supreme Treasure of the Daoist Sect!
The thing of legend had truly appeared.
Everyone held their breath, staring intensely at the wooden box. If they possessed X-ray vision, they would undoubtedly be peering inside without hesitation.
The middle-aged priest spoke.
"The Heavenly Master's Strategy is in this box. Should we lose this battle, the Daoist sect will fulfill the related conditions of the bet."
He didn't specify the details, clearly leaving some wiggle room. The Daoist sect held a transcendent status; being forced to recognize a fifteen-year-old boy as a God of War would be utterly humiliating.
The two miraculous books lay side-by-side on the table, becoming the focus of the entire gathering.
Linda whispered,
"The thing you wanted has arrived."
Luke curled his lip, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. He spoke an obscure sentence.
"Heh! The Daoist sect is truly an eye-opener."
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Luke didn't answer, simply yawning and closing his eyes.
The Golden Warrior
After a brief ceremony, the match began. Jiu, in his silver battlesuit, stepped onto the platform. Facing him was a rugged man over six-foot-three, built like an ox, and covered in a thick beard. If not for his Daoist robes, no one would believe that this bulky man, whose arms looked strong enough for a horse to run on, was a Daoist priest.
"My name is Niu Changgeng. I'm from Yulin Temple, and I'm a famous strongman."
Niu Changgeng took off his Daoist robe, revealing his muscular body. Large and small mysterious talismans were scrawled all over his heavily-furred chest. With a loud roar, the talismans emitted a golden light. The light spread outwards, transforming him into a glittering Golden Warrior.
With his corded muscles combined with the dazzling golden light, Niu Changgeng was truly imposing and blinding.
If he were to participate in a bodybuilding competition, he would surely win first place.
Not only were the martial arts practitioners, who were unaware of the situation, stunned, but even some Daoist priests were utterly confused. There was no one named Niu Changgeng among the known talented young disciples of the Daoist sect. Furthermore, the talismans on his body were clearly the Golden Body Spell—one of the few close-combat techniques in the Daoist canon, extremely high-level, and usually only mastered by Abbot-level seniors.
Niu Changgeng's cultivation seemed low, yet his body was covered in the Golden Body Spell. What exactly was going on?
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