<h4>Chapter 156: Evolve</h4>


    Tianyuan Dynasty, the ruler of the current era. Even on its own, it could rival major factions like the Great Shang and the Royal Empire among the Six Extremities of the world, much less the alliance-based Star Alliance, Sr Radiance, and the East Sea''s thirty-six countries.


    As one of the few developed nations, the Tianyuan Dynasty''s economy and per capita ie were on par with the Taibai Kingdom.


    It had an astonishing poption of 600 million, twice that of the Taibai Kingdom. Together, the poptions of these two countries ounted for nearly half of the entire Tianyuan Federation, highlighting their advanced development and livability.


    Of course, the two countries had different definitions of "liveability." Taibai emphasized national peace and stability, while Tianyuan focused on national strength. When it came to perilous regions within the borders, Tianyuan faced a far more severe situation than Taibai.


    Especially to the north of Tianyuan, where a vast expanse of over two million square kilometers of mountains and valleys was filled with countless demonic creatures. That area alone drew a significant portion of the Tianyuan Dynasty''s—the Federation''s, even—resources.


    To address this, with the Tianyuan Dynasty taking the lead, the Tianyuan Federation constructed a massive strategic fortress cluster on Gaia in that region, known as the Demon-Sealing Fortress. Tens of thousands of Astral Cultivators were constantly stationed there,bating and thoroughly purging the demonic creatures within.


    This also served as a crucial foundation for maintaining the bnce between the Tianyuan Dynasty and other countries within the Federation.


    As the train arrived at the station, an official from the Tianyuan Dynasty Martial Society, apanied by an Astral Cultivator, personally led a team to wee and show respect to Prince Su Mai.


    Among all nations within the Federation, Taibai and Tianyuan shared the best rtionship. To some extent, Taibai was considered Tianyuan''s backyard and wallet, and the two sides maintained a very harmonious rtionship.


    The group quickly arrived at the Martial Arts Vige, situated on the outskirts of the Martial Society.


    This vige was specially built for the World''s Top Martial Competition. It covered an area of over ten thousand square meters, featuring mansions and courtyards arranged in different zones ording to the various countries.


    Taibai''s area featured six courtyards and mansions, each as spacious as Li Pin''s residence in Jiang Province, with rooms capable offortably amodating eight to ten people and including dedicated training rooms.


    As for those apanying Li Pin to the capital city to cheer for him, such as Lian Hongchen and Cao Tianyou, they would need to find their own amodations.


    While the World''s Top Martial Competition was still five days away, many national teams had shared Li Pin and the group''s sentiment and arrived early to limate to the environment. Therefore, the once-quiet Martial Arts Vige was now bustling with martial artists, each exuding amanding presence and robust vitality.


    Li Pin and the others put down their baggage and rested for a moment before Su Feiyu appeared at the door.


    "May Ie in?" she asked.


    Li Pin nced at her.


    They had only parted less than an hour ago, but she had already changed into a new outfit. She wore a pink gown with a sheer, delicate ovey and an ornate gilded belt that entuated her perfect waistline. Her figure was so striking, it seemed almost unfair.


    While the princess also practiced martial arts, she wasn''t as reckless as Li Yunyao. Her presence inevitably drew eyes to the golden me pendant nestled beneath her fair corbone.


    If she were to endorse pendants, nes, or rings, she would undoubtedly be an instant hit.


    Li Pin couldn''t help but nce at her one more time.


    If he wasn''t mistaken... that pendant was an astral equipment.


    Astral equipment required special care, as their coreponent, the Astral Crystal, constantly dissipated energy. Without proper maintenance, hastily crafted astral equipment could be useless within ten days or half a month due to the loss of Astral Crystal energy.


    The Sixth Princess treating astral equipment as an essory was a testament to the royal family''s grandeur.


    "Please,e in," Li Pin said.


    "How are you adjusting?" Su Feiyu asked.


    "It''s fine. Although Taibai and Tianyuan are four thousand kilometers apart, the climate and culture of the two countries are still quite simr."


    "That''s good to hear. If you experience any difort or have any problems adjusting, let me know about it. Don''t let it affect your performance in the uingpetition."


    Li Pin smiled. "Once martial artists have condensed qi into Core, our body functions reach an extraordinary level. We are not so easily affected by a change in environment."


    If he, as a martial artist, was so fragile that he couldn''t handle even minor changes, it would only mean he had much more work to do.


    "While that''s true, it''s still wise to be cautious," Su Feiyu said with a smile. "I''ve apanied my royal brother here a few times and am familiar with the area. Would you like to go out for a walk? It would be a good chance to see the otherpetitors."


    Before Li Pin could respond, Li Yunyao eagerly jumped into the conversation. "Sure, sure! Let''s take some photos too. I never imagined I''d be at the World''s Top Martial Competition. I need to record my experience throughout this one month!"


    Su Feiyu nced at Li Yunyao. <i>A minor level-one martial artist. She''s getting all worked up.</i>


    However, Li Pin smiled and said to Li Yunyao, "If you like it, we can go and have a look.


    He turned to Su Feiyu and epted her offer. "Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness."


    Su Feiyu''s expression was slightly unnatural, but she promptly responded. "It''s my pleasure...."


    However, thinking about the rtionship between Li Yunyao and Li Pin, a smile once again spread across her face. She ran her fingers through her hair and approached Li Yunyao. "Come on, if we''re taking photos, we can''t miss the collection of statues from past champions of the World''s Top Martial Competition. It''s the most significant site. I''ll take you there."


    Li Yunyao nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes!"


    She turned to Lin Xiaolu and Qin Rouran. "Are you twoing?"


    "I... want to tidy up some things," Lin Xiaolu declined.


    She was clearly more burdened and less energetic than Li Yunyao.


    As for Qin Rouran, she had already pulled out her phone and started watching videos a while ago. When she heard Li Yunyao''s question, she looked up in confusion. Li Yunyao had to repeat the question only for her to shake her head. "I want to lie down in bed."


    Seeing this, Li Yunyao didn''t insist.


    The three of them quickly gged down a sightseeing car and headed to the park at the entrance of the vige. Along the way, Li Pin continuously observed the passersby. Less than one in ten of them werepetitors, but most of the assistants apanying them possessed martial arts skills.


    Core Formation and Aura Cultivation martial artists, once a rare sight, weremonce here. Every now and then, Martial Saints could be seen casually chatting andughing with friends by the roadside.


    "Since arriving here, Core Formation experts have be asmon as street dogs; even Aura Cultivation martial artists are everywhere," Li Yunyao murmured softly.


    Su Feiyu heard herment and exined with a smile, "That''s not entirely urate. It''s more about the level of people you''re surrounded by. The World''s Top Martial Competition, in particr, and since we''re in the Martial Arts Vige, we naturally encounter the cream of the crop from Tianyuan''s two billion poption.


    "Strong individuals are bound to emerge inrge numbers. It''s like a noble conference, where the lowest rank is a baron, and there are hundreds of earls and marquesses. Can we really say that a baron has no influence in their own territory?"


    Li Yunyao nodded. "That does seem true...."


    Soon, the group arrived at Celebrity Park.


    There were over thirty statues in the park. Among them, the statues of the intermediate category champions were made of stone, while those of the adult category were made of bronze. Each statue stood several meters tall, creating an impressive sight.


    "Let me take you through the introductions," Su Feiyu said as she approached one of the stone statues. "This is the champion of the first World''s Top Martial Competition, Cheng Long."


    She briefly shared the aplishments of thispetitor. Meanwhile, Li Yunyao eagerly pulled out her phone and started snapping photos.


    "Do you need help?" Su Feiyu asked with a smile.


    "Sure!" Li Yunyao responded enthusiastically.


    Unlike Li Pin''s random attempts at taking pictures, Su Feiyu, having evidently taken specialized photography courses, only needed to adjust Li Yunyao''s position and pose slightly. The final result was so impressive it could be used for a movie poster.


    Li Yunyao swiped through the photos a few times and immediately fell in love with them. "Sister Feiyu, your photography skills are amazing!"


    Su Feiyu smiled slightly. "Not really. It''s because you''re beautiful and photogenic. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to get such great shots."


    Just from taking a few photos, their rtionship quickly grew closer, and they started addressing each other as "sister" and "little sister" warmly.


    Meanwhile, Li Pin was engrossed in reviewing the profiles of the intermediate category champions, from the first to the fifteenth session.


    Before long, he realized something. "The first World''s Top Martial Competition drew widespread attention with numerous participants, and the champion was a Martial Saint. In the secondpetition, the champion was a Quasi-Martial Saint, and by the thirdpetition, the champion had dropped to a great grandmaster....


    "By the sixthpetition, a Martial Saint appeared again... but in the followingpetitions, there were only four instances of Martial Saints?"


    Li Pin focused on the champions from the second to the fifthpetitions.


    "Wasn''t it said that the early World''s Top Martial Competitions were extremelypetitive?"


    "Thepetition was indeed fierce, but... times have changed," Su Feiyu replied. "Many believe that the turbulent times produced more Martial Saints due to harsh conditions, and that the Martial Saints from that era were stronger. But in reality, it''s not so.


    "The Tianyuan Society has some data.... Although many records from the turbulent period decades ago were lost and some are not entirely urate, the data shows that during the first tournament, the number of Martial Saints in the Federation was less than a third of today''s number."


    "A third?"


    "Yes! Not half, but one-third!"


    Su Feiyu looked at the statues and continued, "Times are progressing, martial arts are evolving, and we are not standing still! In the first King of the Century Competition, there were eighty-three peak Martial Saints due to historical umtion. By the secondpetition, there were only sixty-two. In the recentpetition, there were as many as one hundred and twenty-eight peak Martial Saints participating."


    "A golden age for martial arts? With the existence of ferocious beasts and demonic creatures, humanity''s dominant position is in jeopardy. We''re forced to embark on a new journey topete with all creatures under the frostden sky for freedom. This is the worst of times!"


    Su Feiyu''s eyes sparkled with brilliance.


    "But... the emergence of the Astral Gods has brought an unprecedented change after ten thousand years, reopening the path of evolution for us. Animals, nts and even humans are all evolving. The various professions and systems among humans are also evolving! The difficulty of bing a Martial Saint today is simply iparable to how it was sixty years ago!"


    "Evolution..." Li Pin repeated the word.


    "For us martial artists fighting against heaven, earth, and humanity, this is indeed the best of times!"


    Su Feiyu looked at Li Pin. "So... don''t you, don''t we, want to see just how magnificent the peak of martial arts can be?"