For most students, the next three days were leisurely—but the Core Disciples entered the selection tournament in a frenzy of preparation.
Chen Junting, with Electrolux's help, extracted the ambient energy patterns from the Golden Ancient Tree branch, refining the array he'd developed over the holiday. He then visited Wang Dong and Wu Feng repeatedly, using Wang Dong's Hao Tian Hammer martial soul and Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique, along with Wu Feng's Crimson Dragon Flame, to smelt metals for his custom array devices and a specialized array-inscribed soul engineering device.
The two eventually fled from him, dragging Ning Tian to intervene.
Who asks girls to help forge metal!?
Fortunately, Chen Junting needed only small quantities—and thanks to their earlier efforts, all materials were ready. Now, he'd craft true array devices and array-inscribed soul engineering devices.
After all, merely etching temporary array runes onto soul engineering devices—like he'd done before—only supplemented ambient qi. It wasn't a true array-inscribed device, nor could it function as an array device for formations.
---
Third Day – Afternoon
Ding—!
The dismissal bell rang. Wang Yan set down his lesson plan. "Core Disciples stay. Others may leave."
The classroom erupted. Within three minutes, only six remained.
Wang Yan smiled. "Teacher Mujin informed you three days ago. Follow me to the Spirit Arena."
Their hearts pounded. Finally!
They exited Class One—just as Classes Two and Three's Core Disciples arrived with their teachers.
Class Two and Three each had only one Core Disciple—Xie Huanyue's inclusion a special exception for his outstanding performance. Class Four? Not a single Core Disciple to speak of.
Spotting Chen Junting, Ning Tian excused herself from her teacher and beckoned Xie Huanyue to join Class One's group.
"Mind if we tag along?"
"Of course not!"
The teachers approved—student bonds benefited their futures.
Soon, the second-years reached the Spirit Arena, followed by third- and fourth-years. The upperclassmen drew little respect; many second-years were stronger. Who feared them?
Then—three fifth-years in black uniforms appeared: Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan—the only under-15 Core Disciples in their year. Plus He Caitou from Soul Engineering.
Total: 23 participants.
"Chen Junior," Bei Bei greeted, joining their group. This instantly put others on edge—the strongest knew each other!
"Senior Bei Bei, you shouldn't have come over," Chen Junting said, nodding toward the wary crowd. "They'll target us now." His tone held no fear.
"So what?" Xu Sanshi slung an arm around his neck. "One-on-one? We're fearless. Free-for-all? Let's crush them together!"
Chen Junting chuckled. "Confident, Senior Xu."
"Got the strength to back it up!" Xu Sanshi thumped his chest. "We'll take all seven spots!"
Chen Junting weighed their odds. Victory was certain—but with nine allies (Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Bei Bei's trio, He Caitou), splitting seven slots would be messy.
Before he could decide—
"Little Wang!"
A disheveled old man—left hand clutching a wine gourd, right a roasted chicken—staggered into the arena. His steps wobbled, yet never faltered.
"Him!?" Ning Tian gasped.
Wu Feng leaned in. "You know him?"
"He visited our sect with Headmaster Yan Shaozhe. His status surpassed even the Headmaster's. Likely a Sea God Pavilion Elder," Chen Junting explained.
Ning Tian frowned. "Really? He feels… unreliable."
Chen Junting's eye twitched. Unreliable?
This was the man who'd nearly wiped out the Inner Court's elite twice! Only his "orthodox" background kept him from being labeled a Holy Spirit Sect Grand Elder.
Wang Yan—addressed as "Little Wang"—rushed forward, bowing deeply with the other teachers. Unfamiliar students gaped, then hastily mimicked the reverence—even Dai Huabin stood meek as a lamb.
The old man—Elder Xuan—lifted his bleary eyes, sharpness flashing within.
"All here?"
"Twenty-three, Elder Xuan," Wang Yan reported. "Twenty-one Martial Soul, one Soul Engineering, one dual-Core."
"Hmph. Plenty." Xuan Zi took a swig, then waved dismissively. "No speeches, follow me. Quick match—no time to waste."
He lurched toward the arena center, steps unsteady yet unnervingly steady.
Core Disciples trailed their teachers inside—except He Caitou, who joined Chen Junting's group at his invitation.
Once Xuan Zi stood at the arena's heart, he barked:
"Listen up, brats! The selection's simple: attack each other. Last seven standing win."
Before anyone could react, he roared:
"TEACHERS—OUT!"
"BEGIN!"
---
Author's Note:
Let me clarify the differences:
- Soul Engineering Device: Standard equipment.
- Array-Inscribed Soul Engineering Device: An array is permanently etched during crafting (not temporary). This grants the device array functionality (e.g., amplification, attack).
- Array Device: Used only to deploy formations. It has no inherent function—purely a tool for array setup.
T/N: This is not something in the original works and is an author-created setting.
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