Just as Chen Beiyuan was returning to the Donghua Chen Family.
The events that transpired at Donghua Academy were rapidly disseminated through various channels.
In an instant, the entire Yanjing City, and even all the top powers of the entire Empire, were shaken.
No one expected that this "Academy Competition" would cause such a commotion, even overshadowing the ongoing "Donghua Graduates Trial."
Originally, the Empire's various factions were focused on the "Donghua Graduates Trial."
After all, this year's Donghua graduates were of a higher average level than previous years, and several graduates had even reached the 5th Rank War Marshal level.
These graduates, in theory, only needed to pass the Academy Trial to obtain a "Recommendation Letter" and be appointed to various departments within the Empire.
In reality, while they were undergoing the trial, all their detailed information was laid out before the major powers, and the various departments of the Empire had already begun to "vie for talent" through both overt and covert means.
The Imperial Military, the Imperial Investigation Agency, the Imperial Intelligence Department, the Imperial Security Department, the Imperial Research Department, the Imperial Logistics Department, and so on...
As various factions were engaging in fierce competition and arguing incessantly, they suddenly received an urgent intelligence report from their subordinates.
"What did you say? A new student at the high stage of the 5th Rank War Marshal appeared in this 'Academy Competition'?!"
"Where did this 5th Rank War Marshal come from? Who's crazy here, you or me? This year's graduates only have a few 5th Rank War Marshals. Those new students have only been in the academy for five years, and those who can break through to the 4th Rank War General are already incredibly rare. Where did this 5th Rank War Marshal come from? What is the Intelligence Department doing!"
"Chen Beiyuan? The young king from the Donghua Chen Family with Emperor-level Potential?! Then it's not surprising, it's not surprising."
"Such talent is simply terrifying!"
"As soon as he broke through, he suppressed a 6th Rank War King with a single punch, even though it was a War King in a weakened state, it still demonstrated his invincibility."
"Could it be that the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master's prophecy from back then was actually true? He once divined the fortune of Chen Beiyuan, who was twelve years old at the time, and said that within ten years, this child would be able to surpass all the strong individuals of the younger generation. At the time, they only thought it might be an exaggeration, but now it seems that there's a considerable possibility!"
"Among the top prodigies of the major powers within the Donghua Empire, there are a few who have already broken through to the 6th Rank War King, but their ages are almost a full cycle older than Chen Beiyuan..."
"I originally thought Chen Beiyuan would need to spend ten years to catch up to their pace. Now it seems, tsk tsk tsk, it's time for those youngsters to be nervous..."
In an instant, the big shots from the various departments of the Empire present couldn't help but sigh.
Even the academy graduates who were currently undergoing the trial on the screen in front of them felt that it wasn't as appealing anymore.
There was nothing they could do; comparisons were the thief of joy.
The difference between people was just like this.
The academy graduates, with an average age of twenty-eight, were mostly only 4th Rank War Generals, with only a few being 5th Rank War Marshals.
Compared to Chen Beiyuan, this eighteen-year-old 5th Rank War Marshal, they really did pale in comparison!
At this moment, the Imperial bigwigs present couldn't help but recall the mysterious Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master's special assessment of Chen Beiyuan six years ago.
Within ten years, he would be able to overpower all the strongest of the younger generation.
Within a hundred years, he would be another 8th Rank War Emperor, suppressing the Empire's luck.
And he even had the opportunity to strive for the legendary realm of War God.
At the time, this special assessment caused quite a stir, leading to considerable controversy, with most people believing it was excessive praise, even a deliberate attempt to ruin him.
In this world with its cultivation system, the lifespan of cultivators far exceeded that of ordinary people on the Blue Star of his previous life.
Cultivators under the age of thirty-five were all considered part of the younger generation.
In this situation, Chen Beiyuan was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.
This meant that after that special annotation appeared, he would have to compete with those young monsters who were a whole year older!
It could be said that Chen Beiyuan, who was only twelve years old back then, was under immense pressure, with the attention of the younger generation's powerhouses almost entirely focused on him.
In that situation, the twelve-year-old Chen Beiyuan made a shocking decision: he resolutely chose to suppress his cultivation, forcibly maintaining his 4th Rank War General at the initial stage for six years.
For these six years, rumors and sarcastic remarks never ceased.
But Chen Beiyuan never paid any attention, quietly accumulating strength, waiting to amaze everyone in one fell swoop.
This was the fundamental reason why, in the original novel, Chen Beiyuan's personality changed drastically after Lin Xiao used a sneak attack, causing his cultivation to be completely ruined and him to suffer humiliation.
Back then, that twelve-year-old boy was enduring the immense pressure that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
Everyone saw the surface brilliance, but never witnessed the unspoken silence of that youth.
Everyone, after marveling, attributed it to innate talent,
but they overlooked the hardships and sweat behind it.
"Old Chen, you've raised a good son. You hid it so well, kept quiet for so long, and then stunned everyone in one go. A 5th Rank War Marshal at eighteen! Who wouldn't be envious? If I'd known, I should have made my move earlier, instead of letting that old bastard Bai get the advantage..."
"Well, what can you do? That kid Beiyuan has always been like me since he was young. Even in cultivation, he inherited the excellent genes of my Old Chen Family: low-key, low-key..."
At this moment, after the Imperial bigwigs present expressed their admiration, they all turned to congratulate a middle-aged man in a general-grade military uniform.
The middle-aged man's features were somewhat similar to Chen Beiyuan's, but he appeared more mature and imposing.
This man was none other than the head of the Donghua Chen Family, Chen Beiyuan's father.
Chen Zeqing.
.....
While the big shots at the top of the Empire were shaken.
The events at Donghua Academy, driven by a certain force, began to spread throughout the Empire.
The younger generation of strong individuals within the Empire also learned about what had happened at Donghua Academy through the forces behind them.
.....
In a desolate and primitive beast secret realm, a raw, flesh-to-flesh fight was taking place. No, to be more precise, it was a one-sided slaughter.
The two sides in the fight were, on one hand, a burly, muscular man with a bare upper body and a fierce beast skin hanging from his waist, and on the other hand, a Silver Behemoth, the size of a small hill, covered in silver fur, with a thick tail.
That berserk beast was actually a 6th Rank ferocious beast, a Silver Behemoth.
This was a powerful beast known for its physical strength, capable of rivaling giants!
However, at this moment, this Silver Behemoth, known for its physical strength, was being utterly crushed.
The burly, robust man was emanating a fierce aura, without using a single trace of battle qi, relying solely on his physical body, he was actually grinding this 6th Rank ferocious beast into the ground.
Fist-sized, bronze fists rained down like a storm, smashing huge bloody pits into the Silver Behemoth, revealing white bones and pulsating internal organs.
The Silver Behemoth's mournful howls echoed through the forest, gradually weakening.
Soon, the burly man, whose body was stained with ferocious blood, seemed to have grown bored. He directly threw a punch, and this formidable beast's head was blown apart, its brains splattering onto the man's ferocious, god-like face.
"Not tough enough, I thought it would be more ferocious. Looks like I can try finding a Golden Behemoth to test myself in the future, but I don't know if this little secret realm has those high-level goods like Golden Behemoths."
The burly, muscular man slowly stood up. With a shake of his arms, a series of cracking sounds erupted as he stretched his muscles. Steam billowed from his pores, as if he'd just finished a warm-up.
This burly man had an extraordinary background.
He was the direct heir of the Donghua Zhu Family.
He was known as: Crazy Zhu.
His physical body was even more ferocious than a beast, as if he were just wearing a human skin.
This person was notoriously prone to going berserk, and loved to fight. When he attacked, he either killed or nearly killed his opponents.
As a result, no one in Yanjing City wanted to fight him. They all avoided him, cursing him under their breaths.
Even those top-tier prodigies found him annoying.
And so, this big shot found a ferocious beast secret realm within his family and went in to fight the beasts.
Suddenly, a piece of beast bone hanging under the waist of the burly man's animal hide emitted a faint light, as if transmitting some kind of message.
That slightly bored, ferocious face froze instantly, and a glint of light burst from his eyes.
The next moment, a roar of laughter, like thunder, echoed through the forest, forming sound waves that spread in all directions.
"Well done, Chen Beiyuan! You've been lying low for six years, and now you've made a name for yourself. You've truly given this old man a big surprise. I thought you'd fallen off these past few years."
Secret realm.
A dark, deep mountain valley, accompanied by the eerie sound of "hiss, hiss, hiss."
Deep in the valley, a writhing mass of multicolored venomous snakes were intertwined, their mouths spewing venom that converged towards a dark, secluded pool.
In the depths of the pool, a figure sat cross-legged, immersed in the poisonous waters, slowly absorbing the potent toxins.
Suddenly, the figure trembled slightly, and a flash of multicolored light appeared on their body, seemingly conveying important information.
A cold snort echoed from the dark, poisonous pool, its terrifying pressure instantly crushing the dense mass of snakes outside into pulp.
"Hmph, so he only defeated an old and frail 6th Rank War King, and now he thinks he's the number one of the younger generation?!"
Despite the owner's disdainful tone, a hint of seriousness was subtly present.
This person came from the Donghua Lin Family and was the next heir to the Lin Family.
Extreme Cold Snow Mountain.
A bewitching figure, dressed in a snow-white dress and with a veil concealing her peerless beauty, stood atop the snow-capped mountain.
Not far away, a giant beast radiating a terrifying pressure was lying on the ground, looking obedient and well-behaved, without a hint of ferocity.
The huge head would occasionally stretch out in front of the bewitching figure and shake, as if it were a pet begging for a pat.
This scene was incredibly impactful, and no one could connect the obedient "big pet" in front of them with the ferocious and violent beast.
When the snow-white hand, like jade, stroked the giant beast's furry head, it would emit a sound representing comfort, and the thick tail would sway back and forth.
The bewitching figure slightly raised her eyes, looking through the veil at the ice and snow ahead, towards the direction of the Donghua Empire, and a curve seemed to appear at the corner of her mouth.
"The little guy from back then has finally grown up."
This alluring figure came from the Donghua Bai Family.
Besides, she had another special identity.
That was Chen Beiyuan's fiancée.
Similar scenes continued to unfold.
And with the events at Donghua Academy further escalating.
The name Chen Beiyuan once again resounded throughout the entire Donghua Empire, attracting countless people's attention.