111: Chapter 111 The Truth: Behind the Apprenticeship Banquet!

Time passed quickly, and many people in Jianghai City were waiting for this day.

Focusing their attention on the major event about to unfold.

The retired Grandmaster Jiquan was going to take on an apprentice again.

A keen observer would notice that security in Jianghai City had been heightened to another level, with police officers and plainclothes agents visible everywhere.

In light of this situation, the higher-ups in Jianghai City had made preparations in advance to guard against the unexpected.

"Old Meng, why?"

"That is my master, how could I remain indifferent?"

"How can I just watch my master face all of this alone?"

"It's one thing if you don't want to help me, but why do you have to stop me too?"

Inside the Evolver Headquarters, Cheng Lixuan questioned Meng Hongyi in confusion, his fists clenched tight, his eyes red, and his expression filled with deep bewilderment.

Today was the day his master would take on an apprentice. To be safe, he had specifically come to ask Old Meng to oversee the event. With Old Meng present, the Apprenticeship Banquet would at least have a bit more backing. If anyone really tried to use this opportunity to target his master, his master would have a greater measure of safety.

Yet, right after he stated his purpose, he was met with an unequivocal refusal from Meng Hongyi.

He was even ordered not to take any action.

"Cheng Lixuan, this is not a request; it is an order."

"Bullshit! You are stronger than me, but our official ranks are about the same. Where do you get the right to order me around!"

"Are you forcing me to fall out with you? Tell me, are you joking with me?"

Cheng Lixuan roared. He was truly filled with Life Qi. Even if he were slow-witted, he knew that using this point to speak was the greatest insult to him.

A powerful Aura swept out.

Everyone in the Evolver Headquarters trembled, not daring to go anywhere near the office. They knew their boss and second-in-command were arguing.

"Nonsense! This is the Evolver Headquarters, not the mountains."

"Put away your Aura. Don't tell me you want to fight me!"

Meng Hongyi scolded. Cheng Lixuan's breathing was ragged, his eyes bloodshot. He had no choice but to withdraw his Aura, but the anger in his eyes did not vanish.

Seeing this, Meng Hongyi sighed. It seemed that if he didn't reveal the truth, he wouldn't be able to get past Old Cheng, and perhaps the two would completely part ways.

"Sigh..."

"Do you think I don't want to help you?"

"I want to help you too. If I could make the decision, would I need you to say this?"

"I cannot intervene, and even the entire Jianghai City Government cannot intervene. I am stopping you from acting for your own good."

"Do you know that this is an order from above, and it is a death order at that?"

Meng Hongyi roared in a low voice, his eyes filled with helplessness and powerlessness. When he first received this news, he had already anticipated Cheng Lixuan's reaction.

He had dragged it out until now to tell Cheng Lixuan, hoping to find a solution, but in the end, he was powerless.

"An order from above?"

"Why!"

"How much has my master, Grandmaster Jiquan, contributed to the country and the Government? How much have I, Cheng Lixuan, contributed? Why are they treating us like this?"

Upon hearing these words, Cheng Lixuan staggered back, his body trembling. His eyes were filled with deep disbelief, his whole person seemed somewhat crazed, and his voice carried a hint of misery.

"It is precisely because the country and the Government remember your master's kindness that they have protected him until now."

"If it weren't for the sake of your master and you, and if I hadn't pleaded with the higher-ups, you might not even be able to stand here right now."

Meng Hongyi roared even louder, staring fixedly at Cheng Lixuan.

"How is this possible..."

After hearing Meng Hongyi's words, Cheng Lixuan's mind went blank. Why? He collapsed powerlessly into a chair, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

"Did you think this matter was as simple as you imagined?"

"Just a simple Apprenticeship Banquet? Just a simple case of an enemy seeking revenge?"

"Cheng Lixuan, let me tell you, this involves the entire Martial Arts World, and even the Ability World!"

"This is a chess game played by those big shots!"

After saying this, Meng Hongyi was also momentarily dazed. When he first learned the truth of this matter, he had also broken out in a cold sweat.

"Your master knows all of this, but he didn't say anything because he was afraid you would be reckless and do something stupid."

"Do you know?"

"In the current Martial Arts World, the seven Grandmasters represent the Martial Arts World. Any decision they make determines the fate of the Martial Arts World."

"Currently, the Martial Arts World is divided into two factions. One is the traditional martial arts faction headed by your master, which consists of Grandmaster Jiquan, Grandmaster Taiji, and Grandmaster Luoshen."

"The other side consists of Grandmaster Jiuyang, Grandmaster Chengping, and Grandmaster Bagua, who want to merge into the Ability World."

"Of course, there is also Grandmaster Kongming, who remains neutral."

"Before, the Martial Arts World could get along normally because the two sides were roughly equal in strength."

"Ever since that incident happened to your master, leaving him severely injured, your side has been at a disadvantage, and the other side has been suppressing you everywhere. You should know this better than anyone."

"If it weren't for the fact that the higher-ups didn't allow it and were holding them back, they would have already attacked your master, and they wouldn't have spared you either."

"But this time, the higher-ups can no longer suppress them, because a Tier 4 powerhouse from the Ability World has intervened. He believes that martial arts have no future and wants martial arts to merge into the Ability World. He wants resources to be distributed uniformly."

"The Martial Arts World is to be merged into the Ability World, and there will no longer be any so-called Legacy of martial arts."

Meng Hongyi's voice rang out slowly, deafening Cheng Lixuan. A trace of despair appeared in his eyes. He knew the situation in the Martial Arts World was bad, but he hadn't expected it to have reached this point.

"And your master, Grandmaster Jiquan, naturally does not agree."

"And that Tier 4 powerhouse naturally won't take action personally, so the final direction of the Martial Arts World—whether it remains or merges—ultimately lies in the chess game between your master and those few."

"If your master wins, the Martial Arts World will continue to exist, and you will still have a share of the resources from above. But if your master loses, the Martial Arts World will disappear and be merged into the Ability World."

"And the final game is at this Apprenticeship Banquet."

"Therefore, no official force can intervene, not even me, because this is a matter for the Martial Arts World itself. Once we intervene, it will provoke the dissatisfaction of that Tier 4 powerhouse."

"Once that person intervenes, do you think there will be any turning point for all of this?"

Meng Hongyi asked in a deep voice. Cheng Lixuan was even more lost. The impact of all this was too great, to the point where he couldn't accept it. So, all these days, his master had been earnestly giving him instructions.

So, this was the situation his master was facing.