Chapter 32. The Start of the Beginner Ranking Tournament.

Meanwhile, several Inner Sect elders appeared in the stands, causing a storm of controversy. The most attention was attracted by the appearance of a Discipline Department elder from the Inner Sect who no one was expecting here.

Yee Rhys inwardly rejoiced. The mere presence of such a bird was enough to make those present moderate their ambitions and start thinking before playing along.

Just before the start, three of the best geniuses from the newcomers appeared.

The first to appear was Din Dong, a twelve-year-old with seven wisps. He paraded proudly surrounded by his retinue, flashing his jewellery and his Green Bamboo faction badge. The universally recognised number one genius of the newcomers had already joined the faction. And it was the number one faction that only the fastest-growing geniuses were accepted into. The Green Bamboo faction went all the way back to Managing Elder Dra Goon.

Managing Elders were called Grand Elders who actually ran the Seven Dreams sect on behalf of the Patriarch. And Dra Goon was considered the first of the two current Managing Elders. Due to their age, their cultivation did not shine, but their business acumen was enviable.

Barely had the excitement caused by the appearance of the first of the geniuses subsided, the next appeared.

Kap Yel, a twelve year old teenage girl, also in possession of seven wisps. She was already a delight to behold, and in five years she promised to be a real beauty. The self-confessed genius number three has also already chosen a faction, the Jade Lake Faction, which only accepts girls.

She appeared in a company of young maidens, a merry flock of brightly colored birds flying over to the seats prepared for the followers.

The last to appear was Na Prawe, considered the number two genius in their trio of strongest. Also twelve years old and seven wisps. The grandson of one of the Grand Elders of the Discipline Department, and it goes without saying that after joining the Outer Sect, he joined the Discipline Department. As his grandfather had brought him up personally, little was known of this genius.

Prawe appeared without pomp, with only two companions. Both, however, were six wisps and also from the Discipline Department. The usual uniform of an Outer Sect deisciple, complete with only a department patch. No decorations or treasures in plain sight. The calm look of dark eyes on his indifferent face. He resembled a thing in himself, needing no external trappings to attract attention.

He glanced unhappily at his rival who was making his way through the crowd. In his first month he had only attended lectures, not once participated in a single duel. For this he was awarded only number two. However, many continued to question who the true number one was.

Clenching his fists, the first genius headed towards the second.

- Na Prawe, I, Din Dong, challenge you to a fight. - He proclaimed proudly. - Let tonight's tournament decide who is the strongest!

- As you wish. - The challenger shrugged, showing no interest in the challenge.

Satisfying the newcomers' ambitions was not the Discipline Department's job. For the entire first month, while the pledges were cultivating, the Discipline Department had been checking them out, looking for spies. Din Dong was one of the first to be checked, nothing suspicious showed up, and they weren't interested in him anymore.

But a few students with questionable backgrounds were of interest. And another young man, for whose soul there was a separate order from above. He had no past at all, nobody knew anything. And this generated personal curiosity.

And the standard genius fooling around in front of him was of no interest.

***

As the sun rose above the horizon line, three elders descended from the sky into the amphitheater. The head of the Outer Sect and his two deputies.

- Greetings to all at this year's Beginner Ranking Tournament. - A strong and commanding voice rolled over the Arena. - Today the new disciples take their first step into the Seven Dreams sect. We believe in you and hope that today you will show your best side. Let the tournament begin!

As he finished his speech, the Head of the Outer Sect made a beautiful wave of his hand, causing a magnificent fireworks display in the sky above the amphitheatre.

As the applause died down and the Head sat down, an unassuming old man in the traditional costume of an Outer Sect Elder stepped forward.

- I, Glu Har, will be the host for this Beginner's Ranking Tournament. Everyone is requested to follow my instructions. Beginners of one wisp, assemble in the centre of the arena. The rest of you, please move behind the line and stay out of the way.

A line appeared on the ground, dividing the arena into two unequal parts: a large central part and a smaller one by the entrance, where the non-participating newcomers were crowded.

Yee Rhys boldly made his way towards the centre of the arena, along with Usa Lada and a couple of dozen other newcomers. Most of those who had entered with one wisp had already made their way to the second. So the bulk of those present were teenagers who had only recently reached the first wisp and had been transferred here from the workers. For a young man, their fighting potential was no different than zero.

After making sure that the contestants in the first round were out and the others had retreated behind the line, the host raised his hand.

- I will now conduct the drawing of lots. - Declared Glu Har. - When you have your number, proceed to the appropriate arena.

A swarm of wooden balls flew out of the elder's sleeve and swirled in the air, shuffling chaotically. Then all the balls abruptly scattered and froze one in front of each contestant in the first round.

Yee Rhys picked up his balloon. Number two.

As the toss was completed, squares of arenas lit up around the contestants, with the corresponding number hanging over each one. A dozen elders flew down from the stands, each taking a seat as a judge at one of the arenas.

Yee Rhys headed in the direction of the second arena, noting with satisfaction that Usa Lada had headed in the other direction.

The young man's opponent turned out to be a girl of thirteen. Seeing her opponent, she pulled out her whip.

- Sorry, oldy, but this fight is mine. - She defiantly declared.

Yee Rhys only smiled back.

- A reminder - the announcer's voice resounded - defeat is deemed to have happened if you say 'I surrender', leave the arena and if one of the opponents can no longer continue the fight. Killing and maiming of contestants is forbidden. Violators will be disqualified and handed over to the Discipline Department. And now, let the fight begin!

- I'll show you my family technique. - The girl grinned. - Golden Snake, Dancing Among the Willow Leaves.

Warming up, she began to swing the whip. The young man watched the Dancing Snake for a few seconds, then stepped forward and abruptly grabbed the end of the whip. In the next instant he abruptly turned and backed away, pulling the whip behind him. Before he could react, the girl swooped over the battlefield and landed outside the arena's boundary.

- Family technique. - With a cheeky smile explained Yee Rhys, "Fly, little birdie."

The girl's angry look he ignored.

The judge hid a smile in his mustache.

***

When all the fights of the first round were over, the announcer asked the winners to gather at the far side of the arena, while the losers returned to the common area. He then invited the newcomers to the arena of the two wisps, which turned out to be significantly more than the previous group.

The Beginner Ranking Tournament was intended to evaluate the potential of the rookies, but due to the large power gap the classical format could not objectively reflect the potential of the participants. Therefore the format was changed. In the first round, beginners of one wisp battled each other. In the second round, the winners faced the rookies of two wisps. In the third round, the winners of the second round faced the students of three wisps, and so on. In the seventh, the holders of seven wisps entered the arena, and then there was a classic scheme to determine the final winner.

The advantage of the modified format was the opportunity for students below five wisps to prove themselves. The elders looked out for newcomers capable of beating an opponent by a wisp stronger than themselves.

- The draw. - Two groups of balls had already emerged from the announcer's sleeves and were distributed to the contestants after mixing them up. The balls from one group went to the winners of the first round and the balls from the second group went to the participants of the two wisps.

Yee Rhys took the balloon. Number five.