[FROM THE VERY DAWN OF MARTIAL ARTS, TO THE BIRTH OF CULTIVATION, COMPETITON HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF A MARTIAL ARTISTS GROWTH. THE BEST OF ALL OF US, THRIVE BETTER UNDER PRESSURE AND WITH A MOTIVATION TO JUST WIN. AND SO FORMS A NEED THAT STEMS FROM TYE VERY CORE OF EVERY MARTIAL ARTIST THAT PARTICIPATE IN A COMPETITON, THE NEED TO WIN, AND THE WILL TO DO ANYTHING TO GAIN THAT VICTORY. WE'RE FORGED BY THE BRUISES OF OUR KNUCKLES, THE SWINGS OF OUR SWORDS, AND THE WINDS OF OUR KICKS. AND THERE'S ONE DESIRE OUT OF MANY OTHERS THAT SERVE AS THE BASIS OF A CULTIVATORS DAO. THE DESIRE TO WIN.]
BARTHOLOMEW ÁLÈ
Alex spent a majority of the journey sleeping. Until they got to Dekina there was nothing much to see but other villages as they drove past them. So he was not in the mood for any sort of sightseeing considering he was already feeling sort of homesick. But it was all out of his hands at this point, so all he could do was wait.
When the bus drove into Dekina, Alex could not believe what he was seeing, he had been to the local government capital before, but his journey this time was lit up like fire. Dekina was a large town about three times the size of Oganenigu, but it was only still just a town considering Alex could walk the entire stretch of the town in two to almost three hours.
Dekina was a place Alex was quite familiar with, he had been here many times over the years with his father either on official business, or those rare moments when they agreed sitting for eight hours in a smoky and dingy bus, was worth it for a two hour movie special at the cinema.
The world was a big and expansive place, but there were even places that were not well developed enough to be considered conducive for living. Oganenigu was such a place, it was remote, isolated, and was only recently beginning to see growth and development in the recent years since Anya's father became a councilor of the local government. The man was a jerk of epic proportions, but at least he brought electricity to the village.
The registration for the martial arts competition was being held at the government secondary school. The school had a really wide field that was used at times like this for any sort of important events, so there should be enough space.
Alex and his father together with Anya were able to get a room with relative ease, apparently his Ben had made reservations since the very day he gave his son the flyer for the competition. The motel they chose was in a rather strategic position, since it was as close as possible to the school district, and also quite close to the western exit of the town.
"Are you guys going to register now, or do you want to wait till tomorrow so that you can rest from your journey."
Alex and Anya looked at each other after Ben's suggestion, to be honest Alex was not really eager about laying down or resting, since he had done nothing more than sit down for four hours on their journey here. He would much rather go take a look around the town that was more lively than usual, and if that meant registering earlier, then no problem.
"I think we will register today dad."
"Okay you guys should hold on to some money, just in case."
"Thank you Mr. B"
"No problem Anya, you guys should have fun."
Alex and Anya ran out of the motel like a pair of mischievous children, they had five imperial gold coins in hand, which was a significant amount of money. Alex could feed himself comfortably for a month like a local village celebrity and still have change to spare with this amount. Which made him surprised that his dad would actually hand them this much money when he was usually always frugal with their expenses.
Alex did not want to poke an emotional hornets nest, but his father was becoming incredibly lax with his rules and money, he was helping a sixteen year old girl sneak out of the village and away from her dictator father, and he wanted to travel. Alex could not help the feeling that something was so very wrong here.
But even with his troubled thoughts, Alex could not help but marvel at the transformation Dekina had made just for this competition. This competition happened once every year, but it was the first time where a champion would be awarded an entry into the Wudang sect. Though this probably had to do with the fact that this year's competition coincided with the new students selection of the Wudang sect.
So they decided to sponsor the competition. Alex was quite happy about it though, his father was so sure that Alex was going to win, but Alex had different thoughts. He felt that even though he was quite unable to win, he would be satisfied since this competition had brought a whole lot of excitement in his life.
Alex and Anya walked through the crowded streets in awe at the hustle and bustle of the town. There were stall owners, and even visiting merchants who were selling a variety of things from weapons, to love potions. Many of the competitors had all gathered in clusters of little groups either talking or having their very own personal pre competition exhibition.
"Hey Alex let's go check out our competition."
"Normally I would agree, but we have to register first. Let's get the serious stuff out of the way, there will be time for fun later."
"I hate it when you do this Alex."
Alex raised his eyebrow in surprise because he had no idea what this tomboy was talking about now. His suggestion should be completely logical, not to mention it's the right thing to do. If they should indulge their curiosity, they might end up loosing track of time and not have anything meaningful done.
"Do what?"
"I hate it when you say and do things that make me seem like a child, and for your information I'm two years older than you."
"Seriously, again with the age thing. First off I don't see how that relates with you feeling like a child every time I give a reasonable suggestion. The only reason you're feeling this way is because you are a child."
"No I'm not."
"You think because your sixteen you're an adult. On the contrary my dear, as far as my brain and thinking capacity is concerned I am older than you, and a great deal wiser too."
"Okay, I have no idea what you just said, but we've arrived."
Alex felt like screaming, she did this every time. Anya had the tendency to suddenly change a topic when she knew she was not winning that discussion. It left little room for her opponent to complete dominate her, giving her a way to preserve whatever was left of her dignity and taking the satisfaction her opponent would feel from completely winning.
When they got to the school its gates were wide open, and a queue stretched right from the gate, to the edge of the two hundred meter wide field the completion was going to held. There were platforms being built, but they looked like they were almost completed. There were ten such platforms spread out around the field, and each of them had workers putting on the finishing touches on their construction and decoration.
"Alex the line is too long, let's leave and come back tomorrow."
"No, we're staying put."
"But"
"I said No!"
Anya was fierce and prone to violence, but there were times too when Alex would not be told no. Of course she was probably going to get him back for this, but as of this moment she had no choice but to stay on a queue that was three hundred bodies long.
It took them another four hours of standing under the unforgiven sun, but eventually it finally got to their turn. Anya by this time had already antagonized every other person who was standing close to them on the line. Alex has had to fend of two officials from throwing them out, and everybody else from tearing them apart.
"Name"
"Anyaja Omakpe."
"Age."
"Sixteen."
"Move left for your cultivation level test, and martial arts test."
On the left side of the official in charge of the registration was a pillar, it was grey and had five sides. There was a name for it, but Alex couldn't remember. Each side of the pillar had a colored crystal that was unique to it, and each side had nine crystals. It did not take a genius to figure out, that this was a device used to measure the strength of any mortal gate cultivators. Anya placed her hands on a rod that was connected underneath the pillar, it made the entire thing look like a lever. The moment she touched it, the side of the pillar with blue crystals lit up, three of the crystals were lit.
"Third level of the open meridian realm"
"What a genius….."
"And to think she's just sixteen years old."
"I think I'm in love."
"Extraordinary"
Alex would have happily swallowed rat poison than be anywhere near all this people. It seemed as if Anya was the person with the highest tested cultivation level since the registration started, and now everybody was gushing over her.
Right next to the pillar, was a jade bowl placed on pedestal, around the body of the bowl tiny white crystals were embedded on it. From where he was standing, Alex could see that the bowl was filled with some sort of green liquid. Anya was asked to placed her hands into the bowl and stay there for as long as she could.
Anya could only hold on for about minute before her body started vibrating and making tiny imperceptible motions. Four of the crystals on the body of the bowl lit up, and once again her rapidly forming fan club began to gush all over her again.
"She knows four martial arts."
"She's not only a beauty, but she's also a talented fighter."
"I'm telling you guys, I feel as if she's my soul mate."
"Look at you, a frog that wants to eat a swan, keep dreaming."
Anya seemed to have had enough as she immediately ripped her dress to pieces and threw the wig off her head. Of course it did nothing to diminish her beauty as it instead transformed her from the gentle and refined beauty she looked like in a dress, to a ferocious and sexy hot beast in shorts and a sports bra. The next thing to go were her heels as she took great pleasure in throwing it at the face of the guy who called her his soulmate.
Thankfully his cultivation was high enough which enabled him to deflect and even catch on of her shoes. Alex also saw him sneakily place the shoe into a hand bag on his shoulder.
Alex could do nothing but hide his face, he was not surprised that Anya went crazy, he expected it and especially in a place as crowded as this. His only prayer was that no one tied him to the crazy chick who was no longer wearing shoes.
Alex moved forward and gave his name and, then his cultivation test came up white at five crystals, which showed he was at the fifth level of the body tempering realm. Of course compared to Anya his results seemed incredibly mediocre and dull. The jade bowl however was quite an experience for Alex though.
He only lasted thirty seconds before he felt an incredible itch all over his body, it was as if he was performing every martial arts he had ever learnt at the same time. To be honest it was quite uncomfortable, but the stimulation from this test, sent his body into a frenzy.
Two crystals lit up on the bowl, but as they did so, an audible boom resounded from Alex's body, it was almost as if he just had an orgasm and the look on his face portrayed it enough.
"Eww why is his face like that?"
"Oh my God is he peeing himself."
"No you nitwit, he just had a breakthrough, he's at the sixth level of the body refining realm now."
"Seriously, during the test?, wow what a weirdo."
"But he still looked like he was peeing to me."
"Maybe he was."
"Damn that's so embarrassing, peeing yourself during your test."
"I feel sorry for him."
"heh me too."
There was no way for Alex to defend himself as the entire situation went completely out of hand in mere moments. Alex had to sneakily check if he really peed himself, but such a move would be caught by sharper eyed people, which added more fuel to the fire and rumor about him peeing himself. Anya was no help at all as she stood there laughing for all she was worth. Alex was assigned a number and a badge, then he quickly left the school to the hidden mockery of everybody else there.
Anya followed behind trying and failing to contain her laughter. Alex could only curse his luck and the bastard who started the conversation about him peeing himself. It seems Alex did not need to worry about Anya becoming more famous than him, she would be known as one of the most talented participants, while he would be known as the guy who peed himself during registration. What a life.