Chapter 44: Flying Sword

Zhang Yu immediately saw that the flying swords on the field were entirely different from the children's flying swords he had bought before. They were clearly not something that could be easily mastered.

Facing the audience's widespread dissatisfaction, the host calmly finished reading the advertisement before announcing the rules for the first round of the competition.

The flying swords currently hovering on the field were products from 'Nine Heavens Flying Sword,' a manufacturer specializing in civilian-grade mana-powered flying swords.

They were advertised as requiring no sword-control techniques or Dao-heart level. Control was achieved purely through variations in mana output, meaning the test was essentially about using mana to control the flying swords.

The flying sword's scabbard functioned as both a remote control and a mana transmitter. Control over the sword was achieved by varying the frequency, type, and amount of mana input.

In this round, students were required to use their flying swords to hit signal flags suspended in mid-air. The faster and more accurately they struck, the higher their score would be.

This round, like the subsequent second and third rounds, had a maximum score of 100 points.

The final ranking of the competition would be determined by the combined total scores from all three rounds.

After the flying sword operation manuals were handed out, students were given thirty minutes to study them.

Behind the White Dragon High School team, a middle-aged man in a tracksuit smiled faintly. "So it's still a test of mana control, then? That's not too outrageous. I thought we'd have to learn sword-controlling techniques right here."

This man was Han Xingye, White Dragon High School's competition coach.

Unlike Songyang High School, where mana class teachers also served as competition coaches, White Dragon High School employed specialized teachers specifically for competitive events.

Hearing Han Xingye speak, Song Hailong, standing beside him, ran a hand through his spiky, upright hair and remarked casually, "This is our class's first competition."

"Coach, could you help us scout out any notable opponents, especially to see what the Purple Cloud and Red Tower students are like this year?"

White Dragon High School, Purple Cloud High School, and Red Tower High School were the three strongest high schools in Songyang City. It was highly probable that many of their future competitors over the next three years would be among the students on the field right now.

Han Xingye readily assented to Song Hailong's request.

This was not only because of Song Hailong's outstanding academic performance but also, naturally, due to his status as an exceptionally wealthy individual.

This favored son from a prominent Songyang City family was one of the top-performing descendants in terms of family KPIs, effectively the Song family's ace of his generation.

Han Xingye nodded, then slid his fingertips across his Talisman Scroll. The next moment, with a burst of mana, he activated the Heavenly Eye Talisman.

The Heavenly Eye Talisman was used to respectfully summon the all-knowing and all-questioning deity from the Department of Myriad People to evaluate individuals seen through the user's eyes.

This evaluation compiled comprehensive information about an individual, ranging from bank deposits and personal assets to academic performance, work achievements, and family relationships, culminating in a comprehensive yet vague assessment.

If one found the vagueness undesirable and desired a more detailed assessment, it required a higher level of faith and a greater expenditure of funds.

In essence, the Heavenly Eye Talisman's function was that the more detailed the information provided, the more expensive it became, while a vaguer assessment was cheaper.

As Han Xingye surveyed the entire venue, he naturally dared not request any detailed evaluations. He feared going bankrupt with a single glance, knowing that such incidents were not uncommon in Kunxu's history.

The moment the Heavenly Eye Talisman was activated, golden particles of light in the air converged into Han Xingye's eyes.

As he surveyed the entire scene, he began to see various evaluations appearing above people's heads.

Insignificant, Insignificant, Insignificant, Insignificant, Insignificant

Insignificant, Insignificant, Bankrupt Gambler, Insignificant, Insignificant

Insignificant, Ice Skin Jade Bones (Expand Details), Insignificant, Insignificant, Insignificant

"Hmm?"

Han Xingye's gaze shifted as he noticed a female student from Purple Cloud High School had climbed into the spectator stands.

"Is that Le Mulan from Purple Cloud? Why did she climb up there? Is she looking at the competition's signal flags?"

As he looked closer, the evaluation above her head immediately expanded.

Ice Skin Jade Bones | Pill Affinity | High Caste | Purple Cloud Loyal Disciple | Unapproachable Beauty

As an experienced user of the Heavenly Eye Talisman, Han Xingye quickly deciphered the vague assessments after a moment's thought, despite their initial complexity.

"This is a high-quality, wealthy individual with a special physique, excellent pill absorption, strong academic performance, deep loyalty to Purple Cloud High School, and a complex background."

"Pills? Physique?"

Han Xingye pondered, then forwarded the keywords to Song Hailong before turning his attention to the others present.

As he continued to observe the students, the competition officially commenced.

The venue was divided into eighteen sub-arenas. In each round, eighteen randomly selected contestants took to their respective arenas, controlling flying swords to strike signal flags suspended in mid-air.

To Han Xingye, students from "insignificant" ordinary high schools took the stage. Like raw recruits, they clumsily operated their flying swords; hitting even one or two mid-air signal flags was commendable, earning them meager scores of 10 or 20 points from the judges.

"It looks like none of them have ever used a flying sword before, does it?"

Han Xingye knew that while this round was nominally a test of mana control, there was a significant difference between those who had experience with flying swords and those who did not.

Specifically, controlling space, distance, accuracy, and speed would be challenging for first-time users, even those with strong mana control, making it difficult for them to achieve high scores.

However, for students from the three prestigious schools, using flying swords was not uncommon.

For example, each of the ten White Dragon High School contestants had at least four or five flying swords at home.

Furthermore, to his knowledge, Song Hailong's family owned an entire armory of hundreds of flying swords, which he had undoubtedly practiced with countless times.

Simultaneously, in addition to the "insignificant" individuals, students with "rare" and "elite" evaluations began to appear on the field under Han Xingye's Heavenly Eye Talisman vision.

Han Xingye recognized these as typically the top students from various ordinary high schools, or elite students from prominent high schools.

"Getting 30 or 40 points would be remarkable for them."

"Their mana control isn't strong to begin with, and they haven't used flying swords before. If it weren't for the truly high quality of the Nine Heavens Flying Swords, they likely wouldn't hit a single signal flag."

This thought made Han Xingye feel a sudden urge to buy a Nine Heavens mana-powered flying sword for himself.

Just then, his gaze shifted slightly, and amidst the evaluations of "insignificant," "rare," and "elite," he finally spotted a different one.

Pure Score Fiend

Han Xingye looked at the person's school uniform; it appeared to be a student from Songyang High School.

In the arena, Qian Shen took a deep breath and slowly gripped the flying sword's scabbard before him.

The next moment, as he channeled mana into it, the flying sword inside the scabbard shot out with a whoosh.

The flying sword, entirely a blade with no hilt, shot skyward like a streak of cold light, heading towards the signal flag in mid-air.

Although he hadn't used them extensively, Qian Shen had tried out his grandfather's mana-powered flying swords a few times.

Now, following the tips given by his tutor, he slowly injected mana into the scabbard, adjusting the rhythm of the mana input to control the flying sword, which swiftly struck one signal flag after another.

72 points

Seeing his score for the round, Qian Shen let out a slight sigh of relief. "Not bad, that should be acceptable."

On the other side, Han Xingye glanced at the score of 72 and secretly shook his head. "Sigh, Songyang High School is an old prestigious high school, but the students' quality seems to decline with each new batch."

"Ultimately, they're stuck in their old ways, unwilling to adopt advanced practices from other schools, such as Purple Cloud High School's score-based caste system or our own school's low-score slavery system. Without innovation in their teaching methods, how can they keep up with the changing times...?"

Just as Han Xingye was thinking this, another contestant with a unique evaluation appeared.

To his eyes, Lian Tianji from Purple Cloud High School entered the arena with "Son of Heavenly Diligence" displayed above his head. With a flick of his arm, he launched the flying sword, swiftly earning 90 points.

"That must be Lian Tianji, the student from Purple Cloud High School who is most compatible with the Heavenly Diligence Heart Method this year."

As more and more contestants took their turns, Han Xingye's eyes darted around, spotting an increasing number of exceptional students.

From Songyang High School, a "Son of the School Board" had just appeared and scored 78 points.

Le Mulan, the "Ice Skin Jade Bones" from Purple Cloud High School, immediately achieved the current highest score of 95 points upon her appearance, drawing exclamations from the entire audience.

As Han Xingye continued to observe, a woman suddenly caught his attention.

Sword Affinity (Expand Details)

"Oh? A student from Songyang High School?"

Han Xingye watched Bai Zhenzhen walk onto the field. He knew that individuals whose evaluations could "expand" typically had complex backgrounds, indicating remarkable origins, strength, or talent. He hadn't expected to see such a person among Songyang High School students.

His gaze sharpened slightly, and he saw a line of text unfurl above Bai Zhenzhen's head.

Sword Affinity, Fist Affinity, Palm Affinity, Blade Affinity, Spear Affinity, Medicine Affinity, Score Overlord, Loan Slave, Card Slave, Daoist Arts Useless Theory, Songyang Critic, She is very poor...

Han Xingye was profoundly shocked by the evaluation, which was so long he couldn't read it in a single breath.

He had never imagined he would be shocked by a Songyang High School student, and the reason was simply that her background was extraordinarily complex, far beyond that of ordinary people.

However, his shock quickly subsided the next moment, simply because her score was only 34 points.

"Although I don't know why the evaluation is so long, judging by her score, this girl is insignificant."

Soon, his attention was drawn to Song Hailong.

Before White Dragon High School's top player entered the arena, he removed his spiky, upright hair from his head.

Zhang Yu, witnessing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Holy cow! He's already bald in high school?"

Bai Zhenzhen returned to the resting area with a look of displeasure. Hearing Zhang Yu's surprise, she explained, "That's not a wig; it's an external spiritual root."

"An external spiritual root?" Zhang Yu recalled that such an item existed, but it was his first time seeing one in person.

Bai Zhenzhen said enviously, "This isn't like the old versions of spiritual roots at school. This type of external spiritual root is plug-and-play, easily swapped out. Yu Zi, remember, this is the birthday gift I want most."

Zhang Yu patted Ah Zhen's shoulder and comforted her, "I can't afford an external spiritual root, but I can definitely fulfill your desire for baldness and wigs."

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, then continued to stare intently at the "wig" Song Hailong had placed on the chair, contemplating the possibility of sneaking it away.

But after glancing at the surrounding students and teachers, she ultimately let out a long sigh.

Once Song Hailong entered the arena, a smile touched his lips as he felt the mana flowing effortlessly within him.

Attaching a spiritual root to boost mana, to cause a mana surge?

What a thought for a pauper.

Song Hailong had only one purpose for equipping the external spiritual root: to hone his mana control during the more vigorous processes of absorbing spiritual energy and refining mana.

Only the weak would worry about uncontrolled mana surges caused by spiritual energy; for a strong person like me, this is the best training opportunity.

Holding the scabbard in one hand, he expelled mana from his palm, and the flying sword within shot out like lightning.

Below the stage, Han Xingye watched his student manipulate the flying sword like lightning, scoring a perfect 100 points in the blink of an eye and becoming the new highest scorer. A triumphant expression appeared on his face.

"100 points, simply because the maximum score is 100 points."

"Given Song Hailong's abundant mana, powerful mana control, and proficiency with flying swords, he was restricted by the maximum score in this round."

Meanwhile, as Bai Zhenzhen returned to the resting area, Teacher Yan's gaze occasionally lingered on her.

"Bai Zhenzhen only started practicing for the mana competition recently, didn't she? Her progress is remarkably fast. Is it talent, or just a coincidence?"

However, in Teacher Yan's eyes, Bai Zhenzhen's mana talent was ultimately still inferior to Zhang Yu's.

A moment later, when Zhang Yu entered the arena, she also looked forward to his performance.

In the arena, Zhang Yu gently gripped the scabbard. As mana was slowly fed into it, he could feel the flying sword inside begin to tremble slightly.

Moments earlier, while off the field, Zhang Yu had been contemplating how he could achieve the highest possible score.

His current situation was akin to someone with agile, non-disabled hands being told, "Oh? Strong finger control? Let me test you then: operate this excavator to open a bottle cap. Let's see how good your finger control really is."

Damn it, this is another unfair and unjust competition where the wealthy have an absolute advantage.

Zhang Yu muttered silently to himself.

"This flying sword feels like a drone or a racing drone. Even with my exquisite mana control, if I haven't used this device before, I certainly won't be able to control it proficiently."

The thought of having to maneuver this flying sword back and forth to hit the palm-sized signal flags suspended in mid-air made Zhang Yu realize how incredibly difficult it would be.

"So, I can't approach this like a traditional flying sword..."