Chapter 983: War Seed

"Not much?""A dime a dozen?"The battle masters looked at each other, one by one feeling utterly defeated.

They had arrived with great prestige, convinced that no one of their same cultivation level could surpass them. Yet, before they even met their intended target, they were defeated by a few students playing by the roadside!Was it necessary to be so brutal?

The most crucial point was that one or two such powerful individuals might be acceptable, but according to him, an organization called the Xuanxuan Society had thirty thousand members, all just as strong...Liao Song felt his entire body stiffen, unable to utter a single word.

As a dignified Centurion of the Combat Master Hall, he felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time, doubting his own perceptions and even his life.

"What, you don't believe it?"Seeing them all standing dumbfounded, Ruo Huan smiled and pointed behind him. "Members of our Xuanxuan Society are gathering just ahead. I can take you to see for yourselves!"

"Gathering?""Yes, follow me!"Nodding, Ruo Huan led the way.

Liao Song and the others exchanged glances and quickly followed.They hadn't walked far when they indeed saw many people standing in the square ahead, discussing something, with a few occasionally sparring.

"Is that the basic martial art, Vast River Waters? Isn't that move supposed to be weak? How is it so powerful in that person's hands?""That's the Falling Wind Sword Art, a spirit-level mid-grade martial art... I've practiced it, but I stopped because its moves are too complicated and its combat power isn't strong. How does it feel comparable to a spirit-level high-grade martial art in his hands?""This set of fist techniques and movement skills, though not flashy, goes straight to the essence of fist fighting, making it impossible to guard against. I might not even be able to withstand it if I fought against him!""What's that move? A combination of the most basic techniques, yet it possesses such immense power? It's already comparable to a spirit-level high-grade martial art!"

Watching the sparring partners' exchanges, all the battle masters' faces twitched.Although there was no direct combat, with their discerning eyes, they could easily tell that if they were to fight against any of them, the outcome would not be much better than fighting Ruo Huan.

In other words, their many formidable battle masters, if thrown among these thirty thousand students, would not only fail to stand out but might even end up at the bottom.What on earth happened?They were battle masters, chosen one in ten thousand!

"How can your combat power be so strong?" Liao Song couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, we were all quite ordinary at first. It was the Headmaster who lectured us for an entire afternoon, and that's how we gained such abilities!" Excitement shone in Ruo Huan's eyes.

He still remembered the Headmaster's lecture content clearly; understanding it completely had led to a qualitative leap in their combat power.Those who had attended the lecture and those who hadn't were now on completely different levels, with a gap as wide as a chasm.

Because of this, countless students wished to join the Xuanxuan Society every day. However, to prevent the society from overshadowing the rest, they hadn't recruited many new members recently, which left countless people filled with regret.

"Lectured for an entire afternoon?" Liao Song looked bewildered.Just one afternoon of lecturing made your strength skyrocket? This must be a joke, right?If combat power could be improved so easily, wouldn't all their hard daily training as battle masters be utterly pointless?

"Yes, it's a pity the Headmaster is too busy. Otherwise, if he lectured for a few more days, our strength would definitely become even greater..." Ruo Huan sighed, his face full of regret.

To be honest, if the Headmaster hadn't been so busy, and had lectured them for several consecutive days, they would undoubtedly be even stronger.

"Even stronger?"Liao Song's mouth twitched again.They were already this powerful, and his battle masters couldn't even defeat them. If they became even stronger... wouldn't they be more formidable than battle masters themselves?What would be the point of having battle masters then?

"By the way, who are you people? And who are you looking for at the academy?" Just as he was feeling utterly dejected, he heard Ruo Huan continue to ask.

"We... we're here to find... Combat Master Zhuo!"He had initially intended to say they were battle masters, but the words caught in his throat. Liao Song swallowed them back, his face turning red as he spoke.

"Oh, so you're Combat Master Zhuo's friends. Please wait a moment; I'll send someone to take you there right away..."Ruo Huan suddenly understood. He called a member and asked them to lead the way.

"Thank you!"Liao Song and the others hurriedly followed, afraid to stay for another second and suffer another blow.

"Ruo Huan, who were those people?"After the group left, a student walked over, full of questions.

"I don't know," Ruo Huan replied. "At first, I guessed they might be battle masters, but then I decided they definitely weren't... How could battle masters have such poor combat awareness? Although their combat power is decent, it's impossible for combat-focused master teachers to be that bad! Never mind, as long as they're not battle masters, we can try to recruit them into the Xuanxuan Society. If we train them for a few days, they might turn out to be talented individuals!"

"The Xuanxuan Society is currently focusing on quality over quantity for recruitment. If they truly want to join, they'll need to pass an assessment. If they don't pass, we absolutely cannot accept them!" the student said.

"Naturally," Ruo Huan affirmed, his face full of pride. "Our Xuanxuan Society isn't open to just anyone. Their combat power is acceptable, but it seems they're still a bit short of passing the assessment..."

"Master Liao, how can these guys be so strong?"Following behind the student on their way to find Zhuo Qingfeng, one battle master couldn't hold back any longer and looked at Liao Song, who was at the very front.

"I don't know either..."Liao Song felt utterly dejected.

He had always believed that battle masters were the strongest within their cultivation level, but it was only after seeing the members of the Xuanxuan Society just now that he realized... that might not always be the case!

"No wonder Zhuo Qingfeng insisted we come here; this Hongyuan Academy is too peculiar..."It took him a long time to recover his senses, and he couldn't help but utter.

Just a few random people appearing by the roadside had rendered them utterly helpless. He had to admit, this place was terrifying. Fortunately, they weren't enemies; otherwise, they might have never returned.

"Combat Master Liao, you're finally here..."Before they even entered the courtyard, Zhuo Qingfeng heard the news and came out to greet them. Seeing Liao Song, his face was filled with excitement. However, a moment later, he noticed something was off.

The many battle masters who had previously been so arrogant were now dispirited, like eggplants withered by frost."What happened to you all?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Tell me about the Headmaster of this Hongyuan Academy... what exactly is going on?"Without answering his question, Liao Song asked directly.

He had heard the most about the Headmaster's lectures moments ago, so upon seeing Zhuo Qingfeng, he immediately brought it up.

"The Headmaster? Alright..." Zhuo Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then recounted everything he knew.

"Just half an hour of lecturing, and our battle masters were no match? After an entire afternoon of lecturing, we can't even compare in terms of true qi and strength?"Liao Song and the many battle masters behind him felt their hair stand on end, as if they had heard a ghost story, their hearts filled with extreme terror.

"That's right!" Zhuo Qingfeng said with a bitter smile. "Oh, by the way, Headmaster Zhang's four direct disciples have been waiting in the courtyard for a while. You might need to arrange how to assess them later!"

"Four direct disciples? What's their strength like?" Liao Song asked.

"Unrivaled at their level... I'm no match for them!" Zhuo Qingfeng replied.

"Even you are no match?" Liao Song was startled. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "If they are truly that powerful, I think... we should let them attempt the Dragon Gate Formation!"

"The Dragon Gate Formation? That's the method used by the Combat Master Hall to assess a 'Combat Prodigy.' Master Liao, are you suggesting... you want them to be assessed as Combat Prodigies?"Zhuo Qingfeng was shocked.

"Precisely. Headmaster Zhang of Hongyuan Academy can bring about such changes in students with just one or two hours of casual lecturing. His direct disciples... might truly be able to pass the Combat Prodigy assessment. If they succeed... as their discoverers, our status will certainly rise!" Liao Song said.

"This..."Zhuo Qingfeng fell silent.

Indeed.If the Combat Master Hall were compared to a family, a Combat Prodigy would be like the young master of the family!In other words, once they mature, they could completely become a Hall Master.

However, becoming a Combat Prodigy was a dream goal for countless battle masters, a target countless people strived for. Unfortunately, it was too difficult.For three hundred years, the Combat Master Hall had not produced a Combat Prodigy, let alone a Hall Master... Could Master Zhang's students truly pass the assessment?

Even Combat Master Zhuo, who had fought them, had no confidence.The Combat Prodigy assessment... its difficulty made one feel that success was simply impossible!

If Headmaster Zhang's students could truly pass the assessment... and become Combat Prodigies, then as their discoverers, they would have the merit of supporting a future leader, and their status would inevitably rise, granting them better resources.

"We can't set up the true Dragon Gate Formation, but we can create a simplified version. If they can pass that, they'll be qualified to be brought back to headquarters to apply for the real assessment... Whether they succeed or not, it will be a good thing for us!" Liao Song said.

Becoming a Combat Prodigy would naturally be best. Even if they didn't succeed, possessing the strength to challenge a Combat Prodigy demonstrated their talent. As long as they entered the Combat Master Hall, their status would definitely be higher than theirs.Such individuals would certainly become their backing in the future.

"Alright, let them attempt the Dragon Gate Formation..."Without much further hesitation, Zhuo Qingfeng gritted his teeth.

"Good!"Liao Song nodded.

After their discussion, the many battle masters collectively walked towards the courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Elder Mi, Elder Zhao, and others coming to greet them, followed by Wu Tianqiong, Wu Ran, and more.The three major academies had not left, wanting to observe this assessment.

Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, Liu Yang, Wei Ruyan, and others were all present, standing rooted to the spot like javelins, incredibly sharp and formidable.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Liao Song, Combat Master Liao, a Centurion of the Combat Master Hall and also my senior brother! He will be in charge of assessing Zheng Yang and the others..."Zhuo Qingfeng introduced.

"Greetings, Combat Master Liao!"Everyone simultaneously cupped their fists.

"Yes, no need to be so formal. These four must be Headmaster Zhang's direct disciples, the cultivators who are here for the assessment, right?" Liao Song nodded to everyone and then looked at Zheng Yang and the others.

"Our teacher is Zhang Xuan!"Zheng Yang and the others nodded in unison.

"Indeed, an extraordinary presence!" Combat Master Liao smiled. "Combat Master Zhuo already told me all the details on the way here. I plan to have you undergo the Dragon Gate Formation assessment!"

"Dragon Gate Formation?"Zheng Yang and the others looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.Wu Tianqiong and the others also seemed unfamiliar with it, appearing somewhat puzzled.

"The Dragon Gate Formation, drawing its meaning from a carp leaping over the dragon gate, signifies that whoever passes it will immediately transform into a dragon, becoming a renowned figure throughout the entire Combat Master Hall, and even across the continent!" Liao Song explained.