By the third day of the Ancient Martial Arts Conference, the top ten rankings among the younger generation had mostly solidified. Although Xiao Yufan did not ultimately appear, he still firmly remained among the top ten.
In comparison, the young members from some hidden aristocratic families could do little more than make brief appearances. Facing the freakishly strong competitors from the Guardian Temple, they could only admit defeat gracefully.
Even Hong Zhong, who had reached the Later Heaven Stage, had no further opportunity to take the stage. By the end, the Ancient Martial Arts Conference had transformed into a battle between experts at the peak of the Later Heaven Stage and those who had reached the Semi-Pre-natal Stage.
“There’s always someone stronger beyond the sky, and there’s always someone superior beyond the clouds. Now you’ve finally learned your lesson!”
The old patriarch from the Hong family chuckled as he looked at Hong Zhong’s disgruntled expression. This young man lacked experience, and now he finally understood the gap between generations—an excellent opportunity to temper his ambition.
“Just give me enough time, and I will definitely climb even higher…”
Deep in his bones, Hong Zhong carried an indomitable spirit. Although his current cultivation had only recently entered the Later Heaven Stage, he was confident he could reach a far greater height.
“I’m glad you think that way. Not everyone is born with extraordinary talent. What drives people to progress more than talent is persistent effort. Behind every shining achievement, there may be unseen struggles that others fail to see.”
The old man said earnestly, a faint smile on his face. His purpose in bringing Hong Zhong back to China this time was simply to help him understand the truth behind the saying “there’s always someone stronger.” Clearly, Hong Zhong’s reaction had satisfied him greatly.
Nodding, Hong Zhong’s gaze involuntarily shifted toward where Xiao Yufan stood, his lips twitching slightly. He clearly knew that this guy had secluded himself day and night after consuming the Spirit-Enhancing Pill.
“Do you know why our Hong family left China with the hidden Hu family a century ago?”
After a moment of hesitation, the old man spoke again. Hong Zhong immediately became interested. He had asked about this many times before, but no one had ever been willing to tell him.
“Before, I thought it was because our Hong family had offended someone too powerful to confront, so we left China. But now, it seems it wasn’t that simple!”
“Back then, with the deep friendship and combined strength of the Hong and Hu families, even the Guardian Temple would have yielded to us. Who could possibly have dared to provoke us? Therefore, our departure from China wasn’t due to offending someone untouchable; rather, the ancestors of both the Hu and Hong families foresaw a certain event simultaneously!”
“Foresaw?” Hong Zhong furrowed his brows. He knew many in both the Hu and Hong families were skilled in divination techniques, yet something about this explanation still sounded strange.
“At that time, both families foresaw a major upheaval about to occur in the hidden martial arts world of China. As a result, they simultaneously decided to leave the country. Looking at it now, that prediction proved even more accurate than imagined!”
The old man’s voice was soft, yet it struck heavily in Hong Zhong’s heart. Judging from the current instability in the hidden martial arts world, the decision made by the Hu and Hong families had indeed been correct.
The purpose of the hidden Guo family in organizing this martial arts conference was clear—they must have been pushed by someone wanting to reveal the martial arts world to the public. As for the Guo family’s ambitions, to many people, they were nothing more than a joke.
For a moment, Hong Zhong fell silent. Although he didn’t know exactly what kind of turmoil the martial arts world would face, he had an instinctive feeling that this change would have a tremendous impact…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage