novelraw Chapter 338: Stumbling Blocks
Chapter 338: Stumbling Blocks
The next day.
Long Shouzhuo personally escorted Su Zhan to the registration point for the Black City Grand Competition.
The registration point was set up under a temporary canopy erected to one side of the square outside the City Lord's Residence.
The several people responsible for registration and verification all had steady auras and sharp eyes, wearing uniform attire.
A fairly long queue had already formed outside the canopy, with all sorts of Awakened individuals and Aberrants mixed within.
With Long Shouzhuo personally accompanying him, they naturally didn't need to queue.
Long Shouzhuo walked straight to the registration desk, cupping his hands with a smile towards a middle-aged man who appeared to be in charge. "Manager Li, it's been a long time. I trust you've been well?"
That Manager Li was clearly familiar with Long Shouzhuo. Seeing him arrive, a trace of a smile appeared on his serious face as he stood up to return the courtesy. "President Long, what brings you here? Are you registering a talented disciple from your society?"
His gaze then fell upon Su Zhan beside Long Shouzhuo.
"Indeed."Long Shouzhuo stepped aside, presenting Su Zhan. "This young friend is not a member of my Dragon Rise Society, but I personally vouch for him to participate in this competition."
A flicker of surprise appeared in Manager Li's eyes.
For someone to have Long Shouzhuo personally vouch for them, yet not be a member of his society, this youth was certainly extraordinary.
He nodded in a business-like manner, picked up the registration book, and looked at Su Zhan. "Name, age, competition bracket."
"Chen Qing, twenty-one years old, under twenty-five bracket."
Su Zhan's voice was calm.
He no longer wanted to hide the identity of Chen Qing, because the stories circulating about him outside were too big. Since he had now decided to participate in this competition, gaining fame was inevitable, and once he interacted with the outside world, his identity would undoubtedly be exposed.
Since that was the case, he might as well directly use the name Chen Qing. Perhaps it would even draw the City Lord's attention.
"Twenty-one years old?"
Manager Li's eyebrows raised slightly as he scrutinized Su Zhan once more.
The other party's aura was deep and profound;
he actually couldn't quite see through it. He had originally assumed he was at least twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
He said to Su Zhan, "Young brother, according to the rules, we need to verify your bone age. My apologies."
With that, he reached out and placed his hand on Su Zhan's shoulder.
A warm stream of spiritual energy flowed into Su Zhan's body like a gentle current.
Su Zhan's body instinctively stiffened slightly but immediately relaxed, allowing the other party to probe.
The special-risk level energy within him, fused with Mist Energy and the Flame of Destruction, lay dormant on its own, not producing any rejection.
A moment later.
The surprise in Manager Li's eyes grew even stronger. He withdrew his hand and sighed to Long Shouzhuo, "President Long, you've found a truly remarkable young man this time.
The bone age is indeed twenty-one years.
To possess such bearing at such a young age... the younger generation is truly formidable!"
Long Shouzhuo stroked his beard and smiled. "You flatter me, Manager Li. Young friend Chen Qing is indeed exceptionally talented. I am merely facilitating a good deed."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries.
Manager Li skillfully recorded Su Zhan's information in the ledger and handed Su Zhan a black token engraved with the characters "Twenty-Five".
"This is your competition token. Keep it safe. The competition officially begins at the Black City Martial Arena. Use this token for entry. The specific rules will be announced after entry."
Manager Li instructed.
"Thank you."
Su Zhan accepted the token.
Seeing this, Long Shouzhuo once again cupped his hands in farewell to Manager Li and led Su Zhan away from the registration point.
Walking back towards the Dragon Rise Society.
Long Shouzhuo said to Su Zhan in a low voice, "It's good the registration went smoothly. The competition tomorrow will be a mixed bag, with no shortage of ruthless individuals. You still need to be extra careful."
Su Zhan responded indifferently, "Mm."
A somewhat mocking voice came from the side:
"Well, well! Who has such great face to have President Long personally accompanying them?"
Another group of people was walking towards them.
The leader was a tall, thin middle-aged man with a sinister, hawkish face, wearing a brocade robe embroidered with a ferocious ghost-head pattern.
This person was Li Baichuan, the sect master of the Ghost Fiend Sect, which had long-standing grievances with the Dragon Rise Society.
Beside him was also a young man, roughly in his early twenties, with an arrogant expression and sharp eyes. Waves of peak Tide Realm spiritual energy emanated from his body, clearly also here to register.
Long Shouzhuo paused his steps, responding with a lukewarm tone, "I was wondering who it was. So it's Sect Master Li. What, must I report my actions to your Ghost Fiend Sect?"
Li Baichuan chuckled, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhan. "Reporting wouldn't be necessary.
I'm just curious. President Long's standards have always been high. How did you find... well, a kid who looks so utterly ordinary this time?
Could it be that the Dragon Rise Society has fallen so low on talent that even goods of this caliber require the president to personally step forward to vouch for them?"
The young man beside him, hearing this, cooperatively let out a disdainful snort, lifting his chin even higher, looking at Su Zhan down his nose.
Before Long Shouzhuo could speak.
Su Zhan lifted his eyelids, calmly glanced at that Li Baichuan, then shifted his gaze to the arrogant young man beside him, saying indifferently:
"Peak Tide Realm, unstable foundation, impure spiritual energy."
The arrogant smile on the young man's face instantly froze. "What did you say? What are you, to dare judge me so presumptuously?"
Li Baichuan's face darkened, his voice turning sinister. "Kid, not very old, but your mouth is quite big. It seems no one taught you the principle that trouble comes from the mouth!"
Long Shouzhuo said coldly to Li Baichuan, "Li Baichuan, a dispute of words between juniors, and you, a senior, want to interfere?
Isn't that beneath your status?
As for the quality of my Dragon Rise Society's talent, it's not for your Ghost Fiend Sect to judge.
The competition stage will reveal the truth!"
Li Baichuan snorted coldly, leaving a harsh parting shot for Long Shouzhuo. "Fine! Long Shouzhuo, we'll see! I hope your utterly ordinary guarantor doesn't get beaten down in the first round, completely disgracing your Dragon Rise Society! Let's go!"
With that, he led his indignant young disciple, storming off angrily towards the registration point.
Long Shouzhuo watched their retreating backs, shaking his head slightly, and said to Su Zhan in a low voice, "Why bother stooping to the level of such petty people, needlessly inviting trouble?"
Su Zhan said plainly, "I was just stating the facts."
Hearing this, Long Shouzhuo couldn't help but laugh. Looking at Su Zhan's placid, unruffled face, his estimation of him rose another level.
This young man's temperament was indeed extraordinary.
Long Shouzhuo said to Su Zhan in a low voice, "That young man beside Li Baichuan just now, don't underestimate him.
If my guess is correct, he should be a student sent for training from one of the Five Great Awakened Academies, the Azure Dragon Academy."
Su Zhan nodded. "Peak Tide Realm under twenty-five... truly exceptional talent.
Being able to enter one of the Five Great Academies further proves his excellence.
Judging by his arrogant, dismissive attitude, he must be a genius who has sailed smoothly all the way, pampered and praised while growing up, never having experienced real setbacks."
Long Shouzhuo gave Su Zhan an approving look and continued, "You see clearly. The Black City Grand Competition, due to its cruelty and focus on real combat, has always been regarded by the Five Great Academies as an excellent whetstone.
They usually negotiate with organizations within the city that have guarantor qualifications, like the Ghost Fiend Sect or my Dragon Rise Society, paying a certain price in exchange for slots, allowing their elite students to come for training.
The Ghost Fiend Sect from earlier is one.
Another that requires special attention is the Giant Sun Gang.
The Giant Sun Gang's leader, Hong Zhen, is a complete brute, but his strength is formidable, having reached the late Abyss Realm. His path is one of overwhelming force, using sheer power to defeat ten techniques.
His followers are also mostly belligerent and violent types.
The one they are said to have sent was cultivated within the gang from childhood.
The cultivation technique they practice is said to be extremely cruel, and they are also reportedly at the peak of the Tide Realm.
Their practical combat experience is probably even more bloody than that Azure Dragon Academy disciple.
Young friend, when you take the stage tomorrow, if you encounter people from these two factions, especially the contestants they guarantee, you must be extra careful."
Su Zhan listened quietly, committing this information to heart.
"Understood. I'll keep it in mind."
To him, who the opponent was, what their background was, didn't matter.
What mattered was that they were stumbling blocks on his path to meeting the City Lord.
And stumbling blocks, you just kick them aside.