Chapter 401: Chapter 396: The Era of Emerging Geniuses Chapter 401: Chapter 396: The Era of Emerging Geniuses “Anz, registration for the Golden Dragon Cup Martial Arts Competition has already started, when are we going?”

Lying on a blood-stained metal dissecting table with his hands behind his head, the youngster Yaheng looked bored as he watched the scruffy teenager Anz fine-tuning potions.

“Registration lasts a month, it has just started three days ago, what’s the rush?” Alchemist Anz, engrossed in throwing alchemical materials into the crucible according to his own concocted potion formula, replied without even lifting his head.

“The earlier we register the quicker we get it done, I am fed up with waiting like this.”

“The Martial Arts Competition held by the Golden Dragon Archduke has no other limitations besides age, and with the generous prizes, everyone meeting the age requirement will register.

It’s only just started the registration, there will certainly be more people than we can imagine. So we should wait for a few days before going. Registering now is simply a waste of time.”

“But I have already been to the registration site, as you estimated, it was extremely crowded. There were people everywhere.” As he said this, an excited look appeared on Yaheng’s face, “I have never seen so many people crammed together.”

“Oh.” Anz responded coldly.

“However, Anz, your estimation was wrong. The number of people who want to participate in the martial arts competition increases after registration began, showing no signs of decreasing.”

“Oh, that’s a normal phenomenon.”

“Anz, to be honest, the registration progress is very slow. Simply verifying the age consumes a lot of time, many men and women above the age of thirty are trying to sneak in, as well as wastrels lying about their age, bent on sneaking into the lower age group to compete.”

As he said this, Yaheng, who had just recalled something surprising, sat up from the bloodstained metal dissecting table, with a look of astonishment:
“Anz, do you know what I witnessed at the registration site? There were even people holding their toddlers, who had just begun to walk, to register. Must be mad, right? What can little children who can neither wield Fighting Qi nor cast spells do?”

“As long as there are enough interests, humans are capable of anything.” Upon hearing Yaheng’s description, Anz’s action of putting potions paused slightly, and he uttered words he had read in a book left by a sage.

“So what? How does the Kingdom intend to deal with it? They can’t let those blinded by greed gain registration status so easily.”

“Children who have not cultivated Fighting Qi or Mental Power are not allowed to enter the registration site, to disrupt the order. But even with this new restriction in place, there are still many children who meet the criteria to compete. There are too many talents in our generation.”

“Talents?” Anz, who was mixing potions, shook his head upon hearing this word, “If a small number of people achieve better results than most with the same effort, these people can be called talents. But if everyone’s results are the same, how can they be considered talents, they are just ordinary people.”

“So Anz, you, who could concoct Bronze-level potions at ten and Gold-level potions at eighteen, don’t consider yourself a talent?” Hearing Anz’s words, Yaheng asked laughing.

“Fifty years ago, I might be considered a slightly gifted alchemist, but now I’m just an ordinary young alchemist.”

“Huh?” Hearing such modest words from his buddy, Yaheng opened his mouth in surprise, “So by your standards, am I just a very ordinary Silver Warrior?”

“Hmm, what else?” Anz raised his eyes to see the youngster sitting on the metal dissecting table, a look of dissatisfaction on his face, “Breaking through to the peak of the Silver Rank at sixteen is indeed very impressive thirty years ago.

But now, just in our small city unnoticed in Ingber Province, there are several youngsters whose strength can be compared to yours.

That’s the famous ones, if you count those who hide their identity and do not want to show up, the number can only be higher.

This is only our small city. If we expand the scope to the whole province, how many young people like you are there? And after expanding even further to the whole country, how many are there?

It can be guaranteed that there are definitely people younger and stronger than you, and not just one or two. So you’re just an ordinary boy now, far from a talent.”

“I…” Yaheng opened his mouth to argue back, but he could not find a reason. He even agreed with what Anz said because there are indeed too many “talents” now, to the point where they can’t be called talents anymore.

“I’m just suppressing my realm to achieve higher accomplishments in the future. I can break through to the Gold Rank at any time if I want, those guys in our city are no match for me.”

“You think you’re the only one suppressing?” Anz retorted.

“…” Left speechless, Yaheng tried to change the subject, “Anz, the number of registrants for our competition has not decreased, but there are few people registering for your alchemist competition now.”

“Bang!” Just as his day completed his sentence, a plume of five-coloured smoke rose from the crucible in front of Anz, and a peculiar fragrance spread.

Seeing that his potion did not come out as expected but instead formed poisonous smoke, Anz’s face showed no change. After using his pre-set array to clear the poisonous smoke, he turned to Yaheng, “Let’s go!”

“Where to?”

“Of course to register and compete in the national alchemist competition. Didn’t you say there are few alchemists registering now?”

“…”

…Alchemist registration centre.

“Didn’t you read the notice? Duke Mureya has issued an order, only alchemists under thirty can register. Master, you look at least fifty or sixty.”

When Anz and Yaheng came together to the registration center of the alchemist competition, the registry officer looked at Anz who was wearing an alchemist robe with a mocking expression.

There have been too many alchemists trying to hide their age and sneak through in recent days, it was driving them crazy. However, due to the superior social status of alchemists, they all developed an arrogance.

These elderly alchemists would always lash out at the officials once their real age was revealed. Tired of being shouted at every day, even the most easy-going people couldn’t maintain a good temper.

“I am only eighteen this year.” Being seen as a middle-aged uncle in his forties or fifties, Anz’s face darkened instantly. Although he didn’t care about his appearances, didn’t like grooming himself, and allowed his beard to grow, making him look much older than he actually was, it wasn’t this bad.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read