Chapter 21: First Meeting with Xu Ning

  Whenever Mu Feng thought of Xu Hua, he got a headache. Now in front of Xu Ning, he naturally told him all the information he knew, and he also hoped that Xu Ning could help him solve this trouble.

  Whether it was Xu Hua's relationship with the Green Gang, or framing the Green Gang, or that four-stage Jiaolong, Mu Feng confessed everything.

  Xu Ning listened more and more solemnly, finally he couldn't help but say: "According to what you said, that kid rescued the Qingbang people under the hands of the 4th rank Jiaolong, even if it wasn't a head-on confrontation, his strength must be pretty good."

  "Yes." Mu Feng nodded heavily, although he really couldn't figure out how Xu Hua could have escaped from the hands of a fourth-stage Jiao Long, but that was indeed what had happened.

  Xu Ning's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time. Mu Feng looked at Xu Ning without making a sound, also quietly waiting on the side, not daring to make a noise to disturb him.

  Finally, Xu Ning spoke up, and Mu Feng also let out a deep breath.

  "It's not that simple! This kid is absolutely not simple, and his strength is definitely not just 42,000 jin on the surface. Even if he managed to escape by luck, a fourth-stage dragon's speed is no joke. Legend has it that true dragons can overturn oceans and summon storms, so naturally, a dragon with true dragon blood can control the winds. Even I might not be able to escape in this situation, so what makes him think he can?" Xu Ning suddenly thought to himself: Could he be even stronger than me? The idea sent shivers down Xu Ning's spine.

  Mu Feng didn't think it was anything special, so he casually said: "Maybe they had a stroke of bad luck and the dragon left because something came up!"

  Upon hearing Mu Feng's words, Xu Ning slightly relaxed and also said: "It should be." However, the vigilance in his heart grew heavier.

  ……

  Jianmen Jiandeng heard that Xuning had returned and had exerted a force of over 58,000 catties, and he smiled slightly.

  "Xu Ning, I knew you wouldn't let me down. But this time, it's going to be a disappointment for you. The Holy Son is destined to be Xu Brother's, and it's time for us to settle the score once and for all. I'm tired of being evenly matched with you all along. In the past, my huge responsibility didn't allow me to go all out, but this time, let me show you my true strength."

  Jian Chen's heart was boiling with hot blood, and as a cultivator of the sword path, he was also very eager for battle. However, the heavy burden that had been weighing on him all along had suppressed his desire for battle. Now that Xu Hua had made a promise to him, he could finally go all out in this fight. Yes, Jian Chen had never shown his true strength before, not even during his decisive battle with Blood Sword Emperor. He had been suppressing himself for too long, and even he himself was unclear about his own true combat power.

  Xiangyun had been suppressed all along, and this time the Dragon and Phoenix List would be his first real outbreak.

  Boil over, my warlike heart...

  All students in the school are preparing and waiting, waiting for that exciting bell ring, waiting to climb onto the Dragon and Phoenix List under the gaze of all.

  ……

  Dong...... dong...... dong!

  The loud bell echoed throughout the entire school grounds, even some of the monsters in the Taihang Mountains surrounding the school were restless.

  Roar...... Roar...... Roar!

  Innumerable demonic beasts let out a cacophony of roars, as if responding to the tolling of the bell. However, some fourth-grade and fifth-grade demonic beasts didn't make a single move, as if they had already grown accustomed to it.

  In the school, nearly a thousand students quickly gathered at the Martial Arts Plaza, and even the weakest among them was at least a pre-Wu Wang.

  "Hey, Brother Wang, slow down! Wait for me! Anyway, with our strength, we can't participate in the Dragon and Phoenix List this time, no need to rush."

  "Nonsense, even if we don't go now, the good seats will be taken later. Come on, follow me quickly, or I won't wait for you if you're slow."

  "I'm coming right away..."

  Less than a minute after the bell rang, Wudao Square was packed with people, nearly a thousand, and almost all those who were qualified to attend had arrived, while those who were not Wu Wang's disciples did not even have the qualifications to come.

  "This time the Dragon and Phoenix List has finally arrived, I can hardly wait any longer. I am already in the mid-term of Wu Wang, this time I must enter this list, at least I have to be ranked one hundredth."

  "Haha, Brother Li, this year's Dragon and Phoenix List is not easy to get into! In the previous years, Wu Wang Zhongqi might have been able to enter the top 50 of the Dragon and Phoenix List. But in the last year, the strongest Wu Wang Zhongqi was only ranked 89th on the Dragon and Phoenix List! This year's list is even stronger than last year's! It's hanging by a thread for Wu Wang Zhongqi to get into the Dragon and Phoenix List!"

  "Yes! I think that to get on the list this time, you need at least the strength of a mid-to-top-tier martial artist. We few in the middle of the Martial King stage aren't even the strongest, basically no hope!"

  "Ah! What bad luck! Fortunately, we still have one more chance."

  Xu Hua did not rush to the Martial Arts Square, but instead headed in the direction of the Qing Bang first. After exchanging pleasantries with his second brother and big sister for a while, Xu Hua then went to the Martial Arts Square together with the people from the Qing Bang. Along the way, Xu Hua met Jianchen and his group.

  "Brother Xu, Jianchen wishes you success in becoming a sage son and dominating the school." Jianchen looked at Xuhua with a face full of smiles and joy, without any hint of resentment or jealousy.

  Jian Chen has already submitted to him, he doesn't need to pretend or put on an act. Looking at him with a faint smile: "Dust brother, being a minor saint is nothing, our sights should be set further..."

  Jian Chen led the way, with Xu Hua walking alongside him to the Martial Arts Square. As for the few people from the Green Gang, he just gave them a glance before ignoring them. To him, these people were not even on the same level as him, so there was no need to bother with them.

  The two of them walked forward, while the members of the Sword Gate in the back, except for a few core ones, were all stunned.

  "What's going on? What does the master mean by these words? What kind of sacred being is Xu Hua, anyway? Why did the master say that the position of Holy Son must be his?"

  "Could it be that they had known each other all along?"

  "Judging from his tone, the position of Little Holy One is not even in his eyes. What's going on here? What do these two people mean?"

  Several people from the Green Gang knew that Xu Hua's strength must be very strong, but they just put him on the same level as Jianchen and Xuning. Now Jianchen has actually admitted defeat? What kind of level is his strength at? The few people in their hearts were shocked and excited, extremely excited, because Ningxuan had already told everyone that after this, the Green Gang would follow Xu Hua, and the stronger Xu Hua was, the stronger their power would naturally be. How could they not be excited?

  Among the crowd, Xu Hui and Xu Lang were shocked at first, but then felt that it was only natural. For this third brother, nothing seemed impossible.

  Mu Zi Yi stretched her cute little mouth, and after a moment, she looked at Xu Lang beside her. As she looked, her face turned slightly pink, and her small hand subconsciously held onto Xu Lang's, causing the latter to feel an intense thrill of excitement.

  As for the deputy masters and elders of Jianmen, they all smiled and greeted Ning Xuan. Although the Qingbang was basically destroyed, with Ning Xuan's strength, he was qualified to interact with them, let alone Xu Hua, this young master who stood together with him, who dared to underestimate.

  Xu Hua and Jian Chen walked together, and along the way, there were people secretly asking each other. "Who is that person walking with Senior Jian Chen?"

  There were always some people around him who looked at him with extremely contemptuous eyes. "You don't even know that! You're not the one who's been saying you want to visit Xu Hua every day? Now the real person is right in front of you, but you don't recognize him?"

  Martial Arts Square was packed with people, nearly a thousand people surrounded the martial arts arena in the center of the square. It was difficult for outsiders to get in, but it was no problem at all for Xu Hua and his group.

  "Jianchen Academician!"

  "Director Xu!"

  "Jianchen Xue Zhang Hao!" translates to "Good job, Jianchen and Xuezhang!"

  ……

  A burst of cheers made Xu Hua clearly understand the extraordinary status of Jian Chen in the academy. As soon as Jian Chen appeared, the students in front immediately gave way to a small path for Xu Hua and others to advance. What surprised Xu Hua was that many students were excitedly calling out his own name! He had only shown up a few times in the academy, yet so many people remembered him, cheering for him. It seemed that being strong really made one popular.

  "Dust brother, it seems your prestige is indeed very high. If I hadn't spoken up, you might have been able to dominate the school and lead them out."

  "Haha, Brother Xu is joking, although I have some strength and popularity, but I still have self-awareness. The gap between our Southern Domain and the other four domains' young generation is really too big. In the other domains, there are countless martial emperors at my age, among whom the most peak group of people have already become martial saints. So I am not the hope of the Southern Domain, only Brother Xu you are."

  "Don't worry, Brother Dust! I'm also a member of the Southern Domain, so it's only natural that I wouldn't decline."

  "As for Brother Xu, I am naturally at ease. Although I don't know what Brother Xu is thinking, it's necessary for him to show off his extraordinary strength in front of the students and the high-level officials of the academy. This will be more beneficial for him to win over these students, and the academy will also allocate more resources to him."

  "Don't worry, brother, I'll make them eat their words."

  Just then, a loud and clear voice came from behind him.

  "Jian Chen, I didn't expect you to arrive earlier than me! However, this time the Holy Son will definitely be mine."

  Xu Hua turned around to look, and the one speaking was a man eight feet tall, with a handsome appearance but an even more overbearing aura. Xu Hua thought to himself: This must be the master of the Gun Hall, Xu Ning. From afar, Xu Hua could feel the unstoppable momentum emanating from him, truly a remarkable person, hopefully he can bring me some surprises.

  Jian Chen gazed at Xun Ning, his blood slowly boiling in his heart, his unmatched battle intent rapidly condensing, and he charged straight at Xun Ning.

  "Xu Ning, we've never really had a clear winner or loser all along. This time, let's settle it once and for all!"

  Although Jian Chen's voice was not loud, it had great piercing power and all the disciples present could hear him clearly.

  "Wow, Jianchen has issued a challenge to Xuning! This time, the top spot on the Dragon and Phoenix List will definitely be a fierce battle. Whoever wins will become the Holy Son of the Academy, equivalent to the position of Vice President of the Academy! Who wouldn't covet that? Unfortunately, we don't even have the qualifications to compete!"

  "No matter who wins, they will surely dominate the entire school and lead all of us to the pinnacle. I've decided that after graduating this year, I'll stay in school as a mentor. I want to witness this great miracle."

  "I've had this idea too! Rather than going back to build up power and establish an ordinary family, it's better to witness the birth of miracles in the academy."

  Unlike others who were excited and enthusiastic, Xun Ning heard the determination and persistence of Jian Chen. This time, the position of Holy Son was not going to be easy to obtain! Xun Ning knew about Jian Chen's ambition, he admitted that he himself did not have Jian Chen's greatness, most importantly, he did not have that kind of strength, so he rejected Jian Chen's invitation. All along they had never truly clashed, never truly gone all out, not only because Jian Chen's huge responsibility did not allow him to do so, Xun Ning also did not want both sides to suffer losses, but in his heart, he always acknowledged Jian Chen's strength, always regarded him as a strong opponent. Now that the time had finally come for a true battle, Xun Ning suddenly discovered that deep down, he was actually looking forward to this fight. He was a genius and also a strong person, he too had the pride of a genius and a strong person, he also hoped to truly defeat his long-time rival.