Arriving at the Nine Provinces

Chen Fan smiled slightly and bowed in greeting.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Xuanqing snorted with satisfaction, turned around and left. His back view showed him back to his usual carefree demeanor, muttering things like "I haven't felt this good in three hundred years" and "I'll have to open a jar of good wine when I get back," before he swayed and disappeared into the night.

Chen Fan straightened up and stood with his hands behind his back.

A night breeze swept across the vast and boundless night sky above Star River Martial Academy.

He gently moved his wrist, feeling the subtle resonance between the Dao Mark and flesh within his body with each pulse, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards.

The Four Academies Competition

Shen Xuan, Su Qingyue, Tuo Bashan...

It's been over a year since we last met.

"I wonder if that Martial Fool has found an opponent strong enough to fight."

Chen Fan shook his head and chuckled, then strode towards the direction of the School of Life School.

Behind him, the night wind swirled, stretching his shadow long under the starlight.

Three months is neither a long nor a short time.

Chen Fan did not go to the training room, nor did he seek out the Insect Race to practice against.

His daily routine was simple: walk, sit, breathe, and occasionally water the unidentified weed in the yard.

If others saw this, they would probably think that this monster, who had just devoured the Origin Ancient Realm, had gone mad from cultivating.

But Chen Fan himself knew the truth.

The Dao Mark within the Dantian was initially like a Stars forcibly inserted into the body, always separated from the meridians, bones, and blood by a layer of something.

Over the course of three months, that barrier gradually dissolved, and the pulse frequency of the Dao Mark gradually synchronized with the heartbeat and resonated with breathing.

Today, he can no longer even distinguish between the Dao Mark and himself.

"It's time to go."

The morning mist had not yet dissipated when Lin Xuanqing's voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

Gone was his usual carefree grin, and that affectedly eccentric demeanor; he simply stood there quietly with his hands behind his back.

Chen Fan was squatting on the ground, holding a withered yellow leaf between his fingers, preparing to clear away the weed. Hearing the sound, he picked the leaf off, patted the dirt off his hands, and stood up.

"The students are ready."

Lin Xuanqing sized him up for a few moments.

The sharpness of the newly forged sword from three months ago had been completely concealed, and standing before him was just an ordinary young man, his aura as calm as a still lake.

But the more this is the case, the more it proves that the Dao Mark has been perfectly integrated.

The old man blinked with satisfaction and casually said, "I don't need to teach you how to manage the freshmen. Your Senior Fellow Apprentice is keeping an eye on things at the Academy Grand Competition, so don't worry."

He paused, then added another sentence.

"Don't cripple him; it'll be hard to explain when he gets back."

Chen Fan smiled.

"Try your best."

Lin Xuanqing turned and left, his back swaying as he hummed a tune from who-knows-when, disappearing into the morning mist in a few steps.

Central Plaza.

Twenty-three new students stood in a square formation, all wearing the standard uniform of the Star River Martial Academy. They were full of energy, but could not hide the tension in their eyes.

The strongest among them is already at the Sixth Grade Undying Realm, and the weakest is at the peak of the Fifth Grade Golden Body Realm. They would be considered top contenders in any academy.

"They've arrived."

Someone whispered something.

All eyes turned to the edge of the square.

A boy who looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in the most ordinary student uniform, walked slowly over with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

There was no earth-shattering display of power, nor any arrogant demeanor of a powerful figure.

It's like going to the cafeteria for breakfast early in the morning and passing by here on the way.

But no one in the formation dared to be negligent.

The feeling was strange. Although there was no trace of cultivation fluctuation, everyone's backs involuntarily straightened when he approached.

It was as if some kind of instinct etched into their blood told them this.

This person is different.

Chen Fan walked to the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the twenty-three young faces.

"Everyone's here?"

His tone was easygoing, even carrying a touch of the laziness typical of young people.

There was a two-second silence.

A tall girl standing in the front row spoke first, her voice clear but tinged with restrained nervousness.

"Hello, Senior Fellow Apprentice Chen."

"Hmm." Chen Fan nodded. "No need to be so formal, it's not like we're being tortured."

A few of the bolder freshmen couldn't help but laugh when they heard this, and the atmosphere relaxed a little.

Chen Fan's gaze lingered on two more people in the crowd.

One was a silent, black-haired boy standing on the far left. His aura was as restrained as a deep pool, and he possessed a composure beyond his years— Peak Golden Body Realm, but his foundation was excessively solid.

The other was the tall girl who had spoken first, whose aura faintly carried the Dao Rhythm unique to the Life School.

Interesting.

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply kept it in mind.

On the other side, ten Star River Level Students stood silently.

Wen Yuan stood among them, feeling Chen Fan's gaze fall upon him, nodded slightly, and a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

He knew better than anyone that the Junior Fellow Apprentice who swallowed the Origin Ancient Realm three months ago and the seemingly harmless boy three months later were the same person.

It's just more dangerous now.

What are you all dawdling about!

A powerful shout echoed across the square.

Dressed in a black martial arts robe, Old Freak Wang strode into the arena. His face was full of scars, and his eyes were gleaming with sharp light, making him look like a black bear that had been released from its cage.

The new students were jolted awake by the shout and straightened their backs and tucked in their stomachs.

Old Freak Wang looked around, his gaze lingering on Chen Fan for a moment.

He didn't speak, but just snorted through his nose.

Then, turning to face everyone, his voice booming, "From today onward, you represent not yourselves, but the name of the Star River Martial Academy. Listen up, those who go out and embarrass themselves will return kneeling before their own schools. I won't lift a finger."

He then waved his hand dismissively.

"Get on board!"

The silver-white Starship fell silently from the sky, obscuring half of the daylight.

Chen Fan walked at the very front of the new student formation, while Wen Yuan led the Star River Level Students to board the ship from the other side.

As the two teams stepped into the ship's gate one after the other, someone saw Chen Fan glance at Wen Yuan.

Wen Yuan gave him a reassuring look.

No need for further words.

The Starship is activated, tearing through the Void.

Inside the ship, Old Freak Wang stood in the main cabin and briefly explained the itinerary.

"The Four Academies Competition will be held at the Nine Provinces Martial Academy. The rules will be discussed later. The Freshmen Competition will come first, followed by the Academy Grand Competition."

He glanced at Chen Fan.

"You're playing two games, don't go all in right away like you did last time playing against the bugs."

Chen Fan nodded.

"It saves the students money."

Old Freak Wang snorted again and waved for everyone to disperse and rest.

Observation cabin.

Chen Fan stood by the porthole, arms crossed, gazing at the swirling starry sky outside.

The Tianshu Star System gradually receded into the distance, becoming a single point of light at the edge of the field of vision.

He recalled the scene of saying goodbye more than a year ago.

Shen Xuan stood in the wind, gently closing the folding fan in his hand, his smile warm yet concealing a sharp edge.

"Let's go our separate ways. Next time we meet, I won't be standing behind you."

Su Qingyue left behind only a cool profile and the words, "Take care."

Tuo Bashan was the simplest; he patted him on the shoulder, grinned, and said, "Next time we meet, let's fight!"

Chen Fan's lips unconsciously curled up.

It's been over a year.

I wonder how many punches that Martial Fool can withstand from me now.