Chapter 984: Dragon Gate Array

"Transform into a dragon?"

"A prominent figure?"

Everyone frowned. While the Combat Master Hall is powerful, it's just a branch. To become famous throughout the entire continent with a single assessment seems overly exaggerated!

"Please don't doubt me. The Dragon Gate Array is not easy to pass. Countless young combat masters at the Combat Master Hall have attempted it over the past three hundred years, but not a single one has succeeded! This shows how difficult it is. If someone truly manages to pass it, they will definitely be directly recruited by the headquarters and cause a sensation across the world; it's only a matter of time!" Seeing their expressions, Liao Song knew they were skeptical and explained.

"Not a single success in three hundred years?"

Everyone gasped in amazement. They had personally experienced the power of the Combat Master Hall. For so many young talents and geniuses to fail was truly terrifying!

"How exactly does one challenge this Dragon Gate Array you mentioned, and what are the rules?" Elder Mi couldn't help but ask.

The others also looked over in unison. Given the exaggerated description, this Dragon Gate Array must be extremely difficult; otherwise, it wouldn't deter countless combat masters.

"It's quite simple. The Dragon Gate Array is divided into three stages: the Dragon Tail, the Dragon Back, and the Dragon Head. At each position, there are three cultivators! The three at the Dragon Tail will be at the same level as the challenger, one minor level higher, and two minor levels higher..." Liao Song explained.

"Three people? And their levels keep increasing?" Everyone's eyebrows shot up. Combat masters are already powerful in battle; it's impressive to defeat an opponent of the same level. For three of them to attack together, with one being two minor levels higher and another one minor level higher... that's terrifying!

"On the Dragon Back, there are also three people, each three, four, and five minor levels higher than the challenger, increasing in the same way!" Liao Song clarified, "For example, with Zheng Yang here, who is at the early stage of Chrysalis Realm, the people on the Dragon Back would be three, four, and five minor levels higher than him. That means, at the peak of Chrysalis Realm, early-stage Half-Saint, and mid-stage Half-Saint!"

"This..."

Everyone's faces twitched, and even Zheng Yang clenched his fists.

"Finally, at the Dragon Head, there are also three people, but their levels are even higher: six, seven, and eight minor levels above the challenger. Using Zheng Yang as an example again, they would be at the late-stage Half-Saint, peak Half-Saint, and... early-stage From-Saint!"

"To pass the Dragon Gate Array, you must defeat all nine of these individuals! And these people are at least Centurion-level. Most importantly, their combined combat power is even stronger. With my current strength, I couldn't even get past the Dragon Tail..." Liao Song stated.

Hearing the rules, everyone fell silent. To be honest, it was simply too difficult. Every Centurion in the Combat Master Hall possesses the ability to fight opponents above their level. For three of them to appear at once, each stronger than the challenger... it seemed utterly impossible to succeed! No wonder not a single person had passed in three hundred years; this assessment was simply insane! Even a Commander would likely fail to pass it.

"So, what do you say? Do you want to give it a try?" After explaining, Liao Song looked up at Zheng Yang and the others.

Without directly answering, everyone bowed their heads in thought. Zhuo Qingfeng was a Centurion-level master, and Zheng Yang had fought him, knowing how formidable he was. Defeating nine opponents consecutively, with increasing strength and fighting as a team... the difficulty was terrifying!

"To be frank, the Dragon Gate Array I described is merely the simplified version. At the headquarters, after getting past the Dragon Head, one must also challenge the Dragon Pearl! A stronger expert awaits at the Dragon Pearl's position..." Liao Song said. The Dragon Gate Array at the headquarters was even more challenging; his version was just the simplest. Even so, over three hundred years, the number of people who had managed to pass even this simplified version certainly didn't exceed ten! This meant that in three hundred years, all the countless young geniuses in the Combat Master Hall combined hadn't managed to get ten successes, highlighting the immense difficulty.

"I want to try..."

Without much hesitation, Zheng Yang looked over, his gaze firm. He wanted to try! He knew that following his teacher was the fastest way to grow and become stronger in combat. However, staying with his teacher for too long would only make him a burden. His teacher had sacrificed too much for them! From a martial artist cultivating to a Transcendent Mortal, countless resources and spirit stones had been expended. Once in the Saint realm, the materials needed for each level-up were immense. To let his teacher bear such a heavy burden alone was a great sign of unfilial conduct as a student! But if they were to try finding resources themselves, it would be difficult, and their teacher would surely not approve. After much thought, the best solution was to join the Combat Master Hall. This place gathered combat masters and possessed the best resources on the entire continent. Once he became a member, he would no longer be a burden to his teacher; he might even be able to help alleviate his teacher's worries in the future. Even if this assessment was extremely dangerous and difficult, he had to do it for his teacher! Just as his teacher could give up anything for them.

"Try it? Good!" Seeing his agreement, Liao Song smiled and nodded, then looked at Wang Ying and the others. "And you?"

"We want to try too!"

Wang Ying and the others all had determined looks in their eyes. They naturally understood Zheng Yang's thoughts. Their teacher had already given too much for them over the years... They truly couldn't bear to let him continue to toil for them. Becoming combat masters and forging their own paths might also be their teacher's wish. No teacher would want to keep their students under their wings forever, preventing them from soaring high.

"Then let's go to the Combat Arena!" Seeing that the assessment details were finalized and Zheng Yang and the others had agreed, Elder Mi said.

"Alright!" Knowing this wasn't the place for a battle, everyone nodded simultaneously and walked in unison towards the Combat Arena.

The Combat Arena was already packed with people. Knowing that this assessment would be even more difficult than the last, countless students had arrived early to secure their spots. Even many experts from Hongyuan City had specially come to watch. Furthermore, with three days having passed, many powerful figures from empires surrounding the Hongyuan Empire had also arrived. Each of them wanted to witness how a combat master was assessed by someone who wasn't a master teacher, and what kind of brutal trial they would have to endure.

As Zheng Yang and the others arrived, they were immediately met with cheers from the crowd.

"Are those Dean Zhang's students? They look so young..."

"Dean Zhang isn't old himself!"

"Dean Zhang's direct disciples were hired by your academy as guest elders?"

"Yes, their comprehension of martial arts is simply divine..."

The audience below buzzed with discussion. Many powerful individuals, visiting the academy for the first time, were stunned to hear that Zheng Yang and the others were guest elders of the academy. They were well aware of the prestige associated with guest elders. How strong must a young person be, someone not even a master teacher and not yet eighteen, to be granted such an honor?

"The Dean and his students are all legends..."

"Indeed. Let's watch; perhaps today... we might witness the birth of a legend..."

After hearing all the rumors about Master Zhang and his many students, everyone fell silent. A formidable teacher and impeccable students—this was true mutual growth through teaching and genuine teacher-student camaraderie!

"Alright, the Dragon Gate Array begins!"

With everything arranged, Liao Song let out a long cry. The nine combat masters around him leaped onto the elevated platform, their stances winding like a colossal dragon stretched across the ground, ready to soar into the sky at any moment.

Crackle!

With a series of crisp sounds, the nine combat masters quickly suppressed their cultivation levels, ranging from the early stage of Chrysalis Realm all the way up to From-Saint.

"I, Liao Song, Centurion of the Combat Master Hall, hereby specifically apply for the Dragon Gate Array to test a combat master. I humbly request your approval!" Seeing them in position and with their cultivation suppressed, Liao Song took out a token, shook his hand, and it floated in the air as he called out loudly.

Rumble!

As he spoke, the surrounding spiritual energy immediately converged, and a tremendous force spread from an unknown distance.

"This is... the aura of the Combat Master Hall headquarters? What exactly is this Dragon Gate Array? Does it require approval from the headquarters?"

"I don't know, but it's like a Master Teacher's Life-and-Death Duel; it requires communication with the headquarters to take place. It seems... this is certainly no ordinary assessment!"

"Indeed, for it to require headquarters' supervision, it means they don't have the authority to conduct the assessment themselves, or even if they did, it wouldn't be recognized!"

The crowd below didn't understand the full implications of the Dragon Gate Array, but seeing that Liao Song had to communicate with the headquarters, their expressions all changed in shock. For any profession, communicating with headquarters usually incurs a significant cost. For an assessment to require such a procedure, how difficult must it be?

Swish!

Amidst everyone's astonishment, the spiritual energy from the sky shone upon the ground, as if forming a strange array. It subtly concealed nine people in three sections, leaving only what appeared to be a dragon's tail visible. With a gentle sway, it stirred the air and clouds, exuding a powerful sense of oppression.

"This is... an array's enhancement?"

Wu Tianqiong and the others' faces twitched. The three at the Dragon Tail were already strong, but with an array's enhancement, how could one even fight them? Not to mention those weaker than them, even a Half-Saint would likely struggle to contend.

"Zheng Yang... be careful!"

Wang Ying also frowned.

"Don't worry!" Taking a deep breath, Zheng Yang nodded, stepped onto the elevated platform, and with a slight smile, his clear voice rang out: "I am Zheng Yang, a direct disciple of Master Teacher Zhang Xuan, here to challenge the Dragon Gate Array!"

Rumble!

As he finished speaking, a beam of light enveloped him, seemingly confirming his identity and strength. Soon, the confirmation was complete, and two large characters "APPROVED!" appeared in the sky. It was exactly like a life-and-death duel. This meant his challenge would now be overseen by the Combat Master Hall headquarters.

"Alright, you may begin..." Seeing the headquarters' confirmation, Liao Song breathed a sigh of relief and gave the instruction.

"Understood!" Zheng Yang nodded, flipped his wrist, and produced a long spear. With the spear in hand, his entire aura instantly transformed. Like a dragon and a tiger, his true qi surged throughout his body, his hair billowed, and he resembled an invincible God of War.

"So strong!"

Sensing this aura, the numerous combat masters, who had initially paid little attention, all became solemn. Although the opponent's cultivation was only at the early stage of Chrysalis Realm, he exuded an overwhelming sense of power, making it difficult even for a Half-Saint to contend.

"Come on!"

Amassing his aura to its peak, Zheng Yang let out a long cry, his body swayed, and he instantly appeared before the three at the Dragon Tail. His spear became a point of light, thrusting straight forward.

Rumble!

Spear light surged, airwaves rolled, and the entire Combat Arena seemed to hold a giant thunderclap, exploding instantly.