Chapter 1459: Ascension
The opening ceremony started with the elemental show above the arena. It started with a fire play. Different colors of fire lit up the arena, leaving everyone in the arena silent.
Even though it was morning with the sun up in the sky. They could see the distinctive fire. The fire changed shape from a bird to a dragon and more. The fire play lasted for a few minutes.
Dinael could tell that the elemental show left the people in the whole stadium. She was also amazed by the fire show. Not the fire elemental show itself, but by the fire.
The different types of color might look pretty from the outside. However, she was aware that each color represented a different trait. She knew a few of them and did not expect that one of the Tang Empire's members had such power.
These people only knew that fire to burn, but she was aware there was a fire that could heal as well. Not just healing traits, but also buffing attributes, status, and antidotes as well.
She wanted to know the person behind this fire elemental show. Unfortunately, the master behind the fire elemental show did not show up.
After the show, Zhang Mengyao got from the chair and approached the platform at the end of the stage. She took the microphone and started the opening ceremony with a speech.
Dinael was surprised that it was The Supreme General who did the speech instead of The Emperor. She secretly took a peek at Ava. There was no reaction from the elf even though Zhang Mengyao did the speech.
She expected a reaction, maybe slightly upset. Even though she heard The Emperor's wives were harmonious. She did not believe in the rumor. These women must scheme and compete behind The Emperor. Zhang Mengyao did the speech meaning The Emperor favored Zhang Mengyao more than the other wives. That was what Dinael thought.
Dinael could not help but admire The Supreme General. Her speech was captivating and charismatic. The more she knew about The Supreme General. The more she was convinced that Zhang Mengyao was chosen for her capability, not because she was the Emperor's wife.
After the speech, it was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Another thing that she could not understand. Why ribbon cutting? What is that implied for? She was really curious about what it meant, but unfortunately, she had no one to ask.
Then there was a break for a moment until a lady in a red dress came up on the stage and started singing? Dinael is confused. Why a song in the opening ceremony for an academy? This was not a brothel.
However, she was met with an unexpected reaction by the people in the arena. A loud cheer, louder than when Zhang Mengyao delivered a speech or when The Emperor cut the golden ribbon.
That caught off her guard. It felt like the lady in the red dress was more popular than The Supreme General and The Emperor. That just made Dinael curious about how good this lady in the red dress was.
The song in this world was quite different from the song of her world. She did not really understand the song, but she ended up enjoying the song more than she thought. Without realizing it, she started munching the snack on the table.
As she was fully immersed in the third. She had high expectations for the fourth song. But the lady in the red dress did not continue singing and went back to the back of the stage. The performer was changed, and this time a group of four ladies followed with more ladies behind them.
Different from the first singer, the second performer wore more vulgar clothes, revealing so much of their skin. She thought she would dislike this, but then she ended up straightening her back to watch the performance.
They were not just singing but also dancing. Not only did she enjoy their voices, but also their dance. What amazed her was the atmosphere in the arena. The whole arena also sang, moving in rhythm, following the performance. What got her was the atmosphere, and she ended up liking the second performer more than the first one.
Dinael did not realize it, but her body followed the music, trying to mimic the dance with her body movement. As she was immersed in the performance, the performance was over. The second performer only sang two songs which disappointed her.
"You enjoy it more than I thought."
The moment Dinael heard Ava's voice, her body shuddered. She forgot that she was in the same booth as Ava and the little princess. She secretly took a peek, and she was sure she saw a smirk on the first princess' face.
'I am sure that little girl just smirks at me. Is she ridiculing me!?'
"Yes. It was an amazing performance. It's something new to me." Dinael politely replied.
She straightened her back, hoping for the third performer. However, she was bound to be disappointed because many dwarves swarmed the stage. They dismantled the stage in just two minutes. The stage turned into an arena for the competition. It was the main show, the tournament.
Dinael came for the fighting tournament. But for some reason, she expected the show more than the competition. She even hoped the fighting tournament would start tomorrow and continued the event with more singers.
Throwing away her useless thoughts, her eyes glued on the dwarves. She had heard a lot about the dwarf during her stroll, but she never saw them in the Tang Empire. It looked like the dwarves shunned themselves from the outside world despite their fame. This was the first time she saw a dwarf in the Tang Empire.
'As expected of a dwarf.' She thought to herself as she looked at the arena as well as a barrier that protected the spectators. There was a giant screen as well above the arena, focusing on the arena.
A pair of a man and a woman came up to the arena. They were the host of the competition, The Tang Clash. That was the name of the competition.
The two hosts were explained the format of the competition. After hearing the number of participants. She realized the event might last for a week, or maybe even two weeks. There were over two million participants. Of course, those two million participants were divided into divisions.
Then it was the reward. The reward for the best division was the Ancient Rank Treasure Chest. When the host mentioned the first-place reward was Ancient Rank Treasure Chest. Dinael could hear that the spectators were taking a deep breath. The whole arena was amazed by the reward even though the Ancient Rank Treasure Chest was nothing to her. But it looked like the Ancient Rank Treasure Chest was something rare in this world.
"Before we start The Tang Clash for all divisions. There will be a show match between Sir Lu An and Supreme General Zhang!"
The whole arena fell silent momentarily. But then an explosive cheer resounded. The glass of her booth shook because of the cheer. Dinael felt like the whole arena shook just from the cheers.
Of course, Dinael recognized the name. The Head of TEID against The Head of Tarrior. Until today, she did not know what TEID stood for. But she recognized the name of Lu Na. People trembled in fear when they talked about this young man.
If people talked about the Supreme General with respect and admiration, there was only fear when Lu An was mentioned. She never met this man called Lu An. Once more, she was surprised to find how young Lu An. Not only did the man not look fearful as the rumor, but he was too young.
Dinael believed the young man was at most twenty. Despite how young he was, he had the image of a demon.
She then found out the two were in the same rank, Primordial Dinael believed the young man was at most twenty. Despite Rank. They were weaklings in her eyes when she had her power.
'This will be interesting.'
*** ***
Meanwhile, Tang Shaoyang let out a sigh as he watched Lu An and Zhang Mengyao in the arena. The show match was his idea, but he did not propose these two to fight. What in her mind was Pride from the Fogged Ape Tribe and a representative from The Beast Coven.
The beastmen against a Beast would be a good show. However, Zhang Mengyao insisted on her to fight in the arena to garner more hype. As if Lu An had been waiting for this moment. Lu An immediately challenged Zhang Mengyao.
He understood why Lu An was eager to fight Zhang Mengyao. That was because Lu An never won against Zhang Mengyao even once. Even back then when Zhang Mengyao was weaker than him, Lu An could not win against Zhang Mengyao.
"Why did no one stop them!?" Tang Shaoyang let out a sigh.
"As if we can stop Sister Mengyao," Kang Xue chuckled as the other girls agreed with her.
"Don't worry. Lunea is the referee. She can stop the fight if it goes to the south." Selena assured Tang Shaoyang.
The fight was met with the expectation. The whole arena fell into a stupor. No one made a noise, holding their breath as they watched how the fight unfolded. Of course, the two were not allowed to use the Bloodline Transformation.
Lu An was dancing in his shadow, sending a barrage of attacks. It looked like Lu An had the upper hand, but everyone could tell that there was not a single attack that worked. Supreme General Zhang Mengyao blocked them all as if she had a read on Lu An.
The fight lasted for half an hour. The arena was wrecked, and Zhang Mengyao won the show match. She pinned down Lu An with her shield to the ground. The tip of her lance was at Lu An's neck. That was the end of their fight.
Clap!
One clap, followed by another clap. The whole arena filled with clapping, cheering for the wonderful show. It was breathtaking for the spectators.
After the show match was over, Tang Shaoyang got up from his chair, "Have you called them all, Xue?"
"Yes. I think everyone aside from us is already in the meeting hall," Kang Xue nodded.
Tang Shaoyang nodded and headed toward the meeting hall with Kang Xue and the others, including Zhang Mengyao and Lu An.
*** ***
Meeting Hall
"Most of you may already know, but I will say it one more time," Tang Shaoyang stood on the platform, looking at his high-
ranking officers with a solemn expression, "I will start my ascension to the God Rank. There's one more trial after the initial trial, and I don't know how long it will take me to finish the ascension."
"During my ascension, I will entrust The Empire in your hands!"