It was said that the Blooming Spirit Flower was a rare and unique treasure. It could continuously absorb energy, creating pollen that possessed the miraculous power of tempering the spiritual energy. This was what made it extremely pricey.
The Spirit Devouring Mountain was clearly in possession of the method to grow these Blooming Spirit Flowers, hence why they would own such a huge number of them.
"Utilising the Blooming Spirit Flower to prowess, can't believe the declining Spirit Devouring Mountain can even think of this."
While Ezra continued to sigh, more and more disciples arrived at Energy Mountain. They eventually found their prowess platforms and began to excitedly observe the Blooming Spirit Flowers.
However, they soon stealthily raised their gazes, looking towards a certain spot near the peak where Ezra was currently located.
~SWWIISSH~
A streak of light descended from the sky, coming to a halt above the peak. Spiritual energy took the shape of a cloud as Yin sat atop it, looking down from above at the numerous disciples.
His gaze seemed to pause slightly when it swept past Ezra's location, before a deep voice sounded, "Since everyone is here, we will prepare to activate Energy Mountain and begin the training."
"Please wait Elder Yin, I have something to say."
However, a sharp voice followed Yin's.
Every gaze on the mountain looked over, and saw a young man stand up, his vicious looking eyes akin to a wolf's.
"It's Peliok… as expected, he's going after Ezra!" The sights of this young man caused numerous whispers to explode as gloating gaze after gaze turned towards the werewolf prince.
There was no change in Ezra's expression except that of his wicked smile.
Yin glanced at Peliok and slowly asked, "What is the matter?"
Disdain lifted from the corners of Peliom's mouth as he looked towards Ezra, cupped his fists together and said, "I want to challenge senior brother Ezra Zephyr, because I feel that he is not worthy of being a first class disciple."
According to the rules of the Spirit Devouring Mountain, disciples had to defer to each other based on their rank, irregardless of age. Ezra was currently a first class disciple, hence why Peliok had to call him senior brother.
Peliok's words caused a wave of noise to erupt.
Levoe watched as he remarked in a somewhat elated voice, "It's over for this cocky guy. From this point on, he will likely become a laughing stock in our Spirit Devouring Mountain."
Several individuals that were jealous of Ezra nodded in agreement.
Xyr, Zulfi Dimitry and the rest of the Naran geniuses did not look too good, their expressions both tensed and worried.
Near the peak, Drake Tubble and numerous other first class disciples merely watched with the detached eyes of a bystander, the sense of superiority in the expressions unconcealable.
Ravina felt a little pity as she shot a look at Ezra. After today, he would become the shortest lived first class disciple in the history of this sect.
In the air, Yin's expression remained unchanged as he nonchalantly said, "In a challenge between disciples, both parties must be willing. As long as Ezra Zephyr agrees, you may naturally proceed."
He then looked towards the prince and said, "Will you accept Peliok's challenge? If you lose, your first class disciple status will be stripped."
Every gaze looked towards man in blavk long coat.
There was neither fear nor alarm on his face as he calmly said, "Does that mean I can decline?"
These words immediately gave rise to numerous hisses of displease, disdain emerging in the gazes that looked towards him. A weakling that avoided battle was even more looked down upon.
Ravina shook her head, the earlier pity instantly vanishing into thin air. A person may be weak, but if one's character was weak and submissive, one was not even deserving of pity.
Yin softly chuckled. "Does that mean that you're going to decline?"
If Ezra really declined, his reputation would become terrible.
He smiled. "Elder Yin misunderstands. I merely want to know whether I am allowed to decline."
Yin frowned at Ezra's cunningness, unable to understand Ezra's goal.
The prince ignored the former, his gaze shifting to Peliok instead as he said, "You've heard it. I have the right to decline. However, I can give you a chance to challenge me, but you must first pay me thirty Spirit jade pieces."
The entire mountain fell silent, dumbstruck gaze after gaze staring at Ezra. No one had expected him to propose such a condition. This would totally catch anyone off guard!
There was no change in Ezra in response to these gazes. If he lost, he would lose his status as a first class disciple, but if Peliok lost, he wouldn't really lose anything. This was obviously way too unfair.
Hence, he needed to tell everyone that if you want to challenge him you'll have first have to pay the challenge price.
If he didn't do that, anyone would challenge him when they had nothing better to do. Did they believe he was too free?
Peliok's face turned black as he said through gnashed teeth, "Thirty spirit jade pieces? You must be crazy!"
"Are you afraid of losing?" Ezra grinned. "A first class disciple status and thirty Spirit jade pieces, you should know which has more value, right?"
The corners of Peliok's mouth twitched. In the end, a vicious and resolute look flashed in his eyes.
"Fine, I agree!"
Peliok viciously glared at Ezra. The former had already decided that he would not show any mercy at all. He would make it such that this country bumpkin from this Naran Continent would not enjoy spending his money.
It was clear that Peliok did not believe the 1st level Core Formation stage Ezra Zephyr had any chance at victory.
"Since you've paid, I will definitely satisfy you."
Upon seeing Peliok agree, Ezra's expression turned cold. He stood up, slivers of iciness flowing in his eyes as he looked towards the former, and everyone saw an astonishing black lightning infused with reddish lesser bolts slowly flickered from his body.
"Come." A frosty voice sounded from his mouth.
When Ezra stood up on the prowess platform, everyone felt something different about his aura. Several of the sharper disciples narrowed their eyes slightly in amazement.
From his aura, they could tell that Ezra had experienced numerous battles.
Because only through continuous battle would such an aura appear.
"Unfortunately, he is still only a 1st Level practitioner." Several individuals secretly shook their heads.
The gap between these two was just far too great.
No mercy could be seen in Peliok's eyes as he gazed at Ezra. Maliciousness soon began to appear from the corners of the former's mouth as robust Qi rapidly erupted from his body like a volcano.
The surging Qi stirred the wind and clouds, the power of a second level Core Formation undoubtedly on full display.
The expressions of numerous third class disciples changed slightly when they felt the overbearing spiritual energy pressure.
Although Peliok was vicious, he was indeed rather capable.
On a certain cultivation platform near the peak, one of the first class disciples turned to his side and asked Drake. "Hey Drake, who do you think will win?"
Drake wore an uncaring expression, his eyelids lowering slightly, showing that he had no interest at all in watching such a fight. He offhandedly answered, "Although Peliok is only average amongst the Shiyan Continent's younger generation, it will be easy for him to deal with a 1st level Core Formation.
There's nothing worth watching in such a battle."
The first class disciple was amused. "Does this mean Ezra was planning to extort those thirty Spirit jade pieces as compensation?"
Drake nonchalantly said, "I don't care about such unimportant things."
From what he could see, neither Peliok nor Ezra was worthy of his attention. To him. it was merely a little squabble.
Some distance away, Ravina had a hand on her chin, now a little interested after seeing the change in Ezra's aura. "Could he have some ability?"
Under countless watching eyes, the Qi around Peliok roared. A split second later, his foot slammed into the ground, cracking it as his body transformed into a blur that headed straight towards Ezra Zephyr.
Spiritual Energy rapidly swirled around his body like a storm, and even the air was blasted away from his feet.
"A single move shall send you tumbling down!"
Ferocity flooded Peliok's eyes as his five fingers tightly clenched into a fist. The Qi in his body surged out without reservation, his ferocious aura causing the expressions of even some of the first and second class disciples to change.
Peliok was clearly holding nothing back.
Ezra stood on his prowess platform and watched as a figure rapidly grew in his eyes. Violent spiritual energy shock waves had already began to pounce towards him like sharp blades.
"As expected, a 2nd level Core Formation expert…"
The expression on Ezra's youthful face remained unchanged. He giggled softly as he mumbled, "Back then in the Spirity Tower's last floor in Spirity Bailiwick, I had to use every trump card in my arsenal to kill that 1st Level Core Formation expert.
That monster would have wipe the floor with all these so called geniuses here. Yet, look at this idiot. Haha, marching at me, who killed that monster."