11th of July. Fang Ping fought Yunmeng Military School’s Rank-3 martial artists and broke through to Peak Rank-3.
In the following two days, Fang Ping did not make another appearance.
However, the martial arts world kept close tabs on martial artist prodigies. Very soon, some news started spreading.
...
Just as Fang Ping headed north seeking after invincibility, on the 12th of July, Qin Fengqing, who had not shown up for many days, turned up in MCMAU as a Rank-4. Nevertheless, he disappeared again very quickly.
CCMAU Ling Yiyi, who was not too prominent a figure previously, had abruptly shot up the martial arts university combat strength ranking as the top candidate in July. She was currently practicing swordplay in Gyeonggi-do. There was a high chance for her to bump into Fang Ping.
CCMAU Li Hansong achieved Peak Rank-4 rapidly after taking over Yao Chengjun as the head of CCMAU Martial Arts Society, and was acclaimed as the frontrunner among all current students in martial arts universities.
According to sources, MCMAU Zhang Yu had achieved Middle-stage Rank-4. However, coupling Li Hansong’s progress to Peak Rank-4 and the death of MCMAU’s old vice-chancellor in battle, MCMAU’s Martial Arts Society grew significantly weaker in power.
Rumor had it that Zhang Yu intended to step down as the president of the Martial Arts Society, but his successor was not Xie Lei or Qin Fengqing as predicted by outsiders. Apparently, Zhang Yu had recently invited Chen Wenlong, who was undergoing training at the Military Department, to return and take over the position as the president of the Martial Arts Society.
Chen Wenlong was currently an MCMAU junior-year student too, though he was training in the military most of the time. He was a martial artist listed in the Rank-3 ranking list in the same batch with people like Yao Chengjun, Li Hansong, and Wang Jinyang. At present, he had achieved Upper-stage Rank-4 and was equipped with an extremely powerful ability.
Sino Nation Martial Arts University Liu Shijie had achieved Upper-stage Rank-4, taking charge of Sino Nation Martial Arts University Martial Arts Society.
South Capital Martial Arts University Chen Haoran achieved Middle-stage Rank-4 and was in charge of South Capital Martial Arts University Martial Arts Society.
Nanjiang Martial Arts University Wang Jinyang, according to sources, had already achieved Upper-stage Rank-4 many days ago.
...
These were the situations of the current students in martial arts universities. They were either Rank-4 or true elites on the verge of achieving Rank-4.
However, since the graduation of the previous batch, there were no Rank-5 students in martial arts universities yet. There was a temporary discontinuation of Rank-5 students.
Who would become the next martial arts university Rank-5 student? This was also a key point that many were paying close attention to.
Li Hansong? Wang Jinyang? Liu Shijie? Or perhaps, a latecomer who would surpass their seniors?
Yao Chengjun, on the other hand, coming from the military school structure which was different from the martial arts university, was not included.
Among them, MCMAU, one of the two elite universities, was in an extremely awkward position. The current batch of MCMAU graduate students had extremely powerful abilities, with a few Rank-5 students who were in charge. Even CCMAU could only barely measure up to MCMAU.
However, in the last two years, following the deaths of many MCMAU Rank-3 and 4 students in battle, their strongest student today was Chen Wenlong, who had only achieved Upper-stage Rank-4 not long ago.
Even so, Fang Ping, who broke through ranks continuously and had achieved Peak Rank-3 after just one year in MCMAU, was also in the limelight. Could Fang Ping, who blitzed through three ranks in just a year, reverse the situation in MCMAU?
...
The news in the martial arts world was only going around within their circle. It was not spread to the public.
Right now, Fang Ping, who had just achieved Peak Rank-3, did not continue up north. Instead, he was strengthening himself and reaping his rewards.
Of course, he also wanted to wait for his swelling to go down. Fang Ping did not want to challenge anyone with this pig head of his; it would be embarrassing for both parties.
After breaking through Peak Rank-3, Fang Ping’s ability was enhanced once again.
Wealth: 22.5 million
Vitality: 1150cal (1259cal+)
Mentality: 530Hz (559Hz+)
Bones honed: 126 bones (100%), 51 bones (90%+), 29 bones (30%+)
Manic Explosion, attained five consecutive slashes stage; Vajra Punch, attained the collective punch force; Cloud Step, the first middle-ranked Combat Technique to achieve the stage of completion.
Other than that, Fang Ping had mastered the Blood Arrow Method, though that particular technique might not be suitable for friendly battles to learn from one another. The Blood Arrow Method was more apr for life-and-death battles in the Catacombs.
13th of July. Fang Ping practiced repeatedly, mastering the collective punch completely before he finally continued his journey up north.
Next stop. Chungchou Province!
In Beihu, there was Yunmeng Military School, one of the three great military schools.
In Chungchou Province, there were neither military schools nor well-known martial arts universities. Instead, there were renowned sects!
Not only one. Chungchou was the province with the greatest sect influence.
Following the decline of sects, everywhere else today held martial arts universities and the Military Department in high esteem.
Only in Chungchou, sects were regarded as fairly powerful and influential.
Wangwu of Dao Sect, Shaoshi Mountain of Buddhist Sect, Wanshan Temple, and other notable small-scale sects. Chungchou was teeming with them. Following the rise of martial arts universities and the decline of sects, there were only twenty to thirty sects left in the entire Sino Nation.
In Chungchou alone, there were more than ten sects, occupying half of the total.
High Grandmaster Zhao Xingwu, 8th place on the Grandmaster ranking, was the current sectarian alliance leader. High Grandmaster Zhao originated from the Wangwu Sect.
There was a Catacombs entrance in Chungchou as well. The Chungchou Catacombs entrance was mainly guarded by the different major sects; their duties were the same with martial arts universities everywhere.
...
Fang Ping was extremely interested in sects influences.
Since the beginning of his martial arts practice until now, he was not unfamiliar with the martial artists in martial arts universities, nor the ones in the Military Department. He had also met martial artists from the Department of Investigation Services and various political departments.
This also included martial artists from the business world, martial artists who were mainly involved in the research field...
He had met these people before.
The sect martial artists were the only ones Fang Ping had not met even until today. In Magic City, the sects had no living space, hence none existed.
Among the Rank-3 powerhouses whom he was going to challenge this time, two sect martial artists were listed ahead of Fang Ping. One of them came from the Wanshan Temple of the Buddhist Sect.
Surprisingly, there was no notable Rank-3 powerhouse from the prominent Shaoshi Mountain of Wangwu Sect, where High Grandmaster Zhao was in.
Another Rank-3 sect powerhouse originated from the Capital City. Unlike Magic City, there were sects in the Capital City.
The Rank-3 powerhouse from Wanshan Temple was ranked 7th on the Rank-3 grand ranking, so Fang Ping knew better than to underestimate this adversary.
Instead of heading straight for Wanshan Temple, Fang Ping first headed for Eternal Sun Village as soon as he stepped foot into Chungchou’s boundary.
Although there were countless sects in Chungchou, certain sects only had a few members, their abilities weak.
Even though Eternal Sun Village was called a village and seemed rural, this village was a sect itself, one that had strong abilities too.
There was no Grandmaster in Eternal Sun Village. However, a Rank-6 powerhouse was there to keep watch; that person was also considered second to none among the sects.
On the Rank-3 grand ranking, a person from Eternal Sun Village was listed, ranked behind Fang Ping at 15th place, a rank lower than Chen Jiawang. Nevertheless, the abilities of the top twenty and the top ten were not too different. The ranks did not depict any direct combats between the martial artists listed—the 15th seed might not be weaker than the 14th.
Frankly, Fang Ping did not score a completely clean win over Chen Jiawang. During the battle, both parties’ Vitalities were depleted. In the beginning, Fang Ping was constantly on the back foot. Toward the end, he relied on his stronger physique to gradually shift the tide in his favor.
Even after his Vitality was replenished, Chen Jiawang’s was still depleted. After breaking through Peak Rank-3, Fang Ping did not get the opportunity to fight Chen Jiawang again.
Fang Ping was prepared to try his hand against the fellow in Eternal Sun Village before going to Wanshan Temple and challenging the 7th seed.
...
In the afternoon of the 13th, after a lengthy drive, Fang Ping finally arrived at Eternal Sun Village.
Despite its name, Eternal Sun Village was an interesting and appealing small town.
Anyone who practiced martial arts typically had some wealth and a higher position in society.
Eternal Sun Village had been around for many years. Even if the inhabitants did not pursue a leisurely lifestyle, they would not pick a rundown and derelict mountain village to live in seclusion.
Eternal Sun Village was divided into two sections. At the front, a few ancient buildings that were newly built were open to the public. Eternal Sun Village was also a small tourist spot. Although summer had arrived and brought with it blistering weather, the place was not short of tourists.
Upon entering Eternal Sun Village’s boundary, the first sight that greeted you was a towering arched gate with three bold and cursive wordings carved on it—Eternal Sun Village!
When Fang Ping got out of the car, a large glaive in hand, he attracted quite a few stares from the tourists.
“Is that a martial artist?”
“Must be. Look at that saber, it doesn’t look fake to me.”
“I heard that many people practice martial arts behind the restricted area in Eternal Sun Village. Is he a martial artist from Eternal Sun Village?”
“I’m not so sure, but he looks familiar...”
The tourists whispered among each other. However, no one dared to approach Fang Ping.
In the eyes of ordinary people, martial artists, regardless of their abilities, were privileged people.
It was especially pronounced in recent years. The government was constantly raising the status of martial artists, further increasing the gulf between them and normal people.
However, ordinary people rarely interacted with martial artists. Plus, the cultist martial artists’ threat had recently been exposed. Consequently, some ordinary people who were unsatisfied with the current situation had turned to the cultist martial artists to vent their frustration.
Fang Ping had no intention to interact with these people. He walked through the arched gateway, stepping on bluestone slabs that paved the street.
Both sides of the street were lined with shops that were selling signature snacks, travel souvenirs... it was bustling with noise and excitement.
“Is a noisy environment like this really suitable for practicing martial arts?”
Fang Ping was doubtful. Both martial arts universities and military schools were built in quiet areas. They were not typically open to the public either.
MCMAU was massive. It was not uncommon to walk for half a day and not even see a shadow.
In fact, when practicing martial arts, one would be worried about getting preoccupied with other matters and distractions.
Even though MCMAU was situated in a big city like Magic City, it was quiet and peaceful inside. However, this sect in Eternal Sun Village had established the sect in a developing tourist spot and was even actively opening it to the public. This was slightly beyond Fang Ping’s expectation.
In his mind, sects were formed in remote areas deep within mountains and forests.
It turned out Fang Ping was mistaken. Even martial artists needed to survive. Martial arts universities could obtain allocated funds from the government. The sects were actually eligible for some allowances from the government too, though the amount was minuscule in comparison.
The number of sect martial artists around was very limited. Even so, they needed to survive too. Martial artists rarely handled things like daily living expenditure and cultivation expenditure by themselves. They could not rely completely on what they had acquired from the Catacombs either. Some martial artists lacked a source of funding. Hence, Eternal Sun Village’s decision to open its doors to tourism was also a way out for them.
Other than the tourism business, Fang Ping had also seen martial arts training class enrollment advertisements in Eternal Sun Village.
Martial arts classes were also offered here. This was another good source of income. Rank-4 martial artists were sufficient to oversee it. As for the fees, it would be no less than hundreds of thousands, and at most a few million. Despite that, they were not short of students.
Many ordinary people did not have the chance to enroll in martial arts universities when they were young. When they began to make enough money, their desire to become martial artists had not faded.
Eternal Sun Village had attracted a stream of people through its tourism business at the periphery, exposing the martial arts training classes to more people and attracting more people to sign up. This was the main source of income to maintain Eternal Sun Village’s daily cultivation expenditures.
Fang Ping was walking on the street, wielding his guandao. This earned him plenty of sideways glances.
After walking for a while, Fang Ping stopped in front of a small building with a hanging plaque that read: Eternal Sun Martial Arts Training School.
He had just paused for a while when a middle-aged man dressed in black martial arts training clothes walked out.
The man had a handlebar mustache. He looked at Fang Ping with a dignified expression, though his eyes betrayed a hint of fear. He asked in a low, rough voice, “Little brother, are you passing by, or are you here for an open challenge?”
As he said those words, a few people in the hall on the first floor of the small building turned their heads sideways and looked at them.
On the street, a few tourists were also watching from a distance away.
Fang Ping sized up the middle-aged man for a while, shaking his head, and replied, “I’m neither here for an open challenge, nor am I passing by. I wish to enter Eternal Sun Village.”
He was already in Eternal Sun Village at this moment, yet he claimed that he wanted to enter Eternal Sun Village. The middle-aged handlebar mustache man did not detect any peculiarity either. With a slight frown, he asked, “Are you looking for someone in this village?”
“I am Fang Ping of MCMAU. I’ve made my way here from MCMAU, hoping to find Brother Zhang Zhenhua for a fight and learn a thing or two.”
“MCMAU Fang Ping!”
The middle-aged handlebar mustache man suddenly realized who this person was and what he was after.
Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man was instantly enraged. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “We, from Eternal Sun Village, do not fight for fame or wealth! The sects are weak, while martial arts universities are strong. We’ve backed down time and time again, yet all of you persistently turn up at our place!
“Last year, NMAU Wang Jinyang had critically injured Zhenhua, resulting in Zhenhua’s stagnation at Peak Rank-3 until. Even today, he’s still unable to step into Rank-4.
“Today, you’ve come for another challenge. Do you really think that we at Eternal Sun Village are so easy to trample on!”
Fang Ping’s jaw dropped. ‘I did not know that!’
‘Are you taking it out on me now?’
‘I’ve been wrongly accused as well!’
Had Old Man Li arrived yet?
He had given Old Man Li a call before he started his journey. If the old man was not here, would the guys from Eternal Sun Village offer him to their ancestors as a sacrifice?
Also... Old Wang had challenged Zhang Zhenhua before?
The guy had warned Fang Ping earlier, asking him to bring an MCMAU instructor along before coming to the sects alone. Could he have known that something like this would happen?
Very likely!
Wang Jinyang had previously also taken the north road and went all the way north. Although he had not challenged many powerhouses from the ranking, it was not like he did not challenge any. It was common for those who were a Peak Rank-3 a year ago to still remain a Peak Rank-3 today.
Would he have to clean up all of Old Wang’s messes now that he was going all the way up north too?
All of a sudden, Fang Ping was at a loss. However, in no time, Fang Ping took a deep breath and said calmly, “I am only here for a challenge. I am not here to tyrannize or humiliate anyone. Martial artists should fight, for their reputation and for their benefits. Zhang Zhenhua is on top of the Rank-3 combat strength ranking. It’s not surprising that I am here for a challenge.
“Old man, why didn’t you inform me earlier that Zhang Zhenhua, a Peak Rank-3 martial artist on the verge of Rank-4, does not even have the guts to fight a match?”
“Humph!”
Handlebar mustache man let out a heavy humph, shot Fang Ping a look, and said coldly, “Fine, since you insist on challenging us, we here in Eternal Sun Village will not be cowards!
“However, since you are the one to initiate the challenge, you should know that we do things differently in the sects as compared to your martial arts university!
“If you lose, place a bet. Your guandao stays!”
Fang Ping’s expression stiffened. Handlebar mustache said flatly, “What? You don’t dare to? If you don’t, then leave! It is not Eternal Sun Village’s obligation to be your opponent for the sake of your search for power. If you want to challenge us, then it is only natural for you to pay the price!”
Fang Ping took a deep breath and said, “What if I win then?”
“If you win, you will achieve your goal then. What else do you want?”
Handlebar mustache sneered. He continued, “If you think that you don’t have a chance of winning, I advise you to leave. After you lose your weapon in a martial arts fight, you won’t get it back even if your MCMAU Grandmaster turns up at our front door!”
Fang Ping did not hesitate for too long. In a deep and low voice, he answered, “Fine!”
His reason for coming up north this time was to become more powerful. If he was to cower and lose courage even before the fight began, then he should just give up challenging the top ten martial artists as well.
As for losing... Fang Ping let out a humph. No way in hell!
If push came to shove, he would have no choice but to cheat. Although this was not what he had intended to do in the beginning, a B-class yanyuedao that was worth fifty to sixty million was not something Fang Ping could lose under any circumstances!
Hearing that Fang Ping had agreed, handlebar mustache chuckled. “Very well then, come with me!”
With those words, the man turned around and addressed everyone in the martial arts school. “You’re all in for a treat this time. All of you are coming along as well. I’ll show you what true martial arts fight looks like!”
As soon as he said those words, the students in the martial arts school broke into smiles.
In the martial arts training school, everyone’s goal was only to become a martial artist. At the aspiring martial artist stage, forget about watching martial artists fight, they could rarely even meet one.
As for their instructors, many of them were actually aspiring martial artists as well. Only at the time of your breakthrough would the middle-ranked martial artists emerge from Eternal Sun Village to watch over you.
Right now, being able to watch a Rank-3 fight, to them, was an opportunity that was extremely difficult to come by.
As for Fang Ping, he was about to say something but stopped on a second thought...’Am I being used as a free advertisement? Where’s my advertising fee?’
However, after thinking it over, Fang Ping held his tongue. This was their territory, after all. Forget it. He noted down this debt. Eternal Sun Village owed him an advertising fee. He would come and claim it when he was stronger.