Chapter 104 -- Turning down nobles

After waking up his opponent and helping him walk to his seat, Zane made his way to his group. However before he could get there, Old man called him over to were the nobles were sitting.

"Hello" Zane greeted with a wave and a smile as he stood before the group. Who were all looking at him with interest.

They didn't fail to notice that his injuries had all healed up already. One of the nobles couldn't help but ask "Are you a healer?"

"Yes i am" Zane nodded politely. The nobles smiled after hearing this, a healer who can fight as good as Zane was a valuable asset.

Zane was potentially a powerful soldier as well as a personal physician for a noble family. No small sized family wouldn't want someone like him in their ranks.

"What is your element?" asked another noble. Zane glanced at Old man for a split second before answering "Lightning".

That statement shocked the nobles, the lightning element was extremely rare and highly sought after. Heck even the Willow family themselves would want someone like that.

Even though the only lightning Mage in the city was part of the Willow family already, as soon as they hear about Zane they will do anything to get him.

Zane didn't know of this fact, if he did he would be more scared and especially angry at a certain ex merchant.

Even Old man was surprised at Zane's lie, he thought that Zane would lie and say he had any other element, not the most powerful element in the world!.

'Why would you choose lightning!?' he thought.

"Wait are you THAT Zane?" One noble suddenly blurted out. Zane was very surprised to discover that his fame had even reached the nobles.

"I'm not sure which Zane senior is talking about" Zane said.

"The Zane who stole four grade two mana cores from David's team" the noble said.

Zane couldn't hide his shock when he heard that 'I see the lie is evolving. I wonder if Chris upgraded it himself or people just exaggerated the original lie' He thought.

"Yes and no. Yes i am that Zane but no i didn't steal from David" Zane said. He really hoped these nobles wouldn't pursue the matter otherwise he might lose his politeness.

"Mmm okay, Would you like to join my family?. I promise you a very high position as soon as you breakthrough and protection" the noble said.

Zane was curious as to what he needed protection from because he didn't think David was big enough of a threat that it would need a noble family to protect him.

"I apologize senior but I must politely refuse" Zane said, shocking everyone in close vicinity. Another noble chuckled slightly before saying "How about joining my family Zane?, i promise the same as that guy but I will also support your growth" she said.

"As much as i would like to, i have to decline all your offers" Zane turned her down.

"Why?" the noble asked.

"Senior i believe that one day i will become as strong as you, and i am certain that i will surpass you in strength, would you allow to have someone stronger than you working under you?" Zane started.

"The answer is no, so because of that you will try to suppress me when i start showing signs of rapid growth and i can't have that. My goal is the peak and i can't rise if there is a roof over my head" he finished.

"Wise words Zane, you're smarter than you look" a female noble said. Zane didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult so he resorted to nodding with a smile.

Throughout all this time while Zane was talking, one of the nobles was looking at him with a curious expression. However this noble didn't say anything.

"You can go back to your friends Zane" Old man said and Zane nodded before slightly bowing to the nobles. He did that as a sign of respect, even though they hadn't done anything to deserve his respect, it wouldn't hurt to be in their good graces.

Zane walked to his group with the other students and instructors looking at him interestingly. They were all wondering which family he had joined.

Due to the fact that they couldn't hear what the nobles talked about with Zane, they naturally thought that he had joined one of them but didn't leave like the first girl because he was still in the competition.

Zane got to where his group was sitting and also sat next to them.

"So...?" Keith said.

"So what?" Zane asked.

"Which noble are you going with?" Charlotte asked. Zane noticed that she looked a little downcast when she asked this.

He thought it was because Charlotte didn't get invited by any noble.

"Actually I turned them all down" Zane said, surprising Charlotte and Ken. Keith instead had a knowing smile on his face.

It was worth noting that Keith was the oldest in the group, being 27 years old. Ken was 24 while Charlotte was surprisingly 17. Zane was shocked when he heard this especially given the fact that she was getting married, but that's a story for another day.

"You aren't getting into Cultivation for longevity right?" Keith said suddenly. Zane was a bit taken aback by those words.

"No, i am in this for power" Zane said with a smile. Keith nodded slightly while Ken and Charlotte were scratching their heads in confusion.

'What does longevity and power have to do with joining a noble family?' they both thought.

"Ohh i almost forgot, Congratulations on the fight Zane" Charlotte said.

"Thanks" Zane smiled.

"You don't want me to see how powerful you are" Kieth smirked.

Once again, Zane was surprised at how attentive Keith was "Nope, you will see in the finals" he said.

"What the hell is going on!?" Ken shouted out of frustration.

"Zane held back during his fight so I wouldn't know all his moves" Keith explained.

"Ohhh" Both Ken and Charlotte nodded in understanding.

"I wonder which of us will get paired up" Keith said. Zane was also wondering the same thing.

Since the first round was over, only four fighters were left in the competition. That was Zane, Keith, Charlotte and the man who won the three way match.

Since three of the four remaining fighters came from one group, it was obvious that two of them would get paired together.

Zane just prayed that he wouldn't have to fight Charlotte. If that would happen, he wasn't sure what he would do, but what he knew was that he had to get to the final match.

"After that satisfying fight we end the first round and we get ready for the semifinals. Since we already know who's who i won't be using the numbers anymore"

"The first semifinal match will be between Charlotte and surprisingly, her brother Keith!" Buck announced.