novelraw Chapter 133 - 132 - Competitors
Chapter 133 - 132 - Competitors
Cimmeria was bursting at the seams. Aside from the resident powers, many powers from afar had begun to arrive for the last month. The competition not only drew participants but it also drew crowds that wanted to watch.
If a sect or government had not set aside an inn or residence in advance, it was far too late to do so at this point. The guards had tripled within and without as a week out from the competition there was an increase in 'friendly' encounters.
Oddly the demons were more peaceful than the humans. Demons, by and large, were not a large part of the competition but the current year was different. Darkmoor Kingdom and the Demon Empire had arrived with massive entourages. Darkmoor was not too unusual as their Queen had encouraged innovation in her generation and thus had several members put forth from across her lands to compete.
The Demon Empire, a beacon of brutal methods usually, had arrived with a slim few competitors yet many more nobles and their Imperial Crown Prince Yor at their head. As they came peaceably and gave notice, no one could deny them entry.
The Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect had permanent branches in Cimmeria so there was no need to set up special housing as the various branches funneled their talents to the local housing for each sect.
As a favor, the 2 sects had also allocated some of their Diamond Tier cultivators to supplement the interior guards until the Starfire Auction was over. The usual festive atmosphere was now near riotous as forces that were abrasive for the last few thousand years were now in close proximity and in high stress situations.
With all the major moves going on on the surface of the city, the rumblings beneath were myriad and impossible to contain. The rumors ran rampant and the information brokers were the worst kind of bandits during the last month leading up to the competition.
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The gambling dens were packed to the rafters as many were reviewing the odds of known competitors while there were always unknowns that needed some digging into. The favorites in this contest came from the major powers and some of their well known subordinates, but a few names had been seen before.
Now at grade 4 were returning cultivators that had competed in grade 3 in the last century. Their speed was slow to some but going from grades 3 to 4 was as difficult as facing the tribulation from Iron Tier to Gold Tier.
Magda SIlverthorn was from Darkmoor Kingdom. She came from a human state that was held by the Alchemist Guild of Sarth. Her beauty was marred by a deep scar on her left side of her face. None knew the true story but rumor had it she wanted to find an alchemical pill that could restore her face.
The dark skinned woman had exploded on the contest a century ago as a powerful peak grade 3 alchemist that could successfully concoct the Condensation Pill. It was a grade 3 pill that could make a World Realm dantian successfully purify its foundation and have the best chance to break through to the Gold Tier.
She had crushed her rivals without any chance to overcome her. She was only 145 years old which was obscene for a Gold Tier that was now closing in on the Diamond Tier. Many expected her to concoct the extremely difficult Radiance Pill that was highly sought after by Gold Tiers in preparation to break through to Diamond Tier.
There were several other pills but none would know until the alchemy contest that started the first week of the competition. The grades 1-3 would be held together as they would pass quickly but grade 4 and 5, if a grade 5 existed, would be resolved after the first month as it took so long to concoct those pills.
Weapon refining had Master Cain's own Apprentice Marin and Poe were participating at grade 3 and grade 4 respectively as Poe had broken through to the peak of the Stone Tier. All were wondering what the 2 students of Master Cain would show them this time around as the man seemed like a wizard with how his students turned out.
Master Harold had Mya returning as she had stabilized her fonts to break through to the lower Iron Tier. Some noted that both old masters had all their apprentices making massive strides on the rumored better relationship between elements that had been distributed in the last half a year.
Both sets of apprentices had to face some stiff rivals coming back as well.
The Demon Empire had the Temptress of weapon refining coming back! She had her face covered by a mask but her body was distinct. She had a skintight leather armor that had been refined by herself and its aura was well known. It hugged her body and showed off her assets to a wonderful degree so far as her fans were concerned but the true lure was her skill.
Her dark lavender hands would inscribe at the peak of grade 4 after 225 years of being alive far beyond what others could do. She moved with an expertise that made it art and anyone watching was lost in a fog of awe until she was done. No one could recall exactly what she did last year until it was over the scythe she created for her Count had flared with power.
The only other identifier was her vibrant blue hair as it was odd for demons to have such hair color. Many were speculating if she had reached grade 5 or would be still at grade 4. Rumors had it she was looking forward to seeing the elixir master of the Heavenly Maiden Sect but none knew if it was the truth.
The Divine Sword Sect was obsessed with swords and as such weapon refiners were encouraged in their sect. Their peculiar desire to have plain swords in appearance often frustrated professionals, thus they grew their own refiners as crazy about swords as they were.
A square jawed veteran had come back for the 3rd time! It was damned rare! He had to be closing in on 400 years of age but Dred was always a favorite since he first debuted. He only had 1 arm yet was able to refine since he refined an artificial arm when he was only 75 years old! He had improved it over the centuries and found he enjoyed refining as much as sword play.
His graying stubble and hair revealed his aging but the power in his broad muscled shoulders were as stable as mountain from what all had heard. He was the most likely to have broken through to grade 5 of all the returning competitors. The man barely spoke to outsiders and even to friends he was very gruff.
Even so, he had ardent fans of his work as it was strength personified when he slammed a hammer onto metal and he usually did it with his muscles exposed. The amount of marriage proposals sent to the Divine Sword Sect after each competition was the stuff of legends.
Formations were not as popular but there were still some favorites. The Heavenly Maiden Sect and Saint Kingdom usually had a lot of competitors here.
Lilith Roz had come at last to the competition. She was a young up and comer that had made news across Sarth when she successfully made it possible for a formation plate accept only spirit Qi to produce an elemental result.
Until the formation of the recent 6 elemental core, it was considered the first true universal item that anyone could use. It was not as strong as the elemental equivalents, but it could be improved. She was only 37 years old so she had lots of time!
Her work was reflected in the improved slave collars of the Saint Kingdom. Rumors were heard she was not happy about that. It was also rumored that the bright red head was truly looking for the Scholar that had revolutionized so much so quickly.
The Heavenly Maiden Sect was a little different than others. Their foundation was so deep that anyone they sent generally had a strong chance of wiping the floor with any competition but Lilith made it uncertain for the first time in Grade 2 to 3.
The name put down was Hailey Farseer. While the first name was not known, the last name was. The Farseer Clan was a legacy member of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. Many of the women of their clan would join the sect and had done so for as long as anyone had known of them. They were also a clan devoted to formation skills.
It was difficult to say who would come out on top as both women were relatively young. Their solid foundations were too close to call between them.
Normally, after the favorites, it would be a toss up in the competitions for how the rest would place but this time there was more!
Elixir masters were rare, thus there was usually no arena for them to compete but things were vastly different now. The last 3 years had seen an explosion of elixirs being sold throughout the 3 continents. With so many samples, many powers were able to discover their hidden talents.
While most were grade 1, some were also near or in grade 2! Since elixirs could affect a wider range of realms than pills, many were looking forward to watching the unusual profession. There were some old monsters that would judge the competition but it was wide open since the only person that could trounce them had recused themselves.
The guest elder of Heavenly Maiden Sect had openly sent out a message they would not compete and instead directly submit peak grade 3 elixirs for the auction. That fact alone would have made them the automatic winner if they had come forth to compete.
Many powers were disappointed at not getting to finally meet the elusive person, but others were relieved as their members had a chance!
The final addition was less of a contest and more of a show. The final event would be the debut of a rare being. A Forger had been found! The legends around the capability of that profession were many but the Starfire House itself certified they were the real deal.
The bets around them concerned what grade they had reached and what they would make. It had hardly any return but if money could be made, Cimmerian merchants would reach for it.
Shoti smiled up at the betting pools and reveled in the rowdy crowd but kept her identity hidden under a full dark cloak. She knew a few of her sisters were here placing bets on Farseer but she was simply here to enjoy the show.
Lind had returned exhausted yesterday and was recovering in his quarters. She was glad he was not in the inn anymore as the reports of 'accidental' entry into rooms was insane. She knew Cimmeria became like a huge party during this contest but it was far beyond her imagination.
Her sharp eyes noted a few people that were far more powerful but keeping their aura restrained. Her freshly improved senses from making it into the Stone Tier were so much better than before. Lind's advice on her elements had made cultivation so much easier in many ways.
His lack of grasping the World Realm did not seem to hold back his comprehension of the pure elements that could be applied to all. A warmth in her chest spread thinking of Lind. He had been through so much but he remained that kind boy she had met almost 4 years ago.
A flicker of shadow wiped the smile from her face. The other reason she was out in public was to finally confirm a dark rumor she had heard. Her element of darkness made her sensitive to shadow demon users and other darkness cultivators. Lately, she had felt far too many eyes following her and Qing.
Annabelle had also reported feeling something but she was still only in tier 6 of the Soul Realm. She was progressing quickly, but she still had a lot to learn. Shoti moved with a group in the crowd after her target but quickly felt confused.
The person she felt was heading towards the place headed by Captain Drake. They had made massive progress with the folded space but the deadline was coming up soon yet there was no news of success. Lind had mentioned there was a final solution but there was no whisper of that either.
What was going on?
She was about to simply march in when she jumped to the left. A dagger slammed into the stone street where she had been standing and the cloaked darkness cultivator was revealed to have slipped behind her.
They were stronger than her but she only smiled as her whip echo of water ensnared her target. The figure was not panicked yet a yelp came not long after towards her back. Her shadow whip caught the other one she felt.
She kept both in her senses but no one in the crowd even knew what happened before she pulled them into the alley not far away. It was crowded as well but she used her physical whip to snare metal pole on the roof to pull them up there.
A few looked up but were too busy to worry about such a calm group.
"I want to know why you are following us and who–" She froze as the hoods fell back from her hands and revealed the last kind of people she expected. It was not demons or humans looking back at her in defiance but a man and woman covered in black scales.
The man had blue skin under his scales while the woman had gold. Aether children. They were aether children!