The Six Peaks, including Sunset Peak and the Bamboo Grove, all practice profound-grade mental techniques, renowned throughout the cultivation world!

Elder Wu stroked his beard, replying proudly.

Feng Zikang nodded. This meant that relying solely on the Military School's techniques, one could at best cultivate to the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Either the sect possessed superior top-tier techniques it hadn't imparted to the disciples, or they would need to seek other cultivation methods to break through further.

He wondered about the situation of the foremost expert, General Lu. He must have already reached the peak of Tribulation Transcendence, capable of attempting the Mahayana stage. The technique he practiced certainly couldn't be merely the esoteric "God of War Heart Method" of the profound grade.

Of course, even a profound-grade technique carried significant weight in the cultivation world.

Eight hundred years ago, the Military School boasted six Deity Transformation masters, all cultivated using the six distinct profound-grade heart methods of the respective peaks. In that era, they swept across the world, leaving no true rival; even now, their lingering prestige was such that merely speaking their names could frighten a child into silence!

Feng Zikang, by chance this time, had uncovered the cultivation path of the Military School with greater clarity. In contrast, the cultivation of the Formless Heavenly Demon path was far simpler, comprising only the Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Method, which allowed advancement to the one-hundredth level. Every ten levels cultivated allowed one to comprehend a new divine ability.

Beginning as a Demonic Seed, cultivating the heart method to the thirtieth level naturally gestates the Demonic Embryo; the fortieth level forges the Demonic Body; the fiftieth transforms one into a Demonic God; the sixtieth achieves the Heavenly Demon state, capable of manifesting myriad avatars. Crossing the Demonic Tribulation at the seventieth level grants access to the eighty-level Great Heavenly Demon realm, corresponding exactly to the seven tiers of cultivation. At this stage, one roams heaven and earth unchallenged.

Beyond this lay the ninety-level and one-hundred-level, two mysterious stages, about which even he, as a Formless Heavenly Demon, possessed only vague knowledge.

The Great Dao offered countless paths, and the methods to attain enlightenment varied infinitely, yet they ultimately converged upon the same root.

“Senior Brother Liang is the foremost among my third-generation disciples. I wonder what divine ability he practices?”

Feng Zikang feigned curiosity, subtly probing for Liang Si'an’s trump card.

Elder Wu shook his head, showing little interest. “This boy has the shadow of his master looming large over him; he is constantly anxious, only concerned with reaching Foundation Establishment and condensing the Core sooner, completely disregarding any divine abilities. He has only managed to cultivate the Chiyou Army-Breaking Evasion Technique to the twentieth level; everything else is not worth mentioning!”

Simply pursuing advancement did not align with the Military School's focus on true strength, so Elder Wu held little regard for Liang Si'an, even though he had established his Foundation.

“So that’s how it is!”

Feng Zikang felt reassured. His objective for this visit was to uncover Liang Si'an’s hidden strength. Since even Elder Wu of the Scripture Hall definitively stated he possessed no other divine abilities, it seemed Liang Si'an was indeed nothing more than a silver-plated spearhead.

Two days later, Sunset Peak was thronged with people.

The annual grand competition for disciples was finally about to commence.

The year-end competition among inner disciples had become a tradition established after General Lu took charge of the Military School's main lineage at Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Because, compared to the other peaks, the disciples of Sunset Peak were the most numerous and carried the loudest reputation, it was inevitable that the good and the bad were mixed together. The Military School revered competition and naturally could not tolerate waste, so the year-end contest served to cull the weak and highlight the more outstanding disciples.

The other peaks offered no comment on this matter. Ye Tiansheng, however, voiced some reservations, believing this method kept the competitive spirit among disciples ceaseless, eroding fraternal harmony. Still, he naturally could not overrule his senior martial brothers. Moreover, the core tenet of the Military Dao prioritized contention; concepts like comradeship were secondary. Logically speaking, General Lu’s method was not flawed.

After General Lu’s passing, the one presiding over Sunset Peak and the Dragon Tiger Mountain sect was his junior martial brother, Yuan Buhuan.

Under General Lu's brilliance, Yuan Buhuan’s reputation remained obscure. He currently possessed a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, considered mediocre, and his character did not command widespread respect. However, due to various political balances, he temporarily held the position of Sect Master.

Yuan Buhuan stood nine feet tall, clad in a black ceremonial robe embroidered with gold thread. He appeared to be only in his fifties, yet he had cultivated the Military Dao for over four hundred years. He possessed a straight nose, a broad mouth, sparse whiskers, and large, prominent ears with wide lobes—altogether a look of good fortune.

It was only the Chen Hour, and he was leading his disciples in paying respects to the patriarchs. General Lu’s new memorial tablet was enshrined upon the incense table.

A peerless prodigy, upon death, became nothing more than a name on a tablet.

Feng Zikang arrived quite early. Many junior disciples from the other peaks had come to observe the ceremony. After all, being fellow inheritors of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Military School, they often engaged in mutual testing of cultivation; the Sunset Peak competition provided a perfect opportunity to gauge the depth of others’ power.

Direct lineage disciples could stand in the inner circle representing their masters who had not arrived. Inner disciples stood slightly further back, while outer disciples could only watch from afar. Due to the sheer number of people and the limited space, several outer disciples who couldn't fly even climbed into the nearby large trees, watching the spectacle from a distance.

Feng Zikang surveyed the surroundings and spotted Luo Kedi, the handyman disciple from the Scripture Hall, standing precariously on a slender branch of a large tree, gazing intently into the arena. His body swayed with the foliage, showcasing first-rate Houtian lightness skill.

He gave a faint smile and did not call out a greeting.

Other than him, there were few acquaintances. Luo Lianxin had not appeared; he wondered if she had completed the merit quest for her Foundation Establishment.

The disciples of Sunset Peak were lined up perfectly, taking turns kowtowing according to seniority.

Feng Zikang noticed Huo Zhongguang’s face was pale with a greenish tint, his hands trembling uncontrollably—likely due to nervousness. In contrast, Liang Si'an appeared much more composed and graceful. As the senior martial brother, despite his cultivation vastly surpassing his peers over the years, meaning no one had challenged him, he was clearly accustomed to such grand occasions, maintaining a relatively steady demeanor.

As the premier third-generation disciple, he stood first in line. Under Huo Zhongguang’s gaze, he walked forward calmly and, amidst the ritual officer's call, firmly knocked his head three times.

The news that Huo Zhongguang was challenging Liang Si'an had spread throughout Dragon Tiger Mountain.

All inner and outer disciples knew Liang Si'an was the first among the third generation to establish his Foundation; Huo Zhongguang, guarding the Songling Ancient Battlefield, also had a notorious reputation.

Unfortunately, this notoriety stemmed entirely from extortion and bullying.

Outer disciples dared not speak out, and ordinary inner disciples were forced to curry favor, though they naturally harbored resentment. His popularity was practically nonexistent.

Thus, all third-generation disciples in Dragon Tiger Mountain were mocking the audacity of this fellow.

Near Liang Si'an, several disciples could be heard whispering.

“Senior Martial Brother looks majestic! What kind of thing is Huo Zhongguang? How could he compare?”

“He’s probably been at the Ancient Battlefield too long and gotten possessed by a ghost; his mind isn’t clear!”

“This bastard charges me a spirit stone every time he enters the Ancient Battlefield. I've disliked him for ages! I’m here today just to see Senior Brother Liang teach him a lesson!”

The commentary overwhelmingly favored Liang Si'an; few seemed to believe Huo Zhongguang stood a chance.

But there are always exceptions. Then, a voice whispered secretively, “Don’t speak carelessly. Last night I observed the stars, and Senior Martial Brother Huo has destiny on him. Beneath his general star, a plume of dark energy shoots straight to the firmament, firmly supporting him. This match has a seventy percent chance of victory! Conversely, Senior Martial Brother Liang’s general star is dim and wavering, his foundation unstable. In my estimation…”

The voice paused, as if hesitating.

“Not only will he lose this match, but I fear he faces the danger of death!”

Feng Zikang recoiled in shock and looked back!