High-level martial arts: Starting with a heart of steel, stats crush everything.

"The former dean?" Chen Mo realized there were so many things he didn't know, and he had never even heard of this former dean.

Not to mention those messy plans, he had been focusing on tempering his bones ever since he arrived at the Grandmaster Academy, and hadn't paid any attention to what was happening outside.

"It's normal that you don't recognize him. The old dean is stationed in the Abyss Warriors' Capital in the deepest abyss and won't be back for a while."

As soon as Zhu Long said those words, Chen Mo's head buzzed.

Is he stationed in the capital of the Abyss Warriors?

Are these words spoken by a human?

"No surprise. If it weren't for the old dean suppressing those guys deep in the abyss, the abyss warriors would probably have already made a comeback."

"We are only dealing with small fry. There are eighteen Grandmaster-level experts in Black Cloud City alone, and there are countless middle and upper-level martial artists."

"Then why don't they attack? We only have thirteen grandmasters here..."

Chen Mo couldn't understand why the Abyss Warriors were so obedient when there was such a big difference in combat power.

"Because our grandmasters dare to fight to the death, while the grandmasters of the Abyss Warriors do not."

"Or rather, unwilling."

Zhu Long's eyes were deep; he truly admired the thirteen grandmasters guarding the Great Xia Grandmaster Academy.

These thirteen grandmasters are all the best among grandmasters. They are strong enough to fight three abyss warriors at the grandmaster level without being defeated.

This is why Black Cloud City dares not act rashly.

If Black Cloud City dares to make any rash moves, then all thirteen grandmasters of the Great Xia Grandmaster Academy will come out in full force.

The six most powerful Grandmasters were responsible for holding off the eighteen Abyss Grandmasters, while the remaining seven Grandmasters could easily annihilate Black Cloud City.

They wiped out everyone in Black Cloud City.

When facing other races, human grandmasters have absolutely no bottom line.

No matter what you are, even if you're an egg, I'll shake the yolk until it's broken!

"The power structure in the Abyss is very feudal. The higher the level of a martial artist, the higher their status, just like in our case."

"But we will protect civilians who have no fighting power, but Abyss warriors look down on those weaker than themselves as livestock."

"Which farmer do you think would risk their life for a tiny, insignificant number of livestock?"

"Even if Black Cloud City is gone, they can start anew. If you work hard your whole life and then die, you'll have nothing left."

Zhu Long shrugged. This was the fundamental difference between human warriors and abyss warriors.

The Abyss Warriors do not consider the weak as their own kind, but the human race will not abandon any of their compatriots.

This is the fundamental reason why the human race has remained standing despite the fact that the Abyss warriors are several times stronger than themselves.

Of course, there are traitors among humans as well, such as the Abyss Cult.

"Does Black Cloud City still dare to send spies out into our area?"

Chen Mo frowned; he felt that something was amiss.

"I don't know, but it doesn't matter what they want to do. What we need to do is protect the people who stand behind us and support us."

"Those ordinary people."

Zhu Long shook his head. He didn't intend to think too much about it; he could leave such brain-taxing matters to his superiors.

"Let's get back to what we were talking about earlier." Seeing that Zhu Long's expression was a bit off, Chen Mo guessed that Zhu Long might have had some kind of trauma in this area, so he simply changed the subject.

"What did you mean when you said, Senior Brother Zhu Long, that our Great Xia Grandmaster Academy was going to take center stage?"

"You mean this?" Zhu Long smiled and said, thinking Chen Mo was about to say something.

"Both the higher-ups and the former dean believe that since the Kunlun Mountain Abyss Rift has stabilized, there is no need for the Great Xia Grandmaster Academy to continue hiding it."

"Stepping into the limelight earlier is also an encouragement for those martial arts academies."

"Those academic martial artists are too comfortable. The higher-ups plan to let them experience some bloodshed so they can grow up quickly."

"At that time, the deep rift of Kunlun Mountain will become a training ground for elites from various martial arts academies."

"I see. No wonder they established a base inside the abyss rift."

Chen Mo nodded. Now, besides Feng Buyan and the others from the previous year, he had someone else to bully.

"So, whether you do this mission with me or not, just consider it a way to relax."

The question ultimately came back to square one, Zhu Long asked very seriously.

"Go ahead, why not?" Chen Mo grinned. Who would pass up such a good thing as being able to sit back and get free credits?

He has less than a thousand credits left, and in order to complete the steel bone tempering as soon as possible, Chen Mo will definitely not miss any opportunity to earn credits.

"What are you saying? Where are we going? Can I come along?"

A figure suddenly descended from the sky and rode directly on Zhu Long's neck.

Looking up, they saw Dai Emei, dressed in a light blue outfit, smiling at the two of them.

"Xiao Dai, come down first. Haven't you already reached the Triple Burner stage?"

"Don't mess around now, focusing on tempering is the most important thing."

"Wait until you reach level 10 and forge your golden body before doing any more quests."

Zhu Long looked up and met Dai Emei's gaze.

"I've been training for days on end, I need to relax a bit."

Dai Emei nimbly jumped off Zhu Long and wrapped her arms around Chen Mo's neck.

"Hey, Chen Mo, you've already completed the tempering of your limbs?"

"Come, come, spar with your senior sister. Let her check your development... I mean, your tempering!"

Dai Emei drew her long sword from behind her and waved to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo's expression was strange; he had a feeling that he had been harassed by a female hooligan.

"I think that's fine too. Chen Mo, your body is very strong now, and Xiao Dai knows how to hold her ground. She's a good sparring partner."

Zhu Long nodded in agreement; martial artists are meant to fight.

"Alright then." Chen Mo sighed. He always felt that Dai Emei, that female hooligan, would take advantage of him when they sparred.

Zhu Long took a halberd from the weapon rack next to him and casually tossed it to Chen Mo.

"Xiao Dai, stop using your Grade A alloy dual swords to bully people. Just spar with the standard training swords."

"Okay, okay, how could I bully such a cute little brother?"

Dai Emei chuckled, put her twin swords aside, and picked up two standard-issue swords from the weapon rack next to her.

"Chen Mo, be very careful not to fall for Xiao Dai's tracking technique, or you will be defeated instantly."

"Her Emei Twin Swords can strike 37 times per second, and with both swords, that's 74 strikes, enough to instantly kill an opponent of the same level."

"Senior brother! You're not allowed to tattle!" Dai Emei puffed out her cheeks and shouted at Zhu Long with some dissatisfaction.

Zhu Long ignored Dai Emei and continued speaking to Chen Mo.

"Sparring should be limited to the point of injury; avoid damaging muscles, bones, and meridians."

"If you can't take it anymore, just admit defeat. The difference between a mid-level fourth-grade martial artist and an upper-level fourth-grade martial artist is not small."

"Let's begin."