34 Shi Clan Tournament 1 - Shock (1/2)
A few minutes into the tournament, a clan member brought a pillar up on the stage for all the participants to see. It had the height of an average human, the thickness of a 100 year old tree, the color of the white clouds and the smoothness of a maiden's skin.
Shi Xingtai went closer to the pillar and tapped his palm on it a few times, nodding afterwards. ”This is a strength pillar. Everyone must've known about it, right?”
All of the participants nodded their heads, including Shi Li. Shi Li didn't where this was going.
”Well let me tell you that there are different levels of strength pillars, which correspond to their strength limit. White is the most basic level, with its strength limit at 250 ren, the peak of the Tempering realm.”
”Do any of you know where I'm going with this?” Shi Xingtai raised his eyebrows.
Some of the participants pondered for a bit while some understood what Shi Xingtai was going to do.
Shi Xingtai saw the gazes of those who understood and smiled lightly. ”I'm glad some of you got it. This shall correspond to the first round of the tournament, the strength measuring round.”
He continued, ”The prerequisites to pass this first round is to achieve 30 ren with a punch from a fixed position. This would signify that you have reached the Second Stage of Skin Tempering, allowing you to fight onwards.”
”Let us begin!”
...
A clan member gave Shi Xingtai a scroll, to which Shi Xingtai unfurled it using his qi, revealing the names of the participants for this tournament.
Shi Xingtai read each name from top to bottom and counted that there were over 100 participants participating in the tournament.
'Hmm...the oldest participant here is 17 years old, and it's that one addicted to creating a stable and firm foundation. Next one is 16 years old, and that is Young Master Shi Li. I'll put them at the end I guess.'
Rolling the scroll up, he looked at the participants and shouted, ”Shi Fen, come up on stage!”
The participant named Shi Fen hurriedly went in front, afraid of wasting the elder's patience. Shi Fen then bowed in front of the elder and said, ”Shi Fen seeks your guidance!”
Shi Xingtai nodded at Shi Fen's attitude and said, ”My piece of advice: just relax and do your best.”
Shi Fen's eyes lit up and his mouth curled as he nodded. ”Yes!”
He went to the side of the pillar, making sure that the other participants could see it. He bent his knees and clenched his fist as he retracted it, accumulating power until...
Bang!
A solid punch landed on the pillar, slightly making it shake but not enough to cause a huge effect. This made Shi Fen smile with joy but anxiety overtook his senses as he waited for his result to pop up.
1...
3...
7...
15...
22...
27...
29...
The number's increase grew slower and slower, making Shi Fen break out into cold sweat. But at the last second, Shi Fen couldn't help but breathe out a sigh of relief as he laughed out with joy.
31 ren.
Shi Xingtai breathed out a sigh of relief as well since the first participant wasn't a failure, signalling a success for this first event.
Shi Fen bowed respectfully to Shi Xingtai before coming down, continuing on with the event.
”Next up, Shi Huoshou!”
The one called Shi Huoshou confidently went up the stage and bowed respectfully towards Shi Xingtai. He then went to the side of the pillar just like Shi Fen and clenched his fist tightly.
All of a sudden, flames started to erupt from his hand as he landed a punch on the pillar.
”Erupting Blaze Palm!”
Fwoom!
Within seconds, the number on the pillar rose to 40 ren, exceeding Shi Fen's strength by 9 ren. Multiple cheers resounded throughout the arena as it was rare for someone to reach 40 ren in this tournament. Even Shi Xingwan, who has spectated the event for multiple year, can attest to that as well.
Shi Huoshou was about to bow towards Shi Xingtai, but Shi Xingtai frowned at Shi Huoshou, making the latter shiver in fear.
”This first round only needs to use the person's body strength.”
”Elder, I-I-I don't know what you mean...”
Shi Xingtai released his aura and focused it on Shi Huoshou, making the latter kneel down.
”Do as I say or else...”
Shi Huoshou let out a squeal as he shot out a punch towards the pillar once more. This time, the number that came out on the pillar was 15 ren, twice as less as Shi Fen's.
Looking at the number, Shi Xingtai's aura intensified, making Shi Huoshou shiver intensely as a putrid smell started to emanate through the air.
”It's just a First Stage huh.”
”Indeed, just a First Stage. Even though we're all clan members, we still need to follow the rules.”
”Yup, this first round was meant for those First Stages who think that would easily clear the tournament.”
”I wonder how the elder is going to remove this participant.”
These were the words that came out of some participants as they attended the tournaments from the previous years.
Shi Xingtai closed his eyes and channeled his qi out to the surroundings, forming a dense rope of qi. He then waved it around as he looked at Shi Huoshou and the remaining participants.
”If you're a First Stage cultivator and you want to enter this tournament, you're in for a treat. Better get out or else I do this.”