Chapter 28: Arena Prep
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Yin Zhe sat down at the corner of a dimly lit tavern, the scent of fried meat and stale wine filling the air. "Hmmm, hmm… huh… uh" He flipped through the scrolls and books in front of him, his fingers brushing over the delicate rice paper with careful precision. Memorizing all the competition rules and regulations.
He read the competition rules again, line by line, memorizing every nuance. Click… tok… crackle… The sounds of the tavern grow louder. the rattle of mugs, the low murmurs of other patrons, chatter,.. chatter... the occasional sound of someone slamming the door as they came in or when out. felt almost like a rhythm, that was keeping him focused.
He leaned himself back, exhaling slowly. Wheeziziz… The scrolls and books piled around him like a small mountain. And then, almost impulsively, he tossed them all into the bin beside him in one swift motion, as if flicking away a swarm of bugs.
"Ahhh…" ruffle.. flutter!.. The papers fluttered and scattered inside the metal bin. Some hit the floor, others bounced off the edges.
Eyes turned to look at Yin Zhe. "Huh… hpmh…" Whispers spread instantly across the small tavern.
[Cursed RP +9]
[Mocked RP +7]
Yin Zhe's lips twitched into a small, mischievous grin. "Heh… this is fun." Inwardly, he thought it was exhilarating. getting reactions from a crowd, even if they were negative. Each glance, or reactions from the people around him granted him reactive points. He had done this on purpose, and it worked.
Then, he started to feel a sudden tickle in his nose. The tickle made him sneeze. "Ahhhh… shuu…" then snort!. A small drip ran from his nose, and without thinking, he dragged it back in. Slurp. Slurp.
[Disgusted RP +6]
[Resented RP +8]
He shook his head slightly. "Hmph… the refresh rate here is too slow. There aren't enough people. There aren't enough reactions… unlike the crowd in the Iron Vein Spirit Palace... Well Tomorrow… tomorrow I'll farm Reactive Points properly."
Yin Zhe's gaze drifted to the small window beside him. Looking Outside, from the small window, the sun was setting, throwing long orange streaks across the streets. The Shadows of people walking home stretched long and thin. The evening wind carried the smell of roasted meat from nearby stalls.
He checked his reactive points account "823 Reactive Points…" he muttered, tapping his fingers on the table. It's Not nearly enough to buy anything worthwhile in the system shop.
With a sigh, he stood up. Creak… creak… The floorboards creaked under his weight. He adjusted his robe and left the tavern. It looked like he was heading back toward the inn.
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Once he was inside his room, he locked the door with a solid click, sealing out the world for the night. He pulled out his spirit essence pills, arranging them neatly on the table. "Huu… hmph…" He prepared himself for another round of pleasure cultivation, ready to push his limits, to feel the rush and cultivate to the next stage in one go.
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Morning arrived with the sound of distant bells of the spirit Palace and the low hum of activity outside. Yin Zhe stepped out of the inn, sunlight reflecting off his robe. The streets were already alive with movement. Merchants shouted their wares, children ran around playing games, and cultivators with various weapons slung over their backs walked toward the Iron Vein Spirit Palace with purpose. Tok… tok… chatter… the view was beautiful.
Inside the iron vein spirit Palace, the scene was chaotic but organized. Twenty arenas had already been prepared, each of them were separated by sturdy stone walls. Judges' panels lined the edge of every arena. Some of the judges faces were familiar: Elder Xuan Yi, with his pale, wrinkled skin and neatly combed-back hair, peered over his glasses, and Elder Chen Niao sat with his sword resting casually on his lap, his eyes scanning the competitors. Other elders, few but stern, observed that activity quietly. "Hmmm… hmph…"
Each of the arenas already had hundreds of competitors already waiting. The crowd was thick, they all murmured with anticipation. Every step, and shuffle of a foot, added to the low, constant sounds of collective tension.
In each and every one of the arenas, five judges oversaw the flow. They called out names while holding the registration list from the previous day. They called out names and numbers one by one, as competitors stepped forward. Step… step… chatter… Each name had been recorded, and each participant walked into the arena, joining hundreds of others.
🌱
Attendants raised glowing tokens, crackles… crackles.... Whoosh…, the tokens began activating intricate arrays. The arrays transformed into sound barriers for each arena and massive screens made from the array were now hovering above each arena. Twenty arenas, twenty screens, all filled with data and lists of the competitors. it looked impressive. The stands around the arenas were already crowded with spectators. Some murmured excitedly, others whispered anxiously, a few just stared, trying to memorize faces.
It was like a stadium, the place was alive with anticipation, every movement felt amplified in the sunlight streaming through the open roofs. "Whizz… crackle…" The energy in the air felt like static electricity, crackling across the skin. Competitors fidgeted with their weapons, a few stretched their limbs, small number of them whispered strategies. Some stared at each other with suspicion. Others tried to look confident, though their tight grip betrayed their nerves.