The annual Sunset Peak Grand Competition this year carried a pall of desolation, heavier than in years past. The fall of the Sect Master, General Lu, had struck a severe blow to the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School.

While the younger disciples hadn't fully grasped it, the Elders who had reached the Golden Core stage and the leaders of the various factions keenly felt the immense pressure. After all, with General Lu as their pillar of support, the Military School of Dragon-Tiger Mountain held the foremost position among the Nine Schools, capable of subtly standing toe-to-toe with the Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

But with the demise of this peerless genius, the Military School immediately found itself in a plight of lacking capable successors. Forget about having a cultivator at the Spirit Transformation stage to oversee things; they couldn't even produce a single expert at the Nascent Soul stage.

If not for the substantial core strength of their Golden Core cultivators, the currently flourishing Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School might not even manage to maintain appearances. Thus, the masters at the Golden Core stage mostly entered seclusion, striving for breakthroughs.

Only those with little expectation were pushed to the front lines to represent them, such as the benevolent-looking Sect Master, Yuan Buhuan. Seeing that the appointed time had arrived, and assuming no more guests would appear, Yuan Buhuan ordered the ancient mountain bell to be struck, intending to announce the start of the competition.

As the bell tolled, the previously clamorous crowd of observing disciples instantly fell silent, their focus intently fixed on the arena floor. Yuan Buhuan cleared his throat and spoke in a deep voice: "The military path demands striving for the foremost position through valor.

The third generation disciples of Sunset Peak number one hundred and thirty-six, divided into ten teams, ordered according to the Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. Each team will contend using military tactics and battle formations; victory belongs to those who seize the battle flags!

Winners shall each be rewarded with five hundred merit points, and the team leader shall gain entry to the Hundred Weapons Workshop to select one Yellow Grade Fifth Rank magic weapon. The first team defeated will see all members assigned to auxiliary duties within their respective factions for one year!" This contest of battling formations was the first event of the Sunset Peak Grand Competition, testing the skill of mutual cooperation among comrades.

Relying solely on individual strength would not easily lead to success; it would more likely drag one's own team into the abyss of failure. Moreover, with ten teams clashing simultaneously, one had to consider the distribution of strengths and weaknesses; no one knew which team would be eliminated first.

Although Feng Zikang knew of this engagement, he had never actually witnessed it. He watched with keen excitement as the disciples of Sunset Peak drew lots for their teams.

Gu Ya, however, pursed his lips in disdain. "These military texts and tactics are the most tedious!

The personal duels later on will be far more exciting!" Feng Zikang smiled silently, yet he understood that embedding military doctrine into the Dao was the true root of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School's strength. A genius like General Lu was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

If a sect was blessed with such an individual, it could naturally lead the sect toward greatness until his demise or ascension. But if such a person was absent, the strength of a sect ultimately depended on its Dao.

The Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—boasted followers spread across the land. Their great Dao was simple and clear, appealing even to laypeople.

They held the mandate of the people's hearts, thus the Three Teachings were esteemed and held a status far superior to the Nine Schools. Among the Nine Schools, although the Military School's path defied the natural order, prioritizing contention in all matters, which demanded an extremely high standard of character from its successors, leading to a narrow source and few practitioners.

Yet, the Military School was the only sect that studied combat as a Dao. Even their cultivation emphasized practical combat above all else.

Military strategy and battle formations were indispensable techniques in group warfare. Therefore, whether in doctrinal disputes or wars between righteousness and evil, it was always necessary to seek out a member of the Military School to command the overall situation; otherwise, even if masters were abundant, if they all fought independently, what effect could they have?

The Military School placed immense importance on this type of training, and Sunset Peak, under General Lu's leadership, was naturally no exception. This was why the first item in the competition was this clash using battle formations.

By this time, the lot drawing was complete, and the disciples of Sunset Peak were divided into ten teams. Liang Si'an was placed in Team Bing, and without question, became its leader.

Huo Zhongguang was assigned to Team Geng, but clearly, his fellow disciples did not trust him, failing to nominate him as the leader; instead, they put forward an older gentleman with a full beard who looked rather venerable. "That man is Hong Tao, one of the three elders of the Sunset Peak Inner Sect.

Don't be fooled by his beard; he's actually a few years younger than Senior Brother Liang, and his cultivation is rumored to have reached the eighth layer of Qi Induction. He tends to act his age for show, but the Sunset Peak disciples will likely show him some deference.

They probably won't be the first team swept out..." Noticing Feng Zikang's attention, Gu Ya proactively offered this explanation to display his broad knowledge. "The Three Elders are Liang Si'an, Hong Tao, and Gu Zhongli—they are the oldest and possess the highest cultivation.

Look at Gu Zhongli's team... Huh?" Gu Ya pointed toward a tall, sturdy male disciple, noticing a look of distress on his face, as he was actually excluded from the circle of his own team members.

"He isn't the team leader?" Feng Zikang looked over and saw that Gu Zhongli was in Team Jia. Although his face showed clear displeasure, he wore an expression that suggested he dared not argue.

The rest of Team Jia were clustered around a young man with a charming smile. This youth wore a blue robe, distinctly different from the attire of the other disciples.

"Who... who is that?" Gu Ya was slack-jawed: "How come I don't recognize him?" The young man in the blue robe wore a high coronet and a long sword at his waist.

His demeanor radiated a feeling of gentle warmth. The disciples surrounding him occasionally burst into hearty laughter, and at other times spoke with passionate fervor.

In just a short span, he had managed to forge these scattered individuals into a cohesive unit! Even Gu Zhongli eventually joined that circle.

Team Jia exuded high morale, showing no fear toward Team Bing, which had Liang Si'an, nor toward Team Geng, which possessed both Huo Zhongguang and Hong Tao, two late-stage Qi Induction experts. The young man's cultivation was, at best, only at the mid-stage of Qi Induction.

Aside from Gu Zhongli, the rest of Team Jia appeared weaker than the members of the other teams. Where did their confidence come from?

Feng Zikang narrowed his eyes, staring at the young man for a long moment. Behind his gentle smile, Feng Zikang sensed a thread of danger.

"The leader of Team Jia, Meng Qinglu!" From the high platform, Yuan Buhuan casually announced the name of the Team Jia leader, which drew cheers from the disciples of that team. "Meng Qinglu?" Gu Ya slapped his head, racking his brain with a troubled look, mumbling continuously: "Why can't I recall this person?

Here I am, Gu Ya, knowing astronomy above and geography below, able to memorize anything with a single glance, yet I cannot recall a mere disciple of Sunset Peak?" "Since he could be chosen as the team leader, he must have good relations with the other disciples. How is it that I've never heard of him?" He thought hard, unable to find the answer, when he overheard a discussion from behind him.

"Is that Meng Qinglu?" "It is indeed Meng Qinglu!" "He's only been here three days, yet he's already gained the approval of those arrogant Sunset Peak disciples. This man is truly something else!" "That's right!" Gu Ya clapped his hands triumphantly, turning back to smile at Feng Zikang: "I remember who this pretty boy is!"