Chapter 59

Four days passed in a hurry, and the Emperor did not summon Gongsun Murong, nor did anyone return the items, leaving people puzzled.

There was only one more day until the competition, which was tomorrow.

During these four days, in the morning, Gongsun Murong and Narasha went out to shop, taste various snacks in the capital, visit spell shops, and buy a few items they found useful.

In the afternoon, they practiced their battle qi, and in the evening, they practiced the Fuxi Technique, while also studying how to coordinate with each other.

Their coordination was already quite good, but with new methods, they needed to develop more默契.

Although the current competition did not require coordination between different age groups, the two were not practicing just for the competition.

Both knew that either there was no danger, or if there was danger, they had to fight for their lives. At that level of combat, life and death could be decided in an instant, and it wasn't about who had a higher rank.

If it were just about rank, why even fight? They could just stand there and let the one with the lower rank die.

"Murong, like this, you put the metallurgy bomb inside the earth ball and throw it out first. I'll follow with a cloud of fine wood chips. You delay for 0.03 seconds and then create a mist around the opponent. Can you do that?"

Narasha gestured as she asked.

Gongsun Murong thought for a moment and said, "I'll throw a compressed earth cone, with the bomb inside."

"Right, the earth cone is good. When it explodes, it can form another attack," Narasha nodded.

The two were now studying how to use the explosion, with earth as a cover, then the bomb would explode, and the wood chips would form a dust explosion. The mist would be broken down into flammable and combustible gases.

A single attack would result in a loud boom.

"Come, let's think about this more. If you can reach the realm of water control, you become water, and water becomes you, right? Carefully feel the composition of water, then make two water masses rub against each other at high speed. I'll help you. I'll create a small mist cloud with many tiny water droplets, and you do the same. Then they move rapidly in the air and collide. Come, let's try it..."

Gongsun Murong proposed a new idea.

The two began their experiments.

They lived in a small courtyard and had Yif help them get a sound-blocking spell device.

Even so, people in other places felt the ground tremble occasionally over these few days, wondering what the two were doing, accompanied by various lights.

******

The next morning, teams from fifteen principalities gathered at the largest competition venue in the capital.

The competition venue was a large building, over thirty meters high, capable of accommodating 65,000 spectators.

It was usually divided into small arenas for various sports and small-scale competitions.

Inside, there were specialized spell items to help spectators clearly see the large screens.

From now on, the total number of participants in the competition would be 3,200, from sixteen teams, including the fifteen principalities and the Empire itself.

They were divided into two age groups: under ten years old and between ten and twenty years old. The twenty-year-olds must have just turned twenty, not those who were about to turn twenty.

Participants would face each other in pairs, and if they could make it to the end, they would need to win eleven matches, a significant test of the children's willpower.

At the genius selection competition held every fifty years, many children who were strong in their own right could not withstand the repeated matches and would give up early.

No one would give the children a second chance; geniuses who could not handle pressure must be eliminated.

The final continental competition was not a match, and there were no experts around to protect them. Adults could not enter that place, or what was the point of dividing by age group?

******

Countless children came to the competition venue full of confidence, believing they were the strongest.

Gongsun Murong and Narasha were no exception.

When they arrived outside the competition venue, Gongsun Murong called Yif, the steward, and took out all the gold tickets, worth 50,000 gold coins.

"Lord Earl, you..." Yif looked at the gold tickets, puzzled.

"Bet on my and Narasha's victories, match by match, with the full amount," Gongsun Murong said, explaining their plan.

Gambling, after all, was the fastest way to make money.

Yif looked at James beside him.

James nodded, "Bet, and my 5,000 gold coins too. If you have money, bet as well."

"Alright." Yif took a deep breath, took the gold tickets, and was about to leave when everyone gave him their money to bet on Gongsun Murong and Narasha's victory. Some who brought less money even looked regretful.

Yif thought for a moment and reminded them, "If we win many times, the bookmakers will lower the odds."

"We are prepared," Gongsun Murong said with a smile.

Yif accepted the order and went to find the bookmakers at the competition venue.

The bookmakers were already prepared, with detailed information on all 3,200 participants.

Since Gongsun Murong and Narasha were nobles with the Sunflower Badge, their odds were not high, currently at 1:0.05, meaning a bet of 100 gold coins would only earn 5 gold coins.

Some children who usually performed well also had low odds, even as low as a string of zeros, meaning a bet of 100 gold coins would only earn a few copper coins.

Of course, since it was the first match, the odds were generally low and needed to be adjusted after further observation.

There was also a significant risk, as the bookmakers had to set the odds before the draw, or they would miss a bet if there was a bye.

This was a test of the bookmakers' insight and calculation skills. They ran the book during the competition and helped the Empire select talent when there was no competition.

While the children were being tested, the bookmakers were also being tested.

There were 36 arenas, divided into two age groups, with 16 in each. The children drew lots, and those who drew an odd number would face the next even number.

Number 1 faced Number 2, Number 3 faced Number 4, and so on, with no direct matches between consecutive numbers.

In the first match, the children were not nervous, believing they could easily defeat their opponents.

Narasha drew number 156 and had to wait for the previous matches to finish, then face number 155.

When Gongsun Murong put his hand into the draw box, he tried to use his battle qi but found it didn't work. He then tried a spell, but it still didn't work. He smiled as he used the Fuxi Technique.

When he took out his hand and opened the draw, he saw the number 1, and his smile grew wider.

"Yay! Murong, you have such good luck, you're first!" Narasha jumped up when she saw Gongsun Murong's number and pulled Lucia to the first arena to cheer, as Lucia's number was 192.

Gongsun Murong thought for a moment, chose a single-handed sword, and slowly climbed onto the arena.

His opponent looked a few years older, wearing a spellcaster's outfit with no level markings, probably to keep his strength a secret.

The opponent held a spell staff, over a meter long, with a red crystal core at the top, not as impressive as Narasha's, which were all colorful flowers, clear and translucent.

The arena was already packed with spectators, and it looked like the ticket sales would be substantial.

Emperor Rexlar sat in the best viewing spot, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and immediately focusing on Gongsun Murong. He murmured, "Sunflower?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, Number 1 is Gongsun Murong, and his sister Narasha is by the arena," the palace's chief steward bowed and introduced.

"Um!" Emperor Rexlar nodded slightly and continued to watch Gongsun Murong.

He wanted to see just how strong the noble with the Sunflower Badge was.

Many people's attention was now on the first arena, as the Sunflower Badge was highly attractive.

Gongsun Murong's expression became serious, and his body trembled, giving the impression that he was nervous or afraid.

"Y-You, h-hello, I-I am, I-I am Gongsun, Gongsun M-Murong..."

"Can we start?" The spellcaster ignored Gongsun Murong and turned to the referee, who was also a high-level expert responsible for their protection.

"Start." The referee didn't even explain the rules, ready to intervene if anything happened and decide the winner.

"W-Wait, I..." Gongsun Murong's voice still trembled, and his sword was almost shaking out of his hand.

"Waste of space, get out." The spellcaster sneered, waved his staff, and a large fireball flew toward Gongsun Murong.

Many spectators gasped, thinking, "Indeed, a genius. At this age, spellcasters can cast such spells instantly."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Gongsun Murong "Ouch!" and fell to the side, the fireball grazing his clothes.

Then he used the momentum to roll over, like a lazy donkey.

He panted heavily, shouted, "I'll fight you to the end," and swung his sword wildly, charging forward a few steps before "Ouch!" and falling again.

Because another fireball was coming from the opposite side.

Thus, Gongsun Murong continued to charge and roll on the arena, shouting and making a scene.

Most of the other arenas had finished their matches, but his match was still ongoing.

His opponent kept casting fireballs, sometimes two or three at a time, and even a fire snake, but Gongsun Murong dodged them all with various awkward movements.

Narasha laughed loudly, holding her stomach with one hand and waving the other, shouting, "Murong, dodge! Oh, another one! Left, left, fall down! Oh, so dangerous!"

Lucia, who had been brought over to watch, looked helpless, her eyes full of pity for Gongsun Murong's opponent.

The spectators watching the large screens were wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing.

The people from Gers Principality, who had come but hadn't yet competed, were speechless.

Some who had seen Gongsun Murong and Narasha's battle against the Mitchell Empire were sighing, "Is this the same Gongsun Earl?"

Where was the sword with the吞吐的剑芒 (flashing sword glow)? Where was the飘忽闪烁的身影 (flickering and elusive figure)? Where was the冷漠淡然的高手风范 (cold and composed demeanor of a master)? How boring is this!

"Ha ha ha ha..." Emperor Rexlar laughed heartily, looking very pleased.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Remember, the Sunflower Badge, if allowed to be good, can be picked up or bought for a high price," a minister in charge of documents beside the Emperor comforted him.

"Ha ha ha! I'm not angry, ha ha, look, how tenacious, truly the quality of the Sunflower that still faces the sun under immense pressure, ha ha ha ha."

Emperor Rexlar continued to laugh, unable to contain his joy. It had been many years since he had been this happy. As a Heaven Spellcaster and a 6th-level 9th-rank Earth Warrior, he could easily see through Gongsun Murong's act.

He laughed, partly because of Gongsun Murong's comical actions, and partly because he was happy, knowing that Yif had bet on Gongsun Murong and Narasha's victory.

So he understood that Gongsun Murong was trying to get the bookmakers to adjust the odds, a smart move.

A genius with both strength and intelligence, and a good mindset, had appeared, potentially bringing more benefits to the Empire.

Time passed, and other arenas had finished two matches, with some starting their third. Narasha also needed to prepare.

At this moment, Gongsun Murong, who had been rolling around, was less than ten meters from his opponent.

His opponent's spells were fast, but they were useless if they couldn't hit him. Seeing Gongsun Murong getting closer, sweat dripped from his forehead and gathered, flowing down.

Gongsun Murong glanced at the arena where Narasha would compete, seeing the match about to end, and shouted, "I'll fight you to the end!"

After shouting, he swung his arm, and the sword in his hand flew out.

His opponent thought it would be the same as before, but when he saw the sword flying toward him, he was stunned.

A hand suddenly reached out, grabbed the sword that was about to pierce his eye, and loudly declared, "Gongsun Murong wins."

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