All Things Are Contracts

With the ceremony concluded, the competition officially began. Since Alchemy Daoist had already conducted a preliminary selection, the remaining twelve were all geniuses who met his standards for entering the Heaven Book Secret Realm. Thus, this competition could be called the highest quality youth competition in thousands of years, far surpassing previous academy exchanges. The only regret was that some participants had already been guaranteed admission and couldn’t compete here.

“Father, those auras earlier were so terrifying, they scared me so much my internal energy became chaotic,” a young man said to the middle-aged man beside him. Both were dressed in luxurious clothes, indicating their high status.

“This is the power of human race’s strong cultivators. I never imagined we had so many powerful experts, so many terrifying forces,” the middle-aged man’s eyes were full of fervor. Thunder Lord’s show of strength had indeed restored confidence in many people. With so many strong cultivators protecting the human race, even the Nightmares weren’t invincible.

In the private box, Yu Zhitian, the head of the Jade Family, also had complex emotions. The Azure Wind Realm had long been isolated from the outside world. Now it seemed that the experts in the outside world far surpassed those of the Azure Wind Realm in both number and strength. His strength was comparable to Thunder Lord’s, but there were many in the Myriad Spirits Realm who were even stronger than Thunder Lord.

“There are twelve participants in this competition. We’ll use a double elimination system. Those who achieve two victories will qualify, producing a total of six spots. I hope you seize this opportunity. Additionally, this competition is more about testing skills and battle awareness, so there will be a special formation on the arena that will suppress everyone’s realm to the first stage of Star Profound Realm!” Thunder Lord’s words made many frown. This rule was very unfair to many high-realm participants.

“There’s no choice, it’s the will of the Heaven Book Spirit,” Alchemy Daoist transmitted to the people in the private box, explaining that this rule wasn’t set by them. Everyone looked at Yan Baifeng, as her disciple Huang Xueqing had the highest realm among all participants, and this rule would affect her the most.

Yan Baifeng smiled disdainfully, “You don’t think my disciple only has a high realm without actual strength, do you?”

Seeing that she didn’t voice any objection, naturally, there were no more disputes. If it’s a competition at the same realm, then it’s about other abilities – battle techniques, combat experience, treasures, and battle skills were all unlimited.

Thunder Lord continued to address the twelve on the arena. “Draw lots.”

The competition was only to produce six spots, not to decide a champion, so the draw was particularly important.

Thunder Lord waved his hand, and twelve jewels flew into the air, like twelve small suns.

Since it was a random draw for grouping, the order didn’t matter much. Fan Longyu, with his eyes tightly closed, moved first. He waved his hand, and a jewel was pulled into his hand.

The others weren’t far behind, each choosing a jewel until all were distributed.

Thunder Lord activated a secret technique, and all the jewels revealed their true colors. There were three colors: gold, blue, and purple. The same color represented one group.

Thunder Lord nodded and announced: “Xionxin, Liu Zhaoran, Song Yuxian, and Tai’e enter Group A; Jiang Licheng, Huang Xueqing, Fan Longyu, and Gongsun Taoli enter Group B; Yunyao, Huan Xiaoyao, Feng Bulang, and Meng Huyue enter Group C. Only one person from each group can directly secure a spot, the others will enter the losers’ bracket for further competition. The first match of Group A: Xionxin from Rising Sun Kingdom versus Liu Zhaoran from Fierce Earth Kingdom! Finally, I remind you, admitting defeat on the arena or being knocked off the arena both count as a loss. I know some of you can fly, but if you don’t land on the arena within 100 breaths, it also counts as a defeat.”

The draw results brought joy to some and sorrow to others. Feng Bulang and Huan Xiaoyao’s faces turned black – they really ended up in the same group as Yunyao. Feng Bulang patted Huan Xiaoyao’s shoulder, “We’re truly brothers in misfortune. See you in the losers’ bracket.”

Soon, only Xionxin and Liu Zhaoran remained on the arena. Xionxin wore golden armor, had golden long hair, and was truly handsome. Opposite him stood Liu Zhaoran in tight-fitting cloth clothes, equally handsome with short hair, standing like a green pine, holding a silver spear.

“Xionxin from Rising Sun Kingdom is the deputy captain of the Sun Knight Regiment, right? His strength is formidable. I remember he’s called the ‘Sun Shield’,” someone who recognized Xionxin said, knowing his prowess.

“That Prince Liu is no simple character either. Everyone in the Fierce Earth Kingdom knows he’s a true martial arts fanatic. His spearmanship is divine. This first match is actually a confrontation between spear and shield. Indeed, worthy of a competition of this level,” another person said.

In the private box, the Imperial Tutor who brought Liu Zhaoran squinted his eyes, “I heard Xionxin’s contract object is the golden armor he wears, with extremely strong defensive capabilities. At the same realm, it’s very difficult to break through his defense forcefully. However, Zhaoran is no ordinary warrior. I’m more worried about that young man called Tai’e in the same group. It’s rare to see someone from the Ancient Sun-Chasing Kingdom.”

“Xionxin? It’s him?” Zhanyue naturally recognized Xionxin. He looked at the Holy Maiden beside him curiously, “Who do you think will win?” Back when Night Lord’s subordinates caused trouble, Xionxin wasn’t affected by those paper people and single-handedly occupied many knights of the regiment, showing considerable strength.

“Xionxin is favored by the Crown Prince of Rising Sun Kingdom and has received abundant resources. He’s also traveled and trained extensively with the Sun Knight Regiment, so his strength is formidable. However, it’s rumored that Prince Liu has profound martial arts skills. I don’t know much about him, so I can’t tell,” the Holy Maiden explained.

Nangong Weilai beside them scoffed, “Liu Zhaoran will win. Xionxin is far inferior to him.”

“So confident?” Zhanyue asked, puzzled. This girl Nangong Weilai seemed to really have a way to know others’ strength.

“Just wait and see,” Nangong Weilai puffed out her chest confidently, her cute and beautiful face full of smiles.

“Girl, what exactly is your ability?” Zhanyue was extremely curious.

“Want to know? I won’t tell you!” Seeing Zhanyue at a loss, Nangong Weilai’s face bloomed with joy.

Well, since she wouldn’t say, Zhanyue couldn’t press further. After all, this involved other people’s secrets, just like he had many secrets he couldn’t tell others.

On the arena, Xionxin looked at Prince Liu opposite him and said politely, “Your Highness, please forgive me.”

“On the arena, there’s no need for such courtesies. There are no princes here, only opponents. Let’s begin,” Liu Zhaoran’s martial arts fanatic spirit was fully aroused, he could hardly wait.

“Begin,” Thunder Lord said.

As soon as the words fell, Liu Zhaoran took a few steps closer to Xionxin, then his spear shot out like a dragon.

“So fast! Such a fast spear!” The crowd couldn’t help but exclaim.

Xionxin frowned, his helmet covering his head, his whole body like a golden saint warrior. Then a golden light enveloped him. Liu Zhaoran’s spear thrust fiercely into the golden light, and his whole body was sent flying back.

A trace of delight surged in his eyes. “Such strong defense. Finally, a worthy opponent.”

One’s contract object was armor, the other’s was a silver spear. It was truly a battle between offense and defense, a match of equals.

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