Chapter 257: The Competition Begins
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the morning, the sun rose and shined brightly in the sky, destined to welcome another unusual day.
At atmosphere of excitement continuously enshrouded the Xuan Ji sub-league’s headquarters, the place filled with commotion!
Today was the Xuan Ji sub-league’s recruitment day of an honorary sealing artist. The league member who successfully passes the selection process will become a member of the Xuan Ji sub-league as an honorary sealing artist. Entering the Xuan Ji sub-league naturally meant an incredible level of status.
A Second Order Sealing Artist was extremely rare to find in the Tianwu Kingdom, while Third Order Sealing Artists were extremely old elders.
In order to become a Third Order Sealing Artist, one had to reach the True Energy Realm, an extremely rare sight.
The conference hall was already set up in the Xuan Jin sub-league before the time arrived. The chairs at both sides were removed, and at the centre of the conference hall were five giant crystal tables. The area was cordoned off, with four chairs placed at the four ends.
Members of the Xuan Ji League were almost all in the hall already, standing along the perimeters of the cordoned area, patiently waiting for the selection process to begin.
Regardless of whether it was a sealing artist or alchemist, no one would cultivate seals or pills in front of others.
Today’s recruitment not only required the seal artists to challenge their own limits, but also gave some of the league members a sight to behold as they observed the magical aspects of cultivating seals.
Sealing artists were already placed on a pedestal – Second Order Sealing Artist paid no attention even to True Energy Realm fighters. They were greatly respected.
Today’s recruitment process was a rare occasion.
The crowded squeezed in, nearly filling up the whole of the conference hall. Some of the members of the Xuan Ji League did not even get to witness the competition – due to the limited space, most of those who were allowed in were elite league members.
The hall was extremely noisy, with everyone in discussion about the competition.
Then, a wave of aura could be felt, pressuring everyone into silence as they struggled to even catch their breath. They knew in their hearts that the Master Chief was arriving.
Indeed, Xuan Ji entered the conference hall with a face of calmness. Following her behind were Ye Changsheng, Yan Zhi, Dong Fang’ao and a few middle-aged league members.
All these people were the elite group of the Xuan Ji League.
Dong Fang’ao may be a strong fighter in the Qingyun Ranking at Energy Shaping Ninth Realm, but in front of all those middle-aged members, he was completely insignificant.
Those middle-aged league members were the seniors of the Qingyun League – they had already made the breakthrough to the True Energy Realm and even the Heaven’s Gate Realm, and were the true elites of the Xuan Ji League.
Some members would consider leaving the Qingyun League upon making the breakthrough to the True Energy Realm to serve the kingdom. However, others would choose to continue staying in the Qingyun League.
Xuan Ji sat on her throne, as Ye Changsheng and company sat down as well!
Ye Mo was already arranged to be at the waiting area earlier on. Sealing artists who had come forward for the recruitment process consisted of five people, including Ye Mo himself – four men and one woman, with Huo Qingyun was naturally among them.
“Ye Mo, do you remember me?”
Huo Qingyun asked Ye Mo.
“I do, how can I forget? Master Huo, do you have anything you want to say to me?” asked Ye Mo calmly.
“I advise you to give up on the recruitment process. With your age, it is impossible to reach the standard of a Second Order Sealing Artist, let alone succeed in the selection process. The three sealing artists beside me are all genuine Second Order Sealing Artists.”
Huo Qingyun obviously knew the three other sealing artists.
“Hehe, since you don’t believe me, how about a bet? If I successfully get recruited by the Xuan Ji League, I will cripple both of your arms. If I don’t, I’ll let you cripple both of my arms. How about that?”
As he spoke, he saw Huo Qingyun’s face change into a sour expression. “If you don’t dare to bet with me, then take back whatever you said just now and save yourself the embarrassment.”
Huo Qingyun looked at Ye Mo’s nonchalant expression. Pointless bets like this did not interest him in the slightest, and were mere words to be ignored.
“Huo Qingyun, I suggest you accept the bet. We juniors cannot take it anymore, watching you get riled up by a newly promoted league member. If it was me, I would be completely embarrassed.”
One of the Second Order Sealing Artist started to stoke the fire.
The other two sealing artists followed suit – regardless of who won, they would get to enjoy a spectacle, so why not?
“So be it!”
The three words were uttered out by Huo Qingyun, who could barely control the anger inside his heart.
Crippling an arm could be remedied by medicinal pills. Furthermore, he did not believe that Ye Mo would dare to cripple his arms in front of everyone.
An elder entered the waiting area and led the five of them to the middle of the conference hall.
As Ye Mo and company slowly walked into the Xuan Ji League, the whole area was completely packed, but strangely silent.
Following that, Ye Mo saw Xuan Ji – she was still clad in a gold top and a short skirt, revealing her slim legs. With a head of straight black hair nearly touching the floor and a face of unrivalled beauty, she was indeed a symbol of mysterious, unpredictable beauty.
Ye Mo was in complete disbelief regarding the fact that she was actually a woman whose age was around that of his father.
Xuan Ji also instantly noticed Ye Mo as the two of them made eye contact!
“Hmph!”
Seeing that Ye Mo had the guts to directly look at her, Xuan Ji let out a cold grunt before sending an invisible mental wave attack towards the entrance of Ye Mo’s brain.
“Oh no!”
Ling’er shouted loudly and rushed towards the entrance of Ye Mo’s brain, and with a wave of her arm, that invisible mental wave slowly came to a halt before disappearing from existence.
“Fighters in the Spirit Devour Realm are able to unleash mental attacks, but I can easily block those for you!”
Mental attack were different from energy attacks – Ye Mo could use the Rising Dragon Pillars to absorb energy attacks, but had to rely on Ling’er for mental attacks.
Seeing that Ye Mo was completely unscathed after being hit with her Spirit Devour Realm level attack, Xuan Ji could not help but frown, revealing a hint of confusion.
Ye Changsheng also noticed what had happened. He stood up and grunted coldly, “Ye Mo, how dare you show such disrespect towards Master Xuan Ji!”
“I heard various myths across the Qingyun League regarding Master Xuan Ji – reaching the peak of the Spirit Devour Realm before the age of 40 and a rare elite fighter in the Tianwu Kingdom. I had assumed that Master Xuan Ji was an elderly woman in reaching her fifties. Little did I expect Master Xuan Ji to be so beautiful – a rare specimen among mortals. That is why my glance towards Master Xuan Ji lasted for a few more moments.”
Ye Mo diverted his line of sight as he replied, holding his hands together.
Ye Mo’s reply was filled with nothing but compliments, seemingly placing Xuan Ji high up in the sky.
“Is Master Xuan Ji someone a league member like you can look at?”
Hearing Ye Mo’s rebuttal, Ye Changsheng said in great anger.
“My explanation just now was purely heartfelt compliments towards Master Xuan Ji. I dare not have any indecent thoughts. I believe all the league members here share my sentiments,” replied Ye Mo calmly.
Some of the Inner League members in the surrounding could not help but be impressed by Ye Mo’s eloquence – such sharpness left them unable to pick out any flaws at all.
“Alright, Changsheng, sit down. Let’s not waste any more. Let the competition begin!”
Seeing that Ye Changsheng was about to explode, Xuan Ji waved her hand and said calmly.