Mage And Wolf
Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Chapter 180

The chefs have been talking, eating and handing out samples for almost two hours by the time they call it quits and begin to return to their hotels. Just like last year, there seem to be no hard feelings after the cooking competition, just food and friends.

"See, this is how a competition is supposed to end." I laugh, waving back at the crowds of people still socializing in the event arena.

"I don’t think it works if you have just finished punching them in the face though." Karl teases me, but Elder Song looks like he’s considering if food might actually make competitors stop caring about getting beat up.

"Thoughts, Elder?"

"When we Host our first official tournament as a neutral Sect, I think we need to have an evening feast the night after the Inner Sect martial arts competition. Normally there’s bad blood and rivalry that leads to fights on the road as everyone leaves, but if they get a chance to mingle, eat and drink, it might cut down on the unnecessary violence and give the impression that our Sect is safer than most."

Wow, he really did put a lot of thought into the topic. More than just ’sorry for breaking your face, here’s a sandwich’.

"That’s not a bad idea. It would also bring everyone together, instead of having them all huddled in their own camps the entire week, maybe help forge an alliance or two." I agree with his assessment.

When we get back to the hotel, the rest of the Sacred Thunder Sect members have arrived, along with a large group of children who have just walked in.

"Congratulations on your impending win in the cooking competition Young Miss. All of you, I would you to meet our assistants for the week. If you need anything done, feel free to ask one of these ten friendly faces. We’re sharing them with the Sacred Thunder Sect to cover any drinks, snacks or errands we need run. They can also act as guides to the city, should you want to find something specific." Sect Master Sun calls out so everyone can hear him.

They’ve all been given a basic black tunic with blue stripes on the sleeves, the colors of the two Sects, which will make them very easy to identify. Having local assistants is a great idea, there’s too much in the city for us visitors to find all the good spots in a week, but the local kids will likely know more.

"As we all know, the schedule has changed this year. With the layout of the city, there are two competition areas, one for fighting on the south side, near the bars and hotels. One for life skills in the north, where cooking was held today near the Merchants Guild and the larger market. Everyone from the Inner Sect, know your schedule. First thing tomorrow morning will be Group A from the Inner Sect fighting the qualifying rounds. At the same time, Group A will be doing Alchemy. Group B will start Alchemy in the afternoon, while group B Inner Sect fighters will go tomorrow morning." Sect Master Sun dismisses us with a wave and heads to his room, while Karl comes over to pick me up and set me on his hip.

"I’m sorry everyone, I must requisition the Young Miss for her assistance with a breakthrough." He calls to the assembled cultivators, making them laugh as we head upstairs.

"It’s not unavoidable, but I’m close enough now that I could trigger it anytime." Karl explains. As he’s still in the first level of Core Formation Realm, it’s a good idea for him to level up before any fighting starts. Most of the Inner Sect Disciples are still in the high Condensation Realm, as many Sects name them Elders once they reach Core Formation, but there are a few others above his current level.

After making sure the door and window shutters are securely locked and casting a soundproof barrier, Karl turns back to me with an item of black cloth in his hand.

"Special request for breakthrough night?" he asks, holding up what I now realize is a length of black silk ribbon. I swear, this man only cultivates to come up with excuses to try new things. I look pretty all wrapped up in the ribbon though.

As this breakthrough isn’t an urgent one like the others, I bring out two sets of Core Forming and Soul Forging pills, one to take now, as we begin our evening cultivating and one to take an hour or two from now, mid breakthrough. Doing it this way there’s no struggle to gather extra energy to induce the second breakthrough, and Karl smoothly reaches the third Rank of the Core Formation Realm, while I reach the fifth.

The flow of divine energy between us and stored in our bodies is rapidly getting thicker though, I’m not certain we’ll make the whole twenty levels of Core Formation and stabilize our foundations before being forced into Immortality at this rate. There’s a possibility that the feeling of fundamental change isn’t forcing us to Immortality though, but towards something entirely different.

I resolve to ask Elder Song about that after tomorrow, or make that today’s competitions are done. Karl is in Group A, while I’m in Group B, so today our competitions won’t overlap too badly and I’ll have time to go cheer him on during his first few fights.

I end up needing Karl’s assistance to untie me so I can go shower and get ready for they day, as he’s got the ribbon tied in the middle of my back, but he has different plans, carrying me to the bath and dunking me in the hot, bubble filled water before beginning the process of undoing all the knots he tied and scrubbing me down with a soft loofah.

Now this is the life. I should have him bathe me more often.

[Will you two get a move on? You’re going to be late for the first fight announcements] Elder Song sends to both of our minds at the same time. Oh yeah, the sound barrier is still up, and now so is the sun. We really should get going.

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