Chapter 383: Northwest Frontier

"So, for the second round of the competition, will there be regional rankings or something? After all, so many people were eliminated in this first selection round," Su Miaoke asked.

"Yes, there will definitely be rankings. Only about five hundred people will make it into the second round. Think of the second round as another qualifier to weed out more people. I expect only about half of them to pass," said Chu Feng.

"Yes... nearly two thousand people died," Su Miaoke said.

This was why she was so terrified. It had only been a single selection round, just five days, and already so many people had died.

’Was it worth it? All for a mere competition.’

’She just couldn’t understand it. Risking your life for a competition... it wasn’t worth it at all.’

In truth, death was a normal occurrence. How could there not be casualties in a martial contest?

Especially on the path of the Martial Dao; without the trial of real combat, one could never truly grow.

"You should use this time to focus on your Cultivation. If you have a moment to spare, you can also go watch the matches. The second round only lasts three days, and in those three days, the final five hundred will be decided," said Chu Feng.

"Alright, I get it. I’m going to go cultivate now," said Su Miaoke.

After what she had just experienced, she was still deeply shaken and filled with lingering fear.

For the first time, she truly felt how weak she was. In the days following the end of the round, Su Miaoke threw herself completely into her Cultivation.

Chu Feng felt a bit helpless watching her. He sat down to one side, silently meditating on his own insights.

This trip had been very rewarding for him, too. A core resembling a Primordial Pill bobbed within his Dantian, wreathed in intertwining strands of spiritual light.

And just like that, he cultivated for the entire night.

The next morning, Chu Feng was called away by the Martial Arts Venerables of the Three Swords Sect.

This second round was far stricter than the first. Though the number of participants had been cut by nearly half, the danger had increased by more than a single tier.

Moreover, the opponents were all foreign enemies, and the fights could only take place in a designated location.

Outside the Venerable Hall, all the Foundation Establishment Realm experts had gathered—forty-eight in total, which came out to twelve experts for each of the Venerables.

Chu Feng and the other three Venerables were also present. Everyone was gathered together.

"Everyone’s here. Shall we go?" the two Martial Arts Venerables from the Three Swords Sect asked, looking to Chu Feng.

"Then let’s go," Chu Feng said with a nod, bringing Su Miaoke and Jiang Tao along.

Soon, the group of several dozen people departed from the Venerable Hall and descended the mountain.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, a fleet of official vehicles was waiting. They were all identical, forming a line that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The roughly two thousand people who had made it through the first round were also gathered here.

This time, their competition would be held at a military base in the Western Region. All the captives from the Wo Country were being held at that base.

After coming down the mountain, Chu Feng’s group boarded their vehicle without any hesitation.

However, the vehicle Chu Feng’s group rode in was a higher class and far more comfortable than those used by the disciples from the various participating Sects.

After all, he was a Martial Arts Venerable; his status and identity set him apart.

The other disciples, meanwhile, were packed by the dozens into their vehicles.

The participants from each region were headed in a different direction.

Chu Feng’s group was headed to the Western Region.

The competition would continue, round after round, until the top ten were decided.

Upon arriving in the west—on a plateau in the Northwest, to be precise—many locals living by the roadside awoke to the sight of military convoys rumbling powerfully toward the northwestern border.

But everyone was already used to it; it was a common sight.

Great Snow Mountain wasn’t too far from the northwestern border, and they arrived in two and a half hours.

The environment here wasn’t much better than at Great Snow Mountain. The landscape was desolate, dominated by gravelly mountains with very little vegetation.

Moreover, the upper slopes of some mountains were covered in white snow. The altitude was high, and it was extremely cold.

"Venerable Chu Feng!" At that moment, several soldiers standing by Chu Feng’s vehicle called out respectfully.

Chu Feng stepped out of the vehicle and found they were already inside the military base. The area was filled with armored vehicles and all sorts of weaponry, creating a powerful and intimidating sight.

Just then, the Western Celestial King approached with his men. Seeing Chu Feng, he beamed and said, "Venerables, I must trouble you to stay here for the next few days."

"You’re too kind, Western Celestial King," said the two Martial Arts Venerables from the Three Swords Sect. "As Martial Arts Venerables, it is our duty."

"Just ahead is the venue for the second round," the Western Celestial King said with a smile. "There are currently about five thousand people in there. As for their strength... some are weak, but some are quite strong. These are captives my Western Region has accumulated over many years."

"Then we should get ready," said Bai Han.

"Hahaha, Venerable Bai Han is not only beautiful but also remarkably decisive and sharp!" the Western Celestial King boomed. "Men, make the preparations! For the next few days, I want this entire area on full alert. Do not allow a single person to get out, or in."

"Yes, Celestial King!" The Western Celestial King’s subordinates quickly moved to carry out his orders.