Chapter 26: Testing Horses in the World of Martial Arts

  Meng Chaoran originally listened to Wu Yunliang's praise of Chu Yang, feeling somewhat complacent. But when he heard the sentence "Take it as a reason to speak", he was suddenly at a loss for words and laughed, saying: "Big brother, you really have a sense of humor. At this time, you are still playing with your tongue."

  "You can't let me cry, right?" Wu Yunliang said with a seemingly playful tone, but his face was extremely solemn. He spoke slowly: "This Chu Yang... you must cultivate him well. In our Tianwai Building, people like this are too rare!"

  Meng Chaoran nodded, and sighed: "This is also an unavoidable thing. Since we were cancelled the title of Guardian Gate of the Great Zhao Empire, coupled with the loss of strength, no one in the court, discrimination by officials, and oppression by other major sects... even if there are a few talented people, they are either snatched away or killed on the spot during martial arts competitions. The Tianwai Building... is already precarious... If we can't keep our own talents, I'm afraid that after this generation, the Tianwai Building will cease to exist."

  Meng Chao Ran's words have a serious warning and reminder.

  Wu Yun's gloomy face revealed a hint of bitter smile, and he exchanged a glance with Kong Xingfeng before smiling and saying: "You old rogue, are you afraid that we'll sell your precious disciple away?"

  Meng Chaoran hummed and said, "Can't be too careful. The Tianwai Building is no longer what it used to be."

  Wu Yun let out a cool breath and said, "I know you've always been dissatisfied with the young disciples of our sect competing in martial arts. Indeed, now that Tianwai Building is declining, holding such a competition would undoubtedly expose our excellent disciples to the eyes of our enemies, increasing their chances of being killed, but... this is also unavoidable."

  Meng Chaoran put his hands behind his back, hummed softly and said: "You just want to maintain the old customs of Tianwai Building after all, you can't make up your mind to change, what's the use of talking?"

  Meng Chao Ran was always calm, with a cold tone like this, Wu Yun Liang had been with him for dozens of years and had only heard it a few times. At this moment, seeing him say so, he knew that his younger brother's heart was not satisfied.

  With a faint sigh, the dark cloud spoke in a deep and solemn tone: "To change it would be nothing more than a word from me. The reason I still maintain this rule is because I want... to refine true gold in the fiery flames!"

  Wu Yun's face turned cold, and he said slowly: "The eighth generation of the Tianwai Building has eight hundred disciples. Our seventh generation still has seventy people. The sixth generation masters have less than ten people left. As for the fifth generation ancestors, only one person is left, Ninth Master Zu..."

  His face muscles twitched, and he gritted his teeth: "If my plan succeeds, among the thousand people in Tianwai Building, no more than a hundred will be able to survive! And those people will be the foundation for our Tianwai Building to thoroughly step into brilliance!"

  "We don't need trash, we don't need mediocre talent!" Wu Yunliang slowly took two steps forward, his voice low and rumbling like thunder, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard him: "Including myself, Wu Yunliang. When it's time to make a sacrifice, I will be the first to go!"

  "The decline of a sect is not due to the suppression of various parties, but rather the internal strife within the sect itself. The Tianwai Building is a prime example of this." Wu Yunliang said solemnly: "However, the rise of a sect must be in blood and fire! Reborn from the ashes!"

  Meng Chao Ran sighed.

  "These excellent disciples, placed in the enemy's line of sight, have naturally brought them countless dangers, but at the same time, they are also countless opportunities! Only by breaking through all this can they become pillars! Wu Yun said calmly: "If we can't break through, the whole army will be annihilated, and from then on, there will be no Tianwai Building in the world! What I want is not to barely survive, what I want is to dance alone in the wind and clouds!"

  Kong was taken aback and nodded deeply, saying: "Elder Brother is right! A life of mediocrity is indeed not as good as a heroic death in battle!"

  Meng Chaoran's eyes suddenly narrowed: "Big Brother Master... the decline of our sect is related to the imperial court of the Great Zhao Empire. Now that you have such a plan for revival... isn't it that you want to..."

  "Not bad." Yu Yun Lian's face turned gloomy: "In these ten years, the days I wasn't in the sect, I was always in Tie Yun Country! Big Zhao oppressed us, but we don't necessarily have to hug Big Zhao's thigh! Big Zhao isn't necessarily forever prosperous either."

  Meng Chaoran's heart was shaken for a moment. Looking at Kong Xingfeng beside him, he was calm and composed, and suddenly knew that Kong Xingfeng also understood.

  "Master brother, that's too reckless!" Meng Chaoran took a deep breath, his face showing concern.

  "Wealth and honor are sought in danger." Wu Yun said coolly and unemotionally, "The first rise of a sect is difficult, but not impossible. However, after the glory comes the decline, and when thinking of rising again, it's even more difficult! We must prepare for the sect's destruction."

  Meng Chaoran let out a deep sigh and stopped talking.

  "Three days ago, I sent Ninth Junior Brother with Qianqian and a few others including Xueye Moshang to secretly head to Tiejyun Country. Firstly, there are things that need to be taken care of over there. Secondly, it's also the first time for Qianqian, Xueye and Moshang to gain experience in the Jianghu. Let's just say... they're testing the waters."

  Kong was shocked and lost his color: "Big Brother Master, how could you let Qianqian go?!"

  "I knew you'd try to stop me, so I didn't tell you." Wu Yun said calmly: "It's already been three days now, even if you want to catch up, it's too late."

  Kong was shocked and stamped his foot anxiously, saying: "Ninth Brother brought Xue Ye and Mu Yan with him, I have nothing to say. But why did you let Qianqian go? This trip is so perilous, and the various major sects are already eyeing us covetously. What if..."

  "That's also her fate!" Wu Yun said coldly: "A few days ago, you mentioned the female disciples of our sect to me, and I was considering this matter. Now letting Qianqian go out is also a test of the Jianghu..."

  "Trying out the Jianghu, Tianwai Building has so many female disciples, and there are many who are not inferior to Qianqian in terms of beauty, but why do you have to send out Qianqian?" Kong Xingfeng angrily said: "She is your own daughter!"

  "My daughter is my own flesh and blood, are all the other female disciples in our sect illegitimate? Don't they have parents who raised them? Aren't they their parents' precious darlings?" Wu Yunliang said coldly: "Is my daughter, Wu Yunliang's daughter, so pampered?"

  Kong was furious, stamping his foot and glaring at his senior brother: "But she's not only your daughter, but also our niece! You shouldn't let her go on this adventure!"

  "It's precisely because she is my daughter that she has a responsibility to the female disciples of this sect!" Wu Yunliang said coldly: "My daughter, not the emperor's princess! If I let her hide behind and let other sisters use their lives and chastity to pave the way for her... then I would rather not have given birth to this daughter!"

  "The Tower of Heaven is in the midst of a raging fire, with flames slowly rising. To be reborn and rise again, no price is too high to pay, and no one is indispensable, including myself, including you all... and naturally, that also includes my daughter!"

  Wu Yun said with a heavy tone, turned his back, and straightened his spine like a gun. But on the side that neither of them could see, the muscles at the corner of his eyes twitched violently twice.

  I wish Qianqian a safe return!

  As a father, how much pressure should I bear in my heart to send my own daughter on such a dangerous mission? Am I really so ruthless?

  But I am not just a father of a daughter, but also the master of one thousand disciples in Tianwai Building!

  When the time of sacrifice comes, all disciples will be sacrificed, and I will do it too. But if only one can be sacrificed, then sacrifice my daughter! Because I am the master of Tianwai Building!

  Wu Yun Liang clenched his teeth, his cheekbones slightly bulging before returning to normal. He didn't turn around, but his voice was a bit hoarse as he said: "Lao Xiao, teach Chu Yang well... that Surprising Swan Snow Step... that Surprising Swan Snow Step..."

  He paused, pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "Let him practice well, if there's any trick... he can grasp it himself, or you two masters can grasp it together. But, never let a third person know."

  Meng Chaoran murmured, "Can't the sect... be promoted? You know, if it's promoted, our Tianwai Building will increase its combat power by more than double! This is still a conservative estimate..."