The saint beast was around a dozen meters long, and its body was dark green. It had a pair of fiery red wings that seemed to be wreathed in flames, and as its wings fluttered in the air, one could already feel the searing heat emanating from it even before it arrived.
"It's so hot … How are we going to sit on it?"
The master teachers were perplexed.
Even though they were standing so far away, they still found the heat unbearable. Wouldn't they end up being roasted dry if they were to sit on its back?
"Also … Do you see that? There isn't a house on the back of the saint beast!"
Someone suddenly shouted, and only then did the master teachers realize that the back of the saint beast was completely empty. There were no houses on it, and the dozen or so people were standing on the back of the saint beast, as if they were a part of it.
Usually, aerial spirit beasts and saint beasts would carry houses of varying sizes on their backs. These houses would provide shelter from the gales and allow one to rest peacefully.
Without such a thing, standing on the back of a blazing saint beast was still fine for a short distance, but over a long distance, it would be a form of tempering for anyone. Those with weaker cultivation and will would surely succumb to the heat.
"This is the unique tempering method of the Combat Master Hall. They have to cultivate nonstop while traveling …"
Wu Tianqiong explained with a hushed voice.
"Indeed. The way the Combat Master Hall operates has always been to cultivate nonstop. Regardless of where they are, they mustn't slack off at all. Traveling is also a form of cultivation for them …"
Shen Pingchao nodded.
Having been the principal of the Combat Master Hall for many years, he had come into contact with the Combat Master Hall many times, and he was well aware of their habits and practices.
It was precisely due to their dedication to cultivation that the members of the Combat Master Hall were so powerful.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is a Saint 3-dan Phoenix Flame Saint Beast. It possesses the bloodline of the Heavenly Phoenix, and the temperature on its back isn't any lower than earth flames. By resisting such heat, one's zhenqi will become purer and purer, and one's physical body will become stronger and stronger …"
Principal Wu Ran remarked.
Not only did the members of the Combat Master Hall have to be talented, more importantly, they had to be willing to give up everything and work hard!
Taking all of this into consideration, Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.
Even if one was talented, without putting in the effort, it would be futile.
Take Zhang Xuan for example. Even though he cultivated the Heaven's Path Divine Art, granting him a starting point that surpassed most of his peers, he still didn't show the slightest bit of sloppiness in his cultivation.
It was precisely because of this attitude that he was able to achieve his current strength.
Hula!
Amidst the discussions, the aerial saint beast flapped its wings and slowly descended to the ground.
Thirteen figures dressed in master teacher robes walked down from above.
Their master teacher robes were slightly different from those of the others. The stars that represented their master teacher robes were inscribed with swords, and from afar, they gave off a bone-piercing sensation.
The one in the middle was a middle-aged man in his forties. His eyebrows were raised, giving him a valiant aura. His aura surged, showing his powerful strength.
The other party was a Saint 2-dan expert as well, but his sharpness was even more apparent, reminiscent of a sharp sword unsheathed from its sheath.
It could be foreseen that even if his level was lower than Wu Ran's, the latter would definitely lose in battle.
"Amazing!"
With a sigh, Zhang Xuan continued looking over. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw two familiar faces.
They were Lu Cheng and Wu Xu, whom he had met in the valley of the Scarlet Firefly Fruits. Zhang Xuan had already guessed that they were combat masters, and it seemed like he was right.
The two of them were clearly different from two months ago. Their fighting prowess was much stronger and purer than before. This was especially so for Wu Xu. Previously, he was only at Chrysalis realm pinnacle, but at this very moment, he had already reached Half-Saint.
Even though he had just made a breakthrough not too long ago, he still emanated a powerful aura, as if his strength was boundless.
"It seems like the method I told him worked …"
Zhang Xuan chuckled.
Previously, when Wu Xu intended to make a breakthrough using the Scarlet Firefly Fruits, he didn't sell them to him. Instead, he gave him some Earth Vein Spirit Essence.
Using the Earth Vein Spirit Essence, which allowed him to absorb spiritual energy more easily, Wu Xu was able to raise his cultivation frenziedly before pushing for a breakthrough … From the looks of it now, he had succeeded in making a breakthrough to Half-Saint.
"Zhang Shi!"
Just as Zhang Xuan saw the duo, the duo also saw him, and they bowed respectfully.
Combat masters were prideful, but they still held great respect for the strong.
Zhang Shi was only at Ethereal Treading realm, but he was already able to pummel them into a pulp. His fighting prowess was truly frightening, possibly even surpassing them. Even they didn't dare to underestimate such a talented individual.
"Yunxu College's Principal Wu Tianqiong (Luoqing Academy's Principal Shen Pingchao, Qingzhu Academy's Principal Wu Ran, and Hongyuan Academy's Principal Zhang Xuan) greets the combat masters!"
The four principals stood up and greeted him.
Not daring to show any disrespect, the middle-aged man stepped forward and clasped his fist. "I am a Hundred Men Commander of the Combat Master Hall, Zhuo Qingfeng!"
Even though he was a member of the Combat Master Hall and possessed exceptional fighting prowess, the standing of the four principals was still a tier higher than him.
"So, it's Zhuo shi!" Wu Tianqiong chuckled. "I have heard of you before. With a single sword, you flattened the entire Nine Provinces. You once chased after the Five Bandits of Qingyuan for ten years, not daring to return to their homeland. I am truly impressed by your valiance! "
"Pesident Wu, there's no need to stand on ceremony. It's just a small trick!" Hearing that the head of the Four Great Master Halls, Pesident Wu, had actually heard of him, Zhuo Qingfeng nodded with a smile.
"The fact that you were able to become a Hundred Men Commander of the Combat Master Hall speaks volumes of your strength!" Wu Tianqiong stroked his beard.
"I have already sent a message to Pesident Wu regarding the Combat Master Selection this time around, so I believe that all of you are already aware of the change in the slots!"
Knowing that the other party was praising him, Zhuo Qingfeng decided not to harp on the matter anymore.
"We are already aware of it. A hundred combat masters will be selected this time around!"
Shen Pingchao and the others nodded in agreement.
They had already known about this matter beforehand. Since the slots had been doubled, their chances of clearing the Combat Master Hall would be significantly higher as well.
"Indeed. The number of combat masters will be selected this time around, but the difficulty of the selection isn't as simple as it seems …"
Seeing that they were aware of the matter, Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "It's even more difficult!"
"More difficult?" The principals glanced at one another, and Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask, "May I know what the content of the selection round is? How will the selection round be conducted? "
"In the past, the selection round would be conducted in a dueling ring. The candidates would have to face one another on the dueling ring, and the final selection round would be decided," Zhuo Qingfeng said.
Wu Tianqiong and the others nodded in agreement.
Even though the selection round had been conducted in a different manner each time, the basic principle remained the same. All of the candidates would have to face off against one another in a duel.
The victor would be automatically selected.
"In the selection round, every candidate would have to go through several duels. Not only is it extremely time-consuming, it's also very easy for one to sustain injuries, resulting in a significant drop in one's fighting prowess.
Zhuo Qingfeng continued.
In the previous dueling ring, out of the eighty candidates from the Four Great Master Teacher Academies, only ten would be selected. In other words, every candidate would have to go through at least three duels.
In a situation where everyone's cultivation was around the same level, every single duel would be extremely exhausting. In just three duels, most of the candidates would already be half-dead.
In fact, there were even some who could have made it into the top ten, but they ended up facing a powerful opponent in their first duel, resulting in them being eliminated. Even if they were able to win by sheer luck, their injuries were simply too severe, resulting in them losing out on the combat master slot.
This wasn't just a loss to the Four Great Master Teacher Academies; it was a loss to the Combat Master Hall as well.
Hearing the change in the selection round, Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the others glanced at one another in bewilderment.
While there were some flaws in the selection round, it was also the fairest selection round. If they were to change the selection round abruptly, it wouldn't be fair.
However, their doubts didn't last long. Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "The selection round this time is much simpler and faster. Our Combat Master Hall will conduct the selection round on all of you. If any of your candidates can withstand three blows from a member of our Combat Master Hall, they will be considered to have passed the selection round! "
"Three blows?"
Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the others frowned upon hearing those words.
While the selection round was much simpler and didn't require any duels, it was indeed much more difficult.
Others might not know how fearsome the Combat Master Hall was, but they had seen it with their own eyes. They were practically invincible among their peers. While their candidates were powerful, they could only be considered to be the cream of the crop among their peers. If they were to face a combat master in a duel, it would be difficult for them to withstand three blows.
"Don't worry. Before coming here, they have already instructed us to ensure that the strength of the three blows will be of the same level. There won't be any irregularities in the selection round!"
Seeing that the others were deep in thought, Zhuo Dingfeng said.
"We trust the Combat Master Hall on this matter."
Hearing those words, Wu Tianqiong and the others chuckled softly.
Naturally, the selection round of the Combat Master Hall would be fair and just.
Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand grandly and said, "Since you trust us, let's begin right away. The sooner the better!"
"Alright!"
Hearing the other party's urging, the four principals nodded with bitter smiles on their faces.
They had made all kinds of preparations beforehand, but who would have thought that the other party would have the Combat Master Hall conduct the selection round instead?
While the selection round was bizarre, there was a huge benefit to it as well. While it would be difficult for them to defeat the other party, it should be easy for them to survive three blows without being defeated.
"Xu Tai and Chen Zhu, the two of you will take the Grade-1 examination first!"
Hearing their agreement, Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand.
"Yes!"
Two young men stepped forward from the crowd.
The two of them appeared to be in their late teens, and their cultivation was on par with the Grade-1 students, Consonant Spirit realm pinnacle. However, the aura they emanated was far sharper, giving them a dazzling presence.
"I'll go first!"
Xu Tai nodded. He leaped onto the stage and scanned the surroundings before saying, "The Grade-1 examinees will be considered to have passed the selection round if they can survive three blows from me."
After saying those words, he flicked his wrist, and a sword appeared in his hand. A cold gleam shone from the sword, and it shone brightly.
At the same time, the aura he exuded also began rising steadily. Even though he was only at Consonant Spirit realm, he exerted an immense pressure on one's soul, such that even Cosmos Bridge realm cultivators would find it difficult to match him.
"How powerful …"
"I thought that the students from Yunxu College were fearsome enough … To think that they would be even more formidable! To think that a Consonant Spirit realm cultivator would be able to reach such a level … As expected of a combat master! "
"Indeed. Even a Cosmos Bridge realm cultivator like me wouldn't be a match for him …"
Feeling Xu Tai's aura, the faces of the crowd tightened.
(Fifth Update! Wait a moment, there's more to come!)
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