What speed!
Zhao Feng's pupils contracted as he activated his Inner Strength and retreated back into the cave.
Hong——-
The cave began to shake as the Hyena crashed into the entrance. The shock wave caused Zhao Feng to groan in pain.
"High tier deadly beast! What power!" he cursed.
Because he had been circulating his Inner Strength and he had reached the third level of the Metal Wall Technique, he was unharmed. If it was a cultivator of the fourth rank of the Martial Path, the shockwave alone could have almost killed them.
Peng…
The Azure Eyed Hyena repeatedly attacked the entrance.
Zhao Feng felt like the mountain was shaking. It was good that the entrance was hard enough, and small compared to the Azure Eyed Hyena. After a few attacks, the entrance began to crumble instead.
Boom! The entrance came down.
Ah! Zhao Feng's face turned black. After a few more rumbles, the Azure Eyed Hyena left the entrance.
However, Zhao Feng could still feel its aura. After the Blood-red Python died, this was now the Hyena's territory. Even if Zhao Feng managed to dig outside he would still have to face a strong enemy. After thinking about it for a while, he decided to return back to the depths of the cave.
The cave still had small animals and beasts which could be used for food.
Plop!
Zhao Feng jumped back into the blood-red pond and he started to concentrate on training Metal Wall Technique again. The red liquid had great benefits for the body. Zhao Feng felt his body undergo subtle changes.
Peh! Peh!
The thumping inside his left eye released sizzles of heat throughout his body, which made his absorption rate of the red liquid increase.
One hour…two hours…three hours…
Zhao Feng felt his body becoming harder and harder.
Half a day…one day…two days…
After two days, Zhao Feng finally reached the fourth level of the Metal Wall Technique.
Chapter 35 – Beginning of the Main Tournament, Part One
The first three levels were the foundation of Metal Wall Technique. Every level after that would give the cultivator a massive increase in power. Once this body martial art was trained to the fourth level, the cultivator‘s body was as tough as a metal wall and impenetrable.
This meant that Zhao Feng could counter Xin Fei with his body alone, and most cultivators of the fourth and fifth rank couldn't harm him. The fourth level of the Metal Wall Technique not only strengthened the skin, it also strengthened the bones by molding them inside, which meant that the cultivator's strength far surpassed others of the same rank.
Zhao Feng felt that the changes within his body were very obvious. Without using Inner Strength, his every move and action would still contain unstoppable power.
"I can easily beat cultivators of the fourth rank with just my body. I can even counter against some fifth rankers."
Zhao Feng took a deep breath and examined his body. At this moment, Zhao Feng finally realized the greatness of a body martial skill.
If he had first trained Metal Wall Technique to the fourth level, he wouldn't have had a hard time fighting the three assassins.
Teng!
Zhao Feng jumped out of the pond and consolidated his foundation. Then, he crept towards the entrance. The entrance had been fully blocked by the fallen stones. However, Zhao Feng could still see the scenery outside through the gaps.
"It still hasn't left yet?!" Zhao Feng scrunched up his eyebrows. The Azure Eyed Hyena was lying inside the canyon, sleeping. Zhao Feng didn't dare make any suspicious moves. All he did was move some of the smaller rocks aside.
Wu~~~
Just at this moment, the Azure Eyed Hyena howled. Zhao Feng felt helpless as he returned back to the cave. Being a high tier deadly beast, the Azure Eyed Hyena had extreme senses. Trying to hide from it wasn't easy.
"There are still two more days till the main tournament starts." Zhao Feng was slightly aggravated as he soaked inside the pond.
He couldn't forcefully break out. The strength of the Azure Eyed Hyena was at the eighth rank of the Martial Path. Any cultivators under the seventh rank would be instantly killed.
Every three ranks was a huge difference. For example, a cultivator at the peak of the sixth rank would easily lose to a cultivator that had reached the seventh rank, all other things being equal.
The Hyena was a Martial Master, as it had reached the eighth rank. Even some of the sects elders couldn't beat it.
Zhao Feng decided that if he couldn't get out, he should just cultivate. Lying in the pond, he circulated Air Crossing Breathing Technique and Metal Wall Technique again. Although the red liquid still greatly helped Metal Wall Technique, the increase was now much slower than before.
Two more days passed by in a blink. Zhao Feng's Metal Wall Technique had increased by leaps and bounds again, although it didn't reach the fifth level. Throughout that period, he had eaten a five hundred-year-old blood plant and a five hundred-year-old blood bamboo shoot.
Zhao Feng then ate a blood spirit grass and felt his Inner Strength purify into a higher quality.
With the help of the blood plant and the red pond, the level of his Inner Strength had reached the peak of the fifth rank. It wasn't any weaker than Zhao Han's now.
The use of the blood bamboo shoot was even more helpful. It helped excrete the poisons in one's body. Having used so many treasured resources, there were some poisons inside his body, and he had some small internal injuries. But after using the blood bamboo shoot, he felt himself excrete a thick black liquid multiple times, which helped him get rid of the poisons and heal his internal injuries.
At this moment, Zhao Feng's Inner Strength was at the peak of the fifth rank, and his cultivation was closing on the peak fifth rank as well. His Metal Wall Technique was almost at the peak of the fourth level.
But he didn't feel happy at all.
"Today is the start of the main tournament." Zhao Feng shook his head sadly. He was still trapped in the cave and he couldn't get out.
During this time...
Sun Feather City, Zhao sect.
All the elite inner disciples had shown up. First place Zhao Linlong, Second place Zhao Chi, Third place Zhao Han…
All the geniuses had arrived.
"Why isn't he here yet?" Zhao Yufei beautiful eyes scanned around the place, but she couldn't see Zhao Feng. Zhao Feng had finally reached the fourth rank of the Martial Path after half a month. This included the help of Air Crossing Breathing Technique and precious resources…
On the stage, there were fifty chairs arranged in five rows. On the seats sat fifty inner disciples. The fifty chairs represented the fifty spots of inner disciples.
The first three chair owners were the top three disciples of the Zhao sect. All of them had at least reached the fifth rank of the Martial Path. By looking at their auras, it could be seen that Zhao Chi and Zhao Han had both recently reached the fifth rank.
As for the number one disciple Zhao Linlong, he had never opened his eyes from the start, making him all the more mysterious. He never opened his eyes to watch any fights.
"Why isn't the top outer disciple Zhao Feng here?"
"Yeah, I heard that he beat a cultivator of the fourth rank only using the strength of a half-step Martial Artist," the sect disciples discussed. Only a small number of people from the Zhao sects high levels realized Zhao Feng wasn't here.
On the stage...
"If he was here and was the fourth rank of the Martial Path at least, he would be able to reach top five without a problem…," one white-bearded old man murmured to himself. This white-bearded old man was the main judge of the outer disciples’ contest, the one who had blocked Zhao Tianjian's attack.
Today he was also one of the two main judges of the main tournament.
"Hmph. If he can arrive, then the sun must be coming from the Sou
th." Zhao Tianijan's eyes flashed violently, but then he thought suspiciously, but why hasn't Grey Eagle, the one that took the mission, reported back yet?
Inside the Sky Cloud Forest, in the cave...
Zhao Feng was clinging onto his last string of hope. Time passed slowly. He was certain that the main tournament had now started. With the Azure Eyed Hyena guarding outside, Zhao Feng didn't dare to make any rash moves.
All he could do was duly cultivate Metal Wall Technique and Air Crossing Breathing Technique.
Another day passed by in a flash. Zhao Feng's Metal Wall Technique had reached the peak of the fourth level. His Inner Strength had reached the limit of the fifth rank. Even his cultivation was slowly proceeding towards the peak of the fifth rank.
"One day has passed from the start of the main tournament." Zhao Feng didn't have any hope left. Although the inner disciple tournament was important, it wasn't as important as his own life.
Furthermore, if he had enough strength, he wouldn't need to fear anyone when he returned back to the sect.
Roar—-
From inside the canyon came a shout.
Hm?
Zhao Feng immediately jumped out of the pond. That sound clearly came from the Azure Eyed Hyena.
"I'll go and check it out." Zhao Feng used Lightly Floating Ferry and arrived at the cave entrance rapidly. Through the cracks, he saw the view of the outside. From the other side of the canyon, a few humans appeared.
Humans!
Zhao Feng first was happy; then his mood dropped again. Only Martial Masters would be able to take on high tier deadly beasts. Zhao Feng's left eye could see that five km away from the cave, there were two men and one woman. Their ages were around seventeen or eighteen; the oldest was around twenty.
With their age, it was almost impossible for them to be a Martial Master. In Zhao Feng's mind, the sect's elders had all reached seventy or eighty.
But the Hyena seemed to be wary of the people. The three people all wore the same clothes, so it seemed that there were from the same faction. As they were five km away, Zhao Feng couldn't hear their voices as his ears weren't as powerful as his eye.
At this time, the youth at the front said faintly, "This bastard seems to have some intelligence."
"No challenge at all," the other youth said disdainfully.
"Leave it to me," the girl said.
"Sure, little sister Yuan. Your actual combat skills are too weak, you probably can't even kill it in one move," the youth at the front said.
If Zhao Feng could hear what they were saying he would have been shocked. Soon, he watched the girl walk towards the high tier deadly beast.
Wu~~~
The Azure Eyed Hyena pounced towards the girl.
Oh my god!
Zhao Feng was stunned. That girl was going to die!
Zhao Feng's left eye was pushed to the maximum. The whole world slowed down tenfold.
"Break!"
The girl floated up. Her jade hands lightly swiped the air and an azure-colored light formed in her hands, and then flew at the head of the Hyena.
Ssss——
The tougher than metal skin of the Azure Eyed Hyena was easily sliced open. The Hyena screamed as its head exploded.
Hong—–
The corpse fell to the ground.
Zhao Feng was shocked. His left eye was still thumping. Inside the pitch-black dimension of his eye, the green light split into two figures. One of them was the Hyena, while the other was the girl.
The two figures closed in on each other. The girl simply waved her hand. Her attack contained insights too deep for Zhao Feng to understand and killed the Hyena in one hit.
The scene in his mind was replayed back and forth, Zhao Feng stood dazed as if he was in a trance. He was so focused that he didn't even notice the three people leaving.
"Little sister Yuan, although your opponent was very weak, the power of that move wasn't bad," the youth at the front praised her.
When Zhao Feng opened his eyes. There was no one left inside the canyon, only the corpse of the Azure Eyed Hyena. Everything that happened was like a dream.
But if he closed his left eye, the scene of the girl killing the high tier deadly beast would be replayed back and forth…
Chapter 36 – Beginning of the Main Tournament, Part Two
"Where are those people from?" Zhao Feng thought that everything was surreal.
Unexpectedly, his left eye had opened a new ability: It could memorize any scene he witnessed and replay it perfectly.
If Zhao Feng was willing, he could open the scene and try to gain some insights. He knew that his knowledge of the outside world was limited. The Azure Flower continent had a countless number of countries. Just Sky Cloud Forest alone passed through more than ten countries. Sun Feather City was just a small city within a country.
Regaining his composure, Zhao Feng soon turned happy. Now that the Hyena was dead, nothing could stop him from leaving.
I need to leave fast! Zhao Feng felt anxious as he thought about the main tournament.
Rocks blocked the cave entrance. All he needed to do was open up a path.
Peng!
The smaller rocks were only about one-hundred and fifty kg. Just with his body alone, he could crush the rocks. If he added Inner Strength to it, the rocks would be shattered.
When Zhao Feng met larger rocks, he started to push them aside. Normal fifth rankers had seven hundred and fifty kg of strength using their body alone. Because Zhao Feng had trained the Metal Wall Technique to the fourth level, he had at least 1250 kg of power, five hundred more than what normal cultivators of the fifth rank had. Even so, the main use of Metal Wall Technique was to help increase one's defense and not increase one's power.
Zhao Feng finally opened the path up after half an hour. However, he didn't leave immediately. There were still some precious resources left on the red rock wall.
Raaah! Roar!
At this moment, some deadly beasts and wild beasts began to scream.
"The body of the high tier deadly beast will attract more beasts." Having been through this before, Zhao Feng immediately increased his speed. Like a rocket, he flew to the rock wall and took some of the plants. There was only one goal for him: to take the three one thousand-year-old plants. The thousand year blood plant, thousand year blood spirit grass, and the thousand year blood bamboo shoot.
He had a couple reasons for why he did this. First, he had to save time. There were many beasts gathering! Second, although the three hundred and five hundred-year-old plants were precious, Zhao Feng had already eaten many of them, so their effects weren't that useful for him.
Ceng!
He didn't dare stop after he took the plants.
Entering the canyon, there were already seven or eight deadly beasts fighting each other. There were also thirty strong wild beasts here, all of them had the strength of a fourth rank. Zhao Feng tried his best to dodge the beasts and headed straight towards the creek.
Although he tried to dodge the beasts, there were still some wild and deadly beasts that came for him.
"You're courting death!" Zhao Feng shouted as his palm hit a low tier deadly beast.
Craaack!
The bones of the low tier deadly beast were instantly shattered. This attack of his was pure muscle, not a bit of Inner Strength used. The low tier deadly beast was slightly stronger than the Green Headed Tiger King he'd met when he first came to the Sky Cloud Forest.
Killing the beast in one hit caused the other wild beasts to scatter in fear, and following his memory, Zhao Feng made his way back the way he came.
On the way, he again met many deadly beasts. This was because the high tier deadly beast's corpse just attracted way too many other animals.
"Flaming Metal Fist!" Zhao Feng shouted as a faint green glow poured out from his fist. The fist hit a low tier deadly beast whose strength was equal to a cultivator of the fifth rank. Und
er this one punch, the low tier deadly beast had its organs shattered.
With the use of the blood spirit grass and blood-red pond, his Inner Strength was much stronger than the Inner Strength of other fifth ranks. When he fully circulated Air Crossing Breathing Technique, he could instantly kill a cultivator of the same rank.
One hour later...
Zhao Feng finally reached the outer edges of the Sky Cloud Forest and rushed back towards Sun Feather City.
"I heard that the Zhao sect main tournament is ending soon."
"The main tournament is divided into the Ranking challenge and the Spot challenge. Out of the one hundred people, only fifty will be Inner disciples. The latter should be finished now. I'm so sad I couldn't get to watch."
On the way, Feng heard some information about what was going on. After he returned to the sect, he didn't immediately go towards the place where the main tournament was held. Instead, he first returned home and put the three one thousand-year-old plants away.
Quickly, he changed his clothes and rushed out the door. Zhao Feng used his Hiding Air Technique to show that his cultivation was only at the peak fourth rank. As for his Inner Strength, it was showing the fifth rank.
"This is the best I can do." Zhao Feng soon arrived at the place by using Lightly Floating Ferry.
At this moment, the tournament seemed to be in the second stage.
"After one day of intense fighting, the Spot challenge has ended and the fifty inner disciples have been decided. The Ranking challenge will be next. The fifty of you left will challenge one another to find out the overall ranking and according to your ranks, the prizes will be given," a powerful and old voice reverberated.
In the middle of the site, there was an arena. Opposite the arena, there was a stage.
There were fifty seats on the stage and on each seat sat one person, representing an inner disciple.
The first round Spot Challenge was when the fifty outer disciples challenged the fifty inner disciples, trying to get an inner disciple spot. Zhao Feng scanned and found that from the outer disciples, Zhao Yufei, Zhao Yue, and Zhao Guang had all reached the top fifty.
King of Gods_Book 1_Chinese Translation Page 20
