Chapter 1140 - No One in the True Martial Academy?

“What? The True Martial Academy actually accepted the challenge? Are they crazy?”

“Crazy! They have to be!”

“Perhaps their Peerless Peak could turn the situation around.”

“Bullshit! Although they are all freaks, the prodigies from the foreign forces aren’t ordinary either. Take Lian Hao, Zhou Qian, and Ye Xiao, for example. Which of them isn’t monstrously talented? And they are all quasi-Legendary realm experts with ninety-some threads of law. Among the Peerless Peak freaks, only Duanmu Lingxing and Chen Fan can challenge them. The rest either haven’t grasped the laws yet or have already reached the Legendary realm, so naturally, they won’t lower themselves to fight.”

“You... are correct. I’m afraid the academy will lose a lot of face this time. Even if Chen Fan steps in, I don’t think he can turn the situation around. After all, I heard that the Tianxuan Sacred Sect’s Xia Hou and the Ziyang Palace’s Wang Zhong’s strengths are nearly in the Legendary realm.”

“This really is a catastrophe for our continent’s martial world. If the academy also ends up losing miserably, it’ll mark the total suppression of our continent by foreign forces. It will be a huge blow to our martial reputation and fortune. It might even affect the emergence of future geniuses.”

“Exactly. And when you put it this way, another possibility comes to mind. Maybe their true goal isn’t just the core area of the Nebulous Divine Palace. They could be laying the groundwork for the Immortal Draft Assembly.

“Think about it, the elites from our continent’s top forces were all set to participate. Now, many of them are seriously injured, their martial hearts shaken. When the assembly starts, they’ll be at a disadvantage. Some who had the best shot at gaining immortal affinity might miss their chance altogether... and with it, the path to immortality.”

“That’s right! You have a point! Such vicious schemes from these foreign forces. It’s simply killing two birds with one stone—no, it’s killing three birds with one stone.”

“

Haaa

, what’s the point in talking about it now? All we can do is hope the academy manages to save the last shred of face for our Tianwu Continent. Otherwise...”

In the restaurant, Chen Fan’s heart sank as he heard the discussions.

He had already considered these possibilities himself and was now certain: these foreign sects weren’t just targeting the continent’s strength, they were launching a coordinated assault.

Their aim wasn’t limited to the Nebulous Divine Palace’s core area, they were also preparing for the Immortal Draft Assembly by suppressing the younger generation of the Tianwu Continent.

After all, the assembly would have the people of tens of different continents competing for the limited spots.

If they could suppress the juniors of the Tianwu Continent with chances of opening the doors of immortality, their sects and continents would gain a significant advantage.

“Shitong, let’s go.” Chen Fan left behind several primeval stones and shot into the air with Xuan Shitong like lightning before disappearing into the clouds.

......

A few days later, at the True Martial Academy:

Boom, boom!

A powerful pressure descended, tightening the atmosphere across the entire academy.

News of the foreign forces challenging the True Martial Academy had long since spread throughout the Tianwu Continent.

Every disciple of the academy already knew about it and was ready, waiting for their arrival.

Soon, the academy disciples saw a group crossing the sky not far away. The disciples recognized them immediately: the challengers from foreign continents, led by the Ziyang Palace and Tianxuan Sacred Sect.

Today marked the official confrontation.

At the Cloud Stage, deep within the academy, the supreme master, Chu Qingtian, sat expressionless. It was impossible to tell what he was feeling. Beside him was Zhang Daoling.

The presence of foreign forces, along with Void Immortal Supremes from various sects, made the situation too serious to handle alone. Chu Qingtian had no choice but to summon Zhang Daoling back to avoid any unexpected disaster.

Indeed, this was no minor conflict.

It could be said that the True Martial Academy was the last line of defense for the Tianwu Continent’s martial world. Other major forces had also sent their Void Immortal Supremes to witness the battle: Ji Huang, Beishan Ling, the Void Immortal Supremes of Wu Clan, Yue Clan, and the other overlord-class forces had come.

Although there was considerable friction among various major forces, they stood united against the external threat.

No matter what, they needed to put up a front for the True Martial Academy. They couldn’t look weak.

Swish, swish.

Soon, the forces from the foreign continents arrived at the True Martial Academy.

“Hoho, everyone, sorry to bother you.”

The person leading the Ziyang Palace was dressed in long silver robes with a purple sun embroidered on the back. His aura was deep like the sea. He was the Grand Elder of the Ziyang Palace, a Void Immortal Supreme.

Chu Qingtian didn’t bother with a smile or pleasantries. He said very coldly, “Everyone, let’s skip the pleasantries and show our hands.”

These people were here to bring shame to the true Martial Academy, to slap their faces. Was he supposed to greet them warmly?

Impossible!

“Hoho, Academy Master Chu is a straightforward man. Fine, everyone, let’s begin.” The Ziyang Palace’s grand elder chuckled, unaffected by Chu Qingtian and the others’ attitudes. In a flash, he appeared atop the Cloud Stage.

Soon, the competition between the prides of heaven of the True Martial Academy and the foreign forces began.

Unlike the calm and composed people of the foreign forces, Chu Qingtian and the others were furrowing their brows slightly.

Their seasoned eyes could see through the prodigies of these foreign forces.

Take Xia Hou of the Ziyang Palace, for instance: as the rumors suggested, his strength was nearly at the Legendary realm. The same held true for Wang Zhong of the Tianxuan Sacred Sect.

Both of them were quasi-Legendary realm experts with ninety-nine law threads, just one final thread away from stepping into the Legendary realm.

The battle was utterly one-sided.

Unfortunately, all the suffering was on the side of the True Martial Academy, as they were being crushed one-sidedly by the prides of heaven of these forces from the foreign continents.

Watching their own young elites give it their all, only to be defeated so miserably, left Chu Qingtian and the others with unbearably heavy hearts.

Chu Qingtian secretly sent a voice transmission to Zhang Daoling.

“Junior Brother, Duanmu Xingling and Chen Fan...”

Given the current situation, his only hope was that someone from Peerless Peak could help restore the academy’s honor.

Zhang Daoling replied, “Senior Brother, that girl Lingxing is currently in secluded cultivation. I’m afraid she won’t be coming out any time soon. As for Chen Fan, I have no clue as to his whereabouts.”

Chu Qingtian sighed deeply.

“

Haaa

...”

The academy’s juniors weren’t weak. The problem lay in the aftermath of the blood calamity three thousand years ago. Since then, the Tianwu Continent had been in decline, while other continents rose rapidly, nurturing these peerless talents with the full strength of united forces. The difference was staggering.

When the final contestant from the True Martial Academy was tragically defeated, the countless disciples of the academy turned pale, clenching their fists tightly.

They hadn’t just lost; they’d been humiliated.

Then, an arrogant voice echoed through the sky, igniting a wave of fury in every listener.

“The so-called True Martial Academy, number one overlord-class force of the Tianwu Continent, is nothing more than that. How truly disappointing. No one can put up a fight. Weak, weak, weak!”

Just then, a calm yet sharp voice rang out—not loud, but cutting through the noise, heard by almost everyone:

“Where did this mad dog come from, to dare bark in our True Martial Academy? Lay down!”

A silhouette streaked across the sky in a flash of lightning.