The next day.
Hundreds of platforms were set up in the martial arts field. Every Zhao clan disciple under the age of fifteen had the qualification to participate in the guard challenge.
The rules were simple.
Each participant had three chances to attack. Seizing a platform allowed them to enter the guarding phase. Successfully defending against three opponents meant winning the guard challenge, representing the Zhao clan in the martial arts tournament at Yuyang City.
There were over a hundred platforms, and it would take a long time to go through individual matches due to the large number of participants.
"It seems like in our Zhao clan this time, there are barely a hundred cultivators above Martial Dao Triple..."
"What? I heard the other three major camps have over two hundred Martial Dao Triple cultivators. The Yu clan even has fifty Martial Dao Quadruple cultivators."
"It appears our Zhao clan's overall strength in Super Pupils is indeed a bit lacking..."
"Such bad luck to be selected into the Zhao clan. I feel like we're doomed to fail this role-playing task!"
Chu Feng's ears twitched slightly, catching snippets of conversation from nearby Zhao clan Super Pupils.
"The Yu clan actually has fifty Martial Dao Quadruple cultivators. Looks like they have some big shots leading there, so their overall capability should be stronger."
"In the era of Super Pupils, guilds play a powerful role. Members act collectively, sharing various intelligence, akin to having a strategy guide before entering dungeons."
"Fortunately, I have the Supreme Divine Pupil, which allows me to see others' fates and even locate Celestial Pupils ahead of time."
"Even the guild where Jiang Xue and the Black Robed Young Master are doesn't necessarily have eyesight as sharp as mine!"
Thinking this through, Chu Feng suddenly understood the coveted ability of his own Divine Pupil that countless others dreamt of.
Arriving at a platform.
Chu Feng unleashed his cultivation to Martial Dao Triple Peak.
He was just one step away from the Quadruple level.
According to the information he had heard, within the Zhao clan, there were barely a hundred cultivators above Martial Dao Triple. Therefore, as long as he kept his cultivation at the Martial Dao Triple Peak, no ignorant challenger would dare to approach him.
Sure enough.
Chu Feng stood on the platform all day without anyone daring to challenge him.
The majority of Zhao clan youths under fifteen were between Martial Dao First and Second levels. The few geniuses who reached Martial Dao Triple or higher didn't dare to provoke Chu Feng and instead quickly occupied a platform to complete the guard duty.
The setting sun cast a golden glow, and unconsciously, dusk enveloped the entire Yuyang City.
Thus, the first day of the guard challenge ended.
A white-bearded elder of the Zhao clan landed gracefully in the middle of the martial arts field, surveying the surroundings and nodding slowly.
"You are the strongest disciples of this generation of the Zhao clan. In seven days, the martial arts tournament in Yuyang City awaits with even stronger opponents."
"Everyone can come to me to receive a Concentration Pill as a reward to help you advance to higher levels."
"Additionally, the third floor of the Tianwu Pavilion is temporarily open to you unconditionally for higher-level martial arts."
The top 100 guard challenge concluded.
Chu Feng and the Zhao clan elder received Concentration Pills.
This pill was extremely useful for cultivators from Martial Dao Triple to Quintuple. Its medicinal properties were abundant yet gentle in absorption, minimizing side effects and showing quick effects, making it an expensive item.
However, the Zhao clan spared no expense to achieve a higher ranking in this martial arts tournament.
Back in his small room.
Chu Feng took out two treasures—Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng and Concentration Pills.
"There are still seven days until the martial arts tournament."
"It's been a long time since the first stage of the martial arts world."
"If I'm not mistaken, something big is likely to happen in this tournament."
Guided by the mission prompt, Chu Feng speculated on the upcoming outbreak of a beast tide and his progress in the dungeon.
He immediately abandoned the opportunity to go to the third floor of the Tianwu Pavilion for martial arts and decided to focus on advancing his cultivation.
In the later stages, it would undoubtedly be a contest between Super Pupils, where the effectiveness of martial arts would be limited.
It would be better to advance his cultivation first, crush opponents in terms of level, and then swiftly execute kills while the enemy was still weak, quickly advancing his Ancient Divine Pupil to the third stage, or even higher stages...
"Heh, isn't this called snowballing?"
Chu Feng chuckled lightly.
Snowballing meant constantly expanding one's advantage like rolling a snowball in the snow, gradually turning a small advantage into a massive one, causing incredibly powerful destructive force.
He immediately consumed the Concentration Pill and Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng without hesitation.
Generally, cultivators would not choose to consume two types of cultivation-enhancing pills simultaneously.
Especially with the potent medicinal properties of Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng, which were unrefined and absorbed much more difficultly than regular pills.
Moreover, its impact was like an unbridled horse. A slight mishandling could lead to demonic cultivation, causing cultivation to be lost.
However.
Chu Feng possessed the Ancient Divine Pupil, allowing him to easily monitor his body's condition with superhuman vision.
Swallowing the Concentration Pill and Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng, a majestic and abundant spiritual energy surged through Chu Feng's extraordinary meridians, flowing madly between his hundred orifices.
If an ordinary cultivator had been panic-stricken by the chaotic spiritual energy coursing through their body, Chu Feng easily controlled the flow of true energy through his Ancient Divine Pupil. He directed dispersed true energy from all directions into his dantian, continuously bolstering his inner true essence.
In these seven days.
Chu Feng didn't engage in any other activities, sitting in meditation in his small room, focusing on cultivation.
The Concentration Pill and Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng continuously provided Chu Feng with power. Even without eating or drinking, he didn't feel hunger.
The seventh day arrived.
"Boom!"
A wave of energy surged from Chu Feng's body, causing the entire small room to tremble.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and within his pupils flashed a golden light more brilliant and mystical, exuding an aura of majesty and inviolability.
"Martial Dao Sixth Level!"
Progress was far faster than Chu Feng had imagined!
The Ancient Divine Pupil evolved to the second stage, and his bloodline power had also strengthened.
Ordinary cultivators would take anywhere from half a year to a year to fully absorb the medicinal properties of the Concentration Pill and Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng.
However, the Ancient Divine Pupil could assist in absorbing the effects of pills, allowing cultivation to progress as easily as eating or drinking.
"Most of the Zhao clan's elders are only at Martial Dao Seventh Level."
"My current strength is already very close to Martial Dao Grandmaster."
"Moreover, awakening the Ancient Divine Pupil to the second stage greatly enhances my combat ability compared to my surface cultivation!"
"If I use the Thousand Blades Divine Edge, even Martial Dao Grandmasters may not be my match."
Chu Feng opened his eyes, muttered to himself, then stood up and headed to the martial arts field.
On this day.
The martial arts tournament in Yuyang City officially began!
Super Pupils from the four major camps also gathered on this stage to determine their rankings!