Chapter 977: Chapter 977

This special training not only greatly enhanced the strength of the four participants, but also established the leadership and necessary rapport within the small group. With this, when the martial arts tournament begins, the Dark Group will become a sharp sword, sure to dominate the competition.

At this moment, the virtual screen’s display ended, and footsteps could be heard outside the meeting room.

Zhou Xiong was the first to stand up, and the other family heads also tidied up their clothes and walked to the door.

Soon, the door opened. Tang Ming, dressed in jeans, walked in with his hands in his pockets. Behind him, Long Ao, Lin Canghai, and Wu Xiaoyu followed side by side, evidently taking him as the leader.

"Hahaha, you finally came out of seclusion," Zhou Xiong greeted with a laugh.

"These seven days really felt like an eternity."

Tang Ming yawned. Although he sounded quite frustrated, he was actually very satisfied with the special training.

"What’s your current cultivation level? Did you gain anything?"

Su Tianyu eagerly asked.

"I’m still good, at the Seven Stars peak." Tang Ming replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

"I’ve also advanced from the Early Stage to the Seven Stars peak, but my combat power has increased more than threefold since then."

Long Ao excitedly raised his fist.

"I broke through to Six-star Martial Master, advancing a level in one week feels like a dream."

Lin Canghai looked at Tang Ming with a complex expression and said emotionally, "It’s all thanks to Group Leader Tang and Doctor Sun’s coordinated special training; it was truly miraculous."

"Indeed, it was miraculous. I also broke through to Six-star."

Wu Xiaoyu glanced at Tang Ming, his expression complex.

"Excellent, excellent, I can’t believe you’ve improved so much in just seven days."

Zhou Xiong couldn’t contain his excitement, clapping his hands and shouting, "Your current strength is much more formidable than when you signed up. When the actual competition arrives, you’ll definitely shock those Ming Group bastards."

"By the way, it seems time’s up. When is the competition?"

Tang Ming suddenly asked, curious.

"As long as you’re ready, we can set off anytime. The plane has been waiting for a long time."

Long Aiyu introduced with a smile.

"Then let’s set off. We’ve already adjusted our status over at Doctor Sun’s."

Tang Ming suggested with a smile.

"Tang Xin, didn’t you just finish your special training, how did you adjust your status so quickly?" Su Tianyu looked at Tang Ming cluelessly.

"The video you watched wasn’t live, it was recorded, with a half-day time difference."

Tang Ming explained with a smile and turned to leave.

Long Ao and the others also followed Tang Ming out of the meeting room with smiles, having already regarded Tang Ming as the absolute leader.

"See, Tang Ming has become the core of this small group!"

Su Tianyu shouted excitedly.

"Indeed. Thankfully, our Dark Group faction has always been united. If a genius like Tang Xin emerged in the Ming Group faction, they’d definitely be schemed against or harmed by other families."

Zhou Xiong nodded repeatedly, sighing with a face full of regret.

"Let’s go and accompany them to the arena. This year’s martial arts tournament is sure to be exciting."

Long Aiyu nodded. Although his son’s thunder was stolen by Tang Ming, for the sake of the Dark Group faction’s interests, as long as they win, nothing else matters.

Then, a group of people boarded a large military helicopter behind the manor and flew into the sky.

The venue for the every three-year Nine Family Martial Arts Tournament is specially constructed, and each time the venue is different. Typically, right after the previous tournament ends, the organizers begin constructing the venue for the next tournament.

Although officially it’s a joint event organized by the Ming Group and Dark Group, the Dark Group’s weak status means that all the construction work is handled by the Ming Group.

The arenas for these tournaments don’t go to waste; after the Nine Family Martial Arts Tournament ends, the venue becomes an official training base.

This year, the venue is constructed inside Lion Mountain, 200 kilometers away from the Imperial City. The entire venue covers several thousand hectares, with not only the main competition grounds but also dining, lodging, and many other basic facilities.

Because the audience for the martial arts tournament includes high-status individuals in Huaxia, covering the core members of the nine families and many official dignitaries, it’s a testament to fairness.

When the plane arrived above Lion Mountain, someone pointed to the venue outside and asked, "What is that building that looks like a chamber pot? It looks a bit like a bunker."

Hearing this, everyone, who were originally a bit tense, couldn’t help but chuckle. This comparison was spot-on.

"Big brother, that’s the place we’re going to now; it’s the martial arts competition venue."

Lin Canghai reminded red-faced and speechless.

"It’s that big?" Tang Ming was slightly surprised and remarked, "It seems during the Olympics, they only made a Bird’s Nest for the world guests, but the Nine Family Martial Arts Tournament has its own venue, really rich."

"Haha, the people from the Ming Group certainly aren’t short on money."

Lin Canghai responded awkwardly. The Dark Group being relegated to a secondary role is due in large part to its poverty.

If the Dark Group were in charge of constructing the venue, it definitely wouldn’t be on such a scale. With the frugal nature of the Dark Group folks, they might have settled for just any sports field.

"Group Leader Tang, since the venue was built by the Ming Group, we don’t know the specific event details, but the Ming Group faction’s contestants must be very familiar with it and may have rehearsed in the venue."

Long Ao reminded with a serious expression.

"Isn’t this cheating?" Tang Ming questioned, frowning.

Not only does the Ming Group know the event details in advance, but they also have access to the venue for practice, which is extremely unfair to the Dark Group.

"Even if it’s cheating, there’s nothing we can do."

Lin Canghai sighed, "The organizers get to call the shots, and our Dark Group is marginalized to the point of helplessness."

"I see, so the Dark Group hasn’t been losing repeatedly just because of lack of strength." Tang Ming nodded in understanding.

"That’s true. If it was just about strength, the Dark Group wouldn’t be afraid of them, but every time the Ming Group sets the challenges, it’s just too disadvantageous for us."

Long Ao shook his head bitterly.

"Yes, I remember six years ago during the competition, our Dark Group contestants had gained an absolute advantage, but they ended up losing in the last round."

Wu Xiaoyu glanced at Long Ao and cursed reluctantly, "The Ming Group guys were just too despicable."

"What happened? What was the situation in the last round?"

Tang Ming became interested and looked at Wu Xiaoyu curiously.

"Let me explain, the participant was my big brother, Long Jia."

Long Ao squinted his eyes, his fists clenching as he spoke through gritted teeth, "My big brother was ahead by 20 points from the Ming Group’s first-place contestant, but the last round’s challenge was assassination, and my big brother failed."