Lingling District, Golden Scale Manor.

This place is nestled between mountains and water, the environment is serene, with infinite natural beauty and countless historical sites, leaving behind many mythical legends.

To the east of Golden Scale Manor is the Golden Scale Research Center, while the west is the Martial Arts Association headquarters. The perimeter is set with sentries and stationed troops, tightly encircling the entrance to the Lingyun Grotto Heaven.

This time, the assessment for entering Lingyun Grotto Heaven is conducted in the nearby Return Dragon Tower.

Originally a tourist spot, it has now become a secret realm, frequently used for training new Martial Artists.

In the evening, outside Golden Scale Manor, buses were already fully parked, as personnel from the twelve prestigious schools of Linjiang, Zhaoling, Yan City, and Forest City gradually gathered.

Among them, three teams were most noticeable.

They were the Martial Dao representatives from Baoqing First High School in Zhaoling, Yan City Eighth High School in Yan City, and Yangzheng Middle School in Forest City.

With spirit soaring and brows glowing, they exuded strong confidence and aura.

The team captains, Huang Dengfeng from Baoqing First High School, Gu Junchen from Yan City Eighth High School, and Zhang Shousi from Yangzheng Middle School, naturally gathered after meeting.

"Twenty spots, how do we plan to allocate them?"

Huang Dengfeng, as the team captain of Baoqing First High School, was the first to speak.

He displayed a grand aura, with a will as firm as rock, revealing his Mountain Technique Great Success cultivation to the others.

Known for his always forceful personality, Huang Dengfeng bluntly stated his request: "We at Baoqing want ten spots."

Gu Junchen, however, gave no face at all, directly revealing his Wind Force Mastery level. Without moving, he managed to cause the surrounding air to swirl explosively: "Haha, why not just give all twenty spots to you Baoqing? Huang Dengfeng, you're not the only one getting stronger."

Zhang Shousi stood with hands behind his back, evidently agreeing with Gu Junchen's statement: "Huang Dengfeng, the twenty spots are being contested not only by our four top schools but also by other schools with experts. You brought ten people this time, but how many can actually get a spot is uncertain."

As he spoke, Zhang Shousi's aura blended seamlessly with the surrounding scenery, appearing natural and harmonious, perfect.

This is a sign of Forest Technique Great Success!

Seeing this made Huang Dengfeng frown; he had grown stronger recently, yet his old rivals hadn't remained idle.

Now that everyone has progressed, it equates to retaining the competition level, meaning the allocation of spots ultimately depends on ability.

After glancing around, Huang Dengfeng noticed a familiar figure was missing: "Where's Miao Yiren?"

Gu Junchen conveyed the news he had just received: "I heard that Linjiang First High School's team encountered some issues on the way."

"What happened?"

Zhang Shousi felt a bit tense, as he was Yuh Shoucheng's senior brother; they were both disciples of the Cloud Hand Sect with the character 'Shou', similar to their fathers, having a close relationship.

"Rest assured, nobody died this time. However, their bus broke down, and the Martial Arts Association sent a special vehicle to pick them up. They should arrive soon."

Just as Gu Junchen finished speaking, Xu Lan arrived at Golden Scale Manor with Miao Yiren and others.

Standing on the second floor of the manor, Gu Junchen called out to Miao Yiren from afar: "Miao Yiren, our four top schools have been waiting on you."

Soon, Miao Yiren went up to the second-floor restaurant and met with the three: "Sorry, we ran into an unexpected incident on the way, came late."

Zhang Shousi laughed heartily: "If you didn't come, Huang Dengfeng would have swallowed Linjiang First High School's spots."

At this moment, Huang Dengfeng looked at his old rival, Miao Yiren, with bright eyes: "You've achieved Thunderous Mastery?"

"Yes."

"Great, this time we'll have a good fight again."

After losing by half a move last time, Huang Dengfeng, now greatly improved in strength, naturally wanted to reclaim victory; otherwise, his mind would remain unsettled.

Huang Dengfeng then suggested: "Now that all four school captains are here, let's distribute the spots among ourselves internally rather than letting them go to waste on unfavored schools."

"Agreed."

"I agree too."

Gu Junchen and Zhang Shousi looked at Miao Yiren, who hadn't spoken, and asked: "You?"

Miao Yiren showed a bitter expression: "I'm not the captain. Asking me is pointless."

Upon hearing this, the three expressed disbelief: "Haven't you reached Thunderous Mastery? Is there anyone at Linjiang First High School who can beat you?"

"Beat me? I can only describe his strength as despairing."

Miao Yiren recalled how Ye Qingzhou almost crushed his Miao Blade single-handedly, uncertain how to describe his feelings.

As for these few rivals who had competed with him for years, Miao Yiren could only wish them luck now.

The three didn't believe him, owing to how absurd Miao Yiren's words seemed.

Huang Dengfeng sneered and mocked: "You're getting more cowardly as you age. Haven't seen you in half a year and you've fallen like this? Can't even handle a junior high student?"

Miao Yiren didn't bother explaining but instead gave them a sympathetic look: "You'll understand once you meet him."

He couldn't help but feel schadenfreude.

After all, being Ye Qingzhou's opponent this time resulted in a too tragic outcome.

Both Huang Dengfeng and Gu Junchen hailed from Martial Arts Families, while Zhang Shousi was a high disciple of the Cloud Hand Sect, making them highly prominent and powerful.

Despite still being Martial Arts Apprentices, the trio possessed combat strength comparable to Professional Second Rank Martial Artists, with only slightly lesser endurance.

Therefore, when they gathered, they discussed various topics, lavishly expressing their ambitions, as if pondering the rise and fall of their era.

Previously, Miao Yiren would have joined them.

However, after encountering Ye Qingzhou, Miao Yiren realized that some people are destined to be admired from afar.

Watching his old rivals boast in front of him, Miao Yiren only wanted to laugh heartily inside.

You all are doomed.

As the sun set, just as the light began to disappear, a giant black shadow silently appeared on the distant horizon.

The shadow rapidly approached, creating a whirlwind of dust and toppled trees.

Huang Dengfeng, previously engrossed in conversation, suddenly widened his mouth in astonishment, pointing at the increasing clarity of the massive black snake shadow, his voice trembling: "What... what's that?"

"Enemy... enemy attack!"

Sharp sirens rang out, throwing Golden Scale Manor into turmoil, as nearby stationed troops and Martial Artists of the Martial Arts Association responsible for guarding the place gathered quickly.

"Tyrant Black Python!"

"A forty-meter-long Tyrant Black Python!"

The Python is the King of Ten Thousand Snakes, possessing a Half-Dragon Body, with exceptionally thick Qi and Blood, making it difficult to kill.

At least three Master Level Martial Artists are needed to quickly suppress or repel it.

But today, only one Master Level Martial Artist remained at Golden Scale Manor!

In this situation, Xu Lan came to explain with a smile, addressing the crowd: "Sorry, that Tyrant Black Python is a pet of one of my students; I'm sorry it startled everyone."

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