The location of the first round of preliminary was the largest arena in the outer city. A total of more than 6,000 people registered for the contest this ti. This was far more than previous seasons. It was an unprecedented, lively situation.
Due to the large number of people, the first round of preliminary had to be conducted in groups. Each registered participant was given a number. On the arena’s stage, a huge crystal screen appeared, showing the number range of the group. Chen Rui was No. 5200. He was in the final group.
The content of the first round of the preliminary was very simple, that was, to draw three random questions and complete the questions in accordance with the requirents of the questions within the prescribed ti. The extracted content was related to the specializations filled during registration. For example, tal specialization would have tal-related questions.
Luck was a huge component in this contest. So people just happened to draw the ones that they weren’t good at or the ones that were very difficult. So people drew those that were very ti-consuming, so they couldn’t finish all three in ti. However, generally, people with true strength could still pass smoothly.
The contest started and the numbers being eliminated and advanced began to appear on the crystal screen. These problems were generally quite difficult to the point that many senior participants felt that this year’s difficulty was higher than the previous season that was 10 years ago. Many unlucky losers burst into tears, but they had only attracted contempt and ridicule as almost no one sympathized with them. It was a contest and people only cared about the winner, not the losers.
Chen Rui filled in the tal specializations and drew three questions. The first was to fill in the missing part of an earth magic array enchantnt; the second was a Q&A regarding tal slting; the third was to repair a broken sword.
Other than the second one, the first one was more difficult and the third one was more ti-consuming. However, for Chen Rui, it was a piece of cake. He easily completed everything and the judge next to him announced his advancent.
When Dior, who had been anxious looking at the stage, saw Chen Rui’s advancent, he finally cald down. This chanic from Dark Moon has so capabilities anyway. However, this is just the beginning. The difficulty will only increase in the future. Can this guy, who just received the title of chanic, pass the next test?
Kia was also surprised. According to her knowledge, Princess Royal didn’t have a particularly outstanding chanic under her. Where did this Arthur co from? She had a faint feeling in her heart that Arthur’s strong confidence wasn’t a bluff.
The first round of the preliminary took six days to complete. This round, it eliminated nearly 70% of the participants. There were nearly 2,000 remaining.
These days, Chen Rui obtained a lot of materials through Dior. Part of them were kept for his own usage and another part were converted into auras.
The second round of preliminary had begun. From this round onward, even the candidates recomnded by masters must participate.
The second round of the preliminary was located in the ancient magic tower of the chanics Association’s building. The ancient magic tower was one of the most mysterious places in the chanic Association at the Dark Shadow’s capital. It was said that the magic tower was built for a long ti, and it couldn’t be asured by years anymore. It contained precious magic inscriptions and various, unpredictable magic arrays, left by master-level and grandmaster-level chanics that were left for millions or even longer ti. Even the chanic master of the current association had a hard ti prying into the wonders within.
The ancient magic tower was usually not open to the public. Only the masters of the chanic Association could have limited access to examine. This exception opening to the public imdiately caught every participant’s interest.
The content of the competition was very novel. Participants were to carry specially-made magic stone slab and magic stone to enter the magic tower. Within two hours, they had to copy a complete magic array using the slate. After the completion, they were to use the magic stone to teleport back. Other than teleportation and timing, the magic stone could also reflect the latest points in real ti.
Those that hadn’t teleported out within the specified ti would be automatically teleported out. Incomplete magic arrays would be imdiately eliminated.
Not only that, this round could only remain the 200 players in the semi-final. The more difficult the magic array and the less ti it took, the higher the score would be. 90% of 2000 people would be eliminated and only 200 would remain. The cruelty of competition was imaginable.
2000 people were divided into 20 groups. Fortunately, Chen Rui and an old “acquaintance”, Savice were both in the last group.
When Savice saw Chen Rui by accident, his eyes imdiately solidified and shot a ray of deep hatred. As he was young and talented, he had been enjoying his fa since he beca popular. The humiliation that he received the last ti was unprecedented!
He would never forget how he limped out of the lounge at the ti. In the following days, how the pain afflicted him. Although the physical wounds healed, the great sha and trauma in his heart would never wash away!
If it weren’t for the chanics contest that would affect his future, Savice really wanted to use every ans possible to take avenge on the Custer Family and Arthur who should be crushed into pieces.
I never thought to bump into that detestable enemy here in the chanic contest. Besides, this guy even passed the first round of preliminary!
“Isn’t this Savice?” Chen Rui also saw his old “friend” with a wicked look and greeted him like they were close, “The magic item you invented last ti is really powerful. What makes admire you more is that you were willing to take such a huge risk to experint it on yourself. You’re truly the top genius of the capital!”
Upon hearing that, the chanics from the sa group looked admirable. Genius and hard work, no wonder he beca famous in the capital. Yet, the words of praise beca another unrestrained ridicule in Savice’s ears. It was as uncomfortable as being stung by needles. However, in the presence of so many people, he couldn’t reveal such a humiliating incident. So, he swallowed his anger and the hatred in his heart was maxed.
Savice was just an ant, so Chen Rui didn’t take him seriously. However, Savice could barely beco Chen Rui’s stepping stone to advance in the contest.
It was his group to start the contest. Savice, with a somber face, walked to the front of the group and entered the ancient magic tower.
Chen Rui originally thought that the ancient magic tower was a tower with levels of staircases with magic inscription engraved on the wall. However, after he entered, he realized that it was completely different from what he imagined. It was an independent space with active, colorful, bizarre rays that were floating and changing everywhere. At first glance, it looked colorful, but in the eyes of chanics, these lines vaguely showed the mysterious magic arrays.
Except for the light gate at the exit, there was another light gate in the distant space that reached the next floor. The higher the floors, the more esoteric the magic array beca, and the more difficult it was. The ancient magic tower had a total of six floors. It was said that even a master could only comprehend the mysteries of the first four floors.
There were many kinds of arrangents and combinations in magic arrays. Each person’s ntality and attention were different. Therefore, the magic arrays obtained were also different. Everyone imdiately started recording on the magic stone slab.
The chance to enter the ancient magic tower was rare. Chen Rui had already activated [Deep Analysis] and started recording and scanning. In [Deep Analysis], those arrangent and combination modes were quickly “copied”, even if it couldn’t be analyzed at present, he could slowly analyze them in the future.
His vision had reached master-level, so he could see more than ordinary people. Many of the magic arrays on this floor were improved, but they weren’t hard. According to the association’s classification, they were one-star and quasi-two-star. Chen Rui didn’t stay long and walked to the light gate toward the upper floor.
Compared with more than a hundred people on the first floor, there were only a dozen people on the second floor and Savice was one of them. Seeing Chen Rui walking to the second floor, Savice sneered disdainfully. Due to his relationship with Master Leo, it wasn’t Savice’s first ti entering the ancient magic tower. The magic circle on the second floor was much more difficult than the first floor. Although the points awarded for complete record would be higher, if it wasn’t completed, it’d be better to stay on the first floor.
The difficulty of this level was definitely higher and the amount of data was much larger. The scanning speed of [Deep Analysis] was obviously a lot slower.
“Why do I not understand them...” Chen Rui took the magic stone slab, hesitated for a mont, and said to himself deliberately, “I don’t know if it will be better upstairs...”
Savice sneered secretly. The levels above can only be understood by masters. This “Arthur” is just a rookie who has just beco a chanic. By luck (at least Savice thought), he passed the first round of preliminary. If he really goes to the third floor, let alone 1 hour, he can’t even record a few strokes in a year.
As a competitor and enemy, Savice certainly wanted Chen Rui to go to the third floor to “suicide”. As he hoped, Chen Rui walked step by step toward the light gate that went to the third floor and soon disappeared. Savice sneered, but his hands didn’t stop at all as he was recording a slightly difficult magic array. Then, he crushed the magic stone that he carried to teleport out of the ancient magic tower.
The third floor wasn’t only light, but there were also various flas and images. Even the space appeared strangely distorted. In Chen Rui’s eyes, those lodies and colors were strange magic symbols. The various arrangents were like complex calculations. So were taught by Master Xingxing and Master Skye before, but so were unheard of. With Chen Rui’s current level, he could naturally understand the mysteries of these “formulas”, and he couldn’t help but imrse within at once.
Outside of the ancient magic tower, many people had completed the recording and teleported out. A special appraiser began to record and verify their scores. The crystal screen in front of the association’s building marked the latest top 200 rankings.
The first place was Savice who took 10 minutes to record a quasi-three-star magic enhancent magic array, totaling 170 points.
Second place was Robert who took 15 minutes to record a quasi-three-star basic enhancent magic array, totaling 165 points.
The third place, Southgate who took 16 minutes to record a quasi-three-star basic enhancent magic array, totaling 164 points.
The current 200th place score was a 2-star magic weakening magic circle recorded in an hour , totaling 80 points.
Chen Rui had reached the fourth floor at this ti. Even for Chen Rui, he felt difficult to understand the contents on the fourth floor, but he had [Deep Analysis]. Although he couldn’t understand, he could “record” them first and slowly study them later.
After recording, Chen Rui looked at the ti on the magic stone, and it had actually passed more than an hour. He looked at the next light door in front of him, he hesitated for a mont and tried to walk over.
The mont he approached the light door, the space was suddenly distorted. Countless mysterious marks flashed and a strong, repulsive force pushed him away. Each ti he tried, the arrangent of those marks were different.
Chen Rui had a feeling that even if he did his best now by using [Scorching Dragon Possession] with the strength of grez state, he wouldn’t be able to break through the power of this light gate. The light gate not only contained imnse power, but it was more like a rule. If he couldn’t understand the rule, even with Demon Overlord-level strength, he might not be able to break through.
In the administration office on the fifth floor of the building, a man with white hair and middle-aged appearance frowned. It was the chairman of the Dark Shadow Empire’s chanic Association and the empire’s top chanic master, Master Anderson.
“Another curious guy is trying out the fifth-floor gate. I don’t know if it’s wise to open the ancient magic tower this ti.”
Master Rumnigge smiled and said, “We can’t even crack the gate’s seal, so chairman, you need not worry. In fact, this ti, it’s more about discovering and cultivating potential juniors. It’s good to let them open their eyes and gain insights.”
Master Anderson gave a slight nod and said nothing more.
After trying and recording that magic symbol a few tis, seeing that there wasn’t much ti left, Chen Rui looked at the latest ranking and he had an idea in his mine. He recorded a magic array on the second floor, crushed the magic stone and teleported out.
On the VIP seat outside of the association’s building, seeing that the na, “Arthur” hadn’t appeared within the 200, Dior, who had been paying attention to the crystal screen, looked very uneasy. Kia also seed a little nervous.
At that ti, a beautiful-looking woman, holding a man’s arm, ca over with a gloating look, “Isn’t this our eldest brother, Dior? It’s already the final mont, why haven’t I seen your supporter, Arthur on the list? Falamo, at which place is our supporter now?”
The man aside was Dior’s brother, Falamo, who deliberately sighed, “Robert seems to be in second place. Although he is currently behind Savice, this point ranking isn’t brought into the semifinal, so the true battle is yet to co.”
“As far as I know, the next event is Robert’s strength. Afterall, he was the champion of the previous season.” The woman was Falamo’s wife, Marianne Asmodeus, also the sister of Valen, the second general of the Dark Shadow Empire. This woman was very dominant, so Falamo was being subdued and didn’t dare to get a concubine until now.
Dior was very annoyed, but he couldn’t think of anything smart to counterattack, “Look at the screen!” Kia suddenly scread in excitent. Dior quickly looked up, and she was imdiately refreshed.
Arthur’s na finally appeared within two hundred. He took 1 hour and 25 minutes to record a quasi-three-star basic enhancent magic circle, totaling 95 points, currently ranked 192.
Since it was the last group, there were very few people left in the magic tower. This ranking was basically stable. He should be able to enter the semi-final next.
Savice looked at Arthur’s na on the screen and sneered: That’s fine. I can continue to step on his head in the future contest. Not only in the contest but at the end of the contest, it’ll be the ti where “Arthur” is crushed into pieces!
Dior in the VIP seat took a sigh of relief. Getting the 192th place is good enough. No matter what, it was a narrow escape.
“What are you yelling for? Such a rude, countrywoman!” Marianne mocked Kia with dissatisfaction and then said to Dior with disdain, “I forgot to tell you that Celine’s supporter, Horford, is also within the top 50. Although the final victory must belong to Falamo, to my surprise, the person you chose is even worse than Celine’s. No wonder you can’t even maintain your position as the first-in-line.”
Dior snorted and ignored the two. At that ti, Chen Rui ca to Dior, nodded to Kia and smiled, “It seems that I’m quite lucky. I can enter the next round steadily by staying within the top 200.”
“He’ll probably be eliminated imdiately next round.” Marianne chuckled while holding a fan to gracefully cover her scornful smile.
“Dior, who is this pretentious, ugly woman?” Chen Rui heard Marianne mocking Kia, so he asked that intentionally.
Marianne’s face imdiately changed. Dior was happy when he heard that and replied, “This is my younger brother, Falamo, who’s desperate to be the heir... and his woman.”
In revenge for the previous sarcasm, Dior deliberately didn’t ntion Marianne’s na and Chen Rui looked like he had a sudden realization, “I heard that your brother has several won outside. I wonder which one is this?”
It was Falamo’s face that changed this ti. Seeing Marianne’s cold eyes that were moving toward him, Falamo’s expression beca quite interesting. In fact, Chen Rui was right by chance. Falamo did have a mistress, but because Marianne was too dominant, and she had a strong background. Therefore, he had been hiding from this fierce wife.
Dior raised his thumb at Chen Rui secretly. However, Chen Rui was currently ranked within the range of 190th place. The semi-final later might not be in favor, so he asked anxiously, “The next round will be the semi-final. It will decide the final’s candidates. How confident are you?”
Chen Rui shook his head. This guy is too impulsive. How can he ask such questions in front of competitors?
“Big brother! Second brother and Sister Marianne are also here!” A young girl ca over. The girl was dressed in a short skirt, looked pretty and youthful. Based on the appellation, she should be Celine, Dior’s youngest sister.
Celine had the least “threat”, She usually had a good relationship with the two elder brothers. Dior forced himself to smile and nodded while Marianne relaxed her tight face.
“Is this your supporter Arthur?” Celine looked at Chen Rui curiously, “He actually entered the ranks of 200 at the end. However, I had better luck this ti. I found a chanic nad Horford. Although he didn’t have much fa, he is quite good and actually got the 47th place this ti.”
Dior nodded with a wry smile. Chen Rui looked relaxed and said indifferently, “In fact, I’m just retaining my strength.”
Dior sighed secretly. The ranking in the contest is obvious. It was at most a fluke for him to pass. No matter how I look at it, “retaining strength” seems like a bluff.
“I hope your strength is as sharp as your mouth!” Marianne spoke a sentence while pulling Falamo away.
“Poor Falamo, he is definitely going to be a punching bag when they go back.” Celine smiled sweetly, greeted Dior and turned away.
“The semi-final will start tomorrow. Let’s go back to rest first. By the way, you have to help get more materials. The sooner the better as I need more insight.” Chen Rui’s last sentence was purely for his own benefit. Currently, he was willing to request while Dior was willing to give, so he might as well take advantage of it.
Reviews
All reviews (0)