Chapter 275

Second year of Great Xia, second of June, second half of the night.

Xia City was still bustling with noise and excitement, but unlike yesterday, today it seemed as if the entire camp's population had poured into the inner city. Everyone was gathered on both sides of the main road, cheering and encouraging those who were fighting on the arenas.

At the same time, one explosive piece of news after another was constantly exploding among the crowd through word of mouth, and the look of surprise on everyone's faces never stopped.

"Someone broke through again!"

"I knew that already; it's Chen Ying on Arena No. 5, right?"

"No, it's Lu He on Arena No. 8."

"It's only just the second half of the night, and in the second round of the Earth-Digging Realm grouping finals, two more have broken through. Doesn't that mean even the Frost-Resisting Realm can't be stable in the top ten?"

"Definitely. There were eight breakthroughs last night, plus Chen Ying and Lu He, the Earth-Digging Realm grouping already has ten Frost-Resisting Realm practitioners. There will definitely be more later. Without Frost-Resisting Realm cultivation, don't even think about the top ten of the Earth-Digging Realm grouping."

"Too scary. It's called the Earth-Digging Realm grouping, but if you want to enter the top ten, you need at least Frost-Resisting Realm cultivation."

"The Woodcutting Realm grouping is about the same. Tonight is the second round of the preliminaries. Everyone who can persist for more than five matches on the arena has Earth-Digging Realm cultivation."

"That's for sure. Last night's preliminary assessment could still rely on luck to advance, but tonight it won't work. Once you get on the arena one-on-one, you can only fight with strength."

"I heard that in last night's preliminaries, Xia City alone had over seven hundred people break through. Counting the other five strongholds, it's even more. Without Earth-Digging Realm cultivation, there is not the slightest possibility of wanting to advance to the top 128!"

………………

In the crowd, Luo Ming, who had just walked off the arena, heard the discussions around him and clenched his fists under his sleeves, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his eyes.

"Old Chen and Old Lu actually broke through before us!"

"Chen Ying and Lu He used to come to us to buy coal, right? Now they've actually broken through to the Frost-Resisting Realm. It's truly..."

…………

Li Baihe and Shang Ping sighed softly at the side, then looked at Luo Ming in the middle simultaneously and closed their mouths.

Chen Ying and Lu He were the leaders of the Chen Ye and Lu Shang families, respectively, and could be considered their old acquaintances. When the Luo Ge camp controlled Red Wood Ridge three years ago, they had dealt with these two quite often.

Three years ago, when Luo Ming led them away from Red Wood Ridge, these two were only at the Woodcutting Realm cultivation. Now they had actually broken through to the Frost-Resisting Realm, higher than the cultivation of all of them.

If it came to the feeling of things being different, I'm afraid none of them could compare to Luo Ming.

After all, back then, Luo Ming was able to sit on equal footing with Xia Hong.

But now, not to mention old acquaintances like Lu He and Chen Ying, just take Luo Yuan, Zhao Long, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao... this batch of old people from the Luo Ge camp—now not only have they all broken through to the Frost-Resisting Realm, but each of them holds important positions in Great Xia, and their status is not what it used to be.

In fact, for more than a month since returning from Longyou, Luo Yuan and the others haven't visited them even once.

Li Baihe and the others, including Luo Ming, naturally didn't dare to have any opinions.

Even they, who felt guilty, would consciously avoid the old Luo Ge people, afraid of dealing with them.

After all, back then it was they who abandoned these people and fled from Red Wood Ridge. Now that they have returned in a dejected manner, how could they have the face to face these people?

Seeing Luo Ming's emotions becoming increasingly low, Li Baihe sighed slightly and advised:

"Big Brother, no need to be discouraged. You have already started using beast blood. According to Great Xia's current resource supply, breaking through to the Frost-Resisting Realm is only a matter of time. It's already very good to be able to enter the top 128 this time."

Shang Ping also followed Li Baihe's words and nodded:

"That's right. The three of us, Baihe and Shang Ping, should also be able to break through the thirty-thousand-jin limit this year. When we all break through to the Frost-Resisting Realm and make more contributions to the camp, Luo Yuan and Zhao Long will naturally accept us again!"

Hearing the comfort of his two brothers, Luo Ming looked up and smiled.

It's just that the smile was clearly a bit forced!

How could he not understand the principle of "one step slow, every step slow"?

The gap with Luo Yuan and the others had already been created; it would be difficult to make up for it.

However, just at this moment, Xu Kang ran over from the periphery with a face full of smiles.

"Big Brother, Xiaocheng has already won ten consecutive matches and is currently ranked 79th in the Woodcutting Realm grouping. As long as the results can be maintained until dawn, entering the top 128 is stable, and there is a high probability of entering the top hundred tomorrow!"

Hearing Xu Kang's news, the three of Luo Ming were instantly ecstatic and hurried to run toward the front of the main building with him.

"Xiaocheng hasn't broken through to the Earth-Digging Realm yet, right? Yesterday's advancement was also because of luck. He can win ten consecutive matches? And ranked 79th? How is that possible?"

After Luo Ming's ecstasy, he immediately began to worry about gains and losses again.

Although his son had arrived in Great Xia a period of time earlier than them, as of the start of the martial arts tournament, his basic strength was only over 8,600 jin. Yesterday's preliminary round was also relying on luck to advance with the same group.

For today's top 128 of the Woodcutting Realm grouping, without breaking through to the Earth-Digging Realm, there was definitely no hope. Luo Ming didn't have any confidence in his son at all.

He actually advanced? It couldn't be that after one night, his basic strength skyrocketed past ten thousand and he broke through to the Earth-Digging Realm, right?

"Hahaha, you three didn't go, but I watched all ten of Xiaocheng's matches with my own eyes. His spear technique is truly too strong. Woodcutting Realm practitioners can't even last ten moves in his hands. Even those who broke through to the Earth-Digging Realm, he could rely on his spear technique to win. It's just that the opponents he met in the last three matches were a bit strong; otherwise, his ranking could have moved forward even more."

Xu Kang's expression was very spirited. While speaking, he led the three of Luo Ming to the bottom of the main building and soon found Luo Cheng under the bulletin board.

Luo Cheng was staring at the ranking on the bulletin board, his expression very nervous.

Beside the bulletin board, there was a person from the Camp Supply Department holding a coal pen. As long as someone from the arena ran over to send a message, he would modify the bulletin board information.

【84th place: Luo Cheng, won 10 matches, total time taken 382 breaths】

Seeing his son's information on the bulletin board, the stone in Luo Ming's heart finally fell to the ground. But after reacting that his son's ranking had already dropped by five places, his mood instantly became nervous again.

That's right, the ranking of the top 128 is based on the time taken to win. That is to say, as long as someone's winning time is less than 382 breaths later, his son's ranking will keep dropping backward. If he falls out of the list in the end, he will miss the top hundred.

"Good boy, your strength is so strong. You are the only Woodcutting Realm practitioner on this list. Even if you can't enter the top hundred, it's enough to brag about for a few months!"

"Hahahaha, not necessarily, not necessarily. It depends on the situation in the second half of the night. Perhaps there really is a chance. You kid gave us a big surprise!"

Li Baihe and Shang Ping's expressions were much more excited. Their strength was not as good as Luo Ming's, and they didn't even enter the top 128 of the Earth-Digging Realm grouping. If Luo Cheng, this nephew, could enter the top hundred of the Woodcutting Realm grouping, it would count as giving them face.

However, facing the praise of his father and two uncles, eleven-year-old Luo Cheng not only didn't show any pride but instead spoke with some frustration: "The leader personally guided my spear technique for more than two months and gave me so many good things. If I still can't enter the top hundred, I will definitely disappoint him!"

Having arrived in Great Xia for nearly two months, not only Luo Cheng but Luo Ming and the others had already known that the Hong Yu who was in the beehive back then was Xia Hong.

Luo Cheng clenched his fists. When he was in the beehive, he had once tried to perform the apprenticeship ceremony to Xia Hong, but he was rejected by the other party. He didn't understand it at the time. After arriving in Great Xia last month and figuring out Xia Hong's true identity, he understood why.

"There are truly too many geniuses in Great Xia. In yesterday's preliminary round, there were at least a hundred people of the same age as me who were in the Earth-Digging Realm. My cultivation basically counts for nothing in Great Xia. No wonder the Master refused to accept me. I suppose it's because my talent cannot yet enter his eyes..."

Luo Cheng felt some powerlessness in his heart, especially watching his ranking on the list drop by two more, becoming 86. His expression instantly became even more nervous.

Just as he said just now, if it weren't for Xia Hong teaching him spear technique for two months, with his current cultivation, there would be absolutely no hope of entering the top 128.

"Liu Peng, Zhao Yuankong, Zhao Yuanwu, Zhao Yuanwu, Lu Dong... let's not even mention their strength. Facing these people, I don't have much advantage in age either. If I don't strive to catch up, the gap between me and these people will only get bigger and bigger."

Although Luo Cheng was not old, he already saw problems very thoroughly.

Although his adaptability was not bad, he had only been in Great Xia for two months, after all. He didn't know many people of the same age, and he had always thought that his talent could be considered top-tier even in Great Xia.

But yesterday's preliminary round made him see himself completely clearly.

Let alone top-tier, just in terms of cultivation, there were at least a hundred people in Great Xia stronger than him. If it weren't for the good fortune of being taught spear technique by Xia Hong, he wouldn't have had the hope of advancing to the top 128.

"Even in terms of family background, I can't compare with these people. If I normally compete for resources, I definitely can't compete. Therefore, I must go all out for activities like the martial arts tournament where I can obtain more resources through strength. Only in this way can I gradually narrow the gap with them. Only in this way can I truly get closer to the Master. Perhaps one day, I can make him truly recognize me!"

Luo Cheng clenched his fists, and his eyes gradually carried a trace of determination.

Although Xia Hong had only taught him for two months, Luo Cheng had already regarded Xia Hong as his Master in his heart. It's just that with his current strength, if such an idea were spoken out, it would inevitably be laughed at.

So he could only secretly set goals for himself in his heart. He believed that as long as his strength was strong enough and he displayed extraordinary talent, Xia Hong would sooner or later truly recognize him as a disciple.

"I must enter the top 128. As long as I enter, and persist for one more round, the top hundred quota will be stable. This way, I can obtain the qualification to observe the Frost-Resisting Realm martial arts tournament, and I also have the opportunity to see the Master up close!"

It is also laughable to say that although he was taught spear technique by the other party for two months, Luo Cheng still didn't know what Xia Hong looked like until now.

Because Xia Hong wore a mask in the beehive.

After Luo Cheng knew this point, he was incomparably eager to see Xia Hong.

He wanted to know what Uncle Yu, who had truly taught him for two months, looked like.

It's just a pity that in nearly two months of coming to Xia City, he hadn't even seen Xia Hong once.

Although he knew Xia Hong was in the main hall on the top floor of the main building, he simply didn't have the qualification to enter there.

The main hall on the top floor of the main building, except for the Si Cheng and the six Si Zheng, as well as some Frost-Resisting Realm practitioners, no one else had the qualification to enter.

Unless Xia Hong summoned them actively.

But such an opportunity was even more impossible for him.

What reason could there be for Xia Hong to summon a Woodcutting Realm practitioner?

This martial arts tournament was a rare opportunity.

As long as he could enter the top hundred list, he could go to the main hall and see Xia Hong.

"Must enter, must enter..."

Luo Cheng's prayer didn't seem to play much of a role.

As news came from one arena after another, his ranking on the list was constantly squeezed, and soon he dropped from 86 to 100, and then to 110.

By the time it was almost dawn, his ranking had already reached 126.

Only two quotas away. If two more people won ten consecutive matches with a shorter time than him, he would be squeezed out of the list and miss the top hundred in the end.

"Arena No. 3, Wu Qing won ten consecutive matches, time taken 379 breaths."

Soon, news from another arena came.

Luo Cheng's ranking dropped to 127.

Only one left. Luo Cheng clenched his fists, his expression incomparably nervous.

"The second round of selection for the Woodcutting Realm grouping has ended, the top 128 calculation is terminated!"

Fortunately, heaven still favored him.

The calculation was terminated, and his ranking finally stopped at 127.

Luo Cheng pinched his thigh fiercely and forcibly endured not cheering.

But others couldn't endure it.

"Hahahaha, I didn't fall out of the list, I can enter the top hundred!"

"The list is terminated, I have hope of entering the top hundred."

"Hahaha... I'm still in, I'm still on the list."

………………

Luo Cheng looked around and found that those who were cheering and jumping were mostly the same as him, with rankings very far back. Clearly, they had been trembling with fear all through the second half of the night. Now that the list was finally closed, they naturally couldn't help but cheer.

"Must hurry back and prepare for tonight's elimination match. As long as I can win one match, I enter the top 64. If I lose, I have to compete with others for the remaining 36 quotas."

There were seven rounds of elimination matches in total, and opponents were decided by random drawing. If you win, you enter the next round. Winning seven consecutive matches makes you the champion. The 64 people who lose in the first round will enter the loser's bracket to compete for the remaining 36 quotas of the top hundred.

His top hundred quota was not yet considered stable; he had to prepare in advance.

Luo Ming and the three of Xu Kang also knew that Luo Cheng was at a critical moment and hurried to go back with him to help him prepare for the finals at night.

It wasn't just Luo Cheng; all 128 people in the Woodcutting Realm grouping hurried back to their homes to start preparing for the final elimination match at night.

Some, like Luo Cheng, only cared about keeping their top hundred spot; some wanted to sprint for the top ten; some had even more aggressive goals, wanting to enter the top three; as for those aiming for the championship, there might be only a few extremely confident people.

………………

At dawn, unlike the streets that returned to peace, the main hall on the top floor of the main building was very lively at this moment.

In the middle of the main hall stood ten people. Although they were all carrying injuries, their expressions were very excited, especially looking at Xia Hong on the high platform, their eyes all carrying a trace of agitation.

"Alright, since the rankings are out, Qiu Peng, distribute the rewards!"

Xia Hong didn't chatter with everyone and waved his hand directly toward Qiu Peng.

Qiu Peng smiled and stood out immediately. Then, ten people walked out from both sides of the main hall in turn. They were holding an iron tray in their hands and soon walked to the front of the ten people in the field.

At the same time, Qiu Peng also held the roster and began to call names:

"Champion of the Earth-Digging Realm grouping martial arts tournament, Liu Yuan: 30 Blood Origin Pills, 500 jin of beast blood, 15,000 contribution points, one custom-made thousand-forged weapon, one month of exclusive training quota in the Martial Arts Academy, 30 jin of aged wine, 50 jin of refined salt.

Second place, Ying Xuan: 25 Blood Origin Pills, 450 jin of beast blood, 13,000 contribution points, one custom-made thousand-forged weapon, one month of exclusive training quota in the Martial Arts Academy, 25 jin of aged wine, 50 jin of refined salt.

Third place, Li Longkai: 20 Blood Origin Pills, 400 jin of beast blood..."

The rewards for the top ten of the Earth-Digging Realm were the same in terms of item types—that is, pills, beast blood, contribution points, and aged wine. There were discrepancies in the amounts of these four items.

First to tenth were Liu Yuan, Ying Xuan, Li Longkai, Ying Yi, Zou Yuankai, Zhu Shun, Lu Sheng, Tong Xinglong, Li Yuankun, and Xiao Kangcheng, respectively.

Hearing the top ten list reported by Qiu Peng, Xia Hong's expression was not surprised.

This was actually not much different from the situation of the camp's population cultivation he understood.

Great Xia's development to this day actually had a rough context.

Among these ten people, Ying Xuan, Li Longkai, Ying Yi, Zou Yuankai, and Zhu Shun were all members of Great Xia's earliest batch of hunting teams; the remaining Liu Yuan and Li Yuankun were also the batch of people who broke through the Woodcutting Realm earliest in Great Xia; Lu Sheng and Tong Xinglong were also people left over from the early Luo Ge camp; only the last one, Xiao Kangcheng, was merged over from the Five Ape Mountain side.

If there was anything that made Xia Hong feel surprised, it might be Liu Yuan winning the championship.

"Not bad, breaking through to nearly three-mane strength—quite a bit of progress."

Seeing Xia Hong point out his strength, Liu Yuan was startled at first, but his expression quickly recovered, and he chuckled: "Leader praises me too much. I am the deputy captain of Cloud Dragon; I can't lose face for Lord Si Cheng!"

Qiu Peng, as well as Yuan Cheng, Lin Kai, and Lu Yang at the side, saw Liu Yuan's smug look and instantly laughed.

They were all Great Xia elders who had walked all the way from the earth slope. They were originally as close as brothers. Seeing Liu Yuan break through to the Frost-Resisting Realm and win the championship, they naturally felt happy for him in their hearts.

"Qiu Peng, there's more than just these ten who broke through to the Frost-Resisting Realm this time, right?"

The top ten finals of the Earth-Digging Realm grouping were held on the first floor of the main building. Even if Xia Hong didn't pay attention, he roughly sensed the situation, so he was very clear.

Qiu Peng nodded and said: "There are fourteen in total. Chen Ying, Lu He, Bai Wuting, and Lin Fan failed to enter the top ten."

Fourteen—that is to say, the total number of Frost-Resisting Realm practitioners in the camp is now 37.

Obtaining this number, Xia Hong instantly felt great, waved his hand directly, and said happily: "The fourteen people who newly broke through are each rewarded with one Yang Origin Pill, which can be considered compensation for your inability to participate in this Frost-Resisting Realm martial arts tournament."

One Yang Origin Pill per person!

Hearing this reward, Qiu Peng and the others instantly showed looks of surprise on their faces.

Liu Yuan and the other ten had already known what Yang Origin Pills were, and their expressions were even more excited. After looking at each other, the ten people bowed to Xia Hong in unison:

"Many thanks to the Leader for bestowing the pills!"

Xia Hong didn't care. He had refined more than five hundred Yang Origin Pills from the medicinal materials obtained from the transactions with Long Mountain and Zhaoyang a while ago. Fourteen pills didn't count for much, and he couldn't use so many at once. Rather than keeping them on hand, it was better to give them to these newly broken-through people for cultivation and improve the overall strength of the camp.

"Alright, all go back and rest. After night falls, continue to finish the martial arts tournament of the Woodcutting Realm grouping. Once the top hundred candidates are selected, notify me directly."

"Yes, Leader!"

Xia Hong waved his hand, signaling the people in the main hall to leave, while he turned around and went directly back to the back room.

(End of chapter)