C28 Strength Test!

"Haha, what tricks do you think I've played? Go on, enlighten me."

Lin Tian asked with a chuckle, causing Ye Feng to freeze, suddenly at a loss for words.

Those surrounding Ye Feng shook their heads in disapproval.

They had previously perceived Lin Tian's staunch resistance as denial of reality, an unwillingness to concede defeat, and they had scorned him for it.

But now, with Lin Tian demonstrating the high Law Rank talent of an advanced Spirit Body, Ye Feng's accusations made him the one appearing unable to face reality.

"All the dignitaries of the Celestial Dragon Country are here, along with the masters, and even the Sect Master himself."

Lin Tian continued with a smile, "If I had tampered with anything, wouldn't they have noticed? Yet none have raised any objections. What gives you the authority to spout such baseless claims? Or do you presume your vision surpasses that of the Sect Master and the others?"

"No... I didn't mean that! I was just..."

Ye Feng blurted out, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find an explanation.

The crowd's gaze upon Ye Feng was filled with contempt, casting a shadow of disgrace over the Ye family members on the platform, who all wore sullen expressions.

"Nothing to say? Haha, fine, if there's nothing, then let's drop the subject."

Lin Tian said with a nod and a smile, "But since we're moving on from this, we should revisit our previous conversation. You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?"

Ye Feng's body jerked as he instinctively summoned his power, seemingly poised to launch an attack.

"What's this, Ye Feng? Planning to go back on your word?" Zhao Hai raised an eyebrow and scoffed at him, "With all these esteemed elders present, do you truly intend to proceed in such a manner?"

Hearing this, Ye Feng trembled even more.

He realized he was cornered!

In such a setting, after making those bold claims, playing the rogue was out of the question!

With so many influential figures watching, what would such actions cost the Celestial Dragon Sect? And what shame would it bring upon the Ye family?

"Curse it!"

Ye Feng roared, his hands powering up as he brought them crashing together in the center with a resounding crack!

The sound of bones snapping echoed through the air, and to the shock of all onlookers, Ye Feng had indeed shattered his own arms!

Agony surged through him, causing beads of sweat to instantly form on his forehead. His body crashed to the ground with a thud, and he glared at Lin Tian, Zhao Hai, and their companions, his eyes seething with resentment.

"Are you satisfied now?" he spat out.

Those words prompted a collective eyebrow raise from the crowd, and their perception of Ye Feng began to shift.

Regardless, Ye Feng had accepted his defeat honorably, and his arms were undeniably broken—there was a certain decisiveness to it.

Lin Tian, however, let out a chilling laugh. "Did you forget about the ten remaining kowtows?"

The crowd was momentarily taken aback, but then their expressions shifted as they recalled the earlier agreement between Lin Tian and Ye Feng. Lin Tian had declared that if his Spirit Body was of Law Rank, Ye Feng would have to break his arms and perform ten kowtows.

"Damn it!"

Ye Feng's roar was filled with fury, his eyes brimming with blood. Lin Tian, on the other hand, simply smiled and taunted, "What's the matter? Is this the standard of the Ye family? Not standing by your own word?"

The Ye family members on the platform were incensed. Ye Hong's voice cut through the tension, icy and stern, "Ye Feng! You made a bet, now face the consequences!"

Shaking, Ye Feng ultimately knelt, his forehead striking the ground repeatedly.

After the tenth kowtow, Ye Feng's voice, raspy and strained, asked, "Are you satisfied?"

"Yeah, that'll do. Now get out of my sight."

Lin Tian's smile was dismissive as he gestured for Ye Feng to leave. "And remember, if you ever want to challenge me again, just come find me. I'm always ready for a rematch."

With his face contorted in anger, Ye Feng rose to his feet, turned, and vanished into the throng of people.

"Hehe, Ye Feng, better wise up and stop disgracing the Ye family," Zhao Hai and Kong Ling jeered. Deep within the crowd, Ye Feng spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to retort.

But inside, a deep-seated hatred took root.

"Damn it... Damn it! Lin Tian! Someday, I'll have my revenge! I will repay this tenfold!"

His inner screams went unheard, as the surrounding onlookers offered him nothing but sneers and not a shred of sympathy.

For the VIPs perched atop the platform, the unfolding events were nothing more than an amusing spectacle. Having seen Ye Feng gracefully accept his loss, they shifted their focus away from him and onto Lin Tian.

At just fourteen, Lin Tian possessed a high Law Rank Spirit Body—a prodigious talent indeed. He was someone they were eager to court, or at the very least, maintain a friendly rapport with, to ensure he wouldn't become an adversary.

"Take a half-hour break!"

Gu Qiu's command echoed across the platform, prompting the young disciples, including Lin Tian, to sit down and meditate.

As the half-hour whizzed by, Gu Qiu announced the next phase: "Now, we move on to the combat segment! This time, we've added a Combat Strength Test. Those whose combat strength aligns with their realm may proceed to the elimination round. Succeed there, and you'll advance to the ranking battles! Fail the Combat Strength Test, and you'll start as the most junior member of the Inner Sect. Any objections?"

His words caught many disciples off guard. While they were familiar with the elimination and ranking battles from previous years, this was their first encounter with a strength test.

"Elder, I'm unclear about the Combat Strength Test. What exactly is it, and what's its purpose?" one disciple inquired, voicing the silent curiosity of his peers, all eyes turning to Gu Qiu.

"The Battle Strength Test is exactly what it sounds like—a measure of your combat prowess," Gu Qiu explained with a calm demeanor. "The whole point of practicing martial arts, awakening your Spirit Body, and advancing through realms is to enhance your combat strength. If you can't translate these achievements into combat power, then what's the point of martial cultivation or awakening a Spirit Body? Combat strength is the ultimate expression of our training. Realms and Spirit Bodies are merely facets of that strength. We seek the true essence of combat power, not the illusion of a lofty realm. Do you all understand?"

His explanation resonated with the young audience, who now grasped the concept.

Yet, among them, some faces turned ashen, their expressions tinged with a bitter realization. These were the youths who had artificially inflated their Martial Dao Stages with pills and resources, their Spirit Bodies awakened through pharmaceutical means. Their actual combat strength was feeble, a stark mismatch to their purported realms.

This meant they were only eligible to become junior disciples within the Inner Sect.

Yet, most disciples remained confident in their abilities. Resources were scarce, and only a select few had access to them, but they trusted in the strength that had brought them this far.

"Does anyone have any questions?" Gu Qiu asked again, met with complete silence from the crowd.

"Very well, let's commence the second round of the examination! Bring forth the Strength Stones!"

With Gu Qiu's command, the elders at the platform's corners gestured, and massive green jade stones materialized, each radiating a profound heaviness.

"These Strength Stones will gauge your power. Each of you may attack the stones as you see fit. If your attack reaches a thousand kilograms—a benchmark for Martial Cultivator Level One—you'll have passed the Strength Test! Please form a line and begin when ready."

Gu Qiu's instructions prompted the disciples to quickly form orderly lines. Lin Tian joined one of the queues, his gaze fixed on the Strength Stones anchoring the platform.

He could see the intricate array patterns within the stones, confirming his suspicion: this was a basic Strength Testing Array, and he was confident his power could easily manipulate its mechanisms.

Meanwhile, the disciples at the front started to advance, channeling their Inner Strengths, readying themselves for the challenge.

A series of thunderous booms echoed as several disciples unleashed their attacks on the Strength Stones.

Unfazed by the onslaught, the stones simply absorbed the energy. Two stones glowed with a white light, indicating failure, while the other two shone with a green light, signaling success.

"Those who produced white light have not qualified for the upcoming elimination and ranking battles," Gu Qiu announced. "Green light means you've passed."

The two with white light managed a wry smile before dejectedly retreating to the platform's edge. In contrast, the ones with green light breathed sighs of relief, their faces alight with excitement.

As the strength test proceeded, Lin Tian observed intently. Out of the two hundred who went before him, fewer than fifty had the strength to advance to the elimination rounds.

The ratio was already quite exaggerated.

"True, the cultivation realm and innate talent are one aspect, but combat strength is a whole different matter."

"Indeed, it's not their fault, though. They're still so young, spending every day cultivating their Inner Strength and trying to awaken their Spirit Body. How many can actually achieve formidable combat strength?"

"Absolutely. Plus, it's not a major issue. Combat strength can be developed with training. As long as the talent and cultivation realm are in place, bolstered by training, sufficient combat strength is attainable."

The dignitaries on the high platform engaged in discussion. They considered the elimination rate somewhat harsh, yet it didn't seem to concern them greatly.

Lin Tian watched and inwardly shook his head.

He understood that with the right cultivation realm and talent, combat strength could be trained. But the combat strength developed through training paled in comparison to what would naturally accompany a true cultivation realm.

Cultivation, after all, was about building strength.

If one's power lagged behind their realm, it was putting the cart before the horse, making future cultivation increasingly challenging. Advancing to higher realms would become more difficult, potentially leading to a complete standstill at a certain juncture.

Of course, these were just Lin Tian's private thoughts, which he kept to himself. After all, he was merely a fourteen-year-old, and voicing such opinions would be astonishing.

The disciples took their turns, and finally, it was Ye Feng's moment.

Ye Feng approached the Strength Stone but didn't strike immediately. Instead, he turned and gave Lin Tian a chilling look. Then, with a thunderous cry of "Kill!" he unleashed his attack.

Boom!

A burst of intense cold energy exploded from within Ye Feng, and with a punch, he struck the Strength Stone.

Buzz!

The Strength Stone trembled, and a blue glow began to flicker upon it.

"Blue glow! Two thousand kilograms of force!"

A gasp of amazement rippled through the crowd. The disciples' gazes towards Ye Feng grew more solemn.

With two thousand kilograms of force, Ye Feng had surpassed his own Martial Cultivator Level One by an entire level!

This signified that Ye Feng possessed the capability to battle beyond his current standing.

"Ye Feng of the Ye family truly lives up to his reputation. He may come off as arrogant at times, but he definitely possesses genuine skill."