Chapter 1 Next Up, It's Your Turn, Mr. Mo

These words, spoken in this setting, sounded like a threat, like coercion.

But Batman's tone was flat, devoid of any inflection.

The crowd below the stage was filled with trepidation. Some martial arts heroes, standing at the edge of the crowd, near the woods, stared at the smoking craters appearing in the forest,

at the blurred pieces of flesh hanging from the trees,

and cried out in fear and anxiety,

shoving and pushing towards the center of the crowd.

They weren't unfamiliar with *zhangxinlei* (palm thunder) and often used *pilidan* (thunderclap bombs) themselves.

But a "palm thunder" that could blast people into blurred flesh, leaving not a single piece of armor behind,

was unheard of, unseen.

On the stage,

an old man in a green robe, with a slender frame and a sallow, bark-like complexion, paused for a moment and looked at the iron rod in Batman's hand, asking, "Is that a hidden weapon?"

"It is,"

Batman nodded. "This is called a gun."

A gun?

The gun is the leader of all weapons, the shaft longer than the blade, upright and straight, capable of both agile and swift movements, unpredictable as ghosts and gods, and of moving like thunder, with the force of a thunderbolt.

There were many skilled gun users below the stage, but no one had ever heard of a gun that looked like this.

As if responding to Mo Da's silence, Batman calmly introduced it, "M16A4 assault rifle, caliber 5.56x45mm, overall length 1000mm, 6 right-hand twist rifling grooves, twist rate 178mm, theoretical rate of fire 700~900rpm, muzzle energy 1765k. Magazine capacity 30 rounds."

His tone was utterly calm, as if two swordsmen meeting on a narrow path were introducing their weapons before the battle.

"..."

Mo Da didn't understand what Batman was saying, but his years of wandering the martial world allowed him to see through things that ordinary people couldn't, relying on some kind of intuition.

For example, Batman wasn't lying, Yu Canghai deserved his fate, and that M16A4 assault rifle was a deadly weapon.

"Since it's a hidden weapon, it must have a mechanism and projectiles,"

Mr. Mo Da said, his eyes blazing, "and projectiles mean they will be exhausted.

Your Excellency's hidden weapon will eventually run out of ammunition."

"That's right,"

Batman frankly admitted, "Mr. Mo Da, Abbot Xuan Ci, and Taoist Chong Xu all possess unfathomable martial arts skills. Now that you've seen the workings of the long gun in my hand, you won't rush forward like Yu Canghai.

You will dodge, flee, and avoid the muzzle.

Although beyond seven steps, the gun is fast,

within seven steps, the gun is both accurate and fast.

But if the three of you scatter and flee, I don't have the complete confidence to hit all three of you within one magazine without wasting too many bullets.

Therefore, I won't shoot at you..."

Batman aimed the muzzle at the Shaolin monks, Wudang Taoists, and Hengshan disciples below the stage.

"If you flee, I will shoot them.

At this distance, you absolutely cannot provide assistance and rescue."

Batman said, "The three of you are all leaders of the righteous sects, and I presume you won't risk having your disciples slaughtered to the last one for the sake of avoiding the *shanxinyi* (Benevolence Testing Instrument),

and escape on your own."

Batman's words were exceptionally calm, completely unconcerned with whether his current actions contradicted his role as one who punishes evil and rewards good.

Mr. Mo Da remained silent for a long time. The Hengshan disciples below the stage were filled with fear and indignation, and many roared, "Sect Leader, you must not listen to the slanderous words of this evil fiend!

Even if we are ground to powder, we will not burden Sect Leader..."

"Enough."

Mr. Mo Da finally spoke, a layer of sorrow appearing on his withered face. He said quietly, "Long ago, I also doubted the character of Zuo Lengchan and Yu Canghai.

But with my own strength, I could not possibly fight against the powerful. Openly opposing them would be futile and would only drag my disciples down into the abyss with me.

I had no choice but to carry my *huqin* (two-stringed Chinese fiddle) and wander the martial world. Facing the turbulent times, I would kill any evil I saw on the road and help any good deed I encountered.

I cannot kill Dongfang Bubai, cannot kill Zuo Lengchan, cannot kill Yu Canghai, so I can only kill some bandits to relieve the sorrow and depression in my heart.

My body is here, but my heart has long died.

Since that's the case, then let me, a decaying corpse, go first."

With that, he inserted the thin sword in his hand back into the *huqin*, stepped forward two steps, squatted down,

and pressed his palm into the *shanxinyi*.

Batman was stunned for a moment and took three steps back respectfully.

The *shanxinyi* flickered with light, and soon a soft female voice came from the iron box,

"In the third month of the eleventh year of the Hongzhi reign, under the cover of night, he single-handedly broke into the Poison Dragon Stronghold, killing eleven mountain bandits.

On the nineteenth day of the fifth month of the eleventh year of the Hongzhi reign, under the cover of night, he broke into the residence of the magistrate of Anning County, killing one county magistrate..."

Mr. Mo Da was of great age, and the extent of his killing experience surpassed even Yu Canghai.

The crowd below the stage erupted in an uproar because they heard many familiar names among them.

The heroes of the He Dong Road's Green Forest,

The Sun Moon Sect's undercover agents in He Xi Road,

Mr. Mo Da not only killed bandits and hooligans in the city but also killed bandits, corrupt officials, and even government magistrates! Killing young heroes from reputable sects!

One bloody case after another, sealed in history, was revealed by the *shanxinyi* one by one.

A noisy discussion, filled with anger and confusion, arose below the stage – many of the names mentioned by the *shanxinyi* were acquaintances or even relatives and friends of those present.

And the Hengshan disciples below the stage turned even paler,

unsure whether they were worried about Mr. Mo Da's fate or terrified that their revered sect leader, who seemed to live above worldly concerns, would be a murderous demon.

"Ding!"

Accompanied by a clear sound, the *shanxinyi* finally finished its assessment of Mr. Mo Da.

"Your sin value is detected to be -50 points, evaluated as 'cautious in solitude, private goodness,' it is recommended to reward one Guanyuan Pill."

Good?

Hearing this evaluation, the uproar below the stage intensified.

Many of them must have had relatives and friends who died silently under Mr. Mo Da's sword.

Mr. Mo Da and Yu Canghai both killed countless people, so why was Yu Canghai subjected to slow slicing, while Mr. Mo Da was safe and sound?

Speaking of slow slicing,

the screams on the stage had gradually subsided. Not a single piece of good flesh remained on Yu Canghai's back. He was shriveled into a ball like a cooked shrimp, his face twisted to the extreme.

It wasn't that he didn't feel pain anymore, but that he was in so much pain that he couldn't scream anymore – that strange bat-shaped machine injected a drug to block his screams and amplify the pain he was suffering.

Mr. Mo Da's eyes swept over Yu Canghai lying on the ground, a hint of surprise flickering on his bark-like face.

"The *shanxinyi* will not make mistakes,"

Batman shook his head and said, "Although Mr. Mo Da did not stand up to openly oppose Zuo Lengchan, Yu Canghai, and others, it was due to the circumstances.

Human power is weak, and it is difficult to resist the general trend, so one should do one's best, guard one's original intention, and emit a faint light in the darkness alone.

Even if it's just removing a small evil, doing a small good deed,

it is far better than seeking various reasons for oneself, willingly wallowing in filth, and willingly degenerating."

With that, Batman reached behind him, and from under the cloak that seemed to be a bottomless pit,

took out a pill and handed it to Mr. Mo Da, "Please."

Mr. Mo Da was silent for a moment. The knights-errant of the martial world all like to go to the bright and beautiful capitals and big cities.

There are brothels and theaters, rouge boats, poetry and painting, and unrestrained elegance.

Only he himself, for many years, has walked in the fields and paddies, set foot on desolate mountain trails, and been an enemy of those humble bandits who do evil in the soil,

and an enemy of those so-called heroes who borrow the name of reputable sects to pursue their own selfish desires.

At this moment, hearing the *shanxinyi*'s evaluation of good, his mood was even more high-spirited and cheerful than when he was entrusted by his master to serve as the Hengshan Sect Leader.

He took a few steps forward, took the pill from Batman's hand, and swallowed it directly.

Glug.

The large pill was difficult to swallow in his throat. Once it reached his stomach, it instantly dissipated and turned into a gentle, warm current that surged throughout his body.

Exclamations rang out around him.

Mr. Mo Da looked around himself and found that the white hair on his head was falling out, replaced by black hair.

The wrinkles on his withered face, like ravines, were also rapidly plumping and filling.

Years of old injuries healed on their own, his palms were once again firm and strong. When all the white hair had fallen, Mr. Mo Da seemed to have become thirty or forty years younger, returning to his prime.

"Rejuvenation... Could Your Excellency truly be a celestial being?"

Mr. Mo Da subconsciously asked. Batman chuckled and said, "How can there be gods transformed from bats in the world? Even Zhang Guolao, one of the Eight Immortals, is just a white bat spirit,

not even remotely related."

Taoist Chong Xu, who had been silent for a long time, finally broke the silence. He stepped forward and also pressed his palm on the *shanxinyi*.

As always, the *shanxinyi* began to assess the good and evil of the Wudang Sect Leader.

"In the seventh month of the thirteenth year of the Hongzhi reign..."

Compared with Yu Canghai and Mo Da, Taoist Chong Xu's killing experience was not abundant, and could even be said to be meager.

Most of the people he killed were members of the Sun Moon Sect or notorious bandits who had been rampant in the martial world for a long time.

Finally, the *shanxinyi* gave its evaluation,

"Your sin value is detected to be -15 points, evaluated as 'harmless small good deeds,' no reward or punishment is recommended."

Taoist Chong Xu silently raised his palm, exchanged a glance with Mr. Mo Da, sighed slightly, and expressed his approval.

During the time of Zhang Sanfeng Zhang Junbao, the Wudang Sect was extremely prosperous, with a momentum that vaguely made it the number one sect in the world, overwhelming Shaolin.

However, Zhang Junbao refined emptiness and merged with the Tao, his disciples were inferior to each other from generation to generation.

By the time of Taoist Chong Xu, he could only barely maintain it, guarding the inheritance of Taiji Swordplay and Taiji Boxing, unable to resist even the hidden encroachment of the Songshan Sect, and could only occasionally kill some bandits in the martial world.

The *shanxinyi*'s evaluation was not unjust.

Seeing Mr. Mo Da rejuvenated,

Seeing that Taoist Chong Xu, who had always been known for his integrity and modesty, also agreed with the *shanxinyi*'s evaluation,

some people below the stage felt even more despair in their hearts.

They were very clear about the things they had done over the years.

Killing, arson, looting, as long as they were not known, they were still heroes and champions.

To take a step back, even if they had not done anything to harm the innocent,

they had also had moments of protecting their relatives and friends and turning a blind eye – people are in the martial world, and they cannot help themselves. Many things are not black and white and cannot be explained in a few words.

Mr. Mo Da and Taoist Chong Xu were recognized as good people in the martial world. These two could pass the *shanxinyi* test and be recognized by that god-like, ghostly bat spirit.

But they below the stage might not have such good luck.

In fear, some martial artists at the edge of the crowd raised their internal energy and leaped towards the dense forest, stomping on the tree trunks several times in a row,

trying to escape the forest by stepping on the tree trunks without touching the ground.

However, before they could escape for long, they heard a "铮铮铮" (zheng zheng zheng) sound.

The tripwires tied to the tree trunks had sounded.

Explosions shook the heavens, and flames rose everywhere.

Those martial artists who feared their sins being discovered and tried to escape were all blown into the sky.

"I said, no one can escape."

Batman said indifferently, not as a mockery, and released Zuo Lengchan's hand, pressing the latter's palm on the *shanxinyi*.

As the soft female voice in the iron box rang out, everyone present was once again in shock.

Zuo Lengchan killed many people, even more than Mr. Mo Da and Yu Canghai, but he didn't do it himself, but handed it over to his subordinates to handle.

And the people he killed were not only from the Demonic Sect but also from reputable sects.

Mr. Mo Da and Taoist Chong Xu exchanged glances and understood in their hearts that Zuo Lengchan had always wanted to be the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, the leader of the martial world. To this end, he cultivated the Thirteen Taibao, modified and improved the Songshan Swordplay, and integrated the Songshan Sect into the number one sect in the martial world, even vaguely overwhelming Shaolin and the Beggars' Sect.

For the sake of power and ambition, he resorted to all means, even secretly instructing his Thirteen Taibao to invade and attack reputable sects in the name of the Demonic Sect, so that everyone was in danger and had to rely on the Songshan Sect, creating momentum for him to become the leader of the martial world.

And the result given by the *shanxinyi* was, "Your sin value is detected to be 30 points, evaluated as 'driven by ambition, with both good and evil,' a medium punishment is recommended."

Medium punishment? Batman paused. Zuo Lengchan's ambition was above all else. Perhaps at the beginning, he also held the ambition of being irreconcilable with the Sun Moon Sect, but as his martial arts became higher and his status gradually increased, he became accustomed to the decay of the martial sects.

That heart that wanted to do things was also swallowed by an even greater desire for power.

To do things, one must have power, and for the sake of power, one can sacrifice everything, even if the price is one's own humanity.

In this process, no matter how many evil members of the Demonic Sect he killed or how many good knights he destroyed, they were just insignificant footnotes on his path of ambition.

"Just a half-hero swallowed by ambition."

Batman gave a faint evaluation, gently pressed on Zuo Lengchan's abdomen, destroying his *dantian* (energy center) and martial arts, and knocking him unconscious.

"Next, it's your turn, Abbot Xuan Ci."

Batman turned his head to look at the only monk on the stage.

The kind-faced, gentle, and generous Abbot Xuan Ci smiled, suddenly raised his arm, and slapped towards the top of his head.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out. Abbot Xuan Ci's left shoulder was injured, making it difficult for him to slap down.

Batman, holding the gun, frowned and said, "Do you want to commit suicide? Cover up a secret?"

Abbot Xuan Ci smiled slightly, as if he didn't feel the pain, and raised his right arm again.

Bang!

Another gunshot rang out.

Batman, who had disabled Abbot Xuan Ci's left and right arms, rushed forward and punched Abbot Xuan Ci in the chest, stopping the latter's attempt to bite his tongue and commit suicide.

He savagely pressed Abbot Xuan Ci's palm onto the *shanxinyi*.

Sin value, 50 points.

He had only killed one innocent person in his life and felt extremely guilty about it. Apart from that, he had sat idly by while many martial artists died tragically and had allowed one person to do evil...

The evaluation given by the *shanxinyi* was extremely contradictory. Batman frowned deeply. Just as he was about to call Shenlong to ask what was going on, a violent shout rang out below the stage, "Release the Abbot!"

A robust man with a white turban on his head, heroic and valiant, exuding an aura of authority, leaped up from the crowd and pounced on Batman. With a wave of his palm, a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl could be faintly heard.

"Qiao Feng! It's him!"

Exclamations rang out below the stage. The person who appeared was none other than Qiao Feng, the six-bag elder of the Beggars' Sect and the most likely candidate to become the sect leader in the future.

This man had a tenacious and loyal personality, countless friends, and a high reputation in the martial world. His martial arts were extremely powerful and he was known as "Southern Murong, Northern Qiao Feng." However, he had recently been suspected of being involved in the mysterious death of Wang Jiantong, the former leader of the Beggars' Sect, and was forced to disappear to find the truth and prove his innocence.

Unexpectedly, he would appear here.

Batman, facing Qiao Feng, one of the strongest of the younger generation, facing his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, did not move at all, his palm still pressed on the back of Abbot Xuan Ci's hand.

He knew that he would not be injured.

Bang bang bang!

Several gunshots suddenly rang out in the dense forest. More than a dozen bullets flew, blocking Qiao Feng's path forward and forcing this hero wearing a turban, who seemed to have background music accompanying his appearance, to stop.

The people who fired these shots all sprang out from the dense forest and jumped onto the stage.

They were all dressed in strange clothes, looking extremely bizarre.

A middle-aged man with a bloated figure, like a penguin,

A handsome young man wearing colorful clothes and a hat with a question mark on it,

A seductive woman wearing cat ears and a cat tail decoration, wearing tight black leather clothes, clearly outlining her hot figure,

A cold young man with half of his face burned,

And a weirdo wearing a purple suit, with a clown pattern painted on his face, muttering as soon as he appeared, "whysoserious?"

Qiao Feng stopped on the stage, cautiously observing these strangely dressed people who suddenly appeared. They were different from Batman, all of them possessed profound internal energy,

And the aura of internal energy was also very familiar, like...

"The Qingcheng Sword Sect!"

An exclamation rang out below the stage, "They are all disciples of the Qingcheng Sword Sect!"

What?

Mr. Mo Da and Taoist Chong Xu looked over in astonishment, only to see that under the layers of disguise, these strangely dressed people who suddenly appeared and stood with Batman were actually the younger generation disciples of the Qingcheng Sword Sect.

Those Qingcheng people below the stage who couldn't believe it also confirmed this.

"Wrong,"

Batman said in a deep voice, "They used to be disciples of the Qingcheng Sword Sect, and participated in the siege of the Yongcheng Escort Agency,

But now they have a new name.

Called,

Justice League."