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29.19% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 94: Chapter Ninety Four - And the top martial artist is...

Chapter 94: Chapter Ninety Four - And the top martial artist is...

By the time the group had entered the arena, the sky had turned a steely grey and rain had begun to splatter down upon a barrier dome above them. The other seniors in the top twelve had begun to prepare for the battles and the first bout was ready to begin.

Luna stood with her sling tucked in the belt of her robes and holding a thin rapier like sword. Pike mentioned that the slender woman favoured this when forced to fight up front. She would not be the only martial artist to toss aside their favoured long range weapon for a melee one.

She was facing a youth named Logan, who clearly had hearts in his eyes. He was also slightly injured from a battle that happened to occur two days ago. It was just a bruise and it had not affected him the previous day, yet for some reason, he clearly used this as an excuse to not perform as well as he should, ultimately losing the match to the girl.

Both Bowyer and Pike shook their heads at this. Logan was currently ranked eighth and although he would still be ranked eighth if he had beaten Luna (neither considered he nor Luna having the ability to beat Ari), it was not as if he had done Luna any favours either. Luna was placed tenth, but Lopard, who was ninth had (prior to this win) more than thirty points more than she.

Logan's choice was further shown to be the wrong one when Lopard not only beat Delphi in the second match, but later managed a brilliant win over Certi, the fourth seed in their group. These twenty points meant that he stole eighth position away from Logan before he lost to Ari in the semi finals of their group.

Bowyer and Pike met in the third battle, grinning wickedly at each other as they wasted no time in attacking each other. Pike had set aside his two smaller hammers for a large war hammer, this lost Bowyer the advantage the reach his sword held over the smaller weapons. Still, he had speed, seeing as his blade, while not light, was certainly not the bulk and unyielding mass that Pike's hammer was. The stage was cracked in several places as Pike swung his weapon downwards, only to miss Bowyer's flighty form. It was due to one of these cracks that Bowyer's steps fell ill, providing Pike with an advantage that he previously lacked and he was quick enough to take it.

Bowyer was forced to concede defeat or break a leg in this match. As it happened, his arm was already severely bruised and swollen, having been caught by a seemingly wild swing just a minute before. Pike was no less injured, he sported a slice of several inches across his stomach. The two men welcomed the pills that Leon offered, a blood pill for Bowyer and a one heart pill for Pike's external injury. They were most pleased with the effect of the pills, but were too caught up in adrenaline to notice just how good the effects were.

After the fourth match where Piter fought Culven and won (the latter was in eleventh place, so this was unsurprising), Ari's first fight occurred. He fought Luna and soundly had her admitting defeat. He did not heed her pleas to go easy on her and she fled the stage in the end in tears, causing Ari to be the villain in many students hearts. Pike and Bowyer just rolled their eyes over the girl's dramatics.

The fights continued with only Lopard surprising all to win against Certi in the seeded match. Otherwise, all other seeds, Crux (who beat Pike) and Orphius (who beat Piter in a very close and tense match) all fought in the semi finals. Eventually, it came down to Ari and Crux, the first and second placed students of last year would fight for first and second place of this year. With just seven points between them, their final battle would settle scores or keep things unchanged.

Ari was as cold and silent as usual as he stood before Crux, a rather angry looking man, with clearly a grudge to bear. If he lost this battle, he could challenge Ari for another bout, but he did not want the gap between them widening any further. He had already decided that he had to win this time or not at all.

Ari favoured two long knives, while Crux held tonfa's, both men favoured speed over strength. Their battle was not a cautious one, their weapons met soundly each time, while they attacked, dodged, parried and counter-attacked. Their bodies were so quick and their movement so effortless and swift that Leon had difficulties keeping up with their movements. Sun too was bouncing up and down in his seat, he had never quite encountered such a thrilling match. His own skills relied on swiftness and speed, so the battle was both amazing and enlightening for him.

Eventually, Crux's movement began to wane. Although both men's martial arts were similar, there were still differences, for instance; Crux preferred using techniques that required bursts of speed, while Ari sought those that he could use with his usual rhythm and pace. Neither particularly outweighed the other in terms of performance, both could be considered crucial in certain fights, however Ari happened to have a little more endurance than Crux and the latter's influx of special moves had drained his away to this point, while Ari's consistent movement meant he was still in good form.

Crux couldn't quite dodge the blade that made it's way towards his leg and the slice along it burned, slowing him further and earning him a cut with the other knife in his shoulder. He held on for a minute longer before he conceded defeat, unable to cope with the numerous scratches and cuts that were added in that time. Ari did not come away uninjured having received a few bruises and grazes as well as a broken finger. However Ari was announced the winner and reclaimed his position as the top student in both the inner and outer schools. No one came forth to challenge him.


Chapter 95: Chapter Ninety Five - I break curfew

The rain continued into the middle of the following morning, but it did not stop the top ten outer school students from challenging the bottom ten inner school students. Seven of these inner school students had been first years the year prior; they had had plenty of time to train and rise into safer ranks, so they only had themselves to blame.

The match ups were random and each student could only battle once. The student that won stayed or transferred into the inner school. The students that lost stayed or were transferred into the outer school. There was no appeal or second chance.

Only two outer students rose, in the end, meaning two inner school students fell. One of these four individuals was the older berserker brother, Borean, who proved his skill to force his opponent to give up his place in the inner school. The unfortunate opponent would have to prove his worth to return to the school either through his achievements throughout the year or winning the Standings next year.

In the afternoon, after these fast paced battles, prizes were given out to the inner school students that had proven themselves the best of the best. It was the top ten individuals that received the prizes of quality pills, high end equipment and chances to visit the forbidden levels in the library, where secret techniques, abilities and cultivation methods were stored. These writings could not be removed from the library, but if one could understand what was read and had the ability to put it into practice, this could be worth a thousand good pills.

This might have been the reason that Ari chose to accept two hours in the library rather than the three significant pills that Pike chose or a visit to the equipment vault of Master Corne, that Bowyer picked, to accept a new weapon.

This fifth day turned into an event where the invited sect and family masters could attempt to entice and solicit students into supporting them once their lives at the institution had finished. It should be noted that the student that every master sought, Ari, had already vanished by this point. Several congratulated Pike and Bowyer, while both men held stiff smiles. Neither gave any indication that they would accept or refuse invitations and all these Masters ignored the three students who stood with them, barring one.

That man's eyes swept over all three, but happened to pause on both Jin Li and Leon before he offered his own congratulations to the men. "You are worthy students of this school and able seniors," the man stated, amicably. "Your Teachers must be proud. The young members of my sect could surely learn well from you."

"Thank you, Sect Leader Urian," Pike bowed as did Bowyer.

"Are these fellows ones we must look out for next year?" He asked, the two seniors, indicating Sun, Jin Li and Leon. The two men and three boys were taken aback for a moment.

"Jin Li and Sun, most certainly," Bowyer replied, casually. "They will do well. However, young Leon is a student of the Alchemist school, a reliable pill maker who has the favour of several of our Teachers."

Leon flushed at the praise, but remained quiet. "I see," the Sect Leader replied, before he excused himself and went to find his two daughters to spoil before he had to return home.

"What was that about?" Bowyer muttered beneath his breath, but Pike simply shrugged.

There was a tradition in the inner school that followed the Standings, the breaking of curfew. Having fought hard, won or lost, the Teachers turned a blind eye to this tradition, but would cruelly still expect their students to rise early as usual for breakfast, lectures and training, no matter what. The Breaking of Curfew was basically a drinking party, Leon, who had been encouraged to stay with Sun and Jin Li, discovered.

The students had long since gathered bottles of rice wine and saki in their rooms over the last few weeks and cajoled snacks from the kitchens to pair with their liquor. It seemed age was of no issue either as it was normal to drink at meal times in noble houses. The commoners also might partake in rice wine, but it was usually watered down so not long after the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, a lot of first years from these backgrounds had either emptied their stomachs in a reversal or sought their beds to sleep off the dizziness.

The students gathered in the main arena, laughing in groups around their drinks and commenting on performances of themselves or others. Leon sipped his rice wine, his stomach warming more with each mouthful. Sun was eagerly reciting his favourite moments about the battle between Ari and Crux, while on his fourth cup. Small as he was, he knew he could hold well his liquor.

Jin Li held a small cup of saki, moving it idly in his fingers as he watched with some fascination as Leon's cheeks became more and more flushed with pink.

A small disturbance broke out a short distance from them and Pike and Bowyer rolled their eyes and went to diffuse the situation. Leon suddenly stood up. "T-toilet!" He hiccuped and began to walk slightly unsteadily across the arena to the small room he knew was just outside it meant for a man to relieve himself.

Sun leapt up before Jin Li could say a word. "I'll go with you!" The two smaller youths walked away leaving Jin Li to down his saki and pour another cup. The seniors returned with a slight groan.

"Should have known it was Maki and Lute," Pike complained. "That pair of trouble makers." Bowyer snorted and reached for the bottle of saki, refilling Pike's cup and his own, before offering Jin Li more. The latter declined. "Why do they believe that we need to have a second tradition during the Break of pranking?"

"It's just an excuse," Bowyer replied. "That pair simply want to cause mischief as usual. Speaking of trouble..." he added as he saw Sun suddenly rushing towards them.


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