Chapter 11: Effort Begets Miracles
The general of defense’s martial arena spanned a remarkable 800 zhangs in width, making it the most extensive area of level ground in Li City. The north wind blew vigorously, lifting the war banners as they rippled in the air.
On any other day, even the wealthiest and most privileged would find it difficult to enter this place, let alone the common folk. But today, it was filled with a sea of people!
On one side of the platform was a viewing stand composed of the nobility of Li City, while the other three sides were packed with tens of thousands of commoners, creating a bustling atmosphere of rarely seen levels.
In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, might was revered above all. The martial academy major tournament was not only a grand event for the county martial academy, but also the entire Li City. The powerful gentry of other counties and townships even arrived days in advance just to watch the tournament.
"Sixteen down to eight!"
The middle-aged referee in the arena was an Adept expert with an imposing figure. His voice was as loud as a bell, effortlessly rising above the noisy crowd. "He Zhong wins!"
"Haha, I won! I won!" The tall, thin young man on the platform threw down the spear he had yet to unsheath, took off his armor, and pumped his fist in the air. A triumphant grin was spread across his face.
The audience engaged in heated discussion. Sixteen down to eight, it was already the second half of the tournament.
In every martial academy major tournament, 64 elite disciples would first be chosen from an internal selection. Then, they would compete publicly one-on-one in an open battle.
This major tournament was not only supervised by the senior officials from the county and inspectors from the martial academy, but also a six-person patrol team made up of officers from the Cloudstride Sect headquarters and two other provinces. Therefore, the martial academy major tournament was as fair as possible, offering countless commoner disciples the best chance to 'leap over the dragon's gate' [1].
The first place entered the Cloud Martial Hall. The top sixteen entered the provincial martial academy, the Southdream Martial Academy.
"I lost!" Wu Sheng threw down his weapons and armor, jumped off the platform, and ran to the waiting area. His face was a picture of regret. "Brother Yuan, I was this close. Just a tiny bit more and I would have made it into the top eight."
"You are half a year younger than He Zhong, so a slight gap in your abilities is perfectly natural," Wu Yuan consoled with a comforting smile.
"Just a tiny bit more." Wu Sheng whined.
“For goodness sake, Ah Sheng, drop the act. I can tell you’re about to break into laughter," Luo He couldn't stand his friend’s shamelessness, "Is there any difference between the sixteenth and eighth place? It's just an increase in silver taels from ten to twenty. Either way, you get to enter the Southdream Martial Academy."
"You're far luckier than me. Xu Yuanhan was my opponent in the first round," Luo He shook his head.
"Ah He, even if you didn't encounter Xu Yuanhan, do you think you could've beaten anyone else?" Wu Sheng's face was filled with mock disdain, "The only reason you're participating in the open battle is because of sheer luck. Your father will definitely buy you a place in the Southdream Martial Academy."
"Don't be so blunt," Luo He laughingly scolded. "With this, I have saved my father 90,000 silver taels."
Wu Yuan laughed as his friends bickered. They did much better than expected in this tournament.
Luo He's martial arts talent was mediocre, but his family ranked among the top ten wealthiest merchants in Li City, and the Luo family was a true local power whom even the county mayor had to treat with respect.
If one was among the 64 disciples selected for the martial academy major tournament, one could gain admission into the Southdream Martial Academy by paying a sum of 10,000 silver taels. Of course, if someone were willing to pay 100,000 silver taels, the Southdream Martial Academy would gladly accept them even if they didn't have any martial arts foundation.
Wu Sheng, who hovered around the 30th place in several previous minor tournaments, made it spectacularly into the top sixteen, also exceeding everyone's expectations.
"Brother Yuan!" Wu Sheng suddenly looked over. "Among us three brothers, you are the one we admire the most."
"That’s right" Luo He nodded passionately, "Brother Yuan was dealt the worst circumstances, but achieved the most in martial arts! Go defeat Xu Yuanhan and take first place, you cultivation freak!"
The reason Luo He hung out with Wu Yuan was because he admired him. In terms of age, Wu Yuan was the youngest, but the two happily called him 'big bro'.
"Take first place, enter Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Sheng shouted excitedly.
His booming voice echoed throughout the waiting area, drawing the attention of many disciples waiting for their turn to fight. However, no one dared to voice their thoughts. Wu Yuan, Wu Sheng, and Luo He held considerable sway among the students of the martial academy.
Sitting on the other side was Xu Yuanhan, who merely cast a cold glance over and chose not to say anything.
"Stop shouting,” Wu Yuan chuckled, "The upcoming matches will be determined swiftly. We’ll know the results soon."
"Mm." Wu Sheng and Luo He both nodded in agreement, "Brother Yuan, you should meditate for now, we'll wait for you here."
Wu Yuan smiled in response.
This martial academy major tournament is far more grand than the university entrance exam of my previous life. Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the sea of people in the distance. It's much like the imperial examination of ancient times.
One might not immediately rise to glory. But standing out from the rest in the martial academy and becoming one of the top 64 was already a testament to one’s potential. All contenders held great promise of becoming martial virtuosos in the future. If one could enter the Southdream Martial Academy, it indicated a certain probability of becoming an Adept expert.
I'm afraid I'm already being targeted by some powerful families. Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.
Choosing sons-in-law from the defeated in the arena was a customary tradition.
Why would these powerful clans go through the trouble of coming here? Just to join in the fun? Of course not! More often than not, it was to identify talented martial artists as potential sons-in-law, or to network with dazzling geniuses.
Compared to the ancient dynasties of the Blue Planet, academics did not guarantee one a position of a high-ranking official. But powerful martial artists, whose bodies were their foundation, were destined for greatness!
However, my participation in the martial academy major tournament may have angered Headmaster Zhang and General Xu. Wu Yuan chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the two figures above the central platform. Headmaster Zhang was all smiles, while General Xu wore a frosty expression.
Wu Yuan had initially agreed to withdraw from the martial academy major tournament. After all, he was only fourteen. Even if he chose to forfeit, the sect’s patrol team would not pay it much notice. But at the final moment, Wu Yuan chose to participate.
One match followed another. Wu Yuan participated in yet another match, successfully advancing to the final four.
At last, he heard his name.
"Four down to two." The voice of the burly referee echoed across the arena. "Wu Yuan, Liu Ruyan! Proceed to the platform!"
"We're at four down to two."
"Wu Yuan."
"Liu Ruyan is valiant and heroic, her spear technique is truly beautiful."
"Wu Yuan is even more formidable! He was the champion of the most recent martial academy minor tournament! He's the top contender for first place."
"Watch carefully." The audience grew heated as the duels continued. The spectacles grew more splendid with each match, and the combatants became increasingly well-known.
The powerful clans who came specifically for the tournament got their hands on the list of elite disciples from the martial academy long ago, and had thoroughly studied every person on it.
"Wu Yuan, only fourteen years old. They say he awakened his martial arts potential and his strength has soared recently."
"The key is, he's not from a prominent clan. Although the Southdream Wu Clan is a large clan, the Wu Clan of Li City is just a small clan. This is an opportunity."
"Pay close attention!"
"If he enters the Cloud Martial Hall, the large clans in the city will all court him, and we’ll have no chance. But if he doesn't take first place? That's our opportunity!"
"Watch him carefully. With his talent, he’s more or less guaranteed to become an Adept expert in the future. He even has the potential to become a fourth-grade martial artist." The leaders of the powerful clans all watched the matches with a laser-sharp focus.
Truly ideal sons-in-law were rare. Some did not have outstanding talent, some were already betrothed, and some came from large clans and were pickier with their marriage partners. And thus, those like Wu Yuan, gifted yet of lowly birth, were their favorites.
In the viewing stands.
"Hmph!" General Xu scoffed, his eyes brimming with icy contempt.
"General, please maintain your composure," Headmaster Zhang whispered cautiously from his side, "The patrol team is present, do not lose your decorum."
"I, Xu Shouyi, will not tolerate deception," General Xu stated coldly.
Headmaster Zhang gave a helpless smile. There was nothing he could say to persuade him. In terms of personal strength, he did not consider himself much weaker than the other. But in terms of status, he was far behind. Moreover, General Xu was just over 40 and still had hope for advancement. Once he reached the third grade, he would truly become an elite of the Cloudstride Sect!
"Wu Yuan," Headmaster Zhang gazed upon the heroic young man on the platform and sighed inwardly, "Should I call you smart, or foolish?"
...On the platform.
"Wu Yuan, I may not be your match, but I will not surrender." Liu Ruyan was a young girl with her hair bundled into a ponytail. Her youthful face was determined. With a long spear in her hand, she radiated an indomitable spirit.
"As a martial artist, how can you admit defeat without a fight?" Wu Yuan lifted his blade and smiled, "Give it your all, who knows, a miracle might occur!"
"A miracle?" Liu Ruyan frowned.
Only a minute later.
Clang~ Before he could draw his blade, a lightning-quick thrust of her spear struck Wu Yuan in the chest.
Thump~ The powerful force from the tip of the spearhead instantly sent the armored Wu Yuan flying off the platform.
"Four down to two, Liu Ruyan, wins!" The referee declared without delay.
"What?"
"Wu Yuan lost?"
"A major upset indeed! Liu Ruyan has advanced to the final duel? She's going to face Xu Yuanhan in the final match?"
"Such a shame! Wu Yuan is still young. His inexperience in combat was clearly shown in the final match." A chorus of clamor spread, many martial artists revealing a shade of regret.
I won? Liu Ruyan was momentarily stunned.
She replayed her final thrust in her mind, unable to understand what just happened. Wu Yuan clearly blocked it, but why did my spear seem uncontrollable at the very end, violently shaking his blade off? When did my spear technique become this powerful?
Hard work, truly begets miracles?
1. "According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. The expression is used to communicate that if a person works hard, success will one day be achieved." ?
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