The members of the Boulder Sect, as its name suggested, were bulky and tall with tanned skin which was the result of harsh training under the glaring sun in the sweltering heat.
Their efforts didn't have to be expressed through words, the determination to progress and the battle scars on their body were marks of the perils they've gone through in order to progress further.
The entire sect was wearing a black robe with a white belt around their waist, the front part opened up with their chest muscles exposed to the others without any shame, it was their pride.
Without even speaking or communicating with each other, the members of the Boulder Sect waited for the first and youngest disciple of their sect to strike the strength gauging pillar first.
The disciple got into a stable stance with his legs wide open, parallel to the strength gauging pillar, energy gathered into his fist as he punched towards the strength gauging pillar at full force while his seniors nodded their head in approval.
The cultivation forces below the platform barely reacted as they just remained standing calmly.
If one had to ask why there were no seats, it would be because this is only the preliminary rounds. Until those cultivation forces and sects qualified to be recognised are chosen, providing seats are just a waste of resources.
Just like how beggars aren't entitled to choosing their food, every single person right now is being treated the same way, after all, only the strong get to succeed in the cultivation world regardless of how cruel this might seem.
*Bling*
*Bling*
In the end, only two of the nine gems glowed brightly even though the passing requirement was a five.
"Oh, there was something else I forgot to mention, but for each gem that blinks, it will increase the amount of attack power needed to awaken the next gem as well."
"What?"
This time however, everyone was surprised by what the masked announcer had just announced.
"How is this possible, junior Voy has already stepped into the completion stage of the Martial Master realm last night after master helped with the final push." One of the senior disciples exclaimed.
"Everyone, attack your respective pillars at once!" The sect master said with energy gathering around his fist, the disciples doing the same as they attacked their respective pillars at the same time, their voice filled with determination and passion.
"Boulder Shattering Fist!"
*Rumble*
The stage trembled from the combined impact of their attacks, resulting in a heavy pressure acting on the stage. The members of the Boulder Sect stared at their results reflected on the strength gauging pillar, their body shaking in despair.
In the end, after all their efforts and high hopes of being promoted, even their sect master only managed to awaken three and a half gems of the nine, a far cry from the five to even qualify himself.
To put it in layman terms, the Boulder Sect was eliminated in the preliminary rounds without facing a single rival of theirs, losing their pride was one thing, but their failure here would only impede and even slow down the development rate of the Boulder Sect.
"Sect master, the attack which they just used reminded me of someone from my hometown, please allow me to speak to their sect master." Ray said towards Ace as he watched the members of the Boulder Sect descend from the platform, their crestfallen hearts were sinking them into the depths of the ocean.
"I understand, go on ahead." Ace replied briefly as he watched the other sects and cultivation forces challenge their own limits on the stage, only for most of them to fail.
"Next up, we have the Paladin Haven which is believed to be the strongest Wolf Tier cultivation force." The masked announcer announced, once again, in his monotonous voice.
"Good luck, Great Paladin Malene and Great Paladin Fawkes."
"Thank you, by the way, the Legacy Paladin of our Paladin Haven would like to speak to you later." Malene replied before stepping onto the platform with the disciples following behind her, her only personal Grace and Fawkes beside her.
"Great Paladin Malene, may I inquire where the Legacy Paladin of your Paladin Haven is? I'm afraid that the preliminary round will be unable to proceed without his presence.
"Don't worry announcer, the Legacy Paladin has told us to proceed with the preliminary round, just behold the spectacular sight to await." Malene replied with her usual confidence before getting ready.
"Dimensional Arc." The first disciple of the Paladin Haven slashed towards the strength gauging pillar with lightning speed and immense force, the strength gauging pillar being shaken for the first time as seven blinding glows caught the attention of the crowd.
Being the first disciple of the Paladin Haven to make the first move, his strength should have been the weakest among them all and if that was the case, it could only mean that the rest would be stronger.
Just like this, the second disciple with his bow and arrow easily awakened seven gems as well.
The third disciple with his sword managed to awaken seven gems with a spectacular circular slash of high difficulty while infusing it with a holy element related law.
The fourth disciple made use of just his legs and awakened seven gems, unusual for a paladin it is, but it proved effective with the the eighth gem slightly glowing,
The fifth disciple was a slim and even though he looked frail and weak on the outside, his aura exploded when he held his long spear in hand as he awakened seven gems and a dim eighth gem.
The sixth disciple, the strongest below Grace proved himself worthy when he awakened eight gems with a single blast of energy condensed from a magical law.
As for Grace, she wielded a sword in hand, clad in lightweight armor that allowed her to move freely without any restrictions, her hair tied up in a ponytail behind her head, swaying with the motion of the wind.
Energy gathered in her sword, solemnness in her eyes as she gathered energy into her sword, Lancelot and the others were fully focused this time and even though the strongest before Grace was strong, he was only strong enough to be noticed by them, their opponents would at least have to be as strong as Grace.
"Seraph, please grant me divine strength as your follower, as the one who will follow your path and allow you to finally rest."
"Divine blade of peace and order, allow your glamour to cleanse this world of all its evil, purify it with eternal sparkles that will bring hope to everyone in this life."
"Divine Exaltation!"
A sword wave was released from her sword as she swung down, carrying all her emotions and strength even though it wasn't a need.
This was Grace, the one believed to become the next Legacy Paladin and even exceed that person itself. The peerless genius who is bound to go to the Holy Land and even gain her own footing there and stand at the top of her generation.
The crowd below didn't know why, but deep within themselves, they could feel their bosom buddy, joy, calling out to them once again.
Its hands reach into the deepest of their soul, comforting them that failure is only a temporary moment, what matters most is that they tried and they still have a future to strive for.
This was Grace's strength, the ability to cut down all her foes without any hesitation while shining light into the lives of those that need it.
Bringing them back from the darkness of the world which has blinded their eyes, she was the ray of hope, their guiding path towards the life they seek.
*Bling, Bling...Bling!"
And in quick succession, the nine gems awakened all at once so bright that they blinded everyone's eyes.
"Elder Fawkes, Master, the Paladin Haven must rise with my appearance."
Fawkes nodded his head as he took out his bow and arrow, putting on his ranger hat, seriousness enveloped him as he pulled on the string, forming a silver arrow which contained divine prowess and without anyone except for a few who caught its speedy trajectory, it had already pierced through the strength gauging pillar which restored itself.
But for those who saw it such as Ace, he couldn't help but be amazed by Fawkes, if they had a battle right now, even he might lose to him.
That arrow was fast, but that was only a side to its charm. The arrow was actually aimed away from the strength gauging pillar, changing directions seven times in the air in quick succession as a connected movement, just like a fish in water.
Not only that, if the strength gauging pillar was a human or opponent of the same height, the arrow would only leave its line of sight since all seven times it changed directions, would be towards a blind spot with its presence hidden in the air.
As for Malene, Ace understood that he was finally going to witness her true strength.
Energy gathered into her staff, but unlike the first time, her armor was replaced by a robe which allowed her to cast her magic freely, the world suddenly silent and before everyone's eyes, a magical orb the size of a ball grew bigger and bigger until it devoured the entire platform whole while the disciples stepped off the platform before it reached them.
*Bling!*
*Bling!*
*Bling!*
In the end, she managed to cause all ten strength gauging pillars to awaken nine gems, all fully awakened to its limit.
The sects and cultivation forces below shook their heads knowing that the first place was out of the question, the Paladin Haven was more than just the alpha of the wolf pack right now.
"Still, Great Paladin Malene, where is the Legacy Paladin?"
"Boom!"
An energy wave pierced through the air as it destroyed all ten strength gauging pillars before restoring them to its previous state as though the previous destruction was nothing but a dream.
"That's your answer."
Malene said as she stepped off the stage while Ace stared into blank space, amazed by the strength that he had always desired to possess.
"The Nirvana Sect is up next!"