Chapter 222: Kenneth Shi
Generally, the weakest of the disciples who were eligible to participate in the All Peaks Competition had reached the refinement level just below the consummation. Even the least powerful disciple at the Drizzle Peak was in the nature level at grade seven to compete last time.
While five out of the thirteen disciples from Sea Peak had attained the consummation level, the remaining entrants were refining at the eighth or ninth grade of the nature level.
It was rare for a disciple at grade two in the nature level competing in the All Peaks Competition.
It was unique, but there were talented disciples.
For instance, the disciples taught by the saints, and elders at the Cloud Sect were particularly vested individuals. They developed their fantastic refinement methods and possessed incredible strength which qualified them to enter the All Peaks Competition while still at grades two and three in the nature level, where they performed admirably.
Three years ago, at the All Peaks Competition, there had been a disciple named Jacques Wang, whose instructor was a great master in the Cloud Sect. He was ranked among the top one hundred even though, at the time, he was only at grade two of the nature level.
Anybody who sought to be one of the top one hundred had to be able to challenge the disciples refining at the consummation level. It was terrifying to think of just how potent a disciple's inherent energy would be one day, if he was able to go toe to toe against peers who were much stronger and able to refine at higher levels.
It was rumored that Jacques developed his abilities immensely over three years of refinement, which made him the top pick to be named the champion this year.
Jacques was known as a personal disciple. None of the support, facilities or refinement methods at Drizzle Peak could compare to his.
What personal disciples did was battle when they were still in a low grade so that they could test their strength. However, if an inner disciple from Drizzle Peak refining at grade two of the nature level took part in the competition, it would be considered ludicrous.
“Why? Why is it ludicrous?” asked Master Wen while snorting, “Zen might only be at grade two of the nature level, but, he has earned fifty-five thousand points in the testing. Thus, he merited the title of rank one in Drizzle Peak's inner disciples. Who here thinks he's at the low level and can mock him?”
“Fifty-five thousand points? You're exaggerating!” Master Wang retorted disdainfully.
No one outside Drizzle Peak knew how high Zen's test score was.
It was shocking to hear that a disciple in grade two of the nature level could earn fifty-five thousand points.
“I've heard that Drizzle Peak's the weakest, but I never heard the members are best at bragging. Hee-hee,” scoffed a Sea Peak disciple.
“He got fifty-five thousand points? So he has contended with the joint attacks from the men at the consummation of nature level? Do you think those at the consummation level are feeble? Wow! The Drizzle Peak disciples take a significant risk by bragging!” added another disciple.
“His strength is only at grade two of the nature level. I don't think he's experienced the full and awesome power of someone refining at the consummation level. When it's time, I will show him first hand how great the distance between the expertise from those at the consummation level and his grade two techniques,” disparaged a Sea Peak member as he glanced over at Zen.
Zen turned a deaf ear to their taunts as he moved ahead with the line.
After his intensive training over the last few months, Zen's ability to control his thoughts and reaction had improved so much that the ridicule from others no longer pulsed him.
It didn't take long for all the competitors to take their places on the competition field.
With the disciples from Skytop Peak at the front, all the disciples from the thirty-three peaks formed a semicircle to the right hand side of the field. Over to the left side stood the personal disciples of saints, patriarchs and elders, who were wearing purple robes.
Set up at one end of the field was a square platform where a middle-aged man was sitting on a black chair.
Zen looked at the man. Although he was far away, Zen could indistinctly feel his power.
'This man seems stronger than the masters of the Illuminating Soul Realm, but, he's repressing his energy. I wonder who is he. Could he be the head of the Cloud Sect?' wondered Zen to himself.
Zen's guess was correct. The man was the Cloud Sect's leader, Kenneth Shi.
Kenneth rarely appeared in public, preferring to keep a low profile, but the rules of Cloud Hall stipulated that his attendance was required at the All Peaks Competition which was a triennial event.
It was part of the leader's duties to select the disciples who successfully passed the trials in the competition and would be admitted to the Cloud Road and to enter the Cloud Hall.
It stressed the importance of the All Peaks Competition to test the strength of every genius.
When every disciple from the thirty-three peaks and personal disciples had arrived, Kenneth rose from his seat and made the announcement of the beginning of the competition.
On cue, an elder appeared, flying over the field. He carried dozens of copies of a long list, and as he passed each peak's group, he handed one to each master.
On the page were written the contestants' names, their competitors, and which round they would fight during.
There were over forty disciples listed from Skytop Peak, whereas there were only seven from Drizzle Peak. Overall, there were nearly seven hundred names listed, with more than six hundred disciples from the thirty-three peaks and more than fifty personal disciples.
Initially, many of the hopeful seven hundred disciples would be eliminated through group trials.
After Master Wen of Drizzle Peak looked over the list, he frowned, sighing deeply.
Yehudi took a step closer and asked, “Master Wen, who will our opponents be?”
Smiling bitterly, Master Wen handed Yehudi the list as he replied, “I want everyone to take a look at the list here to know your opponents.”
Naturally, all seven Drizzle Peak contestants wanted to know their first opponents, so, they huddled around Master Wen. One by one, the disciples frowned as they examined the list.
Listed as Drizzle Peak's first round opponents were disciples from top ten peaks, including, Blackrock Peak, Daylily Peak and Azure Peak...
Since all the participants ranked higher amongst the inner disciples in their peaks, those from the higher-ranked peaks were supposed to be stronger. And apparently, they were indeed more powerful than the aspirants from Drizzle Peak.
“Alas, it seems that since we are from Drizzle Peak, we will be used as stepping stones for other disciples..” Master Wen said as he exhaled loudly. When he glanced at Zen and saw how calm he was, it affected the master.
Zen wasn't showy, but each time he appeared for a trial or competition, he went against the odds, and won, on behalf of Drizzle Peak. There was an air of confidence surrounding him.
Zen was calm now. However, at first, Zen's deportment was grave because of the importance the All Peaks Competition held, but, as the day drew closer, Zen's comportment became more balanced with an inner peace.
'Make no mistake', although Zen was not stressed out, he wasn't indifferent. Quite the contrary, he welcomed the competition and his mind was focused on the tournament.
Examining the paper, Zen saw his first opponent was a disciple who had reached grade nine of the nature level named Langdon Zhou of Azure Peak.
“Zen, I know Langdon very well. He has inherent superhuman strength with skill equal to someone at the consummation level. He is number nine hundred and thirty-sixth on the Cloud Sect rankings. You need to be careful,” warned Yehudi.
Nodding thoughtfully, Zen asked, “Yehudi, what about you? Are you confident you will defeat your opposition?”
Casually smiling, Yehudi said, “No, since the rival is Mack of Blackrock Peak, and he's at the consummation level as well as being a magic array master, I am not confident.”
A magic array master...
A magic array master had special methods of attacking. There were two variations of magic array. One was considered ordinary, affecting people mentally, much like the magic array used on Bloody Mountain to test disciples, but didn't cause anyone harm.
The other was a very powerful killing array and difficult to survive for the opponent. No one willingly chose a magic array master as a foe during the competition because of how easily an array master could deceive others.
Zen thought maybe Yehudi was just humble, since Yehudi said he wasn't confident, and yet, he remained outwardly calm, which was a good start.
Soon after, the first rounds started.
The field was divided to create nine smaller fields which held eighteen competitors simultaneously.
Around each field the saints placed enchanted barriers which prevented energy from permeating out and hurting innocent onlookers during the competition.
When the eighteen contestants were in their assigned areas, respectively, the fight commenced.
Out on the fields, life vitality of all variations sparked to life, dazzling the observers.
In the middle of one of the fields, a young girl wearing a yellow padded jacket was beaming at her challenger, a burly man who stood six and a half feet tall.
The two rivals appeared mismatched, which attracted the biggest crowd watching them.
“That's Jill Quan from Lady Peak! Did you know she's turning eighteen years old this year? And she's been at Lady Peak for only two and a half years now! I heard she's an amazing talent, and over that time she's risen from grade one to grade nine of the nature level! I wonder if she'll be able to pull off the same miracle that Yan did years ago?”
“Well, what Yan achieved wasn't easy, it was a miracle. Plus, Benjamin Long, Jill's rival, isn't weak. He's developed the evil refinement method and uses a horrifying blood red life vitality...”
As the two spoke, Jill's brawl began.
Even though Jill was short, she cut an imposing figure of perfect symmetry, with the agility and grace of a rabbit flying. Jill attacked Benjamin in a blinding, quick charge as soon as the light life vitality came alive, rushing out from the delicate jade-green sword she wielded.
“hee-hee,” chuckled Benjamin. Obviously, he didn't take Jill as a threat, and he nonchalantly waved his blood-red machete in front of him. As he did, the life vitality appeared from within the blade. There was a noxious stench emitting from the life vitality, which meant harbored within it was a deadly toxin. The life vitality grew steadily and as Benjamin brandished his machete, swinging it around, wisps of life vitality, radiated throughout the area.
As fast and flexible as Jill was, everytime she rushed at Benjamin, his life vitality spheres forced her to fall back.
“You will never destroy my blood river cart! I encourage you to concede defeat and clasp your hands together so I can seize you!” taunted Benjamin while twisting his machete so that the life vitality flowing didn't slow down.
As Benjamin planned, the spheres spread across nearly the entire field, expanding further by the second which meant he would defeat Jill even if he didn't engage her head-on.
With seventeen or more circles of life vitality spreading out irregularly throughout the field, it didn't seem to matter how skillful Jill dodged it; she would run out of space to evade the toxic clouds soon.
Forcing Jill into a small corner finally, Benjamin smirked and said, “Little girl, admit defeat. If you become infected by my blood river cart poison, later I'll have to detoxify you. It's such a hassle detoxifying people, and it means I have to remove your clothes and then face to face...”
As Benjamin was casually spewing his inappropriate, and suggestive taunts, all the sudden, Jill was covered in the soft sunglow, and shrunk back before she vaulted up from her deceptive corner and rushed headlong at him.
Watching Jill's battle, Zen nodded and commented, “The big man will be conquered!”
Yehudi gave Zen a surprised look but kept quiet. He thought Jill was going to lose because she couldn't escape the circles of poisonous life vitality, which made it impossible for her to attack Benjamin while giving him a seemingly unconquerable position.
However, what happened next proved Zen to be right.