Two mornings later, Chen Feng arrived at the training grounds at 8 AM, only to find Judy and Angelina already waiting for some time.
It seemed their level of commitment to the competition far exceeded his initial assumptions.
The Rookie Selection Tournament, while team-based, allowed for both one-on-one duels and three-on-three brawls. Powerful contestants typically chose duels to prove themselves, whereas those with comparatively weaker cultivation levels would opt for group battles, where victory was achieved by knocking the opposing three members off the platform.
Chen Feng’s original intention was to fight solo, but considering the formidable strength of the team composed of the Seventh Prince, Alex, and Joseph, he recognized that a one-against-three scenario offered slim chances of success. This realization prompted his decision to coordinate with Judy and Angelina.
The might of Saint Artifacts was unparalleled; Chen Feng could already gauge their importance from the Nether Feather Sword. The Seventh Prince's rune sword and dragon armor were both Mid-grade Saint Artifacts, rendering ordinary attacks useless.
Furthermore, Alex possessed a Fourth-Tier Magical Beast, which, when unleashed to its maximum power, would force even Chen Feng to retreat significantly.
It was precisely because of these reservations that Chen Feng decided to practice coordination with the other two.
Practicing coordination was, in essence, quite simple: it required mastering the true cultivation levels and signature attack methods of his partners, using his own strengths to create openings for their offense.
Angelina was a dual-elementalist—Water and Earth—and a Fighter. She was competent in both melee and ranged combat, and she also had a Third-Tier Magical Pet as backup, making her quite strong. In a straight one-on-one fight, Danny would certainly be no match for her, which explained why Judy chose her over Danny.
With her Golden Scale Armor, she received boosts to both offense and defense, suggesting she might even stand a chance against a Seventh-Tier Fighter.
Chen Feng, meanwhile, possessed astonishing power in both long-range and close-quarters combat.
The trio deliberated for the entire morning, mapping out nearly every conceivable formation combination before finally settling on a plan.
During this discussion, Angelina's extensive knowledge piqued Chen Feng's curiosity. For any tactic they considered, she could cite corresponding historical precedents. This impressed both Chen Feng and Judy greatly.
Once the strategy was set, the three shared a quick meal and conducted practice drills focused on their coordination. The results were quite promising.
Two days later, the Rookie Selection Tournament commenced as scheduled at the massive martial arts arena not far from the Imperial Palace. The arena was circular, surrounded by tiers of rooms stacked like a honeycomb, capable of accommodating over 100,000 spectators. The perimeter of the arena was reinforced by a magic array set up by Elder Yi and others to protect the audience in the stands. Additionally, each private box was equipped with a magical crystal orb, allowing a clearer view of the matches in the arena. The entire competition floor was immensely wide, measuring 100 units in both length and width, sufficient space for any display of skill. The ground was paved with bluestone, showcasing lavish decoration. Whether viewed from the arena itself or from any other vantage point, the extravagance clearly demonstrated the Luo Qi Empire’s high regard for this event. Following assessments by the "Rookie Inn" and various preliminary selections, the several thousand participating teams had been narrowed down, yet still amounted to 320 squads. These 320 teams would undergo three days of preliminary rounds, after which only the top 16 would advance to the final competition. “The Rookie Selection Tournament is a grand event designed to select the outstanding youth of the Empire, bearing upon the Empire's prosperity and decline!” stated His Majesty Suomen via the magical transmission device. Although it was only the preliminary round, His Majesty Suomen himself attended the arena on the first day to show the Empire’s commitment to the competition. “All those who have come to compete are the best talents of our Luo Qi Empire, the true elite!” These words immediately garnered goodwill from all the participants. The speech lasted for over half an hour, focusing primarily on patriotic education for the competitors. When finished, His Majesty Suomen announced: “...Finally, I wish to cover the rules of the competition and the rewards for the victors.” His Majesty paused briefly: “The rule is team formation of three. Competitors may alternate participation or engage in a three-on-three brawl. While the use of magic scrolls and magical beasts is not strictly mandated, we emphasize one point: any magic scrolls used must be self-crafted, and any magical beast must have been subdued through one's own power; otherwise, it will result in disqualification.” Listening to His Majesty Suomen’s address from within one of the private rooms, Chen Feng nodded in agreement: “If this rule weren't in place, someone like Alex could simply summon his grandfather's Wyvern, and even a Dou Zun couldn't easily win. What would be the point of this competition then? Or someone could just toss out a few Fifth-Tier magic scrolls casually, and they’d be guaranteed first place—but that defeats fairness.” “...Regarding the rewards, we have established the following stipulations.” His Majesty licked his slightly dry lips. Chen Feng straightened up slightly upon hearing about the rewards. It wasn't that he cared deeply about the prizes themselves, but he was curious what rewards could so thoroughly captivate both beautiful women like Judy and Angelina. She had hoped to win the favor of a certain Wyvern, allowing her to participate in the Rookie Selection Tournament when... When this dream shattered, she didn't hesitate to risk danger by inviting him to join her team. Being so eager to compete and wanting to secure a high ranking—no one would believe that was purely out of hobby. They must have been aiming for the substantial rewards of the tournament. “The team that wins this selection tournament will be entitled to choose one Low-grade Saint Artifact from the Empire’s armory! The second and third-place teams will receive High-grade Mortal Artifacts as prizes. All other teams that successfully pass the preliminary rounds will universally receive Mid-grade Mortal Artifacts!” “So the reward is weaponry,” Chen Feng felt a slight disappointment, but immediately heard His Majesty continue: “Furthermore, all members of the top three teams will be directly granted the noble title of Imperial Baron, enjoying the right to own a mansion in the Imperial Capital. Additionally, each person receives twenty thousand gold coins; the champion team members each receive fifty thousand gold coins, plus ten days of study time in the Empire’s Library…” “Ten days of study in the Imperial Library?” Chen Feng smiled. It turned out the most valuable part was here. As one of the Four Great Empires, the Luo Qi Empire possessed countless ancient texts. Gaining access to study there for ten days would yield rewards absolutely incomparable to just a Low-grade Saint Artifact and fifty thousand gold coins. It was no wonder Judy was moved; hearing about studying in the Imperial Library made even him feel a slight stir of interest. After His Majesty Suomen concluded his speech, the host proceeded to organize the preliminary rounds. Since the early matches were not particularly spectacular, the entire arena was divided into 16 sections, with 16 simultaneous competitions taking place. Chen Feng's group was assigned to the 7th section. The 7th section did not feature many powerhouses, so Chen Feng saw no need to intervene. The preliminary rounds were almost entirely handled by Judy and Angelina. Their coordination was incredibly tacit; they secured wins swiftly, often winning ten consecutive matches without a single defeat. Only one opposing team proved somewhat challenging, featuring a peculiar Mental Magic user capable of inducing confusion. Finally, Chen Feng reluctantly stepped onto the platform, deployed a single Shadow Hook strike, and immediately jumped down. As expected, the Mental Magic user was struck by the explosive energy of the Shadow Hook, knocked off the platform, and fell unconscious—likely ruined for life. Undoubtedly, Chen Feng's team advanced with a flawless victory record, securing a spot among the final 16. …………………………………………………………………………………………………… Inside the Imperial Palace. “Hmm, not bad. The team formed by the Seventh Prince and Alex advancing with a flawless record—truly commendable!” His Majesty Suomen remarked, reviewing the battle reports delivered over the three days, nodding in satisfaction. Suddenly, his eyes swept over the Seventh Section. “Hmm? Which team also advanced flawlessly?” His Majesty inquired. The official in charge of overseeing the preliminary stages of the Rookie Selection Tournament immediately bowed low: “I heard this team was formed by the third daughter of Old Wolf, head of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group.” “Oh, you mean that girl named Judy? I met her last year; being a Fourth-Tier cultivator at only sixteen is certainly genius. But relying solely on her Fourth-Tier Fighter strength to advance flawlessly—that seems unlikely. Who are her partners?” His Majesty Suomen clearly doubted Judy’s ability to advance smoothly based on her cultivation level. “Your Majesty, please wait, I shall check!” The official fumbled frantically through the documents in his hands, then announced after a moment: “There is a youth named Iori Yagami, and a maiden named Angelina!” “Angelina? The granddaughter of Dialot?” His Majesty chuckled, saying, “How could that old man bear to let his granddaughter participate? It seems the old man must have given his granddaughter many treasures for her to advance so smoothly!” The official hesitated but ultimately remained silent. His Majesty Suomen continued: “What was the name of the remaining partner?” “Iori Yagami!” the official replied respectfully. His Majesty shook his head: “I am familiar with all the notable youths of the Imperial Capital; I have never heard this name. He must be some nobody whom Judy or Angelina recruited simply to fill the roster! Right, what is his cultivation level? Is he at least Fourth-Tier?” The official’s expression immediately became quite peculiar, and he stammered: “This… this subordinate does not know!” ps: 1. Alas, I had hoped monthly tickets would increase today, but they only grew by one. Though disheartening, I have honestly updated all three chapters for today... I will post an extra chapter when I reach 20! Why hasn't anyone submitted monthly tickets? So frustrating... 2. 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