"Bryan, why hasn't Arya arrived yet? Don't tell me he's still cultivating and will be late for the competition. This kid has gone mad about his cultivation these past six months, training in the wild all day and then cultivating his elemental energy all night like a crazed cultivator. Even I barely get time to spend with my child!"
"You don't need to worry too much about our son," Bryan reassured. "He's more mature than his peers and knows what's best for him. I believe these six months of intense cultivation are all to achieve good results in the Four Villages Competition. He has big goals, and he's working hard for them. It just shows how far ahead he thinks."
"But isn't it too much? He barely rests!"
"Young age is the best time for cultivation. If you focus more at Arya's age, your future will be even more successful. Our son is taking full advantage of this crucial time. We just need to ensure he doesn't fall into unnecessary distractions."
"But… is he here yet?"
"Don't worry. Arya dislikes relying on unearned status. He doesn't want to use my name to gain a high position in the village. He's someone who only accepts what he earns through his own efforts. We must respect his decision. You'll see him on stage when the competition begins."
One hour later, Bryan stood from his seat and clapped twice. The energy from his Level 34 cultivation carried through the air, silencing the entire crowd as everyone turned their attention toward him.
"Villagers and young competitors, welcome to this event! This competition is crucial for our village's future. Today, we will witness the strength and potential of our younger generation—those who will lead us in the years to come. From this event, we will also determine who among you is the strongest!"
"There are a total of seventeen participants under the age of fifteen. Now, let me explain the rules and rewards.
1. No critical injuries or deaths are allowed.
2. If a participant surrenders, their opponent must stop attacking.
3. Leaving the battlefield before a match is over results in immediate defeat.
"As for the rewards," Bryan continued, "participants ranked between 15th and 11th will receive white coins according to their ranking. The 15th place will get 1 white coin, the 14th place will receive 2, and so on, up to 5 coins for 11th place.
Ranks 10th to 4th will have their coin rewards increased by 2 per rank. For example, the 10th place will receive 7 coins, and the 4th place will get 19.
The top three will not only receive white coins but also the rare pink coins!"
Hearing this, the crowd erupted in whispers. Owning even a single pink coin was considered a mark of wealth—after all, one pink coin was equal to 30 white coins.
"The champion will receive 3 pink coins and 25 white coins.
The second-place finisher will earn 2 pink coins and 23 white coins.
The third place will receive 1 pink coin and 21 white coins."
"But that's not all!" Bryan's voice grew stronger. "The top seven will earn the opportunity to represent our village in the Four Villages Competition. And if you rank well there, your rewards will far surpass what we are offering today!"
Among the crowd, Arya nodded slightly at his father's announcement. The only reward that truly interested him was the qualification to compete in the Four Villages Competition. However, he couldn't ignore the generous prize money—the top three rewards alone were enough to buy a second seed for breaking into Level 20.
"Now, let the competition begin!" Bryan declared. "This will be an elimination-style tournament. Once you are defeated, you are out. When your name is called, step onto the stage!"
First Matches Begin
The first match featured a boy, about five feet tall, with a Level 13 cultivation. His opponent was a girl Arya recognized—she had trained alongside him and Kane in the past. She possessed the Earth element and was Level 14, clearly stronger than her opponent.
And only a moment's later, the battle ended without suspense. She didn't even need to unleash her seed skill—her defensive abilities alone were enough to defeat the boy with ease. The defeated opponent walked off with a disappointed look, while the girl left the stage to the sound of cheers from the crowd.
After two more rounds, the strongest cultivator so far had only reached Level 14. Out of the seventeen participants, fourteen remained, with eleven still waiting for their first match.
Then, for the fourth match, the announcer called:
"Arya!"
Arya stood up from his seat and walked toward the stage.
His opponent followed—a young man with Level 16 energy, the strongest contestant so far. However, Arya himself was at Level 17, meaning his opponent was not the strongest in the competition.
This is either his bad luck… or my good luck, Arya thought as he observed his opponent. The boy's element was water, a direct disadvantage against Arya's fire affinity. However, his name was well-known in the village—many considered him to be gifted.
Unlike Arya, who had been training in solitude, this boy had frequently showcased his abilities.
As the two faced off, the boy smirked. "So, you're Arya, the chief's son?"
Arya nodded but said nothing.
"Hmph! Just because you're the chief's kid, don't think I'll go easy on you. I'll give you one chance—surrender now, and you won't get hurt."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "You're too kind, but I can't accept your kindness. Stop wasting time and make your move."
The boy's smirk twisted into a scowl. "You're really an ignorant guy who needs a good beating!"
As the fight was about to begin, the entire crowd held its breath.
Would Arya's six months of training prove worthwhile?