Chapter 24 - Lin Zhenkang

The sects would not allow their disciples to go on adventures before Qi Force Opening or Mana Force Opening Realm, because without Signiums, the variability and flow of the battles were limited. Most of the time, either Seniors or Elders would escort the younglings if they had to go out. But today was not a normal time, because it was the day of the Three Sects Tournament.

In the Azure Sky City, disciples, elders, and Leaders of the three sects had gathered for an important occasion. Every five years three sects would gather to hold the Three Sects Tournament, and before each tournament, they would gather at one of the respective cities of the sects to hold a feast and set up a market. The tradition was going on for a few centuries, and this time it was the turn of the city The Cleansing Buddhist Sect was protecting.

Azure Sky City had around 10 Million population and there were two big families in power. These families were unranked, which also meant the strongest person in the family was the Qi Solidification Realm Peak cultivator. These families would do their best to host the sects because they were underlings of the respective sects.

They would do their best to send their descendants to these colossal sects to win over the other family and take up the whole pie for themselves. But what they didn't know, sects were controlling their powers so they could be manipulated easier. Sects had never allowed their descendants to break through to the Qi Crystallization Realm and get out of their control.

Today the feast was held jointly by two families. The non-cultivator maidens of the two families were serving vines and those who had some power to show were dueling on the stage in the middle of the feast area. Disciples of the three sects, on the other hand, were watching amusingly. After all, to them, those on stage were nothing but country bumpkins.

"Look at their arrogant faces." Said Lin Zhenkang. He was the adopted son of the Lin Families Leader. He had the talent to join any of the three sects, but his father didn't let him join. Even though they were unaware of some of the politics, they were aware of the obvious. All of the talented descendants went to those sects, either killed in quests or by accidents.

"Of course they are arrogant. They are from the sects and came here to dine and drink like kings. Eat our food, and sleep with the girls of our families as they wish. They are the rulers of these lands." said the skinny youth on his side. His name was Lin Fan. He detested those sects.

"They have reasons to be arrogant. They are all strong, and those monkeys jumping on the stage are nothing but a joke to them." said the beautiful girl at the back. Lin Meng was Lin Zhenkang's step-sister, she was the blood-daughter of the leader. "We were kept from pill formulas, manuals, and meditations since long ago. Our powers are limited at the Qi Solidification Realm.

20 years ago when my Uncle was about to break through to the Qi Crystallization Realm, a mishap happened and a stampede passed through the Cleansing Buddhist Sect. In the stampede, my uncle sacrificed himself for the city. Sect only sent their regards and they even said it was a pity my uncle had died. They are controlling our lives, and they have the right to be arrogant."

The air was heavy, and the three younglings were depressed. To break the melancholic atmosphere the skinny boy asked Lin Zhenkang: "Are you going to fight today?"

"I will. I will show those haughty sects there is a mountain above the mountain and human above human." Lin Zhenkang said with an arrogant smile.

It had been three months since Ezio fought with Tian Huang. In those three months, he had cultivated hysterically, only taking a break to borrow some manuals from elders. He didn't even visit the library, which he loved to do in his free times.

He wasn't able to break through but he wasn't far from it. Normally it would take around a year from Qi Vortex Creation Realm to Qi Force Opening Realm. Ezio was a genius, and it would take him 8 to 9 months. He was lucky enough to be gifted two Blood Qi Pills, and thanks to Alchemist Ezio their grade upgraded to Pinnacle. With those two pills, his cultivation speed increased tremendously, and after these 5 months, he was close to breaking through.

At that moment, Ezio was watching the fight on the stage. They were mostly boring and dull, and rarely there were some good moves that could be seen. As Ezio was about to take his leave, a young man with proper disposition took the stage. He was handsome and graceful. Unlike the other younglings who went up the stage, he wasn't submissive nor was he fearful. He even had a slight arrogance in his eyes.

"Greeting Leaders of the Three Sects, Elders, and young heroes. I am Zhenkang of the Lin family, and I would like to learn from the young heroes of the three sects. My cultivation level is the Second Layer of the Qi Force Opening Realm." Lin Zhenkang said and bowed after.

"This is new." One of the disciples laughed as he looked at the stage.

"Yes. This bumpkin thinks too highly of himself."

"So who is going to teach him a lesson?"

"I am too lazy to fight with a weakling."

"Let me do it then."

Ezio looked at the youth walking to the stage. He was from the Cleansing Buddhist Sect and Tian Faction. Ezio didn't know his name but he saw him with Tian Huang a few times.

The youth walked to the stage and his hands behind his back said: "Make your move."

Lin Zhenkang wasn't angry, he looked at the youth and said smiling: "You are in the First Layer of Qi Vortex Creation Realm. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to fight with you."

"Don't get full of yourself bumpkin. You are but a Second Layer of Qi Force Opening Realm. I will be enough to win."

Lin Zhenkang's eyes got sharp and he clasped his hand. "Since the young hero says so, I will attack first." As soon as he finished he dashed to his opponent and before anyone could react, he punched the youth of the Tian Faction out of the stage.

"You let me win," he said and turned around to those sitting. "Any other hero wants to teach me?"

***

Join my Discord for Daddy!

https://discord.gg/PbzZga4948