At eighty, the Holy Sect's enchanting woman aided in achieving longevity.

The Cangwu Martial Mansion covers a vast area, with its central hall being built in a magnificent manner.

Countless carved beams and painted rafters, along with various pavilions and towers, stretch to the very edge of the field of vision.

Chen Changsheng walked steadily, following Gu Dashan toward the private courtyard that Gu Canghai had arranged earlier.

Along the way, they encountered many young disciples dressed in martial arts attire.

Most of these people are under twenty years old, and teenagers as young as fifteen or sixteen are occasionally seen.

Disciples in this age group are generally still stuck in the Qi Refining stage of cultivation.

Along the way, many acquaintances greeted Gu Dashan.

After all, with his exaggerated physique and astonishing height, it would be difficult for him not to be famous in the inner garden.

"How many formal disciples are there in the Cangwu Martial Academy right now?"

Chen Changsheng walked with his hands behind his back and casually asked a question.

"I remember there were about a thousand people."

Gu Dashan shook his big head very seriously.

He replied, puzzled, "The Martial Academy has a very strict age limit for recruiting new members; they must be between fifteen and eighteen years old. Generally, once the disciples reach the age of twenty, they will choose to graduate and leave. A large portion of them will naturally join the various official military and political forces of the Great Xia Dynasty in the future."

At this point, Gu Dashan suddenly stopped, his honest face filled with worry.

Somewhat worried, she asked in a low voice, "But... Brother Changsheng, are you really going to the new lord's welcome banquet tonight?"

"Why not seize this excellent opportunity to witness almost all the top forces in Cangwu City at once?"

Chen Changsheng turned his gaze to him, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Dashan, judging from your expression, you seem quite wary of this banquet. Is there something amiss?"

"It's not like there's anything shady going on, it's just...it's just frustrating!"

Gu Dashan clenched his fist, which was as big as a clay pot, with some indignation and said angrily.

"I heard from my senior brothers in the inner courtyard a while ago that five years ago, when the previous head of the Martial Academy had just taken over, he sent out invitations and held a celebratory banquet. The disciples from various sects who were invited used the excuse of 'peer sparring and sharing the joy of the occasion' to openly challenge our peers in the Martial Academy. That battle consisted of ten sparring matches, and our Cangwu Martial Academy suffered ten consecutive defeats! Not only did it humiliate the previous head of the academy, but it also made us a laughingstock in the entire city for years!"

"Hehe, this method is not new. It is obviously the local powerful sects that have joined forces to give the new government lord a hard time, so that he can understand who the real bigwigs are in Cangwu City."

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly, his words hitting the nail on the head.

"Who can argue with that!"

Gu Dashan sighed and shrugged helplessly.

"I've heard that previous governors also experienced similar humiliations upon taking office. But the governor's change of leadership is a major official event, and if they don't send out invitations to celebrate, they'll be laughed at by the whole city as cowards, unable to even keep their last fig leaf. Tonight's welcoming banquet will surely see those sects resorting to their old tricks again. If we go, we might just become easy targets for them to manipulate... Being defeated on the arena is one thing, but those sect disciples are extremely ruthless. Last time, two of my senior brothers had their meridians maliciously destroyed during a sparring match, becoming crippled for life. In the end, the governor could only swallow his anger."

Chen Changsheng frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked:

"With the imperial court backing it up, the Cangwu Martial Academy recruits talented young people from all walks of life every year. Is its overall strength really so weak that it doesn't even have a chance to compete?"

"It's not that our Martial Academy has a weak foundation; it's just that the foundations of those top sects are too terrifying."

Gu Dashan sighed, "Although the Martial Academy was officially established by the royal family, the ancient sects in the area have hundreds or even thousands of years of heritage. Whether it is the natural treasures they have accumulated or the core cultivation techniques and profound secrets, they are far superior to the Martial Academy."

Even if they only recruit outer disciples, their entry requirements are much higher than those of the Martial Academy.

Furthermore, those willing to enter the Imperial Martial Academy are mostly talented individuals from humble backgrounds who aspire to serve the court in the future. Those truly exceptional and arrogant geniuses, on the other hand, have a much stronger desire to join a sect than to join the government.

Therefore, while the average strength of our Martial Academy disciples is more than sufficient compared to those small and medium-sized sects, it is simply no match for those truly great sects.

Gu Dashan's analysis was extremely insightful.

Chen Changsheng nodded slightly after hearing this. He had chosen to stay here simply as a springboard to understand the world.

I collected some basic techniques to get through the transition; I never intended to serve any dynasty or court.

He pondered for a moment, then asked:

"In this Cangwu City, which forces possess overall strength surpassing that of the Martial Academy?"

"Hmm, let me think..."

Gu Dashan counted his thick fingers very carefully and spoke slowly.

"There are five deeply rooted sects: Spiritwood Manor, Illusion Moon Flowing Sand Valley, Mad Wave Beast Taming Sect, Heavenly Pivot Holy Temple, and Misty Flying Immortal Sect."

These five major sects have thrived in this area for hundreds of years, and their overall strength far surpasses that of the Martial Academy. If it weren't for the imperial court's backing behind the Martial Academy, they would probably have already driven the Martial Academy out of the city.

At this point, Gu Dashan's tone suddenly became somewhat respectful and cautious:

"Besides these five, there are two other terrifying giants that even the royal family would never dare to provoke easily."

That is the branch of the Myriad Swords Holy Land and the Purple Cloud Divine Palace located here!

Although they were merely branch offices stationed outside the city, with the main sect backing them up like a giant tree, they were two unshakeable local emperors in Cangwu City.

The Holy Land of Ten Thousand Swords, a branch of the Purple Cloud Divine Palace...

Chen Changsheng gently tapped his chin with his fingertip.

He knew very well that although it was called a branch in name only, it was actually just an outer sect stronghold set up by the main sect to send out those mediocre disciples who had no talent and no hope of entering the real inner sect.

Even though it's just an outer sect where abandoned members gather, its resources and deterrent power are far beyond what a declining clan in a remote town could ever hope to achieve.

"However, this year's graduates from the Cangwu Martial Academy are not to be underestimated!"

Gu Dashan suddenly patted his chest and said loudly with a look of unwillingness.

"That banquet five years ago was a disgrace, but that was five years ago!"

Nowadays, our top-tier class has produced many outstanding geniuses, absolutely no worse than those sects!

"Brother Changsheng, look! That senior brother walking over there is named Zhang Songnian. He's only seventeen years old, but he's already reached the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage. His family's martial arts are incredibly powerful!"

"And that guy over there in white, he's even more formidable than Senior Brother Zhang. I remember his name is Cui Chenghua, he's eighteen years old, and his cultivation has already reached the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage!"

They are both tough guys in our class.

However, if we're talking about the most invincible figures in our Martial Academy, then it has to be Senior Brother Dugu Cheng and Senior Sister Nangong Yue!

They are undoubtedly the two top geniuses of this generation at the Martial Academy. Tonight, the elders will definitely bring them along to the welcoming banquet. With them there, the tragedy of the past will never be repeated…”

At this point, Gu Dashan's loud voice came to an abrupt halt.

Because right in front of them, at the corner of the corridor, a young man dressed in a flowing white robe was walking slowly side by side with a stunningly beautiful young woman in a simple white dress.

The man was about twenty years old, tall and handsome with a face like jade.

He was handsome and refined, exuding an aura of otherworldly elegance.

He was a handsome man who could make any ordinary young girl in the throes of first love lose her mind.

The girl beside him was even more breathtakingly beautiful.

She was also in her early twenties, with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes, slightly parted red lips, and delicate eyebrows arched like a new moon.

What's most captivating is the faint, gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips, like a warm, fragrant aroma.

The spring breeze caresses your face, bringing peace to your heart.

The two walked side by side, like a golden boy and jade girl stepping out of an ancient painting.

It instantly stole all the light from the surrounding world.

The young man was tilting his head slightly, speaking in a flattering tone to the girl beside him.

He kept glancing sideways at the girl's reaction, while the young woman maintained a gentle smile and said nothing more.

Although she simply walked forward calmly, she exuded an ethereal, noble, and elegant aura.

Especially her swan-like, fair and slender neck.

This gave her a delicate beauty that exuded a hazy, noble air, like a royal princess residing in a deep palace.

"What an ethereal and otherworldly woman."

Chen Changsheng secretly admired him.

This woman's appearance might not compare to some of the stunning beauties he had seen in his family's ancient books or fragments of memory.

But the otherworldly, gentle, and peaceful temperament she possesses is a kind of purity that can make people forget the hustle and bustle of the world.

Such extraordinary women usually have a certain arrogance in their eyes and brows.

But the girl's eyes were clear and gentle, showing no trace of arrogance.

The natural, slight smile at the corner of her lips could melt anyone's heart at first glance.

"Senior Brother Dugu! Senior Sister Nangong!"

While Chen Changsheng was silently scrutinizing the situation, the easygoing Gu Dashan had already pulled him forward to greet him.

Dugu City?

Nangong Yue?

Chen Changsheng understood immediately; it seemed that these two were the top talents of the Martial Academy that Gu Dashan had just mentioned.

"Junior Brother Gu, are you going back to your courtyard to rest?"

Upon seeing Gu Dashan, the stunningly beautiful girl named Nangong Yue stopped and greeted him with a smile.

The moment she opened her mouth, her clear and melodious voice was like the tinkling of a spring.

Simply listening brings an indescribable physical and mental enjoyment.

Immediately, Nangong Yue's gaze naturally fell on Chen Changsheng, who was standing to the side.

A hint of curiosity flashed in her beautiful eyes as she softly asked, "And who is this...?"

"Hehe, let me introduce you, Senior Sister. This is my brother Chen Changsheng! He just passed Elder Gu's test today and was admitted to our True Inheritance Academy without examination. Just like me, we'll both be in the Heavenly Class One from now on!"

Gu Dashan chuckled and patted his chest.

"Brother Changsheng, these two are Senior Brother Dugu Cheng and Senior Sister Nangong Yue, whom I was just telling you about. They are the most powerful figures in our Martial Academy!"

Chen Changsheng took a step forward, a perfectly polite smile on his face, and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting:

"Greetings, senior brothers and sisters. I am Chen Changsheng, a newcomer here. I hope you will take good care of me in the inner garden."

Dugu Cheng simply nodded slightly with a calm expression, which was taken as his response.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Chen Changsheng's rather plain clothes before he looked away listlessly.

His brows held an undisguised air of aloofness.

A subtle, almost imperceptible gloom flickered deep within his eyes.

He was clearly very unhappy that Gu Dashan and the other person had suddenly appeared and interrupted his rare time alone with his beloved.

"Oh? You actually got into our top-tier class too?"

Nangong Yue carefully examined Chen Changsheng, and suddenly burst into a surprised laugh.

"If the junior sisters in the inner courtyard knew that such a handsome junior brother had arrived, they would be overjoyed. Junior brother, you'd better be careful in the future."

Nangong Yue covered her mouth with her hand, her beautiful eyes curving into lovely crescents, and teased with a smile, "Junior Brother Changsheng is so handsome and has such outstanding talent, his mouth must be extremely sweet too. Senior Sister might even fall for him, hehe."

Nangong Yue was clearly just being herself, making a harmless, playful joke on the spur of the moment.

However, when Dugu Cheng heard this, his face immediately darkened.

Dugu Cheng's brows furrowed sharply, and he glared at Chen Changsheng with an extremely imposing, icy gaze.

Chen Changsheng, however, seemed not to have noticed Dugu Cheng's murderous, jealous gaze at all.

He still smiled at Nangong Yue and teased, "Thank you for the compliment, Senior Sister. But I dare to guess that Senior Sister Nangong isn't a local of Cangwu City, is she?"

"Oh?" Nangong Yue blinked her beautiful long eyelashes, her curiosity piqued. "How did you figure that out?"

"Because Cangwu City is located on a major thoroughfare, the local energy is somewhat restless and the spiritual energy is mostly turbid. In such an environment, it is impossible to nurture a fairy-like figure as gentle and refined as Senior Sister Nangong."

Nangong Yue was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting that this new junior brother would be so unrestrained.

Instead, she possessed such a eloquent and persuasive tongue, and her pink lips immediately curved slightly.

With a light laugh and her delicate eyebrows raised:

"Junior Brother Chen is not only exceptionally intelligent, but his words are also as sweet as honey. You are so good at winning girls' hearts. It's a pity you're still so young, otherwise, any girl who marries you in the future will probably be completely infatuated with you."

Chen Changsheng raised his eyebrows noncommittally, his gaze subtly sweeping over Dugu Cheng, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

He said slowly and jokingly, "Senior sister, you flatter me. I was just telling the truth."

But it's alright, my future wife has always been generous. She once told me herself that she wouldn't mind if I found her a few more good girlfriends to keep her company. If I don't learn to be a little sweet-talking, life won't be easy for me.

As soon as Chen Changsheng uttered these shocking words, Gu Dashan, who was standing next to him, was immediately stunned.

His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

Dugu Cheng suddenly closed his eyes abruptly, and his gaze towards Chen Changsheng was instantly covered with a layer of icy coldness.

A subtle, cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.