Zhang's eyes flew wide open, "I... I... So -"
"It's alright Zhang, it's not as if someone heard you. I guess everyone's ears are on the holiday of training session", Darren calmed down his friend teasingly with a smile.
Zhu was a bit relieved as well, giving Zhang a pat on the shoulders, "let's watch... Maybe we may get some enlightenment too don't you think? ".
"Mn".
The three from Meng village sneaked just to watch the training session, the whole Southern villages had come to know about the training session taking place in Blood-culture village and so it wasn't a surprise that people came in ridiculously large numbers.
Among the large numbers of people, there were influential figures who maintained a low profile, and that also was not something to be shocked at, this was a rare event to begin with.
Looking at the turnout of people, village Lord Feng was pleased, he nodded his head as if it was all it took to start the ball rolling, standing up from his seat, Martial king Xin Xu walked with elegance as if he had done it a thousand times.
"Warriors am sure we all understand the rules in this training session... but for the sake of our esteemed guests from the surrounding villages and beyond I may as well highlight some important ones holding this training session."
A bit of suppressed excitement discerned in his tone was on the verge of exploding while went on, " This training session is the key... call it a talisman if you want, but one thing is clear here... without a recommendation from this training session, you are not qualified to participate in the upcoming tournament.
Observing people's reactions, he said, " While in this training session, your physical strength is tested, and if you pass, you qualify for the next round, and that's all it takes for our ordinary warriors. I think so far so good, as for the rest of the rules... You will figure out, and for transparency, our fresh geniuses will be handling this for the time being. I don't want to bother you with my talk, so start please. "
"Hmm, I didn't expect a village like this to be so organized..."
"What did you expect? Of course it's the host... It's just a pity that they won't last for long." Beyond the blood culture village, black figures with menacing masks watched as things unfolded before their eyes. The Black figures were rather far to be noticed, even their auras had no traces.
The aspiring warriors waited with anxiety all over their faces, but despite all the tension around, Alex was unconcerned without a care in the world, after all, this training thing won't work out, so in his opinion there was no need to be all over the place .But he was very unlucky today because out of the blue, his name was called first...
Holding the list Ancy was taken aback, "They..."
Looking at her brother, she was pretty convinced that even him didn't expect to be called first.
With bulging eyes that almost left their sockets,Alex stepped forward...
And soon there was strange silence...
Alex almost yelled, before him were a 50kg, 120kg, and 300kg concrete rocks...
With a forced smile, "what am supposed to do with these?... roll them?".
There was an uproar of laughter from the people, even the fresh geniuses had a moment... Amusement struck everyone else except for the village lord who had popped up veins on his forehead.
"I hear young master Alex is total trash, but I couldn't believe it then until now... Gosh, this is getting interesting...",
"What the heck is this rubbish...",
"I say this training session is ridiculous, I mean the last time I checked lifting a 600kg of metal block is nothing yet even with this physical strength am considered as trash, this...is interesting".
Such among other discussions swept through the crowd spectating.
Alex tried to lift the 50kg concrete block but to the watching crowd he was lying on the stone instead, they could see his little movements though - a sign that he was using all his physical strength, it was as clear as daylight that he couldn't even make the stone budge... Such is the strength of trash-like ability.
With frustration mixed with embarrassment he kicked the stone, which made his regret his actions in the next second, lying on the ground hurt, warriors lifted his fragile body while he grasped for breath.
This piqued interest in everyone's eyes, it became more than the eyes could see, not wanting any single detail to escape their eyes, their eyes were glued Skinny young man on the stage.
On the stage were a rather skinny young man, though skinny everyone could tell he wasn't that average just by looking at his seemingly skinny but sturdy frame.
Moi observed everything around him, glancing from the sides, he saw his father's anxious face, he could clearly read the excitement in his eyes just that brief moment .With a smirk, he bent forward. when everyone thought he goes for 50kg he somewhat went for 300kg. And this got people cheering and even the four elders had troubled faces...
"This is... "
" Martial king Xin this... Why didn't we know this young man", Feng lord was stupefied but the martial king was worse, dumbstruck without response.
As if that wasn't enough, he lifted the 300kg,120kg, and by this time people were all standing up...
[what am I doing... Am drawing too much attention this is dangerous, it's enough...]
Moi was lost in his train of thought for a while before he faced the crowd, this time around everyone present was dumbstruck, it wasn't because he had lifted a 420kg concrete rock, it was also with the fact that he used his index fingers to do that...
"Skill of perfection?... This young man has potential, at least there is one aspiring warrior, the rest is trash", the masked black figure observed from a distance.
"Darren... Looks like this warrior can match you, I think... "
" Match me..."with a smirk, "maybe we will find out, right Zhu? ", but only silence followed because Zhu was trying to comprehend a forgotten tale. Zhang just shook his head.
Of the fifteen youths, only five had exceptional strength, Moi being the top and the rest didn't make it except Young master Alex, he was a young master after all... It has been a law throughout the southern villages. And everyone but the black figures was aware of this.
And then the five youths and young master Alex stood before the crowd.
"Next will be a duel with the fresh genius Jian, to test your martial art skills and I would advise everyone to go all out, try and qualify... ". Martial king's voice boomed.
Alex's name was called, he gritted his teeth while looking at the hysterical-looking Jian, his regrets of offending Jian all came flashing back at him...
In all seriousness," please master Jian go easy on me... "
" With what looked like a grin, he glanced at Ancy and then at Alex, "Are you coming at me or..."
"Wait!... ", he stretched and reflexed a little while gazing at Ancy but nothing was there but a clean-cut indifference, he sighed as he faced a giant before him a dragon bone list genius ranked fifth. And him...
" I will give you a heads start, try and attack me three times... ",
[Oh God brilliant idea, people shouldn't think am bullying him, it would be a shame... How thoughtful]
Hearing this Alex looked pissed, obviously, he understood Jian's intentions. But what can he do at this moment?...
He gathered all the strength he could muster as he ran and attacked Jian, it was a punch with pure physical strength alone and nothing else, it was not as if he had something on his sleeve.
Punching him with all the strength...
PA! PA!
Jian's body couldn't even wince even a little, to Alex it felt like it was made of rock- no it was a rock, it was harder than the concrete rocks he tried to lift. Instead, he winced in pain as he exclaimed...
"Ouch!... This is... ", he tried giving him a heavy kick in his groin that was mixed with anger and frustration but his kick was nothing instead his leg got dislocated, he yelled loudly, a yell no one has ever heard before... Crying all over the place, all the tears he had held back came flooding escaping his eyes.
The people were awestruck witnessing such a scene, " how weak is he...", was a question that ran through everyone's minds. Others were grateful for not being so weak, weaker than everyone else.
Aiyun had tears threatening to escape his eyes it was good Chang and Bai were there to rub comforting circles on his tensed body which relaxed him, if they didn't hold him he would have ran to help Alex, but this wasn't their affair.
"Ehh! You still have one opportunity left and you're crying-"
Pa!
"Ah!! ", Jian groaned because Alex had given him a good punch in his eye which was now black.
" Dirty tricks! ... ", he pushed Alex who was sent flying, his body hitting the ground and passing out at the same time, it was a great toll on his weak body.
[This... Is not fair.]
Was the thought that crossed his mind before blacking out completely...
Feng Lord has had enough embarrassment, he wasn't confident to face anyone, his fame as a righteous village matched him, he was direct and straightforward, and all of these ideals were solely built on one thing... Strength, so now with this, he felt like it was a punishment of some sort.
"Next, you aren't waiting to be called are you?.... ",
" No". Moi stepped forward, "Young master Jian please give me some pointers" -
"As you wish... "
PA!
Punches followed kicks as each one evaded and blocked, Jian was surprised that this weak-looking young man before him wasn't lacking out either.
The crowd cheered, it was out of expectation that an interesting duel could ever come from the training session.
After what took like half an hour, no one was gaining an upper hand though Moi was lacking in a bit, he caught up with Jian, with his timing, and understanding of his opponent's strength, and in no time he adapted.
"Seems like he is sure an aspiring prodigy... "
" Battle genius?...", a black figure muttered, battle geniuses were rare to find, they had no talent but their unparalleled will power paved way for them, and the fact that they grew stronger as the battle goes is what made them so unique.
Being a fresh genius, Jian quickly analyzed his chances of winning if this goes on, which were barely ten percent and so he changed his style of fighting.
"Flowery ferry step! ", Jian exclaimed as he did a backflip, he stepped on air while drawing his sword.
"Moi is it, well consider it an honor to make me use my real skills on you"-
Shua! Shua! Shoo
He attacked with full force, his raging sword left a pitch so high that it threatened to puncture people's ear drums, at am almost impossible speed he attacked, but a skill of perfection is not to be underestimated,
Each of Jian's attacks were all repelled without effort,
[ I should change my way of attack rhythm, although it's the Mountain rip skill why does feel like it's Ancy's dragon palm, if this continues am sure to lose...] ,Jian once again calculated his chances.
This duel-turned-fight looked interesting, it stole each one's awareness around them. People became even more excited as they witnessed the power of a dragon bone genius...
It went on for some time before Jian got the upper hand, he danced vigorously with his sword, speed, and timing were integrated, attacking all sides in a very strange pattern and the air... he used everything to his advantage, this was a desperate fight he was yearning for, it pushed him to his limits.
Moi holding back, forced him to apply more skill as well, but after a couple of seconds he stopped attacking and was caught him off-guard, coughing a mouthful of blood, yet it seems like that lwas intention judging from the look on his face.
"Young masterJian thanks for holding back", and just like that Moi retreated from the stage.
"I fear that young man is very wise, though he had chances of winning, he couldn't risk it either. "
"Battle freaks... Battle geniuses, no wonder leader sent us here...This place is interesting no wonder most of Gonja's expedition is mostly the Southern villages". The masked black figures' interests grew, as they observed what transpired. At first these black figures were unhappy for being sent to these weak and disgusting villages, if not for the clear orders this village and the entire Southern villages to ashes without batting an eye