Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog-Chapter 586 - 375: Ranking-Based Sorting

"I agree."

Chen Ku consented to the request from the Martial Training Space to have his martial arts projection act as a ’Defender’ within the space.

Earning five thousand martial destiny points per month was one consideration.

Another consideration was that he wanted to see if anyone could defeat his projection after he revealed a part of his strength.

Arrogance is inadvisable.

There are many geniuses in the world.

Even though he created a Scattered Palm Heaven on his own, he still needed to maintain a humble and cautious mindset. Putting his projection out was also a way to find his own flaws.

After all, most people, when looking at themselves, are often blind to their own weaknesses.

If someone else could defeat him, it would instead help Chen Ku identify his shortcomings and address them in advance.

"I suppose others who proactively leave their projections here have similar thoughts?"

As Chen Ku speculated.

He saw, on the Big Snow Mountain, a silhouette of a projection pieced together from the details of countless battle moments, once he had given his consent.

[Ninth Realm First Layer Heaven peak combat strength ’Chen Ku’s projection’ has been recorded]

.........

Under the eyes of all the students beneath the sky curtain,

Chen Ku walked out of the Martial Training Space.

As soon as he stepped out, he felt a sharp gaze, as sharp as a knife, staring at him.

It was none other than the projection incarnation of Tang Xuan that he had defeated.

In an instant.

All eyes were darting back and forth between Chen Ku and Tang Xuan.

Everyone seemed to be watching for entertainment.

He had just joined the Divine Martial Academy, and such a scene had already unfolded between the two.

"Brother Tang, I apologize for any offense."

Chen Ku proactively spoke, cupping his fists towards Tang Xuan. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Tang Xuan, with hands behind his back, gazed at Chen Ku, then calmly said, "No need. The purpose of the Divine Martial Hall’s Martial Training Camp is for students to spar without bloodshed or injury. Defeating me is due to your strength. Since you’ve also left your projection there, then... I will challenge it in return."

Chen Ku smiled and said, "Naturally."

He then walked over to Xiao Tianzuo and the others.

When Helan Qing saw Chen Ku approaching, he became excited and repeatedly opened and closed his folding fan, saying, "Brother Chen, you really put on quite a show. Tang Xuan, you can even defeat him. Although it’s just a projection, defeating his projection in front of so many witnesses almost unilaterally affirms that your strength is above Tang Xuan’s. No doubt, within two days, your rank on the Genius List will surge again, directly reaching 150th place."

"It’s truly unbelievable."

Xu Fanfeng murmured:

"Brother Chen, how long have you been in Yan Capital? Just over a month, and in such a short period, you’ve jumped from over 600th to over 100th. I wouldn’t be surprised if within another month, you make it into the top 100 of the Heroic List. In hindsight, it seems that even without my help in creating momentum, with your strength and qualifications, achieving your current fame wouldn’t have been difficult."

"Xu, please don’t say that. The help from my brothers and sisters has been very important. Xu assisted in creating momentum for me, Xiao helped find me a place to stay, and Helan provided information on the spiritual objects needed for practice. Because of this, I was able to break through to the peak of the Seventh Realm, and today, I gained insight into an Immortal Law ’Naughty Marrow Cleansing Technique’ from the Martial Arts Stele Forest."

Chen Ku smiled at the people in front of him:

"I mentioned to Xiao before that I intended to teach this Immortal Law to you all. Fortunately, over this period, I have organized it into an easy-to-understand format. Now, I will hand it over to Xiao, and you brothers can circulate it among yourselves. With the help of this Immortal Law, let’s all strive to advance our marrow cleansing cultivation to a higher level soon."

Having said that,

He handed over the ’Naughty Marrow Cleansing Technique’, which he organized during his month at the Martial Arts Stele into an ancient book transcribed in the Hero King Realm, to Xiao Tianzuo.

"This..."

"Brother Chen, this is too precious!"

In that moment, the six from Yan Capital were both flattered and overwhelmed.

An Immortal Level Marrow Cleansing Technique.

Even Duan Qingxuan from a sect like Changgong Mountain possesses it, but because Duan Qingxuan practices at Changgong Mountain, he cannot privately impart it to them.

Although this Marrow Cleansing Technique from Chen Ku has no sect background and was realized by Chen Ku himself in the Martial Arts Stele Forest, it’s still an Immortal Level Marrow Cleansing Technique.

To say it without exaggeration.

This level of Marrow Cleansing Technique can speed up their cultivation at the Eighth Realm Marrow Cleansing Stage by about ten times.

Xiao Tianzuo, too, looked at the ancient book pushed over by Chen Ku with complex emotions of excitement.

Just as he was about to speak.

Chen Ku turned his head to the sky curtain and smilingly said, "We agreed that if I establish a sect in the future, you would all be honored guests. There’s no need to be so formal with me."

Just as the Yan Capital Six were about to say something more,

A booming voice suddenly resounded above the sky curtain:

"The month-long selection trial of the Divine Martial Hall has now gathered the first thousand students to pass, announcing the conclusion of this year’s Divine Martial Hall enrollment.

Please all students who successfully passed the Third Realm gather in front of the main hall of the Divine Martial Academy. The ’Mountain Master’, along with many great sect masters and your future teachers, are already waiting there for you. You will be sorted into three academies based on your scores in the three tests."

The voice seemed to come from an elderly person.

This voice not only resonated in the Martial Training Camp Square but also in the Martial Arts Stele Forest and on the Dragon Ascending Ladder of the mountain.

In an instant.

Those climbing the Dragon Ascending Ladder, those comprehending martial arts within the Martial Arts Stele Forest, and the geniuses who failed to complete the challenge in the Martial Training Space on time all felt a moment of darkness before their eyes.

A thousand students have been fully recruited!

The old man’s voice clearly intended to comfort the mindset of those who didn’t pass:

"All of you still in the checkpoints, the Imperial Court is grateful for your patriotic dedication. Therefore, the Mountain Master has expectations for you. Although you did not pass this year, do not lose heart, for next year on August 15th, the second phase of Divine Martial Hall recruitment will begin. Those with aspirations can continue to apply to Divine Martial Hall next year. The gate to serve the nation remains open for you."

Listening to the old man’s soothing words for the failed candidates.

The selected thousand, at this moment, were led by the Law Enforcers to the front of the Divine Martial Hall’s main hall.

At this moment.

In front of the hall, appointed by the Imperial Court as the Mountain Master of Divine Martial Hall, Governor Li Shentong, along with the masters of the nine sects and the teachers of each hall for the upcoming year at Divine Martial Hall, stood on the steps, watching as all thousand gradually arrived here.

"Esteemed ones, I am Li Shentong."

Li Shentong looked at the thousand geniuses before him, all being among the brightest of talents, his voice not exceedingly vast yet powerfully resonating in everyone’s ears:

"As the Mountain Master responsible for this Divine Martial Mountain, it means from today onwards, all of you will be nominally students under my name."

Li Shentong!

Those three words made all thousand trainees silent.

Chen Ku also began to scrutinize the man standing at the center of the steps, surrounded by nine sect masters, wearing a Purple Gold Crown with graying temples yet possessing a grand aura, as if his presence could support the heavens.

His hands naturally hung down, eyes opening and closing with flashes of energy, gazing steadily into people’s hearts, his expansive mind bringing an otherworldly taste.

"Is this the one who currently holds the greatest power in the Dragon Abyss and Taiyue provinces? The Governor of Yuan Yue, a Thirteenth Realm Shattering Void powerhouse, Li Shentong?"

Chen Ku curiously observed the man holding the livelihood and safety of thirty billion citizens in his hands.

Just like Chen Ku.

Everyone was also observing this Governor of Liangjiang.

Simply because his reputation and strength were overwhelmingly powerful.

Even someone like Xue Bailiu, a top three talent from the Heroic List, was looking at Li Shentong with a faint respect.

Yet despite being such an authoritative and powerful figure, looking at this group of young people averaging under thirty, he wore a supremely gentle smile, addressing everyone:

"The future of a nation lies in its young people; you are the future of our country. The purpose of establishing Divine Martial Hall doesn’t require much explanation for you geniuses. Simply put, there’s only one goal: to create heroes for the nation, generals who can lead our Ji Army and people in repelling the northern Yuan Lu. This year’s Divine Martial teachings will last a year, with monthly evaluations. Although you successfully entered Divine Martial Hall today, whether you can graduate in a year depends on your own efforts. Thus, I won’t say much else; I only hope that when we conclude in a year, at least seventy percent of you can still stand here!"

After speaking, Li Shentong nodded to the Great Priest of the Martial Temple:

"Deputy Mountain Master, I’m done speaking; it’s your turn. Allocate the students into academies."

The elder in the main sacrificial robe, after Li Shentong finished speaking, stepped forward and addressed the crowd:

"I am Ying Yunqian, the Great Priest of Dragon Abyss Martial Temple, honored by the Imperial Court, serving as the Deputy Mountain Master of Divine Martial Hall. Now, having passed through the three checkpoints, the Academic Palace will rank you accordingly based on your performance. Those in the top hundred of the comprehensive score will enter the Immortal Institute, those ranked two hundred to four hundred will go to the Upper Academy, and those ranked four hundred to one thousand will enter the Lower Academy."

As he spoke.

Another elderly scholar took out a list and began to recite it.

"This time, the top rank of Divine Martial recruitment, based on comprehensive positions across the three checkpoints..."

While the name hadn’t appeared, many looked toward Chen Ku.

After all, Chen Ku’s performance through the three checkpoints was exceptionally brilliant.

Especially in the first and second checkpoint, deemed perfect performance.

However.

The ranking recited from the elderly scholar’s mouth was:

"First place: Xue Bailiu."

Upon hearing this name, everyone showed expressions of slight surprise but upon reflection found it quite reasonable.

Xiao Tianzuo glanced at Chen Ku, thinking:

"Brother Chen indeed performed perfectly in the first and second checkpoint, but Xue Bailiu consistently cleared first, in the first checkpoint on the Dragon Ascending Ladder, cleared first, and in the second checkpoint as well. It’s said he also comprehended a ’Martial Arts Divine Ability,’ and the third checkpoint was even scarier; in the Martial Training Camp, he easily defeated a projection of a Martial Path True Body at the peak of the Eleventh Realm with one strike. Some speculate his combat capability might have reached the level to challenge Twelfth Realm, but the camp limited him to battling the Eleventh Realm."

Chen Ku had no objections regarding this ranking.

After all, ahead of him, just the number of people above the First Layer Heaven of the Ninth Realm was five or six, and those of Tenth Realm combat prowess numbered seven or eight...

In the Martial Arts World, strength reigns supreme.

Yet as he contemplated this.

"Second place: Chen Ku"

From the elderly scholar’s mouth, his name was announced.

The students were taken aback.

This rank, surprisingly only beneath... Xue Bailiu!

...

As Divine Martial Hall divided academies.

In Yan Capital.

The conclusion of Divine Martial Hall recruitment and the performances of geniuses sparked much debate, causing the Genius List to undergo significant updates.

Moreover, some Jianghu Mansion Report enthusiasts planned to compile a "Divine Martial Wind and Cloud List" dedicated to selecting notable figures within Divine Martial Hall.