"No! Tez, you were meant to survive another ten hits! Why'd you die so quickly?!" a lanky man cried out, desperation in his voice.
He was met with a slap on the back of his head. "Xiaobo, are you mud brained? Why'd you even bet on him? You should've put on Shuren to kill him instantly," his friend said, wrapping his arm around Xiaobo's neck.
"Nah, that newcomer did really well. He's not from here, is he? The sect definitely has their eyes on him."
Liu Wei didn't celebrate at Tez's fall. He couldn't lie that the clamouring of bets on seeing one of the weakest contestants barely eke his way into the top ten was entertaining in its own right. He's somewhat impressive for making it this far. But now, all that's left are my cousin and Wu Ming.
Liu Wei felt a pat on his shoulder.
"How's the show, Wei?"
When he turned around, he was met by a man his age with deep purple hair and crimson eyes. One with an elaborate robe with the insignia of a red crown, with multiple lights refracting off the gems embedded with it.
A face he never expected to see here. "Brother Su Kang?! I haven't seen you in a few years! You're here to join as a delegate?"
"You have no idea how hard it was to convince my teacher to let me come. I'm stuck at the bottleneck before Rank 2 anyway, so I need a breather." Su Kang paid his attention to the impeding duel between Shuren and Wu Ming.
"I still don't understand why Brother Shuren's wasting his time here. He should've reached Rank 4; a Path Forger by now, but he's somehow fallen behind to even me. Even his betrothed Su An reached that level." Su Kang shook his head with disapproval, still keeping a hand on Liu Wei's shoulder.
"I thought that engagement was long cancelled after the Divine Sword Saint died?" Liu Wei said, thinking back to the past.
"The agreement was something else, but that's between my father and him. I wouldn't know." Su Kang looked pensive with a sigh, thinking back to bygone times. "What exactly are the old heads at Liu Clan doing? Ever since the Divine Sword Saint died, everything's been a mess. So, I thought to check up on my good brother."
Liu Wei didn't have any words to say. He wasn't privy to the internal matters of the Liu Clan, or of the sect Su Kang hailed from. He only noticed the glint in Su Kang's eyes as he continued to leave his hand on his shoulder.
"You should join the sect to keep me entertained. Where else would I find a drinking buddy?"
Liu Wei didn't have a reaction on his face, his expression almost glued to the spot. But without even hesitation, he answered Su Kang without a thought. His eyes hazy.
"Okay."
The heavy pressure left off his shoulder as Su Kang gave him a light pat. "Good to hear that."
Though they both spectated the end of the sect examinations together, Su Kang was the one that held thoughts of a separate matter entirely.
I suppose it's not a coincidence everyone's choosing to come here. My sources tell me they've gotten too close to unsealing that Unhallowed Monolith. A mere Rank 5 Sect isn't worthy of taking ownership of that thing. I'll have to put in my work to gain recognition from Father.
In the distance, Kraus had long been observing Su Kang. Or rather, the existence of the hidden person near him. What a farce. This little runt has a Nascent Soul personal body guard just to clean up after his shit. The Great Nine coddle their kids far too much. Compared to him, that Liu Shuren at least has some balls.
The pain in his back continued to crackle throughout his body, but he could do nothing but bear with it. There were too many strange movements in Cloud City recently. The necklace that dangled beneath his shirt remained dead and cold, but he still opened the hem of his shirt to observe it. Tez should be fine if he doesn't talk too much nonsense. I just need to focus on the wellbeing of my own people. Let these fools scramble around in their ignorance.
The Seven Clouds Sect abruptly changed their entire structure for their examinations, as if to bolster their pool of new talents faster, was a sign of things to come. With the appearance of the young master of the Unchained Crown Sect, one of The Great Nine in the Granxian Continent, it was clear he wasn't here for a little rendezvous. And with the attention on Cloud City from higher powers, the unknown pressure would soon affect the rest of the inhabitants.
Once Tez was out, Kraus had lost interest in spectating any more. He just had to make sure that little disciple hadn't forgotten any of his lessons.
I can't be retiring anytime soon. I'll focus on giving my people an economical advantage without relying on the original inhabitants of Cloud City. Otherwise, our status will continue to drop even further. I'll need to discuss my plans with Zelfin.
***
Elder Swordfall decided to fly away after watching the sect finale come down to Liu Shuren and Wu Ming. With a slight exhale of air through his nose, he forwent his interest.
"Leaving already, Swordfall? The best part has just come," Grand Elder Wanshang probed with an eased expression. He continued to rub his hands over his short beard, a habit he had long gotten used to.
"I've seen enough."
"And why is that, pray tell?" Grand Elder Wanshang crossed his arms, anticipating some answers from their most introverted elder.
"Liu Shuren is an outsider. It isn't fair to Cloud City's own people to allow him to join as one of them, just because they're ignorant of his status in the Liu Clan. He should've only joined for the year as a delegate." Swordfall's amber eyes stood open and clear at the right-hand man of the Sect Leader without budging. "There is no loyalty to be gained from him."
The Grand Elder smirked at his words. "It's clear the boy wishes to use our name to build his reputation separate from the Liu Clan. If he wants to lead the Liu Clan, then he'll naturally have to ally with us. With one of us as his master, he will be loyal as a righteous cultivator. And if he succeeds, we gain a close connection with a Rank 7 Clan." He paid his sights on the ending of the sect examinations once more. Seeing the tattered body of Liu Shuren. "Besides, you don't know how much his father begged to allow this exception."
"We have nothing to lose, Swordfall."
Swordfall stared at the Grand Elder for a while. He refused to continue the conversation, leaving to go above the seven mountains of the sect.
His worries do have a basis. Until the Sect Leader ascends to become an Immortal Cultivator, it'll seem as if we're trying to break away from the influence of The Great Nine. But, for now they're focused on the city we've taken over and its harbinger of destruction.
Grand Elder Wanshang gazed towards the south. Though to the naked eye it couldn't be seen, from the eyes of a Rank 5; Nascent Soul cultivator, the auspicious unhallowed tower stood, corrupting all life in its way.
And they were ever closer to unsealing its truth.
***
"You won't be landing a hit on me with that sword, Wu Ming."
A useless and burnt left arm. Cracked ribs. Gash marks on his right arm. Burning hot calves. Phantom pain rippling throughout his body from going through his first death. And worst of all, his new set of robes ruined.
Shuren could only hope that his clothes were restored alongside him after this competition.
"Bah, do me a favour, old pal. Give me some time to take out these weapons at least." Ming ripped out some of the embedded shards in him, ensuring mobility.
"Honestly, you think you'd afford this in a real fight?" Shuren teased as he stretched his right shoulder, getting a feel for his mobility.
A blur appeared by Shuren's side, with a slash towards him.
The tip of Shuren's spear was cleanly sliced off.
"This is better for you aye, staffman?"
Shuren dropped his relaxed composure. Fast! He seriously tried copying my movement technique?! Within a blitz, Ming had already flash stepped past him. His spear now turned into a staff.
Sensing the blade striking towards his back, Shuren barely blocked it in time. His hand trembled as his grip on the staff weakened. The disadvantage of one hand with a staff was stark.
"The role's been reversed this time. How's it feel?" Ming taunted as both his hands gripped his sword, pushing down to make Shuren collapse.
Shuren took note of Ming's wounds worsening with blood dripping. There was a price for such an extraneous movement technique.
I can't block in this battle. I'll have to deflect and parry as much as I can. It's a good thing he's a swordsman.
He shifted the way of the staff to slide parry Ming's blade. Shuren would use Ming's own weight and force against him. Using his staff as a guiding anchor, Shuren sidestepped in an arc as Ming staggered forward with his sword.
An opening! Shuren didn't let it go to waste, riposting with a straight thrust at Ming's ribs.
All he felt was the ringing in his wrist, Ming having twisted his body to counter with a brutal slash.
Feeling the solidity of the rocky ground, Shuren was forced to be on the defensive. I'll have to lead him towards the snowy terrain to weaken his movement. With that, I can make use of the environment.
Sliding parries, deflecting, and even circular parries, Shuren used every technique in his arsenal as he twisted his staff to force Ming's pace. He continued to back towards the snowy hills. And with each blow, Ming's strength was being sapped from his lack of stamina. Meanwhile, Shuren kept a clear focus on Ming's footwork. He isn't putting as much weight on his left leg.
"You… You clearly have the experience of a swordsman. Why don't you take up the blade, as a practitioner of the Liu Clan?" Ming questioned when faced with the onslaught of deflects and parries from Shuren. But with each word, came a strained breath.
Shuren didn't answer, allowing Ming to come to his own conclusions.
Both were at the gates of death.
When Shuren felt the chill of snow wrapping around his ankles, he switched up his defence.
I've conditioned him to focus on why I've led him here. Now's the time! Shuren released all the power in his body and legs, dropping down in a blitz.
Before Ming had time to react, Shuren swept his legs in a wide arc, using his lowered body as a natural dodge of Ming's blade. But he didn't stop there.
Shuren's right arm was a snake biting deep into Ming's left ankle, and he whipped it back with all his force possible.
Ming had lost his balance.
Now! Shuren watched him fall flat to the ground, almost swallowed up by the depth of the snow. He put everything in his staff to stab deep into Ming's chest.
His staff stabbed deep in the snow instead. He rolled to the side, about to regain his bearings.
He couldn't let Ming get up without even a single hit! Shuren kept his right hand firmly on the staff, using it now as an anchor. With it, he combined a flying kick with a push kick, aiming for the gap during Ming getting up.
"This is it!" This time, Shuren felt the sensation of his foot meeting flesh. With this move, he would destroy his opponent's balance and crack his ribs!
The glint of steel shimmered in the snowscape. Amid the howling winds, a distinct gust sliced through.
Ming held a grin.
One move. That was all a swordsman needs, to turn the tide of battle.
The crimson blade, bloodied from decayed flesh, cut right into Shuren's face.