Chapter Forty-Six: The Selection

Liu Feng gazed at the dueling stage, where the two combatants faced each other with fists and palms raised. Their garments fluttered though there was no wind, a clear sign they were contesting with their inner energy. After a quarter of an hour, a thunderous crack split the air as the two swiftly parted, their bodies trembling ever so slightly—a consequence of their excessive expenditure of qi.

They cupped their hands in respectful salute, then each leapt off the stage.
“No one expected their match to end in a draw.”
“Both possess magnanimous hearts—such an outcome is within reason,” someone observed.

Some, having guessed the result, wore looks of satisfaction, but most were still surprised by how things had unfolded. After watching the contest, Liu Feng’s interest waned and he returned to his dormitory.

The next day, Liu Feng attended his mentor’s lectures in the morning and continued his cultivation in the afternoon. In this manner, another twenty days passed.

“Tomorrow is the day we select our class representatives. Each class will choose its five strongest members to compete in the grand inter-class tournament,” Mentor Zhang Ning announced in class.

“Who do you think will be chosen from our class?”
“I reckon Sun Hui, Wang Mao, and Zhao Yang will definitely make the top five.”
“Li Jingtian is even stronger—he should take first place this time.”
“Liu Feng is formidable too. He even bested Wang Jun from Class Three, so he should also make the top five.”

The students murmured among themselves, each voicing their opinions.

Zhang Ning continued, “Any student with the strength and confidence is welcome to participate in the selection. The rewards for the class tournament are quite generous.”

Excitement began to stir; some students were already itching to test their skills. Still, mindful of the disparity in strength, most held back. Only about a dozen, those truly confident in their abilities, signed up.

“Liu Feng, I believe you can make the top three. As for myself, I might barely scrape into the top five,” Zhao Yang said solemnly as he approached.

“You’re being modest. I think you’ve already reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation,” Liu Feng replied with a smile.

“There’s always someone stronger out there. We should remain cautious and do our best,” Zhao Yang said, patting Liu Feng’s shoulder before returning to his seat.

After Zhang Ning finished his announcement, he resumed his lecture, and the morning soon passed. Liu Feng spent the afternoon immersed in cultivation once more.

The following morning, Zhang Ning did not lecture. Instead, he led the students to the training square.

“Those who signed up yesterday, please come up to the dueling stage. The five victors will represent our class in the tournament,” Zhang Ning announced, signaling for the matches to begin.

The first to take the stage was a young man in white, his features resolute. “Who will face me?” he called.

No sooner had he spoken than a tall, imposing youth with a piercing gaze leapt onto the stage, exuding a daunting presence. After exchanging names, the two launched at each other. Fists and palms flew, the air whistling with their forceful blows, resounding with booming impacts.

After about fifty exchanges, the towering youth unleashed his twin fists, sending a surge of wild power crashing forth. His opponent was knocked to the ground and promptly conceded.

Several more bouts followed, with two participants dispatching their opponents in a single move.

Now it was Liu Feng’s turn. He leapt onto the stage, facing a burly youth with a deep, gruff voice. They saluted, then clashed at once.

Liu Feng immediately unleashed ninety percent of his strength, his fists carrying a ferocious force as he struck at his opponent. The burly youth, recognizing Liu Feng’s power, dared not hold back and responded with his full strength. Their fists collided in a titanic clash, the sound reverberating like war drums.

The burly youth staggered back five or six steps before barely regaining his balance. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Feng launched another assault, his fists unleashing a torrent of energy that crashed into his opponent.

The youth hastily raised his palms to block, meeting Liu Feng’s oncoming assault head-on.

A resounding bang echoed as the burly youth was knocked to the ground. He immediately conceded. Liu Feng helped him up, and together they left the stage.

Next, Zhao Yang ascended to face a slight, wiry youth. With a display of overwhelming strength, Zhao Yang’s attacks forced his opponent to retreat repeatedly. After five exchanges, the slender youth conceded at once.

“It’s Li Jingtian—our class’s acknowledged number one!”
“Yes, he’s a prodigy, terrifyingly strong.”

Hearing the whispers, Liu Feng turned his gaze to the stage.

There stood Li Jingtian, tall and handsome, his eyes shining like lanterns. A sharp aura flickered about him, like a sword sheathed yet ready to bare its edge.

His opponent appeared somewhat frail and pale, but his eyes glinted with a chilling light. There was something inscrutable and cold about him, a sense of eerie unpredictability.

Li Jingtian regarded his adversary with an air of superiority. Calmly, he said, “I advise you to withdraw now. Otherwise, when we fight, your defeat will be most unseemly.”

The pale youth’s expression remained indifferent as he replied coldly, “Others call you a genius, but I don’t believe it.”

“So, you wish to test me?” Li Jingtian said, unhurried.

“Defeat me, and then you can boast,” the pale youth retorted, striking without further warning.

A blade-like arc of energy shot from his palm, slicing through the air with a sharp hiss as he swung, the blade energy slashing forth with deadly intent.

Li Jingtian’s face grew slightly grave. He pressed his fingers together like a sword, channeling a razor-sharp sword qi that surged forward, fierce and unyielding.

With a thunderous boom, the blade and sword energies collided, unleashing a wild tempest of force that swept outward in all directions, making the spectators’ robes billow.

“Well done! You have some skill. Take another of my attacks,” Li Jingtian declared, tracing a swift arc in the air. A longer, brighter sword qi appeared, streaking across the sky like a shooting star.

The pale youth dodged with uncanny footwork, his body flickering like a phantom, evading the sword qi in a series of swift movements. In a heartbeat, he appeared behind Li Jingtian, both palms surging with fierce energy as he struck at Li Jingtian’s shoulders.

But Li Jingtian seemed to have anticipated this. A faint smile played about his lips as another slash of sword qi shot forth. The sword qi met the youth’s palm strike, cleaving through the energy and, unstoppable, struck his opponent squarely.

With a thud, the pale youth was knocked to the ground, his complexion even paler than before.