142. Arrogant Elven
(Show me your ultimate move or I won’t be polite)
(You think you’re the only who can manifest Dao.)
SWALLOWING FROST WYVERN
(To think that Misty Cloud School is only capable of this much.)
TORRENTIAL SWORD
An Early Core Formation student launched an attack that took the form of blue dragon however before it could reach his opponent, the projection of a wyvern was cut into pieces then in an instant, a silver sword before him.
STOP!
A loud call was made by the referee.
*Gasp!
The audience held their breaths as they watch the spectacular display of skills between Misty Cloud School and Sword Mountain School.
(Ladies and gentlemen. We have a winner!)
*Clap
A boisterous loud noise came from the crowd of audience inside a huge stadium. The circular ring is around 300 meter in radius and the platform is made from an unknown alloy that can withstand an attack from a Nascent cultivator.
Unlike other competitions, interschool competitions are not publicly available as important figures and masters are present. This competition serves as an opportunity for the most talented of students to display their skills to be selected and enter a more advanced military school.
Among the crowd of Elvens, an inconspicuous human wearing a blue hat is seating near an area where the faculty and selected students of Grizzly School are gathered. He is Clay who had no choice but to accede to the invitation of the president.
He just witnessed the so called clash of the dark horses. The last time Clay attended a recruitment, the most talented cultivator was called dragon amongst men but now they call them dark horses.
Clay is not amused in a bit. He had been pondering why his reaction is completely different from these excited expectators. Earlier, the final fight within the Foundation Establishment bracket lasted almost 15 minutes he got irritated just looking at it.
He had never been in a fight where it took that long. In fact, almost all his battles were decisive with an intent to kill -no grand display of cultivation techniques. Except for that fight at Mage Baum Tower. Had that mage not keen on capturing him, he may not have had won at all.
Now that the fight in the last bracket is over, he can finally head home. He estimates that it will take another 20 more minutes for the awarding and ceremony.
If there is something that took his curiosity, then it is the presence of Ascendants mixed in the crowd like nobodies. Just like him, these figures had hidden their cultivation but no matter how good they are at hiding themselves, they cannot escape his Godly Eyes.
There are at least 30 of them and 27 are Dao cultivators. The only issue is that, the blue mists within their souls are half of that of Rimar when he was still teaching him. Clay has yet to understand the power-scaling of Dao powers and it is one of the things he wanted to study.
Before going into seclusion, he noticed the blue mist within him had no shape but when he came out 100 thousand years later, it now to the shape of following that of Fire Formation.
It is indeed a mystery that to this day, he ponders if he will go into similar seclusion in the future.
Clay ignored the awarding ceremony and started thinking when will people stop suspecting him of being a Sleeper. There are things he wanted to do and at the same time enjoy by travelling and because he is constantly under surveillance, he felt no different from a prisoner.
(And now for the Core Formation Bracket winner, presenting to you Sven Norkita of Sword Mountain School. Please step forward to receive your reward.)
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(Thank you everyone especially to all respected masters in the audience. I am grateful for the generous rewards however as the primary winner of this competition, I hereby announce that I am relinquishing my rewards however in turn, I call upon Article XVIIII of Central Military Code Section B 7 to challenge one of the Token Holders of the Society.)
(Young man, you’re still too young and to challenge someone of their caliber. If you are a Nascent Soul, I don’t mind granting your request. Besides, a few more years when you breakthrough to Nascent level, you can take the exam and get your own token. Step forward and receive your rewards.)
(I appreciate the concern however I don’t need to be a Nascent level as the Token Holder himself is a fellow Core Formation expert himself. It should be a fair fight and I don’t mind if this is a life and death battle.)
(And might I ask who are you referring to?)
(He is currently the Dao Teacher assigned to Grizzly School. His name is Clay Endremilas. My name is Sven of Sword Mountain and I formally challenge this respected master for his token.)
Murmurs and whispers filled the stadium. Even the judges looked at each other confused at what to do.
(If he does indeed have the same level of cultivation, then there is no reason to decline your request.)
Clay in the mean time woke up from his stupor when he heard his name.
There was a moment of silence then one of the judges spoke.
“To the Dao Teacher of Grizzly School. Please step forward and answer the formal challenge of today’s champion. The challenge was earned fair and square and as one of the judges assigned tonight, I will personally oversee the fight.”
Clay was bewildered and did not expect that someone would actually challenge him out of the blue. Here he thought he will go home peacefully after a few more minutes but some knucklehead seems to want to invite trouble.
Clay looked to his right where the president was looking unease.
“I asked this friend to take this seriously and if you can finish it without going overboard.”
(To the Dao Teacher of Grizzly School. Please step forward and answer the formal challenge of today’s champion.)
Clay stood up from his seat while hearing the crowd of audience whisper among themselves.
With his fist in the middle, he slightly bowed and imbued his voice with his Qi.
“I am Clay Endremilas and I greet everyone in attendance. I think there must be a misunderstanding somewhere. How can I be, a puny human be part of such grand society. I am not a Token Holder.”
As soon the Clay finished his sentence, the president of Grizzly school whispered, “Do you remember receiving a purple card before coming to our school. Look into the spatial ring given to you. Please tread carefully as the reputation of our school will ruined if you take this lightly.”
“You seem to under estimate our intelligence network. As a Token Holder, may I remind that you that there is no option to decline and I hope the Elders today would bear witness that I have earned my right to challenge fair and square.” Sven spoke like a gallant warrior.
Clay indeed recalled a purple card within the spatial ring given to him by Binur. He thought it was his ID but he has no clue it serves as identification for whatever society being mentioned.
When the card was in his hand, he said, “This card was probably given to me by mistake and I have no idea of its uses. If this senior wants it, then I will give it to you willingly.”
“I did not know that a Token was handed to cowardly human. What you’re saying is a disgrace to Central. My name is Sven Norkita and by my rights, I hereby challenge you to a life and death duel.” There was bravery and taunting into Sven’s tone as he challenged Clay one last time.
Clay’s countenance became serious when he heard Sven mention life and death. If they were in the jungle where no one would care, he will squeeze this Elven to death.
In the world of cultivation, be it past or present, there is always a consequence when killing someone with a witness. Many times he had to hide to avoid pursuit or being questioned but how exactly can he avoid today’s trouble by an overconfident young Elven who is blinded by his strength he could not see his limits.
Clay can easily kill the challenger but that would just aggravate their suspicion on him and if he chooses to disarm the challenger and make him unconscious or surrender, it will still be troubles. For a so-called dark horse to be humiliated, Clay can already foresee this guy pulling some strings to retaliate.
Technology has advanced so much hiding will be impossible for him at the moment. The other thing he is worried about is the presence of Ascendants. Clay’s instinct is telling him he can still overpower the Ascendants present today in terms of Dao but having learned his lesson when he was still a Qi Condensation practitioner, he did not want to have another encounter similar to that of the Goblin where he can only escape with his head intact.
Clay took a deep breath and calmed himself. He surrounded the purple card with his Qi then threw it towards the challenger within the ring. At the same time, he simultaneously sent out a telepathic signal to one of the Ascendants who is seated rows to his right. “Tell your junior he is not qualified or I will skin him alive.”
“I have no intention of besmirching the reputation of Central. I have just witnessed how mighty your skills are and I may not last a second. I beg this friend to understand.”
“Like I said, you have no option to decline. If you don’t…”
THAT’S ENOUGH
In an instant, the entire stadium had been surrounded by a suffocating aura. Everyone present are cultivators so they can all resist the aura but looking into the direction where the aura originated from, everyone was surprised that an Ascendant had been watching all along.
“Give me some face and accept your rewards. That is an order.” A domineering voice came from an elderly Elven.
(This junior realized his mistake. I will accept my rewards as instructed.)
Seeing that his plan worked, Clay sighed. “Pardon me but you may go home without me tonight.”
Clay said to the president and turned around to leave.