It was the final day of the young men's training and there were only a little less than 3 days left before the start of the annual martial arts competition.

Jiu Shen was standing on top of the huge platform inside the beast fighting arena. He was wearing a set of azure-colored robes which gave him a regal and noble aura.

"To think that these kids didn't even need me to save them. And from the looks of it, their strength had also improved a lot that even the weakest among them is already at the early stage of the 2nd-rank Elite Warrior realm. As for those two little guys, Yang Zenke and Han Sen, they are even more impressive. The latter had just broken through the peak stage of the 3rd-rank Crusader realm after experiencing quite a number of life and death battles. As for that brat Yang Zenke, he actually had a lucky encounter and found a high-level spiritual fruit, and he had even broken through the early stage of the 4th-rank Knight Crusader realm after consuming it. Impressive! With the strength and experience of these two little brats, they should be able to get into the top ten even if their cultivation level is weaker compared to their opponents." Jiu Shen muttered as he used his connection with the World Heart to eject the one hundred youths out of the Spirit World.

Om!

A number of rifts in space appeared in front of Jiu Shen and several silhouettes were forcefully thrown out from these rifts in space.

All the youths were now in a disheveled state and they had wounds all over their bodies, and even the two most promising young men among them were in no better condition. All of them looked like beggars with their tattered clothing and armors, and even the swords in their hands appeared to be damaged to a certain degree. However, despite their sorry states, the looks in their eyes were sharp and cold-blooded as if they wolves scanning their surrounding with cautious gazes.

They had experienced quite many life and death battles during their ten days of stay in the Spirit World. Some of them had even almost died, but luckily, they had their teammates who never gave up on them. And because of this training, the friendship and brotherhood between these youths deepened even further.

All of them could now be considered as cultivators!

Looking at the changes in their bearing and aura, Jiu Shen was fairly satisfied with their performance.

While clutching their injured bodies, Yang Zenke, Han Sen, and the rest stood up snappily after realizing that they were no longer in that 'dangerous place'. They then glanced at Jiu Shen with respectful looks as they bowed in unison.

"Greetings, master!"

"Greetings, master!"

A smile appeared on Jiu Shen's expressionless face. He then said. "You have done a great job in surviving that kind of environment, however, that is merely the start of your bloody paths. The road ahead is even more dangerous and life-threatening, but since everybody survived, I will give you guys a present for this achievement."

One hundred wooden boxes were neatly placed in front of the youths, making them curious as to what was hidden inside.

"Open it. These boxes are your rewards." Jiu Shen said after seeing that the young men were still standing foolishly.

After hearing Jiu Shen's command, they hurriedly took one box each and opened it without hesitation. And upon seeing what was inside, they could not help but feel stunned.

Inside each box was an embroidered black robes with red dragon patterns that looked noble and imposing. Other than that, there was also a one-meter sword that was blood-red in color. The sword gave off an elegant and graceful feeling that couldn't be found in any ordinary swords. It was actually an Earth-rank Weapon!

Every one of them received the same set of equipment, but the youths were satisfied with this.

Looking at the materials of the black robes and the blood-red swords, both didn't look simple, and it could be said that they looked luxurious and regal which made these cold-looking youths reveal hearty smiles on their faces.

"Master, is this really our reward?" Yang Zenke held the blood-red sword and the black robes firmly in his hands as he lifted his head to look at Jiu Shen with a disbelieving expression. It was the first time that these former slaves have seen such expensive-looking pieces of equipment, so they felt as if they were in a dream.

Jiu Shen smiled at him in amusement, but he still nodded his head at the kid as he said. "Indeed. Wear your new robes now while I announce who I would bring with me for the annual martial arts contest three days from now."

Everyone nodded their heads upon hearing his words and they immediately changed into their new set of black robes. After changing into their new clothes, the temperament and aura of the young men took a drastic change. If they looked like beggars on a roadside just a few moments ago, then as of the moment, all of them looked like young elites from an ancient sect or clan.

"I've been monitoring the progress that every one of you had experienced in these ten days, so this time, I will bring the ten strongest individuals among you guys to register in the competition. Those who will follow me ar: Yang Zenke, Han Sen, ..."

The weakest among the ten that Jiu Shen had called was already at the early stage of the 3rd-rank Crusader realm, but it was not a problem for him to defeat someone at the 4th-rank Knight Crusader realm with his superior sword techniques and Earth Weapon. Not to mention that the black robes he was wearing was also not simple. In fact, it was made from a high-level fabric that could withstand the attack of a 5th-rank Spirit realm savage beast!

As Jiu Shen announced the ten names, everyone held their breaths. Those youths whose names were called clenched their fists in excitement. And after Jiu Shen announced the ten names, those who weren't called felt slightly dejected in their hearts, but their faces instantly lit up with fighting intent. They might not be the strongest right now, but it wouldn't be the same in the future.

"The rest of you will stay here to train and familiarize yourselves with your new weapons. As for the ten of you whose names are called, follow me to the imperial palace." Jiu Shen said.

The registration process for the participants was still ongoing, and the competition would be held right outside the imperial palace. At present, there should still be a lot of youths signing up for the contest.

Hm?

Just as Jiu Shen was about to step out of the beast fighting arena together with the ten chosen youths, he suddenly felt a familiar aura coming towards them.

He glanced in a certain direction and saw the familiar silhouette of his senior disciple Lu Sulan. Following behind her were ten young ladies with cold and icy temperaments. All of them looked below twenty in age, so Jiu Shen guessed that they should be the participants that Lu Sulan's Ice Cloud Sword Sect would send for the contest. Looking at them, they didn't look weak at all, and even the weakest among them was also at the early stage of the 3rd-rank Crusader realm.