As for the shocked young elites of the Central Guard Bureau, they were stunned by the same thing as Zheng Weiguo. After all, Cao Qiguo, their "Brother Cao," was the most formidable among their younger generation, and his strength was even rated as S+ Level. Within their bureau, who didn't know of Brother Cao's great name? Who was unaware of his strength? This was especially true for the members of his own age and generation.

But now? The very same Brother Cao, who had always been the strongest of their young generation, had been defeated with such ease. He was even flipped through the air, rolling several times on the ground.

What did that mean? Could it be that even Brother Cao was completely powerless against that kid?

HISS!

At that thought, cold sweat instantly broke out on the foreheads of many people present. A few couldn't help but involuntarily suck in a sharp breath of cold air.

Then, when they raised their heads again to look at the young man in the martial training field, who had remained calm and composed from beginning to end, their eyes filled with intense shock and reverence. The strength he had just displayed was simply astonishing, completely exceeding all their estimates and expectations.

"Mr. Chen, you're simply..." Getting up from the ground with a wry smile, even Cao Qiguo had to admit that Chen Fei was a true monster. He simply stood no chance at all.

"Heh heh, you let me win," Chen Fei chuckled modestly, then turned his gaze to Zheng Weiguo, whose shocked expression had yet to fully fade. He smiled and said, "Bureau Chief Zheng, can you rest assured now?"

"Ah, yes, I'm assured... very assured," Zheng Weiguo said, smiling with a hint of embarrassment. He then added quickly, "I'll go call the Celestial Group right now."

Soon after, a call from the Central Guard Bureau, issuing a challenge for a friendly spar, reached Kou Bin, the current leader of the Celestial Group.

***

"A sparring match? What is Zheng Weiguo trying to do?" Inside the headquarters of the Celestial Group, one of the Four Departments of Capital City, a man nearly sixty years old with a somewhat balding forehead muttered with a gloomy expression after taking the call, looking quite displeased.

This older man was none other than Kou Bin, the current person in charge of the Celestial Group.

It was no wonder he felt this way. A sparring match? It sounded pleasant enough, but anyone with a brain could sense the provocation behind it. The Four Departments of Capital City had always kept to themselves, so what was this sudden move from Zheng Weiguo? What did he mean by it?

"Zheng Weiguo? Which Zheng Weiguo, Group Leader? Are you talking about the current Bureau Chief of the Central Guard Bureau?" asked an elder in his seventies wearing a black robe, who was standing behind Kou Bin. He was curious why his leader would become so angry over a call, even from that man.

This black-robed man was an Elder of the Celestial Group who happened to be present.

"Who else could it be?" Kou Bin said with a grim expression, his hands clasped behind his back. He continued slowly, "Fourth Elder, Zheng Weiguo just called. He said he wants our younger generation to have a sparring match with the Central Guard Bureau's. Anyone under thirty-five is fair game. What do you think he's playing at?"

"What?" Hearing this, even the man known as the Fourth Elder couldn't help but let his expression shift, caught completely off guard.

You had to understand, Zheng Weiguo wasn't some small fry; he was the current Bureau Chief of the Central Guard Bureau. The head of one of the Four Departments of Capital City was not a figure to be taken lightly. In the entire Forty-Nine City, in the whole Republic, there were only four such privileged departments.

Although the Celestial Group considered themselves second among the Four Departments, a full two ranks higher than the Central Guard Bureau, they were still baffled by this sudden provocation. A sparring match? It sounded nice, but the ill intent was unmistakable. Furthermore, if the Celestial Group won, it would be expected. But if they lost, they would be utterly humiliated.

The Celestial Group, ranked second, losing to the last-ranked Central Guard Bureau? Who wouldn't laugh at them? It was even possible the situation could be exploited. That was when things would become truly tricky and problematic.

Therefore, they would never willingly conflict with the Central Guard Bureau unless absolutely necessary. The potential risks were too high.

But the issue now wasn't whether they wanted to or not. Zheng Weiguo had inexplicably come knocking on their door under the pleasant guise of a "spar." In such a situation, they had no choice but to accept. If word got out that they had backed down, the Celestial Group would lose face entirely. Their reputation would be in tatters.

At this thought, the Fourth Elder narrowed his eyes, an undetectable glint of cold light flashing within them. "Although I don't understand what they're up to either, if the Central Guard Bureau wants to play, then let's play. As it happens, Yan Zhen just returned from that place. We can have him lead the charge. With him there, what kind of accident could possibly happen?"

The Fourth Elder's words eased the gloom on Group Leader Kou's face considerably. When he heard the name Yan Zhen, his eyes lit up, and a hint of excitement touched his somber features.

"With that kid around, we can indeed ensure nothing goes wrong," he nodded in agreement.

Yan Zhen was an orphan who grew up in the Celestial Group. From a young age, he showed extraordinary talent for cultivation. His cultivation level reached its peak at a young age, to the point that for a time, no one under fifty in the Celestial Group was his match—a truly astonishing feat.

Later, by chance, some people from "that place" came to Capital City on business and took an immediate liking to him. A master of terrifying strength personally took him on as a disciple, bringing Yan Zhen back with him to cultivate.

It was undeniable that "that place" was the world where people with Extraordinary Martial Power like them could truly hope to shine. The teaching capabilities, resources, and knowledge they possessed were beyond anything the Celestial Group could believe or imagine. Consequently, every time that kid returned, the changes in him were so profound they could only be described as a complete transformation. It was absolutely jaw-dropping.

For this reason, Kou Bin had complete faith and confidence in him. With Yan Zhen present, there was no need to consider any accidents.

At this thought, the irritation weighing on his mind vanished completely. In its place emerged a sinister, humorless sneer. "Well, if that's the case, I'll grant Bureau Chief Zheng his wish. Hehehe." He then took out his satellite phone and gave a single order, setting the vast machinery of the Celestial Group into high-speed motion.

Many who received the order couldn't help but be first stunned, and then amused.

"The Central Guard Bureau? They've always been at the bottom of the Four Departments. Their younger generation under thirty-five has hardly anyone worth mentioning, except for Cao Qiguo, who is somewhat decent. Do they think they can challenge our Celestial Group with him alone? That's a bit naive."

"I guess they're just tired of being at the bottom of the Four Departments and want to try their luck. It's not like they have anything to lose. Losing is expected. But if they get lucky and put on a good show, it would be a pleasant surprise for them, wouldn't it?"

"You have a point. They can afford to lose as much as they want and just call it a friendly match, no pressure or consequences. We, on the other hand, can't afford to lose. A single loss, and we'll become a laughingstock."

"Are you seriously worried they can make any waves? Besides Cao Qiguo, no one in the Central Guard Bureau's younger generation is even worth mentioning."

...

To many members of the Celestial Group, this incident was a joke. The Central Guard Bureau had always ranked poorly, and their younger generation had few noteworthy names. For them to proactively challenge the Celestial Group to a "spar" was almost laughable.

As the saying goes, news that explosive is impossible to contain, especially something this sensational, which hadn't happened among the Four Departments of Capital City in a long time. Once word got out, it naturally caused a huge stir.

The news quickly reached the other two of the Four Departments, the Dragon Group and the Earth Team, leaving them baffled. Clearly, even they couldn't fathom the Central Guard Bureau's motives.

It was a widely acknowledged fact that the Bureau had been in decline for years. Their younger generation had few outstanding individuals, with only Cao Qiguo being somewhat passable. Under these circumstances, why would the Central Guard Bureau make such an inexplicable move and challenge the Celestial Group? Had they truly had enough of being last?

But even if so, did they really have the confidence—and the strength—to back it up?

"What did you say? The Central Guard Bureau wants to spar with us?" Not long after, Elder Yii Xiao finally heard the news. When he did, his first reaction wasn't the disdain or scorn typical of other Celestial Group members. Instead, his face instantly clouded over with panic and gloom.

Because he immediately remembered the words Chen Fei had thrown at him that day...

His brows furrowed like deep canyons on his aged face, which then twisted in anger as he murmured, "That little bastard really has some nerve! Is he putting on a show for me, Yii Xiao? Good, very good!"

Flying Leopard was a direct subsidiary of the Central Guard Bureau, and he had recently overstepped his bounds, causing trouble. So, who could this inexplicable and confusing move by the Central Guard Bureau be aimed at? The target was obvious. It had to be him, Yii Xiao. Dammit, that little bastard! Who does he think he is?

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