The past few days had been anything but peaceful in the capital's martial artist circles.
Word had spread rapidly through the inner circles that a second powerhouse had emerged who had slain a demigod, and that he had already arrived in the capital. The news had set everyone abuzz.
For low-level martial artists, a major figure like this was naturally a source of shock and excitement.
But among martial masters, it had sparked plenty of curiosity.
Though few said it outright, many of them were unconvinced.
Ye Zong was the obvious exception. He had always stood above the rest, long since surpassed the very notion of a martial master. He was like a towering mountain pressing down over the martial arts world of the entire Great Xia Nation—the pinnacle of strength humanity could attain, the God of Martial Arts!
His countless astonishing feats had long since made every martial master accustomed to his terrifying power. Even though they were shocked to hear he had slain two demigods in succession, it still seemed only natural, and they admired him for it.
But now some local martial master from the provinces had, by a stroke of luck, also slain a demigod—and was even going to receive a national commendation. Their first reaction was that it had been luck. Their second was that they were unconvinced.
The capital was a gathering place for martial masters. Seven out of every ten martial masters lived there. To the capital's martial masters, this was practically a slap in the face.
In the morning, the table was laden with dishes.
A middle-aged couple sat at the dining table, eating.
Just then, a girl of thirteen or fourteen came clattering down the stairs. "I'm going to be late! Mom, Dad, I'm not eating. I'll buy something on the