「The next morning.」

The sunlight was warm and comfortable, rejuvenating all life. Sounds of life echoed through the vast, tranquil forest, yet this peace was gradually disrupted by sporadic roars.

Early in the morning, under Mingyue's lead, Wang Zhan and his team left the edge of the Death Forest and returned to the wilderness, preparing for the next phase of their mission. However, except for Mingyue, none of the students knew that the third phase of their mission wouldn't take place in Oceania, but back in Federal Society, a world that felt as if it had been sealed off from the students for a long time.

「Jing State.」

Jing State was large and not easy to live in.

As a key city within the Federal System and an ancient city at that, Jing State had lost its central role within the Federation but still played a crucial part in governing an entire planet. Its terrifying size was split into thousands of districts. With nearly a hundred million permanent residents, Jing State's so-called wilderness had been rendered into a toothless tiger.

And it was under such coincidental circumstances that this year's Federal Martial Arts Competition Team Extra Time Competition was set on the fringes of Jing State's suburban wilderness.

One reason was to ensure the safety of the students, preventing a repeat of the Oceania mishap where the original organization dared to interfere with the battlefield by deploying thirteen Martial Generals. The second was due to the various Martial Arts Academies' own private machinations.

「…」

It was now just past the beginning of March, the sun brilliant, evoking the gentle breezes of spring.

The students, who had been on their mission for nearly a month, arrived safely at Military Airport Z13 in Jing State, transported by a massive war-fortress, as large as a city. They disembarked like leaping fish, no longer needing to risk their lives parachuting.

"What's going on? One moment we're in Oceania, and the next we're in Jing State. Is this year's Federal Martial Arts Competition a joke?"

"Who knows what those blockheaded Federation leaders are thinking. All this fussing around, and in the end, it's us students who run all over the place and suffer for it," one team complained, criticizing the Federation for its unreliability.

Their mentor, a burly man at the Martial Master Realm, glanced at them. He didn't intervene, merely thinking with disdain, These losers. If it weren't for their status as current students, the Federation wouldn't have cared in the slightest even if they had all perished on the Oceania Death Battlefield.

On the other hand, Wang Zhan, the current first-place holder in the Martial Arts Competition, his reputation is growing ever louder. Especially considering that, as a mere student, he could be entrusted with a mission by the Military Department on the verge of a crisis and actually succeed. The thought alone is incredible.

He had access to the internet and had come to his own conclusions. Based on the points awarded to the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team by the Military Department, and a popular short video circulating online, he speculated that Wang Zhan had probably used some hidden means and trump cards. This would have allowed him to instantly reach the Martial General Realm and accomplish the mission effortlessly.

That's terrifying! A mere Warrior possessing the means to instantly reach the Martial General Realm. I wonder what his background is, he mused. His information clearly stated Wang Zhan was from the slums of Chu State. But as a citizen of the Federation, what idiot would believe such poorly fabricated nonsense that looked like a lie even without a second glance? He's probably the child of some big shot, right? Of course, his guess wasn't entirely wrong; it was at least halfway accurate.

Meanwhile, the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team, regarded by everyone with a mixture of awe and a desire to isolate them, still sat quietly in place under Wang Zhan's lead. They didn't rush to compete with the others; the team members weren't impatient, merely awaiting Wang Zhan's command to rise.

Just as almost all the Martial Arts Academy teams had departed, a sinister-looking young man with highland features and a prominent forehead slowly approached Wang Zhan, extending his right hand with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Hanqing from the Federal Military Martial Academy. I'm glad to meet you! I had the chance to meet your teammates some time ago. Unfortunately, you weren't there, so I missed out," he said with a laugh.

Wang Zhan looked up, puzzled. Sun Kelan quickly whispered a few words into his ear.

Wang Zhan smiled faintly, stood up without any hesitation, and likewise extended his right hand, firmly grasping Hanqing's.

"So, you're Senior Brother from the Federal Military Martial Academy. I've long heard of your great name."

Hanqing didn't resort to any petty tricks like arm-wrestling. Instead, after chatting amiably with Wang Zhan for several sentences, he extended an invitation.

"Junior Brother Wang, you've come from afar. Why not let us from the Federal Military Martial Academy fulfill our duties as hosts and descend together?"

"Alright."

At Wang Zhan's command, the team members rose in perfect unison, their movements sharp and disciplined, causing Hanqing's eyes to narrow slightly.

It seems that with Wang Zhan's return, the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team has undergone a dramatic transformation in just one week. Previously, they at most acted upon orders; now, it has become an instinct.

Does Wang Zhan already command such prestige in the Chu State Military Martial Academy? What exactly did he go through…? Hanqing wondered, his heart sinking slightly.

However, it was only after both teams had descended from the war-fortress that they discovered something.

Not only was the Yanjing Military Martial Academy team standing under the war-fortress, apparently bored and not having left, but also another team, radiating an imposing and arrogant aura, looking far more outstanding than many others, was also waiting for something.

Until Wang Zhan appeared.

"Hello, Wang Zhan. I am Chu Yuming from the Federal Martial Arts Academy. Nice to meet you," a slightly stout young man, about a head shorter than Wang Zhan, greeted him, his face holding a faint, indifferent expression.

As for Yuan Mengru, who had previously suffered a major setback at Wang Zhan's hands, she gently brushed a strand of fine hair from her forehead and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Hello, we meet again. Let's go. The reporters have been waiting outside for most of the day. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid they'll say we're arrogant again."

Wang Zhan was slightly stunned. Reporters?

"This is a Jing State tradition. Whenever the four major Martial Arts Academies finish the Martial Arts Competition and return to Jing State, they will come for a routine matter," Hanqing explained. Only then did Wang Zhan understand.

「…」

「Outside the airport, 33rd Avenue, Z District.」

Countless luxury cars were parked haphazardly, cramming into every available space along the roadside. But strangely, there wasn't a single person in sight.

It was only when the camera turned to the airport's entrance Great Hall that one realized it wasn't that no one was there, but rather everyone was crowded together in a dense black mass, almost completely blocking the hall.

Just as these reporters and media, armed with their 'long spears and short cannons'—cameras and microphones—were poised and ready, a group of 32 individuals slowly walked towards the main entrance. It was the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team and the teams from the three other major Martial Arts Academies, along with their respective mentors.

However, as soon as the sharp-eyed reporters spotted them, their respective mentors cleverly retreated to the back and silently slipped away.

"They're here, they're here…"

The crowd swelled amidst the hustle and bustle, and everyone's face was inexplicably excited. They couldn't wait to thrust their microphones toward Wang Zhan and his group, even though they were still about one or two hundred meters away.

But the next moment, everyone standing behind Wang Zhan—including the teams from the Federal Martial Arts Academy, Federal Military Martial Academy, Yanjing Military Martial Academy, and the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team—all took a step back. This instantly made Wang Zhan, who was advancing at a steady pace, stand out conspicuously, as if he were a general leading his soldiers back in triumph.

This scene stunned some middle-aged reporters—those who had recently been slacking on their fieldwork but diligently doing their 'homework' at home—and they immediately began to whisper among themselves.

"Who is this kid? From Chu State Military Martial Academy? But that's not right. Even if the four major Martial Arts Academies lost, they're still Federation giants. How could they let this kid steal their thunder? He's just a dark horse. What the hell is going on…"

"What do we do now? Continue the interview? Film or not? This isn't a trap, is it? If we really publish this and embarrass the four major Martial Arts Academies, won't we be the ones taking the blame?"

"Film your mother! If you want to film, go ahead. The four major Martial Arts Academies might not usually interfere, but they sponsor our publication every year. If they withdraw funding, you'll be left with nothing but the northwest wind to drink…"

Of course, they couldn't be blamed for this.

After all, aside from the four old geezers from the four major Martial Arts Academies colluding and giving their teams a heads-up through connections, they hadn't mentioned anything else, let alone to these peripheral figures. This, of course, left these reporters, who had faithfully served them through thick and thin, completely silenced.

Seeing there were still over a hundred meters to go, Wang Zhan continued forward as if nothing was amiss, a calm smile on his face, as he nonchalantly asked,

"Sun Kelan."

"Captain."

"What on earth is going on?"

He didn't understand. Was he being set up by the four major Martial Arts Academies, or was there some other reason? But it shouldn't be like this. How could they let him steal the show, overshadowing the four major Martial Arts Academies for no good reason?

Sun Kelan replied in a low voice,

"The mentor said it's an arrangement from above. You just need to play along casually; as long as everything goes smoothly, it's fine."

Wang Zhan immediately thought of Li Chengyuan. That fellow claimed to be Wang Yidao's subordinate, yet his actions showed he didn't treat Wang Zhan as the descendant of his comrade-in-arms, but rather as a tool. This couldn't help but stir a bit of displeasure in him.

Just as all the media outlets were struck dumb, a young reporter from a small tabloid, disregarding all difficulties, rushed to the very front. He thrust his microphone into Wang Zhan's face, causing all the other reporters and media personnel to sneer inwardly.

That clueless idiot. Does he really think currying favor with a champion will make him famous? If he truly offends the four major Martial Arts Academies, he won't find refuge even if he flees to the ends of the earth.

But this young reporter paid them no mind. Instead, with an air of someone determined to say something shocking or die trying, he rapidly fired off his questions,

"May I ask if you are Student Wang Zhan? My name is Hu Lizhen, a reporter for Jing State Pass External Newspapers. Could you answer a few questions for me? First, I want to know, is the widely circulated online rumor true that the saber-wielding expert who killed the man in black was you?

"Second, I want to know, when you killed that man in black, were you acting on orders from the Military Department? Is that precisely why the Military Department awarded the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team ten thousand points?

"The third is a personal question. The Federation is very curious about your current strength and would also like to know the name of that saber strike you once used. So, could you please tell us…"

For a moment, only this reporter was racing against time, throwing out one question after another. The entire place fell silent, and the onlookers could no longer suppress the tremors in their hearts.

Even though they all knew it was highly improbable, what if there was that one-in-ten-thousand chance? And looking at the stance of the four major Martial Arts Academies, it seemed they intended to confirm this possibility!

Instantly, hundreds of pairs of eyes, which had been exchanging bewildered glances, turned completely green with envy!

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