[PoV_Preset=#]
"My name is Li Tianyu. The heir of the Li family of the Kingdom of Golden Horizon."
I greeted my competitor, the girl in front of me while cupping my fists at her. She returned the courtesy and introduced herself as well. This was customary for the greatest tournament for youngsters in the whole kingdom.
'….or rather, that's what everyone believes me to be, haha. Nobody knows that I was just a teenager living on a planet called Earth in the year 2023.'
I thought to myself as I prepared for the battle. After a long grueling climb, I finally reached the finals. This would be my last opponent to defeat before I win this darn thing!
I saw the girl. She was just…elegant. I mean, I've seen her before as well, but I'd never get tired of looking at something as elegant as her. I have never been able to take any accurate measurements, but I think her chest is like a B-cup or something…
*BEGIN!*
The referee's cry jolted me out of my reverie as I prepared my posture and channeled my qi within me. I'll have to do it, I must win!
...
[PoV_set=n0ne]
Cultivation. A word that would make countless heads turn. After all, in the realm of Tianxia, who wouldn't want to be a cultivator?
For the common person, being a cultivator and not being one was almost like the gap between earth and heaven. It was simply too huge. As such, the 'normal' people were slowly referred to as "mortals" while those that were able to awaken their Aperture to use and absorb the Primordial Qi present in nature to turn into their own Qi were called 'cultivators'.
In most of the kingdoms, mortals were treated like trash, their lives cheap and expendable. Their feelings are worthless. While being a cultivator was simply an entirely different story.
Cultivators had extended lifespans compared to mortals, which would also keep increasing as they progressed cultivator realms and stages. They possessed otherworldly powers and talents. They even looked much better than mortals, a characteristic that will keep on increasing as they advance ranks as well.
Awakening as a cultivator comes in handy, but it is to be noted that only around 1 in over a thousand people would ever awaken as a cultivator.
Cultivation can be roughly divided into ten ranks or realms. From Realm 1 to Realm 10. It is said that when one reaches Realm 10, they ascend from being a "mortal" in the true sense to being an "immortal". Nothing under Rank 10 will be able to harm the person then, and neither will the person ever die of old age anymore.
Even between the realms, there are sub-realms or "stages". Namely, early stage, mid stage, late stage, and peak stage. In the lower realms, a couple of Realm 1 mid-stage cultivators may be able to overpower a Realm 2 early-stage cultivator. However, as one moves upwards, the difference between even two stages becomes too huge. That is, usually, even over 50 Realm 7 early-stage cultivators will not be able to defeat a cultivator of Realm 7 mid-stage.
Cultivators also awaken an element inside them. It could be as common as the Element of Fire to as rare as practically extinct elements, such as the Element of Halberd. As there are countless elements in the world, so are there countless different types of elemental cultivators. Even if two cultivators are using the same element, the way they utilize these elements would vary, just as no two people can ever be truly the same.
Usually, the rarer an element is, the more powerful a cultivator is. Of course, aptitude, talent, and effort play major roles as well. But just like them, the element is also important. A person of the Sword element will be able to slightly overpower another person who has the Fire element if the other parameters, and especially cultivation realms and stages are the same.
Some elements are also naturally effective against other elemental types. A person with the Fire element will be overpowered by a person of the Water element even if the latter had put in less effort and had less talent, as long as the cultivation realms and stages were the same and they both had equal amounts of battle experience.
...
In the realm of Tianxia, there exists a kingdom called the Kingdom of Golden Horizon, a land where cultivators and mortals go side-by-side, and the echoes of bygone eras whisper through the winds. Situated amidst a breathtaking expanse of lush valleys and towering mountain ranges, the kingdom's borders stretch like a gilded tapestry, a testament to its enduring legacy.
At its heart lies the resplendent capital city, a vibrant hub where bustling markets and majestic palaces stand side by side. Cobblestone streets wind through neighborhoods adorned with intricate carvings, and the scent of exotic perfumes mingles with the melodies of street performers. The palace's golden domes and ivory towers reflect the glory of a kingdom that has weathered the tests of time.
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The city streets that had once been filled with the scent of exotic perfumes intermingling with the melodies of street performers, were now unusually quiet. After all, the city was also the host of the tournament known as the Starlight Ascension.
Held every 15 years for youths to showcase their might and prowess in battle, it was the greatest tournament ever to be held and celebrated with enthusiasm since the beginning of its starting.
If that was not enough, it was the finals that were taking place. Who would want to miss an opportunity to watch the future great generals or ministers fight in front of their own two eyes? That was the reason why the arena at the center of the city square was nearly jam-packed with people to witness the final round of the Starlight Ascension tournament.
Starlight Ascension, while being an excellent spectacle for those who weren't able to cultivate, or those who gave up, was also a way to gauge the strength of the upcoming generation. Some even believed that the noble families used it as a means to see whether their heirs were good enough or not. Some dare to go as far as to say that even the distribution of materials to different noble families depends on how well their heir performed in the competition.
As anyone was able to participate as long as they were under Realm 4 early stage and below 20 years of age, the Starlight Ascension tournament was extremely popular among the younger generation of cultivators, willing to test out their abilities.
There was no entry fee, and in fact, there were generous rewards given to competitors as long as they passed the first few rounds. So who wouldn't miss an opportunity to grab some rewards for themselves while possibly gaining the attention of some noble house or big shot, while also getting to obtain some battle experience? There were powerful referees and judges always watching over the battles just to ensure no lives were threatened.
...
Back in the ring, the final round had just begun.
On one side, dressed in a soft pinkish martial uniform, stood a girl. One gazed at her, and one could say that she was not simple. Her tresses cascade like a river of obsidian silk, flowing down to her lower back. Her eyes, like twin pools of misty silver, hold a depth that seems to whisper secrets of ancient realms, while her complexion, as flawless as a porcelain vase, is as smooth as the petals of a lotus blooming in a jade pond. Standing at a height neither imposing nor meek, her presence carries an air of ineffable grace, akin to that of a celestial fairy gracing the mortal realm.
This was Zhang Yanhua. The charming and graceful daughter of the Zhang noble family. After being awakened as a cultivator, as if blessed by the Heavens themselves, she was gifted the element of Order. One of the six major elements that govern the world. Combined with her scary talent and unwavering efforts, she was able to almost seamlessly sail through the competition up till the finals.
Facing her, stood a young man. His locks of golden silk cascade like a cascade of sunlit rivers, imbuing his presence with a radiant warmth. His eyes, deep pools of dark brown, hold a flicker of mystery and determination as if they have glimpsed both the shadows of the underworld and the brilliance of celestial realms. His complexion, fair as the moon's glow, carries an air of purity that resonates with the serenity of a tranquil pond beneath a blossoming cherry tree.
His countenance is that of a finely honed blade, his features sharp and angular, a testament to the precision of his existence. His face radiates an aura of energy as if the very essence of his being is a beacon that draws both friend and foe into his orbit. Slender yet not lacking strength, he stands tall and unyielding, a sentinel akin to a spear thrust into the earth.
This... was Li Tianyu. The heir to the Li noble family. As an heir, he was given the most attention since the start of his life. Not to mention that after awakening as a cultivator, he was blessed by the element of Time, another of the six major elements. His aptitude was top-tier as well. And to make it up to the finals, showed that he was not slacking off during his cultivation.
Li Tianyu and Zhang Yanhua faced each other, both preparing their plans and moves. The final battle in the Starlight Ascension tournament was almost bubbling up. With the audience not daring to even blink, lest they miss something. After all, the referee had already announced the start of the battle. The tension in the air was palpable, like a gathering storm on the brink of release.
The distant echoes of the crowd's fervent murmurs seemed to fade into the background as the two combatants locked eyes, a connection forged through the shared understanding of their impending clash. Without a word, the battle began.