“The Grand Four-City Contest is an open competition in which the various martial arts academies from the four cities select their own participants. In addition to our Polar Star Academy, there are North Sea Academy, Vegas Academy, and Mante Academy.”
Teacher Daphne patiently described the Grand Four-City Contest to Li Jiye. Although he was already knowledgeable, Li Jiye still carefully listened to her, finding it extremely beneficial to learn more details.
“This kind of open competition is only held yearly. At first, it was held only to allow exchanges between academies. But over time, winning the Grand Four-City Contest became an honor that the four academies strived for.”
Daphne’s expression became a little gloomy at this point. She obviously didn’t want the four academies to become even more distant because of the fight for the Grand Four-City Contest champion.
“Teacher Daphne, do you know who will be going to Yaoyang City with me?”
According to Teacher Daphne, those who had reached the quarterfinals in the qualifying competition would be selected. This included the top five among the Tier 2 and 3 students respectively.
Daphne gave Li Jiye a few more words of advice. Because she wasn’t in charge of the Grand Four-City Contest delegation, she was even more concerned about Li Jiye.
The next day, many students of Polar Star Academy followed a group of teachers on their way to Yaoyang City.
Everyone picked a horse to ride.
These horses were domesticated demonic beasts used as a means of transportation. They had considerable physical strength and speed. Since Yaoyang City wasn’t too close to Polar Star City, they had to ride the horses for a day to reach it.
Seeing the huge front gates of Yaoyang City nearing, Li Jiye sighed inevitably.
“The glamorous Yaoyang City!”
As the seeded players in the quarterfinals, Selmore and Jovic had also joined this team heading to Yaoyang City. At this time, Jovic also nodded upon hearing Li Jiye’s sigh. “Yaoyang City is termed the imperial capital for the rich and is naturally much more luxurious than any other city. As far as I know, there are countless noble families in Yaoyang City. Many of whom have accumulated wealth equivalent to an entire nation.”
At the thought of how Adele had once said with pride that Yibao Pavilion was her family’s property, Li Jiye immediately believed him.
“Huh? Look over there… Aren’t they from the other three academies?”
Right before they entered the city, Selmore pointed to a group of men and horses not far away.
Following the direction he pointed to, Jovic and Li Jiye indeed saw a group of men and women dressed in blue school uniforms approaching Yaoyang City.
“They’re from North Sea Academy…”
The teacher leading the team glanced at them and said to the students of Polar Star Academy, “Be careful, guys… I heard that there’s a genius student in North Sea Academy with the ‘Instant Attack’ skill. He’s only 16 years old and is already at Tier 2-peak strength. He is without a doubt one of the strongest competitors in the Grand Four-City Contest.”
All three of them solemnly listened to him. As Tier 2 students of Polar Star Academy, they naturally understood what this teacher meant.
Looking more earnest, Jovic frowned and asked the teacher, “Teacher, besides North Sea Academy, do you have information about the students from other academies?”
“Hmm… Tier 2 students… Although we don’t know much about the Tier 3 students of each academy, we do know quite a bit about the Tier 2 ones.
“The student from North Sea Academy I mentioned just now is Barman Yingjian. According to the news I received a few days ago, the winner of the Vegas Academy qualifying competition is called Mike, who has a great Sword Proficiency skill. I heard that his attacks are very wide-ranging and powerful.
“The champion of Mante Academy is called Lingard— Tsk.” Speaking of this, he suddenly paused.
Li Jiye and the others couldn’t help but feel curious.
“What’s wrong? Is this student from Mante Academy too impressive?”
The teacher shook his head with a strange expression.
“No… Let’s just say that Lingard won the championship out of sheer luck… Let me put it this way. He had a smooth journey ever since the top 16. All his opponents either suddenly fainted for unknown reasons or had their originally precise attacks suddenly veer off course.
“All in all… Lingard isn’t very powerful and only just broke through to Tier 2 advanced-level. However, his luck is out of this world… It’ll be unfortunate if you encounter him in the competition. You can only pray your luck is better than his.”
The teacher’s remarks made everyone feel a little puzzled. Although it was often said that luck was a part of one’s strength, nobody had ever heard of a champion enthroned through luck.
Li Jiye secretly wondered if Lingard’s skill or element was a little unique? His weird luck might have come from that.
As they talked, the students and teachers from North Sea Academy had already approached them. One of the thin teachers leading the way came directly over to them and shook hands with one of the teachers from Polar Star Academy.
“We’re still number one in terms of friendship in this Grand Four-City Contest. Hehe. I hope Polar Star Academy can get rid of their title of being the ‘Thousandth-Year 2nd-place.'” A peculiar smile appeared on the thin teacher from North Sea Academy. The teacher who was previously talking to Li Jiye and the others immediately pulled a long face.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with us… Go ahead.” He narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.
The leader of North Sea Academy immediately galloped into the city without looking back.
“Why is that teacher from North Sea Academy so annoying? He has such a nasty personality. I really don’t know how he’s a teacher!” Selmore had a deep affection for Polar Star Academy and was instantly angry to hear the teacher from North Sea Academy speak so rudely.
But his teacher pulled him back in time.
“Remember, don’t do things hastily when you’re in the city. There is a very important rule in the Grand Four-City Contest. Students are forbidden to fight in private. If anyone violates this rule, he or she will be disqualified.”
“It’s expected that the people from North Sea Academy will try to irritate and provoke Polar Star Academy. We mustn’t let them get their way! Endure your anger and pay them back on the battlefield.”
Li Jiye and the others nodded solemnly.