"Then who might this be?"
Xiao Yunfeng turned his gaze toward the middle-aged man.
"I know that everyone's goal this time is to be assessed as Martial Saints. But even if you make it into the National Tournament, you may not qualify if you fail to demonstrate sufficient strength. And if you fight with everything you have..."
The middle-aged man smiled. "The death rate in the adult division is far higher than in the youth division."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Being assessed as a Martial Saint through the National Tournament is the most dangerous option."
The middle-aged man smiled as he glanced at Qiu Chufeng, Shu Shaoyan, Liu Tiandao, and the others. "None of you became Martial Saints through the National Tournament route, did you?"
Their expressions shifted slightly.
Liu Tiandao, who was well-informed, seemed to have thought of something at that moment and suddenly asked, "What is your relationship with Martial Saint Wang Yuanjing of the review committee?"
"He is my father."
The middle-aged man smiled faintly.
The moment those words fell, Xiao Yunfeng, Zhao Shenyan, and several Martial Saints all changed expression.
"Grandmaster Wang Pengju had been wandering outside for years and only acknowledged Committee Member Wang last year."
Lin Yuzhi smiled and offered an introduction.
In other words, he was an illegitimate son.
Everyone understood perfectly well.
They, too, generally kept one or two heirs hidden outside, lest they meet with an accident and leave no descendants behind.
If Wang Pengju's father truly was Wang Yuanjing...
The Martial Arts Association headquarters' committee specifically responsible for assessing Martial Saints generally consisted of seven to nine people. One person might not seem like much, but figures like them often had their own web of connections.
Once you entered their circle...
The matter was practically half settled.
"Grandmaster