The sudden appearance of a genius like him shook the square by storm and everyone was waiting to see his battle prowess in the next round. The intense 2nd round competition would take place on a fighting stage, and this is what most people were looking forward to because only the powerful ones would be able to survive and win the round.
Although he had taken first place in the first round and set a new record by stepping on the 100th step, some people were not very optimistic about him considering his weak cultivation level. Since no one had really seen him killing the disciples of the blood and bone sect, it was logical to doubt him.
They were thinking of being able to resist some pressure doesn't really mean that he can defeat the higher level cultivators in close combat.
Some of them were even betting on his survival since he had offended the celebrity disciples, especially Alex Fisher and Celina and neither of these two were not someone who can be easily dealt with. They were the rising stars of Bredia and heirs to two prominent families.
All the disciples of the MorningStar and Golden Valley were looking at him with jumbled emotions. Since the starting of the competition, none of the competitors brought shame to their sect and seniors like Ghost did, an outsider from nowhere. And even after that, he didn't join any of their sects but actually decided to join a declined sect and this angered them to an extent.
"The first round of the competition is completed. All top 24 participants proceed to the fighting stage in five minutes"
Celina announced this time and the four of them flew to the next stage and landed on a high tower in the center of the square. In front of the tower, twelve 4 meter tall fighting stages were waiting for the 24 participants.
"This freak going to f**k them all up, sigh"
Gaya sighed.
Unlike these doubtful crowds, she saw him massacre each and every disciples and Ralphy without using any dirty tricks. Even a Strengthening stage level 2 cultivator couldn't do anything to him, what these weaklings could do to him?
If there wasn't a chance that someone might recognize her, Gaya would jump out and start making bets to get super-rich. The 24 youngsters who were in high fighting spirits didn't take the given five-minute break but already reached the fighting stages as Micheal walked towards the Sunrise sect people.
"Everyone"
The Elders and the group of disciples came rushing to him as they surrounded him. A moment ago, he looked extremely arrogant and cold but now his demeanor took a 180 turn and looked friendly and warm.
"Young man, you..."
Elder Sandra's voice trailed but Micheal sighed and retrieved Riyan's blood-stained badge from his storage.
"This"
Each of their eyes widened and their bodies slightly shook looking at the bloodied badge on his hand.
"I'm sorry for your loss"
He sighed and started to tell what happened at the rosewood village making Riyan the hero of this story. Some of the female disciples dropped on their knees hearing him as tears started to flow out of the male disciples too. Micheal was surprised to see each of them looked truly saddened by Riyan's demise and except Elder Mark, the other elders also couldn't hold back their tears.
"Young man, you don't have to join us for Riyan, it's still not too late to join the big sects for you"
"No, what use of big sects if they don't even teach their students the basic humanity?"
At the same moment, standing on the tower, Celina took a step forward and spoke with a loud voice, "The Stairway was just a warm-up, so it doesn't matter who took the first place and who took the last place. It was just a filter for the second round. Only those who have exceptional cultivation and power will be able to survive the second round"
Celine might have said this looking at the crowd, but it was definitely directed towards Micheal.
"Miss Celina, may we know what the rewards are this year?"
Someone from the crowd shouted as everyone stared at Celina for her answer.
"Yeah tell us Senior, it will be an extra motivation for us!"
A youngster from the MorningStar asked and not only did the participating disciples look up with anticipation, but even the crowd was also filled with expectations. The competition was organized by the Royal family and the three big sects so the reward would be no joke.
"So be it, the first place will be rewarded with three things, Fifty thousand gold, one storage ring, and one thousand years old blood lotus"
When they heard about the three rewards, the crowd immediately became restless.
"Awesome! Fifty thousand gold! With this amount, the winner don't even have to cultivate but spend the rest of their life like a king"
"F**k the gold, the Thousand Year old blood lotus is even more precious and valuable. When turned into the Arch pill and consumed, it would cancel the bottleneck between the Body refining and Body strengthening stage! This is a huge reward!"
"The storage ring is not a normal thing either! The storage ring is small and convenient to carry, and it can imprint a person's soul wave, making it so that only the owner can use it!"
"The second place will get..."
Celina started to speak but Micheal was not in the mood to listen since he was aiming for the first place.
"I hope the rewards are worth my time"
The disciples felt like they had just been attacked by a huge hammer when they heard him and looked at his face.
"Brother Ghost, don't tell me you don't know the value of these things?"
"Not much"
He was still new to this world so he had no idea what he could do with fifty thousand gold. Obviously, he didn't care about the space rings, he had the system storage for that and this was the first time he was hearing the name blood lotus.
"Young man, do you really think you can take the first place in the second round too?"
Elder miles ask doubtfully as Micheal smiled
"I don't think, Elder, I know I can, I have a reputation to protect, after all"
They saw no fear in his eyes but pride and confidence as the loud boom sounds of war drums appeared again.
Boom boom boom
"Good luck, young man"
"Please be safe, brother Ghost"
Micheal waved at them and went to the fighting stage where Alex was waiting for the participants.
When all the 24 participants were ready, they were now just waiting for Celina's command and she casually waved her hand as 24 phone-sized marble plates flew out in line. Each plate's back faced each participant.
"Here's 24 plates, on top of them there is a number from 1 to 12. Choose one randomly. Participants who get the same number will be fighting against each other on the stage." This was the same rule as Gaya said earlier.
"Pray to your god that we don't pick the same number"
The red-haired youth from before said with an evil smile.
"Who the f**k are you?"
He didn't even know this guy he was doing his best to get himself killed and Micheal wondered why. Hearing Micheal, a flash of anger appeared in his eyes
"You'll know soon"
"Aside from the top three, for the rest of you, your sect will reward you individually depending on your results, therefore, everyone has to fight with all of their strength," Adam Kane said loudly.
"Let the fights begin," Celina said as all the participants walked up and chose a plate.
Among the 24 participants, Eight from the MorningStar, Six from the Golden Valley, Six from the Silver Moon. In the remaining four, two picked the Morning Star and one joined the Golden Valley. Micheal was the only one who didn't come from any big background and picked the Sunrise sect.
Micheal randomly picked and flipped the plate in his hands to see 'six' was written on it. This means that the other person who had 'six' on his plate would be his opponent, and they would be fighting on the sixth fighting stage.
"Who's the poor f**ker who got six?"
"The fights will be deathmatches, and the only way to escape death is to surrender. This is a Survival of the fittest competition, there's no place for mercy here, if you have the skill and chance, kill your opponent without giving him or her the chance to surrender"
Most of the crowd frowned hearing Alex but Micheal agreed with him, these cultivators were extremely cruel and ruthless. If the roles were reversed, none of these youngsters would show him mercy or give him the chance to surrender because as far as they were concerned, he's their enemy. However, the only thing that made him think deeper was Riyan, even though he was a cultivator just like them, he was kind and died saving those children sacrificing his life.
"Well well well, you really have such bad luck!"
Again, Micheal heard that annoying voice of the red-haired youngster and turned his head. He was standing in front of him with the marble plate in his hand.
"Number six"
