Chapter 46

Besides, the precedent of Wang Teng was vivid in her mind.

She did not want Yang Feng to follow in Wang Teng’s footsteps!

Back then, Wang Teng also possessed astonishing talent, but due to a lack of proper guidance, his cultivation ultimately went to waste.

No matter how great one's cultivation talent might be, what was the use if one refused to put in the effort?

Every time Wang Teng was brought up in conversation, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret for him.

Countless times, she had wondered to herself that if she had a student with talent as exceptional as Wang Teng’s, she would surely nurture him with utmost care and guide him step by step toward the pinnacle of strength.

Now that she had finally encountered Yang Feng, she naturally refused to watch her own student waste his talent so vainly!

As a fourth-tier martial artist, Cheng Yan took only thirty seconds to reach the door of Yang Feng’s room.

Fuming with indignation as she arrived at the doorstep, she immediately reined in her anger and replaced it with a calm, pleasant smile.

She intended to have a good, heart-to-heart talk with Yang Feng first.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Hearing the knocking, Yang Feng felt a mild sense of curiosity as to who could be looking for him. He opened the door only to find Cheng Yan standing outside!

"Instructor Cheng, is there something you need?" Yang Feng asked in puzzlement.

"Why aren't you going to the cultivation secret realm to challenge the trials?" All along the way, Cheng Yan had deliberated extensively on how to broach the subject and how to advise Yang Feng tactfully without provoking his resentment!

However, when she saw that Yang Feng was still wearing his little bear pajamas and holding a pack of exotic beast jerky in his hand, the temper she had just managed to suppress instantly erupted.

Consequently, the question blurted straight out of her mouth.

Yang Feng frowned slightly, but still replied, "Instructor Cheng, participating in the cultivation secret realm trials is voluntary for the candidates, isn't it?"

"If Instructor has nothing else to attend to, I won't see you out!" With that, Yang Feng slammed the door shut right in front of her!

Cheng Yan stared at the closed door.

She was practically bursting with fury.

Had it not been for her status as an instructor, she would have lashed out on the spot to properly teach this audacious and ignorant brat a lesson.

She felt a strong urge to knock again, but given his attitude just moments ago, she knew she would be utterly incapable of maintaining her composure.

Forcibly swallowing her surging anger, she turned on her heel and walked away without looking back.

Sensing that Cheng Yan had departed, Yang Feng let out a subtle sigh of relief.

He was genuinely worried that she might be as stubborn as a mule, which would have proven quite troublesome.

With no further disturbances, Yang Feng re-entered his dreamscape and resumed practicing the second-tier breathing technique.

Seeing Cheng Yan return looking all flustered and angry, Luo Yang immediately asked out of curiosity, "It's been a long time since I've seen you this furious. What happened?"

"I had good intentions and tried to persuade Yang Feng to take on the trials, but he coldly told me that it was entirely voluntary, and then shut the door right in my face."

Hearing this, Luo Yang knitted his brows as well.

"You go try then. As for me, I'm done! Just looking at his attitude makes my blood boil!"

After a moment of contemplation, Luo Yang said, "Very well, I'll go see what's actually going on!"

Two minutes later, Luo Yang knocked on the door of Yang Feng’s room.

With a helpless expression, Yang Feng opened his eyes, pulled the door open, and upon seeing Luo Yang, asked, "Instructor Luo, is there something you need?"

"Your talent is exceptional, and I hope you will participate in the cultivation secret realm. Don't waste your own potential!"

Luo Yang stated his purpose directly.

"Thank you, Instructor Luo, but I don't wish to go. Didn't you already state the rules back then? There is only a single evaluation criterion: twenty-eight days from now, whoever tops the leaderboard is the number one!"

"That may be true, but if you don't partake in the trials, you are simply letting your talent go to waste! Aren't you worried that the others will catch up and surpass you?"

Luo Yang exhorted earnestly, speaking from the bottom of his heart.

"Then I'll wait until they surpass me before worrying about it. If Instructor Luo has nothing else, let's leave it at that!" Having said this, Yang Feng shut the door squarely in his face.

Luo Yang had never expected to be given the cold shoulder as well. After hesitating for a long while, he could only depart with a sullen, livid expression.

"Well? How did it go? Why are you back?" Cheng Yan asked impatiently as soon as Luo Yang returned.

"He won't come out. He still chooses to stay inside his room!"

"What should we do then? Are we just going to watch him degenerate like this?"

Cheng Yan asked with a hint of anxiety.

Because of the precedent set by Wang Teng, she genuinely did not want to see Yang Feng walk down that same old road.

Luo Yang offered a bitter smile. "What can we do? When it comes down to it, we aren't his actual teachers; our primary responsibility is simply monitoring this area. The regulations themselves do not permit us to overly interfere with the candidates."

"Rules are rigid, but people are adaptable! I think we need to figure something out," Cheng Yan insisted stubbornly.

"I think we should observe a bit longer and see if he changes his mind tomorrow," Luo Yang suggested.

Although deeply reluctant and frustrated, Cheng Yan had no better alternatives and ultimately chose to follow Luo Yang's advice for the time being.

Within the cultivation secret realm, all candidates participating in the special recruitment pathway were engaged in frantic trials. Even when injured and forced out, they would quickly heal their wounds in the spiritual springs before plunging back into the secret realm.

Each and every one of them wished they could squeeze in as many attempts as possible.

Through the unremitting efforts of Nangong Hang and Xiang Yang, the ninth floor was finally conquered.

Having cleared the level, the two of them collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath with heavy, heaving chests.

It took a good while before they fully recovered their strength.

"I originally thought the first place in this thirteen-city special recruitment would be contested solely between the two of us. Never did I imagine that two absolute monsters would suddenly burst out of nowhere, having already attained the mastery of Grandmasters at the exact same age as us!"

Xiang Yang said with a self-deprecating smile.

Nangong Hang shook his head. "I had some prior understanding of Bai Wu. Like me, he grew up in a martial arts family and has practiced the sword since childhood. Though unexpected, I can accept that he managed to elevate a martial technique to the Grandmaster realm!"

"However, that Yang Feng is completely beyond my comprehension. His strength is simply absurd. A second-tier martial artist who has also mastered a Grandmaster-level technique—to be honest, after losing to him head-on the second time, I felt a deep sense of despair.

I had initially assumed that the first place in this special recruitment was undoubtedly his."

Xiang Yang keenly seized upon a keyword in his words: "You said 'initially'? Does that mean you have a different perspective now?"

"I didn't see Yang Feng at all today! I don't know whether it's out of arrogance or some other reason that he chose to skip the trials, but as long as he continues to stay away from the trials, we still have a chance!"

"I can clearly sense myself growing stronger rapidly. My vital energy value is fast approaching 9.7, leaving a mere three-tenths gap from a full second-tier martial artist. Furthermore, I have always practiced a second-tier martial technique; although I cannot fully unleash its power just yet, once my vital energy reaches 10, I will instantly become a true second-tier martial artist.

When that time comes, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious between Yang Feng and me!"

Xiang Yang's gaze burned with intense fervor.

"My vital energy has now reached 9.5. Although I am two tenths lower than you, I am confident that I can push my vital energy past 10 within ten days. Coupled with the fact that I am a strength-attribute awakener, even without practicing a second-tier martial technique, I am capable of going toe-to-toe with a second-tier martial artist!"

At this moment, despite being utterly exhausted, both youths radiated a blazing, indomitable fighting spirit in their eyes!

"The top spot in this special recruitment will definitely belong to us from Nantong City!"

Nangong Hang uttered these final words to rally their spirits.