Old Ji’s heart surged with boundless pride.
He patted Lu Chenzhou’s shoulder beside him and said,
"Disciple, bring out the spirit of your ascension battle!"
Lu Chenzhou clearly felt that his master was more excited than he was.
Outside the airport, a business van was parked.
Seeing Lu Chenzhou, Chen Ye hurried down from the car and laughed,
"Ha ha ha, we meet again."
"President Chen, long time no see."
After the handshake, Chen Ye said,
"This afternoon, I will first take you all for a tour of Daoist Science and Technology headquarters, and then take you to a nearby hotel to rest. The top 32 selections are all day tomorrow, Mr. Lu, you don’t need to go, you can join in the finals the day after tomorrow."
"Good, then I’ll leave it to President Chen."
That day, Lu Chenzhou and others followed Chen Ye on a tour of the Daoist Science and Technology headquarters. The martial artists inside were as powerful as some at Martial Arts University, and there were even two Martial Arts Grandmasters who were stationed there year-round, both guest professors from Imperial Capital Martial Arts University.
After coming out, master and disciple had certainly broadened their horizons.
Phoenix Nest Pavilion.
This was a venue that could accommodate eighty thousand people, and like Magic City’s Denglong Hall, it only hosted high-profile commercial events, including the All Nations Martial Arts Competition preliminaries.
Daoist Science and Technology had reserved the most luxurious hotel for them, costing eleven thousand per night, especially close to Phoenix Nest Pavilion. Ji Xuantong didn’t have to spend a dime.
After checking into the hotel, he laughed,
"This Daoist Science and Technology has been tamed by Chenzhou. Now they take care of everything when we travel, truly treating Chenzhou as a significant figure, unlike before, hmm."
"That’s right, the potential of my junior brother now is no less than that of the Martial Bone Dao Embryo. Daoist Science and Technology, having some eye power, would naturally show their sincerity as much as possible."
"You don’t need to think about anything, just adjust your state to its peak."
Ji Feiyan smiled and said,
"I will go and scout out the enemy for my junior brother tomorrow!"
Shi Ruyu raised her hand,
She was going to the competition, just to witness the heroes of the Imperial Capital, not caring for a ranking, purely for the experience.
Phoenix Nest Pavilion.
Seventy thousand spectators from all across the country flocked to the arena. As the highest profile national martial arts exchange meeting, there would naturally be no shortage of audience members.
Lu Chenzhou stood in front of the hotel window, practicing Heavenly Pile on his own.
His opponents had all been guaranteed a place in the top 32.
Today’s matches, he need not pay attention to.
A message came through on his phone, it was from Ye Chen.
[Brother Lu, have you signed up for the competition too?]
[Yes, are you also competing? Then I’ll see you on the field.]
[Forget it, brother... I still want to try my luck, see if I can make it to the top eight. However, I know Lin Zirong has also advanced to Tenth Rank, so you should be careful when the time comes.]
Ever since that day he witnessed Lu Chenzhou’s divine might, Ye Chen knew that, after more than a year, he was no longer in the same world as Lu Chenzhou.
[Thank you, Brother Ye, I wish you the best of luck in achieving the ideal ranking.]
[Hmm, I wish you victory too, and may you bring glory to Su City!]
After the chat, Lu Chenzhou murmured to himself,
"Lin Zirong has reached Tenth Rank; another potential opponent in Baji Fist."
Tenth Rank experts were celebrities in their respective schools and regions.
Before coming here, Lu Chenzhou had also done some homework.
"Huo Tianyuan, Six Harmonies Fist, also has some connection to Elephant Form."
"Li Yunxiao, Heavenly Mountain Broken Sun Hand, Kunlun’s Ultimate Skill."
"Cai Zikun, Cai Fu Fist, Southern Big Fist, strong yet flexible."
"Zhou Ziyu, Emei Swordman, rumored to have some foundation in Emei’s Third-Stream Hard Qigong ’Bodhisattva Robe’... Her father is a Hard Qigong master in Emei."
"Ouyang Rong, Innate Five Beasts Palm."
"Zhang Banshan, Tai Chi Boxing."
A total of nine names on the list were his enemies in his eyes.
Below Tenth Rank, he did not need to consider.
He watched all the videos of these people that were circulating online, thought through offensive strategies in advance, and the rest would be improvised on the field of competition tomorrow. The rightful source is novｅlfire.net
"Chenzhou, let’s go!"
Outside, Ji Xuantong was beaming with radiance and vigor.
Lu Chenzhou ended his Heavenly Pile Cultivation and let out a long breath.
Ji Xuantong spoke solemnly,
"Although it’s a national competition, there’s no need to be nervous. Trust me, as long as you give it your all, the championship is yours... Don’t listen to those people inflating things. When facing both internal and external cultivation, you can sweep them all away! When we need to be high-profile, we’ll be high-profile!"
"Understood, Master."
"Junior brother, rest assured—my sister and I watched the whole competition yesterday. Among the top 32, not a single one can withstand thirty moves against you!"
Shi Ruyu nodded in agreement,
During yesterday’s competition, she was eliminated in the top 64. For a national event, making it to the top 64 was quite an achievement and came with a decent participation prize. It was a trip worth making, and Master was very satisfied.
The crowd arrived at the Phoenix Nest Pavilion. The large screen showcased the list of the top 32 competitors, with Lu Chenzhou’s name conspicuously at the top.
"Lu Chenzhou of Su City!"
"Unbeatable in Dragon City, unbeatable Elephant Form!"
"God damn Tiger Vajra... who came up with this nickname? It’s not pleasant to hear."
There were quite a few fans from Su City who had followed him to the Imperial Capital. Many of them became acquainted with Lu Chenzhou during the Hundred Academies Exchange and completely fell for him in the Jiangnan Talent Competition.
Lu Chenzhou’s Hard Qi Gong was very distinctive.
The majority of these fans were men.
At eight in the morning, the host appeared, smiling,
"After yesterday’s fierce competition, the top 32 contestants have emerged. They all start from the Ninth Rank cultivation and are the ceiling of those with Low Class root bone!
Today, these contestants will chase after the supreme championship honor in the Imperial Capital. Please allow me to introduce a special guest judge.
He single-handedly changed the layout of Da Xia Martial Arts, bringing the Martial Arts Association to the historical stage for the first time, a pioneer of the Martial Arts Era for all!
Let’s give a warm welcome to the founder of Martial Arts University of the Imperial Capital, the first Chairman of the Martial Arts Association, the Absolute Peak Strong who broke through the Sixth Shackles, Wanshixian!"
At the end of the host’s speech, the entire venue first fell silent, as still as death.
Then, everyone burst into an unprecedentedly enthusiastic cheer.
"Chairman Wanshixian?!"
"Holy shit, even an Absolute Peak Strong has come?"
"This is a mythological figure!"
"These 3000 ticket prices are so damn worth it."
The Phoenix Nest Pavilion was boiling with excitement!
In the resting area, Ji Xuantong’s eyes also lit up with excitement as he slapped his thigh and said,
"Chenzhou, you must win the championship! Perhaps after this fight, you’ll catch Chairman Wan’s eye; that’s way more awesome than any Diaoist Science and Technology."
Lu Chenzhou’s heart was also stirred.
"An Absolute Peak Strong who’s broken through the Seventh Shackles."
Absolute Peak Strong in the West was also known as "King of the Era," "King of Fighting," representing the pinnacle combat power of human Martial Arts of the current age!
And Wanshixian was no ordinary Absolute Peak Strong.
He was the first in Martial Arts history to break through the Seventh Shackles.
His title was also extremely special, befitting his name:
In ancient times, the current Martial Arts Great Grandmaster who had broken through the Fifth Shackles was considered at the pinnacle.
At the end of the world of martial arts, the founder of the Dragon and Tiger Academy and Daoist expert, Heavenly Master Zhang, was the first to break through the Sixth Shackle, paving the way for today’s Martial Arts King Realm.
Known as: The Teacher of Heavenly Kings!
He was the first Martial Arts King in human history.
But at that time, Martial Arts still primarily revolved around traditional sects and families.
With lineage and strict mentoring traditions maintaining order, the hierarchy was rigid.
Later, Da Xia and the invading coalition of various nations engaged in a hundred-year war. The turmoil shook the foundations of the families, and out of the phoenix flames rose a new Da Xia.
Concurrently, a new formidable person appeared. When Heavenly Master Zhang broke the Sixth Shackles, he was just a Martial Arts Grandmaster. However, with unstoppable momentum, he later surged ahead, becoming the first to break through the Seventh Shackles and leading the Teacher of Heavenly Kings by ten years. This person was Wanshixian.
Heavenly Master Zhang was the first Heavenly King.
Wanshixian was the first Absolute Peak.
He established the Martial Arts Association, reformed Martial Arts, broke down the barriers of families, replaced sects with schools, and gradually modernized Martial Arts, ushering in the Martial Arts Era for all.
Martial Arts University of the Imperial Capital was established at that time.
If it had been any other person who had broken through the Seventh Shackles, the crowd might not have been so excited, but Wanshixian, as the first Absolute Peak, was truly the stuff of legend. Therefore, even after years of seclusion, his popularity was no less than that of the Cangtian Dragon King.