Chapter 41 The First Round


    "You must have misunderstood them. There is nothing between Elva and Zachary," Lewis replied.


    "Is that so? Maybe I did get it wrong." Sara smiled, nodding her head.


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    Almost at the same time, Elva walked to the stage and bowed to them. "Good morning, Master Lewis,


    Master Sara, Master..."


    "Elva! It''s nice that you''vee. Master Sara was just talking about you. She has high expectations of


    you and says that you''re gifted with talent," Lewis said. He smiled proudly at Elva.


    "Thank you very much, Master Sara!" Elva was not a person who would tter others. However, Sara


    was a warrior at the Imperial Level and was the invigtor from the Celestial College. Hence she was


    cautious not to displease Sara. She bowed to her to show her gratitude and respect, but her face was


    still cold.


    The way Sara stared at Elva made her ufortable, but Elva decided to ignore it. She turned to


    Lewis and said, "Master Lewis, I was wondering if Zachary would be in the selection test."


    "I happened to see the list of participants just now. He didn''t quit. But I don''t know whether he will be


    here to join or not. Never mind. It''s his choice!" replied Lewis. Lewis was surprised to hear Zachary''s


    name from Elva. After recalling what Sara had mentioned just now, he threw a nce at Sara


    helplessly.


    "He is a piece of trash now. He can''t even use his martial energy. If he insists on joining, he will only


    end up humiliating himself. I suppose he understands his situation," Sara remarked suddenly.


    Lewis and the other stewards all felt a bit embarrassed. Even though there was nothing wrong with her


    words, they felt like she ridiculed Zachary quite harshly.


    "Who says he''s a piece of trash?" Elva asked. She felt offended by Sara''s disdainfulment.


    "I said so. Isn''t it true?" Sara scoffed.


    "Even though you''re at the Imperial Level, you should still respect others. Zachary is only injured right


    now. I believe he will be able to bounce back!" Elva looked utterly annoyed, which was aplete


    contrast to how she was normally. She herself was surprised at her own behavior. The moment she


    heard Sara humiliating Zachary, she felt something sharp sting her heart. Perhaps it was because she


    felt guilty, or because of some other reasons. She suddenly felt that she wanted to challenge Sara''s


    statement regarding Zachary.


    "Elva, where are your manners?" Lewis reminded Elva when he felt that she had be too rude.


    "But..." Elva bit her lower lip.


    "Elva was too disrespectful just now. I''m sorry, Master Sara. Please forgive her!" Lewis apologized for


    Elva''s reaction. He signaled to Elva, motioning for her to stop arguing.


    "I don''t mind." Sara smiled nonchntly. However, her ssy eyes were fixed on Elva, as if she were


    an eagle who stared at its prey.


    "Elva, go back to the Bamboo Gully and reflect on your behavior for two hours. This is your


    punishment!" Lewis ordered Elva in a solemn tone.


    Elva stared at Sara coldly before she left.


    After Elva left, Lewis stole a nce at Sara. He suspected that Sara did it on purpose, as if she


    deliberately provoked Elva to see her reaction. She asked about the rtionship between Elva and


    Zachary a moment ago. That made Lewis even more suspicious of her. But as to what Sara was really


    up to, Lewis had no clue at all.


    Meanwhile, a figure swaggered his way into one of the thirteen zones for the selection test, and his


    arrival caught the attention of the other disciples.


    "Wait, why is he here? I thought he was beaten badly by Bruce? Is he even able to use martial energy


    now?"


    "You''re right! He should be a piece of trash now. How can he evenpete?"


    "He boasted that he woulde. I thought that he was lying. It turned out that he indeed has the


    audacity toe!"


    "I think he''s insane! He''ll get nothing here but humiliation!"


    The moment the figure showed up, the disciples who came to witness the selection test all began to


    chatter about him.


    The figure was none other than Zachary!


    "I nned to keep a low key. But I still drew so much attention from the crowd. s!" Zachary soon


    noticed that the disciples gossiped about him.


    In addition to the spectators, the other four disciples who were assigned to the same group as Zachary


    were equally bewildered—none of them expected him to show up.


    "Zachary, you can''t even cultivate now. Why are you even here?" said a disciple at the Earth Level. He


    didn''t even bother to hide the contempt in his voice.


    "Even if I can''t cultivate, I still strive to improve myself. Just take it as my way of realizing myst


    dream," Zachary said in a pitiful tone.


    The other three disciples stared at him with a scornful look.


    "You don''t have to be extra gentle with me during the fight. I am doomed anyway." Zachary intentionally


    created an impression of himself as totally harmless. Inwardly, he said, ''Let''s see who wins. I''ll surprise


    all of you! You guys get ready!''


    The four other disciples felt secure and relieved.


    Among the four disciples, only one was at the Earth Level. He was only at the primary stage of Earth


    Level. The other three disciples were at the medium or premium stage of Mortal Level—not worth the


    time for Zachary.


    Soon, the first round began. Each disciple had to hit a rock that was two meters in height and a


    hundred and fifty kilograms in weight. They were graded based on the distance the rock moved.


    The rock had gone through a prior test. It was able to withstand the force of a warrior at the Heaven


    Level. If nothing went wrong, it wouldn''t shatter from the attacks of the disciples.


    "The test begins now! Who would like to start?" The disciple in charge of the test of Zachary''s group


    motioned for one of them to start.


    "I''ll try first!" One of the disciples at the medium stage of Mortal Level couldn''t wait to give it a try. He


    breathed in deeply, positioned himself in a horse stance, focused his power into his fist and punched


    the rock with all his might.


    With the sound of collision, the rock shifted slightly.


    "One inch!" the examiner called out.


    "Not bad!" The disciple seemed to be rather satisfied with his result.


    Another disciple walked towards the rock and punched the rock in the same way as the previous one


    did.


    "One point three inches!" Then the third disciple took his turn at the rock.


    "One point five inches!"


    The three disciples at the Mortal Level had finished their turns. The fourth one was the only disciple at


    the Earth Level, who was most likely to win the contest in the group.