For the next one and a half hours, both Qin Yao and Feng Min were seated side by side while observing the matches.
’It’s fun talking with her,’ Qin Yao couldn’t help but think as he kept talking with Feng Min on various topics while occasionally glancing at the matches.
As a result of their circumstances, the two ended up talking with each other a lot, much more than they ever had until now.
The layer of distance which was initially present in their manner of speaking was soon shattered as a consequence by the ti the knockout matches ca to an end.
"The Eight Candidates are requested to step into the arena," the Supervising Elder’s voice resonated.
Soon, the selected Third ridian Refinent Stage cultivators all below the age of thirty stood on the arena and faced the audience. They all had a confident expression on their faces.
’Now that I notice, Qin Yao is the youngest of them all,’ Yi Chen thought as he glanced through everyone’s status panels.
What followed next was a series of applause from the crowd, which was accompanied by the constant ringing of the gong and the bursting of firecrackers.
With this celebration as a crescendo, the knockout matches finally ca to an end. The next instant, along with the other candidates, both Qin Yao and Feng Min ca down the arena.
The two of them had been so engrossed in talking with each other earlier that they had forgotten to search for Yi Chen or Feng Ning among the crowd. As a result, it was only now that they began looking for them like lost children.
Luckily, they didn’t need to struggle for long, as Yi Chen and Feng Ning, who had already been observing them from a distance, raised their hands and waved them up in the air to attract their attention.
"Feng Min!"
"Qin Yao!"
Hearing this, both Qin Yao and Feng Min turned their head towards a particular direction and the next instant their expressions brightened.
Rushing towards the two of them, they exclaid simultaneously.
"Sister Ning! I did it!"
"Brother Chen! Did you watch my fights?!"
Looking at their expectant eyes, which were looking for answers, both Feng Ning and Yi Chen responded positively.
"Of course I did. It looks like you’ve not been slacking in your room all this ti, "Yi Chen teased while smirking.
"Hehe," Qin Yao rubbed his nose in embarrassnt and giggled, "It’s all because of Brother Chen’s help. I can’t wait for the tournant day to fight alongside Brother Chen,"
"Like I’ve said before as well. It’s your efforts in the end that made it all possible," Yi Chen patted his shoulders with a pride-filled smile.
"Hm? What? Is Brother Chen also participating in the tournant?"
Feng Ning, who was also busy praising her little sister, suddenly asked with a frown when she heard Qin Yao. From what Yi Chen had told her earlier, he hadn’t participated in the knockout matches, so there was no way for him to get a spot.
"Yes, Brother Chen just registered himself today," Qin Yao answered.
The frown on her head deepened the next instant when she heard this and asked, "But the knockout matches for the First ridian Refinent Stage cultivators are already over, how co he..."
"Well..." Realising that he would be needing to step in now, Yi Chen said, "I’m actually a Fifth ridian Refinent Stage Cultivator now. That’s why I didn’t need to participate in the knockout matches..."
"Fifth Level?!" Feng Ning’s eyes widened in surprise the next mont as she exclaid loudly. However, noticing the surrounding gazes that were directed towards her, she imdiately lowered her voice and asked.
"Why...I an, how? You were just at the First-"
Knowing what she wanted to say, Yi Chen cut her off in between and explained.
"I wasn’t intending to hide this from you, but since we were surrounded by so many people at that ti, I refrained from telling it to you at that ti..."
Hearing Yi Chen’s words, she was reminded of her earlier actions and just sighed in understanding. However, there was still one question that was bothering her, and she asked the next mont.
"So, Brother Chen had been at the Fifth Level since the ti we t?"
Although she understood that there must be so reasons for him to keep his cultivation hidden from her, still being lied straight to her face when they had just t for the first ti wasn’t a very good feeling.
Yi Chen was about to answer her, but before he could, Qin Yao jumped in.
"Senior Sister Ning, you got it wrong. It’s not that Brother Chen was hiding his cultivation back then. The truth is that in just these three months, Brother Chen had jumped from the first to the fifth level.
Since I’ve been training regularly with Brother Chen during this period, I am a clear witness to it. Not only that, but Brother Chen had also comprehended the Crimson Fire Arts to a considerably high level and gained Master Lei’s recognition," Qin Yao explained enthusiastically.
He clearly wanted Feng Ning to realise how great Brother Chen was and to admire him just the way he did.
"This...?" An expression of disbelief imdiately ford on her face when she heard Qin Yao’s absurd statent and said the next instant, "How could sothing like that be possible? I’ve never heard of such great cultivation spee –"
Fully expecting such a response since he too had been through this phase, Qin Yao jumped in again before Feng Ning could finish her words, "I understand Senior Sister Ning’s concerns, but what I said just now is the truth. Brother Chen is truly a genius! A genius who has never been seen before!"
A fanatic expression was clearly apparent on Qin Yao’s face when he said that, seeing which Yi Chen couldn’t help but feel concerned.
’Uhm, I know that you’re trying to help , but...isn’t this a little too much, Brother Qin?’ Yi Chen thought with pursed lips as his gaze was then directed towards Feng Ning.
’If sothing like this is really possible, then that could only an one thing...’ Feng Ning thought to herself while glancing towards Yi Chen.
’A monstrous genius...’
The words appeared in her mind the next instant.
It took her almost two years to break through from the Fifth Level to the Sixth, despite all the resources that were made available to her as the fourth Elder’s daughter and a little more than one year to jump from the Fourth to the Fifth Level.
So, with the pace at which Yi Chen had jumped from the First level to the Fifth, only those words could perfectly describe his talent.
Being stared at with such intense gaze wasn’t human, but so exotic beast, Yi Chen couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
The next instant, in an attempt to remove himself from the centre of discussion, he said, "It’s already four in the evening. Let’s go and have lunch at a restaurant first. Aren’t you hungry as well, Qin Yao?"
Although Qin Yao wasn’t very hungry, seeing Yi Chen’s eyes that seed to be pushing him to agree, he imdiately responded, "Y-Yes, Brother Chen, I’m starving."
"Haha, it’s only natural since you’ve fought so many matches today," Yi Chen responded with a laugh and, turning towards Feng Ning, said, "Let’s go, Sister Ning. The two of them had fought quite a lot today, so let’s not make them wait for too long."
"A-alright," Feng Ning nodded.
There were so many follow-up questions she wanted to ask him at this mont, but knowing that it wasn’t the right ti and not wanting to make Qin Yao and Feng Min wait for long agreed to his words.
’Anyway, I’m glad that the clan now has another Fifth ridian Refinent Stage cultivator,’ she thought to herself while following after Yi Chen.
A while later, they were all sitting inside a good-looking restaurant in the Feng Clan’s market.
Hot and delicious noodles, dumplings, fried chicken and soup were soon served to them on the table.
Using this opportunity, Yi Chen asked a few questions related to the conduct of the clan tournant and soon got all his doubts answered by Feng Ning.
Since Yi Chen’s role in the tournant had beco crucial, she made sure to explain everything to him in great detail.
The Inter Clan Tournant was conducted in three phases, with each phase three days long. During the first phase, all the minor clans competed against each other to decide on their individual rankings.
In the second phase, the twenty major clans arrive, and the first day begins with finalising the twentieth rank.
The top ten minor clans are individually given a chance to compete against the 20th-ranking major clan. If they succeed, they ascend to that rank. If they don’t, the 20th spot remains unchanged.
Once a decision is reached, only the major clans begin competing against each other, starting the next day.
After two days, the third phase begins, which is the most important one.
It’s in this phase that the rankings for the ten noble clans are decided. However, what makes this phase even more important is the fact that the emperor himself cos to spectate it.
’The emperor cos?’ Yi Chen thought in his mind and asked curiously, "Just how strong is the emperor?"
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