Ji Mingfeng paused, looking at the crimson invitation delivered by a warrior from the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress. She, ranked fourth on the War College's Hundred Battles List, a Unicorn Bloodline Warrior, hadn't even managed to challenge him yet, and here he was, sending her an invitation first?

"Yes, we sincerely request your honored presence at the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress this afternoon." The warrior from the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress looked up with immense respect at the female bloodline warrior currently occupying the fourth spot on the Hundred Battles List.

"Understood, I will be there." Ji Mingfeng lightly traced a finger through her long, silver-grey hair. She had just been planning to challenge the Heaven Refining Spirit Gate herself, only to be preempted by Qian Jin's victory. This was, perhaps, an opportunity for a challenge after all.

"An invitation from Qian Jin?"

Titan Iron Curtain accepted the invitation handed to him with a beaming smile by the listless Zhen Ce, accepting it politely with both hands.

While others might not know the true identity of the outwardly simple student Zhen Ce, as a genius from the Titan Bloodline Warrior clan—one of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior clans of the Zhen Ce Dynasty—it was impossible for him not to know the real name of student Mu Ne Zhen Ce: His Royal Highness, the Sixth Prince of the Zhen Ce Dynasty!

"Actually, this invitation was suggested by me." Mu Ne Zhen Ce didn't treat Titan Iron Curtain like an outsider. He picked up the rather valuable-looking teapot, poured himself a cup of water, and summarily tossed the pot into his own Battle Realm to store away. "Uncle Mu Gui is in a bad mood; I'm getting him a couple of teapots. You don't mind, do you?"

Titan Iron Curtain stared at Mu Ne Zhen Ce, half-amused, half-exasperated. You’ve already taken the teapot, what can I possibly say about minding? If you want a teapot, go buy one yourself! How dare you act so shamelessly and just take one from my place!

"The invitation you suggested sending?" Titan Iron Curtain was far more concerned about the invitation than the lost teapot.

"Yes." Mu Ne Zhen Ce settled lazily into the sofa, yet he still managed to maintain an almost magical composure. "It’s actually quite simple! Qian Jin defeated the Heaven Refining Spirit Gate and took the number one spot on the Hundred Battles List. I imagine almost everyone in the top ten—everyone except the slumbering Lion King—isn't truly convinced by this ranking, right?"

Titan Iron Curtain made no attempt to hide his thoughts and nodded immediately. He himself had been actively preparing, ready to challenge the Heaven Refining Spirit Gate at any moment, only to have Qian Jin get there first.

"So, I told Qian Jin, if you don't mind the hassle, accept challenges from everyone in the top ten daily. But if you find that troublesome..." Mu Ne Zhen Ce suddenly snapped his folding fan fully open, the gentle sway causing his long hair to fly slightly again. "Then just invite all ten of the top-ranked warriors over and finish them all off in one go. So, he took my advice."

"He wants a marathon fight?" Titan Iron Curtain scoffed. "I won't take advantage of that kind of setup!"

"No, no, he doesn't want a marathon fight," Mu Ne Zhen Ce waved his hands. "He wants to fight all of you as a group, finishing the trouble once and for all."

"Fighting a whole group at once?" Titan Iron Curtain physically jolted, staring intensely at Mu Ne Zhen Ce. Battle intent, mixed with anger, flared in his eyes, as large as a bull's, and formidable power surged out from his body!

Mu Ne Zhen Ce sprang up from the sofa and strolled toward the door, completely ignoring Titan Iron Curtain’s rising fury. "You carry on with your business; I’m heading back to the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress for some fun. I wonder if Fen Tu Kuang Ge managed to deliver the letters after returning to school."

"Excuse me, is Fen Tu Kuang Ge staying here?"

The receptionist at the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress looked up at the middle-aged warrior standing before him. The initial look of confusion on his face instantly transformed into profound respect, and he quickly rose to deliver a crisp, standard military salute to the warrior who had appeared.

A warrior from the Fen Tu Clan! The pride and spiritual banner of ordinary warriors for many years! Any warrior holding deep honor and love for the common soldier would instinctively salute upon seeing the attire of a Fen Tu Clan warrior.

This had become an unwritten rule, yet it was enforced more rigidly than many written laws.

"Greetings! Esteemed warrior of the Fen Tu Clan, Fen Tu Kuang Ge does indeed reside here at the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress. May I ask the purpose of your visit?" the middle-aged warrior replied with an equally crisp military salute, his expression relaxed. "I have been commanded by the Clan Head to seek out Fen Tu Kuang Ge and bring him home, perhaps to see if he can lend a hand with something."

Lend a hand? What could Fen Tu Kuang Ge possibly need help with? The Raging Torrent Battle Fortress warrior paused, then a flicker of realization crossed his features: Qian Jin!

The Fen Tu Clan's true target this time wasn't Fen Tu Kuang Ge, but Qian Jin! However, because Fen Tu Kuang Ge's name had become so closely entwined with Qian Jin’s, it was simpler and easier for the Fen Tu Clan to seek out Fen Tu Kuang Ge than Qian Jin directly.

But why was the Fen Tu Clan looking for Qian Jin? The Raging Torrent Battle Fortress warrior frowned, puzzled. "Fen Tu Kuang Ge just left to deliver invitations and should be back soon. Why don't you rest inside the Fortress for a while? Vice President Qian Jin, Fen Tu Kuang Ge's friend, happens to be here. Perhaps you'd like to meet him first?"

"Qian Jin?" A look of distant yearning crossed the middle-aged warrior's face. "That would be excellent. Please, lead the way."

"Right this way, please." The Raging Torrent Battle Fortress warrior stepped ahead, his mind churning with curiosity. Fen Tu Kuang Ge had left quite early; by rights, he should have returned by now. Had something happened?

The War College of Conquest remained as quiet as ever, yet the atmosphere within the grounds was palpably tenser than it had been in recent days, saturated with an undercurrent of fierce competition.

Fen Tu Kuang Ge walked along the path back to the Raging Torrent Battle Fortress, observing the campus that should have been familiar but now felt strangely alien. If he hadn't encountered Qian Jin, he would likely still be living within the campus walls, striving to improve his strength and study various disciplines, instead of running around encountering one incident after another.

Of course, without those incidents, his strength might not even be half of what it was now.

On a nearby ring stage, two Warriors Department cadets were sparring in armor, their fists and feet meeting with dull thuds. The intensity of their exchange was clearly reaching a peak.

Fen Tu Kuang Ge watched the pair on the stage, offering a faint smile and a shake of his head. If he hadn't been constantly moving with Qian Jin, facing battles that were almost certain death, witnessing countless perils, and enduring various severe injuries firsthand, perhaps he too would be like the cadets gathered below the stage, believing the fight above was fiercely intense.

Perhaps he would be cheering loudly and enthusiastically, just like the spectators below.

But now, the most Fen Tu Kuang Ge could offer the two struggling students on the stage was a very slight, distant smile. Their clash possessed only a minor spark of killing intent, so faint it was barely perceptible—it looked like children playing house.

Huh? Fen Tu Kuang Ge gave a wry, self-deprecating laugh. He hadn't realized he had grown so much in less than a year. Those on the stage were all of the same age, perhaps even slightly younger than some of the surrounding spectators.

Yet, their perspective and horizons were already on completely different planes of existence.

Bang! Another dull impact echoed on the stage. A cadet took a kick to the chest, staggering back several steps before tumbling off the ring. He stood up, rubbing the chest protector that hadn't shattered, and declared, "You won, but when we meet again at the Newcomer King Tournament, I will definitely beat you."

Newcomer King? Fen Tu Kuang Ge blinked. With all the recent events, he had almost forgotten entirely about the Newcomer King Tournament. It seemed the intense atmosphere at the War College of Conquest stemmed from the fact that the tournament was scheduled to start in just three or four months.

"At the Newcomer King Tournament, I will also knock you off that stage and show you what a truly powerful warrior is!"

Fen Tu Kuang Ge smiled again at the victor's declaration. These were the exact words only standard academy types would utter. But they had no idea what kind of powerhouses they would face at the Newcomer King Tournament; those were forces beyond their current echelon.

Their echelon? Fen Tu Kuang Ge sighed self-mockingly. To him, these individuals were not strong enough. But then, wasn't he also not strong enough to contend for the championship at the Newcomer King Tournament?

Perhaps... Fen Tu Kuang Ge looked up at the sky. If Elder Brother Fen Tu Kuang Xiao were able to participate this time, maybe then he would have a chance to contend for the title?

"Oh? Isn't this Fen Tu Kuang Ge from the Fen Tu family, supposedly the 'War God Clan' of ordinary warriors?"

The crowd near the stage noticed the figure and the voice of Hall Tie. His powerfully built frame pushed aside the surrounding students as he strode toward Fen Tu Kuang Ge. "What's the matter? Did it take this long to recover after I injured you last time?"

"No way? The Fen Tu Clan is always known for their toughness."

Wherever the Brutal Bear Bloodline Warrior Hall Tie went, the Viper Bloodline Warrior Lilizago was almost always present, his slightly sharp voice chiming in immediately. "Looking through warrior history, how many times have the bones of the Fen Tu Clan members been broken by bloodline warriors? Wouldn't you agree, Fen Tu Kuang Ge?"

"Then why did it take you so long to show up? Did I break your spirit? Surely not such fragile nerves?" Hall Tie and Lilizago chorused their taunts. "But then again, wasn't Fen Tu Kuang Xiao defeated by my older brother, suddenly disappeared, and reappeared completely insane?"

The name Fen Tu Kuang Xiao struck Fen Tu Kuang Ge like a curse, instantly piercing his usually calm composure.

Having witnessed so much slaughter, having encountered so many powerful figures, and constantly pushing his own strength forward, Fen Tu Kuang Ge had long since grown weary of engaging with Hall Tie's provocations. Even though he had been thrown to the ground by this bloodline warrior on the school ring last time, he no longer cared.

For no other reason than this: Fen Tu Kuang Ge felt he was already superior to his opponent, and his focus should be set on higher goals, not exchanging blows with a bloodline warrior like Hall Tie.