The strength test for this round proved quite peculiar, and Chen Feng only grasped the rules after listening for quite some time.

In the center of the arena stood a series of objects, each about waist-high, referred to as "Meteorites." The strength competition involved lifting these very stones.

One should not underestimate these stones; each one had been enchanted with weight-imbuing magic. This meant that a stone the size of a fist could potentially weigh tens of thousands of jin.

The sequence of stones had weights of 0 jin, 200,000 jin, 400,000 jin, 800,000 jin, 1,600,000 jin, 3,200,000 jin, and 6,400,000 jin!

Although the pattern followed powers of two, between 1 jin and 12,700,000 jin, it was possible to accurately find pairs of weights differing by increments of 100,000 jin.

To give an example: 2,500,000 jin = 160 (plus 1 jin in the original text, corrected to fit the sequence logic implicitly: Note: The original text here seems garbled, but the intent is to show precision in matching weight.)

When a person’s strength surpassed 6,400,000, the corresponding "Meteorites" would be added one by one until their strength was exhausted. This appeared somewhat similar to the weightlifting he remembered from his past life.

The order of contestants taking the stage was much the same as last time; Chen Feng was scheduled after Lei Di and Jin Ling. While others warmed up, he remained perfectly still where he stood.

"I wonder if that’s arrogance or genuine capability," Jin Ling shot him a sidelong glance, thinking quietly to herself.

In cultivation circles, it was often said that one's cultivation level did not directly correlate with raw strength. Frequently, those possessing great speed would sacrifice sheer brute force, resulting in comparatively weaker power.

This youth, for whatever reason, possessed incredible speed. If this theory held true, his strength might be his weak point.

Then again, it was entirely possible that his speed was merely a byproduct of immense strength! However, Jin Ling leaned toward the former explanation. This wasn't based on any specific intelligence, but rather... she couldn't believe Chen Feng, so young, could be so lucky as to possess speed that seemed inhuman, coupled with limitless, unimaginable strength!

She had heard he hadn't even activated his Blazing Dragon bloodline yet, meaning he couldn't possibly be that strong, right? She knew that her current cultivation level was only achieved after her father, Jin Xuanhu, spent considerable time refining her with the Blood of the Tiger God!

"For this strength test, as with last time, let's first announce the record holders. The record for all previous Five-Union Assemblies was 1,200,000 jin! The record for the Ten-Union Grand Competition still belongs to the Fist Emperor: 10,000,000 jin! A Dou Zun can utilize Dou Qi, and a Mage can use Mana. As long as you can lift the weight, you pass!" the elder announced loudly.

Chen Feng, even at the strength of a Ninth-Grade Dou Zun, could barely lift anything over 1,000,000 jin. The Five-Union Assembly record of 1,200,000 jin showed that the person who set it was no ordinary figure.

"Let's begin!" The elder motioned for the first contestant to step forward. The first called was a robust Ninth-Grade Dou Zun, built like an ox with broad shoulders.

Under everyone's gaze, he strode to the 800,000 jin "Meteorite," bent down, let out a mighty roar, and managed to hoist it up. However, increasing the weight proved impossible; thus, his score was capped at 800,000 jin!

The elder nodded and instructed the others to proceed in order, while he himself ambled slowly toward the back, eventually arriving before Chen Feng.

Having been impressed by Chen Feng's casual breaking of the Fist Emperor’s previous record, the elder was now intensely interested and regarded the youth in a new light. He approached and murmured, "Well now: can you surpass the Fist Emperor's record?"

"I'll do my best!" Chen Feng hadn't expected such a direct question and replied with a slight helplessness.

"Do your best?" The elder hadn't anticipated this answer and paused before chuckling, "Right, I am growing senile. Speed and power aren't proportional. You've already broken one of the Fist Emperor's marks; breaking another would be nigh impossible!"

Saying this, he clapped Chen Feng on the shoulder. "It's fine, young man. To achieve this before you are fifty—if you return in a few years, breaking records will be a certainty! Hmm, I have high hopes for you!"

Chen Feng nodded. He knew the elder valued his potential and was trying to make friendly contact. Still, being patted on the shoulder on a competition field and hearing, "I have high hopes for you," struck him as slightly absurd.

Perhaps frustrated by his poor showing last time, Lei Di was furious today and suddenly transformed on the spot. "Dragon Territory’s Chen Feng, I’ve long heard you possess unparalleled strength. Would you care to compete with me, so I can broaden my horizons?"

The crowd below, already restless from the regimented competition, erupted in cheers upon hearing Jin Ling's challenge.

"Who is this woman, deliberately tripping him up?" Little Hu stood below the stage, his large, round eyes wide as he looked at the slender Jin Ling. "With your build, forget competing against my boss; even I could crush you!"

"No..." Long Yi felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite place what it was.

The Tiger Gauntlets, among the Ten Great Divine Artifacts, were not the most overtly powerful but were certainly the most mysterious, having been forged by Jin Xuanhu himself. They were rarely used, and very few could recognize them.

The Fist Emperor could identify them, but Long Yi could not. Yet, he sensed an oddity.

"Jin Ling couldn't even defeat Lord Dragon God in terms of speed. Now, in this strength test, she first makes a wager and then challenges him so openly. She must either be a fool or have something to rely on," Long Yi scrutinized Jin Ling on stage and finally noticed a subtle difference: "Yes, when did she put on those gauntlets? It must be the gauntlets!"

Once he understood, he glanced toward Hu Ben, who wore a cunning smirk, as if a plan had succeeded or as if he were admiring the little princess's ingenuity.

For Hu Ben, thwarting the Dragon Clan and making them look foolish through open competition was always an endeavor he wholeheartedly pursued.

Long Yi realized then that they had walked into a trap. Anger and unease warred within him.

.....................................................

"Compete with you?" Chen Feng was surprised that this girl had forgotten the pain of her last defeat. He stepped forward. "Very well. I only hope you won't cry if the weight proves too much!"

"Hmph, just wait to be humiliated!" Jin Ling snorted, her eyes darting briefly. "How much can I lift with one hand? How much can you lift?"

"One-handed lift?" Chen Feng glanced at Jin Ling, recognizing the abnormality of her gauntlets. He chose not to expose it and smiled pleasantly. "Deal."

"Begin! I'll start by lifting this 6,400,000 jin stone with one hand!" Jin Ling smiled and gripped the "Meteorite" with her right hand. The "Meteorite" immediately sprang up, and she managed to lift it steadily before tossing it into the air.

Boom!

The 6,400,000 jin Meteorite slammed onto the ground, carving a deep pit into the competition platform.

This initial move was so overwhelmingly dominant that the spectators below couldn't believe their eyes; they stared in stunned silence before finally erupting in cheers.

"Well? Can you match that?" Jin Ling asked with unshakeable confidence.

Chen Feng exhaled slowly, his gaze sharpening. He walked forward, looking down at the "Meteorite" already sunk into the earth, and stated coolly to Jin Ling, "I don't care what trickery is involved with those gauntlets. Let me tell you, the champion of this strength test is mine!"

The youth's calm voice drifted into Jin Ling's ears like a gentle breeze. There were no grand declarations, yet to her ears, it sounded like a thunderclap because of the sheer confidence and power woven into his words, compelling admiration.

A slight smile touched Chen Feng's lips. He suddenly stomped his right foot hard onto the ground where the Meteorite had landed!

"Bang!"

The spectators seated far away felt the ground tremble beneath them, nearly causing them to fall. The entire floor shook violently, and a large fissure rapidly spread outward from the spot beneath Chen Feng's right foot.

Whoosh!

Under the force of that intense tremor, the massive 6,400,000 jin "Meteorite," which had been embedded in the ground, sprang up like a rubber ball, soaring straight toward the sky.

Chen Feng curved his right hand upward and gently received the colossal rock into his palm!

He cracked the ground with a single footfall and used the resulting force to launch the 6,400,000 jin "Meteorite" into the air. Just how much strength did this youth possess?

The surrounding crowd stood frozen, turned to stone, dumbstruck.

"You brat, I told you to win flamboyantly, but you're truly over the top..." The Fist Emperor shook his head with a wry smile, though he was secretly very pleased with Chen Feng’s display. (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to m for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)