I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

The next morning, after a night's rest, Ning Chen shed his fatigue and stepped into the training room in the training hall.

The room was completely quiet. The dozen or so students who had survived the brutal elimination of the first level of the Journey to the West Divine Realm and returned to Earth were already sitting cross-legged, meditating and regulating their breathing.

They had all practiced the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic), and each possessed some internal strength.

Ning Chen saw that the center seat in the first row was empty, and he realized that this was the seat that everyone had reserved for him. This familiar scene reminded him of listening to the patriarch preach at Fangcun Mountain.

Ning Chen couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. When would he ever be able to sit in the very front row at Fangcun Mountain?

He didn't stand on ceremony; seating arrangements are based on merit, after all.

Yesterday's test had already earned him the respect of all his classmates.

Ning Chen sat down, and Chen Feng sat to his right, his back straight.

Upon seeing Ning Chen sit down, he closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to see Ning Chen.

Not long after, Luo Zhantian walked into the classroom. His signature bald head gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the incandescent light.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Lao Luo immediately brought up the holographic projection.

A topographical map of a rugged mountain range appeared, with scarlet text marking it.

"Encountering a demon at Shuangcha Ridge".

"Students... Next, you will face the second level of the Divine Realm: the Demon Encounter at Twin Fork Ridge!"

"Starting from the second level, each level requires facing a large number of demons, significantly increasing the difficulty!"

"The information you see today is precious intelligence obtained by countless predecessors with their blood and lives. You must cherish it!"

The holographic image switched, and a phantom image of a tiger-headed, human-bodied demon appeared in the air.

This demon had two sharp tiger fangs protruding from its body, bloodshot eyes, and was surrounded by black malevolent energy.

The words "General Yin" were written in large characters next to it.

"The greatest threat on the second level is General Yin, the demon king who occupies Twin Fork Ridge!"

Luo Zhantian pointed at the illusory figure, his tone solemn.

"Based on the intelligence brought back by the survivors of previous years, General Yin is extremely powerful. In terms of strength and speed alone, he completely surpasses me, a ninth-level innate grandmaster. He also has hundreds of well-trained and bloodthirsty little demons under his command. If they form an array to attack him, the threat will be even greater."

A collective gasp rippled through the audience. Surpassing a ninth-tier Grandmaster?

There are still hundreds of lesser demons?

On the second floor alone, we've already encountered this kind of lineup. How are we newbies supposed to survive?

"A conventional frontal assault has an extremely low success rate with our current team configuration."

Luo Zhantian changed the subject and pulled up a tactical diagram.

"Therefore, my strategy for you is to divide and conquer. We need a group of people to hold off and distract those hundred lesser demons at all costs, creating an opportunity for the real decapitation squad!"

"The decapitation squad has only one objective: to kill General Yin as quickly as possible!"

Luo's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Remember, speed is key! According to the intelligence obtained by the pioneers at the cost of their lives, you only have one hour from the start of the battle. If you fail to kill General Yin within one hour, two other great demons, Lord Xiongshan and Master Te, will appear."

"At that time, with the three demon kings joining forces, the situation will be completely irreversible, and your chances of survival will be zero."

"Three demon kings?!"

Sun Rongrong couldn't help but cover her mouth and gasp, her face turning deathly pale.

Zhao Zhenyuan, Tang Hao, and the others also turned ashen-faced, and the air in the classroom seemed to freeze.

Thinking back, it was only the first level of the Journey to the West's divine realm, but the war in the human world almost wiped them out.

Now they are facing three demon kings who are even stronger than Teacher Luo?

This is not just a desperate situation, it's hell! The name of the hellish realm in Journey to the West is truly well-deserved!

"I know this sounds desperate!"

Luo Zhantian raised his voice slightly, attempting to calm people down.

"But there is still hope. The country will support you at all costs in conquering the second level of the Divine Realm in the Journey to the West. In addition to you few Divine Realm Travelers, we will also send six experienced seventh-level martial arts masters who have volunteered to enter the second level of the Divine Realm with you."

Luo paused for a moment, his tone heavy.

"Their mission is clear: to do whatever it takes, including sacrificing themselves, to create the conditions for you to kill General Yin. They are the shield and the bait, ensuring that you seeds can survive and gain another year of divine realm."

Teacher Luo's words left the young students in the classroom with even more mixed feelings.

This is only the second level of the Divine Realm, and it actually requires the life of a seventh-level martial artist to pay for it?

"However, your class has an unprecedented advantage!"

Luo Zhantian raised his voice and glanced at Ning Chen and Chen Feng.

"We have two classmates who have truly embarked on the path of cultivation: Ning Chen and Chen Feng!"

All eyes immediately turned to the two of them.

Chen Feng felt the gaze directed at him, and he stood up, his face bearing a faint air of reserve.

He cleared his throat and said loudly.

"Teacher Luo is right! Fellow students, there's no need to worry too much. Although my cultivation is still shallow and I haven't received the true teachings from our master, our master, Immortal Yangli, has bestowed upon me three Five Thunder Orthodox Dharma Talismans!"

He carefully took out a brocade pouch woven with gold thread from his bosom and showed it to them.

"This is a true righteous method of the Xuanmen sect, extremely powerful, and specifically designed to subdue demons and evil spirits! In a critical moment, it will surely severely injure or even kill that tiger demon!"

"Five Thunder Orthodox Dharma Talisman?"

"Just hearing the name makes it sound very powerful!"

"Great! We're saved!"

"Chen Feng, we're all counting on you!"

Cheers erupted in the classroom, easing the atmosphere of despair considerably.

Chen Feng sat down amidst the grateful and expectant gazes of the crowd, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips as he glanced at Ning Chen out of the corner of his eye, wanting to see his reaction.

Ning Chen simply sat quietly, his expression indifferent, as if listening to something that had nothing to do with him.

Five Thunder Orthodox Dharma Talisman?

The three demons of Chechi Kingdom's thunder magic might fool mortals, but against real prehistoric alien beings who have become demon kings and have a reputation on the Journey to the West, it probably wouldn't even be able to scratch them.

But he didn't refute it verbally; he just sneered inwardly.

Luo Zhantian pressed his hands down, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Excellent! With Chen Feng's talisman, Ning Chen's strength, and the cooperation of six seventh-tier martial artists, we have a real chance to end the battle within an hour!"

"Have faith, everyone! Now, disperse and rest. Practice meditation. The school will provide nutritious meals. You have one more week to improve yourselves."

"I will make further arrangements regarding the specific group assignments and tactical details before entering the Divine Realm."

With mixed feelings, everyone left the classroom one after another. Several people surrounded Chen Feng, clearly wanting to build a good relationship with him.

"Brother Feng, we were too naive yesterday. You absolutely have to help me out this time in the Divine Realm!"

"Ning Chen, can you stay here for a moment?"

Luo Zhantian called out to Ning Chen, who was about to leave.

Once only the two of them were left in the classroom, Luo Zhantian closed the door and activated the soundproofing device.

He walked up to Ning Chen, his expression even more solemn than before, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible gloom.

"Ning Chen, what I just said was a strategy guide for them."

Luo Zhantian lowered his voice and spoke very quickly.

"What I'm about to tell you is another way to beat the demon encounter at Twin Fork Ridge, a method sealed deep within the archives and known only to a very few people."

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened intently.

"Based on the accounts of the earliest survivors, and later verified using some special methods."

Luo Zhantian's voice was almost inaudible.

"The three demon kings of Shuangcha Ridge, General Yin, Lord Xiongshan, and Master Te, seem to follow some strange rule. When they capture a group of people, they don't eat them all, but release one of them."