When Earth Awakened, I Became a Sword Saintess

Chapter 90 : The Imminent Academy Source Martial Tournament

90: The Imminent Academy Source Martial Tournament

"Sigh... the difficulty now lies in the All-Academy Competition," Chen Qian'ning said, looking towards Yuehu Lake and sighing. "The first-year and second-year groups, of course, can only be participated in by students of the corresponding years. With Shenwu's situation, even if he recovers from his injury, it will be difficult for him."

"And next year, in the All-Academy Competition held during the next semester, the top three from the first-year group, the top eight from the second-year group, and the top third-year prodigies selected by each department can participate. But don't worry, I won't make any excessive demands on you."

Chen Qian'ning looked at Yuyin, her heart filled with both admiration and concern. "The Academy allows first and second-years to participate, but it's for the purpose of training new prodigies. The real competition for ranking and placement depends on the third-years. After all, the years of cultivation and the gap in strength are right there. When the time comes, if you want to go and see for yourself, go. If you don't want to, it's fine. After all, you're only a first-year. How could you compete with those top third-year students?"

"Are our third-year students no match for the other departments? Isn't there Senior Liu Xing?" Yuyin wasn't getting arrogant. With her current strength, there were still several third-year students in the Swordsman Department who could defeat her. For example, facing Liu Xing, Yuyin felt she had no chance of winning.

Chen Qian'ning said with a lack of confidence, "Although Liu Xing is our department's ace, frankly speaking, whether in terms of aptitude or strength, she still has a gap compared to the few true top-tier students of this year."

"It's frustrating to say, but if we don't count the fourth-years who are mostly fighting over there now, the undisputed strongest student in our Academy is actually a third-year girl from the Ling Dance Department, the Student Council President, Lan Lianyue."

"The Student Council President, Lan Lianyue from the Ling Dance Department?" Yuyin had heard that there was a very formidable female Student Council President at the Academy, but she wasn't sure who it was. However, the name sounded somewhat familiar.

"The Ling Dance Department isn't a combat-focused department, yet the strongest comes from there? This Senior Lan Lianyue is truly extraordinary," Yuyin remarked.

"Hehe, that must be what you'd call a genius bloodline. She is Lan Lingfeng's younger sister."

"Younger sister?" Yuyin suddenly realized. No wonder their names seemed to complement each other.

"But unlike her universally acknowledged perfect older brother, Lan Lianyue has a somewhat eccentric personality. She has actually announced that she will not participate in this Source Martial Tournament."

"She's not participating?"

"That's right. If she doesn't participate, then the number one spot is up for grabs. The other few top students are all very strong, but compared to her, they are all on a different level. Not counting Lan Lianyue, then the next in line, Hua Yuanjing from the Long Weapon Department, Jiang Da from the Strongman Department, and Yuwen Wenhong from the Daoist Arts Department are all strong contenders for the championship."

Chen Qian'ning said somewhat powerlessly, "Although I don't want to admit it, to be realistic, your Senior Liu Xing still has a certain gap compared to those three."

"Speaking of which, our Swordsman Department once made Academy history. Two years ago, Lan Lingfeng, as a second-year, participated and actually defeated all the powerful third-years at the time, winning the championship in one fell swoop and shocking the entire Source Martial world. Last year, of course, it became Lan Lingfeng's personal show, where he won without any suspense. However, because of this, even I, as the Head of the Swordsman Department, have been accused of riding on Lan Lingfeng's coattails."

"Teacher..." Yuyin's hand gently rested on Chen Qian'ning's arm. A strong person has their own pride. Chen Qian'ning was such a face-conscious strongwoman. Being spoken of like this must have been unpleasant for her.

But now, Yuyin couldn't make a solemn promise to her. After all, the current Yuyin was no match for Liu Xing, let alone those top-tier third-year geniuses who were even stronger than Senior Liu Xing.

After all, she had only just enrolled.

What Yuyin could do now was to first win the first-year championship for her teacher when the time came, and with it, the qualification to participate in the All-Academy Competition.

Although she had overwhelming strength among the first-years, a competition is a competition. Yuyin reminded herself not to be careless.

As for what came after, that would have to be taken one step at a time.

Yuyin had been at the Academy for less than a month and was already considered the number one below the second year. What would happen next year was still unknown!

"Teacher, are you free tonight?"

"Tonight..." A flicker of emotion passed through Chen Qian'ning's eyes, but she said, "No, I have something else to do tonight. You want to Dual Cultivate, right? I'll send you a message when I'm free."

"Okay, then I'll cultivate on my own tonight." Yuyin always seemed so full of vitality, confident, yet calm.

"Mm." Chen Qian'ning nodded happily. Faced with the huge gap and predicament the department was in after Lan Lingfeng left, Yuyin was still so positive. This gave Chen Qian'ning a sense of strength. She really wanted to give her a hug.

...

Back at the dorm, Yuyin first took care of matters within the God-Devouring Chess, like buying chess pieces, as this was her main path of cultivation.

At this moment, Yuyin had a thought. Was there a limit to the number of chess pieces she could buy in the God-Devouring Chess? Was it unlimited?

She asked the female will about this and got the reply, "The first layer of the God-Devouring Chess can have a total of 200 deployable chess pieces."

200?

This must refer to the number of deployable pieces, because Yuyin's total Soul Value had long exceeded 300.

The female will said "deployable." Yuyin understood this to mean that if they weren't deployed, more pieces could be stockpiled in the Initial Territory. Of course, if they weren't deployed, they couldn't be used immediately, but it allowed for rotating deployments, choosing to train with pieces of different characteristics and combat styles.

"I see..."

From the commotion at the basketball court earlier, Yuyin had gained nearly a hundred Soul Charm Points in total. But overall, Soul Charm Points were still tight. If she spent 2 Soul Charm Points to refresh the altar and bought a large number of chess pieces, she could burn through all her points in one night.

"I'll spend a portion, but I also need to save some for future optimization of potential secret manuals, and for other unforeseen needs." Yuyin had a general plan in her mind.

In the evening, Little Yuan returned. Little Yuan had also heard about what happened at the basketball court and was a little worried for Yuyin, but she felt relieved when she learned that Chen Qian'ning had intervened.

"Sister Yuyin, Teacher Chen is so good to you..." There seemed to be something more in Little Yuan's gaze.

"By the way, Little Yuan, how are you doing?" Yuyin asked.

"Sigh... one word: exhausting," Little Yuan said, lying on her bed in a delicate voice. "Even my grandfather wasn't this strict with me. What kind of Daoist Arts Department is this? It's basically a Brute Department! We train our bodies all day. All the other students have such good physical fitness... I... I'm really afraid I can't keep up..."

A trace of worry couldn't help but flash in Little Yuan's innocent eyes.

Little Yuan used to be a prodigy in her own right, but here, everyone's aptitude was so high that she seemed ordinary. Especially her physical fitness, which was her weak point. The situation of a young lady from a prominent family falling behind others couldn't help but make Yuyin feel a pang of sympathy.

Little Yuan was the first friend she made in college, and her roommate. She was in trouble, and Yuyin couldn't not help her.

But... Yuyin didn't say anything immediately.