The only Martial Arts Hotel in the vicinity was where they resided.
The clever girl already had a plan.
"Just don’t stir up trouble, and all will be fine."
Ji Xuantong warned, and after speaking, he went back to the hotel to rest.
He couldn’t afford to be negligent either.
He aimed to break the Second Shackles, extend his life to 300 years, so he could witness the Heavenly Pile reach the clouds and see Chenzhou transform into a dragon, leaving this world without regrets.
After finishing his Heavenly Pile practice, Lu Chenzhou was drenched in sweat, and with his day’s work done, he took a bath, put on protective gear, and donned his Training Clothes before getting ready to sleep.
Ji Feiyan suddenly sent him a huge list of names through WeChat.
"Junior brother, this is the information I’ve gathered about the Ninth Rank competitors."
"Sister, how did you get this?"
"Hmph, socializing and dancing with sleeves, that’s what your sister is best at."
"Alright, sister is awesome, thanks."
Lu Chenzhou looked at the list organized by Ji Feiyan:
[Jiangnan Wu University, Lin Zirong, Ninth Rank Cultivation, Baji Fist, claims to have killed a high-danger level Void Thing (probably boasting)]
[Magic City Wu University, Ye Chen, Ninth Rank Cultivation, I checked the news, this person once bravely killed two Third Rank Black Knights single-handedly, proficient in the Yong Chun lineage. By the way, this person should be a disciple of the Ye Family’s branch from Su City.]
[Magic City Wu University, Xiang Pingzhi, Eighth Rank Peak, proficient in Shark Form, has exchanged over a hundred moves with a Ninth Rank, his mentor is the Martial Arts Master Sea Splitting Shark·Chen Sha.]
The list wasn’t long, with only 7 people on it: 2 at Ninth Rank and 5 at Eighth Rank, mostly from the top schools in the Yangtze River Delta, Magic City, and Jiangnan Wu Universities. Just a few were from common Wu Universities... However, this list only represented a portion of the competitors, and Lu Chenzhou estimated that there should be more than a handful of Ninth Rank Martial Artists.
As for Eighth Rank, he couldn’t bother researching. Maybe within the same realm, there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers not inferior to him, but the probability of encountering them was slim, not worth wasting his energy.
Meanwhile, in room 302 of the hotel.
"Brother Chen, to my knowledge, Lu Chenzhou will also be competing in this tournament. If you encounter him, please take revenge for me, brother. He deliberately injured me during the Fangshan martial arts competition, causing me months of delayed cultivation..."
Ye Xiao was accompanying his brother, Ye Chen, to the competition.
Ye Chen had been a prominent figure in his high school days in Magic City and was later accepted into the Genius Class of Magic City Wu University without taking exams. Now at 18, he held the Ninth Rank in Cultivation.
His strength was well recognized at the main campus of Magic City Wu University.
He could be described as the most dazzling genius of the Su City Ye Family in nearly a hundred years.
Grandfather said, Ye Chen was entering the competition with the goal to secure at least second place, if not first!
Ye Chen, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a square face, frowned slightly:
"I’m saying that you lost because you weren’t skilled enough, why are you still hung up on this? If you really can’t stand him, then make an effort to grow stronger, and take back your pride yourself."
Ye Xiao said with a red face, in a quiet voice:
"I... I, but he has already been admitted to the Genius Class."
He had no idea what level of Cultivation Lu Chenzhou was at.
But surely much stronger than his Fifth Rank.
Ye Chen said helplessly:
"The Ye Family of Su City is also considered a branch of a great Martial Arts Family. As a disciple of the Ye Family, can’t you broaden your perspective a bit? It’s better to focus on your own training than to dwell on others."
Ye Xiao was left speechless.
Ye Chen changed the subject, spoke calmly:
"Regardless, you are my own brother. If I get the chance to encounter this person, I’ll show him a little color within the rules of competition."
Ye Chen was confident in his abilities.
He was aiming for first place in this competition.
He had been lying dormant for years; tomorrow he would showcase the Ye Family’s Yong Chun name in Magic City.
Yong Chun, invincible!
Ye Xiao’s face lit up with joy.
"Brother will certainly clinch the title."
He was one to hold grudges.
What’s the importance of perspective?
As a regional event, this mega-arena capable of accommodating 80,000 people was surprisingly seated with 50,000, mostly enthusiasts from the Yangtze River Delta.
In the resting area, Ji Xuantong remarked sentimentally: Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs ⓝovelFire.net
"Back in the day, I also competed here."
"Dad, it’s fine; just watch us perform from now."
Lu Chenzhou looked at the big screen, checking the full list of participants.
"256 competitors... The number and format are the same as the Hundred Schools Exchange Tournament. However, this time, all competitors start with Dark Force, and many are Acquired Enlightenment ones."
Lu Chenzhou also spotted some familiar names.
"Xu Jiutian, Su Chen, Wang He, Yuan Zidan, Wang Caiying..."
All the rivals from before had arrived.
Even the girl, Wang Caiying, had come to join the fray.
It had been a long time; how had their strengths changed?
"Mr. Lu, long time no see."
Chen Ye arrived and shook hands with Lu Chenzhou.
Ji Xuantong said with a smile:
"Mr. Chen, what do you think? Is my disciple worth an S rating for your company?"
Chen Ye’s old face blushed, and he chuckled awkwardly:
"Master Ji indeed has an eye for talent."
Chen Ye asked Lu Chenzhou:
"So, do you think you can make it to the top 8 in this competition?"
"Let’s give it a try."
Lu Chenzhou was sure in his heart but didn’t voice it.
"Good, then I’m relieved."
After a simple opening ceremony, the host began introducing the special guests of the competition, and the big screen began projecting images of imposing figures.
The most impressive was the tournament’s guest of honor, the Vice President of the Magic City Martial Arts Association and professor at Magic City Wu University, [Steady Heart Sword·Zhou Ming], a Sword Dao Master who once shocked onlookers with a dragon-shaped Sword Qi at Huangpu River, leaving an impact on the world. That video was widely distributed, with millions of views on various video websites.
Ranked 11 among the greatest Masters.
Zhou Ming looked around and said:
"Relax and focus on the competition, everyone, friendship comes first, Martial Arts second."