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Book 2, Growing Up, Chapter 19 – Who is Number One? (part 1)

The mountain behind the Ernst Institute, a place of tranquility

Linley sat cross-legged next to floater Listening to the murmurs of the water, he naturally entered the meditative trance, and all the nearby earth essence and wind essence i within ten or so meters around Linley became extremely clear to behold

Earth and wind essence entered his body through his four lians all slowly absorbed nourishth of his body was continuing to clie portion of the wind and earth essences, after purification, came to rest with the ‘central dantian’ in thewater ly

Next to hi on a wild duck The scene was a peaceful as a painting, as though it had co

But while it was peaceful here, the Ernst Institute was extremely rowdy All of the thousands of students, as well as i, and even many important people fro the various battles

The yearly tournament

All of the students of the Ernst Institute were prideful heaven-blessed talents!

Each and every single battle was arade students, balls of earth, flashes of lightning, and blades of wind flew hither and to But the battles of the third and fourth grade students were really astounding Various supportive spells and area of effect spells were used Spells such as ‘Shattered Rocks’ now caused dozens, approaching a hundred, of large stones to s forked doithout stopping

And the fifth and sixth graders? That was all thespells continuously flashed, filling the co students all were all roaring nonstop, as the energy was reaching a crescendo Virtually all of the people in the Institute were here

……

The yearly tournament went on for a bit over a month, which naturally was the wildest,this frenetic period, Linley would only occasionally watch the battles of the fifth and sixth grade students All of the rest of his time, he would quietly train by himself

“This tournament actually requires one to not intentionally try and kill one’s opponent How can this sort of competition be considered a real competition, when one’s hands and feet are tied?”

Under the influence of Doehring Cowart, Linley, too, began to view the conth As far as cous of the fifth rank, you should enter the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts and enter a series of genuine life-and-death experiences” Doehring Cowart persuaded Linley

……

The Huadeli Hotel, the most expensive hotel and restaurant within the Ernst Institute Tonight, Yale was hosting the four bros of dorm 1987 to a lavish meal at the Huadeli Hotel

On the first floor of the Huadeli hotel

The floor of the hotel was as slick as a mirror A row of beautiful waitresses stood there politely, ready to answer at a moment’s notice

There were many men and women dressed in student attire at the Huadeli Hotel Those ere able to afford this place were generally those who had strong econoht cost a few dozen gold coins If Linley had come by himself, he definitely wouldn’t be able to afford it

The yearly tournament had just ended, and all of the students at the hotel were discussing it Most of the people here were youngsters, but one table was filled with four children

“I’ about this year’s co the semifinals Maybe I would’ve been able to enter the top three” Reynolds was extreest of the four, and also the proudest of thehed “It really was a shame I didn’t expect Rand [Lan’de] to becoe chuckled but didn’t speak

George was a friendly fellow and offended aluys discuss him before He was one of the new students who had exceptional eleht?” Linley reht, hi, his spiritual essence had reached the level of a us of the second rank All he did this year was accueforce It isn’t too hard for sous of the second rank to becorade students”

“Relying on his talent alone? When it coenius, Dixie?” Yale quirked his lips “I look down upon Rand He won the first grade tournament, so what Linley, you didn’t see how self-satisfied he looked upon winning I really can’t iine hoould look if he actually were to win the fifth or sixth grade tournaus becaress even further

This hy the large h-level rade was, the fiercer the competition was

Reynolds nodded as well “I also don’t like hirader Dixie, won the third grade tournament Look at how coe What’s raders isn’t Rand”