The White Tiger Avenue was jammed with people and vehicles going down the same direction—towards the Metallic Blood War Gate.
Today was different from the previous days. Only those of high social standing, such as clan leaders, principals, royalty, and officials, could enter the venue to spectate while others were turned away. Today, all participating institutions would take part in the group competitions, the most anticipated as well as the victory-determining segment of interschool exchange.
Moreover, it was widely known that the Blue Skies rank would be updated after the interschool exchange. This meant that this competition was a deciding factor of the rankings, and every participant took this segment seriously.
Even the arena was set up differently for today. The grandstand where examiners stood had a three-metered, temporary stage built on top of it. It was a fanciful stage covered by red velvet with golden sides, and what astonished the audience further was the single seat placed on it—totally gold in colour with the handles made of two gold dragon figures.
Such a grand scene left insiders in disbelief. Don’t tell me…
One by one, the participants strolled in. The sight of the red stage and golden seat aroused their curiosity.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Sze Fung stood up in high spirits. “Today marks the last day, as well as the most important day of the interschool exchange!” The four-chambered glipher’s voice bombard acrossed the area. “The group competition is all about an institution’s comprehensive capability. In other words, all participating institutions would be fighting for the title of the best institution in the South!”
“Due to the great significance of this competition, the Metallic Blood War Gate is pleased to announce our host for today, current Emperor Lam—your Majesty, Lam Chun!” Taking a deep breath, Sze Fung announced with great respect.
Every single person present knelt down on their own accord the instant they heard Lam Chun’s influential name, all except for Chui Yim. Kam Chin Kee immediately dragged him into a kneel and said, “Have you lost your mind? Why did you not kneel?”“Because I don’t see why I should!” Chui Yim scowled.
“And get ready to be beheaded by not doing so during such an occasion!” Kam Chin Kee rolled his eyes. While the two were bickering amongst themselves, a carriage drove by as a ray of golden light gleamed through the stadium.
“It’s His Majesty’s sacred light unicorn!”
The sacred light unicorn was a silver unicorn with a golden mane that shone brightly under the orange rays from the sun. What was so eye-catching about it was its pair of wings made of light.
In fact, the pair of wings was a gliph—Sacred Light, the sacred light unicorn’s innate gliph. Rumours had it that the Feather of Light, Mo-Yung Kwong, had challenged the Lam dynasty’s taboo and took the life of a newborn sacred light unicorn to use it as an ingredient to tattoo the Feather of Light gliph on himself.
Very soon, the unicorn came and descended onto the red stage slowly. The carriage hanging mid-air was covered with visible gliphs.
A lean figure exited the carriage. Donned in a golden robe with embroidering of dragons, he left his blue hair swaying behind his back. The unicorn left as soon as he exited the carriage.
This man was the main character of the arena! Instead of having the stereotyped, muscular build expected of emperors, he had a slender figure. However, his shoulders were no less broad; they carried that tremendous responsibility of his. As he frowned, everyone felt as if a storm had arrived, and mountains were pressing down on them.
There was only one such person in the current era that bore such a domineering aura, and that was Lam Chun!
“Long live Your Majesty!”
Sounds of the united salute boomed across the Metallic Blood War Gate, reaching the ears of the crowd who were unwilling to leave after denied entry..
“Emperor Lam is in there?”
“God! Why can’t I squeeze in?”
“Hurry! Let’s make our way in no matter what!”
Countless commoners tried their best to make their way in, but sadly, they were no match for the Metallic Blood War Gate disciples.
“Rise.” With the help of energilph, every single person in the arena heard him clearly. Only then did they realise that Emperor Lam was a decent cultivator too.
Lam Chun no longer frowned and addressed the crowd with his soft voice. It felt like the skies brightened within no time.
“My pleasure to be here today is beyond description. The South has been standing strong because we, Southerners, value the passing down of knowledge and capability from generation to generation.
“I am sure that all outstanding teenagers present today would be the faces playing a critical role in guarding the South in the future, be it a decade or a century later. I am extremely pleased with the talents birthed from South’s education system.”
“However—” Lam Chun’s tone became solemn. His voice sounded like the clash of weapons. A strong aura was felt the moment he frowned, not caused by his powerful cultivation, but his lengthy experience as the leader who dominated the South and his ability to turn the world upside down. “Cultivation is going against the heavens. We have to battle against the heavens, the earth…as well as humans for scarce resources in this world that can help us improve!
“This is why we, the good men of the South, fall short of the Northern men! If we lose our determination to fight, we will lose our chance to cultivate too!
“Have you ever thought of why, in a world brimming with cultivators, there’s only one Star Unite Lake Master, one Blood Dragon Fairy, and one Great Book Pavillion Master? Cultivation is a thorn-filled path, but in the end, success awaits you!
Lam Chun’s words left all the teenagers pumped up. The emperor looked around, his slender physique serving as a towering mountain that supported the young. “My young men, battle and grow to become the next guardians of South alongside me!”
“I hereby announce the start of interschool exchange’s final segment, Group Contest!”
“Yes!!!”
Vibrant cheers filled the arena as the teenagers flushed red, yelling their will to battle.
Everyone in the arena was energetic except those from the North. Yim Ying Yuet muttered to her Northern companions, “Indeed the first brilliant leader in hundreds of years. Under his nurture, the South will improve greatly within a hundred years.”
Her companions, who held influential roles in the North, seemed unsettled as they looked at Lam Chun; some even had murderous intent.
A capable Southern leader was bad news for Northerners.
Of course, they would never take action right here. All of them were experts in gliphism too, and they already felt the invisible eyes fixated on them. A small suspicious action was enough for them to turn into ashes within a second, let alone make a move for the emperor. After all, they were guests in this foreign territory.
Lam Chun took his seat on the red stage and scanned the participants. Every one of them that his gaze landed on was filled with pride and excitement.
His eyes darkened when he saw Kam Chin Kee and Chui Yim, but he looked away in no time.
Kam Chin Kee seemed calm, as if he could not feel Lam Chun’s gaze.
At the same time, Sze Fung stood up. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the meaningful opening speech. Now, we’ll invite the Metallic Blood Giant Tower’s Tower Master, also my master, Blood Dragon Fairy, Lung Wai Yuet!”
Boom…
Under Sze Fung’s introduction, the Metallic Blood Giant Tower standing in front of the arena and right behind the grandstand rumbled.
“What’s going on? Is it an earthquake?”
“Nonsensical. Do you think we’re in the North?”
Whoosh… Red fog seeped out of the tower.
“Mhmm?” The participants in the arena were pleasantly surprised to feel the improvement in their physical strength.
Physical strength played an extra important factor to all cultivators, especially gliphers!
Grandma Chin Shu, Old Star Reacher and other important figures wore huge smiles on their faces. They turned to Sze Fung in delight.,
“The host has indeed put in a great effort for this exchange.”
Sze Fung merely chuckled in response, but the proud smile on his face was apparent.
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