Chapter 1796 - 902: Challenge Outside the Capital (2)

His face remained expressionless, only his eyes were exceptionally bright, like two lamps reflected in a deep pool.

Li Yan finally spoke: "I’ve been away from the Capital for a long time, I’ve nearly forgotten this stinging issue."

He truly forgot, but he also understood, many must have come looking.

The reason is simple.

Too young!

Three words capture it all.

The pugilistic world is a place where rank and seniority matter, also a grinding plate of flesh and blood.

A young man in his early twenties, saber held against Japan, famed in the Mystical Sect, even with solid achievements to support him, inevitably became the target of everyone.

The older generation wants to weigh his worth, peers want to step on him to advance, those in the dark want to see what’s underneath this newly established signboard — solid iron or hollow wood.

Sha Lifei suddenly let out a mocking laugh.

"It’s Mr. Ba, right? A Grandmaster Seed, impressive indeed."

He pushed aside the tea bowl, stood up, walked to the edge of the stall, tilted his head looking at Ba Donghai, "But wondering where was your ’seed’ during the calamity Divine State faced a few months ago?"

"East Sea Pirates breaking into the Dharma Realm, Wild Gods rampaging along the coast, each sect suffering heavy casualties — back then the pugilistic world didn’t hear your name, Mr. Ba."

He leaned forward half a step, nearly face to face with Ba Donghai: "How come, hopping to claim fame and profit, but shrink back into your shell when it’s time to risk your life?"

The air inside the tea stall suddenly grew tense.

A few porters had quietly stood up and moved outside.

The old man selling tea hid behind the stove, not daring to breathe.

Ba Donghai remained silent.

He wasn’t angry, he didn’t even furrow a brow, he just stared at Sha Lifei with those pool-like eyes for quite a while, then slowly spoke: "Those three months, Ba was in Yuzhou Laojun Cave, in secluded retreat."

His voice was still even, as if something was being pressed down.

"A dead retreat," he spoke each word distinctly, "for a breakthrough."

Sha Lifei raised his eyebrows: "Breakthrough? What breakthrough could be more urgent than Divine State’s survival?"

Ba Donghai spat out two words:

"Innate."

In the tea stall, a pin drop could be heard.

Even the wind blowing outside seemed to pause momentarily.

Li Yan’s pupils contracted slightly.

Innate.

In martial arts cultivation, Ming Force trains muscle and flesh, Hidden Energy penetrates tendons and bones, Dan Strength condenses Qi and blood, Astral Force transforms True Qi — reaching this is the peak of mortal talent, with the ability to shatter stones with a wave of a hand. A step further, then comes Innate.

Crossing that threshold is no longer "training martial arts", but "cultivating Tao".

True Qi returning to the True Self, faintly resonating with the breath of heaven and earth, each move aligns with the natural principle. At this stage, a martial artist has truly embarked on their own "path", able to establish a sect, to be called a Grandmaster of a generation.

But this step is as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Though Astral Force experts in the pugilistic world are few, there still are over a hundred discernible.

But the Innate Grandmasters are scarce across the entire Divine State.

Many are stuck at the peak of Astral Force for decades, unable to touch the edge of the Innate’s threshold until their vital forces decline.

So, there’s "Grandmaster Battle" — not just for fame, but to sustain battle with battle, using flesh and blood combat as a forge, strong foes as an anvil, treating oneself as a piece of iron repeatedly forged, hoping to glimpse that threshold between life and death.

Li Yan remembers, encountering the first Astral Force expert of the Ghost Sect previously.

At that time, several of them combined forces, struggling with life and death to merely escape.

If Astral Force is like this, then Innate...

And this Ba Donghai before them is actually Innate.

Furthermore, he’s a martial arts dual cultivator — the Primordial Emperor’s Law Lineage with its millennium of foundation, coupled with the fierce framework of Baji Fist, melding magic spell and martial arts...

No wonder he’s called "Grandmaster Seed."

"Secluded for three months, unaware of external changes."

Ba Donghai spoke again, his voice sinking slightly, "Upon exit, I heard of the Japan incident, Ba —"

He paused. "If I had known earlier, I would have given my life to go to the front line."

He spoke this sentence slowly, each word seemed chiselled from his chest.

Sha Lifei was about to say more when Li Yan raised his hand to stop him.

"When? Where?" Li Yan asked.

Ba Donghai’s eyes brightened: "Three days later, at 5 p.m., West Suburb Martial Arts Arena!"

"That is a venue specially set by the court for the Grandmaster Battle, protected by an array, so you can go all out."

Li Yan nodded: "Alright."

Ba Donghai cupped his hands again, this time more solemnly than the previous two times.

Finishing his salute, he turned and left—his steps were still steady, walking on the dirt road, his entire being revealing no trace of energy.

The tea stall remained silent for a long time.

"Da-da, da-da-da..."

The extremely rhythmic sound of horse hooves, from far to near, resounded once more.

Sha Lifei chuckled bitterly, "Well, in this Capital territory, Fengshui is prosperous. This stall hasn’t even warmed up, but the threshold is almost being worn out. I fear this peaceful life is not fated for us."

He stood up and habitually reached for the grip of the specially crafted firearm at his waist.

Wang Daoxuan also opened his eyes, letting a Copper Coin slide into his sleeve, his brows slightly furrowing.

Wu Ba silently put down his bun, his massive body slightly turning to shield most of Li Yan’s side.

The sound of horse hooves abruptly stopped outside the tea stall, followed by the sound of horses snorting and scraping the ground with their hooves.

The first person was not tall, but his steps were steady and solid, draped in a slightly old dark blue brocade cloak, dust-covered, his face clear and angular, and his three strands of long beard were neatly trimmed, only his brows showing a deep fatigue and a hint of persistent anxiety.

"Chen Changshi?" Sha Lifei was taken aback, his hand moving away from the firearm.

The visitor was indeed the Crown Prince Mansion’s Chief Historian, Chen Wenxian.

Li Yan had dealt with him several times before his trip to Japan, and he arranged the dangerous task of salvaging the secret treasure from the sunken Imperial Family ship of the previous dynasty.

This person acted meticulously, spoke little, but kept his word, being a trusted and useful person beside the Crown Prince.

Behind Chen Wenxian were four formidable guards, all in casual attire but each with a regulation Yanling Saber at their waist, their eyes sharp. Upon entering, they silently stood on either side, hands on their saber grips, subtly controlling the tea stall’s entrance and exit.

The old shopkeeper, startled by this scene, was driven out of the tea stall, dared not make a sound.

Chen Wenxian’s gaze quickly swept through the interior of the stall and rested on Li Yan’s face, squeezing out a polite smile, "Young Hero Li, months have passed since we last met, it’s been a long time."

Li Yan already had his hand on his saber as he stood up, cupped his hands in return: "Chen Changshi, it’s been a while. Didn’t expect to meet an old acquaintance in this rural tea stall."

"Knowing that all of you meritorious individuals were returning north and approaching the Capital, His Highness was concerned and especially dispatched me to welcome you."

Chen Wenxian spoke with utmost politeness and thoroughness, "After the battle in Japan, all of you endured hardships and made great contributions, promoting our nation’s prestige. Not to mention that previous maritime venture, it was thanks to Young Hero Li and friends’ support that the palace’s longstanding regret was mended, and the Royal Fleet’s route has been smooth since. His Highness and... the palace both remember this favor."

His words mentioned "maritime venture" and "the palace," naturally referring to that perilous salvage.

Sha Lifei pursed his lips, not responding to these pleasantries.

Wang Daoxuan nodded slightly in acknowledgement.

Li Yan’s smile remained unchanged as he gestured to the empty bench nearby: "Chen Changshi, after such a tiring journey, please sit and have a sip of plain tea to warm up?"

He spoke calmly, as if it were truly a casual encounter, "However, now the Capital must be full of affairs; with Your Majesty’s passing, the nation mourns greatly, the funeral is immensely intricate, followed closely by His Highness’s... hmm, the new emperor’s inauguration ceremony. As an Eastern Palace close minister, Chen Changshi should be entangled in matters now, yet you’ve come out of the city to greet us underworld wanderers personally, it’s quite flattering to us, and rather surprising."

His words were slow, purely probing.

Chen Wenxian’s formulaic smile froze for a moment, gradually dissipating.

He did not sit down but stood facing Li Yan’s calm gaze, meeting eyes in silence.

In the tea stall, all that remained was the occasional "crackling" of charcoal and the whimpering of the cold wind outside.

"Young Hero Li..."

Chen Wenyuan finally sighed, the sound full of fatigue, "Why ask when you know the answer? With your ears and mind, surely upon entering, along the way, you must have heard rumors, already aware of the situation in the Capital."

He paused and gestured to one of the guards behind him.

That guard immediately turned around and left the stall.

Soon, there were soft shouts and footsteps receding outside.

Chen Wenxian then took a step forward, lowered his voice, "Young Hero Li, just now... did a martial artist from Ba Shu named Ba Donghai come to find you?"

Li Yan’s brow moved almost imperceptibly:

"Chen Changshi is well-informed. Indeed, Master Ba just left, challenging me to a duel at the West Suburb Martial Arts Arena."

"As expected..."

The bitter smile on Chen Wenxian’s face deepened, his laughter tinged with bitterness and helplessness, "Not to hide from Young Hero, Ba Donghai’s northward challenge has been mightily successful, winning seventeen times in a row, gaining great momentum, and there are... roots behind it."

"Someone is pushing him forward, building his momentum."

Li Yan’s eyes slightly narrowed: "I’d like to hear more about it."

"Those propelling him may seek more than just pugilistic fame, or merely to determine superiority with you."

Chen Wenyuan’s voice lowered even further, almost a whisper, yet his gaze remained locked onto Li Yan, "Their target... might not be you at all."