Page 67: Start
At the gates of the Six Star Sect, a lot of people had camped out just to secure a seat or at least a space on the martial grounds. At this early hours, everyone started to fix their things as the gates are expected to be opened today. Free cultivators and commoners who would like to watch the events are mostly the ones who are trying to be early because family members of the contestants are already given a designated seats.
Inside the sect martial grounds, three platforms were prepared for the contestants to use. Each platform have 15m(l) x 15m(w) x 1m(h) dimensions while the ten meter spaces between them can be used for standing watchers. Around the three fighting platforms, a viewing deck with six levels were built for convenient viewing. In this viewing deck, some specific parts were designated to the major families, members of the sect and some distinguished guests while commoners and non- members of the sect can watch while standing on the grounds. If one is lucky, they can snatch a free seats on the viewing platform when it is vacant.
On the other hand, the alchemy grounds is oriented differently compared with the martial grounds. Instead of having separated platforms, there is only one circular and wide platform with a radius of 7.9789 meters. It was a stadium to be exact. The surrounding bleachers were made in 8 levels to accommodate large quantity of watchers. On the platform, tables are set for 30 participants.
The hour of opening came and people who were waiting for it immediately organized themselves to enter the sect gates. No matter how clattered they were a while ago, the change of their behavior was praiseworthy as soon as the sect was involved. In the face of true power, any trivial things are just helpless and has no choice but to bow with respect. This is how the powerless have been behaving ever since the past and it was their secret to live longer. Contrary to few select cultivators, their way to attain strength is the opposite. True cultivators go against the will of heavens and pave their own martial way. Those who can persevere and withstand tribulations reach new heights and attain godhood.
Finally they're opening up the gates! Cheers came from the outside of the sect. It was not very loud but everyone who were in the queue felt the same way. The excitement of the fights, the thrill of watching the strong ones, there's no way that these hype seekers won't get their blood boiling.
From different locations of the sect, participants are converging towards the martial grounds and towards the alchemy grounds. At the same time, family members of participants from different households started to move too. Together as they move towards the sectgrounds, they seem to have made a beeline when seen from above.
An hour has passed after the gates were opened, the sect grounds has already filled 80% of its capacity. All sorts of noises are being made while they are waiting. Some area are full of laughter, another area were filled with gossip exchange, but the most amusing one are the betting stalls manned by the merchant association. It was an approved activity by the sect in exchange of a percentage of its profits. On its bulletin board, faces of young participants are posted together with their theorized winning rate. Unsurprisingly, the two with the highest rate are the sect leader's disciples however, they were excluded in the general betting table. Since everyone knows the two disciple's talent, they are already expected to get a position within the top 2. Instead, the bet for this two is to who will take the top 1 spot. Looking at the data presented, both have the same rate of 50:50. That means that the money you bet is doubled or nothing.
On the other parts, the faces of the well known candidates like Li Xianliang, Feng Bolin, Mo Fan, Hu Luli, Zhou Xue are emphasized while on the bottom were Ling Tian and Ah Mu's image. Unfortunately, due to being unpopular, Ling Tian and Ah Mu have the lowest winning rate given but this made their exchange rate the highest. Hu Luli and Feng Bolin have an exchange rate of x2 while Ling Tian and Ah Mu have x5. The bet was to who will take the top 3, 4, and 5 spot for the competition. As of now, a lot has already placed their bets on the Hu household's young miss followed by Feng Bolin as their candidate for the third slot. Although the betting table has just opened, many have already placed their bets since the stalls will stop receiving bets once the tournament will start.
Another hour has passed and the main characters started to show up. These were the disciples of the elders of the sect. Some people started to scrutinize the youngsters whom they've placed their bets while most just stood to give cheer to their idols. One by one, they went to their designated seats. While the people were keeping the count of the youngsters, they noticed that the two disciples of the sect leader has not appeared yet. Many were thinking that the two will have the final match tomorrow while the rest would be today.
While everyone was busy looking at the main characters, an elder just walked to the center of the middle platform. The crowd began to settle down, some hushing out others as they haven't still noticed the person on the platform. Once the crowd settled, the elder started to give an opening and welcome remarks to everyone. Like any other long speech, people will just react once they will hear the last words of the speaker. Just as the elder yelled, "Let the tournament begin!", it was when people of all kinds cheered their excitement. The large gong was struck as asignal for the beginning of the competition.
On the other side of the sect grounds, the alchemy stadium was not as full as the martial grounds since it is still the first day. Since the martial competition will only take two days, many have planned to watch first the fight and then come to the stadium on the third day. Among the spectators who filled the stadium are just the ones who were inclined to alchemy. Many shared the same opinion that the first two days of the alchemy competition is too boring and that only the third day is the highlight since it is when they can see some action.
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Ling Tian and Ah Mu's conversation
"Bwahahaha! Brother Ling Tian, I just reached the initial success of the
"That's good but you are supposedly to have reached that a week ago if you weren't slacking. Look at the date! It is already the competition day. We don't have enough time to practice. Just use the remaining minutes to get used with the new speed you attained. Master will be coming sooner."
"No, no, brother. How could I compare to your talent? I didn't slacken during the last days. I just took longer time when eating and sleeping, that's all. Ah, I missed sister Yue who always supports me."
"You don't have much time. Get to your training. Our opponents are strong but we need to be on the top 5 or else how could we show our thanks to brother Bai?"
"Brother Ling Tian, about the martial skill brother Bai gave us. I felt like I have just entered a new realm. I feel like the skill has become more profound and all the mastery I had from the past felt like it was just a drop of water in a bucket. It seemed like the cup that I filled was actually inside a bigger container and its mysteries are yet to be opened. How was it for you brother?
"I have already felt that few months ago. I believe that brother Bai's martial skill can evolve as you reach a new understanding of it. I have just entered the intermediate success of the new realm of this skill. If I am to guess, the previous skill was an Earth rank but then as of now, it has become a sky rank martial skill."
"Oh, then how about the
"I don't know either. The manual says it is a heaven rank but if it can still evolve, how monstrous can it become? Just like you, I have only reached the initial success but this was because of brother Bai's assistance once in a while. If I want to reach the next step, I believe it would take us half, no maybe even a year to reach it."
"Brother Ling Tian, how much do you think brother Bai has reached in these two skills? Do you think he already mastered them?"
"I have no idea but i feel that no one in our generation can beat him. If he will join the martial competition, we might be able to tell. Anyway, he chose to join the alchemy competition because i believe he has some plans. I wonder what he's doing right now? Hmm.. Huh? Ah Mu, master just called. Let's go. We can't let him wait."
"Ahh, no! I didn't even practiced!",