Chương 829: Chapter 828: The Eye of the Storm

Two days passed in a blur of focused preparation. The secluded courtyard was no longer a place of quiet meditation but a center of intense activity. Li Yu spent his time refining his domain while Daiki practiced his soul techniques until his mental reserves were almost depleted. They both knew the scale of the challenge ahead. The Astral Gale Realm was peaceful on the surface but its competitive spirit was as sharp as a wind blade.

On the morning of the third day, the group gathered at the central plaza of Galeheart Academy. The atmosphere was electric. Hundreds of students and instructors lined the marble walkways to cheer for their representatives. It was a massive showing of academy pride. Li Yu stood beside Daiki and observed the other candidates. The academy had chosen five fighters for almost every realm that the tournament had. The groups were divided by their cultivation level.

There were representatives for the Soul Transformation realm, the Half King realm and the King realm. Above them stood the Law Seed and Law Integration experts. Daiki stood with the Domain King group. At the very top of the hierarchy were the Paragon and Karma Severing experts. Li Yu noticed that the Karma Severing bracket only contained two people. They were older cultivators with incredibly deep and stable auras.

They stood apart from the rest and their eyes were filled with the wisdom of those who had survived the psychological crucible of their own history. Master Harrow arrived and led the group toward the docks. A massive vessel was anchored to a floating pier and it was a breathtaking sight. The ship was named the Sky Skimmer and one of the main vessels of the Academy, at least its most well known flying craft. The hull was crafted from a light and resilient silver wood.

The sails were not made of cloth but were composed of shimmering sheets of solidified wind Qi. The vessel radiated a sense of speed and freedom.

"Board the ship," Master Harrow commanded. He was joined by three other leading elders. The lead elder was a man named Tsuna. He possessed long white hair that seemed to flow even when there was no breeze. He was an Origin Awakening expert, the realm after the Tribulation Realm. He was one of the strongest people in the academy, rivaling even the headmaster. His presence was like a calm but immovable mountain. The elders would oversee the group and provide support during the journey.

Li Yu and Daiki stepped onto the wooden deck. The wood felt soft beneath their boots. They were joined by the other four fighters in the Domain King bracket. Master Harrow gestured for them to introduce themselves.

"We are Galeheart's primary hope for the Domain King points," Harrow said with a serious expression.

"You must work together when the rules allow it. Do not let petty rivalries weaken the academy's standing or you will be punished. Regardless of whether you love or hate each other, during this tournament you are to treat each other as if you are all Dao Partners! Do not let me catch you otherwise." Harrow had a stern look on his face. Daiki offered a polite nod to his new teammates. Li Yu stood back far from the group and was analyzing them. The first was a woman named Zephyra.

She was an elemental spirit who had taken a female form. Her skin was semi transparent and her hair was a literal cloud of swirling mist. She did not walk so much as float an inch above the deck. She specialized in air manipulation. The second was a lizard-kin named Trak. He was covered in metallic scales that shifted colors to reflect the sky. He carried a heavy spear made of refined storm glass. He looked like a physical powerhouse who could match Daiki's raw strength. The third looked human and was named Kylo.

He was unique because he possessed a third eye in the center of his forehead. The eye remained closed for now but Li Yu could sense the powerful Qi dormant within it. What he could do with that third eye Li Yu did not know. The final member was Mora. She was a plant based sentient creature composed of thick and flexible vines. The vines were wrapped in a sharp aura of wind. She looked like a master of entanglement and area control.

"I am Daiki," the giant demon introduced himself simply.

"I specialize in physical power and soul manipulation."

"We saw your qualifiers," Trak grumbled with a respectful nod.

"Your soul attacks are impressive. We will need that edge against the Primal Fang brutes." The Sky Skimmer detached from the pier. The silver wood groaned as the wind sails caught the currents of the Astral Gale Realm. The ship surged forward with incredible speed. They headed toward the central area of the realm and the journey would take several hours. They could get there sooner but there was no need to.. As they flew, Master Harrow gathered the candidates on the main deck.

He looked toward the horizon where a massive storm was permanently swirling in the distance. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Let me explain again in case some of you did not listen. The rules for this year's tournament are still a mystery," Harrow explained.

"The entire event is arranged by a neutral third party known as the Arbiter. This ensures that no academy has an unfair advantage. We only know the basic structure of the tests. Pay attention and keep your mind sharp!" The ship eventually arrived at the tournament grounds. It was a location known as the Eye of the Storm. It was a massive floating stadium situated in the calm center of a permanent hurricane. Thousands of other vessels were already anchored around the stadium.

The sky was filled with the banners of different factions. They landed on a designated platform and were led into a grand waiting hall. The scale of the event was grand. There were thousands of spectators in the stands and the ambient Qi of so many experts was overwhelming. A man wearing golden robes stepped onto a central floating platform. This was the Organizer. He flared his aura and his voice echoed throughout the stadium.

"Welcome to the Grand Academy Tournament!" The Organizer shouted.

"This year is different. The cosmic currents are growing chaotic and the realms are shifting. To better prepare our youth for the challenges ahead, the prizes for this tournament have been increased by fifty percent compared to last time. The supreme treasures are waiting for those with the strength to claim them!" The crowd erupted into a deafening roar. The candidates felt a surge of adrenaline. A fifty percent increase in rewards was a staggering amount of wealth and resources.

The Organizer raised his hands for silence.

"There are seven great academies participating today. I will introduce them to you now." He pointed to the first section of the stands.

"Rank one: Primal Fang Academy. They represent the unyielding strength of the earth and the ferocity of the beasts." He moved to the next.

"Rank two: Lunar Crest Academy. Masters of water and the subtle art of illusions." He pointed toward Elder Tsuna and his group.

"Rank three: Galeheart Academy. The masters of the wind and the soaring sky." The list continued through the other four.

"Rank four: Solar Flare Academy. Rank five: Shadow Step Academy. Rank six: Iron Root Academy. And rank seven: Consuming Tide Academy." Li Yu committed the names to memory. Each academy had its own theme and specialization. Their heritage was built on a certain foundation but he knew the fighters within them would be diverse.

"This year, we will not just test your martial might," the Organizer announced.

"A true cultivator must be versatile. We will test different aspects of your abilities across five grueling trials." He projected a massive screen of light into the air. The rules for the first four tests were displayed for everyone to see.

"The first test is however, a test of martial might," the Organizer explained.

"You will enter the Pagoda of Strength which has nine levels. Each bracket has its own version of the pagoda. You must advance as high as possible. The seven people in each bracket who advance the least will be eliminated instantly. An academy could lose all five of its representatives in a single test if they are weak, so try your best."

"The second test is a test of illusions. You will be pulled into a secret world and you must figure it out. The seven who perform the worst will be gone as before."

"The third test is a test of speed and strength. It is a race across a complex course within an illusionary realm. You may only use your movement techniques. Fighting and cheating are strictly restricted. The bottom seven will be eliminated."

"The fourth test is actually an opportunity. It is a test of the soul and the Dao Heart. Each candidate will face a simulation of their own Karma Severing tribulation. It is a rare opportunity to see what your future holds." The Organizer paused and a mischievous smile crossed his face.

"The final test will be announced only after the fourth test is concluded. Only the top seven in each bracket will remain to see it." The tension in the waiting hall reached a breaking point. The elimination format was brutal. There was no room for error in any of the tests. Doing amazing in one and then bad in another will still get you eliminated. As the candidates prepared to enter their respective pagodas, the academy supporters in the stands were given small crystal orbs.

Li Yu noticed that Harrow and the other elders each received one as well.

"These orbs project an image of our academy members," Harrow explained to Li Yu.

"We can follow your progress and watch every move you make within the trials. It is a magnificent item for the spectators." Li Yu took his place near the entrance of the Domain King pagoda. He looked at Daiki and offered a calm nod. Li Yu would be watching through the orbs and focusing mainly on his friend. But he also wanted to see how the other within the academy operated. Unfortunately he would not be able to view candidates from the other academies. Only the people from his own to not reveal too many secrets.

The signal for the first test was given. A massive gong resonated through the Eye of the Storm. The doors of the pagodas swung open and the thirty five candidates in the Domain King bracket surged forward. Li Yu sat back and activated his own observation orb. He watched the projections of the Galeheart team. He saw Zephyra dissolve into a cloud of mist to bypass the first level guards. He saw Trak use his spear to shatter a stone sentinel. But his main focus remained on the giant crimson demon.

Daiki walked into the first level of the pagoda with his head held high. He was no longer the runaway heir. He was a warrior and he was here to destroy everything in his path. The stadium was filled with the sound of thousands of people talking and debating the odds. Li Yu listened to the supporters of the other academies as they cheered for their own champions. A fighter from Solar Flare incinerated a group of wooden dolls with a single blast of Yang fire.

A masked assassin from Shadow Step vanished from sight and reappeared on the stairs of the second level. The tournament had officially begun and the stakes were higher than ever. Li Yu knew that Daiki had the strength to survive but the trials were designed to find weakness in a cultivator's foundation. He hoped that Daiki would perform well as he too wanted his friend Sora to recover.