The Origins of the Conquest Faction and the Combat Department

After speaking, Chen Mo lowered his voice and cautiously said, "Let me tell you, Qiu Xiaoyao and Chu Feng don't get along, and the Conquest Faction is the one that suppresses your Combat Department the most."

"You need to be careful of the Conquest Faction from now on."

"What's the reason?" Lu Chuan asked in confusion. "There's no hatred in the world without reason. There must be a reason why the Conquest Faction hates us so much."

"Of course there is."

Chen Mo continued, "On the surface, it's about resources. After all, the main combat factions only have so many resources, and we are the main combat factions among the main combat factions."

"Competitors are always enemies. The weaker your faction is, the more resources the Conquest Faction will get."

"Of course, these words are just to fool outsiders."

"The real reason is a great battle twenty years ago."

As he said this, Chen Mo suddenly paused and looked cautiously at Qiu Xiaoyao. Seeing that Qiu Xiaoyao hadn't noticed him, he continued his story.

"Twenty years ago, the Combat Department was already showing signs of decline. To dominate again and restore the glory of the Combat Department, the then-leader of the Combat Department, along with the leader of the Conquest Faction, each led hundreds of elites to infiltrate the Starry Sky Battlefield, intending to ambush a member of the Three-Eyed Race."

"No one knows what really happened in that battle."

"In short, after that battle, the Conquest Faction became increasingly hostile towards the Combat Department, suppressing it at every opportunity, and it has continued to this day."

"A great battle?"

Lu Chuan frowned. Could a single battle cause two major factions to become enemies?

Could it be that the Combat Department had somehow caused the demise of the Conquest Faction's leader?

Otherwise, why would the Conquest Faction hold such animosity towards the Combat Department for no reason?

Thinking of this, Lu Chuan quickly shared his conjecture with Chen Mo.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Lu Chuan's guess, Chen Mo looked at him with a shocked expression. "Your imagination is truly wild!"

"The leader of the Conquest Faction is still alive and well."

"Then why does the Conquest Faction hate the Combat Department?" Lu Chuan was confused.

"How should I know?" Chen Mo also didn't understand the hidden details.

Meanwhile, in the dean's office at the Conquest Academy.

The leader of the Conquest Faction was currently watching everything happening in the plaza through a mirror.

"It's that time of year again for special student admissions."

"I wonder if any geniuses will emerge from this batch of special recruits."

"That will depend on the good fortune of you and me," a voice suddenly sounded from behind the leader of the Conquest Faction.

The leader of the Conquest Faction, as if he had expected it, turned his head and asked without looking back, "Are we still going ahead with our plan?"

"Of course we are. I haven't gathered enough strength yet, anyway," the voice replied faintly.

"Understood."

The leader of the Conquest Faction nodded, then looked up at a scroll.

It was a painting of people carving a mountain road, and beneath the painting was written a line of text.

Openly repair the plank roads, secretly cross the Chencang!

In the plaza.

After exchanging a few sharp words with Chu Feng, Qiu Xiaoyao finally remembered the main business. "Students from the Conquest Faction, follow me."

"We also welcome students from other factions who wish to join the Conquest Faction."

"Let's go."

With that, Qiu Xiaoyao turned and left.

The rest of the group quickly followed.

However, a student who had been standing silently beside Qiu Xiaoyao suddenly spoke up, "I heard that the Combat Department has recruited quite a few prodigies this year."

"I hope those prodigies can reach the Dragon Tiger Ranking soon, so that I, a commoner, can witness the prowess of the Combat Department's prodigies."

These veiled and sarcastic words instantly ignited the anger of many geniuses recruited by the Combat Department.

Qiu Xiaoyao's arrogance was one thing; he had the ability to back it up.

But for a mere student to be so arrogant, who gave them the courage?

However, in a flash, the new students of the Combat Department quieted down.

This was because an upperclassman had informed everyone of this person's identity.

Luo Ling, a second-year student, a leading figure of the new generation in the Conquest Faction, a student of Qiu Xiaoyao, a Sixth-Rank expert, ranked seventy-third on the Dragon Tiger Ranking!

Not someone to be trifled with.

Forget it, forget it.

The students might be able to forget it, but the teachers from the Combat Department won't let it go.

"Even though my Combat Department has declined, it's not a place that a mere Sixth-Rank Martial Artist can provoke!"

"Upon our return, we will double the training for the new students!"

A hint of ruthlessness flickered in Chu Feng's eyes as he already had a plan forming in his mind.

"Once this batch of new students is settled, we will officially begin training!"

"Wake up at six in the morning, cultivate martial arts for five hours, grab a quick bite, and then cultivate the Sky Swallowing Art for another five hours."

"In the evening, we'll spar with each other for ten hours to accumulate practical combat experience!"

"You're all young, four hours of sleep a day is more than enough!"

For some reason, Lu Chuan and the other new students of the Combat Department shivered, as if they were being stared at by some ferocious beast.

Time flew by.

Before they knew it, the Combat Department also sent people to escort the new students away.

Following the teachers of the Combat Department, the group of new students arrived at a grand hall.

"Students, this is the comprehensive hall of our Combat Department. Some events or celebrations will be held here."

After a brief introduction to the hall, Chu Feng continued, "As special recruits of our Combat Department, each of you will receive one hundred Academic Credits."

"Spend these credits wisely; they should be enough for you to stay at the academy for half a year."

"As for other miscellaneous matters, you can inquire here at the hall. There are people on duty here twenty-four hours a day."

"Now, go and collect your identity cards."

There were only twelve special recruits for the Combat Department, so it didn't take long for them to each receive their identity cards.

After everyone had collected their cards, Chu Feng added, "These identity cards not only represent your status but also function as bank cards."

"Academic Credit transactions and transfers will be conducted through these cards, so be sure to protect them well."

Upon hearing this, all the new students immediately tucked their bank cards securely into their clothes.

"Next, I will show you to your accommodations."

"Like the other smaller departments, our Combat Department students reside in the Azure Dragon Academy's dormitory area."

"The dormitory area is divided into three tiers: four-person rooms, double rooms, and a villa complex."

"The four-person rooms cost one Academic Credit per month, while the double rooms cost five Academic Credits per month."

"As for the villa complex, it costs thirty Academic Credits per month to stay there."

Hiss!

So expensive!

Everyone was shocked by the Azure Dragon Academy's exorbitant prices.

Taking the cheapest four-person room as an example, it cost one Academic Credit for a month's stay.

Outside, that amount would be enough to rent ten villas!

"Don't think it's expensive. The dormitory area has a Spirit Gathering Array set up by the academy, making the spiritual energy concentration several times richer than outside!"

"The higher the tier, the greater the concentration of spiritual energy."

"The villa complex, the highest tier, has a spiritual energy concentration that is one hundred times that of the outside!" Chu Feng stated, shocking them.

"However, I still recommend you all stay in the cheapest four-person rooms."

"After all, our Combat Department doesn't rely on spiritual energy for cultivation; the dormitories are just places to sleep."

"I even have a more cost-saving option: sleeping on the ground outside, which costs absolutely nothing."

"Of course, that's assuming you don't mind the embarrassment."