Chapter 44

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/

Chapter 44: Flying Sword

Zhang Yu could tell at a glance that the Flying Swords on the field were nothing like the children’s toy that the previous Zhang Yu had bought before. Clearly, these were not something one could simply pick up and play with.

Despite the crowd’s discontent, the host’s expression did not change as he finished reading the advertisement and began announcing the rules for the first match.

The Flying Swords currently floating in the air were products of the Nine Heavens Flying Sword company, a type of civilian-grade magic power Flying Sword.

They advertised that no mastery of any Sword Control Technique was required , nor was any specific Dao Heart Level prerequisite. Control was achieved solely through variations in magic power output, which tested the students’ ability to manipulate the Flying Swords with their magic power.

The scabbard of these Flying Swords functioned as a remote control and magic power transmitter. By adjusting the frequency, type, and intensity of the magic power input, one could control the Flying Sword.

The specific challenge for this round was for the student contestants to use their Flying Swords to hit signal markers flying in mid-air. The faster their speed and the more precise their force, the higher their score.

The total score for this round was 100 points, the same as the upcoming second and third rounds.

The final ranking for the Magic Power Competition would be determined by the combined scores from all three rounds.

As the operation manuals for the Flying Swords were distributed, the students were given half an hour to study them.

***

Behind the Bailong High School team, a middle-aged man in a tracksuit smiled slightly and said, “So, it’s still a test of magic power control, huh? At least it’s not too ridiculous. I thought we’d have to learn a Sword Control Technique on the spot.”

This was Han Xingye, Bailong High School’s Competition Coach.

Unlike Songyang High School, where magic power class teachers doubled as competition instructors, Bailong High School had teachers dedicated specifically for various competitions.

Hearing Han Xingye’s words, Song Hailong, who was standing nearby, stroked his spiky, skyward-pointing hair and said casually, “This is the first competition for our year.”

“Coach, help me take a look around and see if there are any opponents worth noting. Especially check out the caliber of Purple Cloud and Red Pagoda’s teams this year.”

Bailong High School, Purple Cloud High School, and Red Pagoda High School were the three strongest high schools in Songyang City. Barring any surprises, many of their main rivals for the next three years were likely present on the field right now.

Han Xingye readily agreed to Song Hailong’s request.

This was not only due to Song Hailong’s outstanding performance but also naturally because of his status as the heir of an incredibly wealthy family.

This proud prodigy from a prominent Songyang City family was a top-ranked descendant in his family’s KPI rankings and could be called the ace son of the Song Family’s current generation.

Han Xingye nodded. His fingertips danced across his Talisman Register, and in the next moment, with a surge of magic power, he activated the Heavenly Eye Talisman.

This talisman worked by petitioning the Great God of Heavenly Knowledge and Myriad Questions from the Ministry of Myriad People to evaluate the individuals he saw.

This evaluation compiled comprehensive data on a person, from bank deposits and personal assets to school grades, work performance, and family relationships, ultimately generating a comprehensive yet fuzzy assessment.

If you disliked the vagueness and wanted a more detailed, precise evaluation, you would need a higher Faith Level and would have to spend more money.

In short, the Heavenly Eye Talisman’s effectiveness scaled with its cost. A more detailed evaluation was more expensive, and a vaguer one was cheaper.

As Han Xingye scanned the crowd, he naturally did not dare to look at any detailed evaluations. He feared being bankrupted at a glance, since such incidents were not without precedent in Kunxu’s history.

The moment the Heavenly Eye Talisman activated, a cloud of golden light particles coalesced into Han Xingye’s eyes.

When he surveyed the scene, he could see different evaluations hovering above each person’s head.

Worthless, Worthless, Worthless, Worthless, Worthless

Worthless, Worthless, Bankrupt Gambler, Worthless, Worthless

Worthless, Ice Jade Physique (expand details), Worthless, Worthless, Worthless

“Hmm?”

Han Xingye’s gaze shifted when he noticed a girl from Purple Cloud High School had leaped up onto the spectator stands.

“Isn’t that Le Mulan from Purple Cloud? Why did she climb up there? Is she trying to see the competition’s signal markers?”

He focused his attention, and the evaluation above the girl’s head immediately expanded.

Ice Jade Physique | Medicine Affinity | High Caste | Purple Cloud Loyalist | Untouchable Flower

As a long-time user of the Heavenly Eye Talisman, Han Xingye found the evaluation complex at first glance. After a moment of thought, however, he grasped the general meaning behind the vague terms.

“This is a girl with a special constitution who can absorb elixirs well, excels academically, is fiercely loyal to Purple Cloud High School, and is a high-quality wealthy individual from a complex background.”

“Medicines? Constitution?”

Han Xingye pondered this and sent the keywords to Song Hailong before turning his attention to the other students present.

As he continued to size up the students on the field, the Match officially began.

The venue was divided into eighteen separate arenas. For each batch, eighteen contestants were randomly selected to enter their respective arenas and control their Flying Swords to strike the signal markers suspended in the air.

In Han Xingye’s eyes, the students from ordinary High Schools, whom he considered “Worthless,” took their turns. They fumbled with their Flying Swords like raw recruits and were lucky to hit one or two signal markers in midair. The judges awarded them scores of only ten or twenty points.

“Looks like none of them have ever used a Flying Sword before.”

Han Xingye knew that while this round ostensibly tested magic power control, experience with Flying Swords made all the difference. For a first-timer, even one with strong magic power control, it was incredibly difficult to master the required spatial awareness, distance judgment, accuracy, and speed, making it a struggle to achieve a good score.

For students from the top three famous schools, however, using Flying Swords was nothing new.

The ten students from Bailong High School competing this year each had at least four or five Flying Swords at home.

Han Xingye had even heard that Song Hailong’s family owned an entire sword vault containing hundreds of Flying Swords, which he had practiced with countless times.

Meanwhile, as the “Worthless” students continued their attempts, Han Xingye’s Heavenly Eye Talisman vision began to detect students labeled “Rare” or “Elite” stepping onto the stage.

He knew these were typically the top students from ordinary High Schools or the elite students from Key High Schools.

“They’d be lucky to score 30 or 40 points.”

“Their magic power control is already weak, and they’ve never even used a Flying Sword before. If it weren’t for the superior quality of the Nine Heavens flying swords, they probably wouldn’t hit a single signal marker.”

Thinking about this, Han Xingye felt a sudden urge to buy a Nine Heavens magic power flying sword for himself.

Just then, his gaze flickered. Among the crowd of Worthless, rare, and elite evaluations, he finally spotted something different.

Pure Score Slave

Han Xingye glanced at the student’s uniform. It seemed to be from Songyang High School.

In the arena, Qian Shen took a deep breath and slowly gripped the scabbard of the Flying Sword before him.

The next moment, as he channelled magic power into it, the sword shot out with a whoosh.

The blade, lacking a traditional hilt, soared into the sky like a streak of cold light, aiming for the signal markers suspended in midair.

Though he had not practiced much, Qian Shen had tried out his grandfather’s magic power flying sword a few times.

Now, following the techniques his private tutor had taught him, he slowly infused magic power into the scabbard. By varying the rhythm of his infusion, he controlled the Flying Sword to hit one signal marker after another with a series of whooshing sounds.

72 points

Seeing his score for this round, Qian Shen let out a small sigh of relief. “Not bad. This score should be acceptable.”

Across the arena, Han Xingye glanced at the 72 points and shook his head inwardly. “Sigh, Songyang High School used to be a top-tier Key High School, but the students’ standards seem to be declining with each generation.”

“Ultimately, it’s because they’re stubbornly sticking to old conventions. They refuse to learn from other schools’ advanced practices, like Purple Cloud High School’s score-based caste system or our school’s low-score slave system. Their teaching methods remain stagnant, so how can they keep up with the changing times…”

Just as Han Xingye was lost in thought, another contestant with a special evaluation appeared.

In his eyes, Lian Tianji of Purple Cloud High School strode onto the stage with the words “Child of Diligence” floating above his head. With a flick of his arm, he launched his Flying Sword, racking up 90 points with a series of swift strikes.

“That looks like Lian Tianji, the student most compatible with the Heavenly Diligence Inner Canon in Purple Cloud High School’s current generation.”

As more contestants took their turns, Han Xingye’s eyes darted around, spotting more and more special students.

From Songyang High School, the “School board Director’s Son” had just stepped onto the stage and scored 78 points.

When Le Mulan, the “Ice Jade Physique” from Purple Cloud High School, took the stage, she immediately shattered the current high score with a stunning 95 points, drawing gasps from the entire audience.

As Han Xingye scanned the crowd, a woman suddenly caught his eye.

Sword Fanatic (Expand Details)

“Oh? A student from Songyang High School?”

Han Xingye watched Bai Zhenzhen step onto the stage. He knew that individuals whose labels could be “expanded” like this usually had complex backgrounds, representing either extraordinary heritage, formidable strength, or exceptional talent. He had not expected to see such a person among the Songyang High School students.

His gaze narrowed slightly, and he saw a long list of labels unfurl above Bai Zhenzhen’s head.

Sword Fanatic | Fist Fanatic | Palm Fanatic | Blade Fanatic | Spear Fanatic | Medicine Fanatic | Score Overlord | Debt Slave | Card Slave | Dao Arts Uselessness Theory Advocate | Songyang Hater | She’s Very Poor…

Han Xingye was deeply shocked by the seemingly endless string of labels.

He had never imagined he would be stunned by a student from Songyang High School, and for no reason other than the sheer complexity of her background which was far beyond the norm.

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

“I have no idea why the evaluation is so long, but judging from this score, the girl is not worth mentioning.”

His attention was soon drawn to Song Hailong.

Before Bailong High School’s top student took the stage, he removed his long, skyward-pointing hairpiece.

Zhang Yu, watching this, exclaimed in surprise, “Holy shit! Bald in high school already?”

Bai Zhenzhen returned to the rest area with a grim look on her face. Hearing Zhang Yu’s astonishment, she pointed out from the side, “That’s not a wig. It’s an External Spirit Root.”

“External Spirit Root?” Zhang Yu recalled hearing about such things, but this was the first time he had seen one in person.

Bai Zhenzhen said enviously, “This isn’t like those outdated versions of Spirit Roots from school. This kind of External Spirit Root is plug-and-play and easy to swap out. Yu Zi, remember this, because it’s the birthday gift I want most.”

Zhang Yu patted A-Zhen’s shoulder and consoled her, “I can’t afford an External Spirit Root, but I can definitely help you with a bald head or a wig.”

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, then continued to stare intently at the hairpiece Song Hailong had placed on a chair, contemplating the possibility of swiping it.

But after glancing at the students and teachers around them, she could only let out a long sigh.

Meanwhile as Song Hailong stepped onto the stage, he felt the magic power in his body flow with perfect control, and a smile played on his lips.

Using a Spirit Root just to boost one’s magic power and cause a sudden surge? What a poor man’s mentality.

Song Hailong’s sole purpose for installing an External Spirit Root was to hone his control over magic power during the more turbulent process of absorbing spiritual energy and refining it.

Only the weak would fear losing control during a surge of magic power. For a powerhouse like me, this is the perfect training opportunity.

He gripped the scabbard with one hand and released a surge of magic power from his palm. In an instant, his Flying Sword shot out like a bolt of lightning.

From the sidelines, Han Xingye watched his student command the Flying Sword as if wielding lightning itself, instantly racking up 100 points to claim the new highest score in the competition. A look of pride crossed his face.

He scored 100 points only because the maximum score was 100.

With Song Hailong’s immense magic power, the strength of his control, and his proficiency with the Flying Sword, he was simply being limited by the point cap in this round.

***

Meanwhile, after Bai Zhenzhen returned to the rest area, Teacher Yan’s gaze kept sweeping over her from time to time.

“Bai Zhenzhen only started practicing for the Magic Power Competition recently, right? Her progress is incredibly fast. Is it talent, or just luck?”

However, in Teacher Yan’s eyes, Bai Zhenzhen’s talent in magic power ultimately could not compare to Zhang Yu’s.

A moment later, when Zhang Yu stepped onto the stage, she found herself eagerly anticipating his performance.

In the arena, Zhang Yu lightly gripped the scabbard. As he channelled his magic power into it little by little, he could feel the Flying Sword within begin to tremble gently.

While waiting offstage, Zhang Yu had already been pondering how he could maximize his score.

His situation felt like someone with perfectly nimble hands being approached and told, “Oh, you have strong finger control? Then let me test you. Go on, open that bottle cap with this excavator and we’ll see how good your control really is.”

Damn it, he grumbled inwardly, another unfair competition where the wealthy have an absolute advantage.

This Flying Sword feels like a drone, or maybe a racing drone, he thought. No matter how refined my magic power control is, I’ll never be able to control it with ease if I’ve never used one before.

The thought of maneuvering the Flying Sword back and forth to strike the palm-sized signal markers suspended in mid-air filled Zhang Yu with a sense of daunting difficulty.

So… I can’t use it in the traditional sword play game…