Chapter 023: Bearing the Banner

The morning sun blazed like fire. When a ray of sunlight spilled across the earth, the entire city of Kuangyun seemed to revive, an intangible momentum spreading through the air—a faint will to fight.

Today was the most important day for the martial academy.

The general trend had converged, gathering momentum.

Thus, those at the Blood Refining realm were rubbing their hands together, hoping to achieve good results in the competition. If some geniuses were noticed by the Qingyang Empire, they would rise to power overnight, holding great authority.

At the very center of Kuangyun City, a white battle platform had long been constructed, poured entirely with molten Xuan Gang iron, enough to withstand a full-force strike from a half-step martial artist. Under the refracted rays of sunlight, it exuded a chilling aura.

Below the platform, a dense mass of heads shifted, and the faint clamor叠加 together, surging in waves.

The martial arts schools of the Qingyang Empire flourished. Today was a day for the younger generation to rise to prominence, and also a day for the older generation to make their names known. If one could break into the top ten, their martial path would surely advance by leaps and bounds. If they could condense their own martial will, stepping into the realm of martial artists would come naturally.

In front of the battle platform, on the viewing stand over fifty zhang high, an old man with graying hair sat at the head. His eyelids were tightly shut, and the clamor of the crowd below did not affect him in the slightest. On his sleeves were embroidered the characters "Wild Cloud"—this was the lord of Wild Cloud City, Wild Wave.

Three men sat below him. Among them, an old man in black swept his gaze over the crowd, an uneasy twitch on his deeply lined face. This was the head of the Star Martial Arts School, Wang Long.

"Old Wang, I heard Wang Xing is about to step into the ninth level of Blood Refining. In this competition, your son is a hot favorite. Let me offer my congratulations in advance." A man in blue beside him took a sip of tea and asked casually. This was Hua Qi, the head of one of the three major martial arts schools in Wild Cloud City.

"Heh, he's still far from the ninth level. Can't compare to that girl of yours." Wang Long waved his hand and replied with a forced smile.

"Haha, Old Wang is too modest." Hua Qi rubbed his nose, squinting as he stared at Wang Long, and said casually, "Ah, I haven't seen Old Feng these past few days. If I don't have a fight for a few days, my hands start to itch."

Hearing this, Wang Long's heart tightened. Then, his gaze swept over Hua Qi and he smiled slightly: "Second Brother has been out on business these past few days and won't be back for a few more. If your hands are itching, would you like me to keep you company in a match?"

"Hehe, Elder Wang is joking. How could I be your match?" Hua Qi's expression shifted slightly, then he gave a faint laugh, though a hint of disbelief flickered deep in his eyes.

On the viewing platform, Kuang Lang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd below, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Silence!"

A faint voice rang out, yet it carried throughout the entire arena. Wherever Kuang Lang's gaze passed, everyone fell silent as if struck dumb, and the crowd below the battle platform grew completely quiet.

"In ancient times, our human race was born weak and oppressed by various other races. Later, our human ancestors created cultivation methods and tapped into the potential of the physical body. The treasures within the human body are inexhaustible."

"Relying on countless ancestors and heroes who drove out foreign races and stained the lands beyond with blood, this Tianyang Continent is now the territory of our human race!"

Below the battle platform, countless gazes burned with fervor. Although these ancient events were known from ancient texts, the ruins left behind after those battles still remain to this day.

With a turn of the hand, one could crush everything. The strong were the focus of all attention!

Kuang Lang's gaze turned cold and sharp as he continued: "Our Qingyang Empire is a superpower in the Eastern Continent. Although Kuangyun City is among the lowest-level powers within the empire's territory spanning hundreds of millions of miles..."

"...His Majesty the Emperor, with his grand vision and talent, provides a large number of resources as rewards for each martial arts tournament. Some talented youths are even selected by the empire and rise to prominence overnight!"

Kuang Lang paused, his gaze sweeping over the examinees below, and said: "The top ten in this tournament will receive one thousand low-grade blood stones and ten blood pellets. The top three will receive one thousand low-grade blood stones, one hundred mid-grade blood stones, and thirty blood pellets."

"The first-place winner will receive three thousand low-grade blood stones, one thousand mid-grade blood stones, twenty mid-grade blood pellets, and one top-grade blood weapon!" As Kuang Lang said this, his voice trembled slightly. The rewards for the tournament champion were too generous, even more than the previous session, and even he couldn't help but feel a surge of greed.

Gasps of astonishment erupted!

Everyone in the venue was buzzing with discussion, their eyes burning with fervor. Back when the Star Martial Arts Academy won first place in the tournament, it took only a few years to establish a solid foundation in Wild Cloud City, and it was even showing signs of surpassing the other two major academies.

"A bunch of ignorant people, getting so smug over a few pills." Several miles away, three men stood with their hands behind their backs, their internal blood energy far more formidable than Kuang Lang's. On their chests were embroidered the characters "Qing Yang."

These were the selection examiners. Whether one could soar to the skies and enter the vast world of cultivation depended on them.

"Third Brother, don't say that. In a small place like this, it's already good to have a martial artist," said a man in black robes beside him with a smile.

"True enough. Let's see what level of genius this place has. I hope we didn't come for nothing, or else we won't even get a sip of the soup."

The martial arts academies were the institutions for selecting geniuses throughout the Qing Yang Empire. If they could find a少年 with outstanding talent, they themselves would gain considerable benefits.

"The competition begins! Contestants, please come up to draw lots. Only one person per academy is allowed on stage!" A competition host stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the arena as he spoke slowly.

Shua!

As soon as the words fell, dozens of figures flashed onto the arena, mostly young people, both male and female.

Xiu!

A figure suddenly leaped onto the stage. The moment her delicate frame landed, it instantly drew countless eyes. She was a girl of seventeen or eighteen, with skin as smooth as congealed fat, a delicate oval face, and calm, autumn-water eyes.

"That's Hua Die. She's so beautiful. They say her strength is about to break through to the ninth level of Blood Refining. She's a star figure among the three major academies."

"Tsk tsk, if she'd sleep with me, I'd die willingly," said a burly man with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, his lecherous gaze constantly sizing her up, his eyes burning with fervor.

"Sleep with you?" A man beside him was displeased, but after glancing at the big man's hard muscles, he dared not retort. He muttered under his breath, "If she'd let me touch her, I'd die willingly."

"Haha, Brother Huaqi, your daughter's cultivation has improved again." Beside Huaqi, another man in blue robes said with a smile.

"Brother Li flatters me; your son has also made great progress." Huaqi took a sip of tea and said with a faint smile, though a hint of pride flickered in his eyes.

Suddenly, another figure appeared on the scene, his movement technique extremely flamboyant. Dressed in white robes, with a handsome face, Wang Xing now exuded an air of elegance, his gentle gaze sweeping over the battle stage below.

"Look, that's Wang Xing. They say he's almost reached the ninth level of Blood Refining." Murmurs arose from below the stage.

"Yeah, he's so handsome." A few infatuated girls below the stage whispered, their bold eyes scanning Wang Xing's body, occasionally licking their red lips.

At that moment, Wang Xing's gaze was entirely fixed on the woman before him, a trace of heat surging in his eyes. Then, a gentle voice slowly sounded: "Xiaodie, long time no see. Your strength has improved again. In today's martial arts tournament, with your skill, you're sure to win the title."

Hua Die's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She glanced at Wang Xing and said, "No matter how much I improve, I can't compare to you. And don't call me Xiaodie from now on."

"Bitch." With a somewhat gloomy gaze fixed on the figure about to disappear from sight, Wang Xing touched his nose, a lecherous glint flashing in his eyes. "Playing hard to get with me, huh? When I win first place in the tournament, I'll make you kneel before me and beg..."

Having been flattered by those around him since childhood, with women coming at the snap of his fingers, Wang Xing couldn't accept being repeatedly rebuffed by Hua Die, who saw himself as a favored son of heaven.

"The tournament registration ends here—"

"Sir, wait!"

A thunderous shout exploded. In the distance, two figures dashed forward at a speed that left the onlookers astonished.

A large banner first caught everyone's attention, bearing the four golden characters 'Dragon Star Martial Arts Hall,' causing some faces to change drastically.

A frail figure walked slowly forward, carrying the banner on his shoulder!