CHAPTER 533: CONTEST.

Hao Ren sat surrounded by the two elders, and they were telling him how the contest worked. Flaming Hammer said, "There are five rounds."

This caused Hao Ren to get curious. Flaming Hammer continued, "The first round is where you would be given a few artifacts, and looking at them you would be asked to identify the metals used to make it."

Hao Ren was surprised, but then he realized that based on the knowledge of a grandmaster, this should be a basic minimum of what they can do. Serene Storme replied, "Half of the people are often disqualified in this level only."

Flaming Hammer nodded and replied, "One has to identify ten such metals, and then they would be allowed to proceed. Many times people have raised objection but they were all silenced by Tian Teicong. The acting council head. He insists that the competition is fair and there has been no manipulation but we don’t believe him. After all, if none can win the final round, he gets to go inside the small world to observe the relic. To pass, you need to identify ten metals."

Hao Ren nodded and then Flaming Hammer continued, "So, after the metal identification comes rune casting. You will be given some artifacts and asked to embed some Dao Runes on it. To pass you need to cast three runes within an hour."

Hao Ren frowned and said, "This is quite difficult. How can you just cast three runes on a weapon crafted by a stranger? If the technique of the two people didn’t match or compliment each other, then the shards of the artifact can probably kill the practitioner."

Flaming Hammer nodded and replied, "Yes, that is the case. The motive of this round is to test your knowledge of artifact refining techniques."

Serene Storme replied, "Yes, this test is used to measure how skilled you are when it comes to repairing high level artifacts, after all, not everyone can just commission such a weapon."

Hao Ren sighed, and then Flaming Hammer said, "The third round would need you to refine a weapon with one Dao Rune on it. The ones with stronger artifact would advance to the fourth round."

Serene Storme replied, "You would be given six hours to refine an artifact that should outclass everyone else. They would clash the two weapons together and the ones who manage to shatter the other person’s artifact weapon would win."

Flaming Hammer sighed and continued, "The final round, the winner of the fourth round would stand and face the acting head of the refining council, Tian Teicong."

Hao Ren raised his brow and asked, "Isn’t that openly manipulating the whole situation?"

Flaming Hammer nodded and replied, "It is what it is, but this thing has continued for heavens know how long. Ever since that old man took command of the council it has been like this. This is his way of manipulating the entrance to the special realm and keep the time to comprehend the secrets."

Hao Ren clicked his tongue and shook his head a little before he said, "This is the reason why everything is evading him. Be it his realm or be it the chance for him to see through the technique hidden in the relic. It is a life choice that is causing all this for him."

The two grandmasters agreed with Hao Ren. Then they asked, "What would you refine? Usually there is complete freedom in refining artifacts. People craft lamps and needles, swords and spears."

Hao Ren thought about it and he said, "I will make a sword."

The two elders nodded, and then Hao Ren asked, "Can you tell me when will the competition start?"

Serene Storme replied, "It would start next week. Do you have all the metals that you need for your sword?"

Hao Ren nodded and said, "I have everything. I just want to meditate and consolidate on the things that I have comprehended over the past few days."

Serene Storme said, "You can do it here, Old Flame will cast a barrier."

Hao Ren thanked them and agreed to stay inside the barrier. However, just when he went inside to meditate, Hiro, and Jiro arrived. The two elders were surprised, and Jiro said, "I am here to start my discipleship, and the my sister wishes to seek Master’s tutelage for combat arts."

The old men smiled and Grandmaster Flaming Hammer, and he said, "Come inside, Grandmaster Ren has just entered seclusion. He would be out before the contest starts."

The two youngsters nodded and followed them inside. They spotted Hao Ren to be sitting in the center of the courtyard with his eyes closed. The two of them looked at each other, and Grandmaster Serene Storme said, "You can cultivate outside this barrier, or live in the house behind. It is all vacant and is used by Grandmaster Ren."

...

Hao Ren didn’t know what was happening around him. His eyes were closed and he was calmly cultivating and comprehending everything that he had learned in the past few days. His speed was fast, and this time he sensed a great increase in his saint halo. Hao Ren had reached the limit of World Lord ralm, and any more delay would cause him to reach the Overlord realm, and that way he would not be able to condense the third saint realm and that would cause great problem for him.

After an unknown amount of time, Hao Ren sensed the Saint Halo in his being shiver, and a spark of inspiration suddenly set fire to the bottleneck that was stopping him from advancing. The system said, *Congrats, you gained the second halo. Do you want me to conceal the manifestation for you? It will manifest when you want it to.*

Hao Ren agreed, and a few moments later, he opened his eyes. He found Jiro and Hiro sitting close by and stood up, before he asked, "Hiro, what happened?"

Hro stood up and bowed as he said, "Master, my grandmother sent me over to stay with you and learn."

Hao Ren nodded before he looked at Jiro and asked, "What brings you here?"

Jiro knelt on the ground and said, "Elder, please accept me as a disciple as well."

Hao Ren was surprised, and Hiro smiled as he said, "Master, she wants to be your combat disciple. She had never seen someone as skilled as you."

Hiro then bowed and said, "Master, I would like to ask you the same. Please accept her."

Hao Ren took a deep breath and thought about it, before he said, "Fine. I will accept you as my in-name disciple. If you can complete the target I set for you in a valid timeline, then I will accept you as my proper disciple. Agreed?"

Jiro kowtowed and replied, "I greet you master."

Hao Ren nodded with a sigh, and raised his hand and imparted a couple of techniques to the two teenagers. He said, "First master these and then I will give you more. Jiro, for you the time limit is one week."

Jiro bowed in response and Hao Ren looked around before he asked, "Have you seen the two grandmasters?"

Hiro pointed out and said, "They are outside, Master."

Hao Ren put his hands behind his back and walked away, he was sure that the time for the contest to begin would not be that far. After walking out of the courtyard, Hao Ren found the two old men guiding the disciples in the outer courtyard.

As he approached them, Flaming Hammer said, "Your recommendation letters have been submitted. You are going to participate under your assumed name, Ling ShiHao."

Hao Ren nodded and asked, "So, when is it going to begin?"

Serene Storme replied, "Tomorrow, in the morning."

Hao Ren nodded and said, "Good, I will see if there are any orders left for me to complete."

The two old men nodded and Hao Ren walked out of the house, heading to the shop.

On the way he noticed how the population of this city has soared to a new high. The people were shopping like no tomorrow, and some were here to broaden their horizons. He thought how nice it would be to establish a base of information gathering in this place, even if that base was temporary, it was still something that he would agree with.

After taking a deep breath, Hao Ren decided that all these things should be handled after he wins the contest and deals with the obsessed Council Master. Thinking about this, he realized that his realm can be advanced now, so that he would have no trouble facing the acting head of the council.

Hao Ren turned around and headed outside the city. His speed was very quick, and before anyone could know he was sitting on the top of a hill watching over the city. He mumbled, "I have accumulated enough, now I can advance."

...

In the morning, Flaming Hammer and Serene Storme looked at each other with worried expressions. Hao Ren had yet to arrive, and the contest was about to begin.