The New Faction surpasses the Old School, without a doubt!
Cheng Wenlong only regrets: "We shouldn’t have been so rash back then, wanting to join Guangling Academy. We should have taken a more gentle approach, so that Father wouldn’t have been so angered as to cough up blood and disown us. Our senior brother wouldn’t have gotten so annoyed and ignored us!"
A father once harsh yet loving as a mountain.
A once strict but caring senior brother.
Cheng Ah Bi thought of her senior brother. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw a few people. It was Mei Suping, Cui Lanxin, and Jiang Rou, the three she once courted when she first entered Guangling Academy and the Seven Star Boxing Club. She used to think these three senior sisters were incredibly formidable, but now, her senior brother who came from the Martial Arts Hall was standing on the grand stage of the Jian Province Competition and was even a hot favorite to win the championship. Meanwhile, these three could only be spectators below, without even a chance to step on stage.
They were no longer on the same level.
"I’ve also grown distant from my senior brother."
Cheng Ah Bi hung her head, lacking spirit.
Cheng Wenlong’s sharp eyes spotted—
Cheng Ah Bi quickly looked up—
Yan Chuan, dressed in black, strode out, representing Taikang Academy’s Team No. Six for the opening round’s draw before the start of the competition!
On the eastern side of the ring, the stands were high; this was the best place for spectating. Only one stand was on this side, where the officials from all levels in Jian Province were seated, from the top officers of the Jian Province Governor’s Office, the Jian Province Chief Justice, and the Jian Province Capital Commander Department, down to the governors, county governors, and capital commandants of various counties.
All at least were officials of the 600-stone rank.
This included the leaders of the nine major academies, such as Du Zhenzong of Taikang Academy and Gu Shengyan of Guangling Academy, all present.
The hierarchy was clear, a gathering of elites.
Below them, one step down, was the draw area.
Yan Chuan and others took the stage in turn, a total of ninety people. Among them, Yan Chuan saw familiar faces—
There weren’t many from Taikang Academy, only Tian Xiu and Liu He, both from the Taikang County Magistrate’s Mansion and Taikang Army, the youth limit-breakers here to assist Taikang Academy, leading their teams.
Yan Chuan had met them once.
As for the other seven, Yan Chuan might recognize them but couldn’t name them.
On the other hand, from the Guangling Academy—
All were acquaintances.
Coincidentally, in the first round draw, Yan Chuan drew number forty-four, and Wang Zhengyi also happened to draw number forty-four—
"Guangling Academy Team No. One versus Taikang Academy Team No. Six!"
Guang One Team VS Tai Six Team!
"Brother Yan, I look forward to facing you!"
Wang Zhengyi’s eyes shone brightly!
"The match is about to begin, so don’t hold back, everyone. Let’s all share how many limit-breakers each side has, so we can focus on them."
As the draw proceeded, Sima Feng of the Jian Province Governor’s Office looked towards the representatives of the nine major academies, smiling as he asked.
The high-level figures of Jian Province were numerous—
The Governor’s Office, the Chief Justice, the Capital Commander Department, these were the "Three Major Divisions."
The Xuanwu Department, Cangwu Department, and Zhenwu Department, these were the "Three Martial Divisions," also known as the "Small Three Divisions."
Each of the Three Major Divisions had a chief.
The Small Three Divisions had powers divided left and right.
This made up nine big shots.
Further down were the Assistant Governors and Assistants of the Governor’s Office, the Vice Envoy and Secretaries of the Chief Justice, the Deputy and Secretary Commanders of the Capital Commander Department, all significant figures.
Among them, some were of the same rank as Sima Feng, but he was ranked first.
Sima Feng controlled the situation, inquiring about the nine major academies.
The two Xuanwu Envoys of the Xuanwu Department were the direct superiors of the nine major martial arts academies in the Nine Counties of Jian Province. The right Xuanwu, Ying Xingzheng, upon hearing Sima Feng’s inquiry, laughed and said: "These guys, one by one, are as sharp as monkeys, keeping their limit-breakers tightly hidden. But now, there’s no need to hide."
Ying Xingzheng looked over the representatives of the nine major academies, directly naming them: "Among the academies of the Nine Counties, Taikang ranks last. I remember Taikang Academy was ranked four hundredth in last year’s Worldwide Academy Ranking? Let’s start with Elder Du, so we can see what level the academy ranked last among the Nine Counties is at, and we can have a grasp."
As the saying goes, one shouldn’t hit a person in the face when attacking!
But Ying Xingzheng had no intention of sparing Taikang Academy from humiliation, pointing out the criticism directly.
Du Zhenzong felt displeased in his heart, but he was seasoned and didn’t show it, politely saying with a smile: "This time, the seventy participants from Taikang Academy in the Jian Province Competition are all elites. Among them, Tian Xiu from Team Two, Yan Chuan from Team Six, and Liu He and Yan Baishou from Team Nine, are the most outstanding, all having broken their limits."
"Taikang Academy alone has four limit-breakers, this martial competition will be exciting!"
Sima Feng applauded in approval.
His subtext was that if the lowest-ranked Taikang Academy among the nine major academies had four limit-breakers, the stronger academies would have even more!
Even if each only had four—
Thirty-six limit-breakers!
That would still be impressive.
Sima Feng nodded to Du Zhenzong in appreciation, then looked at the only female among the representatives of the nine major academies: "Elder Gu, esteemed not just in name but also indeed, how many limit-breaking heavenly prides are competing from Guangling Academy this time?"
Gu Shengyan was very domineering within Guangling Academy, but in front of a big shot like Sima Feng, she could still be charming and affable. She smiled and replied: "Honorable Uncle Fang, Guangling Academy has twenty-five youths who have broken their limits competing."
When Gu Shengyan spoke, it was shocking!
Even Du Zhenzong was surprised: "That many?!"