Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 220 - 211 Drawing Lots
Through the conversations of those around him, Qin Qing had already learned of Lu Yuming’s identity.
The younger brother of Lu Yu’an, and currently the number one disciple of the Luochuan Institution.
"This is getting interesting..."
Many onlookers, seeing the confrontation between Qin Qing and Lu Yuming, immediately revealed looks of anticipation.
They were indeed curious to see who was more formidable—the current number one disciple of the Luochuan Institution or the Great Qian Martial Institute’s number one disciple.
Among the various martial institutes in Luochuan Imperial City, the most prominent were none other than the Great Qian Martial Institute and the Luochuan Institution.
There were also others like the Red Sun Martial Institute and the Taibai Institution, as well as the Shenfeng Academy...
This time, apart from the geniuses on the Hidden Dragon List, many of the other talented disciples from these martial institutes were also present at the banquet.
Undoubtedly, the clash between Qin Qing and Lu Yuming would also signify a collision between the Luochuan Institution and the Great Qian Martial Institute.
The mere contest for the title of the number one disciple of these two institutes was enough to draw attention.
"Next, I will announce the rules for this qualifiers tournament!"
Qin De continued to speak, "Thirty people, using an elimination system, that’s to say, drawing lots. There are thirty numbers to draw from, number one to thirty, each person picks a lot. Whoever draws number one will face off against number thirty, number two against number twenty-nine, number three against number twenty-eight, and so on."
"The rules for the subsequent elimination rounds will be the same."
"After each round of elimination, there will be an opportunity for a revival challenge match."
"The so-called revival challenge match means those who were eliminated still have one chance to challenge any victor on stage. If the challenge is successful, they can take the place of the person they challenged and advance to the next round. Of course, the challenged party also retains one opportunity to challenge."
After hearing the rules, Qin Qing silently nodded his head.
The rules seemed fair enough, with the revival challenge match set up to make the competition more equitable, reducing random luck and allowing stronger martial artists to have more chances to reach higher rankings.
"Next, everyone follow me to the Great Qian Battle Stage!"
The Great Qian Battle Stage!
It was the largest arena within the Great Qian Imperial Palace.
Every year the imperial court’s assessment of martial institutes took place on the Great Qian Battle Stage.
For many martial artists, being able to have a battle on the Great Qian Battle Stage was honor enough.
Qin Qing and the other twenty-nine people followed Qin De to the Great Qian Battle Stage.
As for others, including Liu Hongxue, Jiang Ruorong, and the other martial artists who hadn’t been selected, along with those who were simply there as spectators like Qin Hewen and Xun Zizhang, they all made their way to the Great Qian Battle Stage to watch the upcoming qualifier elimination matches.
"Qin Qing, do your best!" Walking along the road, Jiang Ruorong didn’t forget to cheer on Qin Qing, clenching her delicate fist and giving him a firm grasp of encouragement.
Qin Qing slightly smiled.
The sunlight spilled down at that moment, shining upon Jiang Ruorong and making her silver hair dazzle brilliantly.
It made Jiang Ruorong seem as if she was cloaked in a halo of light, exuding an ethereal, saintly presence, like that of a fairy.
The surrounding people were also drawn to her beauty, and even Qin De couldn’t help but give Jiang Ruorong a few extra looks unconsciously.
"That reminds me, Qin Qing!" Qin De spoke up, "In the qualifier elimination, there are roughly four people you should be wary of—one of them is Lu Yuming. Another is Hong Hu, the top disciple of the Red Sun Martial Institute. There’s also Xu Wenjian, the top disciple of the Taibai Institution. Besides these two, there’s also a loose cultivator named Zhao Qilin."
"Zhao Qilin is a martial artist at the third layer of the Golden Core Realm. It is said that he has the strength to enter the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List. However, because he keeps a low profile and seldom shows his strength in front of others, he has not made the list."
"Oh?" Qin Qing slightly frowned.
This spring hunting selection was for martial artists under thirty-five.
Among martial artists under thirty-five, very few could enter the Golden Core Realm.
As a loose cultivator, the fact that Zhao Qilin could boast the strength to rank within the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List was indeed no small feat.
As Qin De spoke, Qin Qing also looked towards the team ahead, searching for Zhao Qilin’s figure.
He quickly spotted Zhao Qilin, who looked unremarkable at a glance, with an ordinary build and slightly dark skin, but his eyes and brows were spirited, and his entire presence exuded both calm and a hidden sharpness.
Sensing someone observing him, Zhao Qilin’s gaze suddenly swept towards Qin Qing.
In that instant, it felt as though a ferocious beast had descended.
"What a powerful aura!"
Qin Qing thought to himself.
"Alright, Qin Qing, it’s your turn. Go for it!" said Qin De.
"Little junior brother, good luck!" Jiang Ruorong also cheered for Qin Qing with an encouraging gesture.
"Master Qin. If you can secure a place in the spring hunting this time, our Spiritual Treasure Pavilion will also provide you with a certain reward," said Liu Hongxue with a beaming smile that brought charm to life.
"Okay," Qin Qing responded with a smile to everyone.
Afterward, he turned and walked towards the Great Qian fighting platform.
The Great Qian fighting platform was expansive, made from tough and thick black basalt.
As the largest arena in Luochuan Imperial City, the platform was inscribed with numerous exquisite spiritual patterns to reinforce it.
After all, the force unleashed during a battle could be highly destructive, and without the enhancement of spiritual patterns, the arena would likely be pockmarked after just one fight.
But even with the support of spiritual patterns, intense battles could still disrupt and break the patterns, damaging the platform, so it required continuous maintenance, with the damaged spiritual patterns needing constant repair.
Thus, the upkeep of a large fighting platform actually entailed a significant expenditure.
Qin Qing arrived on the platform, and soon all twenty-nine other participants had also gathered.
"We will now start the draw. According to the previous list of thirty names, everyone will come forward in turn to draw their number."
Qin De stood in the front with a bamboo tube in his hand, which contained thirty bamboo slips numbered one to thirty.
Qin Qing was the first to step forward.
He drew his number.
"Nineteen!"
Qin Qing’s number was nineteen.
After drawing his number, he turned and returned to his original spot; at this moment, he passed by Lu Yuming who was coming over.
"Qin Qing, I really hope to encounter you in the first round, so I can eliminate you right away and let everyone see that you, the number one disciple of the Great Qian Martial Institute, are nothing but an overhyped nobody," said Lu Yuming, his voice laden with mockery as he passed by Qin Qing.
Qin Qing glanced sideways at Lu Yuming, whose face did not hide the scorn it held.
"Really? I, too, hope to face you in the first round so that you can shut your mouth early. It would spare me the noise in my ears!" Qin Qing retorted coldly.
