Xuanwu War Sovereign

In the City of Many Stars, within a temporary courtyard of the Mystic Master Guild.

The early morning mist had yet to dissipate. Faint sunlight filtered through the dense foliage in the courtyard, casting mottled spots of light in its center.

POW! POW! POW!

The wind from her fists whistled, making the air vibrate.

A young woman’s sharp cry echoed from the courtyard. The wind from her fists billowed like the heavy breath of a Barbaric Beast, occasionally erupting with an explosive sound, full of power.

Her movements were nimble, like a crane standing atop a pine tree—agile and fierce within their grace.

Her limbs and spine were particularly remarkable. With every movement, she was like a fully drawn bowstring. She exhaled as if drawing the bow and struck as if releasing an arrow. Her light yet ferocious attacks revealed a profound foundation.

"Not bad, not bad at all. In just ten days, Honglian, you’ve cultivated the Refining Tendons stage of the Martial Arts First Layer Heaven to Great Perfection. Although my medicinal soups helped condition your body, your own comprehension and hard work were the main reasons!"

"You deserve praise!"

A deep, magnetic voice sounded in the courtyard.

"It’s all thanks to your guidance, Young Master!" A flash of red appeared as the young woman lowered her gaze and moved behind the black-robed youth. She began to knead his shoulders, a hint of joy flashing in her beautiful eyes.

The young woman was becoming more and more captivating. She wore a red dress that accentuated her fiery, tall figure. Her features had fully blossomed, revealing a trace of peerless beauty. If not for the dark red birthmark on her face, the Mystic Master Guild’s doorway would have long since been mobbed by suitors.

Even so, some of the servants passing by the courtyard couldn’t help but cast slightly heated gazes upon her.

"Heh, this girl sure knows how to flatter," Qin Feng chuckled lazily, enjoying the massage from Honglian as he relaxed with a look of pure contentment.

It had already been ten days since he reunited with Honglian.

Qin Feng had been staying at the Mystic Master Guild’s temporary residence the entire time. These past few days, aside from his own cultivation, he had been guiding his little maid in the ways of the Martial Dao.

Squinting, he leaned back in his rocking chair and thought to himself, ’As expected of the Bloodthirsty Maiden, her aptitude is extraordinary. To think she went from an ordinary person to completing the cultivation of the Martial Arts First Layer Heaven in just ten days!’ ’If word of this cultivation speed got out, those self-proclaimed geniuses would probably bash their heads against a wall in shame!’

Qin Feng knew very well how much effort he had spent to break through to the Martial Arts First Layer Heaven. He had even used some of his most precious medicinal formulas.

Yet Honglian had broken through to the Martial Arts First Layer Heaven relying on nothing more than an ordinary White Crane Refining Form Fist. Such speed was simply unheard-of.

’Of course, the medicinal soups I prepared for her played a part, but Honglian’s aptitude is truly terrifying!’

’The Bloodthirsty Maiden... truly incredible!’

Though shaken internally, Qin Feng’s expression remained calm. He began to speak with confident eloquence.

"The first three layers of the Martial Arts Realm are the best time to temper one’s bones and tendons. Now that you’ve reached Perfection in the Martial Arts First Layer Heaven, Honglian, you can begin working toward the Martial Arts Second Layer Heaven. I have an extremely high-quality Bone Forging Secret Technique for you called the Spiritual Snake Jade Bone Fist. It’s a Fist Technique I simplified from a High Tier, Spirit Martial Level technique, the Spiritual Snake Demon-Subduing Fist. If you can master it to Great Success, all the bones in your body will become like a draconic serpent—a perfect balance of hard and soft, and exceptionally fierce..."

Morning sunlight spilled into the courtyard. Master and servant, one teaching diligently and the other learning earnestly, created a scene of gentle warmth.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the gate.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Before long, the figure of a dark-faced man appeared, rushing into the courtyard.

"Qin Shou, what is it?" While using one hand to correct a flaw in Honglian’s posture and explaining the mysteries of the Spiritual Snake Jade Bone Fist, Qin Feng turned his head to look at the dark-faced man.

Sweat dripped from his forehead. Qin Shou lowered his head and spoke urgently. "Young Master, I have news about the matter you asked me to investigate. There are quite a few second-year experts from the Five Elements Team participating this time. Besides the Wolf King, Zhao Xuanmeng, several other very famous experts will be in this year’s Hidden Dragon Points Competition! The more famous ones include the Tiger King, Li Heihu; the Leopard King, Wang Dong; and the Ghost King, Wu Ying. These are all top-tier experts in the Five Elements Team, with reputations no less than Zhao Xuanmeng’s. Moreover, through the Hundred Beasts Secret Technique, I’ve learned that there seem to be several other groups of people who intend to act against you, Young Master!"

Qin Shou’s face was filled with fury.

Qin Feng waved his hand. "This is all within my expectations. The position of Elder Cyan Dragon isn’t so easy to hold! It’s normal for them to have some ideas. But your Young Master is no pushover. When the time comes, it remains to be seen who will be taking care of whom!"

The undercurrents at All Stars Academy were turbulent and treacherous. The Hidden Dragon Points Competition had not even begun, yet all sorts of killing intent were already lurking in the shadows.

"Also, the rewards for this Hidden Dragon Points Competition have been announced! First place receives a Black Iron Battle Armor, ten thousand Points, and two hundred Merit Points!"

"Those rewards aren’t bad at all!" Qin Feng’s eyes lit up.

Qin Feng didn’t particularly care about the ten thousand Points; what truly moved him were the two hundred Merit Points.

Qin Feng was currently a Fifth-level Inner Sect Disciple. If he could earn a hundred Merit Points, he could apply to the Medicine King Hall and be directly promoted to the status of a Sixth Level Deacon Disciple.

If he could advance to Level 7 Grand Steward, his status would automatically be elevated to Lord of the Mountain.

Qin Feng’s current identity was the Cave Master of Heavenly Red Peak’s Bishui Cave.

As Cave Master, Qin Feng was really only the temporary manager of Heavenly Red Peak’s Bishui Cave.

If he were to be promoted to Mountain Lord, his authority as Cave Master would be further enhanced, granting him even more power over Heavenly Red Peak.

For example, he could establish his own Medicine Garden or even alter the feng shui of Heavenly Red Peak.

The benefits of this were immeasurable!

This meant Qin Feng was another step closer to bringing Heavenly Red Peak completely under his control.

Above Mountain Lord was Mansion Master. A Mansion Master could establish their own manor and gain complete ownership of Heavenly Red Peak’s Bishui Cave. They would no longer need to contribute Mid-grade Spirit Medicine from the Spirit Mountain Blessed Land to the sect. Any Spirit Medicine on the mountain would become the Mansion Master’s private property. They could even establish their own administration and bring smaller, surrounding Spirit Mountain Blessed Lands under their control, becoming one of the minor Dukes.

At that stage, he would have more or less complete control over this Spirit Mountain Blessed Land.

If he could advance one step further, he could truly privatize Heavenly Red Peak’s Bishui Cave and turn it into his true foundation.

This was a hidden opportunity exclusive to the various Elders of each peak and mountain.

One must know that within the Star Sect, even some Inner Sect Disciples might not possess their own Spirit Mountain Blessed Land.

All sorts of thoughts flashed through Qin Feng’s mind as he listened to Qin Shou recount the details of the Hidden Dragon Points Competition.

"The reward for second and third place is five thousand Points and one hundred Merit Points!"

"The reward for fourth through sixth place is three thousand Points and fifty Merit Points!"

"The reward for seventh through tenth place is one thousand Points and twenty Merit Points!"

"Those ranked from eleventh to thirtieth will only receive three hundred Points!"

Qin Feng nodded to himself. The rewards for each Hidden Dragon Points Competition at All Stars Academy were extraordinarily generous; no wonder it attracted so many geniuses. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The first-place prize was especially coveted. Never mind the almost absurd ten thousand Points and two hundred Merit Points; the Black Iron Battle Armor alone was enough to make one drool.

If he could obtain this Black Iron Battle Armor, his cultivation speed for the Mixed Element Star Technique would increase by more than three to four times.

’I suppose the Elders from every branch have arrived this time!’

"You’ve guessed correctly, Young Master. The Elders from every branch have caught wind of it. The Elders of two different student years, plus countless experts from the four academies, are all sharpening their knives!"

"In three days, the All Stars Academy’s Hidden Dragon Points Competition will officially begin!"