Martial Arts School's Senior Disciple

There had always been a rule in the martial arts school: anyone who failed to break through to the Late Body Tempering Realm within seven years would be expelled.

This disciple named Tian Huarong had been in the martial arts school for eight years, yet he was still only at the Mid Body Tempering Realm. This was enough to prove that his potential was extremely limited.

If Tian Huarong failed to show any particularly outstanding performance in this disciple assessment, he would most likely have to pack up and leave.

Tian Huarong was under immense pressure. He was already over thirty, and his opponent was also a disciple at the Mid Inner Force Realm. However, his opponent was much younger than him, and the other's strength was even faintly superior to his own.

Tian Huarong had to win this match, and he had to win cleanly and beautifully. Only then would there be even the slightest possibility of remaining in the martial arts school. Otherwise, he would truly be driven out.

Once the two of them had taken their positions, Li Yuan said indifferently, "You may begin."

As soon as his voice fell, Tian Huarong's eyes reddened. He drew his wooden sword and attacked his opponent, his moves vicious and his bearing that of a man who would not stop until he won.

Witnessing this, Li Yuan frowned slightly. A martial artist's greatest taboo in a contest was to lose his temper and go berserk. Only by remaining calm could one grasp the situation and bring one's strength into full play.

Tian Huarong and his opponent clashed fiercely. His opponent was named Zhou Yan, and he wielded the comparatively rare long spear as his weapon.

The spear was king of all weapons. Zhou Yan handled it with practiced ease, blocking, parrying, and thrusting as naturally as breathing. As the spearhead shot out, it blossomed with specks of cold light. Layer upon layer of spear shadows pinned Tian Huarong firmly more than a zhang away, making it difficult for him to approach.

Tian Huarong swung his wooden sword and launched attack after attack at Zhou Yan, yet he could not break through. He grew increasingly frantic, even recklessly taking the brunt of Zhou Yan's spear attack with a muffled groan as he tried to force his way closer to his opponent.

Zhou Yan was startled. He manipulated his spear while retreating, always maintaining a safe distance from Tian Huarong.

As the saying went, an inch longer meant an inch stronger. The zhang-long reach covered by the spear was precisely the distance Tian Huarong found impossible to cross!

Zhou Yan seized a flaw in his opponent's swordplay and thrust out with his long spear, easily breaking through the defense of the sword technique. The spearhead came to rest an inch from Tian Huarong's throat.

"The match is over. Zhou Yan wins and passes the assessment."

Li Yuan announced the result of this round, then looked at Tian Huarong. "Do you have any objections?"

Tian Huarong's face gradually paled. He said hoarsely, "Senior Brother Li, although I lost the match, I still beg you to let me pass the assessment. I want to remain in the martial arts school."

Li Yuan slowly shook his head. "Your stay or departure isn't for me to decide. Let the school master make that decision."

"You may step down for now. There are still others who need to compete."

Tian Huarong stiffly turned his head toward where Qi Zhengyang stood. Qi Zhengyang was looking at him as well. He had watched Tian Huarong's entire match, yet his expression at this moment was so calm that it seemed strangely unfamiliar.

Qi Zhengyang said nothing, but it was as if he had said everything. The expression on his face already made his attitude perfectly clear... You are out.

Tian Huarong's heart gradually sank as well. He bitterly moved to the side, yielding the arena to the other disciples.

The matches between the martial arts school's disciples continued. Some passed the assessment with joy filling their hearts, while others were eliminated and left utterly dejected. The assessment would not stop because any one disciple had been eliminated.

Half an hour later, the assessment for the Body Tempering Realm disciples had completely ended. The seven elite disciples of the Inner Force Realm reported the results of their respective assessments to Qi Zhengyang, and the Body Tempering Realm disciples were divided into two groups.

One group consisted of the disciples who had passed the assessment, all of whom wore delighted expressions. The other twelve had failed. They stood to one side with disappointment and bitterness written across their faces, forming a stark contrast with those who had passed.

Qi Zhengyang stood before the assembled disciples. "This assessment is over. Some of you will stay, and some will leave. Those who stay must not grow complacent. You must train diligently, or those who leave next year will be you."

Only after saying this did Qi Zhengyang turn his gaze toward the twelve disciples who had failed the assessment.

"You can pack your things today and leave."

As soon as these words were spoken, one of the eliminated disciples immediately cried out, "School master, please give me another chance!"

"Give me a little more time! I can definitely break through to the Late Body Tempering Realm! I don't want to leave!"

Qi Zhengyang calmly looked at the disciple who had spoken. "I gave all of you seven years. As long as you possessed even a little talent, that would have been enough to break through to the Late Body Tempering Realm. But you failed to do so."

"This proves that your potential is insufficient to support you in going far along the martial path. The path of martial arts is not a stage for the mediocre. I saw your usual performance, as well as your performance in the match just now. Leave here. In these chaotic and calamitous times, the existence of Evil Creatures and Evil Warriors is not something you can deal with."

"Forcing yourselves to stay here will do you more harm than good. You should go live the lives of ordinary people instead."

Although these disciples who had been screened out were lacking in strength, Qi Zhengyang had trained them after all and had poured effort into them. He did not want them to meet untimely deaths someday in the future, so he patiently advised them to leave the martial arts school.

No matter how unwilling these twelve disciples felt, they knew that Qi Zhengyang meant them no harm and was acting for their sake. They could only follow the school master's advice.

"School master, we have disappointed you."

"Thank you for nurturing us all these years. We are beyond further cultivation, so we should leave."

"Even if I am no longer in the martial arts school, I will still be one of its members. If the school ever needs me in the future, just give the word."

"Take care, school master!"

As these disciples were about to leave, they spoke one after another, their words filled with genuine feeling.

The school master looked at these disciples and could not help letting out a long sigh. He slowly nodded, then shifted his gaze onto the seven elite disciples of the Inner Force Realm.

"Next, it is your turn."

The position of senior disciple of Zhengyang Martial Arts School had been vacant for a month. Something had happened to the previous senior disciple, who had left along with Deputy School Master Feng Xiang. Now, they needed to select a new senior disciple.

The martial arts school's seven Inner Force Realm disciples had gathered here. Every one of them had their eye on the position of senior disciple. Once one became the senior disciple, one would receive the martial arts school's full support in cultivation!

Naturally, Zhengyang Martial Arts School could not compare with such a colossal entity as the Special Capture Division. It was impossible for the school to fully support several core disciples; it simply did not have that many resources. But supporting one core disciple was still no problem.

The senior disciple was the core disciple whom the martial arts school would cultivate with all its strength.

The seven Inner Force Realm disciples' eyes burned fiercely, and surging battle intent radiated from each of them.

Seeing the unyielding gazes of the assembled disciples and their fearless readiness for battle, Qi Zhengyang slowly nodded.

"We martial artists should be this way. The victor among you... will be the martial arts school's senior disciple."

"Then, let the matches begin."