Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Chapter 46 Selection of fighters.

Unlike what Ace had anticipated, the registration process went surprisingly smoothly—almost too smoothly.

Just as he was mulling over it, Liu Mei tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft yet insistent.

"Master, I'm hungry," she mumbled, absentmindedly rubbing White Fur's soft coat.

Ace glanced down at her. "Shall we stop by an inn, then?"

Liu Mei scrunched her nose and shook her head. "Huh? No! I want chicken—your chicken, Master!"

Ace clicked his tongue. "Tch, fine. Let's book a place to stay first, and then I'll cook."

Satisfied, Liu Mei grinned, hugging White Fur tighter. "Yay! Master's chicken is the best!"

...

...

A week passed, and the long-awaited selection day finally arrived.

The tournament's structure was straightforward. All registered participants were divided into multiple groups based on the total number of applicants.

From each group, only the top contestants would advance to the quarterfinals, where the real competition would begin.

However, not everyone had to go through this initial selection process. The influential families, including the Hua family, were granted direct entry into the quarterfinals.

Most major sects—Flying Sword Sect, Fire Lotus Sect, Heavy Mount Sect, and White Snow Sect—also received automatic placements.

Each sect was allotted just one guaranteed slot, but that was more than enough.

Despite this privilege, many sects and noble families still chose to have their younger talents compete in the selection rounds, either for experience or to prove their strength.

.....

.....

"Liu Mei, do your best. If you win, I'll cook Spirit Pork just for you," Ace said with a smirk.

Liu Mei pouted, hugging White Fur tightly. "Master, are you trying to fatten me up so you can eat me later?"

Ace frowned. "Huh? What? No! Why would I—"

Before he could finish, Liu Mei burst into laughter. "Hehe, you looked guilty for a second!"

She grinned confidently. "I'll win this tournament, Master! You should bet money on me!"

With that, she turned and strode into the arena, making her way to the preparation room, where she would be waiting for her number to be called.

The inner voice scoffed.

"That's because you overfed those two."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. It was all for the greater good."

[Ding!

Warning: Host has been neglecting cultivation. Immediate action is advised.]

Ace sighed as he muttered under his breath, "Alright, alright. Since Liu Mei won't be up there for a while, I might as well take this chance to visit the system space."

Leaving his seat, he made his way through the bustling arena corridors, searching for some privacy. He found a secluded restroom, locked himself in, and arrived inside his system space.

In an instant, the world around him faded as he stepped into the System Space.

The vast, endless fields stretched before him, golden wheat swaying in the breeze, crystal-clear lakes shimmering under a soft sun. It was breathtaking, serene, and untouched.

"Beautiful, as always," he muttered.

Lily, carefully planting Spirit Rice, looked up the moment Ace appeared. Her bright eyes widened with excitement as she ran over, a wide smile spreading across her face..

"Master! You're finally here! I was beginning to think you forgot about me."

Ace chuckled, shaking his head. "How could I? I've just been... busy."

Lily pouted but quickly let it go. "Alright, Master. The Spirit Beast Feed you requested is ready."

At her words, Ace finally recalled what she was talking about.

That's right—he had traded a few of his Spirit Chickens for the materials needed to create high-grade Spirit Beast Feed with Zhao Yun.

Since it was Lily's responsibility to oversee the process, he hadn't been keeping track of it.

All he knew was that he had proposed the idea to omelet girl, struck a deal, and left the rest in her capable hands.

"What grade is the Spirit Beast Feeds?" Ace asked, crossing his arms.

Lily tapped a finger against her lips, thinking for a moment before answering.

"Master, the feeds are Epic Rank!"

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so just one rank below Legend."

Lily quickly shook her head, waving her hands. "No, no! It's Epic → Unique → and then Legend. So it's two ranks below, Master!"

Ace, confused, rubbed his temple. "Alright, alright. I think you'll need to give me a proper rundown of the ranking system later."