Chapter 950: Selection Method

The sacred beast was over ten meters long, its entire body dark green. A pair of huge, fiery red wings seemed to be aflame, burning in the sky as they flapped, emanating a scorching heat even before the beast arrived.

"It's so hot... how can anyone ride it?"

Many master teachers were puzzled.

Even from this distance, they found the heat almost unbearable. Wouldn't sitting on its back roast them into jerky?

"And... have you noticed, there's no structure on the sacred beast's back..."

Someone shouted, and only then did everyone notice that the flying sacred beast's back was completely bare. There were no structures for riding; over a dozen people stood upright and motionless on its back, as if they were growing there.

Normal flying spiritual beasts and sacred beasts usually have houses of varying sizes built on their backs. These structures provide shelter from the strong winds during flight and allow for peaceful rest and comfortable travel. Without such structures, standing bare on the flaming beast's back like that might be acceptable for short distances, but for long distances, it would likely be a grueling test for anyone. Those with weaker cultivation or willpower would not be able to endure it.

"This is a unique training method of the Combat Master Hall," Wu Tianqiong lowered his voice. "It requires martial artists to continuously cultivate even while traveling..."

"Indeed," Shen Pingchao responded, "the Combat Master Hall's approach has always been about continuous cultivation, without the slightest slack. They cannot relax at any time or any place. For them, even traveling is a form of cultivation..."

Having been a dean for so many years, Shen Pingchao had interacted with the Combat Master Hall many times and understood their customs and practices. It was precisely their dedication to cultivation that made the members of the Combat Master Hall so powerful.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is a Phoenix Flame Sacred Beast of the Saint 3-dan level," Dean Wu Ran sighed with emotion. "It possesses the bloodline of a Heavenly Phoenix. The temperature on its back is no lower than that of subterranean fire. By enduring such intense heat, one's True Qi will become increasingly refined, and one's physical body will grow stronger..."

Combat Master Hall members must not only possess talent but, more importantly, also have the dedication to put everything into their efforts! Witnessing all this, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but nod. Even with talent, arduous cultivation without giving one's all would be in vain. Just like him, although he cultivated the Heaven's Path Divine Art, which gave him a head start over many, he was still meticulous in his cultivation, always completing it diligently and without the slightest negligence. It was precisely this attitude that led to his current strength.

*Whoosh!*

Amidst the discussions, the flying sacred beast in the sky flapped its wings and slowly descended. Thirteen figures dressed in master teacher robes walked down from it. Their master teacher robes were slightly different from those worn by the others; instead of stars to denote their rank, long swords were etched, and from a distance, they exuded an aura of chilling sword qi.

In the very center was a middle-aged man, approximately forty years old. His eyebrows were raised, giving him a valiant demeanor, and his surging aura indicated immense power. He was a Saint 2-dan expert. Though of the same rank, he was far more formidable, exuding the feeling of a sharp sword drawn from its sheath. It was foreseeable that even if his rank was lower than Wu Ran's, in a combat situation, Wu Ran would undoubtedly lose.

"Impressive!"

With a sigh of admiration, Zhang Xuan continued to observe, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he saw two familiar faces. It was Lu Cheng and Wu Xu, whom he had met in the Red Glow Fruit Valley. He had previously suspected they might be combat masters, and seeing them now confirmed it. The two of them were noticeably different from two months ago. Their strength was greater and more refined, and Wu Xu, in particular, who was only at the pinnacle of Chrysalis realm before, had now reached Half-Saint. Although he had only recently broken through, he exuded an imposing aura of boundless, inexhaustible power.

"It seems the method I told him about was effective..." Zhang Xuan smiled. Previously, this fellow had intended to use Red Glow Fruit to break through, but Zhang Xuan had not sold him any and instead given him some Earth Vein Spirit Liquid. By using this item, which made spiritual energy easier to absorb, he was able to rapidly increase his power and then attempt the breakthrough... It now seemed that it was indeed effective, and he had successfully broken through to Half-Saint.

"Teacher Zhang!"

He saw the two of them, and they also saw him, bowing respectfully. Although combat masters were proud, they held great respect for powerful individuals. This Teacher Zhang, despite only being at the Void Amalgamation realm, had beaten them decisively. His combat power was terrifyingly strong, surpassing even theirs. Even they dared not show the slightest disrespect to someone with such talent.

"Wu Tianqiong, Dean of Cloud Sea Academy; Shen Pingchao, Dean of Azure Skynet Academy; Wu Ran, Dean of Green Bamboo Academy; and Zhang Xuan, Dean of Hongyuan Academy—we greet all combat masters!"

The four deans stood up.

"I am Zhuo Qingfeng, Centurion of the Combat Master Hall!" The middle-aged man did not dare to be rude, stepping forward and cupping his fist. Although he was from the Combat Master Hall and possessed formidable combat strength, the status of the four deans was a rank higher than his.

"So it's Master Zhuo!" Wu Tianqiong smiled. "I've heard of you before—your sword leveled three rivers, your aura swept across the nine continents! You once, single-handedly with a sword, chased the Five Bandits of Qingyuan for ten years, preventing them from returning home. Your heroic spirit is soaring, and this old man deeply admires you!"

"Dean Wu is too kind; it was just a minor skill!" Hearing that Dean Wu, the head of the four great academies, had actually heard of him, Zhuo Qingfeng smiled and nodded.

"To become a centurion of the Combat Master Hall is proof enough of your strength!" Wu Tianqiong stroked his beard.

"Regarding this combat master selection, I previously sent a message to Dean Wu. I presume all you deans are aware of the changes to the quotas!" Knowing the other party was flattering him, Zhuo Qingfeng did not dwell on the matter and looked over.

"We are already aware. One hundred combat masters are to be selected this time!" Shen Pingchao and the others nodded. This matter was already known. The quota had been doubled, naturally increasing the chances of passing significantly.

"That's right, the number of selections this time is indeed greater. However, the difficulty of the selection has not become simpler..." Seeing that they were aware, Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "In fact, it's greater!"

"Greater?" The deans exchanged glances. "What is the content of this competition?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask. "How will the selection be conducted?"

"In past selections, there were arena battles," Zhuo Qingfeng explained. "Many students participating in the selection would go onto the stage to fight, and the required number of slots would be determined in the end..." Wu Tianqiong and the others nodded. Although the selection methods varied each time, the core principle remained the same: essentially, all participating students would engage in combat. Winners were automatically selected.

"This kind of competition required each person to go through several matches. Not only was it time-consuming, but injuries were also common, leading to a significant drop in combat effectiveness. Therefore, the method has been changed this time!" Zhuo Qingfeng continued. In the previous arena battles, eighty people from the four great academies would compete for ten slots. This meant each person had to undergo at least three matches. With everyone's cultivation being roughly similar, every match was extremely arduous, requiring almost full exertion. After three matches, they would be half-dead. There were even some who could have potentially made it into the top ten but were eliminated in the first round after encountering a strong opponent. Even if they managed to win by luck, severe injuries would cause them to miss out on a combat master spot... This was not only a loss for the four great academies but also a loss for the Combat Master Hall.

Hearing about the changed method, Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the others exchanged glances, each feeling puzzled. While this method had its drawbacks, it was also the fairest, ensuring that everyone was convinced of the outcome. Rashly changing it might lead to injustice and more trouble.

However, their confusion didn't last long. Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "This time, the method is simple and faster. It involves our Combat Master Hall members conducting the assessment themselves! At the same cultivation level, if your students can withstand three moves from a Combat Master Hall member, they pass!"

"Three moves?"

Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the others frowned. It sounded simpler, requiring no elaborate competitions, but in reality, the difficulty had indeed increased. Others might not know the terrifying prowess of the Combat Master Hall, but they had witnessed it firsthand—they were almost invincible at the same cultivation level. Their students, though powerful, were merely among the best of their respective cultivation levels. If they were to truly fight a combat master, withstanding three moves... might not be so easy.

"Don't worry," Zhuo Qingfeng added, seeing them in thought. "They were specifically instructed before coming here that the three moves they perform will all be of equal power. There will be no favoritism, cheating, or intentional weakening!"

"We trust the Combat Master Hall on that..." Hearing his words, Wu Tianqiong and the others smiled. The Combat Master Hall conducting its own selection would naturally ensure fairness and impartiality. There was no doubt about that.

"Since you trust us, then that's good. Let's begin now, the sooner the better!" Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand, too lazy to explain further, and said indifferently.

"Alright!"

Seeing him urge them, the four deans exchanged a wry smile and nodded simultaneously. They had made all sorts of preparations beforehand, but the Combat Master Hall directly had their own members conduct the assessment, catching them off guard. Although this assessment method was strange, it also had a major benefit: it would be very difficult to defeat the opponent, but enduring three moves without losing should still be quite achievable.

"Xu Tai, Chen Zhu, you two will assess the first-year students first!" Hearing their assent, Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Two young men stepped out from the crowd. Both were only seventeen or eighteen years old. Their cultivation was similar to that of first-year students, at the pinnacle of Soul Amalgamation realm, but their aura was sharper, giving them a dazzling impression.

"I'll go first!"

Xu Tai nodded, his body swayed, and he landed on the arena stage. He glanced around. "First-year students participating in the assessment, if you can withstand three moves from me, you pass..." After speaking, he flipped his wrist, and a long sword appeared in his palm, emitting chilling flashes and dazzling light. His aura steadily rose. Although he was only at the Soul Amalgamation realm, he exuded a powerful soul pressure, making it seem difficult for even a Heavenly Bridge realm expert to contend with him in battle.

"So strong..."

"I thought the people from Cloud Sea Academy were terrifying enough... I didn't expect these ones to be even more formidable! To cultivate to this extent at the Soul Amalgamation realm... Truly worthy of being combat masters!"

"Indeed, I'm at the Heavenly Bridge realm, and I don't feel I'd be his match..."

Feeling Xu Tai's aura, everyone's expressions tightened.