The fifth day of the New Year - before the Lantern Festival ended, this New Year wasn't over yet. At least this was true for great families like the Mo family and for some people who lived without worry. However, for ordinary common people, they had basically started working again and were very busy.
Some people specifically waited for this period, wanting to make great fortunes during this time. Of course, this was just hope.
Still others now had to begin serious business, major business, national affairs.
Dragon Gate Tournament, Civilian Preliminary Zone.
The Dragon Gate Tournament wasn't just for noble families, it was open to everyone. It's just that noble families or aristocrats had certain reserved seats, and their preliminary zones were separate from civilians. Their candidates wouldn't conflict with civilian selections.
This wasn't to show their difference, but to prevent them from taking civilian spots through using power and influence. Such things would definitely occur to some extent.
After entering national-level preliminaries, they would be mixed together. At that time, there would basically be no more problems with power abuse, because supervision would be strictest with no special treatment for anyone.
Because no country wanted to lose Dragon Gate Tournament qualification, they would send their best talents. Even if they were civilians, with such talent they could become extraordinary people in the future.
However, such talents rarely emerged from civilians. After all, lacking advantageous conditions, they needed much more effort to compensate.
But anyone who could enter the Dragon Gate Tournament was talented regardless, and would be recruited by various parties. They would enjoy wealth and honor afterward, truly having the flavor of "leaping the dragon gate." The Dragon Gate Tournament lived up to its name.
Civilian preliminaries were earlier than noble ones. Perhaps this was also to prevent people from causing trouble, those who couldn't get into noble families could enter as civilians. After all, civilian preliminaries had no restrictions, if noble family members entered, they could do so too.
However, generally this possibility was quite low, because noble families had their own honor, that is, face. If other noble families used this to criticize them, they would feel utterly ashamed.
Sometimes the family face was more important than everything.
At the same time, there was another point, participating in civilian preliminaries meant the honor you gained would be unrelated to your family. Others would no longer acknowledge you as a noble family member.
Generally people wouldn't participate twice. The reason was: since you were eliminated among nobles, you'd still be eliminated later, you'd only meet stronger opponents, not weaker ones.
Also, those who won among civilians would definitely still encounter nobles.
Generally after both levels of preliminaries ended, there would be a match between civilians and nobles. However, this was friendly in nature and wouldn't affect candidate selection anymore.
This friendly match could be called an exhibition match for ordinary people to watch and celebrate.
Of course, due to large strength differences, generally they wouldn't compete in direct combat but more in wit and strategy. Perhaps this was also warm-up, when entering national preliminaries, the first few rounds required wit and strategy.
Regardless of reason, even these civilian preliminaries were one-in-ten-thousand affairs, so many people would definitely come.
Though today was the preliminaries after several elimination rounds, the venue still felt somewhat overcrowded. After several preliminary rounds, some previously unnoticed people were beginning to emerge.
At this moment, a young genius was proudly striding into the venue, and his arrival immediately caused people to cheer.
This youth had bright eyes and sword-like brows, white teeth and vermillion lips - an extremely handsome young man. His clothing wasn't luxurious, just ordinary clothes. If he wore fine silk and brocade, this youth would be an elegant young master.
This youth was what everyone aspired to, at least ordinary people, and the ideal target for countless young girls' dreams.
Only because, though born in poverty, he possessed extremely high martial talent. Through self-cultivation alone, he could break through Human Level at such an age. This was truly formidable.
Generally even with advantageous resources, one might not break through Human Level at this age, yet he achieved it through self-reliance alone. If he had advantageous resources, his progress would definitely not be limited to this.
His future development would be unlimited, and his prospects immeasurable!!
Such background, such talent, he carried the dreams of countless people. What ordinary people couldn't achieve themselves, they could only place hope in others, supporting those who could complete their dreams.
The appearance of such a genius youth made the already lively preliminary venue even more lively.
People supporting the youth shouted from the sides, making him even more proud. Pride. This emotion was sometimes undesirable, the worst emotion, but at certain times this emotion was necessary, a kind of motivation.
Whether this genius youth's pride belonged to which type was unclear, but regardless, he had the qualification to be proud.
If nothing unexpected happened, this youth would become the first person in these civilian preliminaries. In Qingyun City he was the best, and even in the entire Heavenly Wind Kingdom, there might not be anyone better.
However, this was assuming nothing unexpected happened. Sometimes, if a genius's fate wasn't good, they would only be more tragic than ordinary people.
The genius youth came to the venue where he would compete this time. At this moment, his opponent was already standing in the venue, seeming to have been waiting for this genius's slow arrival.
When the opponent became clear, the cheering for the genius youth suddenly disappeared.
Generally such situations had only two causes. One was that the opponent was even more amazing than this genius youth, but here that seemed impossible - the opponent's cheering was definitely not as loud as the genius youth's.
That left the second type - the opponent's appearance had something that made people quiet. Generally only devastatingly beautiful women who took one's breath away could have this effect.
Right, it was this second type - a girl beautiful enough to take one's breath away.
The appearance of such a girl made everyone feel somewhat confused. When had such a girl appeared in these preliminaries? Why had they never heard of her?
Someone with such a stunning appearance would definitely not be unknown.
Regarding this girl's appearance, everyone's first thought was that she must be some noble family's mischievous young miss. Only such people would be completely unknown.
Throughout history, playful noble family young misses often appeared in civilian preliminaries. This definitely wasn't the first time and wouldn't be the last.
Generally such noble young misses, even when mixing in such occasions, everyone would only say they were playful without criticism. They seemed born with such privilege.
Looking at this girl's clothes, though they didn't seem top-tier, they weren't poor either. Especially the workmanship and embroidery were very fine - not something ordinary people could possess. She must be some noble family's young miss.
Encountering such a noble young miss, the genius youth could only shake his head...
Everyone was also very expectant. Generally such noble young misses had no real strength and would definitely be willful and troublesome. Perhaps a good story would develop between her and that genius youth.
Though such stories were common in novels, there were quite a few real examples too.
How expectant...
"You're late!" The girl spoke, her tone very calm but with obvious reproach.
"Uh, sorry, I was a bit late!!"
The genius youth was indeed late, and not just a little - a full quarter hour. From this one could see he was somewhat proud, thinking his achievements could make others wait.
"Begin!" The girl seemed unwilling to say more.
The genius youth was choked by the girl's attitude. Those expectations seemed shattered, and he could only awkwardly say: "Please!"
"Please instruct me!" The girl bowed politely.
"Miss, please be careful. I cultivate..." The genius youth seemed to want to show his magnanimity by telling his opponent what he practiced.
However, what he didn't expect was that his opponent didn't seem to appreciate this and had already attacked. In the time it took to speak, she was suddenly before him.
Those delicate jade hands were already approaching his body. He immediately raised his hands in defense...
"Bang..."
A figure flew backward...
"Ah..."
Everyone was stunned, looking at the scene before them in disbelief. They never expected such a result.
Everyone stared blankly at the venue, at the girl standing there who looked harmless like a fairy.
The girl bowed slightly, then said softly: "I won!"
Since the girl stood there saying she won, the figure that flew out must be that genius youth. No wonder everyone found it hard to believe that the most cheered genius youth had actually lost.
This development was far too different from what everyone expected!
"Wait! It's not over!!" The genius youth who had flown out returned. He didn't accept his earlier defeat - what just happened was too fast. He felt he had been ambushed.
Not only did the genius youth think so, others thought the same - that the girl had successfully ambushed while the genius youth was speaking. According to Dragon Gate Tournament principles, such things wouldn't be allowed.
"You're already outside the venue - you've already lost!" the girl said faintly, pointing to where the youth had landed. According to Dragon Gate Tournament rules, being knocked out of the competition area was also judged as failure.