124: Chapter 124 Were we set up?!

Chengtian Academy, First Martial Arts Arena!!!

After some checks, Chen An and Shen Qinglan entered the venue for this year's academy freshman assessment.

"He is Chen An!"

"Hiss! Such a monster, and he actually came to participate in the assessment!"

"If I end up facing him, I feel like it would be better to just admit defeat!"

"Has he really comprehended the Saber Intent that only a Grandmaster Realm expert can comprehend?!"

As soon as they entered the martial arts arena, countless gazes fell upon Chen An. Many still remembered the miracle Chen An created yesterday, and their gazes were filled with awe, curiosity, and shock.

As for emotions like jealousy, wariness, and suspicion, they had already vanished without a trace after seeing and hearing that Chen An had defeated an Acquired Fifth-Level senior student without even moving a finger.

When a person is only slightly better than the average, others might be jealous.

But when you far surpass others, they will instead admire, respect, and even worship you!

Therefore, wherever Chen An and Shen Qinglan passed, the nearby students couldn't help but retreat several steps, automatically clearing a wide path for him.

To this, Chen An remained indifferent.

Scanning the entire martial arts arena, he discovered that there were already many people standing on the viewing platforms on both sides, and on the high platform in front stood many teachers and professors of the academy, and even Principal Beigong Mo was present.

Besides that, there were exactly ten rings on the entire martial arts arena.

"It seems like it should still be a practical combat assessment!" Shen Qinglan beside him also saw those ten rings and spoke up.

"Hmm!" Chen An nodded faintly.

Chen An was not surprised by this.

Martial Artists are meant to grow through life-and-death struggles. No matter how impressive one is at talking on paper, without the tempering of actual combat, they are ultimately just paper tigers.

Furthermore, the reason the Great Luo Dynasty promotes martial arts to the entire population is mainly because of the threat from the Ancient Demon Race in the Northern Territory.

If the cultivated Martial Artists cannot fight and are not adept at killing, then the Human Race would have perished long ago.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!!!~~~"

At this moment, three deep bell tolls rang out from the high platform, suppressing the originally noisy martial arts arena.

"Silence!!!"

Principal Beigong Mo, wearing a black robe, stood up, swept his gaze over the students, and then said, "I am Principal Beigong Mo of Chengtian Academy. Welcome, students, to the academy!"

"This freshman assessment is divided into two rounds!"

"The first round is a practical combat assessment!"

"All candidates will be divided among the ten rings, using a drawing system for battles. It will be one-on-one, with the winner advancing and the loser eliminated! The top one hundred will be decided in the end!"

"The second round is a Comprehension Ability assessment!"

"This round will be participated in by the top one hundred students who won the first round. It will test your martial arts comprehension. We will use an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique newly created by the academy's professors, and the scoring will be based on the speed and depth of your comprehension. The one with the higher score wins!"

"This freshman assessment will determine the top thirty, who will directly represent Chengtian Academy in the Five Prefectures Joint Examination ten days later!"

Principal Beigong Mo's voice suddenly rose, carrying thick True Qi that spread throughout the venue. He said full of excitement, "The top-ranked student of this assessment will be awarded one Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, one bottle of Earth-Grade Dragon Pills, and one earth-grade breakthrough pill! The students ranked in the top thirty will also each be gifted massive amounts of Medicinal Pills, weapons, and cultivation resources. I hope you all will give it your all and strive for the best!"

"Wow!!!~~"

The moment the heavy rewards were announced, the entire venue instantly boiled over!!

Earth Rank techniques and pills are so precious that ordinary Martial Artists might not obtain them even after decades of hard cultivation. Now that they were right before their eyes, everyone's eyes ignited with burning fighting spirit, and the previous nervousness turned into soaring Battle Intent.

"Earth Rank treasures! This reward is too generous!"

"Fight for it! Even if I can't compete for the top spot, getting into the top thirty is still a huge Opportunity!"

Discussions rose and fell. The three hundred candidates were all eager, and their gazes toward the ten rings became increasingly fervent.

"I will reiterate the rules!"

Principal Beigong Mo raised his hand to suppress the noise, his expression turning serious, "Draw lots to determine opponents, fight in the rings. Stop at the point of contact, and it is strictly forbidden to intentionally injure or kill. Once one side loses combat capability or admits defeat, the battle will end immediately. Violators will be directly stripped of their assessment qualifications and expelled from the academy!"

"Now, the practical combat assessment officially begins! All candidates, proceed to the drawing area!"

As soon as the words fell, the teachers who were already waiting on the field quickly guided everyone to line up to draw lots.

The long queue moved in an orderly fashion. Some prayed silently to draw a weak opponent, while others looked solemn, already prepared for a hard fight.

Chen An and Shen Qinglan found a line to queue in, and before long, it was their turn.

"I drew Ring D, number sixty-eight!" Shen Qinglan said to Chen An after drawing her lot.

Chen An nodded slightly, stepped forward, and reached into the drawing box. He casually took out a wooden tablet, on which was clearly written: Ring A, number one!

Looking at the wooden tablet in his hand, Chen An couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Such a coincidence?!

Ring A, number one?!

I wouldn't be getting set up by the higher-ups, would I?!

However, Chen An then shook his head, feeling that as the Prefecture Head and an expert at the Perfection of the Great Grandmaster Realm, his stature shouldn't be that small.

Most importantly, even if someone were really setting him up, it shouldn't be able to escape his notice.

Therefore, drawing this lot must just mean his luck was too good!

He handed the wooden tablet to the registering teacher. The teacher couldn't help but look at Chen An strangely before lowering his head to start registering.

However, before the registration was finished, Chen An saw a figure wearing an official government uniform rushing through the air and landing on the high platform.

"Military Advisor Cao, why are you here?!" Someone recognized the person's identity and quickly asked.

"It's bad, Principal Beigong Mo. We have discovered traces of the Blood Demon Sect evil followers outside the city. Those evil followers not only captured tens of thousands of commoners outside the city, but there is also a Great Grandmaster sitting in command. The government office's people have suffered heavy casualties. Please, Prefecture Head, take action to help!" Military Advisor Cao looked at Bei Gong Mo with an anxious expression.

"What, Blood Demon Sect?!"

"How could our Chengtian Prefecture have the Blood Demon Sect?!"

Hearing that person's words, everyone on the high platform couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

"Early this morning, the Shen Family's second branch outside the city was attacked by the Blood Demon Sect, resulting in dozens of guards and servants killed or injured. After receiving the news, I personally went to investigate."

"But I didn't expect that, immediately after, someone came to report that Blood Demon Sect evil followers had appeared outside the city and had taken tens of thousands of commoners to Duanhun Valley. My men have suffered countless casualties, and we finally found out that the Blood Demon Sect has set up a Blood Sacrifice Array in Duanhun Valley, seemingly intending to sacrifice all the commoners!"

"How dare they!!!"

When Bei Gong Mo heard Military Advisor Cao's words, his expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily. Then, his figure moved, turning into a stream of light, and he flew directly toward the direction of Duanhun Valley...

Sigh, writer's block, painful!

I downed a few bottles of beer, but it didn't seem to help much, I'm dizzy!

What's even more painful is that some people say this book is written by AI. In an instant, I feel like all my hard work was a bit worthless.

I won't say anything else, but I want to ask those who say this book is written by AI, have you really read AI-written text? Can AI come up with the tropes in my book?!

Additionally, thank you to the brothers and sisters who have been catching up until now, and who have been supporting, urging updates, sending flowers, and 'powering with love'. Thank you!!!