Chapter 46: "Martial God No. 1" Has Lost Its Target!!
Fan Tianlei was tempted to rush down and bow to Zhang Xueying in gratitude.
In Binzhou.
Twenty-one years old, once plagued by ALS, now a level five martial artist.
If this isn’t genius, what is?
“Director Fan, how should we handle this?” The assistant, encountering this orange flash alert for the first time, was bewildered.
Below, the crowd erupted in confusion and discussion:
“That kid is Zhang Chu, I heard he got into the academy thanks to his personal connection with Zhang Xueying.”
“Obvious nepotism, even the security light is different—probably smuggling in plenty of hidden items.”
“Don’t make trouble, Zhang Xueying’s coming over!”
At that moment, Zhang Xueying appeared swiftly at the security checkpoint, raising her eyes to look at Fan Tianlei.
The security equipment was exclusively managed by the Martial Arts Administration Bureau. Zhang Xueying wasn’t aware of what orange meant.
“Apologies, the security equipment is overloaded. Please pass through again.” Before Zhang Xueying could speak, the security personnel received Fan Tianlei’s order via earpiece.
Zhang Xueying glanced up at Fan Tianlei.
Fan Tianlei gave her a thumbs-up, nearly blurting out, “You’re incredible.”
Under hesitant gazes, Zhang Chu passed through the checkpoint again—this time, the green light allowed passage.
“Who is that kid? He looks so familiar.”
Among the participants who cleared security, Fan Chengcheng crossed his arms over his chest, pointing at Zhang Chu.
“Young Master Fan, haven’t you heard about the Martial Arts Research Institute illegally recruiting outsiders?” a martial artist familiar with Fan Chengcheng quickly spoke up.
“Damn, nepotism is the thing I hate most. And this one’s connected to Zhang Xueying. I’ll find a chance to teach him a lesson during the competition,” Fan Chengcheng said, memorizing Zhang Chu’s strikingly handsome face.
“Brother Zhang Chu, you really scared me back there. I thought we’d be separated.” Seeing Zhang Chu pass safely, Hu Sanyi breathed a deep sigh of relief.
“Old Hu, look at you, I’m a law-abiding citizen.”
As Zhang Chu joked, his eyes swept over the other contestants passing through security, but he didn’t spot Su Mingyue.
Could it be that her boast on the forum about entering the competition was just empty words?
...
Shortly after noon, a total of 1,238 participants had passed the screening and were ready to depart.
Fan Tianlei stood atop the city wall, delivering the final mobilization and the competition rules.
The tournament would last three days, with the target being the undeveloped wild beast region: Canglong Mountain.
For safety reasons,
The Martial Arts Administration Bureau provided each competitor with a high-precision satellite positioning wristband.
The wristband was linked without delay to the “Martial God No. 1” drone, programmed with this event’s destination, “Canglong Peak No. 2.” It could also synchronize the participants’ vital signs and the remaining number of contestants.
There were only two rules for this tournament:
First: Whoever reaches Canglong Peak No. 2’s high ground first before five o’clock in the afternoon three days later is the winner.
Second: Private duels resulting in casualties among martial artists are strictly forbidden.
After Fan Tianlei finished explaining the rules, Zhang Xueying introduced the method for contacting the rescue team.
Then came half an hour of free time—participants could eat or use the restroom as needed.
Zhang Chu brought nothing.
Hu Sanyi took out two boxes of self-heating rice from his backpack and sat alone to eat.
Fan Chengcheng, meanwhile, raised his arm and called out, “Brothers, I’m Fan Chengcheng, leader of the Five Tiger Generals Mercenary Corps. Whoever allies with us, we’ll go together!”
“I’m in!”
“Fan, count me too!”
The Fan Chengcheng effect worked wonders in Binzhou; he’d never failed. Everyone knew he was Fan Tianlei’s son.
Victory wasn’t guaranteed by following Fan Chengcheng, but survival was.
Over eighty percent of the 1,300 contestants stood behind Fan Chengcheng.
The alliances formed before the competition even started.
Zhang Chu remained indifferent.
There could only be one champion—and it depended on who reached the high ground first, not who brought the most followers.
“Brother Zhang Chu, looks like it’s just you and me,” Hu Sanyi said, decisively choosing to stand with Zhang Chu.
With Zhang Chu’s level three martial arts ability, he outclassed ninety percent of the contestants.
Su Mingyue sat in the last row of the crowd, flanked by two young girls.
She neither ate nor drank, her eyes fixed on Zhang Chu.
She was determined to win.
Otherwise… she would die!
...
Half an hour later, Fan Tianlei personally fired a signal flare, and over 1,300 contestants surged forward, heading on foot toward Canglong Mountain.
Zhang Chu and Hu Sanyi also rushed in that direction.
As the contestants departed,
Two drones took flight, following the entire journey.
Zhang Xueying led a team of fifty teachers, forming a volunteer rescue squad split into north and south groups, boarding helicopters to follow in sync, monitoring martial artists’ vital signs and preparing for rescue at any moment.
The entire Binzhou television network and major video apps began live broadcasts.
The command vehicle was last to depart.
Fan Tianlei sat inside, watching the enormous electronic screen crowded with red dots.
Each dot represented a contestant’s signal source.
Seeing the signals all steadily advancing toward Canglong Mountain, Fan Tianlei finally sent Zhang Chu’s personal information to the Martial Arts Administration Bureau’s director via the internal network.
About two hours later,
The director called: “Old Fan, you must pay close attention to this Zhang Chu, and absolutely must not let him win!”
“Director Chen, a twenty-one-year-old level five martial artist—if he doesn’t win, who will?” Fan Tianlei replied with a bitter smile.
“Whatever it takes, even if you have your son intercept him, you must stop him from winning. If he wins, we’ll have to admit him to the Martial Arts Research Institute.”
“You know our martial artists in Binzhou have always been weak. This kid is only forty thousand vitality points from level six—with some nurturing, he’ll become a dual-force warrior!”
The director’s voice trembled.
Level six is the peak for martial artists.
Beyond level six, they awaken powerful spiritual abilities.
Those who cultivate both spiritual power and vitality are called dual-force warriors.
Of Binzhou’s five million people, fewer than a thousand registered dual-force warriors exist!
“I almost forgot about that!”
“Don’t worry, Director, I’ll arrange it immediately!”
Fan Tianlei was stunned.
Dual-force warriors were rare—even the Martial Arts Administration Bureau had only a few.
The Bureau managed the Martial Arts Research Institute, but held a special privilege: “It can recommend dual-force warriors for admission to Martial God Academy independently, without Bureau approval.”
Recommending a dual-force warrior gains the Academy’s support.
Binzhou hadn’t produced such a young dual-force warrior in ten years.
If Zhang Chu breaks through, he’ll become the target of every major power in Binzhou.
After hanging up,
Fan Tianlei immediately connected to the “Martial God No. 1” drone: “Pull up contestant Zhang Chu’s footage!”
“Sorry, Command Center, contestant Zhang Chu’s footage is unavailable—tracking lost.”
The drone system’s announcement sent chills through everyone in the command vehicle.
This was the latest pure-visual drone, and it had lost the target!
“Damn it, did that kid fly or something?” Fan Tianlei slumped into his chair.
Meanwhile,
Zhang Chu and Hu Sanyi had already entered the wild beast forest outside Binzhou.
The forest’s high-energy electric grid blocked signals—even the Martial God No. 1 drone struggled to track.
The most crucial point:
After departure, Zhang Chu studied the map—crossing through the wild beast forest to Canglong Mountain’s entrance would save a hundred kilometers.
He… was here to borrow a shortcut!