The night wind blew, making the candlelight flicker and the shadows dance.

At that moment, Fang Yang’s resolute and nearly unquestionable declaration made everyone’s expression shift slightly.

They knew Fang Yang was strong. Exceptionally strong.

Among the prodigies of his generation, Fang Yang was the undisputed leader, capable of suppressing young talents like Qing Mang and Lin Tianxue with a single hand.

But in the Hundred Clans Martial Convergence, the people Fang Yang would have to fight wouldn’t just be his peers.

Fang Yang would have to contend with his seniors, and even with certain terrifying figures.

These terrifying figures were usually old-timers who, knowing they could never break through the Tier Three Peak realm, had settled down to focus solely on mastering the art of magical combat.

The methods they commanded were endless and far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine.

It was because of circumstances like these that even the "Carp Eagle Saint" of his time, Fang Nian, had never once managed to become a Marquis of Shiwu!

"This..."

The clan elder’s lips parted, but he couldn’t bring himself to crush Fang Yang’s confidence.

Fang Min, Fang Hao, and the others felt the same. They knew that when Fang Yang spoke, his word was as good as gold.

Fang Yang saw their apprehension, but he simply sat motionless in the red-flowered carved chair with a smile on his face.

He was truly confident about competing for the title of Marquis of Shiwu this time.

First, the hint from his fortune slip had indirectly told him that he was capable of becoming a Marquis of Shiwu.

Second, because of his own current strength. He was very, very strong.

Even if Sen Yue or Sen Wei personally suppressed their realms to fight him, he was confident he could trade blows with them and seize a chance at victory.

And besides Sen Yue and Sen Wei, he didn’t give a second thought to anyone else at the same realm.

Even against Saints like Chen Kui, Qingkong, and Yuxuan, he was equally confident he could suppress them!

His gaze was steady as he lamented inwardly:

’So many years of decline have gradually extinguished the Fang Clan’s ambition to dare to be the first in the world.’

’Back in the day, when the Great Sun Golden Crow soared through the sky, who didn’t bow in submission?’

’The world has changed, and the path is blocked. The world has changed, and the path is blocked...’

For some reason, Fang Yang thought of that vast, boundless Dream World, a place that could reshape heaven and earth.

If the Dream World were to merge with the real world, it would undoubtedly be another world-altering event. There was no telling how many factions would rise and fall because of it.

「Meanwhile.」

In the Zhang Clan’s ancestral hall, figures were scattered about.

Zhang Ye sat in a central seat, silently listening to the clan elders’ discussion.

Unlike Fang Yang, who was gradually taking control of the Fang Clan, Zhang Ye had many obstacles above him, preventing him from grasping power in the Zhang Clan.

The first person blocking his path was Zhang Tiansheng.

Zhang Tiansheng had a burly build and a resolute face, the very picture of an unparalleled warrior. He was only three years older than Zhang Ye, yet his realm was already Tier Three Peak—a testament to his outstanding aptitude.

Now, Zhang Tiansheng was the candidate the Zhang Clan was putting forward to compete for the Tier Three Marquis of Shiwu.

Zhang Tiansheng faced Zhang Ye and said, "The selection for the examining martial officials will be held in the Luohe Mountain Range Mystic Realm. You might as well come along and observe some Tier Three magical combat."

Hearing this, Zhang Ye nodded silently.

His thoughts had already drifted to the Marquis of Shiwu.

Although he was only at the Tier Three Elementary realm, he too had fantasized once or twice about becoming the Marquis of Shiwu.

As a Marquis of Shiwu, one shouldered the duty of guarding the final pass on the path.

The responsibility was immense, as they would have to withstand the assaults of powerful figures and sometimes even face Saints who descended to the mortal world for their own amusement.

But in return, once someone became a Marquis of Shiwu, they would gain immense prestige.

And if one were to become a First Martial King, they would possess the undisputed bearing of a Great Saint, enough to make Saints personally attend and recruit them as sons-in-law.

The glory was immense!

’Will Fang Yang try for the Tier Three Marquis of Shiwu?’

Zhang Ye glanced sideways, and his heart sank. ’He will. And that guy is very likely to become the Marquis of Shiwu.’

As Fang Yang’s rival in the Fang-Zhang conflict, even though he was constantly being surpassed, to the point where he could barely even see Fang Yang’s back anymore, Zhang Ye had never given up chasing him.

It was precisely because of this that he understood better than anyone just how terrifying Fang Yang was.

It might sound sensationalist, but in his mind, the threat Fang Yang posed was even greater than that of Sen Wei!

「Luohe Mountain Range Mystic Realm.」

The mountains were majestic, giant trees stood tall, and ancient trunks held up the sky. It was a range of lush, steep peaks.

On this day, Zhang Ye, Qing Mang, Lin Tianxue, and others flew in one after another.

None of them were at the peak of Tier Three, and their own Daos and Magic were still following the paths of their predecessors.

Therefore, their arrival at the Luohe Mountain Range was more to broaden their horizons than to compete for the position of Marquis of Shiwu.

BOOM! A pillar of abundant blood energy suddenly appeared in the sky, resembling a giant python that pierced the clouds.

"Hiss... such incredibly potent blood energy. That must be the ’Gang Bear,’ Zhang Tiansheng." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Zhang Tiansheng once fought five cultivators of the same realm at once in the Xuanwu Defense War, killing them all. He possesses overwhelming power."

"His brute strength is truly astonishing. If he were to refine the Sacred Material, the [Heart of the Black Moon Water Kun], he might really become the second Hei Liwu..."

In the distance, a man in heavy black armor with the build of a giant bear appeared, walking slowly.

As everyone looked at him, their expressions turned grim.

Lin Tianxue looked startled, and the white-haired old man beside her showed the same expression.

The white-haired old man’s name was Lin Moran. He was one of those old-timers who, knowing he couldn’t break through Tier Three Peak, had dedicated himself to mastering the art of magical combat.

He was proficient in silent infiltration and sudden bursts of lightning waves.

In other words, he was an incredibly crafty old fox. He remained still most of the time, but when he moved, it was world-shaking.

Originally, he had no intention of participating in the competition for the examining martial officials of the Hundred Clans Martial Convergence.

But unfortunately, Lin Shenghuang had sought him out and asked him to test Fang Yang and probe his true depths.

"Zhang Tiansheng, Yu Yihao, Qing Xixi..." Lin Moran stood to the side, quietly watching as one powerful figure after another emerged.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

In the sky above, a speck of dark light appeared.

The dark light expanded, revealing a massive stone gate as imposing as a mountain.

The gate was dark and dilapidated, covered in countless marks.

Each mark radiated an ancient yet despairing aura, immediately causing the expressions of Zhang Tiansheng, Yu Yihao, Qing Xixi, and the others to become solemn.

THUMP!—THUMP!—THUMP!—

Accompanied by a drumbeat that seemed powerful enough to shatter the heavens, the mountain-like gate slowly pulled open.

A massive, ferocious-looking beast gradually emerged.

A Nine Netherworld Prison Dog!

Then, just as suddenly, the Nine Netherworld Prison Dog shrank, revealing its true form: a handsome man in black robes.

"Sen. Cang. Ba." Zhang Tiansheng spat out the visitor’s name, syllable by syllable.

Everyone’s heart grew heavy as they watched Sen Cangba in silence.

Sen Cangba was the biological younger brother of the Saint, Sen You.

The path he walked was also the path of the Nine Netherworld Prison Dogs, the path of the Nine Netherworld Lion.

The Nine Netherworld Lion, the world-destroying beast of legend!

Sen Cangba’s appearance immediately silenced the entire area.

Most people sighed in their hearts, believing it was almost certain he would become the Marquis of Shiwu. Even he himself was full of confidence.

Sen Cangba stood alone atop a mountain peak, his hands clasped behind his back.

’Zhang Tiansheng has nothing but brute force and lacks exceptional Magic. He’s a barbarian, nothing to worry about.’

’Yu Yihao and Qing Xixi lack ferocity, like hothouse flowers that can be crushed with a pinch.’

’Lin Moran, heh. An old fossil with one foot in the grave actually dares to show his face? Isn’t he afraid of dying on the spot?’

’The only one who might pose a slight threat to me is probably Fang Yang. But he’s young and his cultivation is shallow. In another three to five years, he might be able to fight me. But as for now, I can suppress him with a single hand...’

Sen Cangba looked up at the sky, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

This title of Marquis of Shiwu—if not him, then who?