Chapter 72 - Mighty Mammoth Form, Sonic-Speed Arcana
Chang'an Base City was the only large and primary base city in the northeast. Its status was akin to a provincial capital 30 years ago.
Its massive population came with many powerful fighters and different forces. There were countless geniuses born here every year.
"Many forces have gone to great lengths to get this one place by either buying it directly or secure it through personal connections."
Jing Biao spoke slowly. "Many people, high up in the company management and originated from Chang'an Base City, used their personal connections just to get this one place."
"So intense a competition?"
Ling Jiu was discouraged. "My chance would be slim if that is the case."
"You will have little hope if you are just an ordinary genius. I am here in Lantian Base City is just a formality. But things would be different if you are a super genius."
Jing Biao let out a smile. "The purpose for the company to organize the Super Training Camp is to build a network of talents and train top fighters for the company. So if you are strong and terrific enough, you would emerge a victor."
"What should I do, sir?" Ling Jiu quickly asked.
"After a round of selection process, there are four contenders for the last place. Five if including you."
Jing Biao grinned. "The other four contenders have the support of four major forces behind them. You are at a disadvantage in this respect. The only way to win is to defeat them!"
"Defeat them?"
Ling Jiu was startled.
"Yup! Defeat them! Only by defeating them could you prove yourself that you are more talented than they are and could secure the place for yourself."
Jing Biao guffawed. "And that will depend on whether you are gutsy enough."
"I would like to give it a shot, sir!" Ling Jiu nodded.
"Very well!"
Jing Biao let out a smile as he patted Ling Jiu on the back. "Get ready. I will arrange for a sparring session as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
For the following period, Ling Jiu stayed back home to practice his cultivation.
He was still not confident enough despite having the ability to defeat a Level-5 arcanist. After all, he was still a Level-4 arcanist.
"It would be nice if I could ascend to Level-Five before going to Chang'an Base City."
With this thought in mind, Ling Jiu browsed the mall as he wanted to find a treasure of heaven and earth like the Snowdragon Bile to enhance his strength.
But he was disappointed.
Effective treasures of heaven and earth were too expensive; he had got not enough contribution points.
Those treasures of heaven and earth that he could afford were basically useless.
He shook the thought from his mind and focused on practicing his cultivation.
A week had passed quickly.
"Ling Jiu, Mr. Jing has made arrangement. He asked you to pack up and follow him to Chang'an Base City tomorrow morning."
"Understood, Miss Luo!"
...
The next morning, after saying his goodbye to his family, Ling Jiu hopped on to Jing Biao's maglev airship and headed toward Chang'an Base City.
"Ling Jiu."
Jing Biao smiled at him. "We will arrive in Chang'an Base City in half an hour. Before we get there, I need to tell you about the other four contenders."
"Thank you, sir!"
Ling Jiu was grateful.
"These four guys are not just any contenders. Three of them are from Chang'an Base City's three major forces, namely Yang Group, Ai Family, and Chang'an Military District."
Jing Biao smiled. "The Yang family has spent 50 billion dollars to buy a place. But of course, that young chap from the Yang family is talented in his own right.
"And I don't have to tell you how powerful the Ai family and Chang'an Military District are. The last contender is the toughest; he is the child of the company's vice president."
Ling Jiu instantly frowned.
The power structure of Pangu Arcana Combine was like other arcana establishments, and the person at the helm of the company was its founder, Emperor Might.
Emperor Might was Pangu's director and president, who had the ultimate say in the company. His words could never be disputed.
Under Emperor Might were four vice presidents.
And under the vice presidents were departmental managers and base city managers.
Judging from this power structure, the vice presidents wielded immense power in Pangu Arcana Combine.
"Let us start with the guy from the Yang family."
Jing Biao continued. "His name is Yang Tian, a Level-Four arcanist, specializing in Mighty Mammoth Form, which is one of the nastiest Direbeasts.
"After attaining Mighty Mammoth Form, Yang Tian has gained a tremendous increase in strength and defense ability. He could increase his strength one-hundredfold. His strength is terrific."
"Mighty Mammoth Form! One-hundredfold increase in strength!"
There was an interesting look in Ling Jiu's eyes as he found that this ability was like his Tungsten Form.
"Ai Shangcheng from the Ai family is a Level-Four arcanist, whose main specialties are Fire and Wind Manipulations. He could manipulate a special kind of fire: Undying Skyfire, the temperature of which can be as high as five-thousand degree Celsius, extremely lethal!"
"Five-thousand-degree Celsius?"
Ling Jiu almost felt breathless at hearing that, considering the surface temperature of the sun was only 6,000ºC.
"Chu Ding, from the military district, is a Level-Four arcanist with Vajra Wolfclaw and Sonic-speed Arcana. His Wolfclaw is tough and sharp, and he can move as fast as sonic speed."
"The last one was Chang Jiandong, a Level-Five arcanist, whose arcana are Gigantization Arcana and Hundredfold Gene Arcana. He could turn into a ten-meter-tall giant, increase his strength and defense ability tenfold and his Gene Arcana in his body a hundredfold."
"A hundredfold increase in Gene Arcana is also considered an arcana?" Ling Jiu was puzzled.
"Of course."
Jing Biao nodded. "Chang Jiandong's physique is different from normal people in that his Gene Arcana is a hundred times that of normal people. Just like in comics, the unusually high amount of chakra is also an arcana."
"All right."
Ling Jiu had gotten the picture.
The Gene Arcana is the MP of an arcanist. The stronger the Gene Arcana was, the more tenacious an arcanist would be in combat.
Strong was not the word for a hundredfold increase in Gene Arcana.
"Not half bad at all for an ability. It would be terrific if I replicate this ability!"
He now realized he already had five types of arcana.
Putting the life-saving Shadowform arcana aside, his Earth and Gravity Manipulations, Teleportation and Tungsten Form were superb, especially terrific when they were used in combos.
The only downside was that they consumed too much Gene Arcana. If he could replicate Chang Jiandong's Hundredfold Gene Arcana, it would be a perfect complement to the shortcoming of his existing arcana.
"Too bad that there is another month to go before I can perform another replication." Ling Jiu sighed.
As Ling Jiu was silent, Jing Biao thought he was stunned. "Feeling the pressure, eh?" he laughed.
"A little. But that won't deter me!" Ling Jiu let out a confident smile. "I am confident of crushing them!"
"Very well!"
Jing Biao looked impressed. "That's how a young man should be—spirited and confident! I am looking forward to it, Ling Jiu!"
"I won't let you down."