Feat Contest
'It's been a week since you stopped coming to school to cultivate.'
Was what Beiyue said during breakfast. 'Are you working well with Trapdoor Spider?'
'Yes.' said Dongling. 'He's a little unorthodox to work with though.'
Trapdoor Spider.
If Beasts give Shadow Weapons such as blunt weapons, polearms, swords, whips and flails...Spiders have it different, depending on their style. They use their actual webbing as capture and trap weapons to be conjured by their summoners, or as threads coming out of their hands. As such, Trapdoor Spiders aren't as obvious as most spiders. They specialize in patience, ambush and grab. For a Summoner, that means ninja and guerilla tactic style of combat...not that this world knows what even that is anyway.
Beiyue had taught Dongling every dirty trick in the book befitting those parts.
Counter Guardian Heroic Spirit he may be, but at least he got knowledge in turn. Immense knowledge about many things his fellow spirits can do.
She taught Dongling Ninjutsu, Guerilla Warfare and Assassination Skills befitting her beast type since having Trapdoor Spider, giving Dongling knowledge many Heroes can do with the likes of Jing Ke, Yan Qing, Kato Danzo, Fuuma Kotaro, and Jack the Ripper's Information Erasure. Well, only techniques Dongling has talent in, that is.
And with Dongling's temper and hot-headedness gained in the two years Original Beiyue was mistreated in, she can never be a true Assassin-type nor be good in Espionage and Concealing herself. Her hostility can be felt as she's determined to prove everyone wrong. However, Dongling also has Patience in spades...which was ironic. Well, it came with good reason: she knows her place. She was a Commoner and a Maid incapable of defending herself, nevermind defend her miss back then. Now that she grew strong, she has the privilege of any other Cultivator: run amok and prove her strength, social status be damned.
So what if she's a maid?
Other than that, EVERY ONE of her subordinates knows Iaido and Battojutsu, before learning the Sword Arts of this world.
Though she wasn't sure if she can handle Dongling's damn-near-fangirl worship of her for knowing all these skills and thinks she's a genius expert...besides, she wasn't the only one she taught these skills to. She taught the very same things to her experts who are suited to these fields as well dammit.
'Mm. Keep practicing your techniques with the weights I crafted.' said Beiyue, lifting her sleeve to show she too, wore the weights. 'We're the same weight levels at any rate with the other subordinates. So incase we take them off at Field Contests...we can be at full throttle.'
'Yes!'
They began at kilograms as beginners because they were understandably CHILDREN back then.
Gaining health through healthy eating, Elixirs and rigorous training, Beiyue felt they're real live Zoldycks at any rate, as well as the likes of Kenichi's Mightiest Disciple. Techniques in anime, can be done in this world if it can't be done in Earth, unless you use Magecraft...
Because they all started at the same level, she and her personal brigade around her age, are now up to 4 tons in strength. The adults she recruited? 6-8. Understandably.
They're stronger than the spoiled brats of Lingyang School who never knew any hardship.
xxx
School...
'Hey Beiyue, I heard that Dongling took time off school.' Yingye mused as she had lunch with her cousin who has impossibly-delicious food.
'Yes, because the next pills and potions in her class require more potent Earth ki to work with.' said Beiyue. 'She has to cultivate and convert her Ki as well as stockpile it for her comeback to school.'
'It would be more efficient if she changes her Spirit Beast.' Lianyi pointed out. 'Spiders don't give much Earth Spirit.'
'Well, we have yet to find a worthy replacement.' said Beiyue wryly. 'At the time of my return home here after traveling back-and-forth from two counties, Misty Forest has cheap resources we literally have no choice. Maybe at this upcoming Annual Camping Trip we might find a good replacement, even though Trapdoor Spider is growing like she does.'
A little TOO fast in Lianyi and Yingye's opinion.
Sure, Summoner and Paired Beast grow with each other with faster training growth with half the effort on both their parts so when they both train together, they get double the results, depending on effort given.
However, in a short time, Dongling has risen to two more stars and yet to change her Spider. Last year at Camp, she was a 4-star Summoner with a Rank 6 Trapdoor Spider. And now, ten months later, she's now a 7-star Summoner, and her Spirit Beast growing to Rank 9. At age 13. Her phenomenal rise was shocking. Due to how they did it, families now have their youngsters do what Beiyue did for her maid...train as Warrior first!
That, was because both lady and maid swore to hell and back, that Dongling did NOT take Marrow-Washing Pill which was reason for her phenomenal rise. Huang Beiyue can't be bothered to spend for that high-class pill when she has tons of wages to pay so she found another way out!
Beiyue would laughingly tell Lianyi she enjoys seeing her second and younger sister puke blood in anger in jealousy and hatred, that a mere maid was superior to she, a noblewoman of an Imperial House. Given what kind of woman Xiao Yun really is...after all, like mother like daughter, Lianyi cannot blame Beiyue being spiteful and rubbing it in their faces. Naturally, given how aristocracy and royalty works, he had Di investigate the Xiao Clan and Beiyue was very right about them. Huwen Di wondered WHEN will Beiyue take action as their evil scheming made him shudder, and spent a long time in the baths scrubbing himself raw till he hurt out of disgust Lianyi had to get him medication afterward.
Lianyi also noted not to go near Xiao Yun.
Concubine Xue used to be Princess Royal's maid. But after a good life of being treated well despite being a servant, she betrayed her lady who was at the front lines by seducing her way to Concubinehood, after some education so imagine Princess Royal's surprise that she's now a concubine and her husband treating her well! It was no wonder she held him in contempt, only getting pregnant when she absolutely had to when Master Xiao's Concubines popped children before she, the Xiao-furen did! And she will use anyone, even her own children to rise in status. Hell, she's willing to kill her own son who was so horrified upon overhearing their cruel plans out of sheer dumb luck, he begged his royal sister in tears for help! What does that say about her?
She was reason why Beiyue was particularly picky with who to sponsor. There are many hidden, unknown talents in Qinghe and Miyang. But she chooses based on personality and virtue of a person. She will never sponsor anyone who'd be her version of Concubine Xue.
Xiao Rou was also a case of like mother like daughter. However, what made her different from Xiao Yun was that she actually cares for her older brother and enjoyed a good sibling relationship with Zhongqi who would dote on her in turn for her support of him by arranging dates for him so he could find a fiancee. It was among her few redeeming qualities. Few. Concubine Qin wasn't exactly a good example of a virtuous lady was she?
And both mother and daughter played the whole country for fools later on, and Beiyue enjoyed spiting everyone as her form of amusement, and only showed kindness to those who were 'decent human beings' towards her despite her facade starting at age six. It was a character test damn near everyone failed in. Even her own effing father and grandfather!
Thus they lost the backing of the royal family. The third daughter when she rose to her own wealth refuses to financially aid her own family as she witnessed how her household works other than how she was treated.
Her fiancee Xue Che lost her as well and from what Beiyue told him, they cared more for losing that 444 million taels of annual income than caring about her so she enjoyed dropping him on her first banquet.
Her first real friends, were her subordinates and after winning her trust, Xiaoyao and Lianyi became her friend too, before Yingye managed to worm her way through that icy gate around her heart as well. She was way too positive, but at least, smart about it otherwise she'd be surrounded by parasitic friends long ago. And as of late, the much-more innocent Luoluo, the childe of the Buji'er Mercenary Union.
She also aided her not-brother-anymore Nie Wuxian in getting the hell out of the city after learning his real feelings for her. Good grief, what a family! Given that no such spell existed until found in the Xiao Library, one really wonders about Xiao Qiyuan now...
Beiyue was someone to be counted on in need and one who would treat you EXTREMELY WELL if you proved to be a true friend to her.
Goodness knows the benefits are very swell.
Insanely delicious food that also makes you strong over time and makes cultivation go smoother and faster in progress(to avoid getting fat, avoid rice), training advices, incredibly cool clothes, and so on. Huang Beiyue was an incredible cook even nobles were now flocking to her restaurants as eating there improves cultivation! Be it dine in or takeout, people eat as much as they can every day!
Lianyi improved in health since the past two years when he befriended Huang Beiyue. Huwen Di mastered her cookbooks and shared the knowledge to his clan and its now a Clan Secret that Huwen Zhan, his father made 'teaching outsiders is punishable by death' along with the person they taught it to.
It was also no secret to Beiyue, much to her and Dongling's chagrin, that Xiao Yuancheng is paying for meals off her restaurants solely for Xiao Zhongqi and Xiao Yun, even though the latter cannot break through past her current situation unless Senior Master brings home a beast for her...and Concubine Qin sweet-talked Yuancheng into giving that food to her Rou'er who will actually benefit instead of wasting his money...
After all, the cheapest dish from any of Beiyue's restaurants is 50 gold coins...
xxx
A week before the Feat Contest...
'Princess...' said Teacher Long after class ended.
'What is it, teacher?' Beiyue asked her teacher after gathering her tools into her ring. In Enchanter Course, you learn sorcery, as well as making magical items. You cannot get licensed if you cannot make them!
This was why she worked hard on her Admissions Exams to at least be certified enough to sell 'cheap items' on the market.
That, being her bathtubs and memory disks...
'Given your true prowess, how about you try out this year's Feat Contest?' Teacher Long suggested. 'You can still sign up.'
'Humm...I'll give it a go.' she sounded utterly disinterested though! 'Normally I'm a low-key person but annoyingly, my status cannot afford me such a simple thing so I really must participate.' the teacher looked awkward as the Princess willingly suffered her unfortunate reputation just to sort out who she should associate with according to the Dean who found out from Crown Prince. She played the country like a fiddle and those lucky to be her friends enjoyed her powerful backing. 'I'll sign up for the Warrior's Event for now.'
'Ehhh?! But aren't you a Summoner?!' the princess was actually, an Arcane-Class Summoner and War God Cultivator and she managed to conceal that for so long, fooling even her own family!
'Meh, maybe next year.' Beiyue sounded mischievous. 'For now I'll do a little exercise in this year's contest.'
So she signed up for Warrior Event's Sword Event.
It has two events: a versus match. You will naturally be paired with people of your cultivation level. Warriors first compete in Hand-to-Hand before the strongest 200 joins the Weapons Competition. The twenty strongest from each level in each weapon type, gets to participate in the next event which was in Beiyue's opinion, a magical version of Wushu. Instead of weapon technique, you perform Martial Arts...what's basically the equivalent of Super Techniques in video games or Sword Arts instead to amaze the masses!
'Sooo that's pretty much it.' said Beiyue to her group. 'How about you guys?'
'Oh dear, I'm not obliged to join the annual contests given my situation.' said Lianyi, sweatdropping as he's a Hostage Prince. There were things he cannot do within Nanyi Country.
'That's too bad.'
'Well, mother is my problem.' said Yingye unhappily. 'I'll have to as father for help. Again.'
'Eh? How come Empress is your problem?' Luoluo asked Yingye as Yingye's mood went dark.
'Empress...let's just say she's trying to keep Yingye in a gilded cage.' Beiyue shook her head. 'She usually needs a powerful supporter just so she can do something as simple as buying cultivational pills. Its a miracle she made it this far mostly thanks to Zhanye before coming to me as well and we're helping her get better.' she told Luoluo. 'In a world like ours, status won't protect us from all bad things in the world. It actually makes us priority targets by enemies.' she deadpanned. 'And being a Princess didn't stop everyone from disparaging me in my fake-out years, either, didn't they?'
Yingye shivered.
Her cousin's words, are horrifyingly true which was why she sought strength and skill.
'The way Empress keeps this up, Yingye might just have a taste of what Beiyue put up with in coming years it was good Yingye's rebellious or she wouldn't be where she is now.' Lianyi shook his head.
He's fully-aware how strong Beiyue is. He wasn't stupid. If her full strength gets exposed this year, people might compare the two princesses and Yingye will be hard-pressed to prove herself before suffering what Beiyue inflicted on herself.
As of now, Yingye is a 4-star Summoner, having a Rank 12 spirit beast.
Her opportunity to grow, would be in this year's camping trip.
'Beiyue, d'you think you can help me find a stronger Spirit Beast in this year's trip?' Yingye gulped.
'Yeah, assuming we luck out since Misty Forest is really cheap...'
'Er, we'll be in the Floating Forest?' Yingye pointed out.
'The borders.' Lianyi corrected. 'The entrance to Floating Forest is still full of weak spirits. Its to give young masters experience. The location changes based on ability of the winners of the Feat Contest.'
xxx
On the big day...
'Dongling, let's go!' said Beiyue as they donned their battle dresses. Beiyue made a fusion-cultural and feminine version of her Archer outfit. Of course, due to the heat, it's sleeveless and made out of silk, and yuzen-dyed in black, blue and silver colors. Her hairtie is a simple neckerchief ribbon tied over a hairtie. And her black pants is replaced by a pair of shorts under her apron skirt. And black knee-high sheer leggings, and black boots with silver leather sewn into the toes and heels.
Dongling's outfit was very cute on the other hand...it has white undergarments with short flutter sleeves, and red-violet dress with gold designs and white lace trimmings. The lace, being handwoven by Beiyue herself.
This year, Dongling will compete in the Summoner's Division while Beiyue will compete in the Warrior Division.
It was what lit the city on fire as she shocked the country that she wasn't useless after all so many people wondered what can she do.
Because nobody reached War God Cultivation in Nanyi Country among Warriors to date...until these two girls. At age 12 and 13 no less. And the highest anyone got by the time they're old and gray, is Sword Sage.
Nobody got to Sword Sage by time of puberty, either.
While the whole city is excited?
In a school building's hallways, Principal Cang He and the faculty walked together.
'Principal...about...those guys...' said Teacher Lei as in his mind, were numerous shadows with glowing eyes. 'Will they participate?'
'They will.' said Cang He. 'It's why I planned out the brackets so well to avoid trouble. So many powerful talents are participating as well. If all of them wins, the location of the Annual Autumn Trip will surely change.'
'To a more dangerous one no doubt?' asked another teacher.
'Yes. Higher levels need more challenges.' said the old Principal. 'And they are the future of Nanyi Country, we must groom them as such.'
xxx
Warrior's Event...
Due to who's participating, even the Emperor took a day off work.
On a special box prepared for them, the Emperor, Princes and Princess Yingye watched at the box.
'This is it...' Yingye shuddered in excitement. 'Beiyue's really strong.'
'How confident are you about that?' Jing asked her skeptically. She was a known martial trash, but a very capable businesswoman and painter. Then a powerful cultivator but as she refused to see anyone for years out of distrust, one can only wonder her abilities.
'My body still feels her punches when she trained me!' Yingye shivered. 'Her fists are enough to break my bones, patches me up in seconds and does it again! Endurance training she calls it because anyone who wants me dead will be far crueler so I gotta endure, she said...then those hellish sword trainings and other stuff! I didn't win my first Feat Contest for nothing last year!'
Yingye was shocking last year, having won her first Feat Contest all at the age of thirteen at the Warrior's Division. She won the fights, even against those older than her and close to graduation. She was just too fast for anyone. Where she fell in, was the Demonstration Contests, having run out of Ki around Silver Class C moves due to her fights. That was before Zhanye scored her her Spirit Beast that enabled her to rise 4-stars in the annual field trip. She was regarded as a talent that earned her great respect for her skill.
Apparently, Beiyue trained her!
'Yue'er trained you, princess?' Xiaoyao asked in intrigue.
'Yeah, I asked her to when out of sheer luck when I was visiting, I saw how she trained Dongling...then I just knew she has to be my teacher since I can't get anything done at home.' said Yingye morosely.
'I'm more interested in how she can heal you in seconds as you put it.' said Lianyi, intrigued. 'Not even wind magic can do that.'
'No clue either...her hands would glow gold and I feel my broken bones reset and my organs recover as if endurance training didn't happen...maybe its a technique unique to her!' Yingye beamed. 'Maybe if you ask since you can also heal...'
'Assuming she answers.' Lianyi sweatdropped. 'Generous she may be to those she actually acknowledges as friends after some thorough vetting, but there are stuff even she won't give, no doubt. Same goes for anyone who has hard-earned unique skills only they can do due to certain things or traits few people can have.'
'Awww...'
Beiyue's first opponent was a young man around Zhongqi's age in hand-to-hand. His name was Nalan Renxin. He's from a prominent clan of Marquis and already has a fiancee. Most students are up to Gold A-Class by the time of graduation, but Huang Beiyue?
Unclassified.
All they know about her, is her cultivation base during exams. She's clearly a Summoner by her high cultivation despite her claims of War God status...
Nalan Renxin has all rights to be wary with her.
When the Dean gave the begin, both fighters vanished into a flurry of strikes...with Beiyue...dominating...with a blank look on her face. Like that of a doll's,
'No way...'
'She's actually that good?'
'She's pushing back that Nalan Renxin without even breathing hard!'
"Hah, you ain't seen nothing yet..." Dongling smirked. Reason why her miss is hardly tired, was because of their insane training regime. The stamina and endurance of her fiefdoms, is top class levels.
Nalan Renxin was defeated in three minutes without even being able to make Beiyue move from her spot where she stood since her fight began.
Not even a dent on the floor where she stood.
The crowd was in silence.
'D-did you...see that?' Xiao Rou squeaked to her brother, wide-eyed in disbelief. Xiao Zhongqi was stunned. This was the trash they once knew?!
Moreover, she did not use the style of Lingyang. She used a different style that involved knife hands and didn't even use a single art.
'Wow Dongling, did you see that?!' Luoluo was on fanboy mode and looking like a wide-eyed puppy-eyed...hamster-faced kid.
'Yeah.' Dongling nodded. 'If she is to get serious...it'll have to be either me or some of our other students. She may have taught us our skills but friendly rivalry for improvement is still on.' Luoluo looked at her, slack-jawed.
'Other. Students...?'
'Yeeees...and they're here in school too.' Dongling went cat-eyed smile as Luoluo's eyebrows went up. 'And all of them joined the Warrior's Event. Too bad I applied for Summoner this year...I was told to by the teachers.'
'Ah...'
'You'll know who they are by performance.' Dongling quipped, taking out a paper bag of potato chips out of her ring.
'Where'd you buy that?' Luoluo looked at the food. Beiyue opened up businesses that sold unique foods...
'Homemade.' said Dongling mid-bites. 'But this cannot go for sale as it's way too cheap people will just make their own at home.'
'Ooh, can I have some?'
'Sure, they're a little spicy but spices are preferable to salt. Health hazard in a job like ours if too much.'
'Ah...' Luoluo popped a chip in his mouth and it tasted like barbecue! '...ooh, crunchy! And this is nice!'
xxx
As matches went on, there were 12-13 year old boys and girls who caused the same shock as Beiyue.
And when paired together? Even more jaw-dropping! Their fights, were reminiscent of Dragonball Z, only, using Lingyang Skills instead of a brawl like Dragonball Z. Beiyue was inwardly cackling she brought anime to life in a world like this! She was rapidly writing notes in her homemade notepad to accurately evaluate her subordinates.
'O-oh my god...'
'Whose families are those kids from?!'
'Those kids are insane!'
'P-Principal...' Teacher Guo was wide-eyed at the past ten fights.
'Y-yes, I see this...' Cang He was stunned silent. If these are ALL Beiyue's students, what more about herself?!
Later, after a couple more fights and many, many noble and wealthy kids lost to unknown entities while said entities' fights lasted as long as ten minutes each bout...Beiyue was up against one of these kids as the second round is now a fight for the Top 20 spot to go to the Annual Autumn Camping Trip for the Warrior Course.
'Princess, what of our evaluations?' this girl asked.
'I will read to you your evaluations after we fight.' said Beiyue. 'I'll decide who gets an upgrade and who needs more remedial lessons.' the girl gulped. The referee Teacher Gong really wonders now...she taught these kids HOW?!
'Begin!'
And Beiyue was just as insane as the others before her. Yikes. She's as fast and strong as the freshmen her age. She's hiding her true skill all along!
Then why feign uselessness for years in Martial Arts?
If she was this good in hand-to-hand along with her students...!
'We now have our Top 20 Contestants for the Warrior's Contest!' Cang He declared, genuinely pleased with the results. 'After an hour of lunch break, please return for the Sword Arts Demonstration!'