Chapter 57

"Are you crazy?!"

Ping Luan Shan pulled Jiang Feng to one side, lowered his voice, and said anxiously, "You just advanced three days ago. Passing the Heavenly Test is already a challenge, and you want to compete with their strengths using your weaknesses. What are you thinking?"

Jiang Feng just smiled and patted his shoulder, then turned to Hong Cheng and asked, "Why does the Guten Martial Hall have such a deep grudge against us? Has anything happened before?"

Hong Cheng nodded, sighed, and told them the story.

The Guten Martial Hall is located in Shuilian Town upstream of Lihua Creek, which is one of the larger towns in the area, not much smaller than Linxi County. The Guten Martial Hall is the largest martial hall in the entire Linxi County region, with the most people passing the county-level exams each year.

This is because three years ago, they got a new instructor surnamed Wu, who immediately revealed his identity as a student of the Fuliuxi School.

Instructor Wu indeed had some strength and was ambitious. After arriving in Shuilian Town, he started challenging other martial halls to build his reputation.

He began by challenging nearby martial halls, a practice known as "kicking the hall." According to the old rules, the losing side had to publicly break the hall's plaque to admit defeat.

For a time, countless plaques were broken in the Linxi area, and the martial halls lost face.

However, when Instructor Wu challenged the Yuanshan Martial Hall, he met his match.

After that battle, the Guten Martial Hall's plaque was forced to be broken at the Yuanshan Martial Hall's entrance, and they returned in disgrace. This also marked the end of their challenge tour.

Ping Luan Shan listened with great interest, as a young man, he loved such stories of humiliation. Jiang Feng, however, remembered what the others had said and asked in a low voice, "But the strength of a martial hall isn't just about the head instructor's abilities..."

Hong Cheng's face darkened, and after a moment of silence, he said, "That's true."

Hua Su indeed had great strength, but he opened the martial hall more to pass the time and earn a living. He wasn't particularly devoted to his students, but he didn't discriminate either.

Hong Cheng himself was a Second Ring Mingxin cultivator, while Wang Erhu and the others were only First Ring. Even if we put it kindly, their talents were not "average."

Hua Su took them in and brought them to the Dawn Realm, even providing them with the Tianzhao Order each year to participate in the exams.

Hong Cheng's face turned red with shame, "It's our incompetence..."

Hua Su's personal strength was strong, and he made the Guten Martial Hall publicly break their plaque. However, none of his students passed the exams for three years, unlike the Guten Martial Hall, which had some success every year.

Thus, the Guten Martial Hall gradually regained their confidence and even began to mock the Yuanshan Martial Hall. They didn't dare to directly provoke the Yuanshan Martial Hall, but this became their lifelong grudge. Whenever they met Hong Cheng and the others, they would mock them and even try to humiliate them in secret.

Jiang Feng smiled and comforted them, "Instructor Wu came to Linxi County with a purpose. They were gathering talents and building their influence. The students they recruited were all of the best talent, and their training was specifically aimed at the exams, so a high pass rate is normal."

Ping Luan Shan said不满地, "You know this so well? Yet you still made a reckless bet with them!"

Earlier, Jiang Feng had proposed to directly compare their scores in the Heavenly Test. If the other side won, he would defect from the Yuanshan Martial Hall and join the Guten Martial Hall. If he won, the Guten Martial Hall members would have to crawl back to Shuilian Town from Linxi County!

Jiang Feng didn't explain, he just smiled and looked at the scores on the Jietian List.

All the martial cultivators who participated had advanced to the Dawn Realm, with roughly the same level, mostly within the range of one chain and five qi. This meant they all had a basic score of ten to fifteen points. The key at this score was the strength of their Ming Force.

Strengthening Ming Force requires specific martial techniques, which are very rare, even in noble families or major sects. For ordinary people, this mainly depends on their talent.

The scores of the martial cultivators varied, with some lasting one breath and others two. Two breaths could double the score, quickly pushing them to the front.

Suddenly, a name on the county list shot to the top!

This person was named Gao Changdao, with a level of one chain and three qi, but his Ming Force lasted for three breaths before fading!

Thirty-nine points!

"Good!" A loud voice echoed in the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

It was the Guten Martial Hall people!

Instructor Wu heavily patted Gao Changdao's back and shouted, "Yue Xunyuan!"

A moment later, another new name appeared at the top.

One chain and four qi, also three breaths! Forty-two points!

"Good! Teng Zhi!"

One chain and five qi, three breaths, forty-five points.

"..."

Soon, the top of the Jietian County List was refreshed.

All these people were between two qi and five qi, with a strength of three breaths. Except for the earliest one, Gao Changdao, all the others scored over forty points!

There were ten of them, all students of the Guten Martial Hall!

Instructor Wu lifted his chin high, looking around proudly. The training ground was silent, and no one could speak.

His nose was in the air, and his attitude was very annoying, but his overwhelming strength was enough to speak for itself! Hong Cheng's face changed, and he whispered, "In the past two years, his students weren't this strong!"

Jiang Feng also looked at the list and suddenly smiled, turning to say, "Let's go, it's our turn."

The Guten Martial Hall was followed by the Yuanshan Martial Hall. Their five names were listed together, with Jiang Feng at the end.

The five of them walked towards the bronze tree, and Instructor Wu's gaze swept over them with a cold smile.

Ping Luan Shan said softly as they walked, "Are their talents really that good, with each of them lasting three breaths?"

Hong Cheng frowned and said, "The Guten Martial Hall does indeed select their students carefully..."

"No," Jiang Feng interrupted, squinting as he recalled something he had read in a book, "Even with top-tier talent, without the right martial techniques, they can only reach three breaths. For all of them to reach this level, it's not just about talent!"

"You mean..."

"Yes, they must have obtained special training methods to specifically strengthen their Ming Force."

Ping Luan Shan became even more worried upon hearing this. He muttered, "You shouldn't have made a reckless bet with them. Now, you need to score at least forty points to have a chance of winning."

The first of the five was Hong Cheng. When he approached, he was still hesitant, but as soon as his hand touched the bronze tree, he instantly calmed down.

He half-closed his eyes, and his skin began to glow.

Golden light seeped into the tree trunk and shot up.

One leaf, two leaves, three leaves... the first branch was fully lit.

The second branch began to glow.

One leaf, two leaves, three leaves, four leaves...

The golden light stopped advancing.

The light flickered like breathing.

One breath, two breaths... the light faded.

Instructor Wu's lips curled into a cold smile.

The light flickered again, third breath!

Instructor Wu's smile vanished, and his eyes widened!

The light faded and did not reappear, but this score was enough to surprise Hong Cheng.

One chain and four qi, three breaths! Forty-two points!

His name immediately entered the top ten!

He turned back in disbelief, exclaiming, "How is this possible?!"

He had only one chain and one qi last year, with one breath. How could he have improved so much this year?!

Jiang Feng and Ping Luan Shan turned to each other, exchanging a glance, and had some thoughts. Ping Luan Shan looked worried and muttered, "Old Jiang, you can't win with just forty points now..."

Jiang Feng patted Wang Erhu's back and said, "You go try."

Wang Erhu, one chain and two qi, three breaths, thirty-six points.

Xiang Sheng, one chain and two qi, three breaths, thirty-six points.

Although they didn't make the top ten, this score was already much better than they had expected!

Next was Ping Luan Shan, who shook his head and said, "Everyone is so strong, I'll be embarrassed if I'm weak..."

He walked over confidently and reached out without hesitation.

The light moved very quickly, and the result was soon determined.

One chain and three qi, three breaths, thirty-nine points, ranking eleventh.

He looked at his hand, puzzled, "Strange, I haven't trained my strength at all!"

Jiang Feng said meaningfully, "Really?"

Ping Luan Shan was taken aback, "You mean Hua Teacher's..."

Jiang Feng took a deep breath and said, "Now it's my turn!"

Jiang Feng walked steadily, his expression calm and relaxed, showing no signs of worry.

He reached out, and the bronze tree felt smooth and cool, very comfortable.

A moment later, a current of energy from the tree passed through Jiang Feng's pores into his body, quickly connecting with his flowing Ming Force.

The tree began to glow.

The light moved slowly and steadily, quickly passing the first branch and moving on to the second.

Ping Luan Shan sighed inwardly. Three days ago, Jiang Feng had just broken through, and it wasn't enough for him to open the first qi of the second branch.

Sure enough, the light stopped at the front of the second branch.

Seeing this score, the Guten Martial Hall students burst into laughter, "One chain, just one chain, he's just a beginner!"

Instructor Wu also sneered, but he scolded his students, "At his age, being able to break through is already a sign of talent. You should learn from his diligence!"

At this moment, Jiang Feng slightly opened his eyes, and the light of his Ming Force gradually faded and disappeared.

First breath ended.

A moment later, the light flickered with his breathing and then disappeared again.

Second breath.

The light of the Ming Force flickered slowly.

Third breath.

It ended here!

At his age, being able to break through and have three breaths of Ming Force strength was already quite impressive.

However, what excited Instructor Wu the most was not this.

Hua Su would find it very difficult to recruit students with such talent. But now, he had easily won them over with a simple bet!

The thought of taking away the good seeds that Hua Su had worked hard to find made Instructor Wu very happy!

At this moment, something shocking happened.

On the bronze tree, the light appeared for the fourth time, paused for a moment, and then slowly disappeared.

Fourth breath!