Cultivation is not everything

"You all should wait and watch, by the end of this year tournament, my name is going to be known by every single person," I muttered with a light grin, "I'll even be more popular than the king."

After the qualifying stage for the students in the outer academy was completed, only 25 of us qualified for the next stage of the competition and 25 students from the main academy qualified as well therefore, only 50 students were left in the competition from both the main and outer academy.

"I wish I got to see him fight," I grumbled as I went over Prince Saniel match.

The top two devils of the main academy didn't even have to fight to qualify for the next round of the competition, their opponent's didn't even show up for the match.

"You can't really blame them you know," Sophie said, "besides I'm sure if you were in their shoes, you'll do the same thing they did."

"As if you're better off," I retorted, "besides, I'm never going to run away from a fight except if the person is strong enough to kill me with a single slap."

"Coward," she sneered.

"Just get lost," I said as I rolled my eyes at her, "anyway, I'll go get something to eat, I'm starving so help me keep my seat," I said as I stood up to exit the battle arena.

"Hey the tournament isn't over yet," Sophie shouted, "if you don't come back in time for the next round, you'll be automatically disqualified and you'll have to wait for another year."

"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it," I said as I took off.

"I can't believe he's dumb enough to take a risk like this," Sophie muttered with a sigh.

Although I hadn't fought for long, I was already starving due to how I had to rush to the battle arena without eating and still going ahead to fight.

"I better hurry up," I muttered as I began to search for a food store near me, "I only have half an hour before the next stage of the competition begins."

...

"Father, Kai is really getting stronger and with his current cultivation speed, he might be able to breakthrough to the Supreme stage," Sophie said as she talked to her father through the communication crystal with her.

"Hmm, I've noticed that as well, ever since he recovered from that accident, everything about him changed," her father replied, "and help me keep an eye on him, if you notice anyone or anything suspicious around him inform me immediately."

"I will but, why are you keeping your eyes on Kai? Is he really worth it?" Sophie asked.

Ever since she was little, she could understand the reason why her father made certain decisions but she couldn't understand why he was going that far for Kai since he's just a commoner.

"It's a direct order from the king," Sophie's father replied, "that boy has struck gold this time, the king is willing to hire him once he can become a Master stage cultivator so till then it's up to us to protect him from the shadows."

"Also Sophie, you've come of age and most of your mates are already getting married," Sophie's father said before continuing, "I know you've told me that you want to take your time but, I suggest you grab onto Kai, I know it might sound selfish but, I know you like the kid already so just bring along my grandchild before coming back home."

"Dad!!!" Sophie yelled as her face turned beet red due to embarrassment, "stop spouting nonsense, you know if Kai was here he could have heard all of that."

"Haha," Sophie's father laughed, "I wish I could see your face right now but, if you do want to bring a grandchild before coming home, I really don't mind."

"Seems like you have nothing else to say, bye," Sophie said as she disconnected from her father.

"Hmm, Sophie is something wrong with you? 'cause you're face is really red," I asked as I sat down on my seat.

"So you we're eavesdropping all along, I never knew you would do something as shameless as that," she said as she used one of her abilities to punch my head.

"Are you planning to knock me out or we're you perhaps not expecting me to show p for the rest of the tournament?" I asked as I rubbed my swollen head.

"No at all. But, I did think about you not showing up since you were going to be facing Expert stage cultivators from now on," she replied.

"It's not like it matters though, I'm only trying to get into the main academy but if possible, I would try to make it to the top 5," I said, "and anyone who stands in my way will get beat up."

"You look too confident for a mere Advance stage cultivator," Sophie said, "although you're pretty strong for an Advance stage cultivator, the gap between the Advance stage and Expert stage is just too wide and you can only make up that gap with your cultivation and nothing else."

"Just wait and watch," I said with a smirk, "although cultivation is a major factor in deciding strength, you can still make up for that with other means, so cultivation is not everything."

"If you say so but, don't come back to me when you're miserably defeated," she said.

~ "All competitors who qualified for the next stage of the competition should come to the podium now," the instructor announced, "this next round will also be a one versus one just like the qualifiers round however, the bottom five or five people with the most uninteresting fights will be eliminated."

"What's that for? How can you disqualify us after winning our matches, that's so unfair," one of the competitors protested.

"Yeah, he's right. That should be against the rule," another competitor from the outer academy shouted.

~ "Silence," the instructor yelled, "if you know you aren't strong enough to participate, you can leave however don't come here and start challenging the academy authority."

"Alright then, since none of you have any objections, we'll start allocating you fight partners," the instructor said.

~ "Seems like it's not still my time to shine," I muttered when I noticed I was not the first person to go up.

After my encounter with Prince Saniel, my urge to fight and show everyone that even a commoner could defeat anyone including the nobles but since most of my opponents were really weak, there was no way I could show that I was really strong.

"At least you should be happy with this," Sophie said as we walked back to our seats.

"You don't just get it do you?" I asked with my brows raised.

If a person was to get into the main academy just by fighting only weak opponents on their arrival in the main academy, they would be targeted by everyone which can be really bad since no matter how strong you are, you probably won't be able to defeat a group of peak Expert stage cultivators on your own. However if you built a good reputation for yourself in the tournament, you would be able to avoid those hassles. 

"I see, you're just being a coward again but, you do have a point," she said, "if we create our own guild or join a really powerful guild then we would be able to avoid trouble so what do you suggest?"

"I'll think about it," I replied, "but for now, I want to prepare for my upcoming match."