In the following days, the Tian Kui Market at Tian Kui Peak became increasingly lively as more and more Ancient Martial Artists arrived from all directions to gather there. This was especially true for the sects and families with Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artists. They were the ones who truly qualified to ascend to the Summit of Tian Kui Peak two days later, and they were exceptionally diligent.

After all, Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artists were about to make a move, which was no laughing matter. Moreover, the two parties in this wager were Flying Leopard and Blade Forge of Evil Dragon Pool, one of the Four Great Hidden Sects.

In an instant, the atmosphere around Tian Kui Peak grew tense. It had become the most watched place in the entire Southern Martial World, drawing immense attention.

"The crowd just keeps growing."

A day later, from a towering pavilion in Tian Kui Market, Chen Fei sat by a window looking at the bustling street below and couldn't help but smack his lips. In just one night, several hundred more people had appeared in the market. It was clear many of them were influential. Have they all come just for the spectacle?

However, he had to admit that the Lingnan Mountains, deep within the Southern Martial World, served as the headquarters for most of the Martial Forest's sects and families. The quality of martial artists here was leagues above the outside world.

The most obvious sign was the caliber of the Ancient Martial Artists currently walking through Tian Kui Market. First-Class Ancient Warriors seemed to be everywhere, as if they were nothing special. Even experts at the Half-Step Innate level were no longer a rare sight.

In the short time he had spent basking in the afternoon sun, he had already counted more than ten of them, which was indeed astonishing.

Among the topics of discussion, the daughters of Qingqiu—as dazzling as jewels wherever they went—were certainly one. But beyond them, the main subject was undoubtedly the great battle scheduled for the next day.

Flying Leopard versus Blade Forge of Evil Dragon Pool. Innate Ancient Martial Artist versus Innate Ancient Martial Artist.

In fact, the mere thought of it was enough to send shockwaves through the crowd, because such a confrontation was almost never seen!

After all, these were Innate Ancient Martial Artists! What an incredible status and position they held! In any sect or family in the Martial Forest, North or South, they were the absolute pillars whose every word carried immense weight. With such revered status, when would you ever see them take action personally?

Furthermore, it was rumored that one of the Innate Experts from Flying Leopard was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old! In fact, many people nearly fainted upon hearing this news.

These were Innate Ancient Martial Artists we're talking about! In the Martial Forest, they were existences worthy of the title Mount Tai Beidou. Even in the super-hidden sects or those with ancient foundations, they were considered the absolute peak of combat power.

And in smaller places—minor families and sects—an Innate Ancient Martial Artist was qualified to be an absolute overlord, dominating an entire territory!

Typically, even a Mount Tai Beidou-level powerhouse with exceptional talent and astonishing aptitude would have to reach their late thirties or even forties. Only then would they have a minuscule chance to enter that realm and become an Innate Expert.

This only applied to the heirs of major sects with truly outstanding talent and aptitude, like Bai Bin and Zhan Hu. For those with more ordinary talent, they would have to wait until they were at least sixty.

But now, what were they hearing? An Innate Ancient Martial Artist in his twenties... Was such a thing truly possible?

GULP.

Upon hearing this bizarre news, many couldn't help but swallow instinctively. Even the Innate Experts from the various sects were no exception.

"If he managed to break through to become an Innate Ancient Martial Artist at twenty-six or twenty-seven, what will he become if he's given another five or ten years?"

"I don't know about that, but an Innate Ancient Martial Artist at that age... even in a place like the Three Supreme Ancient Martial Halls, he'd be considered a peerless, one-of-a-kind genius, right?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. How can we discuss such places so recklessly? Have you forgotten? Eleven years ago, Ling Xiao Palace, one of the Three Supreme Ancient Martial Halls, sent a disciple in their twenties out to gain experience in the Martial Forest. In the end, even Sect Master Yu of the Seven Stars Sect was defeated by that person..."

"HISS... Is that true? Wasn't Sect Master Yu of the Seven Stars Sect already at the Peak of the Innate Early Stage over a decade ago?"

...

Snippets of such conversations occasionally reached Chen Fei's ears, making him pause in the sunlight. The Three Supreme Ancient Martial Halls? He wasn't unfamiliar with the name, as his master had mentioned it occasionally. However, the old man seemed to consider it a taboo subject and was unwilling to elaborate, so Chen Fei only had a vague, undetailed understanding.

"You don't know, General Instructor?" Wang Dashan had apparently heard Chen Fei's murmur and appeared behind him.

"I know a little, just not the details. If you know more, Instructor Wang, please tell me," Chen Fei said, nodding with curiosity.

"Actually, I'm not too clear on it myself. But there's a saying that circulates in the Martial Forest: 'The Three Supreme Ancient Martial Halls are the holy land for all martial artists!'" Wang Dashan said, a faint glimmer of apprehension flickering in his eyes as he spoke.

"It is said that the Three Supreme Halls exist in locations isolated from the world, difficult for ordinary people to find, much like the Arcadia often mentioned in ancient texts," he added.

"Hard to find? Arcadia?" Chen Fei was taken aback, an unusual glint flashing in his eyes. It wasn't that he found it unbelievable, but rather... it seemed to have sparked a thought.

"Yes." Wang Dashan nodded, his expression turning serious. "And that's not the most astonishing part. What's truly shocking is... it's said that the authorities once sent people to make contact with the disciples of the Halls who were out gaining experience. They returned with a startling conclusion: over there, Innate Experts are apparently nothing special."

Hearing this, Chen Fei's body trembled, and a complex, unreadable look flickered in his eyes.

Just then, a commotion erupted from the street outside the pavilion. Many people on both sides of the street subconsciously cleared a path. Then, they saw Huadao Fort's Zhan Hu and the Half-Step Innate Elder Du Xincheng leading a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties into view.

Upon seeing the man, many people instinctively sucked in a cold breath. "HISS... It's actually him... Duan Jingshan!"

The middle-aged man had dark skin and was dressed in plain, almost old-fashioned clothes. Yet, no one who saw his face dared to laugh. Instead, their faces filled with a strange mixture of awe and fear. Clearly, this man was not someone to be trifled with. Otherwise, why would so many people be afraid of him?

"Duan Jingshan... he broke through too?" Even Wang Dashan was frowning, not having expected him to reach the Innate Realm. And for him to be here now, does that mean...?

"What's wrong? You know him?"

Probably only Chen Fei remained indifferent. He gave the man a casual glance before looking away, leaning lazily against the window to bask in the sun.

"According to our previous information, Huadao Fort had four Innate Realm experts, but he wasn't one of them... That man, Duan Jingshan, is considered an heir from Huadao Fort's previous generation. I didn't expect him to have broken through already," Wang Dashan said, his expression somewhat grave.

After all, as an heir from Huadao Fort's previous generation, someone like him couldn't be measured by ordinary standards, even if he had just broken through. Such geniuses typically possessed combat power that far exceeded others at the same level.

"And if I remember correctly, the incident back then... it seems he was the one responsible," he added with a slight frown.

"He was the one?"

Chen Fei's gaze sharpened instantly. So they're really determined not to give an inch, ready to go head-to-head. They even brought the original culprit here... The implication is obvious.

"Back when Duan Jingshan was at the Half-Step Innate Peak, he could already fight an ordinary Innate Early Stage expert to a standstill. Now that he has successfully broken through to the Innate Early Stage, I'm afraid his power is unfathomable," Wang Dashan said with concern.

"Looks like a tough character! But it doesn't matter. Since he's the one who did it, we'll just let him pay the price tomorrow," Chen Fei said with a narrowing smile, a strange sense of anticipation for the next day building within him.

"...General Instructor, will there be any problems?" Wang Dashan hesitated for a moment before he couldn't stop himself from asking. "If we lose again this time, I'm afraid things will get troublesome."

This wasn't a trivial skirmish. It involved a wager on which the honor of both sides rested. The slightest misstep could lead to dire consequences. Under these circumstances, even knowing how strong Chen Fei was, Wang Dashan couldn't help but feel worried.

"Don't worry. Our opponent is strong, but that doesn't mean we're weak. The way I see it, that kid might not even be able to defeat you, Deputy Instructor Wang. Hahaha." Chen Fei squinted and grinned, laughing heartily without a care in the world.

Although the opponent's lineup was indeed impressive and powerful, in his, Chen Fei's, eyes, it still wasn't enough.

Wang Dashan was stunned for a long moment before finally shaking his head, deciding not to argue. In his view, the fact that Chen Fei could remain so relaxed meant he must be completely confident of victory. Still, Yuann Liegang was at the Peak of the Innate Early Stage. To be so assured of victory, even when facing an expert of that caliber... Just how strong is Chen Fei? Could it be...?

「Meanwhile, in Capital City.」

Within a courtyard, a room was filled with all sorts of equipment, its air thick with the dense, bitter scent of herbal medicine. A young man, emaciated to the bone, lay unconscious on a medical bed, having fallen into a deep coma. What was truly eerie was his skin. His entire body was covered in goosebump-inducing gray patches of various sizes, and his flesh was grotesquely uneven. The sight alone was terrifying.

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