Chapter 375 - Cultivation and Ability

After their meal, Ling Chuxi sighed in satisfaction and thanked Li Shaoqiu. “Master Li, thank you so much for your hospitality.”

“It’s nothing,” Li Shaoqiu replied with a strained smile, subconsciously touching his growling stomach. Looks like he had to go for an extra meal later on; eating with Ling Chuxi and the rest could really starve a person to death.

Ling Chuxi and her group returned to the posthouse and had a good rest to prepare for the competition. Even though no one brought up the matter of Duan Qingchou, everyone knew that if they were aiming to be the champion this time, it would not be as easy as they thought.

A fierce determination to win burned in their hearts.

…

At sunrise, a deep bellow from the battle horn broke the tranquility of the morning, officially announcing the start of the much anticipated great assessment competition of the five countries.

The competition arena in the city which was surrounded by high walls was already crowded with people, and the roads to and from the arena were also tightly packed. There were banners and colorful flags fluttering in the wind, with symbols of the different countries displayed on them.

The wealthy children of noble families from the five main vassal countries, and Ding Lin Country’s own princes and noble families were surrounded by guards as they headed to the competition arena. The guards at the entrance checked for customs clearance documents before allowing them to pass through one by one. If they had no customs clearance documents, people on the outside could not even see the competition inside.

The Ling Chuxi trio, along with the young contestants from other countries, used another passageway to enter the arena. The contestants were taking the opportunity to size up their potential opponents, and the atmosphere in the passageway was tense.

Xiao Tianying was also there, and he glanced at Ling Chuxi. Ling Chuxi met his gaze briefly and immediately looked away. Ling Chuxi could clearly see the intent in Xiao Tianying’s eyes: he wanted desperately to fight and defeat her.

They encountered Duan Qingchou there as well, and he turned his sinister gaze on them. As he passed by Ling Chuxi and her group, his low voice drifted by: “This time, I will not let you off lightly.”

Baili Han frowned. He stared at Duan Qingchou’s back and did not say anything, but his head drooped slightly. He looked back to see Ling Chuxi and Ling Yichen smiling at him, and they reached out to pat his back comfortingly. Baili Han felt relieved and smiled back at the two of them gratefully, his heart warming at their silent encouragement.

There were cheers coming from below the stage as the crowd watched the young contestants walking into the arena. The people in the audience were waving their flags with all their might and cheering for their country’s contestants.

After that, the people from the Deity Temple arrived, which further livened the atmosphere. Ling Chuxi looked at the representative from the Deity Temple who was on the watching platform, and was surprised. It was not Huangfu Qingjue, but an old man. ‘Huangfu Qingjue. Where is he right now? What is he doing?’ Ling Chuxi could not help wondering about him.

It was only when they started drawing lots did the clamor of voices die down.

There were five countries that participated in the great assessment competition, so the competition rules were a little different. In the first round, Wan Chuan Country, Feng Ze Country, Dong Xing Country, and Nan Xia Country would draw lots to be divided into pairs to face off. The two countries that won those matches would enter the second round and draw lots with last year’s champion, Shang Yuan Country. The country which was not drawn would automatically enter the finals to fight the winner of the second round.

The competition rules were not entirely fair, and even quite fortuitous. The results of drawing lots would directly affect the final results. However, in this world, there was not much fairness to begin with. There was only cultivation and ability, and the profit that could be gained from them.