Chapter 357: Pre-Competition Pep Talk

"Alright, then I’ll be troubling you two Venerables," Chu Feng said respectfully to the two Venerables from the Three Swords Sect, clasping his fist in his palm.

It was already past one in the morning, and Chu Feng was no longer in the mood for cultivation. So, he headed down the mountain to check on the Chu Family’s camp.

All necessary arrangements had been made, leaving him with nothing else to do.

At this hour, both the camps on the mountain and at its base were still lit.

After all, the registration deadline had just passed, so everyone was on edge. Some families and Sects were still up, planning for the next day.

The Martial Arts Grand Ceremony was a crucial event for all the Major Sects, one that allowed no room for error.

This was a chance for an entire family or Sect to rise to prominence, which made it critically important.

So, pre-battle pep talks and words of encouragement were a must.

When he reached the Chu Family’s encampment, Chu Feng saw that their lights were on as well; they clearly hadn’t gone to rest yet.

When the two Chu Family disciples guarding the entrance saw Chu Feng arrive, their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Greetings, Venerable Chu!"

These two Chu Family disciples were very excited. They both recognized Chu Feng, and their own patriarch had personally instructed them that they must address him as "Venerable."

"Is everyone still up?" Chu Feng asked.

"That’s right. The Patriarch is giving Brother Wushuang and the others a pep talk. They’re drinking," the two Chu Family disciples said.

"I’ll go have a look," Chu Feng said.

The two Chu Family disciples hurriedly made way for him.

When Chu Feng walked inside, he saw a long table in the main hall laden with food and wine. Chu Tianshan, who sat at the head of the table, was exuding a completely different aura.

He had broken through!

Chu Feng had sensed the change in Chu Tianshan’s aura the moment he walked in.

The old man had finally reached the Human Martial Arts Peak Realm.

With this, the Chu Family could truly be considered among the ranks of top-tier families. Even without Chu Feng, their standing would be formidable.

"You old coot, you’ve broken through? This is a joyous occasion," Chu Feng said with a smile.

"You brat, you noticed right away? You’ve got sharp eyes! This breakthrough will add many years to my life, and it’s all thanks to you," Chu Tianshan said, stroking his beard with a wide grin.

It was Chu Feng who had healed his injured Divine Soul and told him the method for its recovery. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had much longer to live.

"I can’t take the credit. It was your own hard work. Are you all celebrating tomorrow’s competition?" Chu Feng said with a smile.

"That’s right. The selection tournament starts tomorrow, so of course we have to celebrate. Besides, Wushuang has already broken through to the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm. Maybe he’ll be able to secure a good ranking this time," Chu Tianshan said with a laugh.

"You’re being too optimistic. This competition won’t be that simple. Chu Wushuang doesn’t stand much of a chance. The Chu Family will be lucky to even make it into the top one hundred," Chu Feng stated bluntly.

Even though Chu Wushuang and the others were present, Chu Feng didn’t mince his words. He said it like it was.

There were simply too many participants this time, including many from Major Families and Major Sects, so the Chu Family’s chances were naturally slim.

"Oh? You mean there will be powerful opponents? Just how powerful could they be?" Chu Tianshan’s curiosity was piqued.

"Do you have any idea how many people are participating in the selection tournament in my region alone?" Chu Feng asked.

Chu Tianshan, Chu Wushuang, and the others all shook their heads.

"Over four thousand people. And quite a few of them are at the Foundation Establishment Realm," Chu Feng said.

"What? Over four thousand people? And a lot of them are at the Foundation Establishment Realm? Damn it, are Foundation Establishment cultivators a dime a dozen these days? Reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm before the age of fifty, and there are a lot of them?" Chu Tianshan was stunned.

This was too damn ridiculous. In this Dharma Decline Era, to think that the various great families and Sects were secretly hiding so many geniuses.

Compared to them, the Chu Family’s prodigies truly stood no chance. Forget the top one hundred; it was uncertain if they could even make it into the top five hundred.

"This world isn’t lacking in geniuses. The key question is, how many of them can make it to the very end? How many can break through to the Human Martial Arts Peak Realm?" Chu Feng asked with a smile.

In the eyes of many families, these geniuses might seem incredibly powerful, like Heaven’s favored children.

But in Chu Feng’s eyes, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm at fifty was nothing special. If one couldn’t reach the Foundation Establishment Realm before the age of thirty, they had no hope of ever striving for the Human Martial Arts Peak Realm in their lifetime.

"I’ll stay here tonight. Tomorrow, the Southern Region’s tournament will be overseen by two Venerables from the Three Swords Sect. The selection method is based on acquiring points. By the time tomorrow’s selection round is over, I estimate three-quarters of the participants will be eliminated," Chu Feng said.

According to the rules, everyone needs to acquire three points to advance, which means they must defeat three opponents.

Moreover, some people might earn four, five, or even more points, which means the number of people eliminated will only be higher, not lower.

"Let’s not worry about all that. It’s all up to their own destiny now. With so many people competing, I’ll be more than satisfied if they can just make it into the top one hundred. I’d be overjoyed," Chu Tianshan said with a smile.