Translator: jinzeffect
The Listed Competition was held at the center of the outer institute and there was a gigantic contest stage.
Early in the morning, the contest stage had an unprecedented clamor. Over a thousand outer institute cadets were already in their seats. The outer institute mentors, elders, and the Assistant Dean were also in their seats.
The annual Listed Competition was the liveliest time for the outer institute.
During the Listed Competition, apart from the top three cadets receiving the earth class low-tier cultivation techniques, the top ten cadets would also get rewarded with spirit stones. The first position would receive 2000 low-grade spirit stones, the second and third positions would receive 1000 low-grade spirit stones. From the fourth position and below, all the other top ten cadets would receive 500 low-grade spirit stones. It was considered generous rewards, especially for the first position.
At the long table beside the rostrum, the grade A mentors were seated beside one another.â
Grade A class 3âs mentor, Gu Lie smiled with narrow eyes and said, âMentor Xu, your class 7 is so lucky. You actually have a cadet with legendary perception. In another two years, my class 3 will not be comparable to your class 7 anymore.â
Xu Chunhua grunted,â Gu Lie, stop being hypocritical.â
Xu Chunhua had never been on good terms with Gu Lie. A few years ago, his class 7 was superior to class 3, but in recent years, he wasnât lucky and didnât have any listed cadets in his class. However, this class 3 had a total of three listed cadets during recent years and the no.1 listed cadet, Di Jun was also in class 3.
Hence, whenever this Gu Lie had a chance, he would mock and ridicule Xu Chunhua.
Gu Lie grinned, âYou are truly a boring person. Forget it, I shall not speak with you.â
He was feeling contented with three listed cadets, giving him around 1400 mentor points. When these three listed cadets successfully promoted to inner institute cadets, he would be on the receiving end of the 1400 mentor points.
âLi Fuchen do your best!â
At the audience stand, Luo Yan was sitting the grade A class 5 group and watching Li Fuchen from below the contest stage while silently rooting for Li Fuchen.
âHmph, I shall watch how Cousin Fenghua humiliates you on the contest stage.â
Zhao Linghua was also from grade A class 5. She was 28 years old this year, she was one year older than Luo Yan and the same age as her cousin, Zhao Fenghua.
At the eastern corner of the contest stage, Li Fuchen was standing straight and behind him were Qin Lie, Wang Yingxue, and others.
In grade A class 7, a total of five cadets had passed the fifth floor of the Clear Sky Tower.
Looking at Li Fuchenâs back, Qin Lie and Wang Yingxue were revering him in their hearts.
For the past few days, Mentor Xu Chunhua had arranged for them to spar with Li Fuchen.
But the results were miserable as neither of them could even withstand three swords from Li Fuchen.
They similarly had their mystic class peak-tier cultivation technique at the highest rank, and their mystic class peak-tier martial arts were also at the highest stage. However, they were just like children when facing Li Fuchen as they couldnât put up any form of resistance.
According to Mentor Xu Chunhuaâs explanation, even at the same rank or stage, there would be differences. It would depend on the individualâs combat skills, and it was obvious that Li Fuchenâs combat skills were far superior to them.
âMy only rival should be Di Jun.â
Li Fuchenâs eyes landed on Di Jun, while the others were ignored by him.
Li Fuchen had yet to witness the true prowess of earth class low-tier cultivation techniques. Thus, he didnât have complete confidence that he could defeat Di Jun.
On the rostrum, the grey-robed Assistant Dean stood up and announced, âThe competitionâs rules are simple. Those who accumulated ten losses shall be eliminated. In the end, those who lost the least will have a higher ranking. The competition shall begin now.â
There was a total of ten contest stages and ten matches were conducted at the same time.
âNo.2 contest stage, Li Fuchen will go against Yang Yuanhe.â
Once the refereeâs voice echoed, Li Fuchen flashed and landed on the no.2 contest stage.
Opposite him, Yang Yuanhe flashed and appeared too.
Yang Yuanhe was rather confident in his strength. In grade A class 6, his strength was just inferior to the no.9 listed cadet, Lin Chao.
But he was facing Li Fuchen who had legendary perception. He didnât dare to be complacent and had put in all his strength at the beginning.
âExcuse me.â
An iron rod appeared in Yang Yuanheâs hands and it was a mystic class peak-tier weapon.
During the Listed Competition, cadets were only allowed to use mystic class peak-tier weapons and were forbidden from using earth class low-tier weapons.
Huff Huff Huff Huffâ¦
Intensive technique intent and rod intent spread out. The iron rod in Yang Yuanheâs hands were like a storm. In the blink of the eye, he had blasted out with dozens of rod strikes at Li Fuchen. Each strike contained boundless power and they werenât as simple as shadows.
Earth class low-tier rod art, 36 Rods of Mountain Explosion.
Violent gale rushed at the face while clothes were fluttering. Li Fuchen drew his Joint-Heaven Sword to deal with Yang Yuanheâs violent rod art.
His blacklight sword was just a mystic class high-tier artifact sword. Li Fuchen had the confidence to defeat Yang Yuanhe even with his mystic class high-tier artifact sword, but he didnât have to go through this trouble.
With the Joint-Heaven Sword out of the sheathe, Li Fuchen brandished his sword lightly and indifferently.
It was the Inferno Sword Artâs first move, Extreme Heat Blaze. As Li Fuchen brandished his sword, a blazing hot sword qi flashed across.
Boom Boom!
Countless exploding sounds echoed in the air. Yang Yuanheâs 36 Rods of Mountain Explosion was just like a punctured ball as the rod forces declined sharply and lost more than 90% of its original power.
Clang!
The iron rod shivered and Yang Yuanhe felt half his body getting paralyzed while he was sent flying.
âHow is this possible? We are both using mystic class peak-tier martial arts, why did I lose so quickly?â Yang Yuanhe was in disbelief.
At the grade A mentorsâ seats, Xu Chunhua smiled. He didnât think that Li Fuchen can obtain the no.1 listed cadetâs position but with Li Fuchenâs combat skills, it was highly possible for him to become a listed cadet.
âInteresting, this childâs combat skills seem to be exceptionally brilliant.â Gu Lie had a slightly surprised expression.
With a frenzied circulation of qi, Yang Yuanhe forcefully stopped his body from flying before he staggered after landing on the ground.
âLi Fuchen, if you can withstand my next move, I shall concede voluntarily.â
Yang Yuanhe grasped his iron rod with both hands while an imposing mountain-like rod presence was emitted.
âYou shall be defeated! Five Mountains Rod Art!â Yang Yuanhe rushed into the sky and cleaved down with his rod.
This rod felt as though it contained the weight from five great mountains. It was just a simple downward swing, but it covered a massive radius. Half the contest stage was enveloped by the rod presence. There was simply no place to evade or hide.
Five Mountains Rod Art, earth class low-tier rod art.
Yang Yuanhe might have cultivated the Five Mountains Rod Art to the sub-completion stage recently and the power might not be comparable to the 36 Rods of Mountain Explosion, but in terms of profundity, it was superior as earth class low-tier rod art contained the quintessence of heaven and earth.
âEarth class low-tier martial arts will only produce the fieldâs power after reaching completion stage. This rod move would be even more profound.â
Li Fuchen didnât execute his Green Sun Sword Intent. Instead, he responded with one of the Inferno Sword Artâs move, Soaring Dragon Inferno.
A regular Soaring Dragon Inferno was naturally incomparable with the oppositionâs Five Mountains Rod Art, but Li Fuchenâs Soaring Dragon Inferno felt as though it had a spirit of its own. The rotating sword had forcefully drilled opened the Five Mountains Rod Art by focusing on the flaws.
Pfff!
After a mouthful of blood was vomited, Yang Yuanheâs iron rod was disarmed. His body fell and crashed onto the barrier array at the edge of the contest stage before bouncing back.
Yang Yuanhe was defeated.
âGreat!â
Xu Chunhua applauded and cheered. He noticed that he had underestimated Li Fuchen as the latter didnât even bring out his full strength when sparing with Qin Lie and Wang Yingxue. Xu Chunhua still wasnât sure of Li Fuchen had used all his strength yet.
After defeating his opponent in a clean fight, Li Fuchen flashed off the stage.
For the next few matches, Wang Heilong, Le Changfeng, and Gao Yue had gone on stage consecutively.
Among the trio, Wang Heilongâs strength was obviously the strongest and his combat skills were also brilliant.
Le Changfeng and Gao Yueâs combat skills were much more superior to Yang Yuanhe too but were slightly inferior to Wang Heilong.
At this moment, many of the outer institute cadets had noticed something.
With the same cultivation level and martial arts proficiency, different combat skills would result in a huge difference in strength.
There was still a chasm in regards to the difference between a true prodigy and a normal genius. It wasnât going to be surpassed so easily.
Li Fuchen, Wang Heilong, Le Changfeng, and Gao Yue were true prodigies. Of course, with the exception of Li Fuchen, the other three had 6-star bone frames and if they werenât prodigies with 6-star bone frames, what were they?
As compared to the four new cadets, the rest looked to be inferior. Even the current listed cadets had combat skills that werenât a match for the four new cadets. Only a few of the listed cadets like Di Jun, Zhang Yunfeng, and Zhao Fenghua seemed to be stronger.
Of course, a listed cadet had obtained their position for a reason. Even if their innate potential were inferior, with a longer cultivation time and stable foundation, it was still very difficult to defeat them. In the past years, the only chance for others to enter the listed rankings were only after the listed cadets had promoted to inner institute cadets.
After four rounds, it was Li Fuchenâs turn again. This time, he was on the no.5 contest stage and his opponent was Gao Yue.
Gao Yue pursed her lips and launched a sudden attack.
Just like Li Fuchen, Gao Yue was also a swordsman and her weapon of choice was a pair of thin swords.
When coordinating with two swords, Guan Yueâs sword art was extremely dense like heavy rain. There were no gaps that the swords couldnât enter and it was extremely hard to defend against.
It was a pity that her opponent was Li Fuchen who was also a swordsman.
A swordsman was most understanding of other swordsmen. Li Fuchen clearly knew the specialty of swords.
Clang! Clang!
Against the dense sword art, Li Fuchen casually swung his sword twice, each sword strike would clash at the weakest part of Gao Yueâs sword art. After the first sword strike, Gao Yueâs sword strikes had a drastic decrease in density. After the second sword strike, Gao Yueâs sword attack had instantly collapsed.
With the third sword strike, it was pointed at Gao Yueâs throat.
He didnât even give a trace of opportunity to his opponent.
Gao Yue had a ghastly pale expression. Li Fuchenâs sword art was like a nightmare that had crushed her completely. Even against the seniors in her clan, she had never felt this sensation before.
âI am inferior to him.â Under the stage, Le Changfeng shook his head.
Li Fuchenâs strength was simply flawless. When contesting against such people, unless you had absolute strength to suppress him, there was basically no chance of winning.
Next, Li Fuchen won consecutively and Le Changfeng had also been defeated by him.
No matter who his opponent was, Li Fuchen didnât feel a hint of intimidation, including the no.9 listed cadet, Lin Chao.
Such strength had made all the grade A mentors to frown involuntarily.
As expected of a person with legendary perception, not only is his perception high, his innate potential in combat skills is also terrifying. With similar cultivation strength, he will be able to achieve complete domination. In the entire outer institute, there are just a few cadets who are rivals to him.
On the 11th roundâ¦
âNo.7 contest stage. Zhao Fenghua will go against Li Fuchen.â
Li Fuchen who had consecutive victories had finally encountered a formidable foe.
No.5 listed cadet, Zhao Fenghua.
As one of the four cadets with transcending perception, Zhao Fenghuaâs strength was something that other listed cadets couldnât be compared with. He had also accumulated enough experience as he had been in the South Forest Martial Institution for over two years. During his first year, he had entered the ranks of the listed cadets and in the second year, he became the no.5 listed cadet.
This year, there were many who speculated if he could barge into the top three.
After all, the no.3 listed cadet was Wu Zhi who only had extraordinary perception. Had he not ben in the South Forest Martial Institution for five years, he might not even make it to the no.3 listed cadet position.