Chen Chu wasn't surprised by his easy victories. His Dragon Elephant Skill, though only in the middle stage of the first level, endowed him with basic attributes at least twice as strong as those of his opponents. Losing would have been a problem for him in this situation.
In this world, there's no concept of the weak defeating the strong, only the strong overpowering the weak. Winning signifies that you're stronger than your opponent. Even the cultivation world's geniuses who can cross realms are only able to do so because their power surges momentarily or they possess secrets stronger than their opponents'.
There's always an advantage when narrowing the gap between the realms and fighting across them.
After stepping off the ring, Chen Chu, carrying his long knife, began observing the other matches.
Fifty arenas were filled with students bearing weapons on their backs, their names and information constantly flashing on the large screen overhead. Meanwhile, the audience in the distance cheered for their classmates.
Boom!
Amidst violent airwaves, a towering boy wielding either a large stick or a pillar forcefully knocked his opponent out of the ring. This nearly two-meter-tall figure exuded a menacing aura, even more powerful than Li Meng.
Such an astonishing force! Observing the three-meter-long iron pillar, with a girth akin to a thigh, Chen Chu couldn't help but exclaim softly. Even if it was made of lightweight alloy, it would weigh several hundred kilograms at least. Who was this person? Their strength seemed supernatural.
Chen Chu originally thought his basic attributes exceeded the first layer's limit, likely ranking second or third among the freshmen. However, the appearance of this extraordinarily strong individual took him by surprise. This person was entirely abnormal.
Casting a curious glance at the giant-like boy, Chen Chu proceeded towards the next ring.
At this point, it wasn't only Chen Chu; the students in the auditorium were also watching with excitement. Figures wielding heavy weapons moved swiftly as they collided with one another, creating a cacophony of resounding impacts.
In contrast, the teachers on the main stage paid relatively little attention. These freshman competitions held little fascination for them. The speed was too slow, the strength too weak, and genuine power was absent, let alone the heavenly and earthly power infused by true masters.
Casually observing the surveillance footage, a teacher occasionally intervened to halt particularly intense matches, announcing the victory of the dominant side.
At this moment, one teacher appeared puzzled and asked, "Old Lin, why do you think the higher-ups allocated such abundant resources this time for vigorous training of this freshman class?"
Lin Xiong shook his head slightly. "It's not just for this year; the new students from the three major countries of the Federation have received more resources than before."
Pang Long expressed surprise, "What? Resources have increased every year, and it's limited to the three major countries of the Federation. Could it be that they've achieved a significant victory on the battlefield?"
The other teachers, too, wore excited expressions, speculating that this was the reason behind the additional resources.
Just as the teachers began to grow excited, Lin Xiong looked somewhat grave and shook his head. "No, it's the Fifth Army that has opened several new resource points."
"In fact, the situation on the battlefield is still tense. The third, ninth, and fifteenth legions are facing considerable pressure, with battles at or above the king level every month."
"In light of this, casualties among the legions of various countries have increased over the past two years, necessitating an influx of fresh blood."
This revelation left the teachers with frozen expressions.
"Is the situation even more dire?" Pang Long exhaled slowly after a long pause. "But even so, should resources be allocated to train these new students who can't even establish a foundation within a month?"
"Allocating these resources to second and third graders might enhance their growth more rapidly."
Lin Xiong shook his head once more. "It's not that simple. The growth of second and third graders has already plateaued. Even with additional resources, the effect won't be substantial."
"In contrast, while these freshmen might indeed exhibit initially poor talent and slow cultivation speed, there's always a chance that someone among them might emulate King Xuanwu. That would be a significant boon for our human race."
"I believe this is also the intention of those higher up. By expanding the base of human cultivation, they hope to foster a few more 'monsters' who will ultimately bolster the foundation of our human race."
Pang Long and the others nodded thoughtfully.
Chen Chu, who had completed his early match, moved from ring to ring, taking in the spectacle. During his rounds, he saw Lin Xue achieving a clean victory over her opponent, and the two exchanged nods.
He also witnessed Lu Haitao's defeat at the hands of a formidable girl, leaving him disheartened as he stepped down from the ring.
Suddenly, Chen Chu came to a halt, his gaze fixating on ring No. 9 ahead. A striking resemblance to Lin Xue, a beautiful girl, stood there with a sword in hand.
Distinguished from Lin Xue, this girl had jet-black and sapphire-blue hair, and her face bore a constant smile, accompanied by warm, gentle eyes that exuded an inviting aura.
Her adversary, too, was a girl armed with a long, slender katana.
With a nod, the two instantly engaged, transforming into phantoms that collided head-on.
Clang clang!
Their swords gleamed with a razor's edge, shadows of their blades sliced through the air like a gust of wind, and both contestants exhibited incredible strength.
Both women specialized in swordsmanship and fencing. One's swordplay was as swift as lightning, while the other's swordsmanship flowed like water, captivating the entire audience.
Clang!
Abruptly, a dazzling spark erupted, the katana-wielding girl groaned, and she found herself teetering at the edge of the ring, her face paling.
"I concede," she uttered tersely before promptly exiting the ring.
"Ring No. 9, student Lin Yu emerges victorious. You've completed your allotted matches; please step off the ring to rest and await the results," announced the referee.
Lin Yu, her sword still in hand, nodded graciously to the surrounding students who had been captivated by their battle. She then leaped off the ring and departed.
"Is she the squad leader's younger sister? She's quite formidable," mused Chen Chu.
The recent battle had seen the two of them reach the pinnacle of swiftness, with their movements imperceptible to the naked eye. Ordinary individuals would struggle to keep up with such blinding speed, let alone decipher the kinetic energy and fierce swordsmanship it entailed.
Such prowess ranked Lin Yu at the forefront among the freshman participants. Chen Chu could discern that she had effortlessly and decisively vanquished her opponent.
"If not for this ranking competition, I wouldn't have realized there are so many skilled individuals among the freshmen," Chen Chu said, shaking his head. His slight advantage had dissipated, and he knew he had to redouble his efforts in practicing [Swallow].
With over 500 contestants competing across 50 arenas, each match took ten minutes, and by noon, everyone had completed six rounds of play.
The competitors dispersed to grab a meal.