Chapter 1218: Battle of the Son Command

“Luo Qiqi?”

The three remembered the name. As Hall Masters, each of them could take on ten opponents at once, virtually invincible among their peers. Yet, even they were no match for the girl, which showed her immense power!

“I wonder… Miss Qiqi, would you be interested in joining our Combat Master Hall of Chongyuan Empire?” Zhao Yi stepped forward.

“No interest!” Luo Qiqi shook her head.

If she had wanted to join the Combat Master Hall, she would have taken the assessment long ago; there was no way she would have waited until now. To be honest, she just wanted to stay by her teacher’s side and go nowhere else.

“This…”

Rejected without hesitation, Zhao Yi knew her resolve was firm and that convincing her would be extremely difficult. A wry smile spread across his face. Just as he was about to say a few more words, he heard a thunderous roar.

The Combat Master Grand Hall, located in the very center of the Combat Master Hall complex, emitted a dull, thunderous sound, like a charging horn, as if it could tear through the heavens at any moment.

“It’s the Combat Master Assembly Order!”

Their pupils contracted, and the expressions of all four Hall Masters changed. The Combat Master Hall protected the security of the region. Normally, they would train and cultivate, but once the horn sounded, they had to assemble immediately, without the slightest delay.

“Let’s go…”

Without time for further discussion, the group dared not stop and rushed towards the Combat Master Grand Hall. For the assembly order to be sounded, something major must have happened.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the square in front of the Combat Master Grand Hall. By then, all the combat masters had already assembled, standing in formation with solemn expressions.

*Whoosh!*

As the four Hall Masters landed at the front, they felt a violent energy fluctuation surge towards them, forming a colossal screen in the air.

“It’s a message from headquarters…”

Seeing this, Hall Master Xing and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought that a war had broken out somewhere and they were being called to the battlefield, but it seemed that wasn't the case. If it were a war, the message would be transmitted directly into everyone's mind, prompting immediate departure, without such energy fluctuations.

*Boom!*

As they were speculating about what had happened, an elder’s voice slowly resonated through the energy flow, echoing in everyone’s heart.

“Combat Master Zheng Yang, recommended by the Combat Master Hall of Qingyuan Empire, has successfully challenged and become the new generation Combat Child of the Combat Master Hall!”

*Swish!*

Immediately after, a figure slowly appeared on the energy screen, holding a long spear, exuding a sharp aura, as if he could break through the void at any moment.

At this moment, Zheng Yang was even sharper than before. If previously he was like a divine weapon, yet had never experienced battle or spilled blood, now he was fully honed, every movement exuding immense pressure. It was like touching a dagger, where a slight touch could easily cut through flesh.

“Combat Child?”

Hall Masters Zhao Yi, Wei Qianshu, and Liu Qinshan’s pupils contracted, and their bodies stiffened. The Combat Master Hall had not had a Combat Child for over three hundred years, and they clearly understood the significance of one appearing now.

They had thought Qingyuan Empire was merely a declining nation, and its Combat Master Hall was equally dilapidated. They never expected that the combat master they selected would actually succeed in the Combat Child assessment!

Leaving aside everything else, the “favor of recommendation” alone was enough to ensure a rapid rise to prominence. Their throats dry, the three couldn’t speak. They had been somewhat frustrated about not even getting an exchange quota, feeling their luck was bad. Now they realized it wasn’t bad luck; it was that the other party’s strength was so overwhelming that they couldn't possibly compete.

Hall Master Xing’s pupils also contracted. Zheng Yang had not come to *their* Combat Master Hall, but had been sent directly to headquarters. He had thought there was a slim chance of success, and never in his wildest dreams did he imagine… it was accomplished! A Combat Child… the future Hall Master of the Combat Master Hall, the future Battle God of the continent! And he appeared from their branch…

While still in shock, they saw the scene on the screen change. Zheng Yang swept his long spear and charged directly towards a large dragon in front of him.

“Challenging the Dragon Gate Formation…”

Hall Master Xing nodded. To become a Combat Child, one must first pass the Dragon Gate Formation.

The Dragon Gate Formation was divided into three stages: Dragon Tail, Dragon Back, and Dragon Head. At each position, there were three cultivators who were at the same level as the challenger, one level higher, two levels higher, three levels higher… all the way up to eight minor levels higher! Furthermore, they formed a formation, and to pass, one had to defeat them. The difficulty was immense, as one could imagine.

This was precisely why no one had succeeded in three hundred years.

“Headquarters transmitted the footage of the Combat Child breaking through the Dragon Gate Formation for all combat masters to watch. This is to boost morale, to let us know the Combat Child’s power, and also to show that the assessment was fair, just, and without cheating!”

This scene, recorded and transmitted by headquarters using a recording jade crystal, naturally had its own significance. It was not just to let people know the Combat Child’s strength, but more importantly… to establish authority! To let all combat masters know the Combat Child’s power, thereby establishing supreme prestige.

*Whoosh!*

As they pondered, they saw Zheng Yang on the screen, already at the Dragon Tail. His long spear thrust out like thunder and lightning, moving so fast it was almost imperceptible, piercing directly forward.

“So powerful…”

Feeling the speed of the spear, Hall Master Xing felt a chill run down his neck and shivered. Fortunately, he hadn't fought against this person; if they were at the same level, he would have been instantly pierced through the throat, without even having time to react. He felt he was no match. However, the defending combat masters reacted, meeting the attack with their own long spears, clashing and emitting a cold gleam.

Zheng Yang showed no fear. His body swayed slightly, and he stepped forward. The movement seemed subtle, yet for some reason, his speed was incredibly fast. He instantly appeared before one of the combat masters at the Dragon Tail and swept his long spear. With a single blow, he sent the opponent flying. Immediately, he continued to unleash his spear techniques, striking repeatedly. After three more moves, the remaining two were also defeated, and the Dragon Tail was breached.

“What fast spear techniques…”

All the combat masters on the square clenched their fists, their faces flushed with excitement. Especially those from the Martial Arts Hall, their eyes gleamed with admiration.

To break through the Dragon Tail, Zheng Yang used a total of five moves. Each move appeared incredibly simple—just direct thrusts and horizontal sweeps—yet they contained the ultimate essence of spear techniques, forcing opponents to dodge and defend. Even if they were to cultivate for hundreds of years, or their entire lives, they would never achieve the mastery displayed in a single one of those spear strikes.

Of course, the Dragon Tail was the simplest. Next came the Dragon Back. The three individuals in the Dragon Back section were already three, four, and five minor levels higher than Zheng Yang. He passed this section quickly as well; although it was somewhat more difficult, there were no major issues.

“He used a total of seventeen spear strikes!” Hall Master Xing calculated.

After clearing the Dragon Back, he arrived at the Dragon Head. These three opponents were six, seven, and eight minor levels higher than Zheng Yang, respectively. As soon as they made their move, wind and thunder surged, and power flowed like a tide. In an instant, their aura covered the sky and obscured the sun, shrouding the heavens. It was as if a true dragon had appeared, with clouds gathering and the world changing color.

Zheng Yang stood amidst it all like a withered leaf on a lake surface, seemingly about to be overwhelmed at any moment, yet he remained suspended above, unyielding.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

After an unknown amount of time, the clouds dispersed and the storm abated. Zheng Yang’s figure reappeared, gasping for breath, sweat continuously streaming down his face. He had sustained at least dozens of cuts and was gravely injured… However, the three individuals from the Dragon Head were also lying on the ground, having been struck. Clearly… he had passed!

“Only the final Dragon Pearl remains…”

The Dragon Gate Formation at headquarters was the most difficult because it was guarded by a Dragon Pearl. In three hundred years, nearly ten people had managed to pass the simplified Dragon Gate Formation without the Dragon Pearl, but no one had ever cleared the one with the Dragon Pearl.

Standing in place, he took a few deep breaths, recovering slightly. Zheng Yang continued forward, blood flowing from his wounds, leaving a vivid red trail on the ground from the tip of his spear. Yet, he did not stop; instead, his steps grew steadier with each stride. It seemed a powerful belief sustained him in his heart: even if it meant death… he would not retreat.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

He confronted the Dragon Pearl. Their battle nearly tore through space, and Zheng Yang’s long spear was even broken. However, he still did not give up. His fist force, palm force, movement techniques, leg techniques… each move was more refined than the last. Finally, he transformed his entire body into a spear, breaking through the Dragon Pearl’s defenses.

“Three hundred eighty-eight moves…” Hall Master Xing finished counting, his throat dry.

To defeat the Dragon Pearl, Zheng Yang had actually used nearly four hundred moves. Although he had defeated it, he was pushed almost to his limit. His entire body was covered in blood, and there was hardly an unblemished spot on him.

“Becoming a Combat Child… is truly not easy!”

Seeing him persist even with such severe injuries, never giving up, all the combat masters fell silent. To be honest, if it were them, they might have given up at the Dragon Back stage, not because of a lack of strength, but a lack of belief.

This Zheng Yang seemed to possess an unshakeable belief that he could not lose. Even if his body were pierced dozens of times, he would persist in defeating his opponent and achieving success. This was something they could never emulate.

“I, Zheng Yang, was merely an ordinary young man from Tianxuan Kingdom who practiced spear techniques!”

As the footage of him breaking through the Dragon Gate Formation ended, Zheng Yang reappeared before everyone, his injuries now completely healed.

“I was fortunate enough to meet my esteemed teacher! It was he who taught me the most exquisite spear techniques, who led by example, who taught me the principles of being a person, and who guided me step by step against the current, leading to where I am today.”

“The Way of the Spear is the Way of Humanity! Cultivation is the cultivation of life. My emergence as a Combat Child is not because my true strength surpasses others, but because… I possess principles and goals as a human being.”

“I hope all combat masters can understand this…”

“…Finally, I hereby issue my first Combat Child Order.”

“We respectfully obey the Combat Child’s teachings!”

All the combat masters of the Combat Master Hall knelt on one knee, bowing their heads and cupping their fists. A Combat Child Order was equivalent to a Hall Master’s Order in the Combat Master Hall, or a Marshal’s Order in the military. All combat masters had to obey it unconditionally.

“I received my teachings from my esteemed teacher. Without him, I would not be where I am today. From now on, everyone in the Combat Master Hall, regardless of who they are, must treat him with the respect due to a student meeting their teacher!”

“Yes!”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Respecting one's teacher was something everyone should abide by. The Combat Child’s teacher, the future Hall Master’s teacher, would effectively be the teacher of the entire Combat Master Hall. To be disrespectful would be to show disrespect to the entire Combat Master Hall.

“My esteemed teacher has always been low-key. This information is to remain strictly within the Combat Master Hall. Any who spread it outside will be executed without mercy!”

Killing intent surged in Zheng Yang’s eyes.

“Yes!”

Everyone responded again.

“Very good. I hope you will remember his name…”

“My teacher… Zhang Xuan!”