Chen Chu surveyed his surroundings, and all he could see were densely packed crowds. These students were similar to him, gathering in groups by class and forming more than forty camps. The expected number of participants was around 500.
Chen Chu was seeing many of these freshmen for the first time. They were all unfamiliar faces, since everyone practiced in two separate buildings. The freshmen who had just finished Foundation Building for their cultivation a few days ago had chosen not to join; otherwise, the number of participants would have been even higher.
As the broadcast echoed, the entire venue fell silent.
Chen Chu followed the direction of the shout and saw around ten teachers sitting on the main platform in the distance, including Chen Qi and Pang Long.
Among the teachers, a middle-aged man with a full beard held a microphone and said in a deep voice, "I am Lin Xiong, the homeroom teacher of Class One, and along with the other teachers present, I will be one of the referees today.
"Cultivation is a rather dull affair, especially for you newcomers. Once the initial novelty fades, many people gradually slack off. Therefore, the authorities have organized this competition to make you realize the gap between you and your peers, to let you feel shame, and then to let that motivate you to strive harder in your cultivation.
"You have no idea how much this country has invested to nurture each one of you. Don't take everything for granted. Remember, every resource you use is something other warriors fought desperately on the battlefield to obtain.
"At the same time, each martial art was created with painstaking effort. This is why there are initial qualifications for access, as those who waste these resources are not worthy of enjoying them.
"Of course, by 'waste,' I don't mean those students who progress slowly in building their foundations. I'm referring to those who, after obtaining the opportunity for cultivation, become lazy, neglectful, and lack ambition. These individuals will gradually be eliminated by the school over the next three years.
"In addition... nowadays, there are all kinds of rumors on the internet, claiming that those who can't build their foundations within a month lack cultivation talent, or that those who take a month to do so have inferior talent.
"In my opinion, this is utter nonsense. Foundation Building is just the beginning; what does it matter if you are a bit slower?"
"Remember, cultivation is a path of continuous self-improvement and breaking through one's limits. In the later stages, each breakthrough into a new realm can take years or even decades, but every such breakthrough is a significant upgrade of one’s skills. Compared to such life-changing transformations, and such lengths of time, what is taking one more month to build your foundation?
"Everyone, remember this: cultivation is a long and arduous path. Only those with strong will and perseverance can reach the end. The speed at the beginning is just a stumbling block one can encounter along the way, easily surpassed with a bit more effort. If you can't endure even this little hardship, whether you're cultivating or entering any other trades, you'll live a mediocre life."
By the time he finished his speech, many students who hadn’t finished their Foundation Building within a month felt their blood boiling. Even the freshmen who had initially given up began to rekindle their determination.
So they were just a half-month or a month slower. Why couldn't they still cultivate?
Lin Xiong continued speaking. "Next, I will explain the rules of the competition.
"There will be three rounds. In the first round, everyone will consecutively battle with six opponents. Each match lasts ten minutes, gaining one point for a win and losing one point for a loss. If there is no clear winner within ten minutes, the referee teachers will decide the outcome based on the participants’ combat performance. After the first round, the top two hundred with the highest scores will advance.
"The second round is a defense challenge. Each person needs to defeat four opponents in a row on the platform to succeed. Each person has only one chance to challenge.
"After determining the top fifty, the third round is a free-for-all challenge. Those dissatisfied with their current platform ranking can challenge those higher up. Winners proceed, and losers keep their current ranking."
"Remember, although the positions of the top fifty are different, they all receive the same amount of monthly contribution points.
"All right, the competition begins now. Everyone, find your name on the big screen and move to your assigned platform. The first round will start soon."
"I'm on the thirteenth platform."
"I'm on the ninth platform..."
"I'm on the forty-fifth..."
"I'm on the second platform. Hehe, class monitor, Ah Chu, I'll go first." With that, Xia Youhui excitedly ran towards the distant second platform.
Chen Chu soon spotted his name at the 49th platform. With a brief farewell to Lin Xue and the others, he hurried over to his area.
A girl was already standing on the platform, with an ordinary appearance. When she saw Chen Chu approaching, she politely said, "Hello, shall we have a simple exchange without weapons?"
"Sure." Chen Chu nodded and placed his saber at the side of the platform.
"Attention Platform 49, the match will officially begin in three seconds."
With the electronic announcement, both Chen Chu and the girl became serious. They silently counted three seconds, and the girl suddenly shouted.
"Look out!" She burst forth at an astonishing speed, faster than Lu Haitao from before. Evidently, her primary cultivation focused on speed. But...
Chen Chu's left arm intercepted the high kick from the girl, and his arm remained unfazed. He completely ignored the girl's explosive attack, which was formidable with a weight of hundreds of kilograms.
In response, the girl twisted her body and used her momentum to execute three consecutive kicks in mid-air. The speed was as fast as lightning, as she targeted Chen Chu's weak points, such as his head and neck.
But Chen Chu, with even faster reaction speed, effortlessly blocked the kicks.
When the girl's power was exhausted after the third kick, Chen Chu's figure suddenly moved. With his arm extending like an elephant's trunk, he grabbed her ankle while she was still in mid-air, startling her.
Immediately after, she felt a tremendous force moving her. She was thrown more than ten meters back by Chen Chu, landing with a thud under the next platform and surprising several classmates in that area.
Looking at the girl still sitting on the ground, a bit dazed and unable to get up due to a sore bottom, Chen Chu smiled faintly. "Thank you for the match."
This girl had slightly greater strength than Lu Haitao and specialized in leg techniques and speed. Unfortunately, she had encountered Chen Chu, who had surpassed the limits of the First Heavenly Realm in terms of speed, strength, and reaction time, among other aspects. It was a crushing defeat.
The referee teacher's voice came through the loudspeaker on the platform. "Platform Fourty-Nine, Chen Chu wins. Rest for eight minutes before the next round."
Chen Chu raised his head, looked at the camera on the pillar, and smiled. "Sir, I think we can skip that and start the next match now."
This wasn't Chen Chu showing off; it was just that the girl he had fought against was too weak, and there was no need to waste time resting.
There was a bit of hesitation before the teacher over on the podium answered. "...Alright."
Shortly after, a robust boy carrying a heavy hammer weapon excitedly ran over and jumped onto the forty-ninth platform.