Dominating Martial King-Chapter 39 - 36 Complacency

39: Chapter 36: Complacency

39 -36: Complacency

Chu Xisheng washed up in just a few minutes and, together with Chu Yunyun, left the house.

It was just starting to get light outside, and the streets inside the Martial Arts Academy were still pitch-black.

Yet numerous disciples emerged from the direction of the Disciple Residence, hurrying towards the main training field.

As Chu Xisheng and his companion joined the stream of people, many of the Inner Sect Disciples around them turned to look at him.

Their expressions varied, some filled with respect, some with admiration, some with cold indifference, and others with a fighting spirit ready to burst forth.

Chu Xisheng seemed indifferent to the gazes of the crowd.

His face was impassive, his steps were measured, and his aura was profound and inscrutable.

However, inside, Chu Xisheng felt rather helpless.

He had no choice, for if he didn’t want those 32 Martial Arts Points to dwindle, he had to maintain the persona of the expert.

Therefore, he couldn’t afford to lose either, as losing would mean wasting twenty taels of Demon Silver.

By the time they rushed to the main training field, it was already boiling with people, with over four thousand individuals from the academy gradually converging there.

The numerous instructors of the academy were yelling loudly, arranging the disciples into formations and supervising order.

All of them wore serious expressions, keeping their backs ramrod straight, looking energized and ready.

The master of the academy and several other instructors sat on a high platform to the north.

However, the person seated in the center of the platform today was not the academy head Lei Yuan, but a round-faced man of medium stature.

This man had fair skin, a small nose, small eyes, and a smiling face as he watched the disciples below.

Chu Xisheng glanced at him and couldn’t help feeling a sense of surprise.

Conveniently, the Hu brothers were standing nearby, so he whispered, “Brother Hu, who is that person on the platform?

What’s happening in the academy today that calls for such a grand setup?”

“That’s the Inspector sent by the Formless Divine Sect, named Jian Cangfeng.”

Indeed, Hu Kan was well-informed, his face serious: “It is said that he’s a True Inheritor of the Formless Divine Sect, commissioned by several elders of the Sect to observe the academy’s learning environment and evaluate the instructors.

Later on, he might even assess our Martial Arts prowess.”

Chu Xisheng’s brows raised slightly at once.

A True Inheritor of the Formless Divine Sect and the True Inheritors of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall were not the same; the former started at least as a Fourth Grade.

He let go of the worry in his heart, for an assessment of Martial Arts prowess was unlikely to involve someone of the First Leaf Inner Sect.

And as a First Leaf Inner Sect, he was quite competent.

Chu Xisheng then noticed that the Hu brothers were looking at him with peculiar expressions.

He couldn’t help asking doubtfully, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Hu Kan coughed dryly and blinked with a guilty look: “Last night, Coach Ye asked us about those rumors concerning you.”

Hu Lai felt somewhat ashamed and stroked his beard: “With no other option, we could only reveal your name.

She may come to inquire directly from you later.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xisheng immediately felt a headache coming on.

Chu Yunyun, standing beside him, chuckled softly.

After all, all of this was brought upon by Chu Xisheng himself.

While they were discussing, Lei Yuan, his face stern, gave a respectful salute to Jian Cangfeng from the northern platform.

“Senior Brother Jian, all the True Inheritors and Inner and Outer Sect Disciples of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall have gathered, along with three hundred and seventy-six instructors, 353 of whom are present and accounted for.”

In the Sect, entry seniority was everything; hence, though Lei Yuan was five years older than Jian Cangfeng, he still called him Senior Brother.

“Then let’s start the morning drills.”

Jian Cangfeng scanned the area with a smile on his face: “The elders of our Sect have great expectations for Junior Brother Lei’s ability to instruct disciples.

I too am eager to see what level our Martial Arts Hall’s disciples have reached after Junior Brother Lei has been at the helm for three years.”

Lei Yuan responded with a calm smile: “What metal Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall is made of, Senior Brother can see for himself.”

Jian Cangfeng could not help but raise an eyebrow.

Wait and see?

Was he being told to keep his eyes peeled?

The suggestive tone in Junior Brother Lei’s words showed there were emotions lurking beneath the surface, which seemed normal.

If Jian Cangfeng were in Lei Yuan’s place, he would also be displeased.

Following a slight wave of Lei Yuan’s sleeve towards an instructor behind him, a bell from the bell pavilion on the right of the platform rang out once again.

At this moment, the multitude of disciples began to sit cross-legged following the instructors’ lead, facing the dawn’s half-risen sun, breathing in and out in a meditative practice.

The sight of several thousand people simultaneously absorbing the Great Sun Yuan Yang Power to nourish their True Yuan was spectacular.

From the high platform above, one could even see a faint red rainbow light above the disciples.

Jian Cangfeng watched intently and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He himself came from the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall and had served as an instructor there.

He knew the Hall’s standards well.

The aura of the academy’s disciples was indeed much stronger than it had been a few years ago.

After half an hour, Jian Cangfeng praised softly, “Condensing Qi into a rainbow, good!

I did not expect that among the recent batches of disciples, there are over three hundred who have achieved the third layer of the Nourishing Essence Skill.”

A flash of pride appeared in Lei Yuan’s eyes, revealing a touch of self-satisfaction.

Next up was the display of the Ten External Skills of the Formless Divine Sect.

The more than four thousand people below, led by various instructors, wielded swords, sabers, spears, and halberds.

Their momentum was equally grand and mighty, with thundering shouts reaching up to the clouds.

Sword Hidden Blade nodded slightly, noticing that the disciples’ martial arts were a bit weaker than their Primordial Skill.

However, it was understandable that Lei Yuan’s lineage prioritized the cultivation of Primordial Skill.

“All martial arts are excellent, the standard is above average, showing the excellent educational spirit of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.

The instructors have been very dedicated.”

With a beaming smile, Sword Hidden Blade turned to everyone on the stage, “It also shows that Junior Brother Lei and the various instructors are diligent and accomplished, with excellent teaching ethics.

Rest assured, I will report the matters here truthfully to the elders.”

As soon as Sword Hidden Blade made this statement, including Ye Zhiqiu, the faces of instructors from all four courtyards were filled with pleasure.

Even Lei Yuan revealed a hint of a smile on his face.

“Next, we will examine the combat abilities of Inner Sect Disciples.

Someone, bring me the registry of all Inner Sect Disciples in the academy.”

Lei Yuan bowed his fist toward Sword Hidden Blade, “Please proceed, Senior Brother Jian, with the roll call and selection.”

At this moment, his attitude was different from before, much more polite.

Sword Hidden Blade chuckled, “There isn’t a need for roll calls.

I have brought a magical treasure specifically for assessing the disciples.

Junior Brother Zi Jing, please assist me.”

As he spoke, he took out a green-colored jade plate resembling a bowl from within his sleeve and tossed it upward.

The green jade plate immediately spun up into the air and hung above the drill field, a hundred meters in the sky.

At the center of the jade plate, seven-colored spiritual light emanated and shined down onto the ground.

The intersecting lights gathered together and unexpectedly created eight green platforms in the middle of the field out of nowhere.

“Four Symbols Decision Plate?” The instructor Daoist Zi Jing from the Mage Institute stared at the jade plate in the sky, his eyes revealing a trace of astonishment, “Senior Brother Jian actually brought this over?”

As he spoke, his right hand formed a spiritual formula and he infused it with Spiritual Power.

Sword Hidden Blade was not a sorcerer and his cultivation hadn’t reached Third Grade; thus, he could only maintain the treasure with his Spiritual Power.

“It is indeed ‘Four Symbols Decision Plate’ gifted by Elder Xiang Ru.

It can discern the cultivation of all disciples present and randomly select thirty-two people to the high platforms to assess their martial arts.”

Sword Hidden Blade picked up a cup of tea nearby and took a light sip, “Since it is Four Symbols, it naturally divides into four directions, corresponding to your East, West, North, and South Courtyards.

I will record the win-loss records and performance of the four courtyards and report to the elders.”

Ye Zhiqiu and Shao Lingshan’s expressions tightened immediately, realizing that Sword Hidden Blade’s inspection today targeted not only Lei Yuan but also them.

“Do not worry, the Four Symbols Decision Plate is fair and just.

Although the selection by the artifact is random, the average level of the Nourishing Essence Skill among disciples from all four courtyards is quite comparable,” Sword Hidden Blade explained with a smile, “Junior Brother Zi Jing, please cast the spell!”

In an instant, the Four Symbols Decision Plate shot out thirty-two beams of green brilliance that swept over the crowd of disciples.

Wherever the green brilliance paused, the disciples enveloped in the green light were suddenly translocated onto the green high platforms.

Chu Xisheng stood in the crowd, full of silent complaints.

By the looks of things, they weren’t even going to let him have breakfast.

Just seven days ago, the Martial Arts Academy finally clarified the rewards for his deed of slaying a sorcerer in the Library.

Aside from allowing him six days of unfettered access to all the texts on and below the sixth floor of the Library, they also gave him five Essence Building Pills and a wooden token.

With this token, Chu Xisheng could cultivate in the Gathering Essence Array for ten days and also eat for free in the cafeteria for three months.

This was even stingier than the Police Pool of Blood!

At least they gave actual silver, whereas the academy didn’t give any silver at all.

Because of this, Chu Xisheng had been looking forward to enjoying the beef noodles, mutton soup, and stuffed buns in the cafeteria.

He stopped cooking for himself and made sure to arrive on time at the cafeteria for meals every day.

Chu Yunyun had also started to freeload meals with him.

Since Chu Xisheng could take as much food as he wanted for free, Chu Yunyun saw no reason to waste money.

But today, it seemed he would miss a meal.

What Chu Xisheng didn’t know was that while he was sighing, Sword Hidden Blade, the Inspector on the stage, was watching him.

In his eyes appeared a flicker of doubt.

This must be the Chu Xisheng from the rumors, but his cultivation seems a little weak, only at the second layer of Primordial Skill.

But then Sword Hidden Blade also thought of those rumors about Chu Xisheng.

Chu Xisheng was acknowledged as the number one person of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall’s Inner Sect.

There must be reasons for this.

In this world, there are countless individuals with exceptional talent, many of whom have high-grade combat ability despite only being at the Second Layer of Primordial Skill.

Chu Xisheng was merely one among them.

Thus, he twitched his hand hidden in his sleeve, subtly manipulating a beam of green spiritual light from the ‘Four Symbols Decision Plate,’ moving it towards Chu Xisheng’s direction.

Daoist Zi Jing, who was infusing the ‘Four Symbols Decision Plate’ with Spiritual Power, immediately sensed something and looked questioningly at Sword Hidden Blade.

This True Inheritor colleague of his spoke of ‘fairness,’ but clearly, he was cheating, wasn’t he?

According to rumors, wasn’t this person secretly in love with Ye Zhiqiu, Miss Ye?

Could it be that out of spite from her rejection, he was putting an Inner Sect Disciple of the First Leaf from the Eastern Courtyard onto the stage?

Sword Hidden Blade then smiled smugly, casting a flattering look at Ye Zhiqiu.

By arranging for the Eastern Courtyard’s strongest individual to ascend, Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall’s Eastern Courtyard would likely claim victory this time.

In Ye Zhiqiu’s future Inner Sect promotion and exchange for secret medicine from the Formless Divine Sect, today’s competition could be a bonus.

But in the next moment, Sword Hidden Blade was slightly taken aback, seeing Ye Zhiqiu staring at him with wide-open eyes, full of anger.

At that moment, Ye Zhiqiu truly felt an urge to tear this Senior Brother Jian to pieces.

Why should other three courtyards send up two-leaf and three-leaf disciples, while her Eastern Courtyard had to put up a first-leaf disciple?