Chapter 171 The Selection Trials

Chapter 173: The Selection Trials

Morning arrived with the sound of bells echoing throughout Radiant Summit City. Golden light spread across the rooftops as countless cultivators made their way toward the eastern competition grounds. Today marked the beginning of the Young Generation Grand Competition, and the streets were considerably more crowded than they had been the previous evening.

At the cultivation inn, Aether finished adjusting his clothes before checking the jade registration token in his possession. His companions had already gathered in the room, and the conversation had naturally turned toward the upcoming trials.

"Are you nervous?" Lyra asked.

Aether glanced at her. "Should I be?"

"Most people would be, considering how many participants are entering."

"Then most people have more reasons to be nervous than I do."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Your confidence is impressive."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I decided to interpret it differently."

Aria chuckled while Seris prepared a small pouch containing several medicinal items. Vaelira was examining the competition's latest announcement, which had been delivered to registered participants early that morning.

Meanwhile, Kiyomi had climbed onto Nyx's back and was watching everyone with curious golden eyes. Her nine tails swayed gently as she tried to understand why the room was unusually busy.

Aether crouched beside the two beasts and lightly touched Kiyomi's head. "You two will have to stay inside Origin Beast Space while the trials are underway."

Kiyomi tilted her head, clearly not enthusiastic about the idea. Nyx, however, remained calm. She understood that the competition was intended for Aether alone, and bringing them along could create unnecessary complications.

"You'll have plenty of opportunities to explore once I'm finished," Aether assured them.

He opened the connection to Origin Beast Space. A faint spatial ripple appeared, and Nyx stepped through first. Kiyomi hesitated briefly before following her, although she looked back at Aether several times before disappearing.

Aether closed the connection.

"They'll be fine," Seris said.

"I know. I simply don't want them wandering into trouble while I'm occupied."

Vaelira folded the announcement. "The registration hall has confirmed that personal beast companions and external combat assistance are prohibited during the Selection Trials. Participants must rely on their own abilities."

"That makes sense," Aether replied. "This is an individual competition."

With everything settled, he collected his registration token and left with the others.

The eastern competition grounds were already overflowing with participants and spectators. Large platforms surrounded a central arena, while several towering formations had been established to monitor the proceedings. Above the main entrance, a golden inscription displayed the name of the competition.

Aether entered the participant section and handed his jade token to an attendant. After confirming his registration, the attendant directed him toward a designated waiting area.

"All registered participants must remain within the marked grounds until the opening announcement. The first phase will evaluate cultivation foundation, Origin Energy control, combat ability, and adaptability. Only twenty participants will advance."

Aether nodded and walked toward the waiting area.

Thousands of young cultivators had gathered. Some wore the robes of powerful sects, others displayed their clan emblems openly, while a considerable number carried no affiliation at all. Conversations filled the surrounding platforms, and several participants were already examining potential rivals.

Aether's cultivation was not particularly impressive among the strongest individuals present. He could sense several cultivators whose Origin Energy reserves and cultivation foundations surpassed his own by a considerable margin. However, he also noticed others who possessed high cultivation but lacked refined control.

Cultivation level alone wouldn't determine the outcome.

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A young man standing nearby glanced at Aether's registration token. "Origin Vein Realm, Stage Five?"

Aether turned toward him.

The young man smiled. "That's a little lower than I expected from someone entering this competition."

"Then perhaps your expectations need adjustment."

The young man's smile faded slightly. Before he could respond, a deep bell rang across the grounds.

The crowd gradually quieted as several figures descended onto the central platform. Their robes carried different faction insignias, but the authority radiating from them made it clear that they were among the organizers.

An elderly man stepped forward. His voice carried effortlessly throughout the competition grounds.

"Welcome to the Young Generation Grand Competition of Radiant Summit City. Thousands have gathered here, but only a handful will distinguish themselves. Remember that this competition is not merely a contest of cultivation levels. Foundation, control, judgment, and combat ability will all be considered."

He raised one hand, and the formations surrounding the central arena illuminated.

"The Selection Trials will begin shortly. Participants will undergo the announced assessments, and their overall performance will determine the twenty cultivators who advance to the second phase. Any attempt to interfere with the formations, attack officials, or deliberately endanger another participant outside the permitted trials will result in immediate disqualification."

The announcement ended, and the participants were directed toward separate assessment platforms.

Aether's first assessment involved a formation designed to examine the stability of a cultivator's foundation. Each participant had to stand within a designated circle while the formation examined their Origin Energy circulation and the stability of their cultivation.

One by one, the participants stepped forward.

Some produced stable results, while others struggled to maintain their energy circulation under the formation's pressure. A few possessed impressive reserves but showed noticeable instability when the formation increased its intensity.

When Aether's turn arrived, he stepped into the circle.

A faint light spread beneath his feet. The formation began examining his Origin Energy, sending several waves of pressure through his body.

His Infinite Origin Physique responded instinctively, refining the surrounding energy and maintaining stable circulation. Aether carefully controlled the energy he released, avoiding any unnecessary display of his physique's unusual characteristics.

The formation continued for several moments before its light settled.

"Foundation assessment complete."

The attendant recorded the result.

Aether stepped away without looking back. He had no reason to reveal everything during the first assessment.

The next evaluation focused on Origin Energy control. Participants were required to manipulate their energy into specific shapes and maintain them under changing conditions. It appeared simple, but the difficulty increased as the formation introduced disturbances.

Aether formed a small sphere of Origin Energy above his palm. Its surface remained smooth as he adjusted its density and circulation. When the surrounding formation introduced interference, he modified the flow rather than wasting energy resisting it directly.

The sphere remained stable until the assessment ended.

He withdrew his hand.

"Acceptable," the attendant remarked while recording the result.

Aether paid little attention to the comment. He was more interested in observing the other participants. Several displayed exceptional control, and one young woman even managed to maintain multiple energy formations simultaneously. Another participant relied on precise manipulation rather than overwhelming reserves.

There were interesting people here after all.

The final assessment focused on combat ability and adaptability. Participants were directed toward individual platforms, where they would face opponents selected according to their demonstrated cultivation and performance in the earlier assessments.

Aether stepped onto his assigned platform.

Across from him stood a young man wearing dark blue robes. His cultivation was at Origin Reservoir Realm, Stage Eight, considerably higher than Aether's current stage. A faint metallic quality could be sensed within his Origin Energy.

The examiner raised his hand.

"Begin."

The opponent moved first. His palm swept forward, releasing a concentrated wave of metallic Origin Energy toward Aether.

Aether shifted his weight and stepped aside. The attack passed close to his shoulder before striking the platform behind him.

The young man immediately followed with another strike, this time directing his energy toward Aether's legs to restrict his movement.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Rather than retreating, he stepped forward at the moment the attack was released. His movement was precise, allowing him to pass through the narrow gap between the incoming energy and the opponent's follow-up.

His right hand moved toward the young man's chest.

The opponent reacted quickly, gathering energy around his forearm to block. The impact forced him backward several steps, and his expression changed.

He had expected Aether to rely on defensive techniques or retreat because of the cultivation difference.

Instead, Aether had deliberately closed the distance.

The young man released another wave of metallic energy, but Aether had already adjusted his position. He redirected the attack with a controlled movement of his arm before delivering a short strike toward his opponent's center of balance.

The young man stumbled.

Before he could recover, Aether placed his hand against the opponent's shoulder and released a measured burst of Origin Energy.

The impact pushed the young man beyond the marked boundary.

"Combat assessment complete. Victory goes to Aether Draven."

Aether withdrew his hand and stepped back. The exchange had consumed very little energy, and he hadn't needed to reveal his more unusual abilities.

The defeated participant looked at him with a mixture of frustration and surprise.

Aether simply returned the look with a calm expression before leaving the platform.

He wasn't interested in humiliating someone who had already lost. There were still many participants to observe, and the strongest among them had yet to reveal their abilities.

As he reached the waiting area, his gaze moved toward the other platforms. One participant had just overwhelmed his opponent with a powerful spear technique. Another was using movement techniques so refined that his opponent struggled to land a single attack.

Aether's lips curved slightly.

The selection trials were turning out to be more interesting than he had expected.

He glanced at the jade token in his hand before looking toward the central platform.

Twenty places.

Thousands of competitors.

He intended to claim one of them.