Baiyan Palace, Ancient Pavilion by the Lake.

“Master, what is it?”

Chen Qingyuan stood respectfully in front of Yu Chenran.

Yu Chenran, seated in the pavilion, spoke slowly, “The Hundred Veins Banquet is a grand event held once every ten thousand years. The Ten Heroes of the Northern Wilderness have the right to participate. To give the current generation of Heaven’s Pride a chance, the current Ten Heroes must accept challenges from their peers in the Northern Wilderness and cannot refuse. This allows true talents to step onto the grand stage, not buried due to their background.”

“Master means I should go out and fight?”

Chen Qingyuan understood.

“Pretty much!” Yu Chenran nodded, “All Ten Heroes have received a sound transmission. They must set up arenas in various places and cannot shy away from battle.”

Some elders from the Academy secretly informed the Ten Heroes, asking them to set up arenas and battle their peers. Whoever can hold out until the end will receive a great fortune.

Young people are proud and unwilling to admit defeat, so they won’t back down. If any of the Ten Heroes truly refuse to fight, the Academy will directly strip them of their qualification to participate in the banquet.

If they can’t even face their peers in the Northern Wilderness, how can they compete with the evildoers of the ancient sects in the Imperial Province?

“What should I do?”

Chen Qingyuan asked.

“Challenge your peers and wait for the right moment.”

The exact time of the Hundred Veins Banquet had not been announced yet, so they could only wait.

“Understood.” Chen Qingyuan replied calmly.

In the vast Northern Wilderness, there were few peers under five hundred years old who could match Chen Qingyuan.

“Don’t disgrace your master.”

Yu Chenran reminded.

“Don’t worry, Master. That won’t happen.”

Chen Qingyuan assured.

“Alright, you can go now.”

Yu Chenran waved his hand impatiently.

Used to his master’s temperament, Chen Qingyuan felt no discomfort. He bowed and slowly retreated.

Before leaving, Chen Qingyuan decided to visit the confinement space.

This space was set up by the dean, and even the two vice-deans couldn’t unlock it.

The Black Python had made a mistake when it was young and was confined here. Then the dean suddenly disappeared, and it had been locked up for many years.

“Brother Black, I’m here to see you.”

Chen Qingyuan walked into the confinement space with some delicacies and fine wine.

Outsiders could enter with a decree, but the Black Python was bound by the laws here and couldn’t take a single step out.

“Little brother, I’ve missed you.”

The Black Python poked its head out from the mist, its face ferocious, flicking its black tongue and revealing sharp teeth in a chilling smile.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back next time, so I brought you a lot of things today to keep you going for a while.”

Chen Qingyuan took out a Xumi Ring filled with delicacies and drinks from various places.

“You’re the best, little brother!”

During the years in confinement, Zhao Yichuan and the others only brought spirit veins, which were hard and tasteless, making the Black Python want to vomit.

It wasn’t until the Black Python met Chen Qingyuan that it discovered there were so many delicious foods in the world, and its happiness index soared.

“Brother, have you been trying to break the barrier again? You have some new injuries.”

Chen Qingyuan noticed a conspicuous wound on the Black Python.

“Trying a few more times might help me find a way to break it.” The Black Python coiled its body, eating the delicacies, and said in a low voice, “In a few more days, I should be able to regain my freedom.”

“Then I congratulate you in advance, brother.”

At first, Chen Qingyuan wanted to deceive the Black Python, but after spending more time together, he found it pitiful.

After all, bringing some food didn’t take much effort.

“We have an agreement. Once I’m out, you have to take me to taste all the delicacies in the world.”

The Black Python always remembered this.

“Of course.” Chen Qingyuan smiled.

Upon closer inspection, one could see two bulges on the Black Python’s head, and its scales were changing, becoming sharper and more lustrous.

The two brothers chatted for two hours. During this time, Chen Qingyuan personally roasted meat, brewed tea, and poured wine for the Black Python.

Soon, it was time to part. Although the Black Python was reluctant, it knew Chen Qingyuan had his own matters to attend to, so it didn’t try to keep him, only repeatedly emphasizing, “Little brother, if you encounter trouble you can’t solve, prioritize your life. Once I’m out, I’ll take care of everything for you.”

“Got it!”

Chen Qingyuan felt a warmth in his heart.

The dean’s mount and pet, once it broke the laws of the confinement space, probably few in the Academy could defeat it.

Leaving the confinement space, Chen Qingyuan prepared to head outside.

At this moment, Song Ningyan, dressed in a white dress, appeared, “Senior Brother Chen.”

“Sister, do you need something?”

Chen Qingyuan asked.

“I heard about the Hundred Veins Banquet and came to see you off.”

The Academy decided that only Chen Qingyuan would participate, and other disciples couldn’t go. Although Song Ningyan wanted to visit the Imperial Province, she didn’t dare to disobey the Academy’s orders.

“Thank you, Sister.”

Chen Qingyuan smiled.

“This trip is dangerous. Please be careful, Senior Brother.”

Perhaps due to Chen Qingyuan’s previous help, Song Ningyan felt grateful and came to see him off, expressing her concern.

“Understood.” Chen Qingyuan nodded.

After a brief conversation, Chen Qingyuan’s figure gradually disappeared from Song Ningyan’s sight.

Flow Star Domain, a city near the Mystic Azure Sect.

Zhangsun Fengye received a sound transmission from the Academy, setting up an arena to challenge his peers, giving the evildoers of the Northern Wilderness a chance.

Zhangsun Fengye then announced that he was in the Flow Star Domain and anyone who wanted to challenge him could come, and he would not refuse.

Months passed, and the Flow Star Domain remained calm.

Though the younger generation had talents and ambitions, they weren’t foolish enough to challenge Zhangsun Fengye, who was hailed as the number one in the Northern Wilderness. That would be suicidal.

Zhangsun Fengye was relaxed and had been trying to get close to Liu Lingran for years.

After persistent efforts, Zhangsun Fengye finally became ordinary friends with Liu Lingran.

He didn’t know how to win a girl’s heart, only giving various treasures and resources, making Liu Lingran very wary and cautious, not daring to accept them.

If it weren’t for Zhangsun Fengye being friends with Chen Qingyuan, Liu Lingran wouldn’t have met him.

Moreover, Liu Lingran still didn’t know Zhangsun Fengye’s background.

She didn’t ask, and he didn’t say.

They maintained this strange relationship.

Oddly enough, Zhangsun Fengye enjoyed it, cherishing every moment with Liu Lingran.

After some time, the wave of peer competition in the Northern Wilderness officially began.

The Ten Heroes appeared one after another, setting up arenas in various star domains, willing to compete with their peers.

If they lost, they would give up their position.

Countless cultivators in the Northern Wilderness didn’t understand the true significance of the Ten Heroes’ positions, only seeing it as an honor worth striving for.

Ancient Desert Star Domain, Xianchang Star.

This star was barren, with no signs of life.

Chen Qingyuan set up his arena here to avoid affecting innocent lives. Then, he spread the news through various means, inviting peers to Xianchang Star for a battle.

Soon, countless cultivators heard the news and came.