CHAPTER 571: CHAPTER 535: NIGHT RAID

The next morning, the five major Martial Arts organizations of Japan gathered early for a meeting.

"What did the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department say?" someone asked directly.

Obviously, the Martial Arts community had already discussed with the police department about deporting Wu Li.

Mutian Gongxiong shook his head, "People from the Hua Country Embassy intervened; don’t expect Wu Li to leave anytime soon."

"Doesn’t that mean he’ll definitely drag this out for three days?"

Mutian Gongxiong was speechless.

By now, nearly everyone knew what Wu Li had publicly stated that day: he would stay in Tokyo for three days, and anyone who disagreed could challenge him.

So, if Wu Li delayed his departure until after the third day, the failure of the Island Country Martial Arts World was undeniable.

"In that case, I will challenge him today!" someone volunteered, standing up.

"Cangmu-kun, don’t be rash."

"Enough people have already died!"

"..."

Many tried to persuade him.

Cangmu Daling angrily said, "And what if no one dies? Are we supposed to let countless Martial Arts lovers of the Empire watch us admit defeat and give up? In my opinion, even if everyone here dies within these three days, as long as we do not bow to him, the fire of the Empire’s Martial Arts will not be extinguished! Future generations will inherit our will and Martial Arts!"

Cangmu Daling’s words left the room in silence. Although it made sense, dying for the greater good was not something everyone could do; especially since they had witnessed the deaths of many Masters yesterday.

Just then, the wooden door of the hall was pushed open and a person walked in.

"Kamino Kei?"

Upon seeing the visitor, Mutian Gongxiong was first surprised, then overjoyed: "Kamino-kun, you’ve finally aged!"

Kamino Kei walked into the hall solemnly and bowed to everyone present.

Those present also stood up to return the gesture, treating Kamino Kei with great respect.

With the death of Sword Saint Nakakino Oto and the head of Matsutani Hall, Kamino Kei could be considered the strongest person in the Island Country Martial Arts World at the moment, and his arrival naturally carried weight.

"Kamino-kun, you’ve always proclaimed to be in seclusion. Have you had a breakthrough?" Iwado Kenichi asked with a hint of sarcasm.

He was quite dissatisfied that Kamino Kei had only shown up now.

Surprisingly, Kamino Kei simply nodded, not speaking, but instead stretched out his right hand and pushed it forward.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

As Kamino Kei made this motion, a deep rumbling sound emitted from within his body.

This palm movement of his was clearly very slow, yet it made those nearby feel a surge of wind.

Everyone present was an expert and recognized the significance immediately. Mutian Gongxiong’s expression changed: "Innate Qi?"

Many Japanese Martial Arts originated from Hua Country’s Martial Arts, and many later adaptations also drew inspiration from them; thus, there were many overlaps in realms and terminology. The description of Innate Gang Qi in the Fist Scripture was also known as Innate Qi in Japan.

Kamino Kei nodded calmly: "Since the day I was defeated by Wu Li in the ring and witnessed him using Innate Qi, I’ve had some insights, and recently I finally made a breakthrough and cultivated Innate Qi."

"That’s great!"

Iwado Kenichi exclaimed, "Heaven helps the Empire, and fortune favors our Martial Arts! With Wu Li coming from Hua Country, Kamino-kun, you’ve just reached such a state. It’s perfect for you to challenge Wu Li and vindicate our Island Country Martial Arts!"

The others present also showed joy and relaxed their brows.

However, Kamino Kei shook his head, "No, I am still not a match for Wu Li."

Iwado Kenichi angrily said, "As a Martial Artist, how can you be timid before the battle?"

Kamino Kei calmly said, "It’s not that I am timid before the battle, but because reaching such a realm has given me a faint understanding; I am still one step away from the true breakthrough."

Though he lacked a system to know his exact stats in God, Power, and Body, after cultivating Innate Gang Qi, Kamino Kei faintly felt that he hadn’t yet broken through one layer of the Fist Intent Spirit, still a step away from becoming a Grandmaster.

The others looked at each other, sensing from Kamino Kei’s tone and attitude that this was not an excuse, but indeed the truth.

Just as the situation seemed to reach another deadlock, Cangmu Daling spoke up.

He was an Aikido Master and had a good relationship with Kamino Kei. He directly said, "Kamino-kun, I do have a plan!"

Kamino Kei looked at him, "What plan?"

Cangmu Daling said, "First gather a team to wear down Wu Li’s physical and mental strength, and then you finish him off with a final strike!"

As soon as he said this, the room fell silent.

Upon reflection, Cangmu Daling’s plan was feasible. Wu Li, no matter how strong, was still mortal and would get tired and injured. If they could truly wear him down with a relentless series of battles, then allowing Kamino Kei to strike the decisive blow could indeed be a winning strategy.

Yet, how many would have to die for this plan?

Before Cangmu Daling could persuade others, Kamino Kei had already dismissed it, "No, Cangmu-kun, I do not agree with this."

Cangmu Daling frowned, "Why?"

Kamino Kei stared straight at his opponent, "I’m here today not to join you in challenging Wu Li, but to stop you."

Cangmu Daling widened his eyes, "What did you say?"

Kamino Kei said, "Gentlemen, the closer I get to Wu Li’s realm, the more I understand his terror. Hua Country produced such a person, which means that the Martial Luck is not with us. We should hold back and wait for the right moment."

"Do you know what you’re saying?" Cangmu Daling burst into rage.

Kamino Kei nodded, "Of course I know. Gentlemen, the reason our Martial Luck was stronger than Hua Country’s before is that we managed our Martial Arts inheritance better than they did."

"A hundred years ago, their Martial Arts schools flourished, with numerous masters emerging. However, there are hardly any left now. We are different; we have a relatively complete inheritance. Now, if we fight out of sheer stubbornness and let many among us die or get severely injured, it would be a real fatal blow to the Island Country Martial Arts World. Many inheritances would be cut off!"

"Absurd!"

Cangmu Daling was the first to retort, scoffing, "Do you know how many people were gathered outside Bo Yuan Martial Arts Hall yesterday? Do you know how many are watching us right now? If we choose to forbear now, do you realize what a huge blow it would be to those young people who love Martial Arts? If it turned out like that, our Martial Arts would really lose its future!"

Kamino Kei shook his head, "No, it’s only a temporary setback, it can completely be seen as a test for those young people, and for us as well."

At this, Kamino Kei walked to the door and stood firm, his expression solemn.

"Gentlemen, I came here today to prevent everyone from challenging Wu Li. If anyone really wants to seek death, then please defeat me first!"

Kamino Kei took a stand at the door, displaying an aura of ’a lone man standing in the pass undefeatable by ten thousand’.

"You!"

Cangmu Daling was so angry he turned red, but was helpless.

Kamino Kei’s strength was originally above his, and now that he had cultivated Innate Gang Qi, he was even less of a match. If Kamino Kei was truly determined to stop him from challenging Wu Li, he really had no way.

Setting aside Cangmu Daling’s helplessness, Kamino Kei’s actions were actually a relief to many present, as it indirectly offered them a way out of fighting Wu Li to the death.

After all, Kamino Kei’s strength was known to all. Could they really afford to fight each other, and both end up injured just for the sake of challenging Wu Li?

...

Outside the gate of Bo Yuan Martial Arts Hall, there were still quite a few people gathered today. Although fewer in number than the previous day, there was still significant overt and covert attention on this matter, and online debates were equally fierce.

However, as many were waiting for the Island Country Martial Arts World to send more challengers to Wu Li, from morning till afternoon, not a single person appeared.

"Could it be that the Island Country Martial Arts World has admitted defeat?" someone inside the Martial Arts Hall said with a laugh.

"Admitting defeat on just the second day?"

"I thought too highly of them then."

...

Meanwhile, online public opinion was very heated; many people were cursing, and many students from various Martial Arts Halls withdrew, with some halls even being smashed.

However, no matter how agitated people were, by 8 p.m., the Island Country Martial Arts World still hadn’t sent anyone.

The crowd waiting outside the Martial Arts Hall all left disappointed, everyone thinking that the Island Country Martial Arts World probably wouldn’t send anyone today.

Inside the Martial Arts Hall, Wu Li was alone in a room, sitting with his eyes closed in meditation.

Moments later, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Thinking for a moment, he walked over to the side and put on a heavy bullet-proof vest that had been prepared earlier.

Two rows of darts hung in front of his chest, and two daggers were also tucked on each side of the vest.

The next second, Wu Li’s figure flashed, and he had already pounced to the window, directly pushing open the window and leaping out.

In the courtyard behind the Martial Arts Hall, a figure was originally sneaking towards the front building, but suddenly stopped, then turned around without hesitation and ran.

The next moment, Wu Li appeared in the courtyard, watching the fast-escaping figure, he couldn’t help but sneer, "Someone really isn’t afraid of death?"

Swoosh!

Wu Li exerted force on his feet, chasing after him.

The figure ahead was obviously skilled, running very fast, quickly reaching the courtyard wall.

He had planted a dagger in the wall beforehand, and now stepping on the dagger, he instantly vaulted over the wall.

Less than a half-second later, Wu Li also reached the base of the wall, but instead of vaulting over, he directly crashed into it!

Boom!

The peaceful night was disrupted by the sudden loud noise, and the whole Martial Arts Hall instantly buzzed with excitement, not knowing what had just happened, but Wu Li had already burst through the wall and dashed out.

A thousand meters from this wall, on the rooftop of a tall building, a person was positioning a sniper rifle aimed in that direction.

Through the sniper scope, seeing Wu Li burst through the wall and rush out, a hint of surprise flashed in the shooter’s eyes.

Had Wu Li chosen to vault over the wall, the moment he landed would have been the best time to shoot, as basic physics dictates that it’s impossible to change direction while in the air—a rule even the world’s No.1 expert must follow!

However, Wu Li opting to crash through the wall foiled his plan.

But he wasn’t discouraged, instead, he felt confident about the upcoming shot because his name was Paul.

The God of Guns, Paul!