Chapter 37

"Alright, we will follow the two chief judges' decision and allow Zhao Feng to participate in the final competition of the martial arts assembly."

The head of the family, Zhao Tiancang, glanced at Zhao Feng with a hint of interest and made the final decision.

Both chief judges and the head of the family unanimously agreed, and there was no further objection from the family's upper echelons.

This dramatic turn of events filled Zhao Feng with immense joy, and for the first time, he felt a sense of belonging to the Zhao clan.

Zhao Tianjian, standing in the corner, was so angry that he trembled.

At this moment, he still couldn't believe that Zhao Feng could return "alive"...

"The assassination plan by 'Gray Eagle' actually failed."

Zhao Tianjian felt a sense of foreboding but couldn't accept this reality in his heart.

With Gray Eagle's strength and such a meticulously planned assassination, how could it fail?

"Zhao Feng!"

The chief judge said sternly, "You have been granted special permission by the head of the family to participate in the final competition. Next, I will explain some of the rules to you..."

"Yes."

Zhao Feng listened attentively.

He already had a general idea of the rules for the final competition.

The final competition of the martial arts assembly operates on a challenge system.

The first round, the "Quota Challenge," involves fifty outer-layer disciples challenging fifty inner-layer disciples with fixed quotas. If they win, they can obtain the corresponding rank and quota.

Each outer-layer disciple has only three challenge opportunities. If they fail three times, they will not advance to the inner layer.

Therefore, before each challenge, every outer-layer disciple must "assess" their own strength and choose a relatively weaker inner-layer disciple.

"Zhao Feng, you were late for the competition, delaying the martial arts assembly, so... in the Quota Challenge, you only have one opportunity."

The chief judge spoke sternly.

Only one opportunity?

Zhao Feng's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded, "I understand."

Given his strength as the top disciple of the outer layer, no one doubted that he could advance to the inner layer.

Unless Zhao Feng overestimated himself and used his "only one" challenge opportunity to challenge the top three, such as Zhao Lulong, Zhao Han, and others.

Of course, Zhao Feng wouldn't do such a foolish thing and directly challenge such strong opponents.

"Next, you can choose one person to challenge. If you win, you can replace their position."

The chief judge reminded him.

"Alright!"

Zhao Feng leaped onto the challenge platform, his gaze sweeping over the fifty people on the opposite platform.

Fifty people sat on fifty chairs, arranged in order.

At the top row, from left to right, were Zhao Lulong, Zhao Feng, Zhao Han, Zhao Qin...

The first row represented the top ten of the inner layer.

In the second row, at the seventeenth position, Zhao Feng saw Zhao Yufei.

When their gazes met, Zhao Yufei smiled slightly, looking somewhat expectant.

The two were neighbors in the inner layer and often sparred, so they were relatively familiar with each other.

Additionally, Zhao Yue, Zhao Yijian, Zhao Qian, Zhao Guang, and others were seated in the fifth row, roughly between the fortieth and fiftieth positions.

Apart from Zhao Feng, five other outer-layer disciples had advanced to the inner layer.

Who should he challenge?

Zhao Feng smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the fifty Zhao clan disciples present.

Among them, the top-ranked Zhao Lulong was completely closed-eyed, seemingly in deep contemplation, as if the entire final competition had nothing to do with him.

Those with higher ranks had no worries.

However, some of the lower-ranked disciples were somewhat concerned.

After all, Zhao Feng was the top disciple of the outer layer, with a cultivation level of the fourth stage of Martial Dao. With such strength, he could at least advance to the top ten of the inner layer.

"Second row... sixth..."

Zhao Feng's gaze fixed on a Zhao clan disciple to the right of Zhao Yufei.

"Number sixteen, Zhao Fei, please step forward."

The chief judge announced.

Zhao Fei, around sixteen or seventeen years old, was muscular and strong, his body like iron. Although he was at the peak of the third stage of Martial Dao, his aura was comparable to that of some fourth-stage martial artists.

"Kid, don't think that advancing to the fourth stage of Martial Dao means you can easily defeat me."

Zhao Fei was very experienced, stepping onto the challenge platform with a steady aura, showing no panic.

"Tsk tsk, Zhao Fei is a formidable figure in the outer layer, having cultivated 'Cross Training Iron Body' to the peak of the third stage and once defeated two quasi-martial artists bare-handed."

"Zhao Feng might not have it so easy against him."

The many disciples in the audience watched with interest.

In terms of winning chances, Zhao Feng definitely had the upper hand.

However, his opponent was not weak, and it would be difficult to win easily.

"Iron Sand Palm!"

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Fei used only an intermediate martial technique.

Whoosh!

When Zhao Fei struck, his palm emitted a burst of blood and qi, resembling red-hot iron sand, with power surpassing some advanced high-level martial techniques.

Peak proficiency!

Zhao Feng was slightly impressed.

In the outer layer, he was the only one to cultivate an intermediate martial technique to peak proficiency. However, this was the inner layer...

More subtly, Zhao Fei's 'Iron Sand Palm' complemented his 'Cross Training Iron Body,' allowing him to unleash even more terrifying power.

Therefore, in terms of strength, this punch could easily surpass Zhao Yijian's 'Cold Stream Sword' at the great accomplishment stage.

"Zhao Fei's strength is already on par with a half-step martial artist."

Some inner-layer disciples nodded in approval.

Flaming Steel Fist!

Zhao Feng slowly threw a punch.

This time, he used a basic fist technique.

Moreover, he only threw a simple punch without using martial arts internal energy.

This scene surprised many in the audience.

Using a basic fist technique, Zhao Feng was already at a disadvantage in martial arts level.

Not using martial arts internal energy meant that his greatest advantage as a martial artist was lost.

"Good kid, you dare to be so overconfident!"

A fierce light flashed in Zhao Fei's eyes. He took a deep breath and pushed 'Cross Training Iron Body' and 'Iron Sand Palm' to their limits.

Originally, he didn't plan to win against Zhao Feng, just to exchange a few moves.

However, since the opponent was so overconfident...

On the sparring platform, the two figures quickly approached, their fists and palms colliding fiercely.

"Break it—"

The ferocity on Zhao Fei's face was evident.

However, reality was cruel.

"Bang!"

At the moment of impact, he felt a massive force almost numbing his entire arm.

"Ah!"

Zhao Fei screamed, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

He felt that Zhao Feng was as hard as an iron wall, as stable as a mountain, and his strength like a wild bull.

Bang!

Before Zhao Fei could understand what happened, he was sent flying by a massive force and couldn't get up for a long time.

In one move, Zhao Feng completely defeated Zhao Fei.

Many in the audience changed their expressions, looking surprised and somewhat taken aback.

While it wasn't surprising that Zhao Feng won, the ease with which he defeated Zhao Fei in one move forced everyone to reassess his strength.

"Without using martial arts internal energy, he won with just a basic fist technique."

"Zhao Feng has also cultivated a high-level body-strengthening martial technique, reaching a considerable level..."

...

"Zhao Feng, your challenge is successful! You are now temporarily ranked sixteenth in the inner layer. As for Zhao Fei, according to the rules, you still have three challenge opportunities..."

The chief judge announced.

After defeating Zhao Fei, Zhao Feng remained calm and climbed onto the opposite platform.

He sat in the sixth empty chair in the second row.

At this moment, he was sitting in the sixteenth chair, with the seventeenth position next to him being Zhao Yufei.

"Your 'Iron Wall Technique' must be at least at the third stage."

Zhao Yufei said, somewhat surprised.

Zhao Feng had obtained the body-strengthening martial technique 'Iron Wall Technique' from Zhao Yufei's grandfather.

According to Zhao Yufei, the cultivation difficulty of 'Iron Wall Technique' was extremely high. Her grandfather claimed that Zhao Feng would, at most, reach the second stage before the final competition.

However, based on Zhao Feng's performance, 'Iron Wall Technique' must be at least at the third stage.

"That's right."

Zhao Feng smiled faintly, not denying it.

His 'Iron Wall Technique' had indeed reached the third stage and was even at the peak of the fourth stage.

The fourth stage and the third stage were a significant divide.

In the match against Zhao Fei, Zhao Feng didn't use his full strength.

The sparring continued on the challenge platform.

According to the rules, the defeated Zhao Fei still had the opportunity to challenge again.

Soon, Zhao Fei successfully defeated someone and ranked twenty-sixth.

Due to Zhao Feng's sudden entry, the competition was slightly delayed.

Since there were only fifty inner-layer quotas, one had to be eliminated.

After half an hour, the fifty inner-layer quotas saw a slight change and were reconfirmed.

Zhao Feng and five other outer-layer disciples successfully advanced to the inner layer, becoming official inner-layer disciples.

"The Quota Challenge is over..."

The chief judge took a deep breath and began to announce the next round.

With the fifty inner-layer quotas determined, the next step was to compete for rankings.

According to the rumors, the top twenty, top ten, and top three all had rich rewards.

Especially the top three, who were said to receive "top-tier martial techniques."

This was what Zhao Feng was particularly interested in.

It could be predicted that the competition for the top twenty, top ten, and top three would be intense.

Moreover, the inner-layer rankings were a matter of personal honor. The disciples present were all under eighteen, young and full of competitive spirit.

"The second round, the 'Ranking Challenge,' each of you fifty inner-layer disciples has three challenge opportunities. Each failure reduces one opportunity..."

The chief judge announced the rules.

The rules were clear.

Those with lower rankings can challenge those with higher rankings. If they win, they will replace the higher-ranked position.

Each person has only three challenge opportunities. A successful challenge does not reduce the number of opportunities, but a failure will reduce one opportunity.

"Understood."

Everyone nodded.

The ranking challenge proceeds from the back to the front.

Starting from the fiftieth position...

However, those at the bottom were content to retain their inner-layer quotas and had no expectations of the top twenty.

Therefore, there were few challenges between the fortieth and fiftieth positions, and the competition was relatively mild.

Even if there were a few challenges, they were mainly for rankings or to show off in the family martial arts assembly.

Fortieth... thirty-ninth... thirty-eighth...

The rankings gradually advanced.

Until the challenge between the twentieth and thirtieth positions, the competition suddenly intensified, becoming fierce.

The original outer-layer disciples Zhao Yue, Zhao Yijian, and others mostly advanced to the top thirty.

Among them, Zhao Yijian reached twelfth, and Zhao Yue reached fifteenth.

Overall, the top twenty of the inner layer had at least the strength of quasi-martial artists.

Zhao Feng and Zhao Yufei, both at the martial artist level, were in the top twenty and were not challenged.

Looking at the entire inner layer, those who had advanced to the fourth stage of Martial Dao did not exceed ten, and more accurately, there were only six or seven, including the rise of Zhao Feng and Zhao Yufei.

After the top twenty were basically determined, the rankings continued to advance, starting the competition for the top ten.

Soon, it was Zhao Yufei's turn to challenge.

Zhao Yufei was right behind Zhao Feng. After her challenge, it would be Zhao Feng's turn.

Among the top ten, several had not yet reached the martial artist level.

Zhao Yufei challenged the sixth position and won easily, advancing to the top ten.

After advancing to the top ten, Zhao Yufei gave up further challenges in this round, retaining two opportunities for the next two rounds.

"Number sixteen, Zhao Feng, it's your turn."

At this moment, the chief judge reminded him.

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