“Look, the City Guards are marching past. Is that where the Tribute Tournament is being held?”

“A team from the Hu Clan also went in that direction earlier. I think this time they are holding it outside the City Gates.”

Two Farm hands working near the outskirts of the City wall chatted as they watched a team of men led by Commander Lu pass by.

“What does the Tribute Tournament have to do with Commoners like you? Stop gossiping and focus on harvesting. Or do you not want your share of the bread this afternoon?”

Their Supervisor scolded the two slackers while he too watched the leather armors on City Guards with envy.

Following the procession of the City Guards, carriage after carriage tread the same path and entered a small but lavish stadium erected in the distance.

Any person who had some status in the City had arrived at the sunrise. Now they awaited the arrival of the three participants.

“Look at that Carriage! Isn’t that flaming beast the symbol of the Monstrous Flame Sect?”

People murmured, pointing at the latest carriage to arrive. Their guesses were validated when the team from the Sect came forward to escort the personage inside to their seats.

“Who is that man walking before the Sect Master?”

“I’ve never seen him before but he must be a bigshot from the way he is being treated.”

The spectators looked at the white-bearded man with awe and wondered about his identity.

Not everyone could make the Master of Monstrous Flame Sect bow their heads!

“To think I would see the Sect Master Huo bow his head!”

The Hu Clan Master greeted the Sect Master when he arrived at the pavilion made for the three participants.

The Sect Master threw a glance at him and followed Zhi Yang to their seats. His contemptuous silence treated Hu Clan Master’s words as unworthy of his reply.

There was no change in the Hu Clan Master’s expression. However, his clenched fists and veins popping up on his arm showed his furious state of mind.

He turned with a flare and took the best seat reserved for Hu Clan. Only then did his anger subside a little.

On the opposite side of the Hu Clan’s Pavilion, another pavilion was erected for the City Lord. Currently, it housed only a few of City Hall’s employees and his allies.

In this pavilion, Ikasa and Xin Ruo were offered one of the best seats. Xin Ruo clasped her hands, feeling nervous about the upcoming danger her father would face.

Ikasa seated beside her was starting to become impatient as the morning sun rose higher in the sky. They had arrived two hours ago, with the procession of City Guards.

Now the time to start the tournament was nearing and still, City Lord was nowhere to be seen.

“Why is he not here yet?”

Just as he uttered the words, another carriage entered the stadium. Its luxurious appearance was beyond compare to any. A flag with a bejeweled tree, the symbol of the Holy Wood Empire, fluttered in the air.

This carriage drew the attention of every person present. It drove straight to the City Lord’s Pavilion, preventing the spectators from getting a glimpse of the people inside.

Seeing the carriage come to halt before the City Lord’s side of the Pavilion, Mo Fan came to the center of the open area.

“Respected Citizens of Birch City, the day to decide the tribute shares has arrived. This year, the participants will undertake the noble task of Beast Subjugation.”

His words captured the attention of the people in the crowd.

Except for the three participants, most of the people here were unaware of specifics. Most of them treated this as a social event to gather and mingle, unaware of the dangerous underlying currents.

“The participants will send a team of 10 people with a maximum of two Sense Trainers in each team. Each team will be assigned to subdue one Spirit Condensation Stage Beast.”

Si!

The people present took a collective gasp upon hearing the task. They had an idea of how difficult it was to subdue a spirit condensation beast. It was an impossible task to accomplish with just two Sense Trainers.

They looked at the teams gathered with pity.

Without giving the crowd more time to demoralize the teams, Mo Fan continued to explain the rules.

“The team that returns with the head of the Beast first, will triumph!”

After announcing the winning condition, he turned to the City Lord’s Pavilion and lowered his posture.

“I request the arbitrator from the County to commence the Tournament.”

All eyes turned to City Lord’s Pavilion. When Zhen Ya walked out, she stepped on the air, rising higher and higher. With her fluttering pristine robes and beautiful countenance, she seemed like a Celestial Fairy to the spectators.

The stadium became quiet, enthralled by her appearance. When she reached the center, she took out three round crystals seemingly out of nowhere. Even this feat did not wake up the bewitched crowd.

“These are the Soul Essence Crystals. I have connected the lifelines of three Spirit Beasts to each of these.”

Her melodious yet chilly voice pierced the ears of the crowd waking them up from their beautiful dream. When the meaning of her words registered, it drew another series of gasps from the three pavilions.

“They sent Soul Essence Crystal for the tournament! Not one, not two, but three Soul Essence Crystals!”

“Isn’t that something only a Chakra Opening Realm Expert can make?”

“Not just any Chakra Opening Realm expert; Only those who have opened their last Chakra, the Soul Chakra, can make it!”

The extravagance displayed stunned the people. In this third-tier City where any Chakra Opening expert was akin to God’s envoy, using three artifacts made by a pinnacle Chakra opening expert was beyond their comprehension.

However, this display sent a different signal to the deacon from a Tier 1 Sect.

Zhi Yang narrowed his eyes at the fellow Chakra Sensing realm expert at the center of the stadium. A vicious grin formed on his face and then disappeared quickly.

In his eyes, this was a show of force; A show of background. But he was assured in his own plan.

‘This is not enough to deter us! The clause that protected you before, it will cause your downfall this time.’

He thought in his heart. Then he closed his eyes and calmly perceived the happenings without exposing a single thought in his mind.

At the center of the Stadium, Zhen Ya manipulated the Essence Crystals and obscured them from view.

“Each of you, come forth and pick a Crystal.”

She commanded the Leaders of the three teams. Yao Mao, Lu Shao, and the Second Elder of the Monstrous Flame Sect, Huo Zhu, looked at each other.

Their competitive spirit ignited as they stepped forward at the same time and touched the Crystal floating nearest to them.

Silhouettes of three beasts emerged from the crystals. They looked down at their potential hunters and dashed back into the Crystals.

A dazzling blue light glowed and a mark formed on each of the Commander’s hands.

After they had chosen, she waved her hand and three pedestals appeared at the center of the Stadium. Each of the Crystal globes landed on one pedestal and showed the picture of the Beast whose lifeline was tied to it.

Mo Fan took this moment to introduce the beasts picked by each team.

“Commander Lu of the City Guards has been assigned the agile Cloud patterned Leopard. Its superior speed and powerful claws make it a deadly assassin of the forest.”

Lu Shao looked at the cloud-patterned tattoo on his hand with a complicated gaze. This beast was not easy to take down but compared to the other two, this was best suited for their team.

‘I hope there won’t be any casualties,’ he thought while returning to his men.

“The Hu Clan is tasked to hunt the Tri Tusk Boar! Judging from the Second Seat Yao Mao’s flustered face, his skin is not even 1/10th as thick as the beast he is assigned!”

Yao Mao had a trident-shaped tattoo on the back of his palm. The one beast he didn’t want was this boar. Its thick hide would make it incredibly hard to cut.

When he heard Mo Fan poke fun at his fear, he felt like he had sprinkled salt on his open wound.

With a glare promising retribution directed at Mo Fan, he walked back to his men.

“The Monstrous Flame Sect has to subdue the One-Eyed Chimp which may be more intelligent than the pig. Not only is it cunning and smart, but its arm strength is also no joke either.”

Huo Zhu flared with anger at Mo Fan’s attempt at making fun of his given name. He clenched his fist highlighting the single eye tattoo that had appeared on the back of his hand.

Before he could throw his punch, he was frozen in place by the pressure emitted by Zhen Ya.

‘This is not over,’ He glowered at his two offenders and joined his team.

The introduction enlightened and entertained the crowd. However, his snide remarks did not amuse the people in the other two pavilions.

They bristled with anger but held their tongues for fear of offending the Chakra Sensing Realm Expert on the stage.

Acting as if nothing happened, Zhen Ya commanded the leaders.

“The marks on your hand will help you track your prey. You have until the sunrise tomorrow to bring me the heads of the beast. I will monitor your progress through the Crystals, so do not think of cheating.”

To demonstrate what she meant, Zhen Ya waved her hand. Immediately the picture in the crystal changed to the teams in the stadium. With another wave, the beasts reappeared.

This magical feature fascinated the crowd. But the team leaders were itching to begin their task. Every moment was precious for them.

Seeing their anxious eyes waiting for her command, she loudly announced, “Let the hunt begin!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep