"Yes, then let's all work hard." Third Miss nodded.
Administrator Lin's logistics were being prepared - carriages, food, logistics personnel, etc., all completed. Leaving a few to handle remaining matters, everyone else followed their assigned charges according to allocation.
Regarding Qingyun Province's logistics, the Heavenly Wind King didn't object. After receiving news, he instead expressed praise, feeling Qingyun Province was very good this time with outstanding performance.
He only restricted that contestants must complete the journey on foot, but regarding food, clothing, lodging, and transportation along the way, contestants didn't need to solve these themselves - they could be arranged by others.
He preferred seeing such situations, seeing contestants' maximum ability displayed, and also wanted to see if his subordinates' minds could adapt flexibly.
Qingyun Province's performance satisfied him greatly. He now began anticipating Qingyun Province's performance, believing that after this time, Qingyun Province would receive very favorable policy arrangements.
Qingyun Province's people didn't disappoint the Heavenly Wind King either. When people from Qingyun Province saw Nangong Suxin's behavior, they understood from the beginning that this was an endurance battle. None of them forced themselves to proceed at maximum speed.
Though they were in a trailing position initially, soon people ahead began running out of strength, being overtaken one by one. The entire Qingyun Province formation appeared in front.
Of course, this was only relatively speaking in the front formation. After all, there were still some masters who understood these principles - they were also in front. However, Qingyun Province's prominence was also very obvious.
Also, soon Guxing's leading position became prominent. Having seized the initiative, unless she met extremely strong opponents, she could basically confirm first place.
Initially, some people still felt they might overtake Guxing - as long as Guxing's stamina gave out, as long as Guxing rested longer than them, they'd have chances to overtake.
But soon everyone was surprised to discover that Guxing would indeed run out of stamina, but when her stamina gave out, others had long since failed. In terms of endurance, no one was more durable than her.
As for rest time, they felt there was no comparison - absolutely no comparison.
Generally, under such intense consumption, people's rest time would definitely be longer than usual. Even using meditation, at least two or three hours would be needed. But Guxing only used one or two hours, then continued starting again.
How, how did she do this?
Regardless of how Guxing did it, under Guxing's intense stimulation, almost everyone only used meditation to recover stamina. As long as they were smart people, none forced themselves - before recovering full energy, no one would end rest to give chase.
That would only reduce their stamina and endurance, with counterproductive results. Some people verified this - they wanted to chase Guxing without sufficient rest, but ultimately not only failed to catch up but were overtaken by people behind them one by one.
Later, they understood that doing this was haste makes waste.
Guxing enjoyed this situation greatly. Don't misunderstand - she wasn't enjoying first place, but she discovered that such intense stamina consumption followed by short-term cultivation recovery, continuing cyclically, could actually advance her internal energy considerably.
This was a form of cultivation.
That's right, this was a form of cultivation. Not only did Guxing discover this situation, but Nangong Suxin, Young Miss and others behind also discovered it. They found that the more tired they were, the more they couldn't rest - or rather, shouldn't rest in ordinary ways, but should continue circulating energy. Though this was very hard, afterward the body would have a very comfortable feeling.
At the same time, under such circulation, internal energy actually improved to varying degrees.
Qingyun Province's people also received some guidance from Nangong Suxin. She wanted all her people in front. They also began using this originally simple technique and seemed to discover their internal energy cultivation had advanced.
This might also be because their recent meals had been good. Administrator Lin's logistics team spared no expense using ginseng and other major tonic medicinal foods, giving them maximum stamina.
In Administrator Lin's words, this was government money. As long as they could achieve victory, however much money, the government would pay.
Under such circumstances, Guxing led all the way, reaching Wolong Town at noon on the fourth day - faster than carriages by a day, a full half-day faster than others. The second person arrived in the evening.
The logistics personnel scouting with Guxing suffered - they basically traveled day and night to complete such work. Fortunately, they could rest in carriages with drivers taking turns, otherwise they really couldn't serve Guxing.
However, after seeing Guxing's results, they felt everything was worthwhile. They hadn't expected Qingyun Province to achieve first place in the first trial, and it was even a commoner.
Only a few people knew Guxing's identity. In others' eyes, Guxing was a commoner. Besides, she was originally from the commoner section.
"Finally arrived. I shouldn't be too bad."
Young Miss arrived that evening, though certainly many people arrived before her. Of course, not too many, but one person would definitely be there.
"Yes, you finally arrived. I've been waiting for you for so long." Nangong Suxin said very disdainfully. Beside her was her Third Sister Nangong Su - Third Miss naturally was responsible for her big sister, following Nangong Suxin together.
"How long? At most one hour." Young Miss didn't care.
"Don't mention one hour - even a quarter hour is faster than you. Aren't you convinced?" Nangong Suxin said.
Young Miss said carelessly: "Tch, then go compare with Seventh Sister."
"..." Nangong Suxin was speechless.
Who dared compare with Guxing's results here? That would be asking for death.
Nangong Suxin had just been compared with the second-place person. She was only a quarter hour behind, ranking fourth place, already very good results.
As long as one could enter the top thirty here, they could enter the continental eastern district competition. Regardless of future results, anyway those who could stand out here would definitely thrive in Heavenly Wind Kingdom in the future.
At the same time, as long as they entered the eastern district, there was certain chance of being noticed by those major sects and academies. Though top-tier ones weren't there, at least it was a very good path - a path others dreamed of.
Of course, talking about rankings was still early because this trial mainly tested internal breath duration and movement technique levels.
Some people weren't good at this but had much higher attack power. Therefore, this couldn't represent strength levels.
Because of this, even though Guxing achieved first place, in the second-place person's view, she just had longer internal breath endurance and faster movement techniques. In single combat, he absolutely wouldn't lose to her.
"Is there food? Quickly bring it out. Tonight I want to eat heartily and sleep beautifully." Young Miss loudly said to logistics personnel nearby.
Though circulating energy could eliminate fatigue and substitute for sleep, sleeping felt much better. Young Miss was someone who would never miss sleeping if possible. Besides, she had now learned to circulate energy while sleeping.
"Won't you circulate energy? That has considerable benefits."
"Xiaoyao said women who don't sleep get wrinkles and age very quickly..."
"Oh, I also think sleeping is better."
"..."
Regardless of who said this, any woman hearing these words would definitely prioritize sleeping.
Incidentally, Young Miss was tenth, while Qingyun Province also had fifteenth-place Nangong Tianming, seventeenth-place Lin Yi, twentieth-place Mo Mo, twenty-fourth-place Zhan Bai, twenty-seventh-place Mo Qiu, and finally thirty-first-place Nangong Jingming (Big Head Fourth Young Master).
It must be said that this time Qingyun Province achieved great victory - not only getting first place, but three in the top ten, eight in the top thirty, and all remaining people within the top hundred.
The entire Heavenly Wind Kingdom had eighteen provinces. The Dragon Gate Tournament had over a thousand total participants. Qingyun Province, this province not much favored with only forty-seven participants, actually achieved such results, surprising everyone.
This news also made Administrator Lin very excited. He knew he had handled this matter well and would definitely receive rewards from above, possibly attracting attention from the kingdom's upper levels. His career prospects would be unlimited.
At the same time, the Mo family was also very prominent this time - all within the top thirty.
If people knew the first place was also a Mo family member, who knows what kind of reaction there would be...
The next day.
"Since we've arrived early, we should understand what kind of test they'll conduct this time." Nangong Suxin gathered everyone together. Under Administrator Lin's arrangements, Qingyun Province's people got a large house as lodging.
Though facilities weren't as complete as the previous capital, it had a unique rural flavor. Sometimes living in such places gave people a sense of freshness.
"I already observed yesterday. That mountain area has frequent traffic. I estimate the next round will be there." Lin Yi pointed at a mountain peak where not only were people coming and going, but there were many obvious markers.
"No need to estimate. Administrator Lin already said it's there, and everything is there - straight through to the end. There won't be other trials." Nangong Suxin said.
"No way? Straight through to the end?" Everyone was very surprised, seemingly not having thought there would be only one round left.
"Saying straight through to the end, but it seems there will be three stages in between - could also be called three trials. They just put the venues together, passing level by level in breakthrough form." Nangong Suxin explained.
(End of Chapter)