Senior Brother Luo or Junior Brother
Lei Tianyang's strength was undeniable. After stepping onto the stage, his body Thunder Light, and he quickly defeated the Ring Leader, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
Both being disciples of the Hundred Rivers Sect, Lei Tianyang's fighting style contrasted sharply with Luo Jun's. Even the host, Lin Xiaomo, excitedly exclaimed, "I never imagined that the Hundred Rivers Sect, besides being proficient in mechanisms and props, would also have such a powerful expert! It's truly an eye-opener!"
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Lei Tianyang walked off the stage with his head held high. When he returned to the Hundred Rivers Sect team, he glanced at Luo Jun almost imperceptibly.
"Is it just my imagination?" Luo Jun blinked. "It does seem like it's targeting me..."
However, Luo Jun didn't care much about these things. Anyway, he had achieved his goal. He could just lose one game tomorrow and let Young Master Lei show off...
The Spirit Gu Assembly continued, with one Martial Forest Expert after another taking the stage to challenge, but overall only a few passed. Among them, several disciples of the Hundred Rivers Sect passed the Preliminary Round, including Lu Fei, who was carried up by the crowd, Xiao Tian, who was reminded several times and made a three-point agreement not to harm anyone, and Lao Miao Miao, who had a solid foundation and extraordinary temperament.
As the competition progressed, everyone noticed something unusual about the five Ring Leader.
The physical exertion from these martial arts matches is considerable. Even if these five people take turns, their rest intervals are only about half an hour. In a day, each person has to fight about ten matches, which is quite terrifying in terms of physical strength and energy consumption.
Many challengers had anticipated this, so they deliberately waited until the afternoon to register for the competition. However, they found that the five Ring Leader were not affected at all and maintained a stable level of performance!
Even after a Gao Qiang battle, when they appear extremely weak, they can return to the stage full of energy after just half an hour of rest.
How exactly did they manage to do that?
The martial arts competition continued on stage, while the audience below discussed among themselves, all expressing their amazement at the stamina of the Medicine King Valley.
Seemingly noticing this, after the competition, Lin Xiaomo stood in the center of the stage and said, "Everyone noticed, didn't they? Our five Senior Brother from Medicine King Valley possess cultivation levels that are profound and enduring, unlike ordinary people. To be honest, this is precisely the effect of the Spirit Gathering Gu!"
Everyone looked at each other and burst out laughing. Zhao Jian patted him on the shoulder. "Brother, it's not that your Senior Brother doesn't trust you... Your trick might work once, but if the opponent is on guard... as long as you make sure you don't get hurt, you'll have succeeded!"
Tie Jingang promised that he would receive extra Credit Points for each round he advanced in the finals. It's important to know that internship Credit Points are crucial to the Explorer Academy's grades, and these grades contribute to the Yuan Cultivation Society Explorer Academy's achievements. Ultimately, these credits can be exchanged for various benefits and magical artifacts from the guild!
"After planting the Spirit Gathering Gu, the accelerated circulation of vital energy not only increases cultivation speed but also greatly benefits the recovery of physical strength and vital energy!" Lin Xiaomo laughed, "With such powerful effects right before your eyes, experts from all walks of life who want to try it should hurry up and sign up for the challenge!"
Tie Jingang was also very happy. He treated all the students to a late-night snack out of his own pocket, booking out all the food stalls near the inn. During the meal, he specifically praised several students who had advanced, encouraging them to relax the next day, not to aim for the championship, but simply to gain experience. After all, the opponents in the finals were no pushovers, including many Sect Leader and elders from small and medium-sized sects, all of whom were Martial World Senior. Winning even one match would be a bonus.
These words immediately sparked a surge of registrations. If the efficacy of the Spirit Gathering Gu was merely something Medicine King Valley had mentioned before, the terrifying stamina of these five Ring Leader was now undeniable proof!
"Who do you think will get through the first round?" a student suddenly asked.
"But Senior Sister Miao's Mind Stillness ability is too powerful; she can't use it carelessly," a boy said. "I think Lu Fei has the best chance. He's Martial Combat Faction, the most balanced in all aspects, with no weaknesses!"
These thirty-odd people were all experts in their fields, with five from the Hundred Rivers Sect alone, and all of them were Young Talent, making them quite the sensation.
"Senior Sister Miao will definitely be fine!" a girl raised her hand and said, "Not only is she strong, but she also has a powerful Noble Phantasm!"
Finally, after all the challenges were completed, a total of thirty-one people advanced to the finals.
"Lei Tianyang is amazing!" a girl said. "Although he's only a first-year student, his Thunder Control Technique is incredibly powerful, and most locals have never seen it before. He can catch his opponents off guard."
After all the discussion, several experts were mentioned, but no one Luo Jun.
"Xiao Tian is Martial Combat Faction too!" a dissenting voice emerged. "Moreover, I think he's more aggressive, and even against a stronger opponent, he can achieve a surprising victory!"
The students were very enthusiastic upon hearing this, and some of them, who had lost that day, even regretted it, thinking that if they had used a different strategy, they might have advanced and earned Credit Points...
"Hey, are you looking down on me?" Luo Jun Qi Ingestion defiantly.
"What do you mean by this?" Luo Jun slammed his hand on the table, feigning anger. "What? You're convinced I definitely won't pass the first round, aren't you?"
The increased cultivation speed is understandable, but what's the principle behind the faster Qi recovery speed?
Even Cultivators in the Main World need to take potions or similar magical artifacts to quickly restore their energy... This thing, which plants a Gu worm within its body that can continuously generate energy and increase cultivation... is it a Gu worm or a nuclear reactor?
This isn't just Miraculous Elixir, it's cutting-edge technology!
He harbored doubts, but Martial Forest Expert from other sects seemed to have spotted a treasure, eagerly signing up one after another. The five Ring Leader took turns competing, and there were still people queuing up until the end of the Xu Hour, ultimately extending the queue by an hour.
However, Luo Jun, sitting in the audience, frowned slightly.
"It's not that we look down on you, it's just that your ability doesn't allow it!" one of the boys said, raising his glass. "If you really pass, we'll start calling you 'Senior Brother ' from now on!"
Hearing this, the others chimed in, "Yeah, if you pass, we'll all call you Senior Brother Luo whether we're at school or out in the world!"
"You said it yourselves!" Luo Jun said, "Martial Uncle Tie and the other Senior Brother and sisters heard this, be my witnesses!"
"I heard you," Tie Jingang said. "Furthermore, I can grant you a special privilege: if you pass the first round, I will also help you secure a spot for the Exchange Training in the second half of the semester!"
"Wow!" The students immediately erupted in excitement. "Teacher Tie has really gone all out!"
"Exchange Training is nothing like Otherworld Internship; it's a major opportunity to show off!"
"If you make a name for yourself at the next Exchange Meeting, you'll have a place in the cultivation world of Zhendan!"
Luo Jun was also somewhat surprised.
The so-called Exchange Training is Training Camp held every May or June by major Explorer Academy across the country. Each academy selects fewer than ten people to exchange ideas and learn from each other.
Of course, while it's ostensibly Exchange Meeting, it's essentially a competition between various academies, with everyone secretly vying for dominance. After all, the students of the Explorer Academy are all Young Talent from Zhendan the country, the future pillars of the cultivation world. Therefore, many experts and big shots, including the higher-ups of the Yuan Cultivation Society, come to observe. If you perform exceptionally well at the Exchange Meeting, you might be noticed by the association's higher-ups and receive special training even before graduation, which would greatly benefit your future cultivation and career.
"Martial Uncle Tie, are you serious?" Luo Jun raised an eyebrow.
After all, the selection of participants for the Exchange Training is a matter of pride for the Ningdong Academy, and the pool of candidates is limited. They must choose the strongest and most highly skilled individuals. Sending someone at the Body Refinement Realm out would be a disgrace to the academy, wouldn't it?
"I have confidence in you." Tie Jingang raised his glass. "Although your cultivation level is still low, your reaction and adaptability are outstanding, and you possess extremely high combat talent! As long as you have time and resources, you can always improve your cultivation level. There's no shortage of people with good Root Bone and spirituality in the academy, but combat talent is something that teachers can't teach and machines can't measure; it's a quality that can't be forced!"
"I've never believed in so-called statistics; I only look at results. No matter how high the numbers are on paper, if you can't produce results, you're useless!"
Tie Jingang looked into Luo Jun's eyes. "If you can truly defeat opponents at the Body Refinement Realm or even Mind Condensation stages while still at the Foundation Establishment stage, then regardless of your talent, I believe you will achieve even more dazzling results after your realm improves!"
Tie Jingang's trust warmed Luo Jun's heart, but then a slight sense of guilt rose within him.
He was just joking with everyone, but he didn't expect Tie Jingang to take it so seriously.
Teacher Tie, you don't know, most of my so-called adaptability and reaction come from overwhelming attribute advantages... I'm the kind of Numerical Monster you're talking about!
Luo Jun sighed, raised his glass, and said, "Whether I'll be Senior Brother Luo or Junior Brother Luo from now on depends on the first round tomorrow!"
"Great!" Everyone raised their glasses in agreement. "Let's wait and see!"
the next day.
Lin Xiaomo stood on the arena, with a lottery box beside her.
"Today, we will hold the first round of the finals. The 31 finalists will draw lots to determine their opponents. We have assigned numbers to the contestants based on the order in which they advanced yesterday. Please come up on stage in order to draw your numbers. The number you draw will be your opponent in the first round today!"
"If you draw your own number, put it back and draw again. If you draw a number that has already matched you with an opponent, take it out and keep drawing until everyone has confirmed their opponent!"
"Now, please welcome number one forward... Okay, Player One has drawn number six. Please both of you come this way to prepare. Contestant number two, please come forward..."
Luo Jun was the third to advance. When it was his turn, he reached into the ballot box and activated the Dice of Heavenly Secrets.
"Ding! Event Difficulty: 97 points; Final Points: 95 + 15 points; Event Success!"
Luo Jun smiled slightly, reached inside, pulled out a blank ticket, and handed it to Lin Xiaomo.
"Number two got a bye!" Lin Xiaomo shouted excitedly when she saw Luo Jun's ticket, "Congratulations to Luo Jun Young Hero Luo from the Hundred Rivers Sect, for advancing directly to the second round!"
The audience of the Hundred Rivers Sect were utterly astonished upon hearing this news...
(End of this chapter)