Chapter 205: Chapter 205 The First Round of Examinations (Please Subscribe)
The range of Masters’ Mountain stretched out vast and wide, coiling and twisting into the far horizon like a sleeping dragon. Its highest peak reaching up to twelve thousand meters, seemingly piercing through the clouds.
It’s noteworthy that, this Masters’ Mountain, was not exclusive to Qingxue State, as every state would choose a geomantic mountain range and name it accordingly for the Masters’ Competition.
"The scent of blood lingers, leaving heroic bones behind. The sound of a resonating bell echoes throughout the ages."
As the long echo faded, two figures emerged, and upon their arrival, they positioned themselves atop the highest peak of the nearby mountain range.
"Amitabha."
To the left stood an elder monk, clad in kasaya cloth, radiating an awe-inspiring aura.
To the right stood an elder Taoist, holding a duster, his demeanor calm and composed.
"Master Honest, Daoist Xuhuai."
A dozen figures flew out and hastily bowed in respect to the two elders.
The dozen figures were the leaders of the three major gangs, four grand families, and eight sects. As for the two dark palaces, as they didn’t follow the Righteous Path, they were not eligible to participate.
Seeing the reverence displayed towards Master Honest and Daoist Xuhuai by figures who stirred up Qingxue state’s Martial World, shocked many, but some were not surprised.
Master Honest and Daoist Xuhuai were skilled practitioners from Shaolin and Wudang respectively. Their abilities were unfathomable and they presided over each Grand Masters’ Competition as head and deputy judges respectively. Disrespecting them would indeed be odd.
"Honored guests, your courtesy is appreciated. The toll of the Heroic Spirit Bell signals the beginning, we will dispense with formalities. Please maintain order and head towards the Heart Inquiry Lake." Master Honest said courteously.
"Heart Inquiry Lake?"
Old Mr. Ma, the leader of Asura Mansion, and the others all changed their expressions, soon to be replaced with pure ecstasy.
Each Grand Masters’ Competition had a large number of participants, therefore, prior to the main competition, several rounds of selection were conducted. The level of difficulty in these pre-selection rounds adjusted according to the participants’ capabilities.
Recalling a competition several hundred years ago, which shone brightly with the talents it harbored, eventually leading to the opening of Heart Inquiry Lake. Who would have thought that after that many years, this current competition would also reach that level of grandeur?
One must know that Master’s Mountain was the geomantic treasure of every state, and every five years, countless fates would converge here. Should the competition become prosperous, it would also mean that the more benefits the ultimate winner would enjoy.
Heart Inquiry Lake was a representation of the highest tier.
"We must give it our all."
"Fight till the end."
"Even if it costs our last drop of energy, we must push ourselves."
At this moment, not to mention the leaders of the dozen top sects, but everyone around, including those young people who had utmost confidence in themselves, all clenched their fists, their faces flushed, their hearts filled with soaring ambitions.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Master Honest and Daoist Xuhuai soared away.
And soon enough, through the transmission of messages, the crowd learned of this. An uproar ensued on the scene.
"It’s actually the Heart Inquiry Lake?"
People from the Cloud Triangle, primarily located on the periphery, looked at each other in surprise.
"It seems that we have underestimated this competition."
The Sect Master from the Truth Sword Sect was in daze, standing beside him were ’Sky-Holding Xuan Sword’ Tang Juran, and ’Young Master Sword’ Su Junhao from the Four Outstanding Youths.
They both were to represent the Truth Sword Sect in the competition.
"Competing against the finest from across the world is just what I desired."
Su Junhao, clad in purple, was as arrogant as before. Upon hearing the three words ’Heart Inquiry Lake’, his eyes sparkled.
After years of diligent practice, he had now reached the fifth tier of Qi Absorption. Along with his advanced martial arts realm, even his Senior Brother Tang Juran could not handle his ten stabs. Therefore, he was naturally filled with the urge to test his valour.
Compared to him, Tang Juran, who used to be one of the two top-notch fighters in the past, seemed quite low-key.
"You both should just do your best, and nothing more."
Over on the side of the Justice Sect, the Sect Leader spoke to a young man and a woman.
The young man was ’Unrivaled Blade Young Master’ Lu Erfeng and the woman was the ’Cloud Robes Fairy’ Zhu Ling, dressed in white and acclaimed as the most beautiful woman in the Cloud Triangle.
"Master, rest assured."
Lu Erfeng nodded heavily and Zhu Ling flashed a gentle smile.
"Everyone says that our Cloud Triangle is inferior to other places. Well, I want to see just how superior the experts from other places are."
From the Astonishing Dragon Castle, ’Astonishing Dragon Young Master’ Yue Xunxian, scoffed.
Despite losing the limelight to Shi Xiaole and Su Junhao in recent years, Yue Xunxian didn’t lose heart and instead, surpassed his diligence from the past.
Just a few days ago, he managed to cultivate his Astonishing Dragon Style Kung Fu to the seventh level, his strength equaling, if not surpassing, his father Yue Changzheng’s. If it weren’t for the upcoming competition, he would have even challenged Su Junhao to see who was stronger.
As a light rain began to fall from the sky, it could not quench the burning passion in everyone’s hearts.
Under the leadership of more than a dozen top-notch sects, they orderly advanced towards the Heart Inquiry Lake located within the mountain range. At this time, even the high-ranking practitioners of Xuanqi Realm remained well-behaved and didn’t dare to stir up trouble.
About a half 2-hour period later, the scenery ahead opened up, revealing a large, ink-black, serene lake to everyone.
The end nor the full width of the lake could be seen, seemingly large enough to accommodate the entire sky, and from afar, one could see a small tower standing tall on a desolate island.
Heart Inquiry Lake.
In front of the Heart Inquiry Lake, there was a large flat ground nestled at the foot of the mountain range. This allowed the majority of people to have a clear view of the area from the mountains, even from a significant distance.
Everyone was restricted outside the flat ground and were not permitted to step forward.
Following discussions, the tall and dignified leader of the Asura Mansion stepped forward and loudly announced, "Everyone below the age of twenty-five, and who have reached the second tier of Qi Absorption, step forward."
Reaching the second tier of Qi Absorption was the minimum requirement for participating in the Masters’ Competition. However, due to the vast number of participants, the selection needed to be carried out in multiple rounds, segmented based on the the participants’ cultivation levels.
As for age adulteration, there was no need to worry. In the end, those able to get on top of Masters Mountain would not exceed one thousand. At that time, an identity verification would be carried out for each and every participant.
If anyone dared to disguise, they would be in big trouble.
If they were eliminated halfway, then whether they disguised their ages or not, it would not matter at all.
The sound of wind breaking echoed, akin to the hum of a wind tunnel. As the words of the Asura Mansion Master fell, figures dropped onto the flat ground, densely packed, instantly filling every spot.
Many who were too slow could only wait for the next round to get on stage.
"Now, using your flying skill, traverse the Heart Inquiry Lake, touching the water only three times midway. Those who fail to reach the Heart Inquiry Tower will be eliminated," the Asura Mansion Master announced loudly.
Everyone gasped in surprise.
The distance from the shoreline of Heart Inquiry Lake to the small tower at the center was at least five hundred meters. Touching the water only three times midway, even many masters of the ninth tier of Qi Absorbtion would not be able to achieve this.
As expected, the expressions of the young ones standing on the flat ground changed instantly.
"Begin!"
The Asura Mansion Master shouted.
Whish, whish, whish...
Many young men flew out.
At the one hundred meter mark, over seventy percent exhausting their breath and fell into the lake.
At the two hundred meter mark, many people secretly touched the water five or six times. At this moment, invisible Qi shot from the peak, accurately hitting these tricksters.
Everyone turned their heads to look, only then noticing that the peak was suddenly filled with hundreds of masters. Judging from the Qi they intentionally revealed, the lowest level was the ninth tier of Xuanqi Realm, with many even being masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
"Everyone says the Martial arts Competition is the grand event of the entire martial world, and now, I finally really understand," many stuttered in shock.
Masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm are top figures in the entire Qingxue State, and difficult to encounter ordinarily. Only the Martial Arts Competition could gather so many masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm, and even let them serve as ’exam invigilators’ for free.
At the three hundred meter mark, only hundreds remained on the lake surface.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Many arrow shafts suddenly shot out like an army of locusts. Amidst loud cries, another group of people could not react in time and fell into the water like dumplings.
It wasn’t over yet. After the rain of arrows, many masters suddenly sprung out from the water. Their cultivation levels were mostly around the third or fourth tier of Qi Absorption. They were not particularly strong, but their number was overwhelming, usually four or five at once pounce on a young man in midair.
"Damn it, how can there be such a thing?"
"I hate it."
With a series of splashes, the lake surface quieted down.
Just three hundred meters, out of tens of thousands of people, not one passed. The difficulty was so extreme that it was dumbfounding.
With everyone returning to flat ground, the Asura Mansion Master said, "The second wave, begin."
After seven consecutive rounds, not a single prodigy of the second tier of Qi Absorption managed to successfully reach the Heart Inquiry Tower.
Next was the third tier of Qi Absorption, with still zero successes.
This result directly discouraged many people.
Finally, in the fourth tier of Qi Absorption, there were nine people who passed, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
"My god, with the cultivation of the fourth tier of Qi Absorption, their strength is not inferior to the ninth tier of Qi Absorption, and there are nine people of such aptitude. This generation is too horrifying!" someone shouted, their voice shaking.
Several top sects, and even first-rate sect masters nodded their heads in agreement, thinking that these nine people came from their sects.
Before the astonishment subsided, it was the turn of the fifth tier of Qi Absorption. This time, one hundred and twenty-six people successfully passed, once again causing a heated debate.
"This event is truly worthy of the Qingxue State level. Any one of them, placed in a region, would absolutely be top-notch talents. However, they appear here in clusters."
Yu Fangge’s face was full of shock.
What shocked him even more was that among those one hundred and twenty-six people, there was one who was surprisingly Su Junhao.
"Hahaha, good."
The head of the Truth Sword Sect laughed heartily, bursting with pride.
Among the participants of the Cloud Triangle, Yue Xunxian, Liu Mengse, Yuan Qiuwei, and others did not pass. As for Xiao Yuanbo, Zuo Feiyang, Ba Renxiong, they were eliminated early in the previous rounds.
"Sect leader, Junhao should be the only one from our Cloud Triangle who passed the first round." The Grand Elder of the Truth Sword Sect also laughed.
"Isn’t there still one left?" the head of the Truth Sword Sect implied something subtly.
"Shi Xiaole was full of vigor in the early stage, but the path of a martial artist is full of rapid changes. The other party hasn’t appeared yet, or maybe there are too many people and he was eliminated without us noticing."
Two years ago, Shi Xiaole was only at the first tier of Qi Absorption. Could it be that in two years, the other party could advance to the sixth tier of Qi Absorption? That’s hardly realistic.
"As martial artists, we should never slack off."
The Sect Master of the Truth Sword Sect nodded his head, looking very regretful.
"Xunxian, this is the stage for all the outstanding talents of Qingxue State. None of those who dare to step on it are mediocre. Learn from this failure," the Master of Astonishing Dragon Castle, Yue Changzheng, sighed.
You Xunxian looked ugly, his brows twitching, and as he looked at the distant Su Junhao, his heart was filled with anger and frustration.
Why? Could it be that he was really inferior to his opponent?
"Why haven’t we seen the Junior Brother yet?" All members of the Huajian Sect looked worried.
Although Yuan Qiuwei and others were eliminated, this result was expected, so they were not upset. What upset them was, where was Shi Xiaole?
It was already the fifth tier of Qi Absorption, and he still had not appeared. Could it be that he had already withdrawn in disappointment?
