On stage,
“Why? Why didn’t you run out of Spiritual Qi?” Cho Yo stared at Zhu Tan with confusion. From her calculation, he should’ve run out of spiritual qi long ago, but he didn’t. This made her confused.
Hearing her question, Zhu Tan snickered “Maybe I will reveal it in the next match.”
…….
On the bench, Fu Chen was trying to make a proper plan for what he is going to do next.
After fighting against Mu Fan, he realized that anyone could easily catch up and even surpass his strength with little to no effort if they are geniuses. That means it’s not that his hard work is useless, it’s just that he doesn’t have the talent to improve at a rapid pace.
‘What do I exactly need? Talent is something I can acquire through heaven-defying luck which I don’t have. And, I can’t increase my luck through stat points as well.’
‘But, according to the system, if cultivation increases, those will increase as well. So, I should just focus on increasing my cultivation. After becoming the Outer-Disciple, I have to complete tasks given by the sect for three months.’
‘Only then I would be able to leave the sect for some time. So, that means I can’t just go away even if I want to unless it is for the mission. Not to mention, I seriously don’t know where should I look for talent.’
‘I can’t just find it on the street, can I? I want to rely less and less on the system but it feels like I am useless without it. The only thing that I have right now is Martial Spirit.’
‘I must get the first position in the competition. Only then, I would be able to improve. Just reaching the High-Tier took me a week even with those pills. Without those pills, it might just take a month and the higher I reach, the harder it will get.’
‘Status’
[Name- Fu Chen
Race- Human
Bloodline- None
Class- Cultivator
Cultivation Realm- Foundation Establishment Realm- First Stage (High-Tier)
Martial Spirit- Blue Snake (Mutated)- +5STR, +5DEF
Cultivation Technique- None
Martial Art- Roaring Tiger Stance, Storm Steps
—————————————
Basic Stats- STR- 25 / AGI- 25 / DEF- 25/ STM- 25
Additional Stats- Magic- 5 / MS- 5 / Luck- 2
—————————————
Stat Points- 505
Skill Points- 503
Functions Unlocked- Primary Functions (3), Secondary Function (3)
Inventory (Temporary)- Immortal-Tier Cultivation Technique, Immortal-Tier Martial Art, and Immortal-Tier Weapon]
‘Ha! This is going to be difficult. I have immortal tier cultivation techniques, martial art, and weapon but I can’t use them. I also have stat points and skill points but I can’t use them.’
‘What the hell am I even thinking? I am giving up because of that temptation. If I let myself fall for those temptations, how can I possibly manage to acquire the talent for myself?’
‘No, I need to control myself, or else I would become completely dependent on this system and ended up using it for everything else.’
Fu Chen took a few deep breaths and calmed down. The next battle continued and more disciples fought each other. Slowly, it was coming to the semi-final. Only four disciples were remaining.
Two from each side!
From one side, it was Fu Chen and another disciple named Meng Yu. She was the second stage cultivator with an extraordinary talent for martial arts. She had perfected martial arts so it wouldn’t be a surprise to say that she was very unique.
From another side, it was Zhu Tan and the disciple named Jian Shen. Unlike the three of them, he was a swordsman. Using a sword as his weapon, he was extraordinary but from the whispers of others, Fu Chen learned that he was just like him.
Jian Shen worked so hard that he managed to awaken something known as Sword Spirit. Unlike Martial Spirit, Sword Spirit is very unique and grants extraordinary sword talent to the cultivator who awakens it.
This got Fu Chen fired up because he wanted to fight against this guy. Fighting a person who managed to awaken his talent through sheer hard work sowed a seed of hope in his heart.
And, he wanted to get closer to such disciples as well. But, he wasn’t sure if this will come true or not.
At least, he didn’t get called for the first match in the semi-final.
“Disciple Meng Yu Vs Disciple Zhu Tan”
The referee elder retreated after calling their name. From his corner, Meng Yu stood up and walked toward the stage. On their side, no disciple was standing anymore.
All those who lost left the participant area so it was only two of them. And, she was sitting just next to the door while he was sitting in the corner.
After she left, he finally stood up and went to the door. At this moment, he wanted to look at the battle. He knew this match wasn’t going to be easy and those who are participating in this battle are even better.
On the stage, Meng Yu and Zhu Tan stood in front of each other. While looking at her, Zhu Tan was getting slightly nervous. Unlike other opponents, she didn’t have any weaknesses that he could exploit.
And, with her mastery over martial art, she was very strong, to say the least. He had no strategy to defeat her but he wasn’t letting his rage cloud his mind either.
He knew he can’t behave as he did with Fu Chen in this competition. If he does, then it would be the end of the battle for him.
He didn’t make a move. He waited for her to make a move. Meng Yu also noticed it but she decided to make a move anyway.
She gathered an enormous Spiritual Qi in her hand and formed a bow.
‘Bow-type martial art? Shit! I need to use it.’
“Roaring Tiger First Stance- Crushing Fist!”
Zhu Tan immediately released his martial art and at this moment, it covered almost to his knees. This means he hasn’t perfected it but from the waist to the knee in just a few matches was a great improvement.
On the top of the building, a few elders were watching the battle.
“Elder Zhu, it seems your grandson is improving quickly throughout this whole competition. Congratulation!” One of the elders patted Elder Zhu while laughing.
“If he had only been this serious for the whole year, he would’ve reached the Fourth Stage by now. I don’t know how to stop him from slacking off.” Elder Zhu sighed and bitterly smiled as he looked at his grandson.
It was indeed as he said. If Zhu Tan had been serious for a year, he would’ve reached the fourth stage by now. With all of the resources, he could get for his grandson and his talent, his cultivation was bound to soar.
But, unfortunately, his grandson likes playing with his friends, flirting with girls, and just slacking off too much. That’s why he never works and always snatches the cultivation points from other disciples.
He knew his grandson was spoiled but he couldn’t change it because his grandson wasn’t wrong either. If he tries to work his butt off, it would take nearly two years to earn enough contribution points to buy a Middle-Tier Cultivation.
As for martial arts, weapons, and resources, it would cost even more. That’s why his grandson didn’t improve his cultivation for a year to participate in this competition.
He was unlucky to awaken his martial spirit just when the previous competition ended. So for him, there was no other way than to participate in this competition.
‘Come on my grandson, don’t lose here! If you lose here, all of your slacking will truly go to waste. Your grandfather promised you to kill that bastard for you. So, you must win here.’
‘Even if you come second, it doesn’t matter but you can’t lose in the semi-finals.’
Knowing Fu Chen’s strength, he knew it wouldn’t be easy for his grandson to win. But, he didn’t lose all of his hope either especially for his grandson to come second in the competition.
The reward would be slightly less but it wouldn’t matter.
On the stage, Meng Yu created a bow and shot three arrows one after another, with less than two seconds time gap between each. Each arrow was made out of blue spiritual qi and they were not just sharp but also fast, extremely fast.
‘Come on, Tan! You just need to focus and.’
Zhu Tan clenched his fist and slammed it forward. He didn’t slam on the arrow but rather slammed on the air in front of him.
Bam!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
His punch sent a massive shockwave that destroyed those arrows. Although they were sharp and fast, they weren’t much durable but they didn’t end there. She shot another arrow.
But, this time, Zhu Tan didn’t wait there. He dashed towards the arrow and slammed his fist. It struck the arrowhead but a few seconds later, the arrow started piercing his Tiger coating.
‘Damn it! I underestimated the density of the Spiritual Qi. At the very least, I should have focused more on grandpa’s lecture rather than slacking off. But, I can’t lose here.’
‘Come on! More aura, more pressure, more, more ……..’
“Now!”
Zhu Tan shouted and the next moment, he jumped slightly as he kicked the arrow. But at this moment, his foot was covered with the red spiritual qi coating.
Bang!