Chapter 44: Flying Sword

Chapter 44: Flying Sword

Zhang Yu could tell at a glance that the Flying Sword on the field was nothing like the children’s version he had bought before. Clearly, this was no toy.

Despite the audience’s grumbling, the host maintained a poker face as he finished the advertisement and began announcing the rules for the first round.

The Floating Flying Sword on the field was a product of Nine Heavens Flying Sword, a civilian-grade Magic Power Flying Sword.

It was touted as requiring no mastery of sword techniques or Dao Heart levels. One simply controlled the Flying Sword by varying the output of Magic Power. This round would test the students’ ability to control the Flying Sword using Magic Power.

The sword sheath acted like a remote control and a Magic Power transmitter. By adjusting the frequency, type, and intensity of the Magic Power input, the user could control the Flying Sword.

The specific task for this round was to use the Flying Sword to hit Signal Targets floating in mid-air. The faster and more accurately the targets were hit, the higher the score. The total score for this round, as well as the next two, was 100 points.

The final rankings for the Mystic Arts Competition would be determined by the total scores from all three rounds.

With the Flying Sword operation manuals distributed, the students had half an hour to study.

In the back of Bailong High’s team, a middle-aged man in a tracksuit smiled slightly and said, "So it’s a test of Magic Power control? At least it’s not too outrageous. I thought we might have to learn Sword Mastery on the spot."

This was Han Xingye, the competition coach of Bailong High.

Unlike Songyang High, where Magic Power class teachers doubled as competition advisors, Bailong High had a dedicated team of coaches for various competitions.

Hearing Han Xingye’s words, Song Hailong, who was standing nearby, touched his spiky hair and said casually, "This is our first competition this year."

"Coach, help us identify any noteworthy opponents, especially those from Ziyun and Hongta."

Bailong High, Ziyun High, and Hongta High were the top three high schools in Songyang City. If things went as expected, they would be competing against each other for the next three years.

Han Xingye readily agreed, not only because of Song Hailong’s excellent academic performance but also because of his immense wealth. Song Hailong, a scion of a prominent Songyang City family, was one of the top Kpi performers in his lineage, making him a key figure in the Song family.

Han Xingye nodded and began sliding his finger over his Talisman Grimoire. A moment later, with a surge of Magic Power, he activated the Heavenly Eye Talisman.

The Heavenly Eye Talisman invoked the Heaven-Knowing Ten Thousand Questions Great God from the Ministry of Ten Thousand People to evaluate the individuals in his line of sight. This evaluation included a person’s bank balance, personal assets, academic performance, work efficiency, family relationships, and more, culminating in a comprehensive, albeit vague, assessment.

For a more detailed and precise evaluation, one needed a higher level of faith and a larger sum of money.

In short, the more detailed the evaluation, the more expensive it was, while a vague assessment was cheaper.

Han Xingye surveyed the entire field, not daring to look at the detailed evaluations for fear of bankrupting himself. Such incidents had occurred in Kunxu’s history.

As the Heavenly Eye Talisman activated, a golden glow gathered in Han Xingye’s eyes. When he scanned the crowd, different evaluations appeared above people’s heads.

Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning

Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, bankrupt gambler, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning

Not worth mentioning, Icicle Flesh (expand details), not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning

"Hmm?"

Han Xingye’s eyes flickered as he noticed a girl from Ziyun High climbing onto the spectator stands.

"That’s Yue Murlan from Ziyun, right? Why is she up there? Is she watching the Signal Targets?"

He focused on her, and the evaluation above her head expanded.

Icicle Flesh | Pill Prodigy | Noble Lineage | Ziyun Loyalist | Unattainable Bloom

As an experienced user of the Heavenly Eye Talisman, Han Xingye quickly deciphered the vague evaluation.

"This is a girl with a special constitution, skilled at consuming pills, excellent academic performance, loyal to Ziyun High, and a complex, high-quality wealthy individual."

"Pills? Constitution?"

Han Xingye mused, sending the key points to Song Hailong before continuing to observe the other participants.

As he scrutinized the students, the competition officially began. The field was divided into eighteen sub-arenas, with 18 randomly selected participants competing in each. They each controlled a Flying Sword to hit the Signal Targets floating in the air.

In Han Xingye’s eyes, ordinary high school students who were labeled as "not worth mentioning" took the stage. They fumbled with the Flying Swords like new recruits, managing to hit one or two Signal Targets at best, earning scores of 10 or 20 points from the judges.

"Looks like none of them have ever played with a Flying Sword before."

Han Xingye knew that although this round was supposed to test Magic Power control, experience with Flying Swords made a significant difference. Even with strong Magic Power control, a first-time user would find it challenging to score well, especially with the spatial, distance, accuracy, and speed requirements.

But for students from the top three high schools, playing with Flying Swords was no big deal. For instance, the ten participants from Bailong High had at least four or five Flying Swords at home. As far as he knew, Song Hailong’s family had an entire arsenal of hundreds of Flying Swords, which he had played with countless times.

Meanwhile, among the "not worth mentioning" students, some with "rare" and "elite" evaluations began to appear in Han Xingye’s Heavenly Eye Talisman view. These were typically the top students from ordinary high schools or elite students from key high schools.

"A score of 30 or 40 would be impressive for them."

"Given their weak Magic Power control and lack of experience with Flying Swords, they’d probably miss all the Signal Targets if it weren’t for the quality of the Nine Heavens Flying Sword."

Thinking this, Han Xingye felt a sudden urge to buy a Nine Heavens Magic Power Flying Sword.

At that moment, his gaze shifted, and he finally saw a different evaluation among the "not worth mentioning", "rare", and "elite" students.

Pure Academic Slave

Han Xingye glanced at the student’s school uniform, recognizing it as Songyang High School’s.

In the arena, Qian Shen took a deep breath and slowly grasped the scabbard of the Flying Sword in front of him.

In the next moment, as he channeled a surge of Magic Power into it, the Flying Sword shot out with a whistling sound.

This Flying Sword was entirely a blade, without a hilt, soaring into the sky like a streak of cold light, aiming for the Signal Targets in mid-air.

Although he didn't play much, Qian Shen had tried the Magic Power Flying Sword at his grandfather's house a few times.

Now, following the techniques taught by his family tutor, he slowly channeled Magic Power into the scabbard, controlling the Flying Sword to hit the Signal Targets one after another by adjusting the rhythm of the Magic Power input.

72 points.

Seeing his score for this round, Qian Shen let out a slight sigh of relief: "Not bad, I think I can explain this to them."

On the other side, Han Xingye glanced at the 72 points and shook his head inwardly: "Sungyang High School is a well-known key high school, but the students' standards are getting worse with each generation."

"Ultimately, it's due to their stubbornness. They are unwilling to learn from other schools' advanced methods, like the score-based caste system of Ziyun High or the low-score slave system of our school. Their teaching methods have never been innovative, so how can they keep up with the times..."

Just as Han Xingye was thinking this, he saw another participant with a special evaluation appear.

In his eyes, Lian Tianji from Ziyun High, labeled as 'Heavenly Diligence's Son,' walked onto the arena, flicked his wrist, and sent the Flying Sword flying, scoring 90 points with swift precision.

"Seems like that Lian Tianji, the one most suited for the Heavenly Diligence Technique in this year's Ziyun High class."

As more and more participants took turns, Han Xingye's eyes roamed, and he saw more and more special students.

A 'Board Trustee's Son' from Sungyang High School had just appeared, scoring 78 points.

Yue Murlan, the 'Icicle Flesh' from Ziyun High, entered the arena and scored the current highest of 95 points, drawing gasps from the crowd.

While Han Xingye was looking around, a woman caught his attention.

Sword Prodigy (Details Unfolded)

"Oh? A student from Sungyang High School?"

Han Xingye watched as Bai Zhenzhen walked onto the arena. He knew that people who could 'unfold' usually had complex backgrounds, representing notable origins, strength, or talent. He didn't expect to see this in a student from Sungyang High School.

His gaze sharpened as a row of words unfolded above Bai Zhenzhen's head.

Sword Prodigy | Fist Prodigy | Palm Prodigy | Blade Prodigy | Spear Prodigy | Herb Prodigy | Score Tyrant | Loan Slave | Card Slave | Path Art Futility Doctrine | Sungyang Critic | She's Very Poor...

Reading through the lengthy evaluations, Han Xingye was deeply shocked.

He never thought he would be shocked by a student from Sungyang High School, and the reason was simply because her background was far more complex and unusual than anyone else's.

However, his shock quickly subsided when he saw her score: 34 points.

"Although I don't know why the evaluation is so long, this score shows she's not worth mentioning."

Soon, his attention was drawn to Song Hailong.

Before taking the stage, the top student from Bailong High removed his long hair from his head.

Zhang Yu, watching this, was surprised: "What the heck! Bald in high school?"

Bai Zhenzhen, looking gloomy as she returned to the rest area, explained: "That's not a wig; it's an External Spirit Root."

"External Spirit Root?" Zhang Yu recalled that such a thing existed, but it was his first time seeing one in real life.

Bai Zhenzhen said enviously, "This isn't the old version of the Spirit Root from school. This External Spirit Root is plug-and-play, easy to remove and replace. Remember, it's the birthday gift I want most."

Zhang Yu patted Ah Zhen's shoulder, comforting her: "I can't afford an External Spirit Root, but I can satisfy your baldness and wig needs."

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes and continued to stare at the wig Song Hailong had placed on the chair, considering the possibility of stealing it.

But looking around at the other students and teachers, she could only sigh.

On the stage, Song Hailong felt the Magic Power within him flow smoothly as he equipped the External Spirit Root. A smile appeared on his lips.

Equipping the Spirit Root to boost Magic Power and make it surge?

That's a poor man's idea.

Song Hailong's purpose in equipping the External Spirit Root was to enhance his control over Magic Power during the more intense Spiritual Respiration, Spiritual Current, and Magic Power refinement.

Weaker people worry about losing control over the surge in Magic Power from the Spiritual Current, but for someone like him, this is the best training opportunity.

He grasped the scabbard with one hand, released Magic Power from his palm, and the Flying Sword shot out like a bolt of lightning.

Han Xingye, watching his student control the Flying Sword like lightning, saw him score 100 points in an instant, becoming the new highest scorer. A proud smile appeared on his face.

"100 points, only because the maximum score is 100."

"Given Song Hailong's abundant Magic Power, his strong control over Magic Power, and his proficiency with the Flying Sword, he was limited by the total score."

On the other side, when Bai Zhenzhen returned to the rest area, Teacher Yan's gaze occasionally swept over her.

"Bai Zhenzhen must have only started practicing Mystic Arts Competition content recently. Her progress is quite fast. Is it due to talent, or just a coincidence?"

However, in Teacher Yan's eyes, Bai Zhenzhen's talent in Magic Power still couldn't match Zhang Yu's.

A moment later, when Zhang Yu took the stage, Teacher Yan eagerly awaited his performance.

In the arena, Zhang Yu lightly grasped the scabbard, and as he slowly channeled Magic Power, he could feel the Flying Sword start to tremble.

While waiting his turn, Zhang Yu had pondered how to score as high as possible.

His situation was like having flexible hands without any disabilities, and then someone coming over and saying: "Hey? Your finger control is strong? Let me test you. Operate the excavator in front of you to open a bottle cap and see how your finger control is."

Damn, another unfair and unequal competition where the rich have an absolute advantage.

Zhang Yu muttered to himself.

"This Flying Sword feels like a drone or a quadcopter. Even with my precise Magic Power control, without experience, it won't be easy to handle."

Thinking about maneuvering the Flying Sword to hit the palm-sized Signal Targets in mid-air, Zhang Yu felt the task was extremely difficult.

"So, I can't play the traditional Flying Sword..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end