Seat Contest, Changhe County's Reputation

Seat Contest, Changhe County's Reputation

Seat Contest, Changhe County's Reputation

Time turned, and over the past week or so, Lin Mo had been diligently practicing his fist techniques and movement techniques. He had even naturally broken through the Blood Qi Bottleneck two days ago.

Second Level Entry had come almost as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Lin Mo was not surprised by this result. Over the past half month, the eight or nine thousand taels of silver he had once had on hand had dwindled in the blink of an eye to barely two thousand taels.

The low-year Precious Medicine used to assist cultivation had barely stopped. His cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds; not only had his Blood Qi broken through, but even his fist techniques and movement techniques seemed close to reaching minor accomplishment.

"There are still more than ten days until the competition begins. In a few days, I can start preparing for the next Fate Trait enhancement..."

Lin Mo had also considered using his remaining fortune to strengthen Fate Traits such as his innate bones. Yet once a Fate Trait reached green grade, upgrading it again consumed fortune like pouring out water.

He could sense Fate Traits, and after making a rough estimate, he found that a single upgrade would require at least two hundred points of fortune.

That even depended on the Fate Trait's potential. Upgrading [Dharma Eye] once required at least four hundred points of fortune, twice what his innate bones needed.

"I only have a little over five hundred points of fortune left. In a few days, I should first upgrade [White Ape Momentum] to green grade. The rest will be just right for upgrading my innate bones once."

After making a simple plan, Lin Mo resumed drilling in the martial arts training ground with the Jade Shattering Flowing Water Fist.

The opportunity was close at hand. Every bit of improvement he could make counted.

"Junior Brother Chen, you took on a White Lotus Sect branch altar by yourself this time? I heard you fought two against one as well, without falling behind..."

"And they were White Lotus Sect demons, yet Junior Brother handled them with ease. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared!"

"Junior Brother Chen is only eighteen, yet he has already broken through the Second Level. That talent is truly terrifying..."

In the Wang faction's Personal Disciple residence, Personal Disciples filled both sides of the hall. Chen Qing sat among them with his eyes closed in rest, listening nonstop to the praise from his fellow senior brothers.

He was clearly quite pleased with himself.

When Wang Zhongtian strode to the seat of honor like a dragon walking and a tiger pacing, the hall immediately fell silent. All eyes turned toward him.

Wang Zhongtian looked over the crowd and nodded only after confirming that everyone had arrived. He said in a deep voice, "Everyone, in half a month it will be the once-every-three-years prefectural city competition. At that time, dozens of counties under the prefectural city will send representatives to compete. This not only represents the reputation of our Changhe Martial Arts School, but also the development of Changhe County's resources for the next three years..."

Perhaps to encourage friendly competition between regions, ever since the prefectural city competition was first established a hundred years ago, an additional ranking had been added.

By now, it had gradually become a contest among the various counties within the prefectural city's territory. They certainly could not defeat the prefectural city's geniuses, but as long as they were stronger than the neighboring counties and ranked higher—

The county they belonged to would gain more opportunities to trade with the prefectural city and connect with powerful lineages.

This was no longer as simple as one person attaining the Dao and even the chickens and dogs ascending to heaven...

It was practically one person attaining the Dao, and the entire county enjoying the blessings.

Thus, those in the know generally attached immense importance to this opportunity, and Wang Zhongtian was no exception. Aside from instructing his own Personal Disciples, he had joined forces with the County Magistrate to organize a martial selection before the official roster was determined.

Simply put, there were only five slots in the end for those who could represent Changhe County in the competition.

Of course, there were no restrictions on participation. Like Xu Changfeng, one could go on one's own to compete without issue. It was simply that even if one received an evaluation, one would miss out on the county's reward.

"Later, the martial selection will be held at our Changhe Martial Arts School's training ground. I hope that you can secure at least three of those slots..."

Wang Zhongtian gave the instruction in a grave voice. His gaze swept over the people present before he selected several with young Bone Ages and high talent. "Chen Qing, Sun Dahai... you all step forward. You are still within the age range this time, so you must secure the slots."

Chen Qing and the others rose and stood in the center of the hall, cupping their fists in acknowledgment. Wang Zhongtian continued, "Once you obtain a slot this time, whoever can earn an A-grade evaluation on behalf of our Changhe Martial Arts School will be rewarded by me with a Human-grade High-tier Cultivation Method and a high-tier Treasure Artifact."

As he said this, Wang Zhongtian's gaze lingered on Chen Qing for a moment, and Chen Qing naturally understood.

Wang Zhongtian's generosity this time was certainly, first, to display the strength of Changhe Martial Arts School. Second, these gifts had essentially been tailored for Chen Qing, whether it was the Treasure Artifact or the weapon.

Even that A-grade evaluation was, barring any accident, as certain as a nail driven into a board for Chen Qing.

After briefly giving instructions to the Personal Disciples, Wang Zhongtian led them to the upper side of the training ground, where quite a few people had already gathered.

It was just as packed as a sea of people, but this time there were many more dignitaries and young scions from various lineages, all lingering around the training ground.

Sedan chairs were also gradually stopping outside Changhe Martial Arts School. The County Magistrate's was the most conspicuous. He climbed down from his carriage with his big belly thrust out and headed all the way toward the training ground inside.

"Greetings, County Magistrate. May you be well!"

"County Magistrate, this way please. Our Martial Master Wang has been awaiting you for quite some time..."

People greeted him constantly along the way. The County Magistrate responded absentmindedly, then took his seat by the tables and chairs above the training ground beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

Wang Zhongtian had always been swift and decisive, never muddling things. He went straight to the point from the outset. "This prefectural city competition concerns Changhe County's livelihood and development for the next three years. We have specially invited all of you here to gather the talents of the entire county and prove our might before the prefectural city!"

"As a martial master of Changhe Martial Arts School, it is only right that I take the lead. Let me make my position clear first: if any disciple can obtain an A-grade evaluation, no matter which lineage he comes from or what status he holds, I will personally reward him with a Human-grade High-tier Cultivation Method and a high-tier Treasure Artifact!"

The County Magistrate did not even raise his eyelids, merely whispering softly to the attendant beside him. The attendant then stepped forward, filled his Blood Qi, and likewise shouted, "The County Magistrate has spoken! Whoever can obtain an A-grade evaluation will be awarded one thirty-year Precious Medicine and any three bottles of Human-grade High-tier pills!"

The moment those words were spoken, towering waves rose into the sky. The crowd erupted in uproar. Not only were the young juniors shocked, even the elders of the various lineages secretly clicked their tongues.

"Has Wang Zhongtian gone mad? He's playing this big?"

"Isn't the County Magistrate usually the stingiest of men? Why is he being so generous this time?"

As some were still marveling, others beside them caught a faint trace of what was going on. "Hasn't his disciple Chen Qing been in the limelight lately? He challenged a White Lotus Sect branch altar alone, battled two Second Level demons by himself, and some even call him a youthful prodigy. He's in even more of the spotlight than that Lin Mo was before!"

"Do you think Lin Mo can get these rewards?"

At present, Changhe County's two most prominent geniuses were both at Changhe Martial Arts School. Mentioning one inevitably made people think of the other, and someone immediately voiced the speculation.

Discussions rose all around. Someone looked about but did not see Lin Mo. "Speaking of which, where is Lin Mo?"

"Could it be that Lin Mo doesn't dare to come?"