Chapter 467: The Struggle for Group Leader
Zhang Ruochen was assigned to the first group of the Half-Saint Group. The group consisted of sixty holy disciples, all with cultivation at the Heavenly Extreme Realm Minor Extreme Rank or above, each one a dragon among men. Please search () to see the most complete and fastest updates.
Moreover, their backgrounds were deep and their origins were significant. Some were heirs of saintly aristocratic clans, some were young masters of certain sects, and others were children of high-ranking court officials.
The first group was also called the "Absolute Elite Group," composed of the top sixty ranked newcomers from the Sword Dao Department.
Apart from Zhang Ruochen, Duanmu Xingling was also assigned to the first group.
As for Huang Yanchen, because her ranking was slightly lower during the three rounds of assessment, she was assigned to the second group of the Half-Saint Group.
At this moment, the sixty holy disciples of the first group were all gathered in an empty martial ground, standing neatly in formation. Each one appeared spirited and vigorous, full of energy.
Among them, there were more male holy disciples, thirty-eight in total. The number of female holy disciples was smaller, only twenty-two.
"See that? He's the king of the new generation, Zhang Ruochen. It's said that very few can even withstand three of his moves. If you can take ten moves from him, you'll become famous across the world."
"Is he really as strong as the legends say?"
Among the holy disciples of the first group stood a beautiful woman with a pair of dragon horns on her head. She looked at Zhang Ruochen with a questioning gaze, not quite believing that Zhang Ruochen was as formidable as the legends claimed.
Her name was Ao Xinyan, a member of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan. She carried both human and dragon blood in her veins, possessing a half-dragon body. She was only twenty-four years old, yet her martial cultivation had already reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Extreme Rank.
Ao Xinyan entered the first group with the third-highest score, second only to Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling.
Of course, this didn't mean Ao Xinyan was weaker than Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling. It was simply that during the training in the Five Elements Ruins Realm, she hadn't accumulated as much military merit as they had.
Ao Xinyan's skin was as white as jade, her figure perfect and graceful. Her head was adorned with multicolored colored glaze crystal ornaments. Without even circulating her cultivation technique, the water energy of heaven and earth gathered toward her, making her appear exceptionally sacred, like a flawless white jade lotus in water.
"Don't you know? Zhang Ruochen defeated Lu Fantian of the Sword God Holy Land in eleven moves and defeated Orange Moon Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall in ten moves? With such achievements, even the saintly body Luo Shuihan, who is as famous as him, would probably find it hard to match."
"Zhang Ruochen will definitely become the group leader of the first group. From now on, he'll be our benchmark and the goal we strive for."
Everyone spoke in a flurry of words.
Hearing the evaluations of Zhang Ruochen from those holy disciples, Ao Xinyan's eyes showed a hint of cold disdain. She was very unconvinced.
Ao Xinyan had never seen Zhang Ruochen fight anyone, so naturally, she didn't know how strong he was.
But she believed in her own strength.
Since childhood, among her peers, she had never lost a single battle, so she naturally refused to submit to anyone.
Over the years, the group leader of the first group in the Sword Dao Department of the Holy Academy almost always represented the highest level among the younger disciples of the Holy Academy, with the opportunity to compete for the position of "Young Venerable" of the Martial Market Bank.
The Young Venerable of the Martial Market Bank was equivalent to the Holy Child or Holy Maiden of the Moon Worship Demon Sect, or the Young Master of the Black Market, possessing extremely high status and authority, representing the Martial Market Bank in traveling the world and handling mundane affairs.
Therefore, the struggle for the group leader of the first group in each session of the Sword Dao Department was unprecedentedly fierce, with many people willing to fight desperately for that position.
This year, with the emergence of Zhang Ruochen, the brilliance of other geniuses was completely suppressed. Hence, no one actively competed for the group leader position.
There was one exception, however: Ao Xinyan.
Ao Xinyan walked straight toward Zhang Ruochen, her chest held high, her snow-white chin lifted, her beautiful eyes filled with cold air. She said, "Zhang Ruochen, if you want to become the group leader of the first group, you must first defeat me."
Zhang Ruochen raised his head and glanced at Ao Xinyan.
He had to admit, this woman was extremely beautiful, with a heavenly beauty. Her features were delicate, her figure alluring, especially the snow-white skin exposed outside her clothes, smooth as mutton fat, seemingly delicate enough to break with a touch.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen only looked at her with an appreciative gaze, without any improper thoughts. He said, "I never said I wanted to be the group leader of the first group. If you're interested, go ahead. I definitely won't compete with you."
Ao Xinyan snorted coldly. "Everyone knows that the group leader of the first group must be the strongest holy disciple. Only by defeating you can I become the group leader. Zhang Ruochen, enough nonsense. If you're a man, draw your sword and fight me now."
"Today is the first day of school, and I don't want to fight anyone," Zhang Ruochen said.
If it weren't for meeting the lecturer of the first group, Zhang Ruochen would have already gone to the Scripture Library instead of wasting time here.
"You're afraid to fight me, aren't you? You're scared of losing to me and losing your chance to become group leader," Ao Xinyan deliberately provoked.
"Junior Sister Ao is right. I think Zhang Ruochen is just afraid of losing, which is why he doesn't dare to fight you," a woman's voice said, tinged with sarcasm.
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the owner of that voice and saw another very beautiful woman. It was the heir of the Xi Holy Clan, named Xi Yunxi.
He had fought her before on the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase.
She was also an exceptionally outstanding proud daughter of heaven, possessing a saintly left hand with formidable strength that should not be underestimated.
Zhang Ruochen was not at all surprised that she could become a holy disciple of the first group of the Sword Dao Department.
A male holy disciple standing beside Xi Yunxi, his eyes flickering with an unusual light, smiled and said, "Ao Xinyan is known as a rare prodigy in a century within the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan. Her cultivation is very powerful, and she has defeated cultivators at the Fish-Dragon Realm. Perhaps Zhang Ruochen really isn't her match."
This male holy disciple was also an heir of some saintly aristocratic clan, close to Xi Yunxi, and one of her suitors.
Ao Xinyan revealed a mocking smile. "So-called king of the new generation, turns out to be just a coward. I'm truly disappointed."
"Say whatever you want," Zhang Ruochen said indifferently.
Ao Xinyan had originally wanted to provoke Zhang Ruochen with words, forcing him to make a move, but she didn't expect Zhang Ruochen to completely ignore her, showing no intention of fighting her.
"Since you don't dare to fight me, don't ever call yourself the king of the new generation in front of others," Ao Xinyan said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, "I never called myself the king of the new generation."
Ao Xinyan's eyes widened in anger.
With a swish, she flicked her finger, channeling true qi, and drew her Dragon Pattern Emerald Water Sword, thrusting it straight toward Zhang Ruochen's heart.
Since she couldn't provoke Zhang Ruochen into fighting with words, she had to force him to act.
No matter what, she had to fight Zhang Ruochen today. Only by defeating him could she have a chance to become the group leader of the first group.
"Slap!"
A semi-transparent air current flew from a distance, striking the blade of the Dragon Pattern Emerald Water Sword.
The force of the air current was powerful, causing the sword blade to tremble violently, numbing Ao Xinyan's fingers. Her body, as if hitting a light barrier, was pushed back.
"Who is it?" Ao Xinyan said coldly.
"Whoosh!"
Above everyone's heads, a burst of intense white light radiated, forming a pillar of light descending from the sky to the ground.
Then, a red-clad woman only three inches tall descended from the sky, floating down.
She stood on a patch of five-colored auspicious clouds, two meters above the ground, exuding a sacred aura.
It was Lingshu Half-Saint, whom Zhang Ruochen had seen before.
"Greetings, Half-Saint."
All the holy disciples present knelt on one knee, respectfully bowing to Lingshu Half-Saint.
A Half-Saint transcended all living beings.
Not to mention them; even cultivators at the Fish-Dragon Realm had to kneel and bow when meeting a Half-Saint.
"Greetings, Half-Saint."
Seeing that a Half-Saint had arrived, Ao Xinyan's heart trembled, and she immediately knelt on one knee, not daring to continue challenging Zhang Ruochen.
Lingshu Half-Saint glanced at the sixty holy disciples and said, "From now on, you are the holy disciples of the first group of the Half-Saint Group in the Sword Dao Department, and I am your lecturer. You may call me Teacher Lingshu or Lingshu Half-Saint."
"Greetings, Teacher Lingshu," the students said in unison.
From now on, they were students of a Half-Saint, and many were filled with excitement.
Lingshu Half-Saint said, "Our Half-Saint Group is different from the Fish-Dragon Group. Those who can enter the Half-Saint Group are all elites among elites, geniuses among geniuses. You are among the foremost talents in the entire Eastern Domain. Therefore, I won't teach you too much. You need to comprehend and cultivate on your own. Of course, if you have questions, you can come to me anytime."
"As holy disciples of the first group, you must hold yourselves to strict standards."
"I have only two requirements for you: within five years, you must enter the top two hundred of the 'Heavenly Ranking.' Within ten years, you must break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm. If you fail to meet these two points, you will be directly expelled from the first group."
"Boom!"
Everyone felt as if they had been struck on the head, a roar echoing in their minds.
Lingshu Half-Saint's two requirements were too harsh.
Entering the top two hundred of the 'Heavenly Ranking' was already an incredibly difficult task, and she demanded it be achieved within five years.
Five years—neither too long nor too short.
Lingshu Half-Saint, as if not seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, continued, "Five years is long enough. You can challenge the top two hundred masters of the 'Heavenly Ranking' in the Martial Market Arena, or you can go to the Ruins Realm battlefield to fight fiercely, accumulating enough military merit to break into the top two hundred of the 'Heavenly Ranking.' Either path is open to you."
"Of course, for the group leader of the first group, my requirements will be even higher. Within three years, you must enter the top ten of the 'Heavenly Ranking.' If you fail, I will have to replace you."
"Now, I ask: who is willing to be the group leader of the first group?"