Day after day,

Both Li Feng's blade techniques and footwork were rapidly advancing.

While Li Feng was immersed in his training,

Meanwhile,

At Luyang Base's First Martial Arts Academy, students from all over the school had gathered, preparing for this year's annual hunt.

The square was packed with students,

In the very front, an elderly man stood on a platform.

Despite his aged appearance, he stood upright, his entire aura was imposing and heroic, just like a lance aiming to penetrate the sky.

This man was the dean of the First Martial Arts Academy of Luyang Base.

He was also one of the five pillars of the base and a Grandmaster in martial arts, Shen Jing!

"Students, this year’s annual academy hunting competition will be different from previous years!"

"This year, our Luyang Base will collaborate with Changfeng Base for a dual-city trial!"

"In other words…"

Dean Shen Jing declared solemnly, "This hunting trial will not be limited only to the students of the First Martial Arts Academy, but also students of other academies and Martial Arts School within Luyang Base, as well as all students from the martial arts academies of Changfeng Base!”

"What?"

"A dual-city trial?"

"All academies and martial arts schools of both bases will participate. So, this trial will be on a grand scale!"

Upon hearing Shen Jing's announcement, the faces of all the participating students changed.

Luyang Base and Changfeng Base were both small bases.

As they were located nearer to each other, they occasionally held joint trials in the past.

Under typical circumstances, such trials usually provide richer rewards, but then, the risks involved were also considerably high.

Immediately,

Many of the students were feeling apprehensive.

On the stage,

Shen Jing had noticed the expressions on the faces of the students and spoke confidently, "I know what's troubling you."

"Just like you've guessed, this trial will take place on the periphery of Dashi Mountain. The inherent danger in this is obvious and does not need further elaboration! Therefore, for this trial, we are allowing students to form teams freely, and they are also permitted to opt out of the trial if they wish to!

"Of course, where there's risk, there's an opportunity."

"Both bases have prepared rich rewards for this trial. The top ten teams or individuals will likely receive rewards, including but not limited to storage bags, martial arts techniques, beast blood, spirit stones..."

At that moment,

The face of every student changed.

Expectedly, they figured that this trial would be hugely dangerous, but they never imagined that it would be on the periphery of Dashi Mountain!

There, there were numerous rank three and even rank four beasts lurking around!

Immediately,

Many students who knew they were too weak had already given up.

However, there were also some students who were eager to join in.

Among them,

Especially, the twenty or so people standing at the very front of all students.

These were the Elite Class students from the First Martial Arts Academy of Luyang Base!

Only twenty-three people!

But each one of them could be classified as the pride of Heaven in Luyang Base!

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Among the elite students, Chen Xixi was relieved when she didn't see Li Feng in the crowd.

The trial was way too dangerous.

She could hardly protect herself, let alone Li Feng, who lacked any cultivation base at all.

Seeing that he didn't sign up for the exam, Chen Xixi was relieved. Yet, she couldn't help but sigh slightly in her heart.

Who...

Wouldn't wish for the person they care about to be a genius?

"Three days ago, I successfully stepped into the Martial Artist realm. My strength has greatly increased!"

"This time in the trial, I must secure a place in the top ten and kill the Two-Headed Python!"

"Only in this way can I give Li Feng a slim chance to change his destiny!"

Feeling the vigorous and potent force within her body, Chen Xixi involuntarily clenched her fists tightly.

"Xixi, join our team?"

At this moment,

A carefree youth, who was carrying a long sword, came up to Chen Xixi. Revealing a gentle smile, he whispered in a soft voice.

As he looked at Chen Xixi, his eyes unabashedly displayed affection.

Guo Qun!

A genius from the Elite Class of the First Martial Arts Academy!

At the tender age of nineteen, he already had the power of an early-stage Martial Artist!

What's more, it was rumored that he not only possessed a medium cultivation talent but had even awakened a medium sword talent!

As far as his combat abilities and talent were concerned, he was unparalleled in the entire Luyang Base!

Also, with his pleasing appearance, he had a lot of popularity among the students.

However, what broke many hearts was,

Guo Qun was indifferent to others except for his cultivation routine, and he solely cared for Chen Xixi.

This moment, Guo Qun's invitation to Chen Xixi to team up surely attracted a lot of attention.

However...

Feeling the stares of many people around her and seeing the passionate gaze from Guo Qun, Chen Xixi could not help but frown slightly unbeknownst to others.

"I appreciate the thought, but I don't plan to team up."

Chen Xixi shook her head and declined.

"Chen Xixi rejected it?"

"Guo Qun, personally invited, and she rejected him?"

"Oh my god!"

Seeing Chen Xixi's refusal, many students were shocked.

In actuality,

Many students in the academy held high expectations for Guo Qun and Chen Xixi, looking forward to becoming a couple.

After all, they both were exceptional in terms of appearance and talent, destined for greatness together in the future.

But Chen Xixi remained firm with her unmotivated fiancé, ignoring the advances of others.

Even when it came to Guo Qun, she didn't give any extra communication.

This disappointed quite a lot of people.

"Well then, in that case, remember to be careful!"

A disappointed look flashed across Guo Qun's face, but he chose not to linger. After advising her, he returned to his team.

...

“The time is almost here, everyone board the spirit stone-powered vehicle in order, we will be departing in five minutes!”

Following Dean Shen Jing’s comments, all of the academy students boarded the spirit stone-powered vehicles.

Following this, the vehicles started and headed towards the wild.

...

“Rejected?”

In the vehicle, a young martial artist sitting next to Guo Qun laughingly said.

“Hmm.”

Guo Qun nodded.

“No worries! After all, you have been rejected many times already, so just keep going!” suggested the good-natured martial artist from the Elite class, patting Guo Qun’s shoulder, comforting him.

Guo Qun nodded in agreement. Determinedly he said, “In this dual-city assessment, I aim to secure one of the top three positions, or even the first! To make Chen Xixi realize that I deserve to stand beside her!"

His expression was resolute as he made this statement.

The convoy was making its way through the wilderness.

On the way, they occasionally saw ferocious beasts looking at them from a distance. But when these beasts saw the large convoy, the majority of them revealed fear and retreated silently.

After all, in this era,

Although humans had been dethroned from the top position in the natural hierarchy, they were not easy targets.

Human martial artists wielded extraordinary power too.

Throughout the hundred years of slaughtering, numerous fierce beasts have come to fear the ferocity and cruelty of humans.

Of course,

There were still some beasts who wanted to charge at them.

But the convoy was accompanied by powerful martial artists, including Martial Masters, sent by the Academy and Base.

Under their escort, these beasts were quickly scared off.

Those who didn't retreat were essentially dead.

By noon, the convoy finally reached the outer area of Dashi Mountain.

Once they arrived, the students participating from Changfeng Base also arrived one after another.

Worth mentioning is,

Among the students sent by Changfeng Base, a seemingly eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy, once he arrived, arrogantly looked around at everyone and scoffed, “The Luyang Base really lacks talent. There’s not even a single capable competitor!”

This statement,

Prompted sideways glances from the students of the Luyang Base.

"What are you talking about?"

“You dare to make such boastful remarks? Unbelievable!”

“Are you asking for a fight?”

“Dare to underestimate us? Wait until the trial begins; you’ll learn the hard way that words can backfire!”

The martial artists from the Luyang Base voiced their indignation.

However,

Their words were only met with sneering laughter from the students of Changfeng Base.

“Save your breath, you guys think you can defeat Xu Guang? Ridiculous!”

“Xu Guang is our Changfeng Base’s premier genius who possesses a high-level blade talent. He has already reached the intermediate phase of being a Martial Artist and has a promising future, likely to step into the realm of a Grandmaster. I hear the strongest among you, is a Martial Artist with medium sword talent. What do you compete with our Xu Guang?”

“Utterly ridiculous. You probably won’t be even able to withstand a single attack from Xu Guang once we head into the wild!”

“Hahaha…”

The students of Changfeng Base ridiculed pompously.

Hearing these words, all of the Luyang Base martial artists clenched their fists aggressively.

But at the same time,

Their hearts were filled with shock.

High-level blade talent!