Published: March 4, 2025
Chapter 26: Testing One's Skills in the Martial Arts World
Meng Chaoran had initially felt a sense of pride when Wu Yunliang praised Chu Yang, but upon hearing the phrase "not taking it seriously," he was left both amused and speechless. He said, "Senior Brother, you really have a knack for jesting. It's quite a time for banter."
"Would you prefer I cry instead?" Wu Yunliang replied, seemingly joking, but his expression was extremely serious. He continued slowly, "This Chu Yang... you need to nurture him well. In our Sky Tower, such talent is... too rare!"
Meng Chaoran nodded and sighed, "There's no helping it. Ever since we lost our title as the national sect of the Great Zhao Empire, coupled with our diminished strength, the court has abandoned us, the officials discriminate against us, and the other major sects oppress us. Even if we have a few talents, they either get snatched away or are killed on the spot during matches. The Sky Tower... is already on the brink of collapse. If we cannot retain our talents, perhaps after our generation, the Sky Tower will cease to exist."
Meng Chaoran's words carried a serious tone of warning and reminder.
Wu Yunliang's face darkened slightly as he exchanged a glance with Kong Jingfeng, then smiled and said, "You, the youngest, are afraid that we might sell out your prized disciple?"
Meng Chaoran huffed, "One must be cautious. The current Sky Tower is not what it used to be."
Wu Yunliang sighed, saying, "I know you have always been dissatisfied with the younger disciples competing in matches. Indeed, with the current decline of the Sky Tower, holding such competitions undoubtedly exposes our outstanding disciples to the enemies' gaze, increasing their risks of untimely demise. However... this is something we must do."
Meng Chaoran clasped his hands behind his back and softly huffed, "What you really want is to maintain the Sky Tower's outdated customs, unable to make a decisive change. What good is it for us to talk about it?"
Meng Chaoran, usually calm, spoke with a chilling tone that Wu Yunliang had rarely heard in their decades of camaraderie. He realized this younger disciple harbored discontent.
After a brief sigh, Wu Yunliang replied thoughtfully, "To change is merely a matter of my words. The reason I maintain these rules is to forge true gold from the flames!"
Wu Yunliang's expression turned cold as he spoke slowly, "Among the eight hundred disciples of the eighth generation of the Sky Tower, we in the seventh generation have only seventy left. For the sixth generation, there are fewer than ten of us masters and uncles. As for the fifth generation, the only remaining figure is Master Uncle Jiu..."
His facial muscles twitched slightly as he gritted his teeth, "If my plan succeeds, among the thousand disciples of the Sky Tower, no more than a hundred will survive! And those survivors will be the cornerstone of our Sky Tower's glorious rise!"
"We don't need the useless; we don't need the mediocre!" Wu Yunliang took a few slow steps, his voice low yet thunderous, captivating all: "Including myself, if the time comes for sacrifice, I too must be ready to sacrifice!"
"The decline of a sect is not due to external oppression. It is caused by internal strife. The Sky Tower is a prime example of this," Wu Yunliang intently stated. "But the rise of a sect requires blood and fire! A rebirth through flames!"
Meng Chaoran sighed heavily.
"While exposing these outstanding disciples to the enemies undoubtedly brings immense danger, it equally presents countless opportunities! Only by breaking through all this can they become the pillars of our sect!" Wu Yunliang said plainly. "If they cannot break through and face annihilation, then the Sky Tower will cease to exist! I desire not mere survival; I seek to dance with the winds and clouds!"
Kong Jingfeng nodded deeply, saying, "Senior Brother speaks true! Living in mediocrity is indeed worse than dying a heroic death!"
Meng Chaoran suddenly narrowed his eyes, "Senior Brother... our sect's decline is related to the Great Zhao Empire's court. Since you have such revival plans... could it mean?"