Inspection

A few minutes earlier.

"During the Freshmen Tournament, the various functional areas on the building's first floor will be renovated and partitioned, then lent to the participating martial arts universities for their daily teaching and training."

Ouyang Ming, chairman of the Education Coordination Committee of the Imperial Capital Branch, followed beside Huang Lei, reporting as they walked.

A large group of department heads trailed behind them, drawing frequent sidelong glances from the civilian martial artists in the Service Hall.

In another month, the National Martial Arts University Freshmen Tournament would open in the Imperial Capital.

As the host, the Imperial Capital Branch had already been busy with preparations for over a month.

Today, Huang Lei, the branch's commander, had finally managed to free up some time. He had summoned Ouyang Ming, the person in charge of the tournament, along with the heads of several relevant departments, to inspect the arrangements on-site, find any oversights, and shore them up.

After hearing Ouyang Ming's report, Huang Lei gave a slight nod and asked:

"Then how will the regular martial artist assessments be arranged during this month of competition?"

Ouyang Ming replied, "They'll temporarily be moved to the Middle Third Order assessment area on Underground Level Three. There usually aren't many people there, so shifting things around for a month shouldn't be a problem."

Then he added an explanation:

"The participating teams will be staying at the 'Yuhua International Hotel,' the closest hotel to the venue. That way, the hotel, the building, and the venue behind the building will all lie in a straight line."

"My idea is that when the participating students and teachers come over from the hotel, they won't have to take a detour to the venue's main entrance. They can pass directly through the building, with the first floor serving as both the competition's functional area and the daily training and teaching area."

"That would be the most efficient and convenient arrangement, and it would save us the trouble of setting up supporting facilities at the last minute."

Huang Lei listened, nodding from time to time.

This Freshmen Tournament would be the first to use the Alliance's newly completed all-terrain variable competition arena. Since it had been placed in the urban district, where space was tight, the overall arrangements had indeed required more effort than in previous years.

Ouyang Ming's plan was not particularly dazzling, but it made the best of the circumstances and put the existing conditions to full use. It was acceptable.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How will the participating competitors and ordinary martial artists be separated? How will the students' safety be guaranteed?"

Ouyang Ming waved to a portly middle-aged man following behind them. "Commander, this aspect is mainly the responsibility of Director Liu from the building's management office."

Director Liu immediately hurried a few steps forward and took over:

"When the time comes, our management office will arrange for security personnel to stand guard throughout the entire process, and we'll also set up isolation barriers. In addition, we've already reached an agreement with the Rift Investigation Bureau. During the competition, they'll also send people over to assist with security."

"Barriers?" Huang Lei's brows twitched. "They might work for ordinary people. But what about martial artists? Especially hot-blooded young students—what if they get into a conflict with civilian martial artists? I've heard that incidents of people fighting in secret in the building's public areas have never really stopped, have they?"

A sheen of sweat appeared at Director Liu's temples, but he did not dare raise a hand to wipe it away. He could only smile sheepishly. "Commander Huang, rest assured! Chairman Ouyang, rest assured! Over the past month, we've put tremendous effort into promoting civilized conduct and a fresh atmosphere. In areas prone to private fights, such as the assessment waiting area, we've required our staff to issue stern warnings to every examinee."

At this point, he seemed to have regained some confidence and puffed out his belly. "Through a series of effective measures, including increased patrols, repeated announcements, and stricter penalties, incidents of private fighting have basically been eradicated!"

"I, Liu Yingjie, guarantee here and now that I'll present the safest, most orderly, and best environment to the martial arts university students who are about to arrive! I absolutely won't let us lose face in the Imperial Capital Region!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the group happened to reach the entrance to the Lower Third Order assessment waiting area.

A clear, delicate shout suddenly rang out from inside:

"I'll endure your M—!"

It was immediately followed by the chaotic sounds of bodies hitting the ground, tables and chairs overturning, girls screaming, and boys roaring in anger!

The smile on Director Liu's face instantly froze, and sweat poured down his forehead.

He instinctively pulled out his Walkie-talkie, intending to call the patrol personnel.

"Wait." Huang Lei raised a hand and stopped him.

Director Liu froze, then looked at Huang Lei in confusion.

Huang Lei did not explain. His gaze passed through the waiting area, which had already descended into complete chaos, and locked precisely onto that barefoot, ghostly white figure.

"Hm?"

The longer he watched, the more focused his eyes became.

The girl's attacks were fast and precise, striking her opponents' weak points every time and instantly robbing them of their ability to resist.

Her footwork was also nimble and ethereal, her speed far surpassing that of martial artists of the same order.

One person facing the siege of more than forty martial arts university students of the same order had not only suffered no loss, but had instead felled them in droves as easily as chopping vegetables!

What incredible speed! Those finger techniques... No, she was using her fingers in place of a sword!

Could this be the Jiang Family's "Nine Moon Reflection Swords"?

When had the Jiang Family produced such an astonishingly talented junior?

Interesting. Far too interesting!

Huang Lei watched with rapt attention, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curving upward.

Ouyang Ming and the other officials beside him were also somewhat transfixed.

They were all at least Third Order, and quite a few were Middle Third Order. With one glance, they could tell that the girl was extraordinary.

Fast, silent, nimble...

Judging solely by her qi-and-blood fluctuations, the girl was at most Second Order. Yet against a group of First and Second Order students, she was effortlessly overwhelming them.

If she had been given a real sword, she probably could have slaughtered all forty-plus people in the blink of an eye.

At that moment, many people could not help but form a frightening thought.

Could Shen Yaochi have done it back then?

Emotionally speaking, they naturally hoped so.

As Hua Nation's most dazzling star of the past decade, the Martial Arts University's only Fourth Order student, and the closed-door disciple of the Martial Arts Alliance's chairman... With such talent, and as one of their own with impeccable roots, she ought to have crushed an entire era.

Yet reason told them that no matter how formidable Shen Yaochi was, it was impossible for her to single-handedly crush dozens of martial artists of the same order!

The battle most similar to this one in Shen Yaochi's record had been when she was at the peak of First Order. Alone, she had faced the ambush of two Second Order and nine First Order opponents, ultimately killing them all at the cost of severe injuries.

Compared against that, then looking again at the girl in the white dress...

Forty-three opponents. Six were Second Order, while the rest were First Order martial arts university students who lacked neither Mind Methods nor martial techniques.

Even if Shen Yaochi at Second Order had been substituted in, she probably could only have run first and worried about the rest afterward.

For a moment, the officials' feelings became rather complicated...

Only Director Liu remained standing there stupidly, squeezing his Walkie-talkie until it creaked. His face looked worse than if he had swallowed a fly.

At that moment, he wished he could tear Li Wei into eight pieces...

It's over... What a slap in the face... My punishment...

Just then, a clear shout carrying a hint of arrogance rang out from inside: "Who—else—is—there—!!!"

Director Liu's calves went weak, and he nearly collapsed straight onto the floor...

Huang Lei looked at the students strewn across the ground, then at the white-dressed girl standing tall and graceful. He could hold back no longer and burst into hearty laughter before calling out in a resonant voice:

"Oh? That's quite a boast. Fine, I'll give you a chance to show us what you can do."