The next morning, a martial arts training ground in Tiandu was already bustling with activity.
In the center of the enormous training ground, a wide arena was tightly enclosed by railings, with countless seats arranged densely around it.
Although the sky had just begun to brighten, the grounds were already packed to capacity.
The crowd sat in orderly fashion according to their designated positions.
At this moment, the training ground was filled with the noise of conversation. Most people wore ornate brocade robes, displaying their respective identities and status.
Nearly every major force of note in the Great Xia Dynasty had gathered here, and many court officials were seated among them as well. The atmosphere was lively and tense.
Amid the crowd, discussions rose and fell.
“Master Huang, have you heard?”
A middle-aged man in a cyan long robe spoke in a low voice to the person beside him.
“Heard what?” Master Huang frowned slightly, clearly intrigued by the other’s words.
“This time, the martial arts tournament doesn’t seem to be overseen by the Director of the Rites Department.” The middle-aged man lowered his voice, a trace of puzzlement in his tone.
“Oh?”
“That is strange.”
Master Huang stroked his chin and said thoughtfully, “According to past convention, the martial arts tournament is always presided over by the Director of the Rites Department, one of the six great departments.”
“Why is it that this time, not only has the tournament been moved up, but the chief examiner has also been changed at the last minute?”
“Yes, yes!”
Another elder in a purple robe beside them chimed in. “However, we needn’t concern ourselves with such matters.”
“Regardless, our Qingyu Sect is determined to secure a spot in the top hundred for the Spirit Ruins Land!”
Master Huang smiled slightly at these words, a flash of confidence glinting in his eyes.
“Well said. No matter who the chief examiner is.”
“The Cangshan Sect is equally determined to claim a place in the Spirit Ruins Land!”
With that, Master Huang looked toward his three disciples beside him, all aged twenty-eight or twenty-nine, each with an especially extraordinary bearing!
The Cangshan Sect was located in Yusu Prefecture of the Eastern Region, and Master Huang was an existence at the perfected Inner Qi realm.
So these disciples of his were the most outstanding ones in the sect.
Each of them had already broken through to the Blood Refining realm before the age of twenty-nine, fully qualified to compete for a spot in the top hundred.
Because all contestants participating in the martial arts tournament had to have a bone age under twenty-nine.
Anyone who faked their bone age would face severe punishment from the Great Xia court.
At the lightest, their martial cultivation would be abolished; at the heaviest, they would be executed on the spot, and the force behind them would also be held accountable.
“The Spirit Ruins Land!”
“That really is an unforgettable place!”
“What a pity—even I, as sect master, barely squeezed into eighty-ninth place back then.”
“I could only stay in the Spirit Ruins Land for five days.”
“If I’d been given a bit more time, perhaps I could have broken through to the Martial Grandmaster realm in my lifetime!”
The Spirit Ruins Land was filled with all kinds of extremely mysterious heavenly and earthly spirit items.
Of course, danger and opportunity coexisted. Within the Spirit Ruins Land, there were also some very strange and eerie things.
Simply put, it was like randomly entering some illusionary realm, killing monsters and picking up all kinds of rare treasures!
However, such a wondrous place actually had a time limit.
The Spirit Ruins Land opened once every ten years, and each opening lasted only one year.
So this brief one-year period became the supreme opportunity that everyone under heaven fought over.
But the resources of the Spirit Ruins Land were limited, and it was impossible to let everyone under heaven enter together.
That way, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.
The first batch to enter, aside from the Great Xia Royal Family, the eight great families, and the five transcendent forces,
also included those ranked 1–3 in the martial arts tournament.
Duration: ten months!
The second batch consisted of those ranked 4–10, with a duration of thirty days!
The third batch was ranks 11–20, entering the Spirit Ruins Land for fifteen days.
The fourth batch was ranks 21–50, entering the Spirit Ruins Land for ten days.
The fifth batch was ranks 51–100, entering the Spirit Ruins Land for five days.
As for those who entered earlier, if they failed to come out within the designated time, someone would naturally come to make them understand.
Whose sky is it over the Great Xia Dynasty!
When the Spirit Ruins Land closed, everyone inside would be expelled by it.
By that time, those who violated the time limits had better possess strength that could sweep aside all opposition.
Otherwise, they could just clean their necks and wait for death!
As daylight grew clearer, the atmosphere on the training ground grew increasingly tense.
Disciples of the major forces were raring to go, preparing to showcase their skills in the upcoming martial arts tournament.
And the results of this tournament would determine who could enter the Spirit Ruins Land and obtain immeasurable opportunities.
A thousand meters from the training ground, a towering staircase stood tall.
The staircase rose tier upon tier, each level adorned with exquisite desks covered in gorgeous brocade, appearing solemn and dignified.
These seats were arranged from low to high, seemingly corresponding to the official rank hierarchy of the Great Xia court.
At the very bottom of the staircase, the seats were more densely packed, prepared for low- and mid-ranking court officials.
As the staircase rose, the seats gradually decreased, and the desk decorations grew more lavish.
And at the very top of the staircase stood three of the most conspicuous seats, towering high and overlooking the entire training ground.
These three seats were prepared for the chief examiner and two deputy examiners of this martial arts tournament.
The seats were made entirely of precious top-grade red sandalwood, carved with intricate Xuan Bird patterns that reflected a faint luster.
Behind the seats hung the black Xuan Bird emblem of the Great Xia Dynasty, representing the image of the Great Xia Emperor.
At this moment, no one had yet taken their seats on the staircase, but many court officials and their attendants were already busy making arrangements.
They carefully arranged tea sets, fruit platters, and the four treasures of the study, ensuring everything was in order.
The crowd on the training ground kept glancing toward the towering staircase, their hearts faintly filled with anticipation and awe.
They knew that when the chief examiner and deputy examiners took their seats, the martial arts tournament would officially begin.
And the results of this tournament would determine the fate and future of countless people.
“It seems the chief examiner and deputy examiners haven’t arrived yet.”
Master Huang spoke in a low voice, a trace of gravity in his gaze.
“Yes, but it’s about time.”
The purple-robed elder nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three seats at the top of the staircase, a hint of anticipation in his tone.
“I wonder which great figure will preside over this martial arts tournament as chief examiner?”
“To be able to make the Director of the Rites Department step aside—his background must be considerable.”
Master Huang smiled slightly, a flicker of deeper meaning in his eyes. “No matter who the chief examiner is, we need only give it our all.”
“A place in the Spirit Ruins Land—that is our true goal.”
The next instant, a commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the training ground, breaking the original solemn silence.
Everyone’s gaze turned in unison toward the direction of the sound.
A procession of attendants in gorgeous official robes filed in, announcing in loud voices: “The Left Minister and the Right Minister have arrived!”
This declaration exploded like thunder among the major forces, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.
Nearly every sect master and elder of the major forces, and even those court officials already seated in the viewing stands, couldn’t help but be stunned.
Incredulity slowly surfaced on everyone’s faces.
“What?”
“The Left Minister and the Right Minister are both here?”
Master Huang shot to his feet, his eyes filled with shock!
“This… how is this possible!”
The purple-robed elder beside him also widened his eyes, and the scabbard he held nearly fell to the ground.
The entire training ground instantly boiled over, with discussions rising and falling: “The Left Minister and the Right Minister appearing at the same time?”
“This decade’s martial arts tournament has never seen such a grand spectacle!”
“Could there be something special about this tournament?”
“Or perhaps the Great Xia court has some major announcement to make?”
“Even the Left Minister and the Right Minister of the court have come in person—could they be the chief examiners this time?”
“Or perhaps it’s someone from the imperial palace coming in person to oversee this martial arts tournament!”
Everyone’s hearts were filled with doubt and speculation, their gazes fixed intently on the entrance, waiting for those two great figures who wielded power over the entire court to appear.
Before long, two figures, surrounded by a retinue of court guards, slowly walked into the training ground.
The one on the left wore a purple-gold Xuan Bird official robe, with a majestic countenance and piercing eyes—it was the Left Minister of the Great Xia Dynasty, Chang Mingsheng.
The one on the right also wore a purple-gold Xuan Bird official robe, with an extremely calm expression—he was the Right Minister of Great Xia, Bi Zhengzhi!
The moment the two appeared, the atmosphere on the training ground instantly grew tense to the extreme.
Whether it was the sect masters of the major forces or the assembled court officials.
They all involuntarily held their breath, their hearts filled with awe.
“The Left Minister!”
“The Right Minister!”
As the two approached, everyone on the training ground rose to pay their respects, their voices uniform and exceptionally solemn.
Left Minister Chang Mingsheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he said calmly, “No need for such formality, everyone!”
Right Minister Bi Zhengzhi’s face also revealed a properly measured, gentle smile.
“No need for such formality, everyone.”
“The Left Minister and I have come this time by the Emperor’s decree, temporarily serving as deputy examiners for this martial arts tournament.”
“Please be seated, everyone!”
These brief words, with a strange power, pierced through the clamor and spread across the entire training ground.
Even those sitting in the farthest corners could hear them clearly.
Upon hearing this, everyone took their seats one after another!
The originally noisy training ground instantly fell silent, and all eyes focused on these two highly positioned and powerful ministers.
Although Right Minister Bi Zhengzhi’s words were brief, they set off towering waves in the hearts of everyone present.
By the Emperor’s decree!
Master Huang and the purple-robed elder exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of gravity in each other’s eyes.
It seemed this tournament was not simply about competing for places in the Spirit Ruins Land.
Master Huang thought to himself.
A place where both the Left Minister and Right Minister of Great Xia appeared simultaneously must carry great significance.
As Left Minister Chang Mingsheng and Right Minister Bi Zhengzhi took their seats, the atmosphere on the training ground reached its peak.
The atmosphere grew even quieter, and all eyes focused on the very top of the towering staircase—that empty chief examiner’s seat.
That seat, at this moment, became the center of the entire grounds, attracting countless curious, awe-struck, and even uneasy gazes.
“The Left Minister and Right Minister have both arrived, yet the chief examiner’s seat is still empty…” Master Huang murmured in a low voice, his brows tightly knit, his eyes full of puzzlement.
“Yes, who exactly is this chief examiner?”
“To be able to make the Left Minister and Right Minister personally sit in attendance!”
The purple-robed elder couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, a trace of disbelief in his tone.
Not only them, but the sect masters, elders, and even court officials throughout the training ground were all in an uproar internally.
The Left Minister and Right Minister!
Those were existences in the Great Xia Dynasty second only to the Emperor, wielding power over the entire court—below one person, above ten thousand!
Yet now, these two all-powerful ministers could only sit in the deputy seats, while the chief examiner’s seat remained empty.
Who exactly was this chief examiner?
“Could it be… some great figure from the imperial family?” someone whispered in speculation.
Suddenly!
A sharp, piercing sound cut through the silence of the training ground.
Everyone’s gaze was instantly drawn to it. A group of eunuchs dressed in the uniforms of the Imperial Household Supervision filed in.
The lead eunuch was the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Household Supervision, whom Lu Xuan had met several times before.
Leng Yuanjun!
Leng Yuanjun’s face was cold and stern. In his hands, he held a dark black scroll tube carved with intricate Xuan Bird patterns.
The next moment, Leng Yuanjun cried out in a loud voice:
“The imperial decree has arrived!”
The moment these three words fell, everyone’s expressions turned incomparably solemn.
Almost simultaneously, everyone on the training ground dropped to one knee, bowing their heads, welcoming the Great Xia Emperor’s decree with the utmost reverence.
“We respectfully welcome His Majesty!”
However, six or seven people on the training ground remained standing, including Left Minister Chang Mingsheng and Right Minister Bi Zhengzhi.
As true beings of the Divine Mansion realm, they did not need to kneel—a simple bow would suffice.
“Now, our Great Xia Dynasty enjoys flourishing national fortune and thriving martial arts. To select the finest talents under heaven.”
“We hereby appoint Lu Xuan, Deputy Director of the Xuan Bird Guard, as chief examiner of the martial arts tournament. He shall act at his own discretion, as if I were present in person!”
“In this martial arts tournament, all who enter the Spirit Ruins Land shall be the pillars of our Great Xia, and the court shall richly reward them, bestowing supreme honor.”
“We hope all talented individuals will give their all and not disappoint our expectations!”
“Thus decreed!”
After the imperial decree was read, Leng Yuanjun closed the scroll tube, swept his gaze across the grounds, and said calmly, “Everyone, please rise.”
In that instant, everyone present was deeply shaken!
No one had expected that the chief examiner of this martial arts tournament.
Would be none other than the renowned Deputy Director of the Xuan Bird Guard, Lu Xuan!
And those four characters specially written by the current Emperor left both Left Minister Chang Mingsheng and Right Minister Bi Zhengzhi stunned.
As if I were present in person!
This…
His Majesty truly values this Lu Xuan greatly!
“Hm?”
Leng Yuanjun unconsciously let out a faint sound of surprise, a note of puzzlement in his voice.
He followed everyone’s gaze toward the chief examiner’s seat.
Leng Yuanjun’s originally indifferent expression, calm as water, was instantly frozen, abruptly stiffening.
“Where is Director Lu?”
He murmured to himself, his brows furrowing slightly, a barely perceptible trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
This Director Lu had actually not yet arrived!
Just as Leng Yuanjun was at a loss for what to do—
The imperial decree he held high was, in the blink of an eye, swept by a faint dark light.
That dark light was so fast that no one could catch it. Then, the imperial decree vanished without warning, leaving only an empty palm.
This sudden change drew gasps from the surrounding crowd, and everyone looked toward the chief examiner’s seat.
There, a remarkably young man sat steadily.
He wore a black brocade robe, with subtle patterns flowing through the fabric, exuding elegance.
His ink-black long hair was neatly bound behind his back, swaying gently with the breeze.
On his sharply contoured face, sword-like brows swept diagonally into his temples, and his eyes were deep as an abyss, constantly radiating a calm, extraordinary temperament.
And the imperial decree that Leng Yuanjun had been holding was now in this young man’s hand.
After Leng Yuanjun recognized who it was, his taut heart slowly relaxed.
He had thought it was some clueless fool who dared to snatch even His Majesty’s decree.
So it was Director Lu!
“I hereby declare the martial arts tournament begins!”
Without a trace of delay, the first thing Lu Xuan did after sitting down was announce the start of the martial arts tournament.
Lu Xuan’s short sentence was clearly transmitted to every single person’s ears!
