The Winning Team

"The student with the highest percent of effectiveness would be the winner in each of the category", he said.

The students were then instructed to seat according to grade. The first years, second years and senior students all took their respective seats.

Not long after, they were all provided with the tools and ingredients for alchemy.

The apothecary challenge was indeed going to be a difficult one as it requires full concentration to make effective pills and healing elixirs.

The students assembled in their various points awaiting the order to begin the challenge.

Not quite long, principal Ming stepped forward and declared the start of the challenge.

"The challenge begins now. You have an hour to make the most effective pill", principal Ming stated.

Students from the various wings, upon hearing the announcement began the challenge. You could see them analyzing their samples.

As it is with the first years, they were scampering about during the start. The over zealous ones had already gotten their ingredients ready and began the process.

For a learner, it would take more than an hour to make an effective healing elixir, but it seems they've all evolved and advanced over time.

Some of the students had already began their hunt for the first position. Using the art of alchemy, many of them had gotten to the last stage of the pill production.

They finally infused their Qi into the cauldron after heating the ingredients for some time.

But something amazing happened, before the time was up, Hu Mei was the first to stand up with his completed pill in an instant of time.

The crowd were amazed by the talents that resided in him, but one couldn't conclude that he would eventually become the winner at the end of the challenge.

One at a time, each of them completed theirs before the time elapsed. Principal Ming then step forward to speak;

"The time set for the challenge has elapsed, all students are to assemble on a file and present their pills for evaluation and scoring", principal Ming said.

All the students did as they were told, they assembled before him and each of their pills were examined by principal Ming himself.

Principal Ming didn't involve the other masters in order to prevent biased judgement, since the masters of the various wings may want to take sides with their students.

After principal Ming examined their pills, he announced each individual and the percentage effectiveness of their pills.

"For the first year category,

Wan Fei - 70% effective

Mao Li - 70% effective

Yu Xuan - 74% effective

Ru Yuo - 72% effective

Bi Yao - 80% effective

Tang Tang - 70% effective

Jin Xu - 72% effective

Gui Shan - 76% effective", principal Ming said.

Unavoidably, Hu Mei was absent because he was still recovering from the last fight he had with Gui Shan.

Cheers filled the air as Bi Yao of the silver eagles wing was declared the winner of challenge in the first year category, with Gui Shan taking second place.

One could see master Lin Fei in a happy mood as she wasn't disappointed by her successor.

"For the second year students;

Wan Quaing - 80% effective

Lu Han - 81% effective

Zu Wei - 75% effective", principal Ming announced.

The crowd cheered Lu Han as he was declared the winner of the challenge in the second year category, with Wan Quaing taking second place.

"For the senior students;

Chen Feng - 85% effective

Chu Cao - 82% effective

Tan Ning - 85% effective

Han Xui - 81% effective

Qin Feiye - 85% effective

Xiang Wu - 81% effective", principal Ming announced.

The crowd cheered for a while and suddenly were silent as soon as they remembered they was no winner for the senior category.

Principal Ming cleared his throat and spoke.

"It seems in the art of alchemy, all our senior students are on the same level, so I announce that there is officially no winner in their category", he said.

But guess what? It's the moment everyone has been waiting for, the competition that day had come to a climax, but which of the wings would go back with the prize?

The crowd and students were all eager and enthusiastic to hear the results. For some moment, principal Ming alongside the masters of the various wings evaluated the students performances and agreed on a winner.

But the big question is, who would be the winner?

Principal Ming cleared his throat as he stepped forward to announce the winner of the competition. At the moment, one could see the eagerness in the eyes of the people and students.

"This year's Inter-wing competition has come to climax, everyone of our students did their best and gave us a show of their skills and competence in the world of martial arts", he said.

"This is to my students. I want you all to know that the world of martial arts is a totally different world and it's full of unsolved mysteries, do well to use your skills and help the weak among us", he said.

"The winner of this year's Inter-wing competition is the 'crimson lion wing', principal Ming said.

Everywhere was silent for a while, but thunderous cheers arose as they couldn't believe that so far in the history of Guiyi academy the purple cloud wing would be defeated.

"... second place goes to the purple cloud wing, while the silver eagles wing came third", principal Ming said.

All these been said, one could see all the students from the crimson lion wing rejoicing and jumping.

But at this same moment, the purple cloud wing wasn't happy at all, it was as though the crimson lion wing stole what ought to be theirs.

"Before the competition started it was announced that the winning team would go back with the prize...

As a tradition of the Guiyi academy, the winning team would be granted access into the academy's inner pavilion", principal Ming said.

"So I hereby announce the crimson lion wing as the most strongest and powerful wing in the academy", he said.

"Students are to remember that everyone is to gather at the academy's hall for a important meeting", principal Ming said as he gave the closing remark.

Soon the grand event came to a close. Many celebrated with the winning team. But in the same moment, the results seem to have driven a wedge between the purple cloud wing and the silver eagles wing.

People started dispersing home, but the joy of the crimson lion wing students still filled the air. Just in a moment, Vice general Qing Wu is seen walking towards master Huang Ju.

"Congratulations Master Huang Ju! I can see that your students didn't let you down", he said.

"Like I told you before, I would love to see Gui Shan when he recovers", Vice general Qing Wu stated.

For a while, the students were mumbling some words as they overhead Vice general Qing Wu talking of Gui Shan.

"Gui Shan...guess you gave this match a big shot, even the Vice general of the wolf troop, one of the most powerful troop in the whole of Wushu province has taken interest in you", Ru Yuo said.

In an instant, master Huang Ju summoned Gui Shan to meet Vice general Qing Wu.

"Gui Shan... you're indeed lucky. The vice general has taken a liking to you and would want to have a word with you", principal Ming said.

"Good day Vice general, Gui Shan is pleasured meet you", Gui Shan said as he bowed (a sign of respect).

"Put aside the formalities, I don't know why I'm strongly attracted to you, but I think you're interesting", Vice general Qing Wu stated.

"Like I told master Huang Ju, an appointment would be waiting for you at the royal capital once you graduate from Guiyi academy, it's yours to decide", he said.

"It's indeed an honor from you, considering am a nobody. I promise to put into consideration", Gui Shan said.

"That's a good boy you really got", Vice general Qing Wu said as he bade them farewell.

Immediately the Vice general left, you could see the remaining students thronging to Gui Shan as though he was a model.

But while this was going on, master Huang Ju was lost in thoughts.

"What is so special about Gui Shan. It's been years since Vice general Qing Wu accepted a student into his troop and all of a sudden this",

"I should probably wait and see the results of the investigation I'm conducting", master Huang Ju ruminated.

"Okay...okay...okay... pertaining our victory today, we'll would be celebrating this over wine at the crimson manor", master Huang Ju announced.

All the students including master Huang Ju marched down to the crimson manor.

That night, all the students including master Huang Ju drank to their fill as they celebrated their win after being declared as the most strongest academy.

"Finally all my training for the event didn't go to waste. I finally have access to the academy's inner pavilion", Gui Shan said within himself.

... continue reading from the next chapter...