Chapter 42: The Fifth Spot is Mine

The plaza of Skyplume City transformed overnight. The massive plaza was cordoned off, and 105 fight rings were constructed along with a grand spectator stand.

Mt. Spirit Beast College didn’t have any firm schedule to which city they would be hosting the recruitment annually. In fact, it has been over a century since the Mt. Spirit Beast College came to Skyplume City for a recruitment ceremony. To the Skyplume City, these few days were a grand occasion unlike anything before. It was even more bustling than the yearly Heaven Star Festival.

Three mentors came from the Mt. Spirit Beast College, but only one of them revealed themselves today. A deputy general appeared alongside with Skyplume City Lord—Ji Tian. Ji Tian gave an awe-inspiring speech that lit up a passion within the hearts of all the youths. Before the exact figures were tabulated by noon, the number of participants had already reached 2500.

Jiang Yi didn’t have the opportunity to witness such a grand event. He was currently experimenting with his new martial skill in the Martial Arts Hall.

“Exploding Essence Palm!”

With his eyes shut, he stood in front of a black-colored wall. Letting out a shout, he gradually circulated some essence force and began guiding it through the meridians using a unique circulation route. After circulating 13 rounds, this portion of essence force had depleted by 2/3. He then quickly revolved the circulated essence force in his palm. Right at the moment his eyes opened, he slammed his palm on the black wall in from of him.

“Pong, Pong, Pong…!”

Five rings could be heard. Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up but were quickly followed up by a frown. He looked at his palm and mumbled doubtfully, “This isn’t right. I have successfully released the Exploding Essence Palm already, but why did it only increase the power by such a small amount? Wasn’t it suppose to increase the power by three folds? Could it be that this manual has some problem? Or did I comprehend it wrongly?”

The black wall was a stone meant for testing one’s power. Jiang Clan had one too, and the Power Test Stone in the Martial Arts Hall shouldn’t have any problem. But there were only five rings earlier, which meant his palm strike only contained the power of five horses.

Although he hadn’t used the largest force of the Exploding Essence Palm, he did use quite a significant amount. Even if he went all out, it wouldn’t increase much of the power.

After mumbling for a long time, he casually circulated his essence force and struck at the black wall. The black wall shook, and soon enough, four rings could be heard. He was now at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, and he should have the power of four horses, which proved that his Power Test Stone didn’t have any problem.

Let me fuse my black essence force and try!

Jiang Yi considered for a moment but was still unable to understand what went wrong. Clenching his teeth, he mustered a portion of the essence force from his dantian and fused it with a wisp of the black essence force. He began condensing and finally circulated the essence force into his palm before slamming it onto the black wall.

“Pong, Pong, Pong…!”

The black wall shook, and the entire Technique Practicing Room turned silent after eight rings. After making sure that the black wall didn’t let out any more rings, his eyes were filled with disappointment.

The strength of eight horses!

With the fusion of the black essence force and Exploding Essence Palm, his strength merely increased by two folds, which could rival a martial artist who was at the eighth stage of Cast Tripod Realm. This result was much too different from his initial expectation as he only had an increase in strength. His speed and defense were still far from the level of a fighter at the eighth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm. If he didn’t possess the enhanced vision from the black essence force, which gave him the insane reaction speed, he wouldn’t even dare to participate in the recruitment ceremony.

He had once fought against fighters at the eighth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm and even Jiang Henshui who was at the ninth stage of Cast Tripod Realm. But those fights were done in the Technique Practicing Room which sealed the essence force. What’s more, during his spar with Jiang Henshui, he only dodged without counterattacking. Jiang Henshui didn’t expect Jiang Yi’s reaction speed to be this insane. Had Jiang Henshui circulated his essence force, the one being abused would definitely be him.

What exactly went wrong?

Jiang Yi lowered his head and thought for a long time. He mustered traces of black essence force to fuse with the blue essence force again, but he realized that it only produced the power of seven horses. He gradually understood that because of his higher cultivation stage, the enhancement of the black essence force would become weaker. His initial thought was too naive, thinking that with the combination of the Exploding Essence Palm and black essence force, he could defeat anyone who was of the Cast Tripod Realm.

I shall not ponder anymore. The matches are about to begin tomorrow. My fate will be left to the heavens to decide.

Jiang Yi walked back to his room in a gloomy state and began cultivating to replenish his previously depleted essence force. He concurrently tried to reevaluate the Exploding Essence Palm, hoping to find some new discovery. Researching deep into the night, Jiang Yi still couldn’t comprehend anything. He could only go to sleep.

The next day, Jiang Yi woke up early and had a casual breakfast before leaving. The entire Technique Practicing Room was empty. Jiang Yi took a quick glance at the room before leaving the place with some regrets.

“Lone Wolf. Do your best, kid!”

In the corridors, an aged voice echoed from behind. Jiang Yi’s heart felt the warmth as he turned back and nodded at Manager Yang; he then took big steps outside.

Stepping outside of the Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Yi saw that there was already a huge crowd even though the matches had yet to officially begin. The plaza was north of the Martial Arts Hall, and the entire plaza was visible if one stood at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.

Jiang Yi, who was wearing the malevolent wolf mask, couldn’t help but attract a lot of attention. The current Jiang Yi was rather famous: as most of the young martial artists, who were waiting in the plaza, greeted him with nods. During this period of time, Jiang Yi had fought at least one or two hundred individuals. Most of these people had some improvement in the martial skills and had a favorable impression of him.

Jiang Yi stood silently, maintaining his callous style. As time shifted, the number of people in the city plaza increased. The center of the plaza where the 105 stages were set was so packed that water couldn’t even flow.

As Jiang Yi stood silently like a spectator, his eyes would occasionally observe his surroundings. He would sometimes notice some old friends like Yi Clan’s Yi Lingxue and Yi Longyu, people like Ma Heiqi and Liu He, others like Jiang Gushui. He was suspicious of why he didn’t spot Jiang Henshui, Ji Tingyu, and Leng Qianqian.

“Wow!”

A commotion could be heard from the east side which attracted the attention of Jiang Yi. Looking up, he saw a group of people marching in. In the front was a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious gray-colored robes. He was as tall as Jiang Rulong but had an even sturdier build. His look was domineering and had an exceptional presence. From time to time, he would mingle with the three white-robed individuals and sergeants who wore black battle-gears. With the occasional hearty laughter, it created a prominent presence that was too hard not to attract any attention.

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City Lord Ji Tian? Are those three white-robed individuals, the mentors from Mt. Spirit Beast College? Huh… why is that mentor so young and so beautiful?! The presence of this mentor is something that Ji Tingyu can’t compare with right?

Jiang Yi’s eyes—or perhaps countless men’s eyes—were all drawn by the female mentor among the three mentors of Mt. Spirit Beast College. This lady should be around the age of 20. This was the age where a girl would lose her childish look and advance towards maturity; her body was also fully developed. She had a good-looking egg-shaped face which was comparable to Ji Tingyu. But her body’s curves would instantly defeat Ji Tingyu’s, especially that elegant yet cold presence which seemed to repel any man. It appealed to the hearts of countless men.

This was also the first time Jiang Yi saw a lady who looked cold even when laughing. Even though they were half a plaza apart, Jiang Yi could feel her cold intent as though she was a lady made of ice.

Ji Tian brought his group of guests up onto the grand spectator’s stand on the south side and entered an elegant pavilion. The guards of the Skyplume City began to surround the spectator’s stand. A team of patrol headed out to clear up the areas where the 105 stages were.

Shh-shh-shh!

From the opposite direction, another group of people walked onto the other spectator’s stand. Jiang Yi let out a glare, as this group had the clan head and elders of the Jiang Clan. The rest of the people were obviously the figureheads of the three major clans.

“The Mt. Spirit Beast College recruitment ceremony shall officially begin!”

A veteran who wore a splendid looking robe walked to the center of the spectator’s stand and gestured with both his hands, asking the crowd to be quiet. His eagle eyes scanned the surroundings before shouting, “Before the knock-out tournament begins, as per our usual practice, is there anyone who would want to attempt the single elimination open tournament? If there isn’t anyone, then the knock-out tournament shall begin. The numbers that I read out shall come on stage to fight. If you didn’t come on stage, you would be considered forfeiting.”

With the matches starting officially, everyone overflowed with excitement. This was a tournament that could decide the fates of many people. On the spectator’s stand weren’t merely the Mt. Spirit Beast College’s mentors, there were the generals of the West Garrison Army. Nearby them were the countless members of the major clans from other cities. Even if one didn’t obtain the enrollment spot of the Mt. Spirit Beast College, someone might still want to recruit one if one would perform well.

It was the best timing to attempt the single elimination open tournament now as everyone would definitely see whoever did. But there wasn’t anyone that stupid or brave. After all, the participant had to win a hundred fights, which meant at least ten matches a day. If this person were to lose just one match, he or she would face elimination. If anyone dared to attempt it, they would face all the formidable participants who would use all means to bring this person down. Or else they would have a lower probability to succeed if anyone took one of the enrollment spots.

Jiang Yi wasn’t that silly. The knock-out tournament was based on a random draw which would allow him to progress slowly. Unless he had the worst luck, then he would face a formidable foe. But on the single elimination open tournament, he would definitely be facing enemies who would be stronger than the previous one.

“I will take up the single elimination open tournament challenge!”

Suddenly, a pleasant and tender voice could be heard. From the east side of the plaza, a yellow figure rushed towards the sky. Her small leg tapped on the shoulders as she floated towards the stage like a nimble butterfly.

Ji Tingyu!

Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up, and so did the eyes of the countless young males on the plaza. She was the most beautiful fresh flower in Skyplume City and was the dream partner of everyone’s heart.

“Hahaha!”

Carefree laughter echoed from the spectator’s stand. Ji Tian obviously adored his daughter and was very proud to see her daughter being exceptional.

“Hahaha, I shall join in the fun and challenge the single elimination open tournament!”

A white figure leaped out from the crowd. His body stagnated in mid-air for a moment before gliding in a straight line towards the stage. He smiled and respectfully bowed with grace in the direction of the spectator’s stand.

Jiang Henshui appeared!

Jiang Yi didn’t felt assured as, in other direction, a stalwart figure shot onto the stage like a cannonball. Carrying a huge golden saber on the shoulder, a provoking glare was shot to Ji Tingyu’s direction. Who else could it be other than that Leng Clan’s young lady who was more dauntless than any men?

“Swish!”

Before the crowd could lament, a blue figure launched out from the crowd. With the body as light as a swallow and vigorous movements, his presence didn’t lose out to Leng Qianqian and the others.

“Huh….”

A commotion went off throughout the plaza. It was mainly because no one knew who this blue-robed youth was. But yet he had a strength that was at the least at the eighth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, possibly the ninth stage.

There were only five spots, and there were four participants attempting the single elimination open tournament. If all of them achieved a hundred victories, then the rest of the over 2000 participants had to fight for the final spot.

Goddammit…

Jiang Yi panicked. The four of them had such formidable ability and had the chance of achieving a hundred victories. Before the tournament could even start, there would only be one spot left? How could he actually win?

“Swish!”

From the side of Jiang Yi eyes, he saw another figure surging towards the stage. This was where he panicked the most! If all five spots were gone, he would need to spend the rest of his life as a slave in the Martial Arts Hall!

The fifth spot is mine!

Blood rushed into Jiang Yi’s brain. He roared and rushed onto the stage with lightning speed and was one step faster.