Qinzi Ya sighed and said, "This time we really are in a state of disconnection. Mu Yin-zhuo, who was ranked among the top 100 last time, is already 22 years old and has been recruited by the General Sect. Qin Xing-xuan is still young and won't be able to achieve good results. We can only rely on Ling Sen to hold up the scene..."

  "Hmm, what a pity. If Lin Ming were here, it would be much better. His current strength should also surpass Tuo Kuang's." The old man who responded to Gu Zichen was wearing a green robe, with white hair tied into a bun, looking like a Taoist priest. He was one of the two deputy masters of the Seven Profound Martial House, Sun Youdao.

  Sun Youdao was forty-five years old when he entered the Post-Heaven, and now he has been lingering in the Post-Heaven realm for seventy years. Although his cultivation had long reached the peak of the Post-Heaven, Sun Youdao knew that with his innate talent, the Total Sect would never grant him an Immortal Ascension Pill, even if it was given to him, it would be a waste, one Immortal Ascension Pill is not enough for him to set foot in the Pre-Heaven.

  Because he knew that this was how his life would be, Sun Youdao had a good attitude and steadily served as the deputy prefect, never getting involved in any power struggles, and maintained a good relationship with Qinzuya.

  Qinzi nodded and said: "It can only be like this, unfortunately, Lin Ming disappeared at this time."

  "If it's really about going out to gain experience, that's fine... but what if..." Sun Youdao trailed off without continuing. At this point, Lin Ming couldn't possibly go out to gain experience, and even if he didn't have many enemies, the effect of going out to gain experience might not be as good as using the Seven Killing Arrays in the Seven Profound Martial House to cultivate.

  Qinzi's teeth were silent and speechless.

  Sun Youdao sighed and continued: "Lin Ming is indeed a good seedling. If he's allowed to grow, this time at the Total Sect's martial arts competition, he might not achieve too great of results. But next time, or the time after that, he may be able to break into the top ten. He even has hope of contending for the championship!"

  As soon as Sun Youdao's voice fell, a flame of transmission talismans suddenly burst into the room, and Qinzijia heard the information in the transmission talisman and stood up abruptly.

  "What's wrong?" Sun Youdao rarely saw Qinzhi so flustered.

  News from the Martial Manor's registration office, Lin Ming has returned.

  "Huh?" Sun Youdao was stunned, "This kid, isn't he really going out for training?"

  Just as Sun Youdao finished speaking, Lin Ming's voice sounded outside the Xuanwu Hall: "Disciple Lin Ming, requesting to see the master of the Qinfu."

  "Come in!"

  The gate was pushed open and Lin Ming stepped forward, bowing his head in a salute. "Master Qin, Master Sun."

  This green-robed old man Lin Ming was also familiar with him. A few months ago, it was he who had handed over the heavy mysterious soft silver spear to himself.

  Qinzi's eyes scanned Lin Ming up and down. His expression changed several times, even Qinzi, who was usually calm, was shocked out of his composure this time, "Lin Ming, you've reached the peak of Bone Forging!?"

  "Yes. The other day I encountered a bit of luck and managed to break through."

  Lin Ming said it lightly, but Qin Ziyin's heart was surging with emotions. The opportunities of a martial artist often come with danger, and the greater the opportunity, the greater the danger. What had Lin Ming experienced in the past two months? Every martial artist has their own secrets, and Qin Ziyin didn't ask further.

  The old man in the green shirt was also shocked, his whiskers jumping wildly. At first, Lin Ming's Easy tendon period could defeat Ouyang Dihua's Tempering Marrow period, now that he has reached the peak of Tempering Marrow, this is unbearable! This time, the Grand Sect Competition will probably enter the top fifty, and might even enter the top thirty!

  Qinzi Ya asked: "Lin Ming, have you really been out training for these two months?"

  Lin Ming nodded, and naturally he didn't mention Ouyang Qiuhua's matter again.

  Qinziya hesitated for a moment. Without further questioning, he always felt that something was not quite right, Lin Ming's sudden departure for training, and the death of Ouyang Dihua... If it weren't for Lin Ming's cultivation being placed here, it would be impossible to kill Ouyang Dihua in that situation, Qinziya would certainly suspect a connection between the two.

  "Maybe I'm overthinking." Since Lin Ming answered like that, Qinzuo Ya didn't continue to ask, what he wanted to know most now was Lin Ming's real strength.

  "Lin Ming, according to the assessment content stipulated by the Seven Profound Martial House's original rules, you have become a core disciple of my Seven Profound Martial House. Do you know what this Total Clan Gathering is about?"

  Lin Ming nodded and said, "I understand."

  "Alright, the General Assembly of Martial Arts still lacks two spots. Originally, it was planned to choose from among Ling Sen, Tuo Ku, Zhao Ji Feng, and Jiang Bin, but now that you're added, it's five choosing two! You rest for tonight, and tomorrow morning, the preliminary competition will begin. Coincidentally, you have a duel with both Ling Sen and Tuo Ku, so let's settle it all at once. If you win, I'll give you the promised Bi Ling Dan and Jing Ti Ling Ye right away. By the way, Ling Sen also broke through to the Tempering Bone stage half a month ago, so be mentally prepared."

  Although it was already certain that Lin Ming would occupy one of the spots, Qian Zishan still wanted him to participate in the competition. Firstly, to convince the crowd and secondly, he wanted to know just how strong Lin Ming really was.

  "Oh, I see." Lin Ming wasn't surprised. Ling Sen had been staying at the Easy Muscle Peak for a long time and was due for a breakthrough anyway.

  Lin Ming had long been looking forward to his battle with Ling Sen. Originally, Ling Sen was always the goal that Lin Ming strived to catch up to, but unexpectedly now, he suddenly surpassed him... The news of Lin Ming's return spread like it had grown wings and quickly disseminated throughout Yunyun City.

  However, most people did not think there was anything unusual about it, they just thought Lin Ming had really gone out to gain experience, only a few people felt that this matter was unusual.

  What shocked me most was Bi Luo's reaction - Lin Ming had actually come back alive!

  "This little beast, really has a big fate!" Bi Luo's face sank like water, because he had mistakenly assumed that Ouyang Qiu Hua was killed by a master of the previous generation, so he didn't suspect Lin Ming.

  "Will he know that besides Ouyang Dihua, I'm also one of the people who harmed him?" Bi Luo's heart was uneasy, Lin Ming's growth rate was too fast, enough to threaten him in a few years.

  Bì Luò also thought of telling ōu Yáng Bó Yuǎn about the matter of ōu Yáng Jī Huā uniting with herself to harm Lín Míng, but was afraid that in his great anger, ōu Yáng Bó Yuǎn would shift his anger onto her own body.

  ……

  The preliminary match of the General Assembly of Wu is a grand event held every three years in the Seven Mysterious Martial Arts School. The preliminary match is open to the public, and anyone with a noble status or a disciple of the Seven Mysterious Martial Arts School can enter to watch.

  In the first round of core disciple selection before, due to bad weather, there were fewer spectators than usual. However, this time was different, and the entire arena was packed with people. Among them, nine out of ten had come to see Lin Ming's return and his final battle against Ling Sen.

  In the Tianyun Nation, the most famous young masters are Ling Sen and Lin Ming. As for Zhou Yu and Liang Long, those core disciples of the martial arts families, not many people know about them. These people all come from the four major martial arts families on the borders of the Tianyun Nation, and aren't actually citizens of the Tianyun Nation. Whether they're strong or weak has nothing to do with anyone else.

  There was still snow floating in the sky, but it had decreased a lot. The entire Qi Xuan Wu Fu's martial arts arena was swept clean of snow, and snow shelters were set up around it.

  A warrior with some attainment is not afraid of the cold wind, while those weak-bodied nobles wear warm sable silk clothes, have hot tea by their side and burn charcoal fire, and do not feel the slightest chill.

  Liang Long and Zhou Yuye, who had advanced through the preliminary round earlier, were also seated in the audience waiting for the match to begin.

  "Are you saying Ling Sen will win or Lin Ming?" Liang Long asked casually while eating pine nuts. In his opinion, the highlight of this preliminary round was the match between Ling Sen and Lin Ming. As for Zhao Jifeng, Jiang Bin, Tuo Ku and others, they were slightly inferior.

  Zhou Yu smiled and said, "This is not easy to say. Ling Sen's Easy Tendon Peak can compare with Condensed Pulse Period martial artists, Lin Ming's Easy Tendon Initial Stage can compare with Zhang Guanyu. Now both of their strengths have increased, it will be a fierce battle."

  Lin Ming's news of reaching the Tempering Marrow stage had not yet spread, but Zhou Yu already knew in advance that Lin Ming had officially become a member of the core disciples.

  "This Jiang Bin and Zhao Jifeng are indeed a bit weaker, I'd like to go on stage and try out Lin Ming's skills." Liang Long smiled confidently, he didn't think his strength was inferior to Ling Sen and Lin Ming.

  "Huh? The masters have arrived." Liang Long put down the pine nut, at the entrance of the martial arts arena, a row of people poured out, and the person wearing white clothes walking in front was indeed Qinzuya. Snowflakes fell from the sky, but when they approached his body, they naturally flew away, without a single snowflake landing on him.

  Behind Qinzhiya were Sun Fuzhu and the elders of Wufu, while Lin Ming, Ling Sen and five other participants brought up the rear.

  When Lin Ming appeared, the atmosphere of the entire arena suddenly surged. In the past few months, Lin Ming had created several miracles, and his popularity had accumulated to surpass Qin Xiao Xuan, especially among commoner martial artists and female fans. To many noble young ladies, Lin Ming was an absolute idol, and they waved their silk handkerchiefs at him without reserve. This time, after Lin Ming's two-month silence, he reappeared, causing the fans' infinite anticipation.

  As the match approaches, more and more characters appear, even White Jingyun, who has been staying at home recently, also arrived. This caused Murong Zi's surprise, "Sister Jingyun, you finally came out too! If you stay in the house for a few more days, you'll grow mold!"

  Bai Jingyun smiled slightly and didn't say anything. She inadvertently swept a glance across the room, her gaze briefly stopping on Lin Ming before moving away.

  Bai Jingyun naturally knew about the feud between Lin Ming and Ouyang Qiu Hua, but her rationality told her that Ouyang Qiu Hua's death was the work of a preeminent expert, having nothing to do with Lin Ming. Yet, for some reason, she kept subconsciously linking the two together.

  "Jingyun sister, who are you looking for?" Murong Zi asked with a smile from the side.

  "It's nothing, just taking a look." Bai Jingyun shook her head and smiled calmly, but her mood was not calm at all.

  Only a moment's time was left before the start of the preliminary round, and Crown Prince Yang Lin had also arrived. Today, Yang Lin wore a tiger skin qilin robe, with snow boots on his feet and riding a snow dragon horse, looking spirited and majestic.

  The crown prince arrived but did not send a notification, because today among the people present there were too many important figures, important figures of various major families, princes and nobles, marquises and earls, even two of the top ten generals came.

  On such an occasion, as a prince, it's still not good to be too high-profile.