Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 723 - 19: Top-level Dharma Body, Canghai Cave Heaven, Contest for Quotas_5

Chapter 723: Chapter 19: Top-level Dharma Body, Canghai Cave Heaven, Contest for Quotas_5

"My Lord, I fear this person may not be easy to deal with," Cao Jiang said worriedly.

Zhao Xing responded indifferently, "Qi Ming is merely of the fifth rank, hardly capable of making waves. Let the songs be sung and the dances performed as usual, prepare for the upcoming competition."

"Yes."

...

After being promoted in April, the next event in May was the Dragon Court Ancient Land quota competition in the East Sea.

The location of the East Sea quota competition was Canghai Cave Heaven.

Canghai Cave Heaven was under the jurisdiction of the Tusi clan. To ensure Zhao Xing wouldn’t be ambushed on the way, Princess You Ruo specially ordered him to travel with her on her Biyou Ship.

This was a grand event in the East Sea, attended by many high-grade officials, including Princess You Ruo.

The court sent second-grade Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Ji Shu Chang; second-grade Junior Agricultural Officer, Wang Tianzhi; and second-grade Eastern Sea General, Hong Yuanba, as representatives.

They would jointly host the quota competition with the Chief General of the Azure Dragon Army, Provincial Governor Bai Yunwu, and the Chief General of the Xuanwu Army, Ji Canghai, from the Water Clan Tusi.

Four standard third-rank Prefecture Lords would be present as well since there were four prefecture cities along the East Sea coast.

These were Chongming Prefecture, Haiyuan Prefecture, Cangyuan Prefecture, and Da Ming Prefecture.

Additionally, forces from the Daoist academies would appear, such as Qin Hongying from the Bishui Daoist Academy.

In total, over two hundred officials of the second and third ranks would be present!

As for the fourth and fifth ranks, there would be more than fifty thousand people.

"From the four prefectures of the East Sea, a total of 57,642 participants would compete."

"The offer of a spot in the Dragon Court Ancient Land attracted the attention of the Water Clan Chief, Daoist experts, military forces, and noble bureaucrats alike."

"Out of more than fifty thousand, only the top two hundred Beast Tamers would qualify directly for the Dragon Court Ancient Land."

"The others would enter elimination rounds to select three hundred more. Thus, the total quota was only five hundred spots, making it highly competitive."

"You have only three battle pets, are you really going to compete for this ranking?"

Aboard the ship, Princess You Ruo looked at Zhao Xing and his three battle pets.

She had no faith that Zhao Xing could stand out.

After all, Zhao Xing was not a formal Beast Tamer, and his previous escape from the Purple Cloud Islands showed a low ranking, making it apparent he struggled.

"Master, I want to try," Zhao Xing said.

"The Dragon Court Ancient Land is extremely dangerous. You are your teacher’s only disciple, don’t you want to reconsider?"

"There’s still ten years to prepare. Although my battle pets are now of the fifth rank, they will surely be of the fourth rank by then."

Seeing Zhao Xing’s persistence, Princess You Ruo grew tired of persuading, "Alright, since it’s unlikely you’ll make it through this time, just try if you wish."

Princess You Ruo didn’t think highly of Zhao Xing since all the battle beasts she casually brought were fourth-rank perfect specimens with godly bloodlines.

Her Beast Tamers numbered over five hundred!

Even so, she dared not claim even one-tenth of the qualifying quota.

How could Zhao Xing, a mere fifth-rank with fifth-rank battle pets, and not even a professional Beast Tamer, hope to compete?

However, since Liu Tianning did not object, Princess You Ruo saw no need to say more.

She didn’t trust Zhao Xing, but there were those who did.

"Senior Brother, do you have a way to win?" asked Ji Zixuan, who had joined Zhao Xing on the observation deck of the ship.

"Oh? Even the princess has no faith in me, but you do," Zhao Xing smiled.

"How could Senior Brother engage in a battle he wasn’t confident about?" Ji Zixuan laughed, "You were the one who braved the Fire Dragon Pass. Considering your military career, you’ve never lost a battle."

Seeing Zhao Xing stay silent, Ji Zixuan confidently stated, "Senior Brother must have confidence!"

Zhao Xing glanced at Ji Zixuan, "If you’re so smart, guess where my confidence lies."

After a moment of thought, Ji Zixuan took out a document from her robes, "Senior Brother, these are the latest competition rules. They don’t limit the abilities of Beast Tamers."

"If I’m not mistaken, Senior Brother’s confidence comes from your own strength."

"In previous competitions, you never personally took action; it was Ao Tian, Xiao Tian, and Huan Tian who fought through the Purple Cloud Arena."

"Others may think you’re a half-baked Beast Tamer, but actually, you only need to master the Pure Essence Fusion of the beast-taming method to break through."

"What Master Liu could do at the fifth rank, Senior Brother can surely do!"

Zhao Xing marked Ji Zixuan with surprise; she had seen through his intentions.

Correct, he wasn’t superior in beast-taming methods, number of battle pets, or the strength of battle beasts, compared to those from Beast Taming Families.

But the competition rules didn’t prohibit Beast Tamers from using other spells. A Beast Tamer who was also a Martial Artist, Priest, Minister of Agriculture, or dancer was acceptable.

If you could demonstrate your prowess in the Dragon Court Ancient Land, it didn’t matter whether you were a black or white cat as long as you could catch mice.

Zhao Xing aimed to win a spot through his own strength, and fighting at the fourth rank was perfectly manageable for him now.

So why bother using beast-taming at all? Why not just let people in directly?

Because the Dragon Court Ancient Land was the residence of the Dragon Clan in Ancient Times, the internal rules reversed the status of humans and beasts.

Humans were seen as an inferior bloodline by the Dragon Clan, treated with low status and restrictions everywhere. But if one signed a contract with a battle beast of divine bloodline, entry became convenient.

"Senior Brother, is it like this?" Ji Zixuan looked at Zhao Xing with a hint of anticipation, "Is this your plan?"

"You guessed right, but there’s no prize." Zhao Xing flicked his fingers and turned to leave.

Watching Zhao Xing’s departing figure, Ji Zixuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement, "Senior Brother, he really can fight at the fourth rank."

Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only