I Can Devour Spirits

The sky had already darkened, and around the Zhexing Platform, great torches were lit...

Some of the spectators couldn’t hold out any longer and had started to leave, but many remained, standing there with empty stomachs. Among them was the Temple Priest of the City God Temple, Xu Dongyang. By this time, he had moved from the outer circle to the front row, the flames from the torches reflecting on his focused face...

Amidst the firelight, as one figure fell off the Plum Blossom Stakes, the twelfth bout finally determined a winner and loser.

A tall young man still standing on the stakes wiped the sweat from his forehead, grinned, and jumped down.

Qin Shuban’s voice rose almost simultaneously.

”First round, twelfth bout, Yue Feng wins!”

After declaring, Qin Shuban quickly walked over to a desk not far from Zhexing Platform, where the scorekeeping clerk was seated. He took the recorded document, glanced at it, and then approached the viewing stand.

With the document in hand, Qin Shuban bowed and said, ”Reporting to the County Magistrate! Reporting to the Imperial Envoys! The first round of the three-round chaotic score battle is now complete. The scores are as follows, please review them!”

Shen Yanliu turned his head to look at Li Xianjiang.

Li Xianjiang was not a martial artist. By this time, having not eaten since noon, he was already exhausted and sleepy, his face showing fatigue, seemingly unable to endure any longer.

Shen Yanliu said, ”There’s no need to look. That’s it for today, let everyone disperse.”

Qin Shuban then walked to the Zhexing Platform and announced the end of the first day of the Talent Selection Conference!

The crowd of spectators began to disperse into the dim night...

But in front of the Zhexing Platform, most of the seed contestants, except for a few with indifferent expressions, looked solemn.

In the Zhexing Platform battles, there are no draws; no matter how long it takes, a winner and a loser must be determined. As a result, there were several dull competitions that made people drowsy. Otherwise, twelve matches wouldn’t have dragged on till nightfall to barely finish.

Twenty-four people, twelve bouts. Half won, half lost.

Those who lost were understandably heavy-hearted.

Even those who won couldn’t really rejoice, thinking of tomorrow’s matchups.

Today’s matches were random among the twenty-four. Tomorrow will be different, dividing into two groups: winners and losers, each facing their respective opponents.

Winners face winners, losers face losers, which means today’s victors will meet stronger opponents tomorrow.

Thinking of this, those slightly weaker in the winner’s group inevitably grew anxious!

On the viewing stand, Shen Yanliu looked at Li Xianjiang and Fan Yuanhai, and said, ”Lord Li, esteemed envoys, everyone has been working hard all day. In the backyard of the County Office, my humble wife has prepared wine and food, let’s head over there now.”

Li Xianjiang smiled and said, ”Lord Shen, you are truly blessed to have such a capable wife who excels both in society and in the kitchen!”

Already feeling his stomach glued to his back from hunger, Li Xianjiang exchanged jokes with Shen Yanliu as they descended the viewing stand.

But Fan Yuanhai and the others remained standing on the viewing stand.

Shen Yanliu and Li Xianjiang took a few steps, turned around, and looked at those who remained motionless.

Fan Yuanhai saw Shen Yanliu turn back and smiled, saying, ”Lord Shen, we are not good with alcohol, so we won’t impose.”

Shen Yanliu glanced at Zhu Qunxiang, who was beside Fan Yuanhai, and said, ”Then please take your leave!”

After Shen Yanliu spoke, he and Li Xianjiang left.

Fan Yuanhai touched his nose, intending to speak. He wanted to invite his fellow disciples to dine at the Eight Treasures Building.

But before he could speak, Lv Qingzhu and Ah Mo had already left the viewing stand on their own.

Fan Yuanhai felt a bit awkward but still suggested to Zhu Qunxiang and the others to go to the Eight Treasures Building for drinks, to which they naturally nodded in agreement.

Duan Rong, together with Xiao Zongting, Xiao Yu, and Zhu Xiaoqi, walked along West Main Street towards Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

On West Main Street, the lanterns had just been lit, and in the hazy night, the light shone like a sky full of stars.

Seeing the lights all over the street, Zhu Xiaoqi smiled and said, ”Master, today both Dull Boy and Miss Yu won, why don’t we go out for a celebration?”

Zhu Xiaoqi’s bright eyes were filled with the lights, as her gaze occasionally moved over Duan Rong’s profile.

Xiao Zongting said coldly, ”It’s just the first day and you want to celebrate? The next two days will be tough battles! Everyone should go back and rest well!”

Seeing Xiao Zongting speak like this, Zhu Xiaoqi stuck out her tongue.

Xiao Yu turned to look at Zhu Xiaoqi, smiling, ”Xiaoqi, have you been standing all day? Are you too tired to cook...”

Zhu Xiaoqi said, ”No way... Cooking is simple, everything is ready, it doesn’t take much work...”

As they walked and talked,

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu exchanged impressions of some competitors after the first round.

Duan Rong was already in the Great Success Realm, and his only rivals could be Ximen Kankan and Tao Rong.

Although Xiao Yu had not yet achieved the Great Success Realm, her strength was also formidable. Among this batch of contestants, only a few could be competitors to her.

Because Xiao Yu, though not yet in the Great Success Realm, was just a step away from breaking through at any moment.

As they chatted, they arrived at the gate of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, where Xiao Zongting invited Duan Rong for dinner, and Duan Rong gladly accepted.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu exchanged more thoughts, and Xiao Zongting also shared some of his opinions. Before long, Zhu Xiaoqi had deftly prepared dinner.

After eating, Duan Rong took his leave.

Leaving Xiao Zongting’s courtyard, Duan Rong intended to return to Liu’s House, but seeing it was still early, and having nothing to do upon return, he changed direction and headed to the street.