Days turned into weeks, and the new recruits were baptized through one arena match after another.
After these days of fighting, Han Lang and his companions had successfully entered the top four hundred. The next challenge was for the top two hundred!
This was a challenge of extraordinary significance.
Everyone knew that the top two hundred in the new recruit arena matches were the designated squad leaders. In special forces, this meant a higher position and a faster advancement.
Therefore, for the upcoming battles, the new recruits finally began to feel the tension of the competition.
After the draw, Han Lang, Tang Qin, and Ma Long had no special opponents.
Only Tang Geng, before stepping onto the arena, learned that his opponent, like them, had advanced to the top four hundred with swift and decisive victories in the previous rounds.
"Wow, this match is going to be exciting! I heard that this guy on stage is solidly at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."
"Not only that, but I also heard that his strength, even among all cultivators at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, is above average! With time, he'll likely break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment soon!"
"That strong? Then what's the cultivation of this pale-faced sword cultivator opposite him?"
"Based on the estimates of those who fought him before, he should still be in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but far superior to ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Although there's a gap between them, it shouldn't be too large!"
"Are you kidding me? Early stage is early stage. Compared to the middle stage, you call that not a big gap? In my opinion, that pale-faced sword cultivator will most likely stop here!"
"I think so too! This small gap in stages might not seem like much, but in a real fight, it's a world of difference! I'm also more optimistic about the one opposite!"
Hearing the one-sided evaluations, Ma Long couldn't help but worry for Tang Geng.
"Brother Tang Geng, how is it? Do you have confidence?"
Tang Geng smiled faintly.
"Don't worry, Brother Ma Long! Those people understand me too superficially. With the Spirit Gathering Pills gifted by Brother Han Lang these past few days, my strength actually broke through two days ago!"
Tang Qin was also extremely displeased with Ma Long's doubts.
"Exactly! Ma Long, you're on our side. How can you not believe in your teammate's strength just because of what others say? The opponent is just a minor middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Don't even mention Tang Geng; even I wouldn't take him seriously!"
Ma Long felt extremely embarrassed by this lecture and quickly apologized.
"Hehe, it's my fault. After all, we've all cultivated the Heavenly-tier techniques from the young master. A mere middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator is indeed not worth worrying about! Hehe..."
As they were speaking, the referee on stage began to urge Tang Geng to enter the arena.
Tang Geng gave Ma Long and the others a confident smile, then, holding his spiritual weapon sword, he slowly walked onto the stage.
Seeing Tang Geng enter the arena, the person opposite him first politely bowed and introduced himself.
"I am Ou Feng, specializing in hammer techniques. I request guidance from my comrade!"
Tang Geng quickly returned the bow.
"I am Tang Geng, specializing in the sword. I seek guidance from my comrade!"
Before the battle even began, the crowd below greatly admired the two for their humble and courteous demeanor.
This was the true spirit of competition second, friendship first!
As the referee gave the order, the two bowed to each other again before taking out their weapons.
The battle began, and the two naturally stopped being polite. Almost at the same time, they both made their moves.
Ou Feng smashed his hammer towards the ground. Powerful spiritual energy erupted from the hammer, drawing a pillar of current, instantly forming a giant electric dragon that lunged at Tang Geng with bared fangs and claws.
Han Lang below was somewhat surprised.
"Whoa, it's indeed a clash of titans! The opponent's martial skill actually carries the attribute of lightning!"
Ma Long was even more astonished.
"If that's the case, aren't his martial skill's attributes the same as Brother Tang Geng's? Then what grade is his martial skill?"
Han Lang observed carefully and then replied indifferently.
"It's probably a mid-grade Profound tier, far inferior to Brother Tang Geng's Lightning Sword Slash!"
Hearing Han Lang's words, Ma Long finally felt a little relieved.
Indeed, as the lightning dragon approached, Tang Geng's sword light flashed. Without any fancy moves, he unleashed a single slash in the air. Instantly, a sword energy, entwined with faint purple lightning, flew straight to meet the lightning dragon.
As the spiritual energies collided, a deafening roar erupted. In the midst of this faint roar, their moves dissolved into specks of light, completely canceling each other out.
Seeing this, Han Lang commented.
"It seems neither of them has used their full strength yet!"
But just this one sentence caused the surrounding spectators to look sideways.
"Brother, you say they haven't used their full strength yet? With such power, any cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment would find it difficult to resist!"
"Yeah! I don't know about others, but if it were me, I'd probably be lying on the ground, unconscious!"
"Heh heh, brother, you're quite self-aware!"
"Tch! As if you could resist it!"
While the crowd below was in a heated discussion, the two on stage made their moves again.
Ou Feng tossed the hammer in his hand high into the air. Immediately, he pointed his sword forward and chanted incantations.
The hammer seemed to respond to his call, circling in the air and drawing countless air currents, forming lightning that changed the color of the sky above Tang Geng.
It was as if a thousand bolts of thunder would descend the next second, smashing Tang Geng into pieces.
Everyone below's faces changed in shock, and they couldn't help but worry for Tang Geng.
But Tang Geng himself was unfazed. With a calm expression, he looked at the imposing power above. He flicked his sword, and it flew out of his hand, striking directly at the large hammer overhead.
Although the weapon left his hand, it did not leave the owner's control.
A continuous clanging of metal could be heard as the two weapons clashed in the air.
For a moment, the two seemed to transform into their weapons, clashing dozens of times in the air until the dark clouds thickened further, and a bolt of lightning struck directly onto Tang Geng's spiritual sword.
Tang Geng's body trembled slightly, as if this thunderbolt had struck him rather than the spiritual sword.
Just as Ou Feng was feeling a slight sense of triumph, the spiritual sword in the air seemed like a vortex in the sea, absorbing the bolt of lightning completely.
Before Ou Feng could be astonished, the lightning shot out from the sword tip, hitting the large hammer head-on, exactly as it was.
"Puff"
The large hammer was struck, and along with it, Ou Feng, the controller, also spat out a mouthful of blood. He appeared to be seriously injured.
In this exchange, everyone understood that Tang Geng had gained the upper hand.
However, Tang Geng did not rush to press his advantage. Instead, with a thought, he calmly recalled his spiritual sword.
Seeing this, the crowd below erupted in praise.
"Amazing! I didn't expect him to have such magnanimity. Even in this situation, he could hold back!"
"A role model for us! The tip of our swords should be aimed at the enemy, not our comrades!"
"No matter what you think, I have to give this brother an award in my heart! He's too righteous!"