The old man and Sam looked at each other for sometime with out speaking anything. Finally, the old man himself broke the silence.
"Okay, you are a lot more patient that I thought. Don't you have any questions at all?"
"I do." Sam replied.
"Then why are you not asking?"
"Okay then. Why am I still here?" Hearing Sam's question, the old man got stunned and didn't know what to say. He thought inwardly. 'you have an unknown old man who read your mind like a book and the old man came directly to face you after the test is over and you have only one question and that is why are you still here. Why are you not following the norm? You should really ask who am I right? And why am I so awesome that I can read your memories right? But why are you in a hurry to go?' He heaved a sigh and finally said.
"Okay then I will say it myself. My name is Murali and I was an old expert once in this western continent. Right now, the one speaking to you is one of the wills I left behind."
"I understand. So, can I go out now?" Sam asked. This time Murali lost it again. After all, here he is saying that he was an expert in past and this kid is concentrating on when the conversation will end. Shouldn't he be awe and admire him? Shouldn't he be asking me for guidance and request me to take him as a disciple? The old man thought inwardly. He is supposed to be genius, then why is he acting dumb.
But did Sam really didn't know about the opportunity? Of course, he understood and that is the main reason he is trying to end the conversation. If he listens to more information, the deeper he would be in this shit. If Murali knew what Sam was thinking he might puke blood in exasperation.
"Okay kid, I will get straight to the point. I died a long time ago and before I died, I left my inheritance some where in this western continent and this tower one of the keys of that inheritance. There is a total of four towers like this each having different type of tests. To open the inheritance, the four keys has to be put together. By now the other three towers already has a successor and this fourth one the tower of will, being the most difficult one of all, is late in finding one. The successors should be less than twenty years of age and has to be below Great Mage/Warrior cultivation. And the inheritance will open only when all the four successors are selected with the required criterion and now that happened.
I will transfer the ownership of the tower to you and the four of you can communicate together and open the inheritance at the same time. If you don't like it, you can bring a companion along with you and you can give them the inheritance. After all, it shouldn't be forced.
I saw that you have gone through a lot kid and I hope you will think it thoroughly before making a decision." The old said and waved his hand as he disappeared with a wave of light entering Sam's mind with some information regarding the tower and the inheritance. A small platform appeared in front of him and there is a palm shaped groove on it. Sam placed his palm on it and the tower ownership has been transferred.
Sam went through the info given by the old man and looked at the method to move the tower. He can decrease the size of the tower and store it away if he wants to do so, but Sam didn't do it and came out of the tower first.
When he saw the gawking crowd as if they are seeing an animal, Sam felt weird and walked towards the attendant responsible for the scores. Seeing him coming close, the attendant came to his senses and spoke loudly.
"Candidate Sam. Thirty floors. Cleared the tower of will. Thirty points." As soon as he finished every person stood up and started clapping loudly. Sam slowly walked towards the group/
"Congratulations Sam. You really are as good as Kelly made you out to be." The first one to congratulate him is Hawk. Sam nodded at him with a smile and latter walked away to give the group sometime for themselves.
Philip and Jack looked at each other and at Sam. This is the difference between them. That is what they thought inwardly. One by one candidates of the Starwood academy came and congratulated him. Even the Principal and City lord came. After some time, a voice silenced the commotion.
"The first round of the competition ended now. And the rankings are going to be displayed. As soon as he said that a screen appeared at the stage and there are two rankings that are being displayed.
The first one is the individual ranking and the second one is the group ranking. Both of which the first places were occupied by the Starwood city. The first three places are occupied by Sam, Philip and Jack respectively in the individual ranking followed by Hawk and in the same way, the first place in the group ranking, the Starwood city occupied the first place followed by the Falcon Cliff city.
"The second round of the competition will start at the noon and the candidates are requested to rest till then in the accommodations provided by the academy. You will be led there by an attendant. Come to the academy entrance at the time of competition."
As soon as Count Falcon finished speaking everyone started moving and left in their own ways. An attendant led the six groups along with their supervisors to the accommodation provided. Soon, they were taken to six stone houses inside the academy and each group was allocated one.
Sam looked at the shoddy house they were allocated compared to the rest of the houses and felt that something is wrong and looked at the attendant with a questioning gaze. When met with the sharp gaze, attendant who is far weaker than him immediately cowered and said. "Elder Arlo was the one who arranged the accommodations. I don't know anything." He said and left the place immediately.
Sam looked at the City lord and shook his head as he entered the stone house and picked a room to relax. After sometime, someone entered the house and there was some commotion outside which disturbed him from the rest.
He walked outside and looked at the person who came and is in confrontation with the City lord.
"Hello, my old friend. I hope the service is satisfactory." The middle-aged man with brown hair said sarcastically.
"Arlo, is it really necessary for you take it out on the candidates due to our personal grudge. I was the one who made a mistake and offended you and I am already facing the consequences, but why are you making it hard for the candidates, they are kids after all and have nothing to do with our grudge." City lord said dejectedly. But he only heard Arlo laugh sarcastically.
"Nothing to do with us? I don't care. They came here depending on you and everyone depending on you will be having a hard time in my turf." He said and then looked at Sam and others.
"Even though, your candidates did well in the first round, they still have to go through the second and third round and anything might happen. And if anything happens to them, you are the one who caused it." After that he gave a mocking look to the City lord and left the place.
City lord looked at the students with a dejected expression. Just as he was about say something, Sam walked back to his room. He already guessed this scenario and was not surprised that someone will come and give a warning.
Sam sat there and meditated to recover himself.
Meanwhile, at another stone house, the peculiar trio are in same room and are discussing something.
"Do you think he got the ownership?" Yuv asked the other two.
"He should get it. But the tower didn't show any signs. It didn't shrink and disappear from the spot like other towers. Do you think, he rejected it?" Yaar said.
"We don't know that for now. We can see that after the competition is over. We will try the method we used for another tower and see if it works after the competition. If it is successful, the ownership hasn't been taken and if we fail, we have to capture that kid named Sam." Yash said and the other two agreed.
Sam didn't know, that the trio which he noticed are plotting against him. He is deep in thought as he was thinking about something. He is going through the info provided by the old man about the inheritance. Even though, Sam knew that this might bring some problems, he still took the ownership, because the old man said that he can pass the inheritance to other person if he doesn't want it. Sam took ownership, so that if the inheritance is not useful for him, he can use it to obtain some resources from the site of inheritance and also, he can make use of the inheritance to get some benefits to himself.
Time passed and noon came. All the candidates and spectators gathered at the academy entrance. Soon, Count and Principal along with the elders came to the spot.
"Dear Participants, I congratulate you all for passing the tower of will and even if some of you guys aren't satisfied with your results, you shouldn't let it to hold you back. Will is important to the cultivators but it is not the only thing that is important and it is only one of the qualities which can be improved with time. So, don't be dejected and move forward.
The second round of competition will take place in the woods that are near the academy. We cleared a patch of woods and made some arrangements for the competition specifically. The rules will be announced by the Principal Castor when we arrive at the spot. I wish you all the best." Count falcon finished his speech and all the participants and the spectators applauded.
After sometime everyone arrived at the entrance of the woods.
Principal stood in front of the participant groups and said. "This round is a team competition. But you will not be participating along with your teammates directly. The teams will be jumbled." As soon as principal said that everyone broke into discussions. But Castor paid no heed and continued.
"In a few moments all the participants will be picking a token and will be divided into teams randomly. After that all of your cultivations will be sealed and you will be an ordinary human before we escort you to a place in the woods. Candidates will be blind folded and will be led into the middle of woods. Each team will be left in a different place and each team will have to work together to find the clues we have hidden and you can only use the resources we hid in the forest or the resources you obtain in the forest. You guys have to figure out the clues and find the scrolls which will unlock your cultivation in stages.
The teams can confront each other for the scrolls, food, resources and even for no reason. Each person's score will be calculated individually. And there are various ways to obtain points in the forests, which you will know a bit later.
But before that let me tell you guys something. Strength is not the only thing that will save you. You have to develop sufficient awareness and adaptability to be safe as well as to grow. I hope the candidates will keep that in mind and will do their best. I wish you all best of luck.
Now, please pick the tokens in the box." Castor finished his speech and the candidates proceeded towards the box which has tokens in it to pick their teams.