Chapter 736: The Competition (4) [Bonus]
The stage was transford for the third round.
Now, instead of a fighting stage, a glass chamber was set on the stage. Within the chamber lay ten crystals. A quick scan revealed they were fla crystals.
Kent could see a few holes in the glass, which allowed air to flow into the chamber. It also had so runic engravings on parts of the glass and the crystals.
“The third round is simple. All you have to do is use your flas to pick as many fla crystals as you can. Know that every last crystal has runes that make them ten tis heavier, so be careful with the amount of energy you put into it.
That said, you should stop if you can’t go any further.
Of course, this round will be judged by how many crystals you can pick up and how long you manage to hold them.
You might qualify to be part of the top ten, so exhausting yourself will lower your chances of passing the next trial, which also requires you to have enough energy to pass.”
Everyone nodded, and Lord Yael gestured for the third round to start.
The first person to be called was Madea. Her number appeared on the board, so she moved toward the glass chamber.
“How many do you think she will be able to pick?” one person asked in the audience.
“Knowing her, I say she can go as far as seven, maybe eight. Her control of the fla elent is natural. And considering her mother is one of the most powerful fla users, I don’t see her failing this trial easily.”
“I guess we will see what she is capable of in a few seconds.”
“I guess so, too.”
Madea stopped in front of the glass chamber and turned to the instructor overseeing this third round.
“Whenever you are ready,” the instructor said.
Madea studied the setup for a few minutes before channeling her fla energy. Her blue fla surged and imdiately wrapped around five stones, lifting them off the glass floor.
However, she wasn’t done; she surged her fire further, wrapping it around the sixth, taking it off the glass surface. She then went for the seventh, slowly taking it off the glassy floor.
At this rate, everyone could tell she was having so difficulty going further. But she went for the eighth, and after so struggle, she managed to raise that one for a few seconds—enough to record—before all eight stones fell.
Madea gasped for breath as her fans cheered for her, filling the arena with their happiness. Lifting eight crystals was sothing that couldn’t be easily achieved, yet Madea was able to do it.
Her na appeared on the ranking, earning her a spot at the top. The second contestant was called next, and she also managed to lift seven crystals.
Of course, she attempted to go for the eighth crystal, but she just couldn’t. Taking Lord Yael’s advice, she didn’t force herself to go for the eighth, knowing full well that doing so would require a day or perhaps two days of rest before she could use her fire effectively again.
More were called, but the highest anyone reached was seven crystals. Kent sat on one side, watching them all with a calm expression.
In his mind, though, he knew this trial was ant for an alchemist. Only an alchemist could pass this trial to perfection because, while the crystals were heavy, he had held pills inside a cauldron many tis, so he knew if he pushed a little, just lifting ten fla crystals would be possible.
Eventually, it was Norion, the other genius number, that appeared on the board. He swaggered to the glass chamber with his shoulders held high. He stopped and looked at the crystals, just as every last one of those who ca before him did.
Then his fla surged, wrapping around six crystals instantly.
‘Show off,’ Kent said inwardly.
‘Taking six at once will hinder him from going beyond eight. This is like going to the gym for the first ti. Instead of aiming for 60kg on the first day, start with 10kg and gradually build up.’
He sighed and watched as Norion wrapped his fla around the seventh crystal and slowly took it up. He struggled for a mont, but she managed to lift the crystal.
Then he went for the eighth crystal, which, just like Madea’s, required him to use more of his fla energy. It took so grunting and straining, but he managed to lift it, earning praise from those around him.
Naturally, he wasn’t at his limit, but if he were to go further, he would have exhausted his energy.
But he managed to lift eight fla crystals, so that was enough to set him atop those who went before him.
More went after him, but aside from him and Madea, none managed to lift eight crystals. Of course, the next genius who went managed to take eight, but he might have just wasted too much energy. However, he seed not to mind.
By the ti the last of the five geniuses went, Kent noticed the rivalry between them. They were competing against each other, so each tried their best to lift the 8th crystal.
Not that he cared about that. As long as it wasn’t sothing that would compromise their future, nobody really cared about their rivalry.
Having rivalries is another way to grow as a cultivator.
Of course, that is normal and, in a way, even healthy.
Even companies back on Earth have competitions they battle with, especially in the tech industry, so this harmless rivalry was warranted.
Kent was called after 540 had their turn. The mont he started moving toward the fla chamber, the audience began speculating how many he could lift.
“I say he can lift all ten. He has already shown us he is a genius among geniuses.”
“I think so, too. But he will have to put in so effort if he wants to go for all ten.”
“That is only normal. I heard the Supre Immortal Sect has a similar setup, but a crystal is thirty tis heavier, and you are required to lift at least three before you can proceed to the next exam.
So far, only five of our people have co close to achieving that. So perhaps this human can make a difference.”
Kent stopped before the glass chamber.
User Comments
0 comments from readers