20 Chapter Twenty

"All the participants enter the stadium. As the plaques attain a colour, move into standing in a queue in front of the podium to first pay your respects to His Majesty and his revered ministers and commanders. After that silently move to the small three stages prepared in front of that podium. You will be given a small space to relax and wait for your turn. Any deviation from the rules will lead to disqualification."

Yu Long and FeiMei stepped in the stadium. They heard a roar of applause and loud cheers from the audience. Everyone seemed excited.

But that was short lived.

Soon everything settled down as the royal guards entered the podium with the royal ministers and commanders. The elevated platform made it impossible for the participants to get a proper view of the whole crew. But they could feel the spiritual energy emitted by these leaders. Some were golden core bearers and some were silver core bearers. There was a difference in the strengths but no one was able to perceive it, as the mana of the silver bearers was still more than the nobles and elite golden bearers present in the stadium. But so was not the thing with Yu Long. With Maasa's assistance he was able to feel the difference and more.

There is another dragon.

Dragon? Here?

Yes.

Where?

I can feel the energy and aura. It is coming from that podium.

Are you serious? But Rahu told me that there were only two more in this world. One was in Timeless forest. Other was missing. Is he the missing one?

Missing dragon? Oh! Rahu must mean that always sleeping lazyass dragon. He is alive and not perceivable when he is asleep. But this one is not him.

Not him? You mean the fourth legendary dragon is here? Among those royal guards?

Yes. I can't exactly predict which one though.

I need to inform Rahu. Is it possible to identify which one of them is the dragon?

Yes. If we get face to face with the possessor.

Are you serious? Or just looking for duel?

I am serious!

Seriously serious?

Yu Long, you need to work on your trust on me.

I trust you...sometimes

Trust me all times. I don't take up fights that I am not capable of winning.

So you admit it you take up unnecessary fights. Anyways what about this dragon? You can't fight it? You always pick fights with Rahu.

Yu Long, this dragon is dangerous and out of our league.

Is it that powerful?

Very powerful, Long. The spiritual energy is exceptional. The host body is a top-notch cultivator.

Being able to control a dragon at one's will is what I thought was impossible. But what I am sensing, I think it is only a small portion of what that host possesses.

If it is among the ZhaoShu's top tier of elites means they are directly under the Emperor. Or is it Emperor himself?... Well we need to find out. It won't be difficult to get this one on our side that easily.

Right, Long. We will need Rahu as well to fight and capture this one.

Capture? It is not a mystic beast, Maasa.

Whatever, it is fun hunting. You need to experience a lot many things, Long.

Stop pouting, Maasa.

Meanwhile all the participants got their plaques coloured. The translucent white was now having a purplish shade for some, some had greenish shade and some had a greyish.

Yu Long had a greenish shade whereas FeiMei had a purplish shade.

"Fall into a line."

All the participants aligned and then fisted one of their hands and joined it with the palm of the other and bowed down in respect.

This was followed by also by the audience. They bowed and then again started their cheering for the royalties and the participants.

Yu Long noticed that the apparent leader of the Silent Valley was in the group with purplish shade of plaque. It meant FeiMei might have to face him.

But he didn't have time to worry about her. He was against the top two of the strongest warriors in that competition. Even Silent Valley members were like small fries in front of them. This was going to very challenging. Maasa was thrilled while Yu Long tried his best to hide his nervousness. He knew that he couldn't let the world know who he was or who Maasa was.

Yu Long, it is so exciting.

Please spare me, Mistress Maasa..I doubt i will be able show the level of excitement you are currently feeling.

Don't act like a scared Tomo Mountain cat.

That cat is cute and adorable. I would prefer acting like that one.

But it gets scared easily. Be brave and smart like the Five tailed Mystic Fox or the Yellow tail Mystic Bird. They always prove how brave they are, in almost every battle or hunt.

Whatever. Maasa, are you sure we will be able to take up these two? I don't want to waste much of my energy on these battles. We just need to save enough strength to escape when needed.

Running away? So not like me. I won't run...no way...never.

It is not the time to pout, Maasa. We are here to help FeiMei realise her dream and wish to take part in the Selections for once in her life. We can reveal ourselves. If they realise we are a threat to their empire in anyway, I doubt we will be able to escape. Can you imagine you can't handle those elite commanders and leaders, let alone the emperor and then there is a dragon. Gosh! I want to meet the dragon but I doubt that would be possible today.

Whatever. Always running...hmph, Scared Tomo Cat.

While Maasa and Yu Long were having this conversation, the battles had begin.

"Xing….Mister YunXing..Mister Yun Xing.."

"Oh! I apologize."

"Are you alright? You can be absent minded here in the battleground, Mister YunXing We have to retire to the resting area. The matches have started. Let's go. By the way, I am BaoLi."

"How did you know my name?"

"Who doesn't know you? You stood up against that arrogant leader of Silent Valley."

"W-What?"

Shit. BaoLi? The strongest contender in this complete examination? He doesn't look that strong. Even his aura is kinda petty. He is unlike the other hotblooded assholes loaded with humongous pride and overconfidence.

He is strong, Yu Long. Don't underestimate. This man is very deceptive.

I get it, Maasa.

Again he snapped out of his absent mindedness when BaoLi shook his shoulders vigorously.

"Are you actually okay, Mister YunXing? If not, how about you get yourself removed?"

"Okay...I mean I am fine. Thank you. Where should we retire to?"

"Ah! This way."

BaoLi led Yu Long to a small tent where other contenders with same shade of plaques. Yu Long sighed before taking a seat in one corner of the tent.

Suddenly they heard a loud roar. Everyone looked at the battleground.

"I didn't know that Silent Valley idiot was a summoner. He was able to summon a Flying Lizard. That beast appears to be young yet is very powerful."

"This is a poor match. The other guy is not even moving."

"Sad seems like this is it for that man. He isn't a golden core bearer."

"It is too early to conclude anything."

BaoLi muttered with a small grin. It was soft enough to be considered inaudible but it was heard by Yu Long.

"What do you mean?"

BaoLi slowly opened his eyes.

"Asking me?"

Yu Long nodded.

"Look closely."

Yu Long looked at the arena. The summoner was perfect from all angles of controlling the beast and using its magic to maximum.

"Beast Lizard Zou, time to burn the man standing in front of you…"

The other man smiled. Finally he spoke up.

"Fire? That is my element. Do you think the lizard will listen to you?"

The beast lizard was actually silent and not responding to the orders of the summoner.

"And why won't it?"

"Ah, you don't know the major disadvantage you have as a summoner of this beast?"

"Mister BaoLi, what does that mean?"

"There is an unwritten rule in the world of mystic beasts. The lizard families are the most disloyal. They select their masters based on the strength. Now, the summoner may be equal or more powerful in comparison to the beast. But the lizard beasts listen only to the most powerful. Actually it fails to bond with any of its summoner. In their area of the influence the strongest cultivator is their master, if the man is obviously stronger than the beast. And here this is a sad tale. If the beast isn't listening to the summoner that means the person standing in front of him is stronger. I heard the summoner is the best summoners in the Silent Valley. What a joke!"

"Is that applicable to all mystic beasts?"

BaoLi quietly stared at Yu Long. After a long pause, he replied.

"No. Most are contract beasts and hence are compelled to obey their masters, and others are loyal. Especially this family of beasts is different."

Yu Long hummed. They again led their attention to the arena. They saw that the scenario had change. The beast was now acting like a mad, raging beast ready to destroy anything in its way. The summoner was on the ground.

"Never seen such a weak summoner."

People who believed in the Silent Valley apprentices now started gossiping and murmuring about how pathetic this battle was.

"People love to talk a lot. One moment they are with you, the other they hate you."

BaoLi seemed to be slightly disturbed with all the suddenly arisen gossip.

"True."

"Well Mister YunXing, are you a summoner or illusionist?"

"Illusionist. What about you?"

"An illusionist. Well looks like the time is up. Now this duel's result is to be declared. We know who is the winner, still formality."

I hope FeiMei is alright. Don't know the status of their group's duels.

"The final results of the first duel, the Green Plaque's winner is Yan, for Pink Plaque it is Xue Ping and for the greyish it is Xun Fei. We are sorry for the death of the contender Hua Peng in the Pink Plaque arena. The next duels areas follows:

Green Plaque: Yun Xing vs Min Su

Pink Plaque: Lim Ming vs Fei Mei

Grey Plaque: Wei Fang vs Ning.

Participants please come to the arena. The duel starts as soon as both contenders are inside the arena."

Time for us to fight, Yu Long.

Oh Heavens, why a woman? Be careful Massa, Min Su is a lady. I can't hurt her. It is not in my principles to-

Stop trying to be a good boy, you good for nothing, Scared Tomo cat.

I hope FeiMei is alright.

"Excuse me, Mister Host."

Suddenly someone yelled from the Pink Plaque lounge area as soon as the pairings were declared.

"Yes, Mister Lim Ming."

"I want to forfeit."

"This means we have a winner as the contender forfeits. FeiMei of Pink Plaque arena is thereafter declared as the victor."

There was a lot of disapproval and contempt in the audience by the sudden withdrawal of Lim Ming. This caused displeasure even in the Provincial head of DanZhao. They were directly related to the royal family of ZhaoShu. It was a disgrace that their eldest son forfeited the battle that too against a bronze core bearer.

Unable to uncontrolled his anger Lim Hung stomped out of his seat. He wanted to meet his son and beat the hell out of him. But he had to wait till this session was over and he got some alone time with his son.

How dare he disgrace me? DanZhao is one of the most respected and looked upon province in ZhaoShu. How could he…

But this forfeit of the match had let FeiMei take a breather. But everything was not going to be a cakewalk. But what scared her was the previous battle results. The victor was declared after the death of the opponent. No one stopped the battle. Everyone watched that man die. He might have been a good Royal Guard or Knight in the future but no one cared. Not even his relatives. Not even his parents.

What scared her the most was she was the only bronze core bearer who dared to take part in the contest. She knew that the further rounds are going to tough and she might fail to make it out alive. She was already being glared upon and now by forfeiting the match she even increased her chance of failure and decreased the chance of escape. She couldn't run away because she saw her birth parents sitting in the podium in the higher officials section. She had to prove herself at least once in her life. She might never see them again but all she wanted to do was show them that she is not weak. She is stronger than some other silver and golden core bearers. It was going to be tough.

On the other side, Yu Long and Min Su's fight was about to get started. Yu Long had been the Prince of a kingdom. He was taught by his Mother Empress to never attack a woman. Women were physically and spiritually weaker than men. They were to be cared and looked after. In his lifetime he had never come across such a situation.

Yu Long, how about I take over?

No way, Maasa. I know you will immediately jump into the arena and start attacking. I don't want anyone to ever say this that my body was used to assault a lady. How about negotiation?

Let me take over and I will have a last to lady talk with her. When two ladies meet they chat, Yu Long. They don't slay each other. So relax. I will try to negotiate.

Promise you will negotiate.

Promise, Long. Stop acting like a kid.

Despite his unwillingness to let Maasa take control over his body, he gave up. He wanted to trust her for once at least. But it is said that no one tame a snake. Similarly Maasa can never be trusted. She is an uninhibited spirit. She does what she loves unaware of her surroundings. But she was sensible and more experienced when it came to most of the situations like this one. Yu Long's soul slowly drifted into a deep slumber as Maasa started to take over his body.

Finally, I am back. Let's get started.