Interesting

A small city, known as the Blackcloud City was bustling with noise. The streets were empty, while nobody was home. That was because they all had gathered in one place to hold a yearly event that was hosted by the Four Great families.

There, the younger generation of the four families would compete amongst each other, to find the best during their generation. Not only that, but children from other families could also join in if they met the minimum requirement, otherwise it would be pointless for them to join in.

During the gathering, two envoys of the Divine Dao Mountain, a Grade Nine sect, and a subsidiary sect of a Grade Six sect were there to watch the stage, and find potential disciples to be recruited into the sect.

Soon, sixty-four children under twenty were selected from the children of Blackcloud City. Each battle would be randomly drawn between two names, meaning thirty-two battles would be held on the day.

Each person only had one chance to show their true strength, even if they lost, there was still a chance for them to be recruited. Since that was the case, everyone would do their best in hopes of being selected, this was true for both members of the four families, as well as the commoners alike.

Becoming a disciple of the Divine Dao Mountain would forever change their lives, giving them a greater future.

As names were being drawn up randomly to select the participants' order, a powerful burst of energy was felt by everyone in the Blackcloud City at the same time. In the sky, a fierce Demonic Beast was being used as a carriage puller for someone significant within.

Above the Demonic Beast, was a man who was emitting strong energy that caused many people to feel great pressure. The man was obviously a powerhouse who had reached the Marquess Realm of cultivation.

Since such an expert was just a driver, the person within must be extremely important. The carriage was exquisite, looking expensive, and refined. The carriage got close, as the invisible pressure upon everyone was released.

"Pardon me, we have come a little bit late." the man said. Even though he spoke, his mouth didn't open, not to mention move. In his realm of cultivation, using the Spiritual Will to speak was something only such powerhouses could do.

Even without his earlier burst of energy, it was easy to figure out his realm just from that message using the Spiritual Will.

"Sir, may I ask who you are, and which important guest is inside the carriage?" Yan Tianxian cupped his hands to ask respectfully.

Before the man could speak again, the curtains of the carriage were opened, as a hand could be seen from within the carriage. Slowly, a young man with great looks stepped outside the carriage, as a sword was underneath his feet, allowing him to take flight.

The young man who appeared to be no more than twenty slowly flew down and landed in front of Yan Tianxian.

"Please excuse our interruption. I am Lin Hao, I would like to join my fiancee to watch this event; would you grant me this honor?" the young man spoke, as he bowed and spoke politely.

"You are welcome to watch, but may I ask who your fiancee is?" Yan Tianxian asked. The young man was about to reply, as a soft voice called out to him.

"Lin Hao, you came." the voice said. Everyone turned to face the direction of the voice. As they did, everyone was extremely shocked, everyone but Jing Mengyi's father. The person who had spoken was Jing Mengyi and Yan Lenglai's fiancee.

It was known throughout Blackcloud City that Yan Lenglei and Jing Mengyi had been betrothed since birth, and would marry once they came of age. Now, a sudden revelation had shocked them all greatly.

This was especially so for those of the Yan and Jing family. Only Jing Mengyi and her father didn't react strangely. The young man Lin Hao noticed Jing Mengyi and bowed as he walked up by her side.

"Jing Daozhuang, what is the meaning of this?!" Yan Tianfu was enraged. "Brother Yan, I am equally as shocked as you are, I want to know the answer too! Mengyi, what are you talking about? How can this young man's fiancee be you? You are clearly engaged to Lenglei." Jing Mengyi's grandfather asked, with the same angry tone.

"Father, please listen. I know that you and uncle Yan are sworn brothers and that you had made a promise many years ago. But that was a promise of the past, it shouldn't affect the present. The promise shouldn't be kept anymore." Jing Mengyi's father tried to persuade.

"Bullsh*t! When I asked you that year, you agreed without any hesitation, how can you go back on your words, how can I face brother Yan now?!" Jing Daozhuang shouted.

"Father, even Lenglei has agreed to annul the engagement, since both sides are willing, why not let it be?"

"What?! Lenglei agreed to annul the engagement? When? Why was I not informed?" Yan Tianfu asked. Everyone turned to face Yan Lenglei who had his eyes closed throughout the entire situation.

Even as the man of the Marquess Realm arrived, the pressure had no effect on him, as he kept his eyes closed without bothering anyone. Slowly, he opened his eyes to face his grandfather.

"He's right, I did agree." Yan Lenglei replied.

"Lenglei, tell me why? How can you two just annual the engagement without informing your elders, it was a promise between us many years ago, and we had sworn to keep this promise." Jing Daozhuang told him.

"Since I have agreed, there's no need to explain." Yan Lenglei said, closing his eyes. Those around him watched him speak without changing his expression the entire time.

It was as though they had been talking about someone else, rather than about him. His actions seemed to show disdain, indifference, and arrogance all at once, to those who didn't know him.

Lin Hao's expression slightly changed, but he didn't act or say a word while Jing Mengyi held onto his arm. With this, the two sides had nothing more to say. Since the ones involved had each come to a decision, the elders had nothing else to say to them.

"Enough, since the children have made a decision, we as elders should respect them. Let the Four Great family gathering begin." Yan Tianfu waved his hand, ending the conversation there.

Shortly afterward, the sixty-four names were drawn randomly. Looking at it, Yan Lenglei and Mo Jidong would only meet at the very end, assuming they would win every battle. Not only that, but Mo Jidong would also be facing Jing Mengyi in the semi-finals.

They would also be amongst the very end few people who would be fighting. Sitting in his seat, Yan Lenglei closed his eyes, without watching the battles that would soon take place.

******

The first match was held between a member of the Jing family and one of the commoner children. Both of them were seventeen, and had a cultivation base at the Fifth Stage of the Awakening Realm.

Both of them were quite outstanding amongst the sixty-four who will participate in the gathering. As a member of the Jing family, it wasn't too rare for one to have a cultivation base as such, but neither was it common.

As for the other young man, he came from a rather poor family, to be able to reach this stage on his own in a year, meant that he obviously had much more talent, and worked much harder than the one of the Jing family.

As both of them stood on the stage, even though they were both of the same cultivation stage, there was a vast difference between them. One wore luxurious clothing, while the other wore old clothing that had a few patches of sewing in them.

When the young man from the poor family got up on the stage, Yan Lenglei's eyes opened up as he glanced towards him. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes and continued sitting in his seat.

As the match began, the young man of the Jing family made the first move. Around him, a horrible ray of blinding crimson red flames erupted from his body. Taking a step forward, the stage below cracked from the temperature alone.

As for his opponent, a brilliant wave of water surrounded him. An old wooden stick that was most likely a tree branch that was shaped into a two handed staff, appeared in his hands.

The Water Spiritual Qi around him enveloped his staff, as he jabbed forward.

Whoosh!

A splash of water was released like an arrow that was the size of a small boulder. He jabbed the air multiple times, as the water formed multiple stabs of Qi, aiming for the opponent.

The young man of the Jing family stopped. As the water approached him, a barrier of flames shielded him with the wave of his hand. Once the water evaporated from the extreme heat, he formed a palm of flames that lashed out immediately.

Om. A large crimson red palm of flames set the air ablaze and came strongly across to the other side, trying to crush someone with a single blow. The poor young man didn't seem nervous seeing the attack coming for him.

In fact, he didn't even react to it, allowing it to come straight for him.

Bang!

A loud sound was heard, while smoke arose from the area in which the palm had struck. Those in the crowd gasped in shock, thinking that the attack was ruthless and would at least heavily injure, or even kill the opponent.

As for those watching that had a high cultivation base, their thoughts were completely in the opposite direction. When the smoke cleared, a young man was seen standing with his staff, unscathed.

The flames hadn't hurt him at all, to be precise, it didn't even make it to him. When the palm was just about to reach him, an invisible surge of powerful energy blew away the flames, leaving behind only the smoke.

Even those that could see it all happen were puzzled. Yan Lenglei had opened his eyes during that moment. Both himself and Mo Jidong saw a mysterious blue energy that was used to form a thin membrane that combusted the flames right away.

The energy formed a shape that closely resembled a human, coming out of his body to wipe out the flames. It only lasted for a fraction of a second, but Yan Lenglei and Mo Jidong saw it all.

Once they saw this, it was obvious who the winner of this match would be. The poor young man held his staff, as he slammed it down onto the stage. He looked calm, as a powerful storm of Spiritual Qi suddenly surged from his body.

Behind him, a tsunami of water suddenly formed, as it rotated as though a waterwheel was in the air. The water-like Spiritual Qi continued surging, as the young man pointed his finger forward.

Immediately, the Spiritual Qi rushed out like a terrible torrent of water. One would easily drown in such an amount, even if they were able to avoid some of it. After all, there was no escaping a natural disaster.

His opponent grabbed the hilt of his sword that was by his waist. As crimson red flames covered his entire body making him appear like a god of fire, he unsheathed his sword and slashed downward at the water.

Whoosh!

His sword came down from above, and cut through the very center of the tsunami. Unfortunately, neither his flames, nor his swordsmanship were a match for the opponent's attack.

His entire body was pushed back, sending him flying off the stage. Fortunately, he landed softly on the ground, as his opponent had shown mercy. Without being angry, the young man of the Jing family got up and bowed to pay his respects.

"Thank you for showing mercy." he said to his opponent. He then turned around to join his family in the stands, while the poor young man leaped off the stage. With a single move, the poor young man had defeated his opponent of the same realm.

Both of them were powerful. Even the young man from the Jing family, could fight against those at the Sixth stage of the Awakening Realm with his flames alone. Unfortunately, he had met a stronger opponent in the first round, otherwise he could've made it to the third round at the least.

Even though he lost, he showed a respectable attitude to his opponent. It was obvious that he was raised well by his parents. The poor young man who had won joined those who had yet to participate, as the next round was soon to begin.