Full-Time Mage: Starting with Gengar, selected for the National Tournament

Chapter 2 The Masked Mage

"Passengers, the plane will be taking off soon. Please be seated and fasten your seatbelts..."

An announcement came over the loudspeaker.

In first class, Chu Ming took out a document from his backpack, opened it, and found it contained information about the contestants for the upcoming National Government Preliminary Round.

[Beijing: 8 people]

Court Mage: Jiang Yu, specializing in summoning.

Zu Family: Zu Jiming, specializing in poison-based techniques.

The Mu family: Mu Tingying and Mu Ningxue (a family of ice mages)

Official: Guan Yu, specializing in wind-type skills.

The Xu family...

The Li family...

[Shanghai: 15 people]

The Dongfang Family: Dongfang Ming and Dongfang Lie (a family of fire mages)

Mu Family: Mu Nujiao, majoring in botany

Lu Family: Lu Yilin, majoring in Light System

Bai Family: Bai Zangfeng, specializing in wind-based magic.

The Zhao family, the Song family, the Gu family...

Military mages: 3

Ai Jiangtu, majoring in Space Engineering

Jiang Shaoxu, majoring in Psychology

Nan Jue, majoring in phonology

[Southern Aristocratic Families: 4 people]

Chu Family: Chu Ming, majoring in Summoning.

Nan Rong Family: Nan Rong Ni, specializing in healing.

Li Family: Li Kaifeng, majoring in Shadow Arts

Zhou family: Zhou Xu, majoring in water systems

……

"The information provided by the official sources is far too brief."

Chu Ming glanced through the document. In addition to the participating families, contestants' names, and brief introductions of their major magic disciplines, the document contained information about the participating families and contestants.

The remaining pages.

Most of them are introductions to the program "The Masked Monk".

Yes.

Although it was a contest between the younger generations of the major families in the Xia Kingdom.

But in the end, it was presented as a television program.

Because the patriarchs and elders of the major families were not available or had time to attend in person.

In order to please the elders of various aristocratic families.

They saw the gap between their own descendants and those of other prominent families.

To this end, they bought the rights to a program called "Masked Master" to provide opportunities for younger generations to learn from and compete with each other.

It just so happens to be the competition program for "The Masked Monk".

The mages need to wear masks to fight.

The mask can conceal the contestant's true identity, so even if the contestant loses, there is no need to worry about it getting out and affecting the family's reputation.

"A total of 30 people participated, and 10 were ultimately selected?"

"But in reality, there are some people who, regardless of their performance in the competition, even if they are not in the top ten, will eventually have a predetermined spot."

Chu Ming murmured.

Judging from the list...

The participants were basically monopolized by powerful families from the two core regions of Beijing and Shanghai.

The combined number of selected military mages and members of the Southern aristocratic families is less than that of those from Shanghai and Beijing.

have to say.

This is the advantage of being in a first-tier core city.

The first choice for all the powerful families in the Great Xia Dynasty is to establish themselves in the capital or Shanghai.

Once it is developed.

Even some second-rate aristocratic families in Shanghai.

However, they receive priority in terms of connections and resources, which is something that Southern aristocratic families cannot match.

In fact, the Chu family had the opportunity to become a member in their early years.

But I eventually gave up.

Because they had better options, they befriended the military and the Chiang family.

Don't be fooled by the fact that there are only three military mages on the list of selected candidates this time.

However, Chu Ming was certain that Ai Jiangtu, Jiang Shaoxu, and Nan Jue would be included in the final official list.

This is the status of military mages in the Great Xia Dynasty.

In terms of influence...

The ancestral family, the Mu family, the official family, and the court monks.

These four forces must have pre-selected nominees.

"That's seven nominations already. Out of the ten official spots, there are still three official nominations and two alternates left."

Chu Ming made a rough estimate in his mind.

He also knew that this seemingly fair and open competition actually involved the division of interests among powerful families.

However, the struggles between powerful families are complex.

Ultimately, the National Government team members will still represent Great Xia in international competitions.

The team's main players are selected based on merit, and the principle of prioritizing ability remains unchanged.

Therefore, this competition.

It was also an internal assessment within the aristocratic families to see which younger generations were capable of serving as captains and key members of the National Army team.

"If we rank in the top five, one of our key players is basically guaranteed a spot."

Chu Ming put down the documents.

He took out a 15-centimeter-long pocket knife from his backpack.

This miniature demon-slaying tool is actually a long sword.

His name is very ordinary: Muramasa.

It was crafted by the Muramasa family, a renowned family of swordsmiths in Japan.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

The swords forged by the Muramasa family.

They are all referred to as Muramasa.

However, Chu Ming's sword is different from ordinary Muramasa swords.

This Muramasa is a demon-slaying weapon tailor-made for him.

In exchange for losing the ability to unleash a powerful, one-time slash, the magical properties of magic release have been increased.

In other words.

The power of this demon-slaying weapon.

It does not depend on itself.

It depends solely on Chu Ming's magical power.

Chu Ming's poison magic "Poison Extraction - Refinement" can just add poison-type blade energy to this demon-slaying weapon.

With this weapon, he felt more confident about the competition.

……

Two hours later.

Chu Ming arrived in Shanghai.

As soon as I exited the airport, I was greeted by official personnel.

With a roar, the black minivan's engine roared to life as it sped along the highway toward the suburbs.

In the car.

The program's staff handed Chu Ming a wooden box.

"Young Master Chu, this is your identity mask. Please wear it before the competition. If you have any questions about 'The Masked Mage,' feel free to ask me."

"OK."

Chu Ming opened the wooden box, inside was a "White Wolf" mask.

He touched the mask; it had a skin-like feel and a slight adhesive quality.

Chu Ming suddenly asked, "You just mentioned 'identity masks.' My identity in the competition is 'White Wolf.' Everyone is an animal, right?"

"Yes, everyone's mask is different, and the competition is conducted in a ring. Since you are from the South, it's best not to reveal your identity too early."

Officials suggested.

Chu Ming understood what the other party meant.

Born into a prominent family in the south, if his identity is exposed in the arena, he will most likely be used as a stepping stone and face a constant stream of challenges.

However, it's different for scions of top clans like the Zu family or the Mu family in the capital.

To put it bluntly, it's about picking on the weak.

Ha, are the powerful families in the south necessarily weak?

Are scions of aristocratic families like the Mu and Zu families necessarily the strongest new generation of mages?

……

At dusk.

A black minivan sped along the highway.

The competition venue is not in Shanghai, but in a small town with sycamore trees located between Shanghai and Hangzhou. It takes an hour and a half to drive there.

Chu Ming opened the window, intending to let some fresh air in.

suddenly.

A crisp gunshot rang out.

His expression changed, and he looked in one direction, where a red signal flare was flashing in the air not far away.

"Stop the car! Someone's calling for help over there!"

The driver steadily applied the brakes and, with skillful driving techniques, quickly brought the car to a stop on the side of the road.

"Young Master Chu, are you going over there? What if you encounter danger..."

The official, with a serious expression, offered his advice.

"Now that we've encountered this situation, how can we just stand by and watch someone die!"

Chu Ming activated his demon-slaying weapon, wielding the Muramasa longsword.

He immediately unleashed Shadow Escape - Flying Shadow.

His body quickly blended into the shadows of the trees on the plain, using Shadow Step to move swiftly towards the woods where he was calling for help.

(End of this chapter)