Chapter 94: Three Responses from the Martial Glory Hall

At the Hall of Martial Glory within the Wind Thunder Martial Hall, the word glory was no empty boast.

To the countless disciples of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall, that hall was a sacred shrine in their hearts—the place where a martial artist earned honor. To step into it even once in a lifetime was enough to make a life feel complete.

And now, more than a hundred people had gathered inside it, yet the one standing at the very front was not a disciple of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall at all, but Chu Feng.

A flash of blue light flared.

A long spear thrust out like lightning.

With a hiss, a burst of force shot from the spear tip. The hard floor was pierced by inner force, leaving behind a deep and sinister hole.

“Nephew Chu, this Thunderwind Spear is an eighth-tier weapon, and it cost ninety-eight thousand gold to make. Its shaft is forged from lightning-struck wood, while its head is cast from wind stone and thunder stone extracted from the Wind-Thunder Stone Mine. Not only can the shaft withstand blows as heavy as thunder, but the spearhead can pierce through anything! Once your martial cultivation reaches the eighth level of body refinement and you have learned an internal art, the power of this Thunderwind Spear will be even greater. It truly bears the might of wind and thunder!”

Han Mo spoke to Chu Feng with great solemnity.

“Mm. This Thunderwind Spear feels excellent in the hand. It is indeed a rare treasure of a spear!”

Chu Feng held the shaft, his face lit with delight. With this Thunderwind Spear in hand, the Overlord Shadow-Chasing Spear he had used before could be put away and kept as a memento.

The Overlord Shadow-Chasing Spear was also a rare fine spear, but it was designed for martial artists below the fifth level of body refinement who specialized in external techniques. Its strength lay in concentration, gathering power into a single point to strike the enemy.

The Thunderwind Spear, by contrast, was intended for martial artists at the sixth level of body refinement and above who specialized in internal cultivation. Its principle was dispersion, using the spear body to spread the martial artist’s inner force outward, maximizing both damage and range.

The cost of the two weapons differed greatly as well. The Overlord Shadow-Chasing Spear cost twelve thousand gold and was a masterpiece among weapons for external cultivators. The Thunderwind Spear, at ninety-eight thousand gold, was likewise a masterpiece among weapons for internal cultivators.

This Thunderwind Spear was the first gift the Wind Thunder Martial Hall had given Chu Feng in return for his service.

“A fine steed deserves a fine saddle, and a divine weapon deserves a hero! Young Master Chu’s spear technique is already superb. Now that he has gained this Thunderwind Spear, the two are perfectly suited, like flowers on brocade,” said one disciple of the Thunder Hall, his face full of envy.

“Yes. I heard this Thunderwind Spear was forged eight years ago and has remained sealed in the Hall of Martial Glory ever since. It was originally meant as a reward for disciples who made great contributions to the Wind Thunder Martial Hall. Unfortunately, our hall has declined in recent years, and none of the core disciples have contributed enough to be eligible for it. To give this spear to Young Master Chu now is truly to place it in the hands of the right master. After eight years in the world, it has finally met a worthy hero!”

“I dare say that in Young Master Chu’s hands, this Thunderwind Spear will become famous throughout the land. While it helps him cut down all before him, it will also bring renown to our Wind Thunder Martial Hall’s art of weaponcraft!”

“Exactly, exactly! Forget our Wind Thunder Martial Hall—even across the Nine Mountains and Eighteen Veins, there is no one more deserving of this Thunderwind Spear than Young Master Chu! Congratulations, Young Master Chu. A hero has obtained a treasure spear!”

In an instant, the male and female disciples in the Hall of Martial Glory all clapped and offered their congratulations to Chu Feng, their faces filled with envy and admiration.

These martial artists were all disciples of the Thunder Hall. In truth, they had not originally been qualified to enter the Hall of Martial Glory. But because they had stood firmly with Lei Yingfeng during the rebellion led by Liu Shenghua and had not betrayed him, they had been granted the honor of entering this hall as a special exception.

“Among the four great powers of the Nine Mountains and Eighteen Veins, the Wind Thunder Martial Hall is renowned for weapons and martial techniques. As for weapons, this Thunderwind Spear is one of our finest works; as for martial techniques, the foremost among them is this scroll of the Classic of Wind-Force and Thunder Motion!”

As Han Mo spoke, the white-bearded hall master of the Hall of Martial Glory came forward and handed Chu Feng a thick, ancient-looking manual of martial arts.

“Many thanks.”

Chu Feng did not bother with polite pretense. He took it at once.

“Young Master Chu, this Classic of Wind-Force and Thunder Motion is the master compendium of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall. In the form of chapters, it records more than ten martial arts, including the footwork of the Wind Sect and the techniques of the Thunder Sect! Originally, this classic was an unspeakable secret of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall. But because Young Master Chu has shown our hall a kindness so great it is like remaking us anew, the Hall of Martial Glory has made a rare exception and presents you with a copy.”

The white-bearded hall master of the Hall of Martial Glory gazed at Chu Feng and spoke each word with great gravity.

“Thank you to the Hall of Martial Glory for making this exception and gifting me the profound martial arts of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall.”

Chu Feng bowed again in gratitude, his excitement nearly impossible to contain.

For someone like Chu Feng, who devoted himself wholeheartedly to the martial path and hoped to accomplish great things upon it, the pursuit of a cultivation manual like the Classic of Wind-Force and Thunder Motion was no less fervent than a lecher’s pursuit of beauty, or a miser’s pursuit of wealth.

“Nephew Chu, aside from the Thunderwind Spear and the Classic of Wind-Force and Thunder Motion, there is one more reward, though it can hardly be called a reward. Still, we need to discuss it with you first.”

Han Mo smiled slightly and said, “You have shown the Wind Thunder Martial Hall immense kindness. Hall Master Lei hopes that even if your person cannot remain here, at least your name can. So he would like to invite you to serve as a hall master of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall. What do you think?”

“Oh?”

Chu Feng was startled, and immediately said, “Uncle Han, that would be inappropriate, wouldn’t it? I will be leaving the Wind Thunder Martial Hall in a few days at most. How could I serve as a hall master? Even if I were to stay here long-term, I would hardly be the best choice for a hall master.”

Chu Feng knew himself very well. He was single-minded in his pursuit of martial cultivation. First, he did not have the time or energy to govern a hall; second, he was not even sure he had the ability.

“Nephew Chu, you misunderstand. We are not asking you to reside at the Wind Thunder Martial Hall. We only want to grant you the title of hall master in name only, an honorary hall master, if you will. In the future, no matter how far away you may be, if anything happens to the Wind Thunder Martial Hall, you will not need to rush back like the other hall masters.” Han Mo explained. “However, when the New Year comes, on festivals, or whenever some joyous occasion arises, even if you are not present, the Wind Thunder Martial Hall will still set aside a share of the benefits for you.”

“So that is all? Then I shall gratefully accept. I’ll shamelessly take the title of hall master.”

Chu Feng could only smile wryly. If that was the case, then plainly speaking, becoming a nominal hall master of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall brought only benefits and no drawbacks. If he still refused gladly, wouldn’t that be far too ungracious?

“Excellent, excellent! Although Young Master Chu is only an honorary hall master, he is now, at least in name, one of our Wind Thunder Martial Hall family. This is indeed cause for celebration!”

“That’s right! If any disciple is lucky enough to be assigned to the hall under Young Master Chu’s nominal charge, then being able to say that one’s hall master is Young Master Chu when walking outside would be a matter of great prestige indeed!”

The male and female disciples of the Thunder Hall were once again delighted. Seeing Chu Feng agree to serve as a nominal hall master of the Wind Thunder Martial Hall seemed to please them even more than being named hall master themselves.

“Nephew Chu, one Thunderwind Spear, one Classic of Wind-Force and Thunder Motion, and the title of honorary hall master. The gift is slight, but the sentiment is deep. The Wind Thunder Martial Hall’s gratitude is certainly not something so modest as these can repay. I hope you will not find these gifts too meager.”

Han Mo came to stand before Chu Feng, smiling as he reached out to pat Chu Feng on the shoulder, looking at him with unmistakable approval.

“Uncle Han, you flatter me. I already feel I do not deserve such generosity...”

Chu Feng had only just begun speaking when he suddenly noticed a change in Han Mo’s expression. Following his gaze, Chu Feng saw that at the entrance of the Hall of Martial Glory, two middle-aged martial artists dressed in golden training garments were nodding toward Han Mo, as though they had something to tell him.

“Nephew Chu, please wait here a moment.”

With that, Han Mo gave Chu Feng a meaningful look, then hurried out of the Hall of Martial Glory and began speaking with the two men in gold at the doorway.

Chu Feng recognized them. These two middle-aged martial artists in golden attire were visitors from the Nine Profound Sect. They seemed to be brothers, Gao Guangying and Gao Guanghe, both of them hall masters within the Nine Profound Sect and among the distinguished guests of this occasion.

Chu Feng remained where he was. He could not hear what Han Mo and the Gao brothers were saying, but while the three talked, their eyes kept drifting toward him. The one they were looking at was, of course, him.

“Hm? Why do those two brothers from the Nine Profound Sect keep looking at me? Could the matter they are discussing be related to me?”

Chu Feng thought in puzzlement.

After a short while, the Gao brothers were still standing outside the hall, while Han Mo strode back in. He went straight to Chu Feng’s side and said quietly, “Nephew Chu, perhaps you have already guessed some of it without my saying so. Mm, another matter has come looking for you.””

“Oh? What matter concerns me?”

Chu Feng’s heart stirred, and he asked at once.