Chu Li smiled and gave a fist salute. “Thank you.”

　　“Our Blazing Sun Clan has always played fair and square and will not resort to such villainous acts.” Lu Xiaofeng smiled. “We will not let others do as they will and harm Clan Leader Zhao!”

　　Chu Li grinned. “It’s not worth doing this much for someone who is handicapped.”

　　“Big Brother Zhao, you can cultivate again if you lost your martial arts. You hadn’t been cultivating for long anyway, so recovery will not take too long,” Yue Ru continued.

　　Chu Li nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m not that weak.”

　　“Wham!” A dull crash sent the windows bursting open. An elder in gray leaped into the tower and appeared before Chu Li. He extended his arm to grab Chu Li. Clawing with his right hand, a fierce killing intention overwhelmed Chu Li.

　　Chu Li seemed powerless as he watched with open eyes at the clawing right hand.

　　“Wham!” Yang Ying struck her knuckle on his shoulder, sending him back to where he came in from.

　　Chu Li smiled. “Thank you, Miss Yang!”

　　Yang Ying snorted. “What’s there to thank? These deceitful thugs asked for it, I’ll come at them if they dare show their faces!”

　　Chu Li said, “Surely more associations will crowd in Gale City.”

　　“The Blazing Sun Clan has released news that we’ll be standing by Clan Leader Zhao.”

　　Yue Ru continued, “There’s always those who would show a lack of understanding.”

　　Yang Ying grunted. “These people should be crippled of their martial arts to have a taste of it.”

　　Chu Li beamed. “I’m overwhelmed by the treatment I’m receiving!”

　　“This is actually a rule of the martial arts world. We aren’t doing this just for you, Clan Leader Zhao, it is to uphold the right and just of the martial arts world,” Lu Xiaofeng said.

　　“I see.” Chu Li flashed a bright smile. “Then I don’t owe you a big one!”

　　“You don’t owe us anything!” Yang Ying puffed.

　　Lu Xiaofeng continued, “I admire how Clan Leader Zhao is able to keep calm and talk cheerfully at a difficult time like this.”

　　He suddenly realized his envy vanishing. Instead, he began to pity Chu Li.

　　Chu Li remarked, “I can’t just sulk whenever I get in trouble. It’s pointless. Moreover, it’s not a big deal. Martial arts recovery isn’t that hard, it can happen in a flash.”

　　“In a flash?” Yang Ying was curious. “What’s in a flash?”

　　“My martial arts recovery is actually swift,” Chu Li added. “I want to see who’s coming out so I can take care of them in one go.”

　　“Zhao Dahe, don’t tell me you’re the one who released the news about your martial arts being crippled?” Yang Ying cried out.

　　Chu Li shook his head. “Someone’s out to get me.”

　　“Good.” Yang Ying drew her breath out. “I won’t let you off the hook if you’re behind this.”

　　Just then, a group of people surged up the staircase with such wickedness. They viciously glared at him as they closed in on Chu Li.

　　Chu Li cast a quick glance and shook his head. He did not recognize these people.

　　Lu Xiaofeng solemnly declared, “Strong Wind Association, how dare you!”

　　Noticing Lu Xiaofeng’s presence, they held back their imposing vigor.

　　The leading young man immediately uttered, “Clan Leader Lu, we’re here on Zhao Dahe’s account.”

　　“Taking advantage of the weak is what Strong Wind Association seems to do best, huh!” Lu Xiaofeng grunted. “Scram, as long as my Blazing Sun Clan is around, you lot won’t be dealing with Clan Leader Zhao!”

　　“Clan Leader Lu, why are you helping him!”

　　“Do I need to reiterate the principle of the martial arts world?” Lu Xiaofeng spoke in a low voice.

　　The young man thought about it before helplessly nodding. “Alright, we will spare him today out of respect for Clan Leader Lu.”

　　He gave Chu Li the evil eye before waving his hand and leaving.

　　The rest left with him.

　　Chu Li grinned as he watched them leave.

　　Yu Rue’s heart filled with sorrow upon seeing Chu Li’s smile.

　　Big Brother Zhao used to wield awe-inspiring authority but could only standby and watch as unknown associations give him the lip.

　　Before, these associations would not dare come close. They would be submissive and spoke gently with respect during their encounter.

　　Yet Big Brother Zhao kept his cool and smiled under such an embarrassing circumstance. His tolerance was admirable.

　　Chu Li said, “Here we are, all four sects peacefully gathered here. No one would believe this.”

　　“There will never be peace between our White Tiger Sect and your Holy Church of Light!” Yang Ying grumbled.

　　Chu Li spoke, “I owe everyone one this time, I will repay you in the future.”

　　“Say that when you’re able to,” Yang Ying commented. “Don’t brag, can you really recover your martial arts?”

　　Chu Li smiled and nodded.

　　“Big Brother Zhao, let’s return to Phoenix Goddess Brothel, you can slowly recover there,” Yue Ru uttered.

　　“Sounds like a good idea.” Chu Li nodded.

　　Yue Ru curled her lips into a smile.

　　Lu Xiaofeng frowned and grimaced but did not object to it in the end. Zhao Dahe was the closest to the Tian Luo Sect. Surely he still carried suspicions on him and the White Tiger Sect.

　　…

　　Bai Feng sat behind a desk, dabbling with the strings of her instrument.

　　Chu Li sat cross-legged on the bed as he quietly watched Bai Feng.

　　“Are you going to continue cultivating the Musical Assassination Technique?”

　　“Yes.”

　　“Without inner energy, how do you plan to do so?”

　　“It will help me regain my cultivation level.”

　　“Alright then.” Bai Feng nodded without saying a word more. She lowered her head to play with her instrument.

　　Chu Li’s thoughts lingered away back to the moments during the day.

　　He was not surprised by the way Yang Ying acted. It was in her nature.

　　It was also not unusual for Yue Ru to do so either. She had a long-standing relationship with Phoenix Goddess Brothel.

　　Lu Xiaofeng was the one who caught him by surprise.

　　He saw through Lu Xiaofeng’s thoughts courtesy of Omniscient Mirror. The Flaming Sun Sect attached importance on reputation and cherished their name in the martial arts world. They saw his crippled martial arts as a chance to reflect that.

　　Even with such motive, Chu Li still owed him and would repay him whenever possible.

　　He did not expect the White Tiger Sect and the Flaming Sun Sect to provide timely help rather than fish in troubled waters during the time his martial arts was crippled. He bet the people of Gale City felt the same.

　　It was a world celebrating the survival of the fittest with martial arts being paramount. With his martial arts crippled, he went from being the number one master in Gale City to handicapped.

　　He was no longer a threat to them, hence the treatment he received. However, due to this approach, he would not have the nerve to challenge the three major factions upon his recovery. Their method of killing two birds with one stone was genius.

　　With an instrumental melody playing in the background, Maha-Vairocana’s Immobility Scripture, Devil Desolation Scripture, and Scripture of Light were channeled at an incredible speed, strengthening Chu Li’s body.

　　At the end of the music, Bai Feng got up to leave.

　　As it was dusk, Chu Li got up to light a few tallow candles to brighten the room up. He then took out Single Slice of the Universe to study.

　　With Feng Xue there wreaking havoc, he had to strengthen his Seven Forms of Divine Blade if he wished to keep his fame. Seven Forms of Divine Blade alone may not be able to defeat Feng Xue. All efforts would be in vain if he was to lose then.

　　It was a battle he could not afford to lose or Feng Xue would dominate the entire martial arts world.

　　Chu Li got down on the ground and began to practice Single Slice of the Universe.

　　He was able to grasp its depth after he went through thirty-six forms. Single Slice of the Universe really lived up to its name. It was indeed unique.

　　Every form of the thirty-six energy-nurturing forms absorbed strange energy out of a void. It was not inner energy but an energy he was unfamiliar with. It must have been the blade energy required by Single Slice of the Universe.

　　However, cultivating these thirty-six energy-nurturing forms was not easy, and resulted in a faint energy. He wondered how long it would take to accumulate enough for a single slice.

　　Suddenly, a thought struck Chu Li. If he were to use this blade energy on Light Blade, what force would it drive?