"Hmmm… to think you managed to slip through," Ye said as he walked past Tianyu.
"So you have gotten stronger, did you pick out some miracle medicine or something?" Tianyu didn't respond; instead, he continued walking forward.
"Tch, just because he won the match, he is acting all high and mighty … when did this bastard get so strong?" Ye Xing gritted his teeth. His fist was clenched so tightly that it was trembling slightly.
"Could I have fought four people at the same time…?" Ye Xing thought as he continued looking for a place to cultivate.
He reached into his storage pocket and took out a pill, a fruity fragrance drifting from it.
"Just you wait, Tianyu. I'll show you the difference in our strength… just you wait."
Ye Xing closed his eyes and began circulating his Qi as well.
"What, so his name was Tianyu, he is nothing like how people would describe him, was he hiding his skill on purpose?" Yànhuā bit her lower lip, watching from the stands.
"Sister Yànhuā, who are you looking at?" A younger voice squeaked this person looked just like Yànhuā, but only younger.
"No, no one." She quickly looked away, flustered.
"Mmmmm, you don't say." The little voice laughed, and Yànhuā's face flushed red.
"Huu…" Tianyu exhaled sharply. "That match was harder than I thought. I underestimated them. For the next one, I should focus, or I might end up like Chan…" he thought, as the last thread of Qi settled into his dantian.
"But that's just strange… There wasn't so much pressure that should have made him fall for his inner demon, was he always so rash!?? Can someone's personality change that fast?" Tianyu tapped his temple, deep in thought.
But he was cut off as the thunderous voice returned.
"Ladies and gents, welcome back! The stick of incense has finished burning, and the tournament will continue!" the announcer's voice boomed as people rushed back to their spots.
"I've mostly recovered…" Tianyu thought, standing up from the ground.
"Come, come! Who do you think will win? Place your bets here!"
The gambling pavilion had already set up its stand.
"Yeah! Take five hundred thousand teals on Lin Feng!" someone shouted as they rushed forward.
"Yes, yes! Two hundred on the Twins!" another yelled.
One by one, people eagerly placed their bets.
Meanwhile, the participants were being arranged to determine who would fight whom.
"Old Xing, are you not going to place a bet on your sons?" Empress Li asked, clearly probing.
"I do not partake in such foolishness; the Xing is not low on money," Patriarch Qi replied, giving Empress Li a sharp look.
"What a shrewd woman…" the patriarch thought. "From the moment she arrived, she's been nothing but trouble probing me at every chance she gets. What is her motive?"
'If you weren't from the Heavenly Star Sect as an envoy, you would already be dead,' the patriarch burned with anger, though his outward appearance remained serene.
…..
The clamouring continued for a short while, then died out.
"Now that the groups are sorted, let the matches begin!" the announcer's voice boomed.
"Ah, Old Zhao, you're taking over Elder Yang's duties?" the announcer whispered.
"Yes. Though I'm not as experienced as Yang, I think I can handle the matches for him until he finishes stabilising that boy Chan," Zhao Li said, forming hand seals with his fingers. Moments later, the stages began to shift, converging into one great ring. The ground shook as the four separate stages connected into a single arena.
"Arrays are so interesting… If I have time in the future, I want to learn their magic," Tianyu thought to himself as he turned over his name plate.
"My number is eight, ha! Who am I fighting?" Tianyu's eyes scanned the participants, searching for whoever held number nine.
"I guess it's still not time to fight Ye … I have number nine."
Tianyu and Lin Feng's eyes met, and Tianyu could see the fury burning on Lin Feng's face.
"Tch, how ridiculous, is he still mad because he didn't get to kill Chan?"
"Let the first match begin!" A red flare shot to the sky.
"Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah"
The crowd erupted as the battles commenced.
Two figures stepped forward: Xiao versus Tai Luon.
The boys stood at opposite ends of the giant ring.
"I'll finish this in ten exchanges," Xiao said, drawing his sabre from its sheath.
On the other side, Tai Luon strapped his clawed gauntlets onto his fists.
"Yeah… whatever you say," Tai Luon muttered, crouching into his battle stance.
The announcer glanced at one side, then the other.
"Begin!" his voice boomed
Tai Luon's body began emitting smoke, and moments later, his whole frame became a silhouette swallowed by dark smoke.
"W-what?! Those are the assassin moves of the Luon Assassin Sect!" one elder pointed out.
"It's my first time seeing it… I heard about them. Once their organisation marks a target, they never stop until the job is done. Even if a thousand people die, the job will be completed," another murmured.
"Really? How vicious… People who kill for money. Why doesn't the Murin AlTianyuce do something about them?" someone complained.
"No, no, they can't. Assassination is also a form of cultivation. If they destroyed that organisation, it would be considered discrimination. It might even cause an uproar with the Assassin Guild," another explained.
The dark smoke floated around the arena. Tai Luon suddenly reappeared behind Xiao, striking him with his blades. The cut was shallow, but before Xiao could react, Tai Luon vanished again.
He appeared slashed and disappeared once more.
Each time a strike landed, he counted:
"One."
"Two."
Tai Luon continued using this tactic until Xiao dropped to one knee.
"Damn it… How do I hit this slippery fuck? All my attacks just pass right through him…" Xiao gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his sabre.
"That's nine," Tai Luon said, appearing beside him and kicking Xiao's leg, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Mmm… it seems the match is over. He was arrogant and said he'd finish it in ten moves. Now he's the one losing in ten," the spectators murmured.
"I didn't want to use this move on you," Xiao said as he forced himself back onto his feet.
He lifted his sabre and closed his eyes.
"Oho… would you look at that? Here is another who mastered Sabre intent," an envoy whispered in admiration.
The next time Tai Luon appeared behind Xiao, he was met with steel.
The strike was so swift, so precise, that Tai Luon couldn't even raise a guard.
Splash!
He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, blood spattered from his chest, and it painted the ground crimson.
Breathing heavily, Xiao spoke between gasps, "I told you… I was going to defeat you… in ten."
"Woooooah! Though the win was ugly, he kept his word! Let's hear cheers for the Winner Xiao, the Sabre Master!" the announcer shouted.
"Next…."
"Next…."
"Next…." One after the next, matches continued.
"Next match! Number Seven vs. Sixt—"
The announcer paused.
"Ohhh! It seems Sixteen has forfeited! Let's move on to the next match. Numbers Eight and Nine, come up to the stage!"
Hearing his number being called, Tianyu's gaze shot up.
"He is fighting again." Yànhuā glanced intently.