บท 12: XII
"What are you writing?" Jasmine questioned, peeking from his shoulder. It only took her a few seconds before she chuckled. "Oooh… a love poem for your princess."
"...Jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous?" Jasmine shook her head. "Anyway, I must admit, this piece isn't so terrible. You might even be a better poet than a profound practitioner. Not that the bar is set very high in that regard…"
"If you're asking me, creativity is useful in many ways including writing and even the profound way. Writing helps one imagine and dive deeper… which can reflect on the way someone uses their profound energy. I might just be waffling, though."
"Waffling?"
"It's slang for talking a load of nonsense."
"Hmm… can't say I've heard such a word before. Now that I think about it, many things about you are odd. Your strange dishes, sense of style, mannerisms and even the way that you speak. Either you truly love to be unique or…"
"What are you trying to say?" Rokas furrowed his brows slightly.
"Perhaps you'd like to share the truth with me? It may not feel like it but we have been master and disciple for a year now. To keep such secrets from each other…"
"Eh, that's kinda hypocritical, don't you think? You never told me who you were or where you came from. So… why should I?"
"That much is true…" Jasmine nodded, acknowledging that fact. "No matter, I will leave you to your devices for now."
"Jasmine, since you're so much wiser than me… won't you help me perfect this little poem?"
"... Does this princess look like a romantic to you?"
"Well, looks can be deceiving."
"... Hmph. That is for Cang Yue, is it not?"
"Mhm."
"Then write it in your own words… from your own heart and soul. That way, it will be more meaningful than whatever additions I could make."
"From your own heart and soul… I thought you weren't the type for romance." Rokas chuckled.
"I do have some knowledge over these things."
"But no experience…" Rokas added.
"... But no experience." Jasmine firmly nodded. "Nor does this princess intend to."
"Fair enough. Once someone told me that love is poison. A sweet poison… but it kills all the same. Maybe it's for the best to avoid it, in some cases." Rokas shrugged. 'That Cersei Lannister quote hits hard.'
"I've seen it kill before…" Jasmine remarked, sighing.
"If it's not too much to ask… who was it?"
"My brother… he gave his life to a woman who did not care nor love him nearly as much as he did. She had used him as her tool until the very end, resulting in his death. Fortunately for you, the woman you fell in love with first was not lacking in compassion. As for her…" Jasmine clenched her fists. "Her actions won't go unforgiven. No matter how long it takes… I will… avenge my brother."
"... Wouldn't it be his fault…" Rokas suddenly spoke, stopping mid-sentence.
"His fault?" Jasmine furrowed her brows rather deeply as fury seemed to flash across her eyes.
"... For being used, I mean. He wasn't forced… was he?"
[System: Protecting your golden Goddess' honour?]
"What do you know about it? Nothing. So don't act like you do." Jasmine replied, returning to his Inner World.
"... Sorry." Rokas sighed. 'What am I apologising for, again?'
[Jasmine (Fortune X) Confidant Rank: 4 → 5]
'It went up from that? Pretty sure she was pissed at me.'
[System: You're developing a deeper understanding with each other, 'pissed' or not.]
'I mean, honestly… Xisu willingly killed himself for her ambitions. That's just his fault, in the end. He practically left his sister alone in the world for Ying'er who probably didn't even let him touch her sleeve. Like… if anything, Jasmine should hate him. Instead, she idolises him and completely despises Ying'er for using her Alpha simp of a brother.'
[System: You tell her that.]
'... If I had a death wish, I would!'
~
The following day was proceeding as expected, the Heavenly Sword Villa flexed the rewards for the top three participants. First place would get dragonscale armour of the Sky Profound Realm, second place would get three drops of Purple Veined Marrow Quenching Fluid (which sounded overly fancy) and third place would get one Purple Striped Dragon Heart Pellet. Ling Kun then introduced himself and stated that the top ten sects would be allowed to enter the Heaven Basin Realm alongside witnessing the Demon Sealing Ritual.
"The time hath come. Now, this old man declares; this session of Blue Wind Ranking Tournament, officially begins!"
Then… came the profound strength assessment. Disciples started coming up as sect names were announced alongside their participants. Most of them were twenty-year-olds… this much was to be expected, given that they've had the most time to cultivate.
"Xia Qingyue of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace."
Shui Wushuang —— 20 years old —— Spirit Profound Realm level nine.
Wu Xuexin —— 20 years old —— Spirit Profound Realm level nine.
Xia Qingyue —— 17 years old —— Spirit Profound Realm level eight.
Xia Qingyue's profound strength reveal was like a clap of thunder to everyone present. Even the other top-four sects couldn't help but stand up from shock. Since when did the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace have such a disciple?
'Tss, girl, you ain't fooling anyone.'
"Seventeen years old and only in the Spirit Profound Realm? Such talent… by the time of the next Blue Wind Ranking Tournament, she would surely give even the Heavenly Sword Villa a difficult time."
Rokas heard someone next to him state…
'Yeah… right.' He chuckled.
Rokas found himself being bored for a great duration of the time, having to watch hundreds of disciples get their profound strength measured. He had only come there for Cang Yue… otherwise, he'd be napping in his room! The man even started to daydream a little.
"Heavenly Sword Villa's —— Ling Yun, Ling Feiyu, Ling Jie, step forward."
The Heavenly Sword Villa's name being called led to universal silence amongst the participants. They had been the number-one ranked sect of the Blue Wind Empire for time immemorial… so it was only natural. Even Rokas paid some attention to them walking up.
Ling Yun —— 20 years old —— Earth Profound Realm level three!
After Ling Yun touched the stone, he slowly turned away and left. Without a care for the roaring tidal wave of applause, admiration and even infatuation, he simply walked off with an expression as calm as the cool breeze. His footsteps, atmosphere… they all exuded a certain aura of elegance.
'This dude is trying to act cool wayyy too much.'
[System: Maybe Mr caveman could learn a little from someone.]
'Pfft.'
Ling Feiyu —— 19 years old —— Spirit Profound Realm level nine.
Ling Lie —— 16 years old —— Spirit Profound Realm level six.
The difference between Ling Jie and his older brother Ling Yun was quite vast in regards to temperament. Ling Yun was calm like a cloud while Ling Jie was high-spirited, his eyes brimming with excitement. Once the Heavenly Sword Villa's participants walked away, Ling Jie seemed to gravitate towards Rokas and Cang Yue.
"You're the… Blue Moon Princess, right? So pretty… and you're the really-strong foreigner, right? Are you two… like, a couple?"
"Well…" Cang Yue did blush slightly, never having publicly shown affection to Rokas as a princess.
"Future husband and wife." Rokas nodded rather confidently, grabbing Cang Yue's hand. Cang Yue did not show any signs of resistance, leading to Ling Jie nodding in approvement.
"I see… Princess Sis did find a really strong guy, huh. Why don't you use the Profound Assessing Stone, senior brother? Everyone wants to see just how talented you are!"
'Why is this brat so damn loud?' Rokas looked around, noticing that many eyes had turned to him. "I'm not a participant… so there's no point other than to show off. And… well, I'd rather not."
"You have to be at least a middle-stage throne, right? Man… people from other nations are so strong. I hope to someday travel around like you, senior. That way… I'll be able to grow just as strong!"
"While there are more opportunities in the other nations, those lands are also more dangerous," Rokas replied, shaking his head as he waffled on. Although, logically, it did make sense. "Emperor Profound Realm beasts are not rare at all… and, if you're unlucky enough, you might just encounter Tyrant Profound Realm beasts. To survive there without any background is… difficult. It is nothing like the Blue Wind Empire where you are thoroughly sheltered by the strongest powerhouse around."
[System: Spitting that wisdom.]
"... Huh, I didn't think of it in that way-"
"Stop pestering him." Ling Yun frowned as he approached and dragged Ling Jie away. "Forgive my younger brother, he is far too high-spirited for his own good."
"I wasn't pestering him… we are getting along just fine!" Ling Jie pouted as he refuted his older brother's statement.
"You drew attention to him by bringing up his profound strength. Clearly… he didn't want that attention." Ling Yun replied, shaking his head. "Now, let's go."
"Man…"
"... It's alright," Rokas chuckled as he watched the two brothers depart. Then he turned to Cang Yue. 'To have a brother like that, I am a little envious.'
"The Blue WInd Imperial Family —— Cang Yue." Ling Wugou spoke with a strange tone, seemingly one of disbelief.
The Blue Wind Empire's very own Imperial Princess was participating? And… her alone? Then, as the crowd glanced at Rokas, a majority came to the same conclusion. She was clearly spoiled by a powerhouse outside of the Blue Wind Empire!
Cang Yue calmly walked up to the Profound Assessing Stone without a single hint of arrogance in any of her mannerisms. Despite her rapid growth in strength, her regal elegance wasn't lost on her in the slightest. If anything… she was even more charming.
She gently placed her hand against the stone and let out a small drop of profound energy, leading to the stone shining rather brightly.
Cang Yue —— 19 years old —— Earth Profound Realm Ten!
"What!?"
Everyone was silent for a long moment, processing just what had been said.
The entire place practically exploded as people were losing their minds over what they heard. The Blue Wind Imperial Family's participants had always been a joke and never even managed to scrape top one hundred… but now… the princess herself completely shattered the record for the strongest participant!
Everyone had already determined Ling Yun to be the winner… but now, that all seemed like a joke. No matter how skilled Ling Yun was, he could not scale seven cultivation levels in the Earth Profound Realm!
'That's my girl.' Rokas smiled with pride as he watched her turn away from the stone.
However, just as Cang Yue was returning to his side, he was practically ambushed by disciples from the Heavenly Sword Villa… all of which were female!
"Senior brother Long Ke… perhaps you'd like to spoil me sometime? I'd make it worth your while, I promise~"
'Ayo… these gold diggers are moving mad! Shameless… so shameless!'
"Uh…" Not having experienced such a thing before, Rokas hesitated. His heartbeat rapidly rose to slightly unhealthy levels. "I…"
"He is my man." Cang Yue's terrifying gaze led to the ravenous pack of wolves splitting away from Rokas. "And, in truth… he isn't all too interested in any of you. Or are you, Ke'er?"
"No, I'm not." Rokas nodded, dusting himself off. 'Having a princess fiancée is something else… how could any of them even hope to compare?'
"I thought as much." Cang Yue smiled.
[System: You have a princess fetish? Huh… I see! Qianye Ying'er, Brahma Monarch God Realm… Xia Qingyue, Moon God Realm… Feng Xue'er, Divine Phoenix Empire… Jasmine, Star God Realm… it does make sense.]
'That might actually be true… then again, aren't most of the relevant chicks royalty?'
"The Blue Moon Princess is so lucky… not only is he cuter than Ling Yun, he's wayyy stronger and even helped her grow to such an extent. I wish I had a caring man like that…" One of the Heavenly Sword Villa disciples sighed.
After Cang Yue's strength was revealed, Rokas left to vibe in his room.
[System: Looks like someone has become quite desirable.]
'I've always wondered… is it true that you seem more attractive when you're already with someone else?'
[System: According to most studies, men who are in a relationship with a woman already… are, indeed, considered more desirable.]
'... Sources?'
[System: Bitch, I am the source. You dare doubt my endless knowledge?]
'Endless knowledge, huh? Tell me… will I have a harem?'
[System: Duh, what kind of question is that? Setting aside your obsession for blondes, there are so many beauties in this world that you won't be able to reject them all. That's just… how life is here.]
'Alright, so how big is my harem going to be? I don't want a whole soap opera… so it can't be too big, right?'
[System: I can't determine that. Your fate is yours and yours alone to determine… and it is ever-changing. Originally, you were 'fated' to serve two years in the army which branched off into many other futures. Some where you died too early… others where you did things like eat your brother, take over as the Patriarch of the Jiufang Family and eventually conquer your way into becoming the next Demon Emperor. On the less impressive spectrum, there was one where you fell in love with a farm-girl and settled down to live a peaceful life…]
'... I see. You're giving me some ideas.'
Rokas nodded, taking note of the System's information.
~
The tournament started and Cang Yue easily qualified without even having to fight a single opponent. Everytime the phrase 'Versus Blue Wind Imperial Family's Cang Yue' rang, 'I concede' would swiftly follow. Fighting a peak Earth Profound Realm profound practitioner was rather suicidal for them, after all.
Cang Yue easily qualified for the round of 32 and proceeded to dominate the rest of the way. Xiao Nan? Conceded. Mu Xiongyan? Conceded. Fen Juebi? Conceded after realising he couldn't do shit. Even Ling Jie… conceded.
If anything, no one seemed to care as much for the top spot anymore.
Then… came the fight between Xia Qingyue and Ling Yun. Rokas found a nice little seat and, for the first time since the tournament began, spectated a non-Cang Yue fight. Mans came prepared with a whole fruit milkshake.
"You said that she was hiding her power, right? Then… what's her true strength?" Cang Yue wondered, glancing at Xia Qingyue.
"You'll see."
'I'm not even too sure myself… in canon, it was the third level of the Earth Profound Realm. But now? A lot could have changed, given how the Mirror of Samsara has been screwing with me.'
…
Xia Qingyue removed the artefact hiding her strength right before the battle began. Her profound strength suddenly surged to the ninth level, tenth level… and then into the Earth Profound Realm. Then it kept rising, Earth Profound Realm one… two… three… four… five… six… seven!!
If Rokas ever felt like coughing up blood, now was the time!
'This ice chick… leeching off my bad luck! Pay up your damn taxes!!'
All of a sudden, Ling Yun's supporters grew silent. So did everyone else… a seventeen year old at the seventh stage of the Earth Profound Realm? Other than Rokas himself (who really doesn't count), she was by far the best talent present!
Ling Yun himself observed Xia Qingyue, his calm disposition breaking slightly but he remained proud. The thing he desired most was to see the face behind the veil… surely, she was as beautiful as a goddess? These thoughts of his strengthened his resolve to try his best, against all odds.
"Heavenly Sword Villa's Disciple, Ling Yun, asks for Xia Fairy's guidance."
Xia Qingyue blankly looked at him, standing still as an ice statue.
"Second match of the semi-finals, Heavenly Sword Villa's Ling Yun against the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's Xia Qingyue… battle start!!"
Ling Yun did not hold back, using both the Celestual Yuan and Yang swords from the very start. He dashed forwards towards Xia Qingyue but she raised her hand and indifferently muttered the words;
"Frozen Heaven Coffin."
Ice surged from all directions, surrounding Ling Yun from head to toe. His sword hadn't even scraped her veil as he was frozen still like a statue. His stance… was a little embarrassing. His legs spread apart, sword trying to reach out… but, in the end, all it touched was air.
'What a loser… he couldn't even reveal her appearance.' Rokas sighed, shaking his head. 'At the very least, I know her current profound strength. Cang Yue… might be having a hard time in the finals, after all.'
"You look more worried than me… and I'm the one fighting in the finals." Cang Yue gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't underestimate her." Rokas replied, puting away his milkshake. "Xia Qingyue… is not simple at all. You have to go all out from the start or she will overwhelm you over time."
"Alright… I won't hold back." Cang Yue nodded.
…
The next day, the finals were set to begin. The veiled Xia Qingyue stared blankly at Cang Yue while the Blue Moon Princess smiled without an ounce of arrogance. Everyone knew that Xia Qingyue would not concede as the rest of Cang Yue's opponents did. After all, she was only three levels lower and had learned the esteemed Frozen Cloud Arts! This battle… was winnable!
"Blue Wind Imperial Family's Cang Yue… versus… the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's Xia Qingyue. Whoever wins this duel shall be the champion of this Blue Wind Ranking Tournament! So, without further ado… battle… begin!!"
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