Town Martial

Chu Ning shook his head, his expression unchanged. "No, I just haven't decided yet."

"The champion of the Azure Cloud Arena not only receives the Nine Heavens Thunder Canon but also qualifies to enter the Town Martial Division," Xie Mingli said, tapping the chessboard lightly with her fingertips. Black and white pieces fell, intermingling. "In this game, only the winner can dominate the overall situation."

Chu Ning frowned slightly. "The Town Martial Division... what is that?"

"The sharp edge of the northern border, the shadow in the frost," Xie Mingli looked up. "They control the martial artists of the dynasty, and even the First Grade Pavilion fears them."

Xie Mingli continued, "The Town Martial Division is the core military institution of Marquis Wu's Estate in the northern territories. It controls the martial artist strength of the Great Gan Dynasty in the north, with countless experts under its command. Those geniuses who come to participate in the Azure Cloud Arena have never aimed for merely a copy of the Nine Heavens Thunder Canon. Their goal is to enter the Town Martial Division through this competition, gaining higher status and a stronger background."

Chu Ning's brow furrowed, faintly sensing that Lei Wanjun's intention for him to participate in the Azure Cloud Arena might be far more than it appeared.

Chu Ning slowly put down his teacup and pondered for a moment. "What benefits would entering the Town Martial Division bring me?"

Xie Mingli's tone became solemn. "First, the government will protect your family, and you will no longer have to worry about their safety. Second, you will have the opportunity to apprentice under a Fourth Rank martial artist, and even gain access to higher-level cultivation resources... these are not easily obtained through personal effort alone."

Chu Ning's eyes flickered slightly. The protection of the Town Martial Division meant his elder sister's safety would be assured, and he would no longer have to worry about the Wang Family's oppression. This was indeed an opportunity that could not be ignored...

Chu Ning gently rubbed the teacup. The tea leaves at the bottom reflected a hexagram—Kan above, Li below, indicating Water over Fire, a state of non-completion.

When he looked up, Xie Mingli was flicking a black jade chess piece into the incense burner. The ashes in the burner suddenly billowed up.

"I'll join," he said in a deep voice. Before his words had even finished, the Chaos Divine Order suddenly vibrated, as if countless wronged souls were screaming in his mind.

Xie Mingli nodded gently, as if she had anticipated his decision.

"Then, do I need your help to win the championship?" Chu Ning asked.

Xie Mingli shook her head, her expression calm. "No, I've changed my mind. You can win it yourself. Just register under the banner of Marquis Wu's Estate."

Chu Ning was taken aback, his gaze shifting. Since Xie Mingli could make such a decision, it meant her plans for the Azure Cloud Arena had already changed, and she might even have another agenda.

However, he didn't ask further. He cupped his fists. "Alright, I'll go register then."

Xie Mingli leaned against the doorframe, watching Chu Ning's retreating figure merge into the night. A fine crack suddenly appeared on the jade bracelet around her wrist, and a drop of blood seeped from her fingertip, falling onto the bluestone slab and igniting with a faint blue flame.

"Chilong Backlash..." she murmured. A yellowed letter slipped from her sleeve, its writing sharp as a knife. "Chu Ning carries the power of frost and ice, and may be greatly related to sacred beasts."

As Chu Ning stepped out of Marquis Wu's Estate, the Chaos Divine Order vibrated again, causing a sharp pain in his forehead.

He frowned and pressed a hand to his collar, only to catch sight of a dark shadow flashing in a dark alley at the street corner. The man's sleeve was embroidered with the flame patterns of the Li Fire Palace, but the belt around his waist held the unique Red Copper Bell of the Wang Family.

"A fine nest of snakes and rats," he sneered. Frost Lightning condensed into an ice pick in his palm, but the shadow had already vanished like mist, leaving only a scorched mark on the ground, shaped like a mocking smile.

At the registration area, martial artists were gathered, their discussions rising and falling, all about the prominent figures of the Azure Cloud Arena.

"Did you hear? Nie Qing from the Cold Mountain Sect is also here. He's a monstrous talent at the peak of Tenth Rank Upper Grade!"

"The Heavenly Thunder Sect is even more formidable. They've sent three true disciples. The strongest, Lu Canglei, is already Ninth Rank Lower Grade and has mastered the 'Thunder Prison Raging Waves'!"

"The Wang Family isn't to be outdone either. Wang Chongshan, the Third Elder of the Wang Family and an Eighth Rank martial artist, is personally leading the team. Wang Chen and three disciples are competing. I heard his 'Sky Burning Force' has reached great mastery, making him an opponent that ordinary Ninth Rank martial artists can't handle!"

The hall was crowded, the stench of sweat and the smell of iron from scabbards mixing together.

As Chu Ning crossed the threshold, he heard a scream erupt from the northwest corner. A martial artist in plain clothes was kicked flying, crashing into a stone pillar, the recommendation letter in his hand consumed by flames and turned to ash.

"Do mere ants from humble families deserve to contend for the Nine Heavens Thunder Canon?" Lu Canglei, a disciple of the Heavenly Thunder Sect, flicked lightning from his fingertips, his boot crushing the martial artist's severed finger. "The rules are clearly written: those without a sect... scram!"

Chu Ning's gaze swept over the bloodstains on the wall, where seven claw marks of varying ages had accumulated.

The grey-robed registration official lifted an eyelid, his ink-dipped brush hovering over the words "Marquis Wu's Estate." He sneered, "Miss Xie submitted the list the day before yesterday. There's no one like you among the ten names."

He deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of the crowd. "Impersonating Marquis Wu's Estate? The last person who tried that is still hanging at the city gate!"

Laughter erupted from all around.

"Someone actually dared to impersonate Marquis Wu's Estate?"

"The recommendation letter from Marquis Wu's Estate requires the Cold Jade Seal. This kid probably hasn't even seen what Cold Jade looks like!"

Chu Ning remained silent, gently tapping the counter with his fingertip. A wisp of Thunderous Force snaked along the wood grain into the registration official's palm. The man trembled violently, and the brush handle snapped in half with a "crack."

"You brat from the Chu family, it's been a month, and you still only know how to play petty tricks."

A young man in Purple Gold Brocade Robes sauntered down from the second floor, the Red Copper Bells on his waist jingling. Each step he took caused the flagstones to crack with spiderweb patterns.

Wang Chen's pupils were a dark red, like molten lava, a sign that his "Sky Burning Force" had reached great mastery.

He raised his hand and pressed down.

"Boom!"

The air around Chu Ning suddenly distorted, and waves of scorching heat, like an invisible cage, confined him.

Frost Lightning exploded into ice crystals beneath his skin, but they instantly vaporized into white mist.

"Tenth Rank Lower Grade against Ninth Rank Middle Grade. You think killing Feng Li across the ranks allows you to run rampant at the Azure Cloud Arena?"

Wang Chen threw out a letter. The envelope was slightly yellowed, with faint traces of blood visible.

"Open it and see."

Chu Ning slowly unfolded it, his fingertips trembling slightly. Inside the letter was a lock of black hair, carrying a medicinal fragrance, and a few dried spirit herbs.

"Does your elder sister often use these herbs?" Wang Chen chuckled, his fingertips licked by flames. "What a pity. Yesterday, her hand was burned in the fire, and she can no longer hold these things steadily."

"Do you want to see your elder sister?"

Wang Chen chuckled softly. With a slight movement of his finger, a ball of Sky Burning Force slowly rose. Within the flames, a blurry image materialized—a woman kneeling on the ground, hands clasped over her head, moaning in pain.

"Ah... please... please..."

The image was hazy, the voice hoarse, as if truly being scorched by intense heat.

Chu Ning's pupils constricted, his fingertips digging deep into his palm, drawing blood.

"Don't worry, she's not dead yet," Wang Chen said with a light laugh. "But if you lose in the Azure Cloud Arena, she won't be so lucky."

The Frost Lightning within Chu Ning's body erupted uncontrollably, and his rusted blade, crackling with lightning, struck towards Wang Chen.

Wang Chen raised his hand and waved. Sky Burning Force condensed at his fingertip, and a blazing crimson stream of light shot through the air. The air seemed to be instantly evacuated, and waves of burning air churned, even causing scorched cracks to appear on the ground.

Instead of retreating, Chu Ning advanced. Frost Lightning condensed on his blade. Wherever the rusted blade passed, the air was suddenly chilled, and the sound of cracking frost freezing could be heard.

"Boom!"

The two opposing extreme forces collided. In an instant, heatwaves and cold air exploded in the void, and the air currents swirled, forming a terrifying vortex. The stone slabs on the ground shattered inch by inch, and the surrounding onlookers retreated, their faces pale.

Chu Ning's feet were shaken, dragging out frost marks several feet long on the ground, while Wang Chen was protected by flames, the stone slabs behind him melting into a liquid substance like magma from the intense heat.