Chapter 956 – The Same Twilight Glow (1/2)
Chapter 956 – The Same Twilight Glow
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”His opponent in the first match was a descendant of the Xiang clan. The two competed in pure strength and the Xiang clan descendant lost.”
On the high observation platform within the Imperial City, the Carp tribe judge in charge of determining victory slightly bowed his body. The observation platform was otherwise empty, the members of the Council of Elders and the high officials of the Demi-human Court currently in the gloomy confines of the stone hall, pensively considering the files that had just been sent in.
Upon hearing the Carp tribe judge's words, many of them looked towards the giant mountain of a figure at the highest seat.
The Chief Elder was also the Xiang clan's leader.
Why had a descendant of the Xiang clan gone to participate in the Pine Paths? And he had even lost?
The Chief Elder's eyes remained shut, as if he was sleeping, giving no reaction to these words. The powerful individuals in the hall shook their heads and they turned their attention back to the files. One high official suddenly said in astonishment, ”His opponent in the second match was Nie Chi?”
These words caused a burst of whispered discussion within the stone hall, and it was obvious that this was a surprise to everyone else in the hall. To these important personages of the Demi-human race, Nie Chi was nothing much, but he was still a famous expert, which made them think, if it really is him, how did he lose?
”Nie Chi was blasted to death, because his blade was not faster than his opponent's fist.”
The Carp tribe judge did not wait to hear the gasps of surprise from the hall. Lowering his head, he continued, ”In the third match, the opponent was Han Xiaodao.”
A stunned voice came out of the hall. ”Wait a moment. Is the Han Xiaodao you are speaking of the one that we all know?”
The judge's voice trembled as he replied, ”Yes, and then he also lost.”
Another person anxiously asked, ”And after that?”
The Carp tribe judge was quiet for a few moments. Apparently, the psychological impact of those matches had still not completely worn off.
”The fourth match was Wu Yu. He also lost.”
”Wu Yu?” In shock, the person asked, ”Are you sure? How could he possibly lose?”
At this moment, an official noticed those resounding names on the file and frowned. ”Wait a second. This official does not understand. Why is it that so many experts appeared in a remote fighting platform in the lower city?”
The judge lowered his head even further, not replying to the question.
None of the official's colleagues or any of the members of the Council of Elders answered his question.
This coincidental silence concealed a rather embarrassing meaning.
Many of the powerful individuals in the stone hall knew the answer, because they were the ones who had made these arrangements.
Other than mighty individuals like Xiaode, the clan elders and the officials of the Demi-human Court had no hopes of gaining the final victory in the Heavenly Selection ceremony, marrying the princess. They only wanted to use this opportunity to allow the young experts of their clans or tribes to become candidates and obtain the right to enter the Celestial Trees. As long as they could be baptized by the Wildfire and receive the blessings of the ancestral spirits, they would be able to become much stronger, with even a chance of breaking through in a short time.
It was for this reason that all these influential figures had coincidentally sent all the young experts who were not too conspicuous but were also very talented to the lower city districts, which received little attention. They hoped that this would increase the chances of avoiding strong enemies, allowing them a chance at obtaining one of the three spots allotted to the lower districts.
This was a very reasonable course of action, and many tribes and clans thought the same. From a certain perspective, they had still ended up clashing with each other, but the competition in the lower city districts was still easier than around the Imperial City and Heavensguard Pavilion.
But no one had expected it to end this way.
The young experts that the tribes and clans had burdened with their hopes had all lost.
They had lost to a very ordinary bear youth.
All of a sudden, an elder sternly asked, ”Even if he did manage to miraculously win six consecutive matches and then represented the Pine Paths in winning the general selection of the Three Heaventrees District, obtaining a spot, why did he come alone? Aren't there three spots for the lower city districts? What about the other two?”
He was the leader of the Deer tribe, and today, he had furtively placed his beloved bastard son into the Southern Country District, hoping that he could use this chance to grant his bastard son the right to enter the Celestial Tree. He had learned earlier that his bastard son had won, so why had he not appeared?
”That fellow represented the Pine Paths in battle to take the spot of the Three Heaventrees District, and then he went to Star Riverbay and Southern Country.”
The Carp tribe judge recalled those sights, unable to suppress his sigh as he continued, ”He snatched away both spots.”
The stone hall was quiet for a while, clearly out of shock and confusion. After a while, the Deer tribe leader angrily roared.
”Just what does this fool want to do! Was taking one spot not enough! Doesn't he know that you can't transfer these spots!”
This was something that many elders and officials could not understand. Since he had already obtained the spot belonging to the Three Heaventrees District, he could enter the Celestial Tree tomorrow to be baptized by the Wildfire. Why had this fellow not loosened his grip, and had even run off to Star Riverbay and Southern Country to fight two more tournaments?
Although the rules of the Heavenly Selection ceremony did not forbid this, although this fellow really might have been very strong, the truly powerful opponents had not yet appeared. What meaning was there in doing this besides consuming true essence and wasting his energy?
”I do not know.” The Carp tribe judge recalled the words that fellow said when walking onto the fighting platform and hesitantly said, ”Apparently it's because… he doesn't like anyone else participating in the Heavenly Selection ceremony. As long as someone is participating, he wants to strike them down.”
What sort of reason was that? It was utterly incomprehensible.
Suddenly, a cold voice said, ”What I don't understand is how he won.”
This was not actual confusion, but disbelief, suspicion.
It was clear that many important personages of the Demi-human race, this official included, found this matter far too strange, causing them to be very doubtful.
But the judge was thinking of something else, absent-mindedly saying, ”He used the fist.”
”The fist?”
”Yes, whether he was facing Nie Chi, Han Xiaodao, or some other expert, he only used one punch.”