Luo Feng couldn't help but smile. The world truly was an interesting place. Just five months ago, he was here as a probationary martial arts student taking an assessment, his entire family still living in the low-rent housing complex. In the blink of an eye, he was now residing in the Mingyue community, and acquiring tens of millions in wealth felt almost effortless!

“Uncle Wu, why don't you handle the testing? I’ll just observe on the side,” Luo Feng said with a laugh, moving to a nearby seat. Immediately, a waiter brought tea and desserts.

“Madman,” said a man in a training uniform, also an instructor at the Global Martial Arts Center. He chuckled, “I heard you’ve slain thousands of monsters in the last two months? And almost all of them were High-Tier Soldier level? Are you already at the ‘Initial Warlord level’ strength now?”

“I’d say close,” someone nearby agreed, nodding in assent.

Wu Tong also nodded. “A High-Tier Warrior simply cannot butcher monsters like slicing vegetables. Even if Luo Feng hasn't reached Initial Warlord level, he’s certainly close. I recall Luo Feng practices the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade, so he must have made some progress with it.”

Luo Feng paused, momentarily taken aback.

Wasn't that the truth?

He had killed over ten thousand monsters in less than two months, the vast majority of them High-Tier Soldier level. A High-Tier Warrior would indeed find that efficiency incredibly difficult to match. It was no wonder many people assumed he had already attained 'Initial Warlord level' strength.

“The Nine-Layered Thunder Blade is notoriously difficult to master, and that secret manual is incredibly expensive,” another martial artist chimed in.

“It is difficult to practice,” Luo Feng replied with a smile, nodding. “I’ve just managed to make some minor breakthroughs.”

“Oh.”

The gazes of everyone present, including Wu Tong, shifted towards Luo Feng, viewing him differently. The Nine-Layered Thunder Blade was an Ultimate Secret Manual. Many people purchased it, but the initial hurdle of entry alone stumped countless martial artists. Mastering such a manual signified the potential to fight above one’s official rank!

“Luo Feng.” A voice called from outside. Luo Feng turned to see Brother Chen.

“Luo Feng! I heard you were back, I didn’t expect you to be here so early in the morning,” Chen Gu said, walking over with a hearty laugh. “By the way, do you have plans for tomorrow? We’re attending Senior Lu Gang’s memorial service.”

“This is a major event; we are all going. Luo Feng, come with us then,” stated Warlord Wu Tong.

Luo Feng sighed internally, then nodded. Of course, he had to attend.

The deceased Senior Lu Gang was a War God powerhouse who had tragically perished in the Level Three Rat Tide outbreak the day before yesterday. Although Luo Feng hadn't personally experienced the full tide, he had been in the wilderness when it struck... The sorrow of one’s kind dying often begets sympathy in others (tù sǐ hú bēi); seeing a senior fall, Luo Feng naturally felt compelled to pay his respects.

At the Provisional Martial Artist Assessment that day, Luo Feng and his group watched the testing of the younger, newer aspirants. There were eight participants in total, and three managed to pass. Among those eight was someone Luo Feng recognized—a High-Tier student from the Global Martial Arts Center in Yian District—but even that senior student failed to qualify.

※※

The following morning, the air was biting cold. The area surrounding the 'Hall of Heroes' funeral parlor in Jiangnan Base City was completely sealed off, as a massive influx of mourners was expected for Senior Lu Gang.

The five members of the Fire Hammer Squad were gathered together, all dressed in black.

“There are so many people today,” Chen Gu couldn't help but exclaim. Luo Feng surveyed the surroundings; the immediate streets were packed with mourners. More importantly—this was only the first day of mourning, reserved for martial artists, immediate family, high-ranking government officials, and other special invitees.

The next seven days would be open to the general public.

Even so, tens of thousands had already gathered today—these were the elite figures of Jiangnan Base City. Figures from the upper echelons of various corporate conglomerates, high-ranking officials from government and military sectors, and, most significantly, an enormous number of martial artists. Among these martial artists were even War God level powerhouses!

Grief over a fellow warrior’s passing (tù sǐ hú bēi); it was entirely normal for other War Gods to attend a memorial.

“The national television station is here too,” Luo Feng noted, pointing to the broadcast van.

“A memorial for a War God’s death is nationally televised,” Gao Feng murmured in awe. “How many War Gods actually die across all of China each year?”

National television coverage—this level of treatment was reserved only for War Gods or even higher-tier beings. Warriors and Warlords enjoyed no such pinnacle recognition; even among the military generals, only the absolute highest echelon received this honor.

“Look, there is the Mayor of Jiangnan Base City. Beside him, isn't that the leading official we often see on TV?”

“Tsk, look at that one—the patriarch of our Jiangnan Xu family, one of the twelve major families in the HR Alliance.”

Luo Feng glanced over when he heard the Xu family name. It was a slightly stout, white-haired elder, appearing to be in his late eighties or early nineties, yet emanating the unmistakable aura of one accustomed to supreme authority. He was followed by four subordinates.

“Over there is War God Zhuge Shan, the older brother of Zhuge Tao, the supervisor from our Global Martial Arts Headquarters.”

The surrounding martial artists buzzed with whispered commentary. Today’s attendees represented the very apex of society, spanning politics, military, finance, and the martial world.

“The main memorial ceremony is starting up front,” Gao Feng noted, glancing ahead. “But we’ll have to wait our turn to go in.”

“Let’s wait. It’s rare to see so many masters gathered,” Chen Gu chuckled.

Luo Feng and his companions waited by the roadside with the masses of other martial artists. The most prominent figures had already proceeded to the ceremony area.

“Beep!”

A sleek, matte-black, disc-shaped warship flew in rapidly from the distance. The military forces guarding the perimeter of the Hall of Heroes offered no resistance. The War God powerhouses who had already entered to mourn, the Mayor of Jiangnan Base City, high-ranking officials from political and military circles—all streamed out to greet the newcomer.

“A very important person has arrived,” Chen Gu’s eyes lit up.

“Damn, who is that?” Gao Feng was equally shocked.

Consider the people already present: they constituted the crème de la crème of Chinese high society. War Gods were the titans among martial artists. The Mayor of Jiangnan Base City was a paramount official—there were only six Base Cities in all of China, placing him far above the provincial governors of the pre-Great Nirvana era.

Yet, all these figures were emerging together to welcome someone.

“Who is it?” Luo Feng watched closely. Every martial artist, even the television crew, stared intently, none daring to make a sound.

Silence descended.

The disc warship settled gently, and the hatch hissed open.

A lean man with a hooked nose, dressed entirely in black, descended the craft's steps. His expression was grim, and the faintest traces of tears glistened in his eyes. As he stood there, it felt as if the space within several dozen meters around him had plunged into darkness; he was the deity of that immediate radius.

“Councilor Zhu,” a welcoming War God called out.

The hooked-nosed man let out a soft sigh, offered no verbal reply, but nodded to the War God, the Mayor, the high official from Jingdu City, and the military generals who had come to greet him, and then proceeded directly toward the funeral parlor.

The others followed in his wake.

Silence reigned once more.

Only after this procession of dignitaries entered did the murmuring outside gradually resume.

“Who was that?” Luo Feng was filled with confusion. This individual was clearly among the absolute pinnacle figures in all of China. Even the nation’s top leaders rarely commanded the respect of several War Gods waiting solemnly outside; War Gods usually held government officials in low regard.

“I don’t know,” Chen Gu and the others shook their heads.

Gao Feng’s ears twitched, and he whispered low, “I overheard someone across the way mention that being was named ‘Zhu Xi.’ I’ve heard the name Zhu Xi before. He was a legendary War God powerhouse back in the day, but then his name vanished; he rarely appeared. I read online that Zhu Xi has already surpassed the War God level, becoming one of the most transcendent beings.”

“A being who has surpassed the War God level?” Luo Feng and the others collectively inhaled sharply.

Good heavens.

Such an entity could be treated as an equal to an entire nation! Even the state had to placate and revere such individuals. He was unquestionably at the zenith of human society. It was no wonder that leaders from every sector—families, conglomerates, government, military, and even high-ranking War Gods—had assembled to greet him.

In essence—

This kind of person was akin to a ‘god’ among humans.

———— P: The first truly formidable figure has appeared! .