"Your talent is beyond question. On top of that, your Angry Dragon Spear Technique is also a Mystic Grade technique, so you can indeed compete with him on equal terms. But the world is unpredictable. It's hard to say for now whether he'll be testing his sword on you or you'll be testing your spear on him."
Huang Hui glanced at Cao Yang before speaking.
"Unless he's already entered the ranks, I'm sure to beat him!" Cao Yang said with absolute confidence.
"He's called Chu Jun. Not only is he the son of Chu Kuang, the master of Blazing Sun Martial Hall, he's also a top-tier genius with outstanding talent, just like you. He's exceptionally gifted in the way of the sword, too. In terms of talent, he's no worse than you; in terms of resources, he's even better off. And he's had several more years to train. It's entirely possible he's entered the ranks already!"
Huang Hui shook his head as he spoke.
At those words, Cao Yang fell silent.
"Entered the ranks!"
Zhang Feng, Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others couldn't help showing their envy.
They hadn't even reached the Transformation Realm yet, while Chu Jun might already have entered the ranks.
"Give me another six months, and I'll catch up to him for sure!"
Cao Yang took a deep breath, then clenched his fist slightly.
"Though my Zhou Family is well-off, and we're willing to provide you with resources at any cost, we still can't compare with Blazing Sun Martial Hall," Zhou Wen said with a sigh and a shake of his head.
"Cao Yang, you don't need to compare yourself to him. As long as you pass this year's Martial Examination, you'll be able to attend the Prefecture Martial Academy. By then, at least as far as resources go, you won't be worse off than him," Zhou Wu added.
"But my goal is to win the Martial Champion title!"
Cao Yang's expression darkened. His pride wouldn't allow him to be inferior to anyone.
"You're still too impatient. You got a later start than him, and your resources are inferior. There's almost no chance you'll beat him!"
Master Huang frowned slightly.
"If that Century-Old Blood Ginseng had been given to me, none of this would be a problem!"
Cao Yang shot Lu Yuan a cold glance, his resentment growing.
At his words, Huang Hui, Zhou Wen, and Zhou Wu could only shake their heads helplessly, at a loss for words.
Lu Yuan continued to stand there quietly. Though he intended to keep a low profile and play it safe, he would still fight for what was rightfully his.
How could he pass up a precious medicine like a Century-Old Blood Ginseng?
If he couldn't win it, so be it. But now that it was already in his hands, how could he give it away?
"Zhou Wen, are these the so-called geniuses your Zhou Family is sponsoring? They don't look like much to me!"
Just then, a group of people suddenly approached.
At their head was a middle-aged man in silver finery, rolling two iron pellets in his hand.
"Zhao Shuo, the people your Zhao Family sponsors don't seem any stronger," Zhou Wen replied calmly.
"Enough talk. We'll see who's the real deal in a moment!"
Zhao Shuo gave a cold snort, then led his people onward.
The young geniuses behind him all swept their challenging gazes over Cao Yang, Chen Zheng, Lu Yuan, and the others.
"I heard Wanhe Hall, which belongs to the Zhao Family, has always been at odds with Guangchun Hall. Whether it's medicinal broths or pills, whatever Guangchun Hall sells, Wanhe Hall sells too. They even stick their noses into every kind of medicinal herb Guangchun Hall buys."
"I even suspect the Zhao Family may have been behind the Black Cloud Stronghold incident last time."
"Be careful of that lot from Wanhe Hall when we spar later. They might not hold back!"
Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others all looked grave as they discussed it.
"A bunch of useless fools who haven't even made it past the Hidden Energy Realm. One thrust of my spear could send them flying!" Cao Yang said with a scornful smile, his eyes full of disdain.
Wang Chao, Chen Zheng, and the others immediately looked displeased.
After all, they were the useless fools at the Hidden Energy Realm—and some of them weren't even that strong, having reached only the Bright Energy Realm.
"Brother Lu, it seems this genius has never thought much of ordinary-talented fellow disciples like us, who've only reached the Hidden Energy Realm," Zhang Feng murmured as he edged closer to Lu Yuan.
Although none of them had formally taken a master, and they were merely sponsored by the Zhou Family and trained together in the courtyard behind Guangchun Hall, Zhang Feng figured they could at least loosely be considered fellow disciples.
"What other people think doesn't really matter. There's no need to care," Lu Yuan replied with a smile.
Though he had already reached the Transformation Realm and was on the verge of truly entering the ranks, he'd never wanted to show off or compete with anyone. Nor did he care what others thought of him.
"You really are easygoing, Brother Lu!" Zhang Feng said, looking at Lu Yuan with surprise.
The young man before him was the youngest of them all, yet somehow he always gave off a maturity that didn't fit his age.
In short, he was wise beyond his years.
"Look over there. His name is Xu Qing, a top-tier genius sponsored by the Zhao Family. Not only is he exceptionally gifted, he's already mastered the Iron Thread Fist. Though he hasn't entered the ranks yet, he could easily defeat an ordinary martial artist at the Transformation Realm!"
Huang Hui pointed toward the group behind Zhao Shuo.
Following his finger, everyone saw a short-haired young man in a green cotton jacket standing quietly among them.
"Except for Cao Yang, none of you should fight him. Those iron fists of his might not kill you, but they'll surely leave you laid up for months, and you'll miss the Martial Examination!"
Huang Hui warned them.
"Can't Lu Yuan kill someone at the Transformation Realm with his hidden weapon? Let him fight," Cao Yang said, giving Lu Yuan a knowing look. "His methods are a little underhanded and despicable, but if they can cripple that guy, that's not necessarily a bad thing."
"Don't do anything reckless!" Huang Hui said with a frown. "This is a sparring match, not a fight to the death. Hidden weapons, poison, and the like are strictly forbidden. Lu Yuan, make sure you remember that!"
"I understand!"
Lu Yuan nodded without saying anything more.
Though he hadn't truly entered the ranks yet, he had successfully opened his dantian. The qi and blood he'd accumulated within him far surpassed that of an ordinary martial artist at the Transformation Realm. Combined with his perfected Wind-Breaking Blade Technique and Gale Steps, he could easily overpower anyone at the Transformation Realm.
There was no need to use the Flick Finger Technique, much less his specially made iron pellets.
Besides, even if it came down to a fight to the death, once he perfected the Blazing Sun Sword Technique, the Blazing Sun Sword Qi he condensed would be no less lethal than the Flick Finger Technique combined with iron pellets.
"Hahaha... I'm not too late, am I?"
A burst of laughter suddenly rang out.
The next moment, dozens of young men and women in matching outfits strode over.
Each of them had a golden inverted triangle on their chest.
At their head was an old man with white hair.
"That's Xu Song, the master of Sanhe Martial Hall, and one of the few experts in Qinghe County who has entered the ranks," Huang Hui said to the others. He then stepped forward and cupped his fists in greeting.
"Ah Hui, it's been a long time. Have you entered the ranks yet?" Xu Song asked with a smile and a nod.
"This junior's talent is mediocre. I'm afraid there's little hope of ever entering the ranks," Huang Hui said, shaking his head helplessly with a sigh.
"You're still young. If you keep at it, there's always hope," Xu Song said encouragingly, giving Huang Hui a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"Brother Xu, your presence here honors Blazing Sun Martial Hall!" Just then, Chu Kuang, the master of Blazing Sun Martial Hall, hurried over with a hearty laugh.
"Take a good look. This man's a true hard case. He once single-handedly slaughtered more than a thousand river bandits!"
Everyone gazed at Chu Kuang with awe.
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