After two days, Lou Mu Yan followed Lou Mu Bai back to the Imperial Academy.

In the most ancient hall of the Academy, Principal Ruan Li and several other instructors were already seated. Opposite them were nine students.

“Mu Bai, Mu Yan, you’ve both come. Sit.” Ruan Li said with a gentle smile on his face and gestured for them to take a seat.

After the two sat down, Ruan Li sat properly upright and looked at the eleven people seriously, addressing them: “Bringing you all here today is so that we can discuss the situation with the Trial this time.”

“The Trial after this Grand Competition is something different from what occurs after the Grand Competition in previous years and was exceptionally important.” Ruan Li emphasised.

“You should all know that Yan’zhou Kingdom isn’t the only kingdom on Tian’ling Continent. There are also thousands, even tens of thousands of large and small kingdoms. But aside from these kingdoms, there are also Super Distinguished Clans and Sects that control and distribute the resources on this Continent.

“The most powerful entities on this Continent are the Six Great Sects. The Ten Distinguished Spirit Sword Clans of the Eastern Region is in fact only at the very bottom of the Continent’s Distinguished Clans.”

[GASP!] The eleven people present could all be regarded as those favoured by the Heavens, but after hearing this news, some still couldn’t help but be stumped for words.

“The Eastern Region ranks last among the Four Major Regions in terms of overall strength, so our Yan’zhou Kingdom is an extremely unremarkable existence on Tian’ling Continent.”

Ruan Li paused, then spoke with gravity, “And although you’re all the most outstanding figures amongst the younger generation of Yan’zhou Kingdom, and could be regarded as the Empire’s geniuses amongst this generation, but compared to the similar-aged Sword Masters of other larger countries, you guys don’t count for much, and in fact, is also at the very bottom.

“It’s not to say that your natural endowments are worser than them, but you fall short on the resources that you’re provided with compared to theirs by a great amount. That’s why I hope you guys are fair to yourselves and not be disheartened. You’ll only be able to improve if you attempt to pursue those that are stronger than yourselves.” There was encouragement in Rian Li’s eyes.

“Principal, you explaining all these things about the Continent to us, is there any special meaning to it?” A young man of around twenty amongst the eleven students asked with confusion and worry.

“Every twenty years there’ll be a Continental Tournament for Hegemony1, and next year was precisely the beginning of the new round of the Tournament for Hegemony. All the countries in the Four Major Regions are given quotas, and our Yan’zhou Kingdom also received six places.”

Seeing the various expressions amongst the eleven people, with some even secretly hiding some worry, Ruan Li continued: “These six places were the total number of places given to Yan’zhou Kingdom and isn’t to be chosen amongst only you guys. The pupils of the Imperial Family and Yan’zhou Kingdom’s other Distinguished Clans will also participate in the Trial this time, and the six people participating in the Continental Tournament for Hegemony will be chosen amongst all of you.”

“Then doesn’t that mean we all have a chance, but vice versa, it was also possible none of us will be chosen?” Another young woman asked anxiously.

She was the winner of the senior student competition of the Earth Class, but her strength was already relatively weaker than the rest. If they had to compete with the Imperial Family to obtain a spot, then there was very little hope.

“That’s only natural. The Trial this time is basically an indirect selection trial. You must all take this seriously and cherish this opportunity.”

He didn’t want to give a complete blow to the students’ confidence, so added, comforting: “Each one of you has a chance. Don’t be discouraged. It isn’t impossible for you to have a fortuitous encounter during the Trial and soar high into the sky2.”

After hearing Ruan Li’s words, the students’ eyes that were dim from being disheartened, lit up. That’s right, they already rose above others during the Grand Competition, who knew who’d win one of the six places in the future.

On the other hand, Lou Mu Yan and Lou Mu Bai didn’t reveal much emotion. Their eyes remained indifferent throughout which made the superiors of the Academy think highly of them again.

Chi Yi Xuan’s expression was also rather calm, and the ripples in his eyes had been concealed. Amongst the eleven people, he was also one of the students that Ruan Li and the other superiors were very optimistic about.

“Principal, are there any benefits in participating in the Trial and obtaining a place in the Continental Tournament for Hegemony?” A Heaven Class student named Fu Chen, whose strength was second to Lou Mu Bai, asked.

“The result of the Continental Tournament for Hegemony directly affected the allocation of the Continent’s resources in the future twenty years. If you could advance to the top one hundred, then Yan’zhou Kingdom would be allocated even more resources.” Ruan Li didn’t conceal anything and continued to say: “If you receive a good result, the Empire will also gift you generous rewards.”

Seeing the student’s bright eyes, he added with a smile: “However, the most precious aspect for the players of the Continental Tournament for Hegemony aren’t the rewards from the Empire, but instead, the chance to join Tian’ling Continent’s Six Great Sects—that was the most tempting.”

“What? We can actually join the Six Great Sects.”  Among the eleven people, a person with a rather deep, solid background, Ji Han Xu, couldn’t help but exclaim.

In his Clan’s Secret Manual, there were more or less some records on the structure of Tian’ling Continent, and within, there were records of the most superior forces, the Six Great Sects. Even if one had excelling natural endowments, wanting to join the Sects were as hard as ascending to the Heavens. Who knew that the Grand Competition this time was actually linked to the Six Great Sects.

“The Six Great Sects’ origins flows back long into the distant past, and their foundation and background was something that other distinguished clans and empires can’t compare to. All the disciples beneath them have extraordinary talents.

“Meanwhile the Continental Tournament for Hegemony was precisely one of their ways of gathering excelling disciples. After all, to be able to excel and distinguish oneself in the top one hundred, above the tens of thousands of talented Seeded Players, they were definitely worthy of raising.” Yuan Li stroked his beard as he explained. Everyone desired that their own kingdom’s Seeded Players could enter into the top hundred and receive the Welcome Token from the Six Great Sects.

Lou Mu Yan caught onto the yearning in Ruan Li’s eyes, then raised an eyebrow and asked: “Principal, then within all the previous Continental Tournament for Hegemonies, did our Yan’zhou Kingdom have any Seeded Players enter into the top one hundred?”

Ruan Li didn’t think that Lou Mu Yan would ask such an incisive question, was fazed for a moment, then smiled in embarrassment: “None.”

She guessed that was how it was, paused, then asked: “Then the best result is?”

[Cough cough…] Seeing that everyone was staring at him, Ruan Li coughed dryly, “The best result is at two-thousand-one-hundred.”

“…”

Isn’t the Principal just cheating people—the best result was only at two-thousand-one-hundred, then how much of a chance did they have to advance to the top one hundred.

However, Lou Mu Yan’s eyes revealed fiery flames. The more challenging something was, the more interesting it was, and the more interested she was in it. Her lips rose and said domineeringly and confidently: “The individual’s effort is the decisive factor, humans will definitely triumph over the Heavens3. Let’s create a legend of Yan’zhou Kingdom!”

“Good! Ambitious.” Hearing Lou Mu Yan’s passionate words, Ruan Li couldn’t resist slamming his palm down on the table, “You should all participate in the Selection Trial with such an attitude. I hope that in the Continental Tournament of Hegemony this time, there’ll be someone amongst you guys who’ll successfully obtain the Welcome Token from one of the Six Great Sects.”

Except for Lou Mu Bai and Chi Yi Xuan, the other’s foreheads were filled with deep creases as they furrowed their brows.

Wasn’t Lou Mu Yan a bit too arrogant—as the winner of the freshman Earth Class, she couldn’t even compare to them, so how could she create Yan’zhou Kingdom’s legend? Was it really fine for the Principal to be agreeing so blindly?

But it was undeniable that, after hearing Lou Mu Yan’s words, a passionate desire and motivation couldn’t help but rise in their hearts, and they began to look forward to the upcoming Selection Trial.

Chi Yi Xuan looked deeply at Lou Mu Yan that glowed with pride and vigour. Right now, there was some sort of charm that exuded from her which constantly made people inadvertently convinced. That sort of domineering, unbridled, and bold temperament made his heart ceaselessly turbulent and be infatuated with her.

It was more and more impossible to retrieve his gaze upon her, and he only desired to hide her away, letting her shine bright only for him.

1Hmmm, that translation should be fine. If I think of a better way to translate 大陆风云争霸赛 I’ll update it.

2Rise up and become stronger because of the encounter.

3Whatever happens isn’t up to others to decide but themselves, and they will definitely triumph over any obstacle.

Note: Changed Yan’zhou Country to Yan’zhou Kingdom. It’s probably a really irrelevant change, but I felt Kingdom suited better lol.

Note: So it’s been a while since ‘Chi’huo Continent’ had been mentioned, I feel like it was a typo by the author. I’ll translate a bit more to see. If it was, I’ll go back to correct the two times that ‘Chi’huo Continent’ had been mentioned into ‘Tian’ling Continent’.

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