Chapter 985: Chapter 985: The Grand Competition Begins

    Qin Hao stayed at the Wei Country’s Duke Manor for a long time, and he had lunch here as well.

    After three o’clock in the afternoon, he and Gao Linglong left the Duke Manor.

    On the way back, Gao Linglong said, “My grandfather actually has never liked me and doesn’t think much of my mother, feeling she isn’t worthy of my father.”

    “It looks much better now than it did before,” Qin Hao said blandly.

    Gao Linglong nodded, “Only when one’s own strength is strong enough will they change their attitudes. Sometimes I find them really disgusting.”

    Qin Hao: “This should be human nature, right? It’s best to just let it go.”

    Gao Linglong slightly nodded: “Mr. Qin, why do I feel your mind is like that of an elder?”

    Qin Hao replied with a smile, “Maybe it’s because I’ve experienced many things.”

    Although he was not very old, he had experienced quite a number of things, so richly varied that others might find it hard to believe.

    The two soon returned to their residence, and Gao Linglong invited, “Would Mr. Qin come inside to sit for a while?”

    Qin Hao: “No, go back and study that bell well; understanding it thoroughly will benefit future competitions.”

    Gao Linglong nodded, “Alright, goodbye Mr. Qin.”

    Qin Hao returned to the residence, where Xian Yin was playing the guqin upstairs, and Ling’er was listening beside her. They had created a sound barrier, so the music couldn’t reach outside.

    After all, many people lived here, some of whom were in closed-door cultivation, adjusting their states, and the sound of the guqin could disturb them.

    If some were enchanted by her music, it would also be troublesome for her.

    Qin Hao walked lightly up to the second floor, and the tune played by Xian Yin contained a touch of longing, which reminded him of his distant parents, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Chang Jing, and others in another world.

    After the tune ended, Gao Linglong saw Qin Hao behind her. He seemed lost in thought, so she did not disturb him, quietly watching him from there.

    Qin Hao’s face showed a complex expression, with longing, guilt, sadness, nostalgia, determination...

    What truly resided in his heart?

    After about ten minutes, Qin Hao came to his senses and found Ling’er and Xian Yin watching him.

    Qin Hao smiled and said, “Why are you staring at me? Is there a flower on my face?”

    Ling’er looked into his eyes and said, “Master, you cried.”

    Qin Hao paused, “Cried? No way! I rarely cry since I became an adult.”

    Xian Yin shifted the topic, “Mr. Qin seemed entranced by my tune.”

    “Indeed, it was quite good.” Qin Hao admired.

    Xian Yin: “If Master Qin likes it, Xian Yin can play for you every day.”

    “That wouldn’t be too polite,” Qin Hao said with a smile.

    Xian Yin’s face flushed slightly, shyly she said, “It is Xian Yin’s fortune to play for Master Qin.”

    ...

    As days passed, Qin Hao and the others did not go out, focusing on cultivation and adjusting their states.

    In the blink of an eye, the day for the dynasty’s young talent trials had arrived.

    This day at seven in the morning, all the young geniuses of Yuxing County gathered together.

    Gao Yuan looked at everyone and said, “Today is the grand trials. I hope everyone can achieve good results and bring glory to Yuxing County. Let’s go.”

    He led the crowd toward the tournament arena in the city; many teams were heading toward the competition.

    The entire Yuxing County comprised forty-seven commanderies, plus the talented juveniles of the royal city, with a total of over six hundred participants. Half would be eliminated on the first day.

    About ten minutes later, led by Gao Yuan, Qin Hao and the others entered the grand tournament city of the royal city.

    The tournament arena was vast, with ten large battle platforms, and enough surrounding seats for tens of thousands to watch. At this time, the arena was already crowded, extremely lively, almost having no empty seats.

    The competitors had specific seating regions close to the battle platforms.

    After leading them to the Yuxing County area, Gao Yuan let everyone sit down, and not far from there was a judges’ seat where dozens were seated.

    Beside the judges’ area was a VIP seat, occupied mostly by famous figures of the Skyfire Dynasty, such as its emperor, dukes, nobles, and others.

    At eight o’clock, all participating teams and members had arrived at the arena.

    An old man with white hair on the judges’ stand spoke, “I hereby declare the commencement of the Skyfire Dynasty’s 98th Young Genius Trials.”

    The vast arena instantly quietened as everyone attentively listened to him speak.

    The old man continued, “Next, each commandery’s Commandery Prince will come on stage to draw lots for the contestants.”

    Dozens of figures flew onto one of the battle platforms; these were all Commandery Princes, experts of the Heavenly Human Realm, and only at this time could the royal city gather so many Heavenly Human Realm experts.

    They quickly completed the drawing and returned. Qin Hao, Gao Linglong, and eleven others each received a tag, marked with the participant’s number.

    Qin Hao’s tag was number 145, and Xian Yin’s was number 146.

    After the drawing, the dynasty’s officials announced the first batch of opponent matchups, with twenty people simultaneously competing in ten arenas.

    In the first round, none were from Yuxing County, yet everyone sat watching the battle platforms with solemn expressions, only Qin Hao looked rather relaxed.

    The battles on the ten platforms had begun, and those people displayed their strongest methods. Their skill levels were close, and victory depended on practical experience.

    Most of these people’s skills were at mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, with few at late-stage.

    About ten minutes later, the winners and losers were decided on stage, ten were eliminated, and ten advanced to the next round.

    The second round began, featuring someone from Yuxing County, Dong Mengqi.

    Everyone encouraged her, “Go for it!”

    Dong Mengqi flew onto the number 1 battle platform, meanwhile, a young man also flew up, and both bowed to each other before starting upon hearing the referee’s cue.

    Dong Mengqi was at the late-stage Grandmaster Realm, and her opponent was at mid-stage; her chances of winning were greater, given the difference of a minor realm.

    Not everyone was as formidable as Qin Hao, able to kill across realms.

    Every competitor was a young genius selected from thousands, each a standout.

    Dong Mengqi fought the opponent, her strength and Divine Skills formidable, leaving the opponent only defensive power.

    The audience was closely watching; such scenes of young geniuses fighting were rare, cultivation techniques dazzling, divine skills contesting, and this battle among geniuses would reveal many divine skills unknown to the masses.

    In less than five minutes, Dong Mengqi defeated the opponent and flew gracefully off the platform, while other platforms’ matches continued.