“Knight Legion!” The crowd’s pupils contracted. Silver helmets, silver armor, silver saddles, pure white horses as snowy as frost—each rider galloping like the wind. As they thundered toward the crowd, it was as if all anyone could see was a blur of silvery-white phantoms, making their hearts involuntarily tremble with intensity.

“There’s absolutely no such powerful knight legion in Tianyong City. Clearly, they’ve come from the imperial capital.” The crowd thought to themselves. In just an instant, the knight legion halted in front of the martial arena. All anyone could see were the pairs of pitch-black eyes exposed beneath the knights’ helmets—sharp, intimidating. A single glance was enough to make one’s heart shudder.

“Swish!” An impeccably synchronized sound rang out as the knights all dismounted at once—except for the one at the front. He placed both hands on his helmet, then slowly removed it, revealing a pair of piercing eyes. It was none other than Leon Young. He turned to Brian Baker and said, “From Chudu, the Silver Feather Knight Legion, here to congratulate Family Head Brian Baker on his birthday.”

As his words fell, someone immediately stepped forward to present a congratulatory gift.

“Chunation’s capital, Silver Feather Knight Legion.” Everyone’s pupils froze—people from Chudu had arrived.

Brian Baker smiled, standing there as he looked at Leon Young, and said with a smile, “Thank you very much. Please, take a seat of honor.”

Leon Young nodded slightly, then followed the red carpet to take a seat at the side of the viewing platform. At that moment, the thunder of hooves sounded again, making the crowd’s hearts tremble once more. This time, it seemed as if the sound came from several bluestone streets at once.

“From Chudu, the Mo family has come to congratulate Family Head Brian Baker.”

“From Chudu, the Prince of Zijun’s residence has come to offer birthday congratulations to Family Head Brian Baker.”

The resounding voices drew closer and closer, as legions and golden lion-drawn carriages appeared one after another in the crowd’s view.

Yet the most eye-catching of all was the procession slowly approaching along the central bluestone street—a few sedan carriages. Though there were only a few, and the procession was not grand, the carriages were carved with tulip patterns, and at the front, pulling the carriage, was a dragon-horse with long, curved horns.

“The tulip crest—that’s someone from the Ye family.” Someone knowledgeable trembled with excitement. The Ye family was at the height of its power, with geniuses emerging in every generation. Some Ye family disciples with extraordinary talent trained at the Imperial Academy’s martial division, some served in the military, and some women had caught the eye of royal heirs and married into the royal family. They were in their prime, comparable to the Qin family in the days when Qin Wu was alive.

“It seems the rumors about the Ye family seeking a marriage alliance with the Bai family are true after all.” Many people thought to themselves. These visitors from the imperial capital must have close ties with the Ye family.

From the tulip carriage at the front, an elderly man stepped out, exuding the spirit of a dragon and tiger, his gaze sharp and bright. Brian Baker stood up, greeting him with utmost courtesy, “It is an honor to have Elder Ye here. Please, sir, take a seat of honor.”

“Mm.” The Ye family elder nodded slightly and led his people forward. Though they were few in number, their presence was weighty—he was a super-powerful expert of the Yuanfu Realm.

“Qiuxue, this is what you’ve brought to me, what you’ve brought to the Bai family!” Brian Baker clasped his hands tightly, suppressing his surging emotions, and murmured softly to the young girl beside him. He knew that the reason for today’s grand occasion was only one thing—the person at his side, his daughter, Ashley Baker.

At this moment, in the distance, a group of figures approached side by side, causing the crowd’s pupils to contract. The Chudu Martial Academy had arrived. Many of those present today had come for the Martial Academy’s recruitment, held in conjunction with this event.

“Emperor Star Academy! There really is an Emperor Star Academy. Anyone who enters Emperor Star Academy is sure to become a Yuanfu Realm expert. In the entire Chu nation, Yuanfu Realm experts are all big figures.” Many people looked excited, including members of prominent families who had high hopes for their own disciples.

“There’s also the Royal Academy, established by the royal family itself, with the backing of the Chu royal house.”

“Shenfeng Academy, and the Seven Star Martial Academy—these are the most prestigious martial academies in Chu. They’re all here.” Everyone was excited. There were many academies and martial divisions in Chu, but these four powers were the most elite. Clearly, they all wanted to compete for Ashley Baker. Other forces, knowing they couldn’t compete, simply didn’t come.

The four great martial academies gathered at the front of the martial arena’s viewing platform, facing the crowd. At this moment, one person spoke calmly: “Today, anyone under sixteen years old who possesses the strength of thirty-six oxen may participate in this assessment and have a chance to enter one of our four academies. Now, anyone who meets the requirements and is willing may come up to the stage.”

As his words fell, the crowd immediately stirred. Yet many sighed—under sixteen, with the strength of thirty-six oxen, was only the minimum qualification to participate. For martial cultivators, only those at the sixth level of the Body Refinement Realm could possess such strength. Many didn’t even qualify for the assessment.

“If there are those with extraordinary talent or special circumstances, such as having communicated with two or more Astral Fate Stars and condensed a Star Soul, the requirements may be relaxed.” Someone else added.

“Boom, boom…” Suddenly, the ground trembled, the sound approaching from afar like a stampede. The crowd’s gaze instantly shifted, looking behind them, where a group of armored cavalry charged forward like a raging wind, arriving at the martial arena in an instant, forcing the crowd to part and open a path.