Chapter 170 Radiant Summit City

Chapter 172 — Radiant Summit City

The road toward Radiant Summit City stretched across rolling hills and dense forests. Unlike the relatively quiet surroundings of Stonehaven, the eastern region's main trade route was considerably busier. Cultivators traveled in groups, merchant caravans carried valuable resources, and occasional flying beasts transported passengers between settlements. Most travelers heading east had the same destination in mind: the upcoming Young Generation Grand Competition.

Aether walked alongside his companions, occasionally glancing at the passing cultivators. Some wore the distinctive robes of established sects, while others carried clan insignias or traveled independently. Their cultivation levels varied considerably, but the atmosphere was noticeably different from the wilderness. Here, strength was accompanied by reputation, influence, and connections.

"More people are heading toward Radiant Summit City than I expected," Lyra remarked.

"It's one of the largest cities in the region," Vaelira replied. "The competition attracts more than just participants. Merchants, recruiters, elders, and people looking for talented cultivators will also gather there."

"Which means the city will be crowded," Aria said.

"And expensive," Seris added after examining a merchant caravan passing nearby.

Aether gave a faint smile. "Then we'll avoid unnecessary purchases."

Lyra glanced at him. "You're already thinking about saving money?"

"I'm thinking about not wasting resources. There's a difference."

"Somehow, I don't think that difference will matter when you find something interesting."

"Then I'll make an exception."

Their conversation continued as they traveled. Nyx moved comfortably beside Aether, while Kiyomi occasionally wandered ahead before returning whenever she noticed herself getting too far away. The little fox had become more confident since joining the group, although she still preferred staying within Nyx's reach.

During the second day, they encountered a group of young cultivators resting near a roadside pavilion. Their clothing carried the emblem of a prominent clan, and several of them appeared to be participants heading toward the competition. One young man noticed Aether's group and briefly examined their cultivation.

His gaze lingered on Aria and Vaelira before shifting toward Aether. "Independent cultivators?"

Aether glanced at the emblem on his clothing. "That's right."

The young man smiled faintly. "Radiant Summit City will be crowded with people claiming to be geniuses. Some have real backing, while others have nothing but confidence. Be careful not to mistake the latter for the former."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Was that supposed to be advice?"

"Just an observation."

Aether looked at him for a moment. "Then I'll keep it in mind."

He continued walking without waiting for a response. The young man seemed slightly surprised by his lack of interest, but Aether had no intention of wasting time exchanging meaningless remarks with strangers.

Once they were out of earshot, Lyra glanced at him. "You didn't even ask which clan he belonged to."

"If his clan matters, I'll learn about it when necessary."

"And if he becomes your opponent?"

"Then I'll learn considerably more about him."

Aria shook her head with an amused expression. "You really don't like making unnecessary acquaintances."

"I don't mind meeting interesting people. I simply haven't met one yet."

By the afternoon of the third day, Radiant Summit City finally appeared on the horizon.

Its enormous walls stretched across the landscape, reinforced with intricate formations that shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight. Several towering structures rose above the city, their roofs decorated with elaborate carvings and banners representing influential factions. Flying beasts circled designated platforms near the outer districts, while wide roads led toward several fortified gates.

The city was considerably larger than Stonehaven. Even from a distance, Aether could sense the dense concentration of Origin Energy within its boundaries.

"That's Radiant Summit City?" Evelyn asked.

"Indeed," Vaelira replied. "It's one of the central trading and cultivation hubs in this region."

As they approached the gates, Aether noticed several large stone monuments displaying the competition's emblem. A golden inscription beneath it announced the registration period and the location of the main competition grounds.

There were already long queues near the entrance. Participants, merchants, and visitors entered through separate passages, while city guards inspected identification tokens and checked for prohibited items.

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Aether and his companions joined the appropriate queue. When their turn arrived, a guard examined their travel documents before looking at Aether.

"Purpose of entry?"

"Participation in the Young Generation Grand Competition," Aether answered.

The guard handed him a registration notice. "Participant registration is handled at the eastern competition grounds. Entry into the city does not automatically qualify you. You'll need to complete the official registration and pass the eligibility assessment."

Aether accepted the notice. "Understood."

The guard then glanced at the others. "Are they participating as well?"

"No. I'm the only participant."

After completing the entry procedure, the group passed through the enormous gates. The moment they entered, the city's atmosphere became even more apparent. Streets were filled with cultivators, shops displayed medicinal herbs and Origin Crystals, and several large buildings advertised cultivation techniques, weapons, and rare materials.

Aether took in the surroundings without allowing himself to become distracted. The density of Origin Energy was higher than Stonehaven's, and the quality was noticeably better. Even the ordinary shops displayed resources that would have been considered valuable in smaller settlements.

"Let's find accommodation first," Aria suggested. "We can handle registration afterward."

Aether agreed. "We'll also need to understand how the competition is organized. I don't intend to discover an important rule after entering."

After securing accommodation in a cultivation inn near the central district, Aether visited the competition grounds alone. His companions remained behind to settle in and explore their own interests. Nyx and Kiyomi stayed with them, although Aether had to remind the little fox not to wander too far from the group.

The eastern competition grounds were enormous. Several buildings surrounded a central plaza, and large formations had been established to accommodate the expected number of participants. A registration hall stood near the main entrance, where cultivators were already gathering.

Aether entered and approached the registration counter.

"Name?" the attendant asked.

"Aether Draven."

"Age?"

"Eighteen."

"Affiliation?"

"Independent cultivator."

The attendant recorded the information before examining him briefly. "Your cultivation level?"

"Origin Vein Realm, Stage Five."

The attendant's expression remained professional, although his gaze lingered on Aether for a moment. He then handed him a small jade token. "Your registration has been recorded. The official eligibility assessment will take place tomorrow. Keep this token with you. It identifies you as a registered participant."

Aether examined the token. Its surface contained a faint formation that responded to his Origin Energy.

"How many participants have registered so far?"

"Several thousand, and registration remains open until the deadline. Only twenty participants will advance from the Selection Trials."

Aether raised an eyebrow slightly. "Only twenty?"

"Correct. The first phase evaluates cultivation, combat ability, and adaptability. The assessment methods will be announced before the trials begin."

The attendant continued, "The second phase is a three-day resource competition. Every participant who advances will receive one competition token. Defeating another participant allows the victor to claim all tokens accumulated by the defeated individual. After three days, the ten participants with the highest token counts will advance to the final phase."

Aether listened carefully. That was considerably more interesting than a conventional elimination tournament.

"And the final phase?"

"The remaining ten will compete for their final rankings. The top three will receive the principal rewards."

Aether nodded. The structure was straightforward. Twenty participants would enter the resource territory, but only ten would emerge with enough tokens to reach the final stage. There would be opportunities to explore, cultivate, gather resources, and fight. More importantly, defeating someone who had accumulated a considerable number of tokens could be far more efficient than challenging multiple opponents.

He had already been considering a similar approach.

The attendant handed him a final information slip. "The detailed rules and restrictions will be announced at the opening ceremony. Until then, participants are advised to familiarize themselves with the city and avoid unnecessary conflicts."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Aether left the registration hall, turning the jade token between his fingers. His participation was confirmed, but the real challenge would begin tomorrow.

When Aether returned to the inn, he found Vaelira examining a map while Aria and Lyra discussed the local cultivation shops. Seris had acquired several medicinal records, and Sylvara, Elara, and Evelyn were comparing information about different physique-related resources.

"Registration completed?" Aria asked.

"Yes. I'm officially registered."

Lyra looked up. "How many people are participating?"

"Several thousand have registered so far. Only twenty will advance beyond the first phase."

"That's a lot of competition."

"Which makes the selection trials more interesting."

Aether placed the information slip on the table and explained the three phases. Vaelira examined the details, particularly the second phase's token system.

"Taking all accumulated tokens from a defeated participant could create some dangerous situations," she observed. "Someone who gathers a large number will become an attractive target."

"Exactly," Aether replied. "The more tokens someone carries, the greater the incentive to challenge them."

"Then wouldn't the strongest participants simply hunt everyone else?" Evelyn asked.

"Some might. Others will probably avoid unnecessary fights until the final day. The important thing is understanding which opponents are worth challenging."

He leaned back slightly. "I'm not interested in spending three days fighting everyone I encounter. There are resources to discover, beasts to investigate, and opportunities to strengthen myself. If I can find someone who has already accumulated a substantial number of tokens, one decisive victory could save me considerable time."

Lyra smiled. "So you're planning to let everyone else do the hard work first?"

"Why repeat someone else's work when I can benefit from it?"

Aria laughed softly. "Just make sure you don't choose someone who has accumulated those tokens because nobody can defeat them."

"That's why I'll investigate before making a decision."

Aether's gaze briefly shifted toward the window. His shadows could scout the territory, track participants, and identify suitable beasts and resources. The three days wouldn't simply be a competition. They could become an opportunity to improve his physique, refine his abilities, and develop his army. He intended to use every available advantage without exposing more of his capabilities than necessary.

Vaelira closed the map. "And what about us?"

"You should pursue whatever interests you. The city has plenty of libraries, markets, and cultivation resources. We can exchange information and decide our next steps after seeing what's available."

The girls agreed. They had no intention of entering the competition, and each had her own goals to pursue.

Nyx rested near Aether's chair while Kiyomi explored the room before eventually curling up beside her. Aether glanced at the two beasts, then looked toward the city beyond the window.

Tomorrow, the selection trials would begin.

For now, he had no intention of rushing. He had arrived in Radiant Summit City, secured his place in the competition, and learned its basic structure. The next step was to understand the people who would be standing against him.

Aether turned the jade token once more before putting it away.

"Let's see what Astralis considers a genius."