Chapter 36

"Who are those people, and what's their background?"

Zhao Feng was shocked, almost doubting the reality of what had just happened.

More bizarrely, his left eye had activated a strange ability: it had "captured" the scene of the young girl defeating the green-headed giant wolf into the space within his left eye.

If Zhao Feng wished, he could open that "scene" at any time and experience it as if he were there.

There were things Zhao Feng couldn't figure out, but he didn't dwell on them.

However, this incident made him realize that his understanding of the world he lived in was very limited.

The Qinghua Continent was vast, with countless countries. Just the Hengyun Tianlin alone spanned over a dozen countries, and the small city of Yuyang was truly insignificant.

There were many more unknown and unapproachable existences in this world...

Zhao Feng reined in his thoughts and observed the scene in the canyon, soon showing a hint of joy.

With the green-eyed giant wolf dead, nothing in the canyon could block his path.

He needed to leave quickly.

Thinking of the martial arts tournament, Zhao Feng felt a bit anxious.

The cave entrance was blocked by rocks, and he needed to clear a path.

Bang!

The smaller rocks, weighing no more than 300 pounds, were shattered by Zhao Feng's punch, using only his physical strength. If he used martial arts inner strength, they would be directly crushed.

For larger rocks, Zhao Feng had to move and push them with all his might.

The physical strength of a fifth-level martial artist was around 1,500 pounds.

Due to reaching the fourth level of the Iron Wall Technique, Zhao Feng had at least 2,500 pounds of strength, over 1,000 pounds more. Of course, the Iron Wall Technique's main function was to strengthen the body and increase defense, with the increase in strength being secondary.

After about half an hour, Zhao Feng cleared the cave entrance.

He didn't leave immediately because there were still some treasures on the blood-red rock walls deep in the cave.

Roar!

At this moment, some wild and fierce beasts' roars could be heard from the outer part of the canyon.

"The bodies of high-level fierce beasts will definitely attract other fierce and wild beasts to fight over them."

Zhao Feng, recalling his past experience, sped up.

He quickly returned to the end of the cave, leaped up, and flew to the blood-red rock wall, picking the few treasures growing there.

Zhao Feng had only one goal: three thousand-year-old herbs: thousand-year blood ginseng, thousand-year blood lingzhi, and thousand-year blood bamboo shoots.

He had two reasons for doing this:

First, to save time and avoid the gathering of too many fierce beasts outside the canyon, especially the arrival of high-level fierce beasts.

Second, the three-hundred and five-hundred-year-old precious herbs that Zhao Feng had taken before were not particularly effective for him now.

As he moved swiftly, Zhao Feng picked the three thousand-year-old herbs.

Whoosh!

Without stopping, he turned into a blur and rushed to the entrance of the Blood Python's cave.

When he entered the canyon, there were about seven or eight fierce beasts fighting, and dozens of powerful wild beasts, each with strength close to that of a martial artist.

Zhao Feng tried to avoid them and ignored the high-level fierce beast's corpse, heading towards the stream and the wild forest on the other side of the canyon.

Even though he tried to avoid them, a few wild beasts and a low-level fierce beast still pounced at him.

"Looking for death!"

Zhao Feng shouted, his figure moving like a ghost, and he struck a low-level fierce beast with a palm.

Crack!

The low-level fierce beast's bones were shattered by the palm strike, and it died on the spot.

Zhao Feng's palm didn't even use martial arts inner strength.

The low-level fierce beast that was killed had strength comparable to the "Green-Headed Tiger King" he encountered when he first came to Hengyun Tianlin, and was even slightly stronger.

With one move, Zhao Feng killed the low-level fierce beast, and the other wild beasts fled in fear.

Zhao Feng leaped onto the stream, his feet touching the water like a dragonfly, and entered the wild forest on the other side.

Following the route in his memory, Zhao Feng returned the way he came.

On the way back, he encountered several more fierce beasts.

The high-level fierce beast's corpse in the canyon had attracted many of its kind.

Flame Fist!

Zhao Feng shouted, his fist emitting a green aura, as if burning with fire, and he struck a low-level fierce beast comparable to a fifth-level martial artist.

With one punch, the low-level fierce beast's internal organs were shattered, and it died with blood flowing from its seven orifices.

After the cave spring's purification and the assistance of the blood lingzhi, Zhao Feng's martial arts inner strength was condensed and powerful, far surpassing that of a fifth-level martial artist.

He fully activated the Lingdu Qi Technique, and his martial arts inner strength could instantly kill a fifth-level martial artist.

After an hour, Zhao Feng returned to the edge of Hengyun Tianlin and quickly returned to Yuyang City.

On the way, he moved swiftly, heading straight for the Zhao Clan's territory.

"I heard the Zhao Clan's martial arts tournament is almost over."

"The tournament is divided into a 'Quota Challenge' and a 'Ranking Challenge.' The former should be over, unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to watch it."

On the way, he vaguely heard some related voices.

Returning to the clan, Zhao Feng didn't immediately go to the tournament venue but rushed home to store the three thousand-year-old herbs.

Then, he quickly changed his clothes and rushed out.

After a few leaps, Zhao Feng activated the Yinqi Technique, hiding his cultivation at the peak of the fourth level of martial arts.

As for his martial arts inner strength, due to absorbing too much external medicinal power, the leaking aura was equivalent to the fifth level of martial arts.

"Only this way."

Zhao Feng used the Piaolingdu Technique and quickly arrived at the tournament venue.

At this moment, the clan's martial arts tournament seemed to be at a certain stage.

"After more than a day of intense battles, the 'Quota Challenge' has ended, and the fifty inner-layer quotas for this tournament have been determined. Next, the 'Ranking Challenge' will take place, where the fifty of you will compete to determine the rankings and receive the clan's rewards..."

A powerful voice echoed throughout the venue.

The large venue had only one challenge platform in the center, with a diameter of 300 meters, extremely spacious.

Opposite the challenge platform was a platform base.

On the platform base were fifty seats, each occupied by someone representing an inner-layer quota.

The first round of the "Quota Challenge" involved outer-layer disciples challenging the inner-layer disciples from the previous session to compete for the fifty inner-layer quotas.

Zhao Feng quickly scanned the area and found that among the outer-layer disciples, Zhao Yufei, Zhao Yue, Zhao Yijian, Zhao Guang, and Zhao Qian had all made it into the fifty quotas.

However, their rankings were relatively low, mostly in the last ten seats.

Only Zhao Yufei was in the top twenty.

Of course, this was just the temporary ranking left by the first round of the "Quota Challenge." The true ranking would be determined by the next round of the "Ranking Challenge."

"I'm still late."

Zhao Feng showed his identity token, passed through the guard checkpoint, and leaped into the competition venue.

"Hey! Zhao Feng!"

"It's him, the genius who ranked first in the outer layer."

Zhao Feng's appearance immediately attracted many gazes.

"Referee, I'm late. Can I still participate in the tournament?"

Zhao Feng caught his breath and approached the "host referee" who was announcing the tournament progress.

"Regardless of who you are, the first round of the 'Quota Challenge' has ended, and you are considered to have forfeited your participation."

The host referee said without mercy.

He didn't think Zhao Feng needed special treatment.

"Hmm? It's him!"

On the viewing platform, the white-bearded chief referee's eyes lit up slightly.

During the outer-layer martial arts tournament, he was also the chief referee and had witnessed Zhao Feng's sweeping victory.

Hearing the host referee's merciless response, Zhao Feng felt a bit helpless and shook his head.

With his current strength, he wasn't particularly interested in the tournament itself. Only a few people could be his opponents.

But what Zhao Feng was interested in was the tournament rewards. It was said that the top three could go to the Xuanwu Pavilion to choose "top-tier martial arts."

Seeing the current situation, Zhao Feng knew he couldn't force it. His encounter in Hengyun Tianlin was already incredibly lucky.

"Wait."

A voice sounded, coming from the white-bearded chief referee on the viewing platform.

"Chief Referee? What do you mean?"

The host referee was a bit puzzled.

"This young man swept hundreds of disciples in the outer-layer martial arts tournament, winning first place. His insight is excellent, and his potential is immeasurable. We can give him a chance."

The white-bearded chief referee said calmly.

Zhao Feng was overjoyed and immediately showed gratitude to the white-bearded chief referee.

This wasn't the first time the chief referee had helped him.

"I object!"

A cold voice came from another corner of the viewing platform.

Everyone turned to look, and the speaker was Zhao Tianjian.

"There are national laws and family rules! How can the rules of this tournament be changed for someone? This young man even dared to be late for the clan's martial arts tournament. Does he have any respect for the family rules?"

Zhao Tianjian spoke passionately, with a look of righteous indignation.

Zhao Feng frowned, feeling a bit disgusted.

He was late for the tournament because he thought Zhao Tianjian had sent people to assassinate him...

Now, even participating in the tournament was being obstructed.

"That's right! Zhao Tianjian makes a good point. We can't give special treatment to such a person."

"Hehe, even being late for the clan's martial arts tournament, you'll have to wait for the next one in three years."

Some people, taking advantage of the situation, added fuel to the fire and gloated.

Faced with this controversy, some of the clan's middle and upper-level members on the viewing platform began to discuss in low voices.

This clan martial arts tournament was of great importance, with not only some elders present but even the clan head "Zhao Tiancang" himself, a legendary figure.

As clan leaders, their perspectives were different. They were more willing to see more geniuses emerge within the clan and focus on their cultivation.

"What do the two chief referees think?"

The clan head Zhao Tiancang's face was expressionless.

The highest authority in the tournament was shared by three: the clan head and the two chief referees.

At this moment, the clan head Zhao Tiancang didn't speak but sought the opinions of the two chief referees.

"I support Zhao Feng. The clan rules are to cultivate more elite disciples and make the clan stronger."

The white-bearded chief referee spoke decisively.

Immediately, many people's gazes turned to the other chief referee.

The other chief referee was an old man in a white robe.

Zhao Feng recognized him, finding him somewhat familiar.

He quickly recalled that the old man in the white robe seemed to be the elder who guarded the Xuanwu Pavilion last time.

The white-robed elder also saw Zhao Feng, his eyes flickering with a hint of surprise, and he said, "I also support Zhao Feng."

This statement caused a stir in the venue.

Zhao Feng had received support from both chief referees.

Of the three highest authorities, he had gained the support of two.

In this situation, even the clan head was powerless to change it.

"…How could this happen?"

Zhao Tianjian's face turned green.