Xingyun City.
The prosperity of this city was no less than that of Lanhai City.
Lanhai City's strength lay in its rapid development in recent years, being a key focus of national development and an emerging city with a relatively advanced economy. However, its martial arts atmosphere lagged far behind Xingyun City.
When Yang Feilong was in Lanhai City, it was difficult to encounter an ancient martial arts practitioner under normal circumstances.
But after only a few hours in Xingyun City, he had already seen several ancient martial arts practitioners. Some were running by the roadside at high speeds, while others were practicing punches while walking.
The atmosphere of martial arts practice was truly striking.
"There are so many ancient martial arts practitioners in Xingyun City!" Yang Feilong couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, there are many ancient martial arts families here!" Ouyang Yixue explained with a smile.
Chatting as they went, the car arrived at a hotel.
"I haven't told my family yet. I'll go home first to inform them, and then I'll bring you over tomorrow!" Ouyang Yixue said.
"Okay." Yang Feilong nodded.
Ouyang Yixue's family was quite extraordinary, and some rules were to be expected.
The hotel Ouyang Yixue arranged for Yang Feilong was a five-star establishment. After dropping Yang Feilong off and giving him some instructions, she drove away.
Yang Feilong, after resting briefly at the hotel, left. He was a restless person, especially having arrived in Xingyun City, a place with such a strong martial arts atmosphere. He wanted to experience the practitioners here and, if possible, spar with them. As his master had said, combat could mobilize all the body's functions. This was why many practitioners, once they reached a bottleneck, were reluctant to continue in seclusion and chose to go out and spar with others. No matter how much time they spent in seclusion, it was difficult to break through the bottleneck. However, through countless battles and the mobilization of all bodily functions, breakthroughs would naturally occur, and cases of breakthroughs during combat were innumerable.
...
Yang Feilong saw many practitioners entering a place called Wulin Park and became curious, so he followed.
However, he was stopped.
"Please show your martial artist certificate!" the park attendant said to Yang Feilong.
"Martial artist certificate? What kind of nonsense is a martial artist certificate?" Yang Feilong asked blankly.
"You're not from Xingyun City, are you?" the attendant chuckled. "There's a branch of the Martial Artist Association nearby. Go in, get an appraisal, and receive a martial artist certificate. Then you can enter Wulin Park!"
Yang Feilong scratched his head, looking bewildered, and followed the direction the attendant pointed. A plaque for a branch of the Martial Artist Association was visible not far away.
Yang Feilong walked over and entered the Martial Artist Association branch.
"Here to get a martial artist appraisal?" Inside, there were several desks, each with a staff member. Besides those getting appraisals, there were also people getting ancient martial arts appraisals or accompanying others. A staff member, seeing that Yang Feilong was not being attended to, asked, "Yes!"
"Please take out your ID card," the staff member said to Yang Feilong.
Yang Feilong hesitated slightly, then took out his ID card.
"Cultivation!" the staff member asked.
Yang Feilong thought for a moment and replied, "Xuanwu Realm Perfection."
He was at the third level of Qi Refining Perfection, which translated to Xuanwu Realm Perfection in ancient martial arts practitioner terms. That was correct!
*Clatter.*
The pen in the staff member's hand fell, and they looked at Yang Feilong in astonishment. "A genius!"
Not only the staff member but also many people in the hall turned to look at Yang Feilong.
A cultivation of Xuanwu Realm Perfection was not uncommon in Xingyun City, and could even be considered quite common. Among the younger generation, there were many Xuanwu Realm practitioners, and even a considerable number of young practitioners in the fourth ancient martial arts realm, Lingwu Realm.
However, a Xuanwu Realm practitioner at the age of nineteen was indeed extremely rare, making him a talented martial artist!
It was no wonder that everyone in the hall looked at Yang Feilong with surprise.
"Brother, I'm also a Xuanwu Realm cultivator. Let's get acquainted later!" another man said with a smile.
This man was an ancient martial arts practitioner, but he was significantly older than Yang Feilong, appearing to be in his late twenties. He was not there for an appraisal but to accompany his younger cousin.
His younger cousin was sixteen years old and had recently broken through to the early stage of Xuwu Realm!
A sixteen-year-old Xuwu Realm cultivator could be considered somewhat talented, but it was merely some talent. Compared to Yang Feilong, the gap was enormous.
"Okay!" Yang Feilong smiled and replied.
When someone offered friendship, he did not push them away.
"Please pay one thousand yuan," the staff member said to Yang Feilong. "This is the card production fee."
Although Yang Feilong was puzzled why making a card would cost so much, he honestly paid the thousand yuan.
"Take this slip of paper to the Xuanwu Realm appraisal room in the back. There will be specialized personnel to conduct your appraisal!" the staff member said, handing Yang Feilong his ID card and the slip.
"Alright!" Yang Feilong nodded.
"My name is Li Yang, what's your name, brother?" Li Yang walked up with a smile, striking up a conversation with Yang Feilong.
Li Yang was the Xuanwu Realm cultivator who had greeted Yang Feilong earlier.
"My name is Yang Feilong."
"Oh, right, this is my cousin, Li Hu," Li Yang said, patting his more delicate-looking cousin.
Yes, despite Li Hu's imposing name, he looked rather delicate.
Of course, this might be due to his young age. At sixteen, he might be in high school, or even middle school if he started school later.
Someone like Yang Feilong, teaching at a university at nineteen with most students older than him, was an exceptional and rare case, not to be judged by normal standards.
"Hello, Brother Feilong," Li Hu said, looking a bit shy at Yang Feilong. A flicker of admiration flashed in his eyes. This person was only three years older than him, yet his cultivation was far superior. Under normal circumstances, reaching Xuwu Realm Perfection at nineteen would be considered good, and a better outcome would be breaking through to Zhenwu Realm. The difference between him and Yang Feilong was immense!
"Hello, Brother Li Hu!" Yang Feilong greeted him with a smile, then turned to Li Yang and asked, "Do you know how the appraisal works?"
"Yes, the appraisal is quite simple. You'll go into a room, and a machine will scan you to detect your realm. Then, you'll release an attack on an instrument, which is a simple assessment. Based on the standard you meet, you'll be issued a certain type of card. Also, regarding what you said earlier, it's a bit too specific. For example, if you are at Xuanwu Realm Perfection, just saying Xuanwu Realm is enough!" Li Yang explained. "Because both Xuanwu Realm Perfection and Xuanwu Realm early stage are issued three-star cards!"
"Three-star card?" Yang Feilong blinked.
"Xuwu Realm cultivators get one-star cards, Zhenwu Realm gets two-star cards, Xuanwu Realm gets three-star cards, and so on!" Li Yang explained with a smile.
"So that's how it works. If my cultivation breaks through from Xuanwu Realm to Lingwu Realm, will I have to come back to change my card?" Yang Feilong asked, stroking his chin.