Chapter 965: The Dragon Gate Formation

"Transform into a dragon?"

"A figure of the times?"

Everyone frowned.

Although the War Master Hall was powerful, it was only a branch. To think that a single assessment could make one famous across the entire continent—wasn't that an exaggeration?

"Don't be skeptical, everyone. The Dragon Gate Formation is not easy to pass. Countless young war masters of the War Master Hall, in three hundred years, not one has succeeded! This shows how difficult it is. If one truly passes... they will surely be directly borrowed by the headquarters, and it's only a matter of time before they shake the world!"

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Liao Song knew they didn't believe him and explained.

"Not one succeeded in three hundred years?"

Everyone was stunned.

They deeply understood the power of the War Master Hall. With so many young talents and geniuses, none had succeeded—wasn't that too terrifying?

"This Dragon Gate Formation you speak of—how does one break through it? What are the rules?" Elder Mi couldn't help asking.

The others also looked over in unison.

Given how exaggeratedly he spoke, this Dragon Gate Formation must be extremely difficult, otherwise it wouldn't have made countless war masters balk.

"It's simple. The Dragon Gate Formation is divided into three levels: Dragon Tail, Dragon Back, and Dragon Head. At each position, there are three cultivators! The three at the Dragon Tail are, respectively, at the same level as the challenger, one minor level higher, and two minor levels higher..."

Liao Song said.

"Three people? And the levels get higher?" Everyone's eyebrows jumped.

War masters themselves were strong in combat. Winning against someone of the same level was already impressive. But three attacking together, with some two minor levels higher and one minor level higher... that was terrifying!

"At the Dragon Back, similarly three people, respectively three, four, and five minor levels higher than the challenger, increasing in the same way!"

Liao Song explained: "Take this Zheng Yang as an example, at the early stage of the Cocoon Seal realm. The people at the Dragon Back are three, four, and five minor levels higher than him, meaning the peak of the Cocoon Seal realm, early Half-Saint, and mid Half-Saint!"

"This..."

Everyone's faces twitched. Even Zheng Yang clenched his fists.

"Finally, the Dragon Head, also three people, with even higher levels: six, seven, and eight minor levels higher than the challenger. Again using Zheng Yang as an example, that would be late Half-Saint, peak Half-Saint, and... early Saint!"

"To pass the Dragon Gate Formation, you must defeat all nine! And these people are at least centurion level. Most importantly... their combined combat strength is even greater. Someone like me can't even get past the Dragon Tail..."

Liao Song said.

Hearing the rules, everyone fell silent.

To be honest, it was simply too difficult.

Every centurion of the War Master Hall had the ability to fight above their level. Having three appear at once, each stronger than the challenger... it was practically impossible to succeed!

No wonder no one in the War Master Hall had passed in three hundred years. This assessment was downright insane!

Probably even a commander couldn't pass.

"So, want to give it a try?" After explaining, Liao Song looked up at Zheng Yang and the others.

Without answering directly, they lowered their heads in thought.

Zhuo Qingfeng was at the level of a centurion. Zheng Yang had fought him and knew how formidable he was. To defeat nine in a row, with increasing strength and combined attacks... the difficulty was terrifying!

"To be honest, the Dragon Gate Formation I mentioned is just the simplest version. At headquarters, after passing the Dragon Head, you also need to challenge the Dragon Pearl. At the Dragon Pearl position, an even stronger expert awaits..."

Liao Song said.

The headquarters' Dragon Gate Formation was even harder; his was just the simplest version.

Even so, in three hundred years, the number who had passed even this version was definitely no more than ten!

In other words, in three hundred years, countless young geniuses of the War Master Hall combined hadn't produced ten successes, showing the difficulty.

"I want to give it a try..."

Without hesitating too long, Zheng Yang looked over, his gaze firm.

He wanted to try!

In truth, he knew that with his teacher's talent, if not for them, he would have long shaken the world. It was only because of them, the dead weights, that he had lingered so long at the Master Teacher Academy...

For their sake, the teacher had worked too hard!

From martial artist to Mortal Transcendence, he had spent countless resources and consumed immeasurable spirit stones. Once they reached the Saint Domain, each level advancement would require even more resources. Bearing such a burden alone—as students, this was a great unfilial act!

But if they went to find resources, not only would it be difficult to locate them, the teacher surely wouldn't allow it...

After much thought, the best way was to enter the War Master Hall...

Here, war masters gathered, possessing the best resources on the continent. Once they became members, they would no longer be the teacher's burden, and could even share his worries in the future.

Even if this assessment was very dangerous and very difficult, for the teacher's sake, they had to do it!

Just as the teacher could give up everything for them.

"Give it a try? Good!"

Seeing his agreement, Liao Song smiled and nodded, then looked at Wang Ying and the others: "What about you?"

"We want to try too!"

Wang Ying and the others, each with firm gazes.

They naturally understood Zheng Yang's thoughts. The teacher had already given too much for them these days... They couldn't bear to let him continue to toil for them.

Becoming war masters and making a name for themselves might also be the teacher's wish.

No teacher always wants to keep their students under their wings, preventing them from spreading their wings and flying high.

"Then let's go to the martial stage!"

Seeing that the content of the assessment was decided and Zheng Yang and the others agreed, Elder Mi said.

"Good!"

Knowing this wasn't the place for battle, everyone nodded simultaneously and walked in unison toward the martial stage.

By now, the martial stage was packed. Knowing that this assessment was even harder than the last, many students had taken their spots early in the morning, and even many experts from Hongyuan City had come specially to watch.

Moreover, three days had passed, so experts from many empires around the Hongyuan Empire had also arrived.

Everyone wanted to see how someone who wasn't a master teacher could be assessed as a war master, and what harsh trials they would undergo.

When Zheng Yang and the others arrived, they immediately drew cheers from the crowd.

"They are Dean Zhang's students? They look very young..."

"Dean Zhang isn't old either!"

"Dean Zhang's direct disciples have been hired by your academy as guest elders?"

"Yes, their understanding of martial techniques is superb..."

...

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Many experts who had come to the academy for the first time were stunned to learn that Zheng Yang and the others were guest elders of the academy.

They knew well the weight of a guest elder. To hire someone who wasn't even a master teacher and was under eighteen—how strong must they be to receive such an honor?

"The dean and his students are legends..."

"Indeed, let's watch. Perhaps today... we might witness the birth of a legend..."

After hearing all the tales of Teacher Zhang and his students, everyone fell silent.

The teacher was formidable, and the students were impeccable. This was true mutual growth in teaching, true teacher-student bond!

"Alright, the Dragon Gate Formation begins!"

Having arranged everything, Liao Song let out a long cry. Nine war masters beside him leaped onto the high platform, positioning themselves in a winding formation like a giant dragon lying on the ground, ready to soar into the sky at any moment.

Crackle!

With a series of crisp sounds, the nine war masters quickly suppressed their cultivation levels, rising from the early Cocoon Seal realm all the way to Saint.

"I, Liao Song, a thousand-man commander of the War Master Hall, hereby apply for the Dragon Gate Formation to test a war master. I request approval!"

Having taken their positions and suppressed their cultivation, Liao Song took out a token, flicked it into the air, and announced loudly.

Rumble!

With his words, the surrounding spiritual energy immediately gathered, and a tremendous force spread from an unknown distance.

"This is... the aura of the War Master Hall headquarters? What exactly is this Dragon Gate Formation, requiring headquarters' approval?"

"I don't know. It's like the life-and-death battle of master teachers, needing to communicate with headquarters to be realized. It seems this is no ordinary assessment!"

"Yes, needing headquarters' supervision to proceed means they don't have the authority to assess, and even if they did, it wouldn't be recognized!"

The crowd below didn't understand the meaning of the Dragon Gate Formation, but seeing that Liao Song needed to communicate with headquarters, they all changed color in shock.

For any profession, communicating with headquarters required a great cost. To do so for an assessment—how difficult must it be?

Rustle!

Amid the crowd's shock, the spiritual energy in the sky shone down on the ground, as if laying out a strange formation, hiding the nine people in three parts. What was visible seemed like the tail of a giant dragon, gently swaying, stirring the wind and clouds, giving a strong sense of oppression.

"This is... formation enhancement?"

Wu Tianqiong and the others' faces twitched.

The three at the Dragon Tail were already strong in their own right, and with formation enhancement, how could one fight?

Even if their strength was lower, even a Half-Saint would find it hard to contend.

"Zheng Yang... be careful!"

Wang Ying also frowned.

"Don't worry!"

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Yang nodded, stepped onto the high platform, smiled lightly, and announced clearly: "Zhang Xuan, Teacher Zhang's direct disciple, Zheng Yang, challenges the Dragon Gate Formation!"

Rumble!

As his words ended, a beam of light enveloped him, seemingly confirming his identity and strength.

Soon, the confirmation was complete, and two large characters appeared in the sky: "Approved!"

Exactly like a life-and-death duel.

That is to say, his challenge would now be supervised by the War Master Hall headquarters.

"Alright, you may begin..."

Seeing headquarters' confirmation, Liao Song breathed a sigh of relief and gave the order.

"Mm!" Zheng Yang nodded, flipped his wrist, and produced a spear.

With the spear in hand, his entire aura changed instantly, like a dragon or tiger. With his true qi surging, his hair flew, making him look like an undefeated war god.

"So strong!"

Feeling this aura, the war masters who had been indifferent now all wore solemn expressions.

Although his cultivation was only at the early Cocoon Seal realm, he gave off an extremely powerful feeling, as if even a Half-Saint would find it hard to contend.

"Come!"

Having accumulated his aura to the peak, Zheng Yang let out a long cry, his body flickered, and he was already before the three at the Dragon Tail. His spear turned into a point of light, thrusting straight forward.

Rumble!

Spear light surged, waves of air rolled, and the entire martial stage seemed to contain a thunderclap, exploding at once.