Avoiding Baek Cheong
Baek Cheong bowed politely toward the outer sect elder from atop the stone platform. She then gathered the scattered Five Elements Puppets and stored them back inside her storage pouch, along with her First Star Sword. Where the talismans had been scattered, faint remnants of the talisman sect's energy flickered and faded. The chill left behind by the ice dragons was gradually dissipating as well.
Maybe I should have held back a little more...
The sight of the fallen trainees being helped away by outer sect disciples was rather pitiful. Deciding to lower her power output even further next time, she straightened her clothes and stepped down from the platform. The outer sect elder took up position beside her, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Take a moment to prepare yourself until the next preliminary round.”
“Yes, understood.”
Baek Cheong answered respectfully and subtly glanced toward the center of the clearing. The other groups were still in the thick of their preliminary matches.
Ended pretty early, huh.
She still hadn’t figured out how she should approach the main tournament matches. Observing the Qi Condensation cultivators’ skills might prove useful.
Guess I’ll go watch for a bit.
After asking the outer sect elder for permission, Baek Cheong slipped through the crowd. As she drew closer to the other groups’ platforms, the chaotic sounds of Qi Condensation trainees’ spells clashing together poured out all at once.
“Oh, look at that. The Hosan Seo family’s young lady has some pretty fierce technique.”
“That’s Group Yi of the Qi Condensation division. I heard their platform’s been brutal.”
While the trainees chattered noisily among themselves, Baek Cheong quietly slipped into their midst. On the stone platform stood Seo Jua, dressed in a brownish-red robe, occupying the center with an imposing air.
Growth monster.
Seo Jua swung her arm fiercely, the golden jade bracelets dangling from it clattering loudly. Earth-attribute spiritual energy burst forth from her palm, and through the Thick Earth Shatter, masses of soil erupted from all directions, pressing down on the five trainees.
The trainees desperately tried to summon their defensive spells to hold out, but under the overwhelming power of her technique, they fell one after another. Before long, only Seo Jua remained on the platform. She flicked her robe with a triumphant air.
“As expected of the Hosan Seo family’s young lady!”
“Looks like she’s refined a prize-grade technique to minor completion!”
Short gasps of admiration rippled through the trainees. A first-rank prize-grade earth-attribute spell refined to minor completion was enough to stand out even among ordinary eight-star Qi Condensation trainees.
Not bad.
Baek Cheong watched thoughtfully for a moment before giving a small nod. Among Qi Condensation cultivators, she could certainly be called one of the finest talents, and it made sense that she was so confident. Still, it was only the refinement of a single first-rank prize-grade technique.
Still nowhere near the level to challenge me, though...
Tilting her head, she moved on to the next platform. Besides Group Yi, there were Groups Byeong, Jeong, Mu, and so on scattered throughout the area. In each group, at least one trainee with exceptional talent was making their mark.
In Group Byeong, a trainee wearing the Biun Sect’s robe overwhelmed the others with water-attribute spells. On another platform, someone who appeared to be an outside guest from the mountain waters displayed both fire-attribute techniques and sword arts simultaneously.
Was I going too far?
Everyone was fighting with everything they had in hopes of advancing to the main tournament, yet compared to her, they still fell far short. As she observed the trainees’ levels with her own eyes, a faint sense of self-reflection arose.
She had unleashed multiple Ice Dragon Shatter, Five Elements Puppets, and a whole bundle of first-rank talismans. There was simply no way anyone at the Qi Condensation stage could possibly contend with that.
Maybe basic spells will be enough.
With a small smile, Baek Cheong turned her steps back toward her own group. For the next match, it seemed there would be no need to bring out Ice Dragon Shatter, the Five Elements Puppets, or even the talismans.
Before long, the preliminary rounds for the other groups also came to an end. A hundred Qi Condensation trainees who had passed their preliminaries gathered in the clearing. Like chaff had been winnowed away, every one of them radiated strong momentum, and several displayed an extraordinary presence.
As they assembled, the outer sect elder stepped up onto the central stone platform.
“I shall now explain the format for the next preliminary round. From this round onward, it will be one-on-one matches to test your skills. The order will be determined directly by your participation plaques. Those whose plaques glow brightly should ascend the platforms in turn.”
At the elder’s words, a small stir ran through the trainees. One-on-one meant fighting alone, so the previous tactic of ganging up to eliminate the strong no longer worked.
The outer sect elder lightly tapped his jade plaque, and the participation plaques held by all one hundred trainees began to emit a faint glow simultaneously. Each trainee stared fixedly at their own plaque, unable to look away.
“Uh… when’s Baek Cheong Dou’s turn?”
“P-please, anyone but Baek Cheong Dou…”
A wave of tension swept over the Qi Condensation trainees. Most of them were fervently praying they wouldn’t have to face Baek Cheong as their turn approached. The scene from the first preliminary had been so overwhelming that no one wanted to face her alone.
Let’s see…
Meanwhile, Baek Cheong scanned her surroundings to see if there was anyone worthy of being called a rival. But every trainee whose eyes met hers immediately bowed their heads in a hurry or averted their gaze.
Huh?
Only then did she realize how the trainees were reacting to her.
Oh, would you look at that?
A smile unconsciously crept across her lips. It was hilarious how they were all trying to avoid her so they wouldn’t get eliminated in the preliminaries.
They’re shaking in their boots.
Baek Cheong slowly looked over the trainees with an amused expression. Then her gaze landed on Seo Jua.
The moment Seo Jua noticed Baek Cheong’s stare, she flinched slightly before hurriedly adjusting her robe collar and lifting her chin with exaggerated confidence.
“This lady had intended to show Baek Cheong Dou what she’s made of, but unfortunately it seems my opponent has already been decided, so I suppose I must wait for the next opportunity!”
Her crisp voice was filled with confidence, yet one foot was subtly sliding backward. As soon as she finished speaking, she made a quick gesture to her maids and turned her gaze away.
She really does whatever she wants.
Baek Cheong let out a soft chuckle, utterly dumbfounded. Just then, the participation plaque in her hand began to glow brightly.
Wonder who I’m up against.
As she walked toward the assigned platform, she examined her opponent. From the opposite side, a trainee wearing the Biun Sect’s robe was slowly ascending the steps. Unlike the outer sect disciples’ robes, this one had far more cloud patterns, suggesting he was an inner sect disciple.
Not bad…
The inner sect disciple drew a first-rank prize-grade longsword from the sheath at his waist. The blade was infused with spiritual energy, ready to be used as a flying sword, while his other hand held energy prepared to unleash a spell formula.
The outer sect elder lightly tapped his jade plaque and gave a short signal.
“Prepare yourselves. I will give the signal shortly.”
Baek Cheong briefly considered taking out her First Star Sword from her storage pouch but hesitated. Her instincts urged her to draw the blade, but she stopped herself.
No, that won’t do.
Even if used as a flying sword, the Meteor Wave Sword Sect’s sword intent would naturally permeate it. If she swung it as is, ordinary defensive measures wouldn’t stand a chance. There was a high possibility her opponent would suffer injuries severe enough to leave him crippled.
Can’t go around killing people at the Magic Tournament.
Although her eldest brother had only told her not to get hurt, she needed to gauge her strength properly. Besides, seriously injuring an inner sect disciple at an event hosted by the Biun Sect would be utterly shameless.
Let’s leave the sword out.
She also naturally refrained from bringing out the Five Elements Puppets or talismans. Unleasing five puppets along with a bundle of talismans like in the previous round would be excessive.
Basic spells should be plenty.
She had learned over two hundred varieties of first-rank basic spells—or rather, first-rank low-grade spells—and had achieved great completion in all of them. Most importantly, once a spell reached great completion, there was no need to form spell formulas or chant incantations. They could be cast instantly with pure intent alone. While other trainees were still forming their formulas and reciting their incantations, she could unleash hers with ease.
Can’t have them getting hurt.
As Baek Cheong carefully gathered her spiritual energy, the outer sect elder gave the signal.
“Begin!”
At the elder’s shout, the inner sect disciple stepped forward and swung his longsword straight at her. The blade left his hand and became a flying sword, shooting directly toward Baek Cheong. At the same time, a spell formula formed in his other hand, followed by the Cloud Mist Technique.
A combination attack of flying sword and Cloud Mist Technique.
The skill the inner sect disciple displayed was something only talented Qi Condensation trainees could pull off. While he couldn’t freely control the flying sword, combining it with a spell formula made it something most Qi Condensation trainees could barely block.
However—
Is this all?
Baek Cheong had been looking forward to it for once, but she felt disappointed. She scattered spiritual energy around her and unleashed various spells all at once.
Large fireballs appeared on both sides and instantly dispersed the mist. A powerful torrent of water—hard to believe it came from a water flow technique—poured down and canceled out the flying sword. An earth wall rose up in front through the Earth Wall Technique, while walls infused with Diamond Technique, hardened like steel, pressed in from the left and right to squeeze the inner sect disciple’s flanks. Finally, she cast the Whirlwind Technique, sending a fierce tornado flying toward him.
“What is this…?!”
The inner sect disciple couldn’t help but be shocked as multiple spells suddenly rained down on him. In his haste, he tried to form another spell formula but froze as he realized something.
The young girl, who looked even younger than him, was unleashing multiple spells without forming any spell formulas or incantations.
All at great completion…?
The inner sect disciple barely regained his composure and tried to cast a defensive spell, but his reaction was too slow. The water flow technique, which still carried power after canceling the flying sword, slammed into him violently. The diamond-hardened earth walls crushed him from both sides, while the whirlwind from below swept his stance away. With the mist gone, the fireballs flew in and struck him directly.
“This is impossible…!”
In the end, the inner sect disciple couldn’t hold on. He let out a short scream and collapsed. The flying sword tumbled onto the platform, its spiritual energy dissipated, and he fell helplessly without even managing to raise a defensive spell.
Maybe I should have just used Ice Dragon Shatter.
Seeing her opponent fall, Baek Cheong withdrew the Five Elements Cycle she had cast the moment the match began. Using only basic spells to match his level had been rather inefficient.
“What the…”
“That was Senior Brother, who was called a once-in-a-generation talent even within our sect and received high expectations…”
“Even if they’re basic spells, how many is she casting at the same time…?”
“And there weren’t even any spell formulas or incantations. They must be at great completion, but is that even possible?”
Meanwhile, the expressions of the trainees watching from outside had hardened. While it wasn’t as overwhelming as the first match, what she had shown this time was still far from ordinary. There wasn’t a single scrub present who couldn’t recognize multiple spells cast simultaneously and multiple techniques brought to great completion.
Even Seo Jua, watching from afar, blinked rapidly with her mouth hanging wide open as she stared at the platform.
Th-that’s the one who said she would compete with this lady…?
Seo Jua swallowed hard and quietly took a step backward.
The outer sect elder, too, was so stunned by the sight that he couldn’t speak for a long time, simply staring at Baek Cheong. He barely pulled himself together and tapped his jade plaque.
“Winner, Baek Cheong of the Yeonha Baek Family.”
Baek Cheong bowed politely and straightened her clothes. As she stepped down from the platform, she looked at the trainees staring at her.
Wonder who’s next?
As if reading her thoughts, the trainees flinched and simultaneously averted their eyes. If they wanted to increase their chances of advancing to the main tournament even a little, avoiding Baek Cheong was now absolutely essential.