Chapter 69

As winter approached, the weather became increasingly cold. The number of hunters and treasure seekers entering and exiting the Qingmang Mountains had dwindled, and the bustling water transport wharf outside Jingyun City had lost its former prosperity. It was said that the upper reaches of the Luo River had begun to freeze, which naturally had a significant impact on the number of merchants and travelers.

At this time, Jingyun Martial Academy welcomed its monthly martial arts examination.

Jingyun Martial Academy held a martial arts examination for its disciples every month. Besides testing the disciples' basic martial arts skills, it also aimed to enhance their sense of honor and combat abilities through mutual exchanges and challenges.

Additionally, the academy used the martial arts examination to select outstanding students for further cultivation.

Since the monthly martial arts examination only targeted the thousands of disciples in the Lower Academy, it was known as the "Lower Academy Minor Examination," distinguishing it from the annual full academy martial arts examination, which was the "Academy Grand Examination"!

Bang! Bang! Bang~

In the early morning, as the sun had just risen and the mist covering the Qingmang Mountains had not yet dissipated, the deep and resonant sound of the bell broke the tranquility of the academy, reaching everyone's ears.

The entire Lower Academy seemed to suddenly wake up from a dream, immediately becoming busy and noisy. Countless disciples left their dormitories and gradually gathered towards the main training ground.

Wei Changfeng was also among them.

Unlike others who traveled in groups of three or two, he was alone.

Many Lower Academy disciples who knew Wei Changfeng intentionally or unintentionally kept their distance from him, even pointing and whispering.

"That's Wei Changfeng!"

"Wei Changfeng really came to participate in the Minor Examination. Isn't he afraid of dying?"

"I heard he studied swordsmanship under Master Dongfang. He can't afford to lose face by fleeing in battle!"

"Hehe, is it useful to seek help at the last minute? Master Hao Xiong is not someone to be trifled with!"

"Overestimating oneself!"

Most were gloating, some were regretful and puzzled, but no one believed Wei Changfeng could defeat Hao Xiong. They all avoided him as if he were a plague, casting mocking, contemptuous, and disdainful glances.

However, Wei Changfeng paid no attention to the strange looks and whispers from those around him. He walked unhurriedly through the corridor and arrived at the main training ground.

"Junior Brother Wei..."

Suddenly, a disciple in a green robe walked over and blocked Wei Changfeng's path, saying, "Let's talk for a moment!"

It was Li Chen, one of the few peers Wei Changfeng had interacted with at Jingyun Martial Academy.

Wei Changfeng followed him to a corner of the main training ground and asked, "Senior Brother Li, what's the matter?"

Li Chen scratched his head and said, "I just received a message from Senior Brother Dongfang..."

Seeing his hesitant expression, Wei Changfeng knew it wouldn't be good news. He smiled faintly and said, "What bad news? Just say it!"

Li Chen smiled bitterly and said, "I heard that Hao Xiong obtained a pair of high-quality iron eagle gloves. Additionally, I heard that he took a high-grade Zhu Shen Qi Dan last night. You need to be careful in the life-or-death arena!"

The Zhu Shen Qi Dan is a third-grade pill that can replenish vital energy and nourish the body, with a long-lasting effect. For martial artists, it is an excellent auxiliary pill for cultivation.

Especially for a "body cultivator" like Hao Xiong, taking a high-grade Zhu Shen Qi Dan in advance would undoubtedly bring his cultivation to its peak, allowing him to perform at his best in the competition!

According to the rules of Jingyun Martial Academy, disciples in the life-or-death arena cannot use pills, hidden weapons, poisons, or other external means to gain an advantage. However, taking pills in advance is not restricted.

In other words, this is exploiting a loophole in the rules!

And the gloves are precisely a powerful weapon for body cultivators to counter sword cultivators!

Both pieces of news were indeed bad news.

Wei Changfeng's expression remained unchanged, and he said with a smile, "It seems some people hope I die as quickly as possible..."

In a life-or-death battle, one naturally uses every means possible, especially when he had many powerful enemies.

Li Chen really admired Wei Changfeng. If it were someone else, hearing such unfavorable news before a life-or-death battle would inevitably affect their mental state.

This was the reason he hesitated about whether to tell Wei Changfeng the bad news.

But Wei Changfeng's reaction was completely unexpected!

"From what I know, many people in the academy have bet on you losing within half a moment, and some even bet on you losing within a full moment..."

Li Chen said, "I heard the bets are quite large!"

Wei Changfeng smiled, showing his teeth, and asked, "Senior Brother Li, did you place a bet?"

Li Chen nodded frankly, "Yes, I bet two hundred taels on you winning big!"

He smiled bitterly and said, "That's all my savings!"

Wei Changfeng patted Senior Brother Li's shoulder and said, "Those who bet on me losing will lose their pants, and those who bet on me winning won't be disappointed."

These few simple words were filled with intense confidence and pride!

Li Chen was momentarily stunned.

Wei Changfeng smiled and walked briskly into the training ground.

Watching his departing figure, Li Chen suddenly felt a surge of excitement and couldn't help shouting, "Junior Brother Wei, I believe you will win!"

Many passing disciples cast curious glances.

At this moment, the main training ground was already crowded with thousands of Lower Academy disciples, all of whom had come.

The martial arts examination was very important to them. If they failed three consecutive examinations, they would be expelled from the academy, and all the money and effort they had invested would be wasted.

However, this time's Lower Academy Minor Examination was clearly different from usual, with the presence of many Upper Academy disciples and even seven or eight senior masters and elders watching!

Noticing this, the Lower Academy disciples became excited and agitated. Many sensed that something significant might happen, and the main training ground was filled with an unusual atmosphere.

Bang~

The copper bell rang again, immediately silencing the entire main training ground.

A martial master in a tight-fitting outfit leaped onto the central training platform and, using his full strength, shouted, "Jingyun Martial Academy, the Lower Academy disciples' martial arts examination officially begins!"

His voice echoed in all directions, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

The Lower Academy Minor Examination officially began!

Since the academy had held countless similar examinations in the past, the entire process was already well-organized. The thousands of disciples were divided into different groups based on their admission time and participated in the martial arts examination in an orderly manner.

As a new student who had just entered Jingyun Martial Academy for a month, Wei Changfeng was still considered a New Moon disciple.

The requirements for the first martial arts examination for New Moon disciples were actually quite low.

Having the strength to lift a hundred pounds with both arms and being able to perform the basic fist techniques smoothly was enough to pass!

For Wei Changfeng, this was, of course, no problem at all.

Under the supervision of the martial master, he easily lifted a hundred-pound stone lock and completed the basic fist techniques in less than half a stick of incense, quickly passing the martial arts examination.

Like other New Moon disciples who passed the examination, Wei Changfeng sat cross-legged in the designated area on the training ground, patiently waiting for the main event of the day to begin!

The moment he sat down, he felt several sharp gazes fall upon him, like needles piercing his back!

These gazes all came from the training platforms on both sides of the rear.

In the main training ground of Jingyun Martial Academy, there were five training platforms in total, with the largest one in the center and the other four in the four corners. Normally, besides being used for martial masters to demonstrate techniques, they also served as arenas for disciples to spar.

Today, apart from the central large training platform, the other four small platforms were occupied by senior masters, elders, and Upper Academy disciples, who looked down at the Lower Academy disciples below from a high vantage point.

Such a scenario usually only occurred during the Academy Grand Examination!

Wei Changfeng was well aware of the reason. He sat still, eyes fixed on his nose and nose on his heart, as if he had not noticed the gazes fixed on him, and as if everything around him had nothing to do with him!

"This kid, indeed has some tricks up his sleeve. There will be a good show today!"

On the training platform in the south corner, a red-faced old man sitting on a sandalwood chair laughed heartily, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally falling on the lean old man sitting on the other side, full of mockery.

The two of them occupied half of the training platform, each accompanied by six or seven Upper Academy disciples.

The red-faced old man was broad and fat, looking like a wealthy man enjoying a comfortable life. His voice was like a bell, full of vigor. Uniquely, he had a fleshy lump the size of a baby's fist on his forehead, which was bright red and very noticeable.

Any disciple in the academy with some knowledge could recognize him as the martial master and elder of the Martial Arts Hall, a先天stronger, Yue Guanfei!

Additionally, Yue Guanfei was also the newly appointed head of the Jingyun Martial Academy's library.

As for the object of his mockery, it was another martial master and elder, Wang Anguo, a clan elder of the Jingyun Wang family!

The Jingyun Wang family had two martial masters in the academy, Wang Anguo and Wang Anshi. The latter was severely injured by Ouyang Feng due to Wei Changfeng and had to temporarily retire to recuperate, giving up the newly acquired position of library head.

As a result, the carefully cultivated situation of the Wang family in Jingyun Martial Academy was effectively destroyed by half, leaving only Wang Anguo alone, who had no qualifications to compete with the rising Dongfang family.

Therefore, this matter caused a significant stir among the major families of Jingyun.

As the biggest beneficiary, it was reasonable for Yue Guanfei to be biased towards Wei Changfeng.

Wang Anguo's face was dark and ugly, and he said with a "hmm," "Yue Big Lump, don't be smug! Let me tell you, the Wei kid is dead today!"

The last three words were said with clenched teeth, clearly viewing Wei Changfeng as a thorn in his side that must be removed!

Yue Guanfei smiled and touched the large lump on his head, saying, "So confident? It seems your Wang family has put in a lot of effort, but be careful not to trip in the gutter!"

---

As the era of the shamans gradually faded from history, a new field emerged and took its place.

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