Chapter 101 Top Ten Entrance
With over a thousand participants qualified, Xuefeng and Tianshi were successful in blending in the crowd and avoiding any drama before they even entered the Arena. It would be a bother to argue with a fry like a shorty Bai once again.
After passing through the security check and entering the lobby, Ming appeared next to them once again. Her face was covered behind a hood, making her look like another mysterious participant.
'It seems like Tianshi and you fight at the same time,' Ming commented as they gazed at the giant board in front of them.
It had all the thousand and twenty-four names of participants listed down. The first round of battles was already predetermined and they were assigned to one of the many stages. Once someone lost, they were out of the tournament. Although it was harsh, it was at least fair. Everyone had the chance to win the tournament. Just be the strongest.
'We will be fighting on one of the ten main stages as the Seeded Participants, ugh…' Xuefeng grunted, seeing their names painted with gold. Only a hundred and twenty-eight seeded Participants who were predicted to advance to the finals had it.
'Don't worry, it's a good thing,' Ming assured, trying to change his mind. 'We are no longer hiding your strength. The more people see your power, the more they will fear you. Once you intimidate them from the start, you will have a mental edge over them. You also won't need to face each other before the finals.'
'Yeah… It's fine, I guess…' Xuefeng sighed, causing Tianshi to squeeze his hand.
'My love, I will be fine. I will prove I can stand by your side as an equal,' Tianshi promised, showing a sweet and confident smile. 'I'm also a Seeded Participant so even the management thinks I can pass the Elimination Round. Don't worry about me.'
'I know you will, but that's not a problem,' Xuefeng replied, rubbing her cheek. 'I just don't want others to see how beautiful you are. Hundreds of thousands of people will see you on the main stage. I just want to keep you all to myself. I am really selfish.'
'You are not. I find you really cute,' Tianshi muttered, leaning over to kiss him as a reward. 'Even if everyone sees me, they will know I'm yours. I will always be your wife but at the same time, I want to be myself, Xiao Tianshi and prove I'm strong enough. Please, let me do it.'
His possessive and protective nature activated in him but seeing the light in Tianshi's eyes, he couldn't keep her sheltered by his side forever. Tianshi was the only one of his wife who almost never left him, compared to others who were not alone, gaining life experience by themselves.
'Of course, you can. I will support you in everything you want to do,' Xuefeng agreed as he pulled her closer by the waist and thought of an idea.
Despite being surrounded by hundreds of youths passing through the lobby to reach the arena, he reached out to Tianshi's hood and took off, surprising her. Just a moment ago he was trying to hide her appearance but now he suddenly revealed her to everyone.
A couple of youths couldn't help but slow their walk when they noticed her but Xuefeng didn't mind it, holding onto her neck and kissed her deeply in front of everyone. Tianshi was taken aback but still followed his lead.
'Now everyone will know you are mine. Now go and make me proud. Kick their asses and meet me in finals,' Xuefeng cheered, hugging her supportively. With how strong she returned his hug, he knew she will try her hardest to do just that.
"Excuse me, are you perhaps Liu Xuefeng, participant battling at the tenth stage?"
Just as they separated, they were approached by the Arena Staff member who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.
"Yes. Can I help you?" Xuefeng replied politely, causing the woman to become overjoyed.
"Thank Heavens, I finally found Sir. Please, follow me to the Arena. Your entrance is in five minutes," the Staff explained in relief but Xuefeng widened his eyes in confusion.
"Entrance? What entrance?"
"Eh? Sir, you weren't informed? Sir is one of the top ten Seeded Participants. You are opening the whole Tournament with your battle on the main stages. You will also be introduced by our commentator as you enter the Arena. Only the top ten Seeds deserves such treatment. Please, follow me," the Staff hurried, almost grabbing onto his hand as she gestured to follow her.
"Can my wives come with us?" Xuefeng questioned on instinct, not wanting to separate but the Staff lady shook her head.
"I'm sorry but the top ten entrance is special. All others are required to enter from the main entrance."
Ugh…
Xuefeng didn't like that at all, but it was to be expected. Who asked him to destroy the measuring Wall at the Qualification Test. He basically asked for it. The strange thing is that even after destroying it, he was only on the tenth spot, indicating there were nine people stronger than him.
'Don't worry, I will go with Tianshi and protect her if anything happens. I don't think anyone here can be faster than me,' Ming assured. 'She is also strong enough to reach the finals without problems. I am sure of it.'
"Go, go, we will go alone," Tianshi hurried him as well, pushing on his back. "We will watch your entrance, so make sure you look good."
"Alright, alright, I'm going. Take care you two," Xuefeng called back with a wave only to remind in his mind. 'Be careful as you fight. I will watch you as well.'
'Yes! I will win for sure!' Tianshi called back excitedly, their line of sight breaking as he disappeared behind the corner.
"Where are we going exactly?" Xuefeng wondered as he was led in the tunnel leading up towards the Arena. It seemed like some kind of ramp, with multiple people waiting for him there.
"Lu Fang! Lu Fang! Lu Fang!"
He heard loud cheering from the arena, but he couldn't see anything yet as Arena Staff stopped him before the exit.
"Please hold still," the Staff lady ordered and multiple hands reached out to him at the same time.
One lady handled his hair, the other began applying some powder onto his face while another brushed his clothes, getting rid of any specs of dust. He felt like some kind of celebrity, being groomed before the show started.
"Once the commentator calls out Sir's name, please go out on the ramp. You can wave at the fans or just smile as the commentator introduces you to the public. Once he is done, Sir can fly over and land on the main stage in the middle of the Arena," the Staff lady explained further. "Some even did some tricks in the air to entertain the public but you are not required to do it."
"We are ready!" the others called out, pushing their hands away from Xuefeng at the same time.
He was still confused by the sudden development but he didn't have time to think about it as the commentator began speaking once again.
"And nooooow, for our final introduction, the last from the top ten seeds…"
He paused, letting the crowd calm down from cheering Lu Fang's name and the Staff ladies panicked, pushing Xuefeng forward.
"Sir, go, go! It's your time!"
Xuefeng could only sigh and walk forward, playing their game for the greater good. He was asked by Ming to be high profile, to intimidate and gain a mental edge on them. How could he reject her?
'Hehe, that's the best I am at…'
He walked forward towards the ramp as the commentator introduced.
"Please welcome to the arena, the handsome angel from heavens… the newest disciple of the strongest Cultivator in the Heaven Realm and the grandson-in-law of the Trade Union President… The one… the only… LIU XUEFENG!"
Chapter 102 Nuke It All
'The fuck…'
Xuefeng was about to walk out when he heard the announcement, causing him to almost trip. He never mentioned anything about being the grandson-in-law of the Trade Union President, yet they found it out anyway. Now the people wouldn't remember him as Liu Xuefeng but rather as a grandson-in-law and a disciple.
'Damn it, just you wait!' Xuefeng cursed under his breath, walking out at the ramp. 'I will show you why you should remember the name, Liu Xuefeng!'
"Please give him a warm applause!" the commentator called out at the same time, causing the crowd to burst into cheers.
Naturally, they weren't as loud and impressive compared to his predecessor, Lu Fang, but it was understandable. Not many people knew him yet. His fame was nothing compared to the famous youths who gathered it for years.
That would definitely change in the near future.
"Kyaaa! You are so handsome!"
"Look here! Look here!"
Amidst the cheers were also cries of females who stood next to the ramp, reaching out from the stands as if trying to touch him. The ramp turned out to be placed right in the middle of the seats, having fan-girls on both sides.
Only then did he realize that his face was displayed on four different screens in high resolution, tracking his every movement. It was his time to shine.
Swoosh!
He straightened his back as a pair of his signature Golden Wings burst out, spreading out right in front of the girls' faces. They shone the brightest they have ever been, blinding the people with the reflected sun. He retracted them right after and smiled coolly, waving at the crowd.
They seemed too easy to impress, clapping harder with their mouths open when he didn't even do anything.
'This will be a piece of cake,' Xuefeng thought when the commentator spoke again.
"Not everyone might know Liu Xuefeng but oh boy! Let me tell you!" The commentator paused, building the tension. "Even though he came to Heaven Realm less than a week ago, his unlimited talent and perfect battle techniques were already noticed by the top of the top! Even Sect Master Liu from the House of Dragons couldn't resist the young talent, snatching him from everyone else!"
"THIS! IS! NOT! ALL!" Commentator shouted, his excited voice filling the whole arena. "You want the proof of his strength? He was the only person under thirty years old who managed to break the Qualification Test Black Dragonic Stonewall. HE BROKE IT! And he is only nineteen years old! Can you believe that?!"
'Damn… This man is would create hype even from the turtle's race…' Xuefeng commented amazed.
The Commentator didn't seem to be finished as he cried out, "Who is excited to see another miracle at this Grand Tournament?! Let's ask Liu Xuefeng to bring us exciting matches today! LET ME HEAR IT! XUEFENG! XUEFENG!"
Xuefeng wouldn't even be surprised if the fans came just to listen to the commentator speak, making even the boring fights exciting to watch. The crowd came for the entertainment and the entertainment shall be given.
"XUE-FENG! XUE-FENG! XUE-FENG!"
As the fans cheered, Xuefeng finally launched in the sky, activating his highest speed as he glided above the crowd. Nine Elemental Qi accompanied him, bursting out from his legs and hands, creating a colorful rainbow that made all the ladies go wild.
"Those graceful movements! Those marvelous Arts!" The commentator emphasized but Xuefeng suddenly lost the focus on the event, hearing Ming's question.
'Xuefeng, look at the big platform sticking out in the middle of the stands. Can you see a black-haired beauty of purple eyes anywhere?'
Although Ming was still connected with him, she could no longer hear or see everything he did, with her Spirit outside of him.
It wasn't hard to find the platform she wanted as it was the only one in the arena, probably housing very important people. Xuefeng didn't hesitate to fly around the arena once again and hovered in front of the windows to see the insides.
He was surprised by the number of experts standing there by the windows and watching his every move closely. Among them, he found a beauty of purple eyes just as Ming described and their gaze locked.
'Yeah, I can see her. Is that Sect Master Liu's daughter?' Xuefeng questioned as he waved at her, pretending it was his purpose all along.
Liu Xinyu knitted her eyebrows but then smiled and waved back at him. At that moment, the screens shifted and split it two, displaying both of them looking at each other. A gentle melody played in the background, adding the romantic tension between them.
"Just their gaze can tell us there is something between them! Is this friendship? A Senior Disciple admiration or maybe more? Love perhaps? Who is excited to witness the birth of the new Power Couple that will shake the Heavens?! LET ME HEAR YOU!"
"YEAH!" The crowd confirmed with a cry but Xuefeng could only cringe at that. Didn't everyone just hear he had a wife already?
'Ignore it, focus on the platform. Tell me how many experts you can see,' Ming hurried.
'At least fifty of them,' Xuefeng reported as he counted them.
'I can bet all of them came to kill you and claim your Elemental Bracelet. As they can't create trouble in the Capital, they probably came to some agreement with the City Lord,' Ming guessed. 'How about we nuke all their plans and create chaos? Everyone already knows about your Elemental Bracelet anyway.'
Xuefeng grinned at that idea.
'They want to fuck us over? Let's make their asses burn.'
———
"Is that the person you were talking about?"
Inside the closed platform, the Dragon Race member questioned as all the experts watched their target wave at Liu Xinyu.
"Yes," Liu Xinyu confirmed simply, not even looking away from Xuefeng. She was a bit annoyed at the commentator but she didn't comment in the end, feeling good inside. If Xuefeng was just some random dude, she would kill the commentator in a heartbeat.
"He seems to know we are after him," Dragon Race member muttered to which Liu Xinyu nodded once again.
"Xuefeng already knew you will go after him before he even came to the Heaven Realm. He will not easily handle the Elemental Bracelet over."
"To think he is a Forrest Elf as well… Such a cutie," One of the two blond Elf ladies commented. "I feel bad for the situation he is in. A pity he might fall to this."
Huh?
Just as she spoke, everyone's eyes widened at the sudden development. Xuefeng raised his right wrist and pointed at it while mouthing something with a smile.
"Do you want it?" Liu Xinyu translated what he said and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! See? He knows it very well."
It wasn't the end. Xuefeng laughed as well and began uncovering his wrist as if rolling his sleeve out of the heat.
"Wait! What is he doing?!"
Chapter 103 Balls
"This man… He has got some balls. I like it," the Elf lady smiled at Xuefeng's bold move while her friend nodded, licking her lips as she eyed his body.
All the other experts widened their eyes instead with most showing anger and annoyance. How could they not be mad? They already paid to join this group yet Xuefeng turned everything upside-down.
He rolled up his sleeve, displaying his Elemental Bracelet to the public while grinning in their direction.
Swooosh!
The air inside the Arena vibrated and sudden wind burst out of nowhere, blowing at the crowd. The Air Elemental Stone on the bracelet shone brightly as Xuefeng flew up, taking control over the whole Air Space.
The ones not knowledgeable enough simply enjoyed the pleasant breeze during the hot day while the rest of the experts stood up in shock, rubbing their eyes to check if they were seeing right. Most of them were the Elders of various powers and leaders of families but a lot of individual Cultivators also joined them.
After all, how could one achieve anything in this harsh world if they didn't even know about the Godly Treasures? Everyone who aimed high should be familiar with them!
"W-wait a second!!! Are my eyes deceiving me?! Can you see what I can see?!" The Commentator cried out in surprise, stuttering from the excitement. The people began realizing what was wrong with so many people standing up and joined them, squinting their eyes as the sun burned their eyeballs.
All screens suddenly shifted the scene and aimed at Xuefeng's forearm, giving everyone a nice close-up. It was shaky as Xuefeng moved fast but everyone could tell what it was, a golden bracelet with one white stone in one of its nine sockets.
"Ladies and gentlemen! It's a Godly Treasure! Liu Xuefeng has a Godly Treasure!" the Commentator finally revealed. Hearing the name, more and more people began releasing what was going on. Even if they didn't know all Godly Treasures nor did they know how they looked, at least they knew the term.
It was the dream of every Cultivator after all.
"Not only is his bracelet a Godly Treasure, but it's also one of the top ten strongest! I can't believe it! Wait, wait, wait! I need to get confirmation on this! Can the management of the Arena confirm it! Is this really Elemental Bracelet?!" the Commentator asked in wonder, not even knowing the truth himself.
Xuefeng only smirked and pulled out his Dragon Edge, heading straight towards the main stage like a burning meteor. He aimed straight at the middle where nine participants of the top ten seeds stood tall.
When they saw him coming right at them without any stop, they jumped back as if scared of him. That was exactly what he wanted.
Swooooosh!
Golden wings spread wide near the stage and Xuefeng swung them with all his strength, stopping himself at the last moment. Although he landed gently, the momentum of the wind he carried with him crash at the stage, blasting at the other nine participants. The two girls in the group had to literally hold their chest and skirts to avoid exposing any of their privates.
"Everyone! I just confirmed it and it's true! The Artefact on Liu Xuefeng's arm is real! It's the Authentic Elemental Bracelet!"
The Commentator's announcement couldn't be even more well-timed. Xuefeng gazed at the nine participants and called out casually, "Hope I didn't make you wait for too long."
He got pleasantly surprised when his voice echoed across the Arena, reaching everyone's ears. It just couldn't get any better. They gave him all the stage to shine, just as he liked.
Thud!
He dropped the tip of Dragon Edge on the stage floor and it instantly cracked under its weight.
"Whoops, I guess it is too heavy," Xuefeng commented as he smiled coolly. "I guess I will be taking this stage so none of you have to fight on the broken Stage. I don't want you to use it as an excuse once you lose."
"Oof!" the Commentator gasped. "Shots fired! Liu Xuefeng single-handedly facing all nine top Seeds! As expected of the Elemental Bracelet owner!"
The nine top Seeds glared at him but they didn't even have the chance to speak as a stern voice warned them.
"Don't let him provoke you. He is trying to get a mental edge against you so you make mistake and fail to make finals. Stay strong and do your best in the battles. We expect big things from you."
They all turned to the side and Xuefeng saw the very same judge that gifted him Upgrade Fragments earlier. He couldn't be happier to see him.
"Yes, Judge!" the top Seeds nodded hurriedly, no longer bothering with Xuefeng as if the judge had some supreme authority.
"Sir! Nice to see you! To think Sir would be my judge once again. Nice!" Xuefeng called out as he pulled up his sword and walked up to him. "I'm sorry for ruining the Stage. I can battle here, no problem. I only need one attack to win anyway."
"Confident, aren't you?" the judge asked back as his lips curved. "Sure, you can battle on the main stage but first, go line up with others. I have a few announcements to make."
"Great! Thanks, Sir!" Xuefeng bowed in gratitude and walked towards the rest.
He could instantly tell who did he stole the Stage as the first man from the left kept glaring at him. To spice him more, Xuefeng winked at him playfully before joining the rest.
"Ah! And here I thought we will see some action between top Seeds right of the bat," the Commentator sighed dejectedly before introducing with newfound, "Anyhow, please welcome to the stage, our Main Judge for this Tournament! Sir Liu, take it over."
The crowd naturally cheered but a few seconds later, they all turned quiet like a trained army, giving Sir Liu a stage to talk.
"Everyone, thank you for coming to our Water Land Capital and attended this Grand Tournament that will display the best talents from our Land. I hope you have a great time," Sir Liu spoke calmly, causing another round of applause before finishing with a banger.
"I don't want to stall for long so I will be short. There has been a change to the Tournament Reward System and I would like to inform everyone about it now. We happened to have a surprising number of new Sponsors who wanted to support the whole event with money and their Experience. Because of that, after the Elimination Round, over fifty of the finalist will have the chance to be taught one supreme Art by one of the Experts. All Arts will be that of at least Celestial Rank."
Boom!
The crowd exploded with chatter. Naturally, everyone was overjoyed aside from one person and that was Xuefeng.
'Tsk, so you want to use them to kill me, huh? Good luck with that!' Xuefeng snickered in his mind. He didn't even need Ming or Ling to figure that out.
"The rewards will change as followed: The Tournament Winner will receive a total of one hundred and fifty thousand Upgrade Fragments of all nine elements with an added bonus of a hundred million credits. The losers will be left with nothing so try your best to win! There is a lot to fight for!"
Author's Real-life update: My girlfriend is safe! I'm sorry everyone for being away but I just couldn't think of writing the last couple days. My girlfriend was missing after the Typhoon and massive flood in her country and I was panicking. I'm still in Shanghai and tomorrow the Literary Convention will start. I will be busy, so don't worry if there are no chapters. I will try to write in the morning tomorrow. Cheers, and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 104 Trash-talking
"Whoaaaa!!!"
The whole Arena erupted with a never ending cheer and a wave of excitement. How could they not?! It was a full one hundred and fifty thousand Upgrade Fragments. It was just enough to refine one's Qi to the seventh Refining for all nine Elements. It was a feat everyone dreamed of.
Seventh Refining, known as Qi Incarnation, allowed one to create an Avatar, body clone that looked and acted almost identical to the original. The difference between normal Qi clones is that one could control it from a long distance, even across another realm, just by inserting a part of their soul inside of it. Moreover, a normal Qi clone wouldn't be able to store a Soul for long.
On the Main Stage, the top ten Seeds looked at each other while squinting their eyes, trying to seize everyone one more time. They naturally considered each other as ones who would most likely fight with them for the title.
"Nice! To think that those sponsors decided to increase my reward for the Tournament. So nice of them. I will gladly take it home. Don't mind me if I do!" Xuefeng called out boldly, causing all nine to glance at him with their eyes like daggers.
They didn't seem to like him from the start but now all of them were against him. Xuefeng wasn't scared at all. He didn't mind if they all ganged at him together as they would do it anyway. With so many experts wanting to kill him, they will definitely order the Participants to kill him first as their priority.
He ignored them and turned to the Main Judge instead. "Sir, are there any changes to the Elimination Round?"
"No, just the reward changes. The judge responsible for your battle will explain the rules to you before your start," Sir Liu replied before, raising his hand and crying out, "Silence!"
The crowd just didn't want to quiet down but after his voice reverberated across the Arena, they immediately shut up.
"With that said, all Participants, please get on the assigned stages and prepare for the battle! Let the Tournament begin!" Sir Liu called out, finally starting the event.
The top ten Seeds glanced at each other once again before flying up and landing at their corresponding stage. Only Xuefeng and the top one Seed stood on the main stage, none of them planning on moving.
Sir Liu was the one who had to interfere in the conflict. "Li Wei, please move to the tenth stage. The management already planned to switch you two as they want Liu Xuefeng's battle to open the Event. I'm sorry for the mistake."
Hearing the Main Judge apologizing, Li Wei immediately shook his hands, "No, no, it's alright. I don't really care about it."
It was obvious he did though as his face couldn't lie, showing an expression full of bitterness. This young man in his twenties seemed to be glory of the Water Land and his pride suffered. A young hero, looking like someone who would jump first in the battle with a smirk on his face, was now relegated to the last stage but he could only swallow his anger.
Xuefeng made sure their voices were no longer amplified to the crowd and called out at the flying Li Wei, "It must suck to work hard for many years, finally get recognition to be considered a top seed only to have it stolen by some random God Stage who just ascended to the Heaven Realm. It's good for me though, so suck it, hehe."
His giggle at the end finally broke Li Wei as he turned around with his sword appearing in his hand.
"Shut up! Once we meet in battle I will crush you like a bug! I will take your Elemental Bracelet, your life and the title! I will take everything from you!" Li Wei yelled angrily, his sword brightening with Qi.
Xuefeng only smirked as he pointed at Li Wei with his thumb and gossiped with Sir Liu, "I think this guy is butt hurt. He should use more lubrication when he plays with his friends so he loosens up a bit."
"Cough, enough," Sir Liu cleared his throat, stopping the two before a fight broke out. "Li Wei, get to your stage. Don't let him provoke you."
Li Wei was already fuming, his short black hair spiking upward, but just one reminder from the Main Judge was enough to pause his actions.
"We will later see if your skills are as good as your trash-talking," Li Wei spat and flew away.
Xuefeng quickly called back in laughter, "Sure! Make sure to use some healing ointment! It will help with the pain down there!"
This time Li Wei didn't turn around and ignored him all the way, disappearing from the view.
The Arena was spacious enough to fit a lot of them but the setup was different compared to the Qualification Test. There were nine big stages set up in a circle with one gigantic one in the center, the one Xuefeng claimed for himself. Aside from those ten, there were tens of smaller stages that would be used for less important battles.
Seeing a disappointed gaze from Sir Liu, Xuefeng scratched his head and shrugged. "Apologies Sir, those were just some mental games. You all aren't really helping me win this Tournament so I need to use my own tactics. They are my main competition so I need to tilt them as much as I can before the fight."
Sir Liu raised his eyebrows in confusion. "We don't help you?"
"Does Sir think I'm dumb and think those Sponsors magically appeared? They obviously came here for my Elemental Bracelet and want to use the participants to kill me. The reward increase is just an additional enticement to kill me. Basically everyone will be against me and I'm sure Sir knows about it too, as the Main Judge."
The curve on Sir Liu's lips confirmed Xuefeng's guess.
"Fair enough. I will pretend I didn't hear anything," Sir Liu muttered in the end. "Good luck in the Tournament. There is a certain young lady who wishes you win it all. Don't mess it up and she might be yours."
Huh?
Xuefeng went blank in confusion but Sir Liu didn't explain, only smiling to himself.
Chapter 105 Little Puff
"Sit down! Good! Rollover! Ah, what a good boy! Now fetch!"
At the same time as the Tournament was starting, a certain village just recovered from the mortal crisis. It was a sunny day, perfect for harvesting their crops when the Village got attacked by a giant Spirit Bear, destroying houses and injuring people.
No one could stop it until two female Cultivators appeared at the right time, saving their lives. Who would have thought the bear would suddenly turn as docile as a little cub in their presence and perform everything a lady asked him to. All villagers were dumbfounded, watching the lady and bear duo from the distance.
"Alright, we are done playing. Sit on the ground and don't move. I will get back to you in a bit," the lady called out to the ten-meter tall bear who nodded like a human and dropped its butt to the ground.
Thud.
The ground shook, causing almost all villagers to trip. They were still scared shit-less but seeing the lady had everything under control, they could finally breathe out.
"Village Elder! You don't need to worry anymore! Little Puff won't be a problem anymore. He will be a good boy from now on," the lady called out sweetly as she hopped towards the Village People with a cheerful smile on her face. Her golden hair was like a sun, all shiny and bright.
Just the thought of her calling the terrifying bear a Little Puff was enough to make everyone feel at ease. The lady even carried a small one-tailed fox on her shoulder which added multiple points to her cuteness.
"M-milady… I don't know what to say… We can't be more grateful. You saved our lives. If there is anything we can do for you, please let me know. Be it money or treasures, just name the price," the Village Elder replied politely, bowing deeply in gratitude. "Although our Village is small and the crops been bad this year, it is nothing compared to the price of our lives."
"Oh! We didn't help you for the money. We helped you cause you needed help," the lady assured with an angelic smile. "Don't worry about it."
"Milady… I'm speechless once again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." The Village Elder bowed once again. "Please, tell us your names. We will put you into our books so you can be remembered for generations. The Village will never forget this day."
"Ehmm…" the lady scratched her head awkwardly as she looked around the place as if searching for her friend. "There is really no need for that… I just wanted to help…"
"Grandpa!"
Just as the lady seemed ready to run away, they heard a kid call out from the side. A group of Villagers walked to them with a kid at the front, all cheerful and lively. Most of them had tattered clothes, full of rips and claw marks which exposed their skin but there were no signs of any wounds, the skin as smooth as the baby.
When the Village Elder saw them, he instantly got dumbfounded, tears spilling out from his eyes.
"Feng'er!!!" the Village Elder cried out, dashing towards the kid and embraced him tightly. "Feng'er! Y-you are walking! H-how?! Your body was crippled!"
Not only him but the whole Village was shocked, seeing everyone healthy, especially the Grandson of the Village Elder who was crippled for years.
"Hehe! I'm all good now! It was Big Sis that healed me!" the kid called out happily as he pointed behind the Elder.
The Village Elder swiftly turned around only to see the second blond beauty approach their Goddess. It was the second female Cultivator!
"She helped all the injured Villagers and mom asked her to look at me! Who thought all I needed was one pill to get better! Nothing hurts me anymore!" Feng'er recounted in excitement. "She said it was a poison I must have consumed in the nearby forest. Thankfully, my body was able to hold on for so long. She said I shouldn't be alive. Hehe."
Thud!
The Village Elder didn't even wipe his eyes as he instantly dropped to the ground, his forehead touching the ground.
"Goddesses! As a grandfather and the Leader of this Village, thank you! On behalf of the whole Village, please give us the honor of worshiping you!"
"Sir, stand up please, we don—" the lady with the fox called out to stop him but was cut off as more and more Villagers began kneeling on the ground, joining their leader.
"Wait, wait, what are you all doing?" the two female Cultivators questioned awkwardly, their brows knitting.
"Goddesses! Let us worship you! We will not get up till you accept!" the Village Elder cried out with the others following suit.
Even Feng'er didn't hesitate to drop down, calling out, "Goddesses! Thank you!"
The Spirit Bear couldn't help but cringe, covering his eyes as if it was face-palming himself. Most Spirit Beasts at the higher level had the intelligence rivaling humanoid races so it wasn't a surprise he understood everything.
The two ladies were hopeless, entering from one problematic relationship to another. The two were naturally Lisa and Yiren who already left the Hidden Leaf Village and traveled in the direction of the Spirit Land, hoping to find their husband.
Just when they wanted to take a break in the passing village, they noticed a raging bear devastating everything. They couldn't just fly past when they could easily help them.
"Yiren… How about we let them do what they want and just move on?" Lisa asked as she scratched her head. "We were supposed to get a meal and rest anyway."
"Ah… Okay," Yiren muttered with a sigh, already tired by being treated a Goddess.
"Everyone, I'm Yiren and this is my sister Lisa. Please, just call us by our names. We are not Goddesses or anything. We are just some random Cultivators passing by so just treat us as such," Yiren introduced but the Village Elder cried out with another deep bow.
"Goddess Yiren! Goddess Lisa!"
Something told them they wouldn't stop no matter what, just like in the previous Village so they didn't try anymore.
"Okay, okay, call us whatever you want, just stand up already," Lisa ordered, taking the role of the manager once again.
This time the Villagers accepted listened immediately, "Yes Goddess!"
"We are hungry and need some rest. If you can, please prepare some food and drinks for us as your payment for the help. My Pills were really expensive you know. Even if you sell the whole Village you won't afford to pay for them all. I will compensate with a meal," Lisa proposed, causing Yiren to stab her with a shoulder but that was exactly what the Village Elder wanted.
"Of course! With pleasure!" the Village Elder agreed with his eyes brightened and turned to his people, "Everyone! I hereby announce that today's will be the day of the Goddesses Yiren and Lisa! Every year we will celebrate in their name and we will start today! Everyone is invited for today's celebration!"
"Yeah!" the Villagers cheered but one person wasn't entirely happy with it.
"Ughh… I knew it," Yiren grunted but Lisa assured her with a hug, "Don't worry, we will at least save on food. Who knows how long we will travel. My butt hurts from traveling as well, so it's okay to rest."
"Okay…"
Yiren could only agree, unable to reject the ultimate power of cuddles. She turned around and walked back to the Spirit Bear, deciding on his fate. Yiren didn't even need to use her Ability for the second time. Just the pressure coming from Mona was enough to put the Spirit Bear in place.
"Because you hurt many people of this Village, I will assign punishment to you," Yiren said sternly, causing the bear to look at her pitifully.
"No, don't look at me like that. You ruined their crops and almost killed humans because you were too lazy to hunt. Instead of fighting other Beasts, you look for an easy prey that will satisfy your stomach. What about your future? What is your ambition? Don't you want to dominate this region as the strongest beast and be crowned a king? I'm disappointed," Yiren scolded.
The Spirit Bear stared at his feet depressed, looking like a kid that just got reprimanded. He no longer looked terrifying but instead cute and funny.
"As punishment, you will stay in this Village and protect it for ten years. You are forbidden to hurt anyone in the Village and can only eat beasts. Every month, I require you to hunt one beast of equal level to you," Yiren commanded.
Roar!
The Spirit Bear didn't seem to like that, protesting immediately but Yiren's eyes lit up with gold light as she cried out, "Little Puff! Didn't I make myself clear enough?!"
Fear could be seen in the Spirit Bear's eyes as he dropped to the ground, posturing itself in front of her. Even in that position, he was taller than Yiren but she was able to reach out and touch his nose.
"Don't worry, I promise you will come out stronger. What are ten years for you?" Yiren assured and walked back to the Villagers. All of them stood still, dumbfounded.
Did they just receive a guardian beast? A small village like theirs?
Yiren didn't want to listen to another wave of compliments so she ended it before they left the Village Elder's mouth.
"Please, let's proceed with the celebration. We are tight on time as we are in the middle of traveling."
"Yes, Goddess! We will start the preparations right away!" the Village Elder replied excitedly and began ordering people, hurrying everyone.
"Grandpa! Can we watch the Water Land Tournament too? It started already!" Feng'er questioned as he tugged on the Village Elder's shirt.
"Huh? Who cares about some kind of Tournament. If you really must, you can watch it at home. Right now the Celebration is the most important," the Village Elder said sternly.
"But I wanted everyone to see. There is one participant who is really cool! His name is even the same as mine, Xuefeng!" Feng'er called out excitedly.
"Then go watch it in your roo—" the Village Elder replied only to be cut off by Yiren.
"Wait! Did you just say, Xuefeng?"
Chapter 106 Good Luck Xuefeng...
"Quick, quick! Set up the screen! Our Goddess wants to watch the tournament!"
With Yiren's sudden request to join the young boy watching the tournament, the Village Elder quickly went off, changing the plans of the Celebration. Instead of dancing and singing, it changed into a watch party with food. While the latter was being prepared, the stand with a big screen was set up for everyone to watch.
"Don't worry Grandpa! The first battle shouldn't have started yet. We still have time. The last time I saw it, they didn't even announce the rules, and participants were coming up on the stages," Feng'er explained as he sat down next to two Goddesses.
"How come you can see what is happening in Water Land? Isn't it far away from here?" Yiren wondered.
"Goddess Yiren, the distance doesn't matter. The broadcast covers the whole Heaven Realm. Their Communication Crystals are extremely powerful. All we do is set up ours and catch their signal. The rest is just displaying it on the screen but all you need is some Spirit Stones and the Projecting Artefact," Feng'er explained happily as his legs moved back and forth, not even touching the ground because of his short height.
"Oh! You are really smart," Yiren praised as she patted him on the head. "How old are you?"
"I'm six!" Feng'er replied proudly with a grin on his face. "Once I become older, I will take over the world and have the most beautiful wife, just like Goddess Yiren and Lisa."
"Hehe, you are really sweet. You remind me of someone. That person is also named Xuefeng and he is also really sweet," Lisa pointed out.
"Hehe, all Xuefeng's are cool guys! Even the one in the Tournament is bad-ass! I love how savage he is!" Feng'er called out excitedly. "He was in the main arena so we should be able to see his battle!"
"I hope he is as cool as you say," Yiren spoke with a smile, gazing at Lisa next to her. They both held each other's hand, wishing really hard it was the person they both loved.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Tournament is ready to set off and your favorite Commentator is back! I will join you today as we analyze the most intense and ferocious battles. Let's enjoy plenty together!"
The girls were woken up by the announcement and gazed at the screen with expectations in their eyes. To their disappointment, all they saw was the camera skimming through the crazed crowd at the stands. They still didn't lose hope though.
"It's starting!" Feng'er called out, his eyes staring at the screen without blinking.
They had the best seats, right at the front of the screen. The quality was crisp and the sound was perfectly replicated. Yiren still wondered how was that possible but when the camera moved, she regained focus, thinking only about Xuefeng she wanted to see.
"I just received the confirmation that we are one minute away from the launch! Let's use that one minute well. For those who weren't listening before, let's rewind a bit and talk about the Tournament as all participants get ready," the Commentator began the build-up.
"We have one thousand and twenty found participants, only one hundred and twenty-eight will reach the final round! To do that, they need to battle three times and win every, single, time! No loser brackets, only one chance of victory! Pretty straightforward, right? Just like my wife when I return home late at night. 'I will kill you!' she yells. Thank Heaven I run faster when I'm drunk else you would need another Commentator."
"Haha!" the male crowd chuckled only turn silent when they looked to the side at their wives.
"Cough, let's hope my wife isn't watching… Anyway! The first battle is about to start! As per usual, we commentate all the battles from the Main Stage! I guess all of you expect to watch our favorite Li Wei, but there has been a change of plans! I'm sure you can see who stands tall and confident on the Main Stage. Let me hear his name!!!" the Commentator cried out and the crowd follow with the same intensity.
Xuefeng! Xuefeng! Xuefeng!
Feng'er shouted with similar fervor while the two ladies on his side sat dumbfounded, staring at the screen while clutching onto their chests. The face of the man they yearned for so many days appeared on the screen, all handsome and healthy as he looked at his opponent. Their hearts couldn't help but skip a beat, banging like a hammer against the iron.
Just as they did, Xuefeng on the screen frowned and looked down at his left arm with a worried expression. He clutched onto his bracelet and rubbed two round crystals as if trying to calm it down. Not many noticed these gestures but Lisa and Yiren knew the truth.
Their hearts melted immediately. They didn't even need to think twice as they forced themselves to calm down. The worst thing they could do was distract Xuefeng with their emotions and cause him to lose the battle.
"That's right! Our first battle will involve Liu Xuefeng! The handsome Angel of Death! Let's see if he can live up to his name! If I could, I would definitely bet my money on our Angel but unfortunately, management doesn't want to lose on this fight, so the betting wasn't opened. The odds in favor of Liu Xuefeng's win were too big to risk it and I understand it. Who would bet against the Elemental Bracelet Owner?!" the Commentator called out excitedly, shocking the girls.
"How do they know…? Something must have happened…" Lisa whispered into Yiren's ear who nodded worriedly, watching closely. Her elbows were already on the desk, wanting to see everything more clearly.
"Anyway, I got confirmation that everything is prepared so let's head down to the Main Stage! They can't hear us, but we will hear them clearly. Naturally, the barrier around the stages protects us from unexpected projectiles, so you don't have to worry about getting hurt," the Commentator assured when they suddenly heard a voice directly from the Main Stage.
"Are you both ready?" Sir Liu questioned, gazing at two opponents while the Commentator introduced, "Against Liu Xuefeng, we have a twenty-four years old Master of a Spear. With the rank of three hundred and ten, he should be a worthy opponent to start this tourna—"
The Commentator suddenly paused as there seemed to be some issue on the stage. Xuefeng wasn't replying to the Main Judge, his eyes closed.
"Is Liu Xuefeng calming himself before the battle or is he preparing some powerful art to showcase his power?" the Commentator questioned but Xuefeng didn't provide any information as his mouth opened.
"Give me a few seconds."
Ba-dum! Ba-dum!
Only Yiren and Lisa could understand him, tears spoiling their eyes as emotions overwhelmed their minds. His usual heartbeat suddenly sped up, causing their rings to vibrate quicker. Even on such an important day for him, he was prioritizing them over anything else. He didn't even know they were watching him.
He was basically saying: I'm there for you, fight and win for me. I will always think of you and I will be waiting for you. At least, that's what the girls thought as they held their rings tight. If anyone wondered how did Xuefeng keep them so high in love, this would be one of their answers.
"I'm ready," Xuefeng announced a moment later, his face remaining as tranquil as still water.
"Good luck Xuefeng…" Yiren whispered, wiping her tears secretly and continued to watch patiently. She didn't want to miss anything.
"Perfect! Look at the change on his face. Our Xuefeng is like a completely different man, all calm and collected. I knew he was a serious man once the battle starts," the Commentator called out excitedly. "Let the games begin!"
———
'Stay strong…' Xuefeng thought as he finally released the bracelet, gripping onto his sword instead as he gazed at his enemy with merciless eyes. He couldn't afford to lose. He had to win, get stronger, and save his wives. He couldn't mess up.
Xuefeng has never been more serious in battle than that day.
'I forgot to tell you but eight out of nine top seeds are Fate Holders as well. Thankfully, you won't need to face them till the final but we should later observe their battles to see what abilities they have. We currently know nothing about any of them,' Ling informed before the battle but Xuefeng remained calm.
'Don't worry, we are not going to lose. I can't lose,' Xuefeng replied confidently. 'Let's end all battles fast. Leave no mercy. If they want to kill me, I will kill them back.'
'Mhmm… Let's do it.'
"Alright. The rules are simple. If you can't fight anymore, you lose. Every trick are available. Once I see one of you is unable to fight, I will end the match immediately. Naturally, if your opponent kills you in one hit, I can't really help it. Deaths are allowed in the Arena, so you don't need to worry. Use all your strength to kill and leave the rest to me," Sir Liu explained. "Are we clear?"
Both Xuefeng and his opponent nodded. It was quite obvious that the proclaimed Master of the Spear was anxious, gripping the spear in his hands. No one blamed him. It was respectable he even stood up to fight after knowing about Xuefeng's Elemental Bracelet.
"Do you want to tell each other anything before the battle starts?" Sir Liu called out, giving them the chance and the two finally gazed into each other's eyes, staring for much longer.
"Yes," Xuefeng nodded and warned Master of Spear, "I'm giving you a chance to surrender. You can't win. If you proceed with the battle, I will kill you. I won't hesitate and Sir won't be able to save you either. Drop now if you want to live."
The Master of Spear frowned at that, only to sneer at his warning.
"Tsk, you wish. I already accepted I can die in the tournament. Do you think you can scare me? Just because you have a powerful Artefact, it doesn't mean you are skilled enough to win. You only have the power of one element. I have eight more to beat you. I don't need your warning."
"Fine by me. Your fate is sealed then. Good luck."
Chapter 107 Speeeeed!
"Alright, get ready. When you hear the gong, the battle will start."
At Sir Liu's call, both Xuefeng and the Master of Spear gripped their weapons, ready to jump on the other and launch their offense. The crowd was more than ready after all the hype and excitement.
"Everyone! Put your food and drinks down! You don't want to miss anything! Let's hope the match will last longer than a minute to provide us with enough exciting moments!" the Commentator called out at the face-off. "Master of Spear is already preparing his first attack, his spear and body brightening with Qi, even before the match started, but what about Liu Xuefeng? Why is he standing and doing nothing?"
Xuefeng just stood still while observing his scaled sword and running his forefinger on the edge as if checking if his sword was perfectly sharpened. He was cheerful and smiling, but after his opponent appeared on stage, his lips didn't curve once. He was like a cold killer, ready to avenge the death of his parents.
Gong!
The sound of the match starting awakened the cheers as well as the Commentator's fervor, "And here we gooooo— huh?"
Too bad, just as they cried out, watching the Master of the Spear launching forward to attack first, they choked on their words, unable to comprehend what just happened. Even the Main Judge widened his eyes, not expecting the battle to end before it even started.
Xuefeng… he just teleported behind his opponent without doing anything? But why was the Master of the Spear not responding? His body was frozen in time with his expression slowly changing from the fearless one to blank.
Crack!
The protective barrier on his body exploded at once and his eyes didn't even have the chance to roll as he fell to the ground with a dull thud.
"Heavens! Change the scene!" the Commentator finally reacted from the speechlessness as Master of the Spear's body split in two right as it hit the group. All intestines, brain parts, and blood burst out from the body. It was too gore even for the Tournament where deaths were common.
The scene instantly on four big screens displaying the match instantly changed, showing Xuefeng's face instead. It was cold as ice, showing no emotions or compassion for the fallen opponent.
Just as the screen showed Xuefeng, his lips spread apart as his voice reached the crowd.
"Don't blame me. I warned him. I show no mercy. Fight me and the only result will be your death. Anyone who comes next will die as well. Think carefully before you challenge me."
With that said, he moved back towards the dead body while keeping his sword and extended his hand from the distance. The spear vibrated and left its owner's hand, flying straight into Xuefeng's palm. Similar to what happened to the Spear, the Storage Ring also slipped out of the dead man's finger.
The crowds on the stands immediately began gossiping but no one complained. It was common practice that the winner takes all treasures after killing his opponent. Nonetheless, it still left a bad taste in one's mouth.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, Xuefeng didn't pocket them and instead gazed at Sir Liu and passed it to him.
"Sir, please pass his belongings to his family. That's the least I can do," Xuefeng requested. "Although he was weaker today, he was brave enough to fight. I respect that."
"Sure… but I think his clan is rich enough to survive without those treasures. I know them well. You really don't want the loot?" Sir Liu questioned just to make sure but Xuefeng was already in the middle of withdrawing, walking out of the stage.
"No need. I will take the winner's reward instead."
"Oof… I rarely curse but holy fuck, Liu Xuefeng, what happened there?!" the Commentator cursed right after Xuefeng disappeared from the stage. "We need to see the replay of this match! It was too quick! I didn't even focus properly and it was already over!"
That was exactly what everyone wanted to see as well. Momentarily, everyone stood up, gazing at the large screens to see the battle once again.
"The match was naturally recorded so we will display and slow it down so we can see exactly what happened! Hold on everyone! We will get to the bottom of it!" The Commentator assured. "We are also sending our interviewer to talk with Liu Xuefeng in our Post-match segment!"
Just as he finished, the screen turned back in time, showing Xuefeng and the Master of the Spear standing against each other. They moved like turtles and even the sound of the gong was slowed.
"Let's see how fast was the killing strike. Liu Xuefeng is still standing without moving. The gong set off. We should be seeing some movement soon!" the Commentator narrated as the play was on-going.
Not only he and the crowd was closely looking but also Liu Xinyu and other experts, watching the smaller screens in the platform room. She was especially interested in Xuefeng after his first battle.
How could she not want to know more about a person who kills faster than she can think?
"Come on, this replay is too slow. There is no way the boy is so fast. He barely left his mother's womb," the Dragon Race member called out sarcastically. "I'm sure he either teleported or used some tricks like a Fate Spirit's Ability."
"I wouldn't be so sure. He is one of us and we are known to be quick, but I agree, not that fast," the Elf lady muttered after him. "Still, it is still the Cultivator's power. It cannot be ignored. A good Fate Spirit is even more powerful than any Treasure."
Many experts couldn't help but nod to that. Most of them naturally had a Fate Spirit of their own but they couldn't make it follow inside the Avatar. With its absence, they lost most of their firepower so they knew how important the Fate Spirit was.
"Watch," Liu Xinyu reminded as the action on the screen began.
Xuefeng slowly stepped forward but the moment his foot touched the ground, his body disappeared instantly. As if the frame got cut, he was already behind the enemy with his sword extended.
"How?!" Both the Dragon Race member and the Commentator called out at the same time with the latter following, "Too fast! Our replay couldn't even record the attack! Is there anyone in this Tournament who can even take such a strike? No wonder Liu Xuefeng was so confident about winning this Tournament. What a monster!"
Monster, that word passed through the minds of many. The Dragon Race member was frowning together with the rest. It was practically impossible to figure anything from the short video. Only three people were smiling and it was Liu Xinyu with the two Elf ladies.
"That was so hot. I like him more and more," the Elf lady commented honestly.
"I agree. He is interesting," Liu Xinyu added, causing the male experts to roll their eyes without a comment.
"What are the limits to his art? Are there any side-effects after using it? How many times can he use it? Even if he can win the next two matches, what about the finals? Can he defend against a group of Cultivators targeting him first? I'm sure that will happen," the Commentator asked multiple questions, exactly what everyone was thinking.
"We have our interviewer rush to meet Liu Xuefeng right now to get some more information from him. Maybe we can get an answer to any of those questions."
The screen switched to another scene and they saw Xuefeng's back as he walked inside the participant waiting room. It was a funny sight as all participants were giving way to him, staring from all directions with complicated expressions. They naturally saw what everyone did. What if they were meant to fight him later? Such thought was enough to make everyone anxious.
"Sir Liu! Can we have a moment?" the Interviewer lady called out after him but to her surprise, he didn't stop walking, his gaze locked on two ladies, just ten meters away from them. He ignored the interviewer and instead walked up to another participant, embracing and kissing her in front of everyone.
"I love you and always will. This win was for you, my wives," Xuefeng's voice got amplified and heard by everyone, despite him whispering but he didn't seem to care about it either.
"I love you too… Forever and ever," his wife replied sweetly, giving him repeated kisses live.
"Awww…" the interviewer almost melted, together with almost all ladies in the Arena while all the guys thought of puking from too much sweetness.
Seeing such a scene, the Dragon Race member came up with an idea, suggesting, "How about we use this lady instead? If he loves his wife so much, maybe we can use her to lure him out of the Capital. It doesn't seem like anyone aside from the top ten can face him in this tournament. We should act on our own to increase our chances."
"I doubt you can," Liu Xinyu replied immediately, not giving them a chance to agree on anything.
"Why? Does Miss Liu have any information about her?" the Elf ladies asked curiously.
Liu Xinyu shrugged.
"Not about her but about the lady next to her, the one in the cloak," Liu Xinyu revealed and before she continued, Xuefeng already reached out to Ming, taking off her hoody to kiss her as well. "Well, you can see for yourself now."
The experts instantly noticed the faint golden hue on Ming's skin.
"A Fate Spirit!"
Chapter 108 Interview
"Yes. His Fate Spirit is protecting his wife at all times. She is not just any Fate Spirit but a powerful one. Your only chance to kill him is catching him off guard during the tournament while she is away. You must hope the two spawn away from each other and he leaves his Fate Spirit with his wife. You can only kill him while she doesn't protect him."
Liu Xinyu's explanation opened the Experts' eyes.
"How powerful?" the Dragon Race member questioned.
"Hehe, you tell me. I'm pretty sure she is the one who provides him with all the Forbidden Arts. I'm sure she belongs to the Royalty of the Fate Kingdom. Trying to take him down will cost you a lot, if not your lives," Liu Xinyu replied with a giggle. "That's why I find it funny you try so hard when I know you will all fail in the end. You can't kill him using your Avatars if she decides to go all out."
"Damn… Miss Liu, you knew it from the very beginning and didn't tell anyone," Dragon Race member cursed as his face reddened from anger. "Are you playing with us?"
"Excuse me? Am I required to tell you everything?" Liu Xinyu asked back amused. "I was siding with him from the beginning if you already forgot. I don't really care about the Elemental Bracelet hunt. If I desired, I could ask the House of Dragon to protect him and none of you would even have the chance to approach him. You are lucky all I want right now is some entertainment."
"Then why tell us right now?"
Everyone became suspicious of Liu Xinyu but her reply was simple.
"It would be too easy for him if I didn't give you a helping hand. At least now he will have some challenges. That aside, he already revealed his Fate Spirit by letting her roam freely, so it's not like you can't figure that out on your own.'
"Ugh… I regret coming here. We could wait for him to leave the Heaven Realm and then kill him. There are only a few Elemental Stones in the Heaven Realm anyway. The rest is already owned by other monsters or hidden in a few dangerous spots. He would eventually need to face them and then we would simply gang up on the one who survives. I prefer a bloody war compared to this drama."
"Hey, hey, not everything is lost yet. Trying won't hurt you. Maybe you get lucky and kill him. Who knows. Just use the method I told you and you got a chance," Liu Xinyu suggested as she presented the reality. "You already paid so much as well try, no? Anyway, the interview starts."
———
"Liu Xuefeng, congrats on the easy victory! How are you feeling?"
The lady interviewer questioned as Xuefeng finally looked at her but he didn't let go of his wives, letting them cuddle into his chest instead. Even though the interviewer seemed awkward to disturb them, he wouldn't lose his cuddle time for something so irrelevant as an interview.
"I'm good. Please be quick. We need to prepare for the next battles," Xuefeng reminded, not wanting to answer useless questions.
"Yes, yes! Do you plan on using the Elemental Bracelet's power to fight your opponents?" the interviewer asked hurriedly. "Everyone is curious about its uses."
"I don't need Elemental Bracelet to kill. I have enough skill to fight with my own strength. If I used my Treasures, my opponent wouldn't even have a body left to bury and their soul would perish," Xuefeng replied casually. "As long as they didn't deserve it, I tend to avoid that."
The interviewer's eyes widened but she didn't question his words. With just his calmness alone, all his words seemed honest and serious.
"You are so kind as to show respect to your opponents," the interviewer nodded in approval. "What about the next two matches? Do you plan to end them as fast as the first match?"
"Only if there will be any matches at all. I doubt anyone is so insane to give up on their life and fight with me. I won't hesitate and kill them. There isn't anyone below top ten who can face me and knowing I'm the Seeded Participant, I can't fight them in the Elimination Round. The result for all other matches is obvious," Xuefeng spoke honestly, before gazing at the hundreds of participants gathered in the waiting room.
Almost all of them avoided looking at him, creating a hilarious scene yet no one was laughing. It was boring when one party was so strong, the result was already decided before the match even started. Who would want to watch a match like that? Some were still excited for domination but the even match-ups were something everyone anticipated the most.
"Ah… It would be a pity if we can't see you at the stage once again," the interviewer lamented. "Can you tell us something more about your secret Art that led to your victory?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret Art anymore, right?" Xuefeng replied with a shrug while Ming voiced out her concerns.
'You did well with your intimidation. I think you did too well though. It is good for the finals as others will at least hesitate before they attack you, but it would be best if someone else decided to fight you. There are many Fate Holders in the tournament. We should at least kill some to regain your Fate Qi. We are using too much of it. You will soon empty the whole tank if we don't start replenishing it. The Time Manipulation consumes too much.'
'True…' Xuefeng admitted, realizing he might have been too much.
"That's right… Who in the right mind would expose their secrets in front—" the interviewer continued but she was cut midway by Xuefeng.
"But I can tell you how to counter it."
Huh?
The interviewer got caught off guard.
"Look, my ability is not that overpowered. As long as your defense is higher than my offense, you should be alright as I won't break through it. Although it's powerful, it also costs a lot to execute and I'm not sure if I will waste more resources. I can use other arts and my sword skills to win my next battles," Xuefeng explained casually, causing the whole audience to burst into gossips.
Did he just reveal his weakness…?
"Is there anything else? My wife will fight soon and I want to accompany her," Xuefeng questioned, pulling the interviewer from the speechlessness.
"Ah! Yes, yes!" the interviewer awakened, wanting to ask something else when another Staff Member approached her and whispered something into her ear.
"Oh!" the interviewer exclaimed and gazed at Tianshi instead. "Are you perhaps Xiao Tianshi?"
"Yes," Tianshi nodded.
"I just received information that you will battle next in the Main arena. What are your thoughts on that?" the interviewer asked politely.
"Every arena for me is the same. I just want to win quickly and accompany my husband," Tianshi replied politely. "I don't care who I fight. Anyone bellow top one hundred is not a threat to me."
"Perfect! In any case, good luck in your next matches. Thank you for the talk," the interviewer bowed in gratitude, finally leaving them alone.
Seeing them leave, Xuefeng wondered, 'That should be fine, right? I think they should have regained some hope.'
'Yeah. Let's just hope we get to fight the Fate Holders,' Ming agreed, before suggesting, 'Unless… We kill them anyway?'
Xuefeng raised his brows while glancing at the other participants and finally smiled, realizing what she meant.
'Hehe, you sneaky… We can start once Tianshi finishes her battle. I want to make sure she will be safe,' Xuefeng suggested.
'I will be. Don't worry. Number seven hundred and eight. I will be fighting her. I know her first strike. Easy to defend and counter. I will be fine babe,' Tianshi assured, hugging him for the last time, only to hear her name get called out.
"Xiao Tianshi, please proceed to the Main Stage."
'I hope so…'
———
"Village Elder, how far from here is the Water Land Capital?"
When the excitement from the battle died down with all focusing on the snacks being placed on the table, Yiren suddenly questioned out loud.
"Oh! Quite far, the Water Land is on the other side of the Heaven Realm after all, but the time traveled depends on how fast is your Flying Beast. If Goddess were to travel with your Spirit Eagle, you should get there within a few weeks. If Goddess had a Celestial Beast Mount, for example, I think you could limit it even to a single week. " the Village Elder explained.
"That's too long… Are there any faster ways of traveling?"
"If that is too long, Goddess can always use Teleportation Stations. They are expensive but I'm sure Goddess can afford them," the Village Elder suggested. "But even with them, it should still take you around two days. It's recommended not to Teleport more than three times a day. I once used the Teleportation Station to sell our goods in the Capital but I was too dizzy to even walk afterward."
"So one can teleport multiple times if they are strong enough?" Lisa questioned in Yiren's stead, already figuring Yiren's thoughts.
"Technically yes… But it will be playing with one's life," the Village Elder replied cautiously only to ask worriedly, "Goddess Yiren, Goddess Lisa, you don't plan to—"
"Where is the closest Teleportation Station?"
Chapter 109 Arise My Minions!
'Wait!'
Just as Tianshi was on her way out, Xuefeng caught her hand, stopping her.
'Yes, my love?'
'Take Ming with you,' Xuefeng proposed, confusing both his wives.
'Why? Don't you trust me?' Tianshi asked as she rubbed his inner palm. 'I know I can win.'
'I trust you, but I want my mind to be at peace. Let Ming follow you and cover just in case. Treat it as my selfish request. She doesn't need to fight but she can at least watch over you,' Xuefeng pleaded.
'But I can't enter inside her. I'm not her Fate Spirit,' Ming pointed out.
'That doesn't matter. Just follow her and pretend you are. If they have any doubts, just tell them you will stand on the side and let Tianshi battle. So many Participants have Fate Spirits, they can't forbid you to have your own,' Xuefeng suggested.
'Alright, I will do it for my baby,' Tianshi finally agreed and kissed him deeply, confessing out loud, ���Love you~"
Knowing she is making the audience wait, Tianshi let go of his hand and flew out of the waiting lobby, waving at him from the distance.
'I love you more.'
His own confession made her smile as her wings swung faster, shooting her above the stages. Ming followed right after, keeping a short distance no matter how fast she flew.
"There she is! Those signature wings! You know in an instant they were a pair made in heaven!"
Just as she was seen, the crowd cheered loudly as the Commentator announced her entry. Even her face was seen on the display, showing her beautiful smile to everyone. Tianshi couldn't help but waved at the crowd, showing her gentle nature which rewarded her even more cheers.
"Although some of you might want to watch the battle of the top ten Seeds, we prepared something special for you! Xiao Tianshi, the wife of the fastest match record holder, Liu Xuefeng! She will join us for our second match on the Main Stage! Let's hope for some equal match-up that will bring us lots of exciting moments!"
Only when Tianshi was nearing the Main Stage did the Commentator notice the second lady, Ming, going directing inside the stage with her.
"Huh? Isn't that one of Xuefeng's wives? Why is she followed Tianshi inside? Am I smelling some drama?" the Commentator questioned intrigued. "Let's connect with the Main Stage to have a closer look!"
"Miss Xiao?"
When Tianshi stepped on the Main Stage, the cheers of the crowds were silenced. Instead, she heard the Main Judge.
"What is this? You want me to fight two at the same time or what?" the confused female opponent called out in protest as well.
No one knew Ming's origin aside from Xuefeng and Tianshi so she wasn't worried, acting casually as they landed and walked up to the judge.
"Yes?" Tianshi replied to Sir Liu as if she did nothing wrong. "Is there a problem?"
Sir Liu glanced at Ming on her right. "Can I know who is the lady next to you? Only participants are allowed on the stage."
"Oh, I know. We are together," Tianshi replied as she pointed at Ming, "She is my Fate Spirit. Am I forbidden to have one?"
"From my understanding, we are free to use every Treasure, Bloodline, Spirit Artefact we own. Having a Fate Spirit is similar, providing you additional firepower," Tianshi added and gazed at her opponent, "She also has a Fate Spirit inside of her. Will you forbid her from using it or just pretend you don't see anything?"
Sir Liu frowned, probably not calculating such a situation.
"No, we wouldn't stop anyone from using her Fate Spirit abilities. Every trick in this Tournament is acceptable," Sir Liu clarified.
"Exactly. Let's not kid ourselves. Everyone knows about Fate Spirits. They are within us and more than half of the Participant has one. Just cause my Fate Spirit is powerful and can take a Physical Form, doesn��t mean I can't let her assist me. This way all Fate Spirit should be banned from the Tournament," Tianshi argued. "Isn't she one of my strength?"
"That is indeed true," Sir Liu nodded in approval and smiled bitterly, "But I can't be sure if she is your Fate Spirit or if she belongs to someone else for example. Would you mind showing proof that she is yours? If she appeared after the battle started, there wouldn't be any problems of course."
Ming who was silent the whole time finally spoke up.
"Hey, do you know how much effort and Fate Qi cost me to create a Physical Body? How about you turn yourself into Qi and then return back to your Physical Body, huh?"
Before he could even reply, Ming clicked with her tongue and walked to the side, right next to Sir Liu.
"Tsk, whatever, it's not like I wanted to help win such an easy fight away. Tianshi, I will just stand on the side. Will join you once you kill her. I will not interfere in the battle so a certain someone doesn't have problems," Ming said sarcastically before glancing at Sir Liu. "Is that fine, certain someone or do you require me to leave the Arena? If I help, you can just disqualify us if that can make you happier."
Sir Liu grinned amused and shrugged, "Alright, that's fine by me. Stay close to me then."
He flew above the girls to watch the battle from up close and Ming followed suit. If there was a point she had to interfere in the battle, the match would be over anyway.
"Are you ready? Do you want to say something to your opponent?" Sir Liu repeated the standard procedure.
"I'm ready," Tianshi nodded, having nothing to say to a dead person but her opponent didn't seem that quiet.
"You should have kept your Spirit. Let's see if she is fast enough to save you in time," the lady called out like a madwoman, combing her boyish black hair with her fingers.
"When you hear the gong, the battle will start."
The girls stared at each other for a few seconds as both prepared their weapons. Tianshi was graceful and elegant with her thin sword shining in the light of the sun while her opponent carried a double-edged axe, as if she only used brute force in battles.
Gong!
That theory turned out to be true. Double-edged axe brightened at the same time as the boyish lady lunged forward, teleporting right in front of Tianshi to catch her by surprise.
Ether Qi! Instant Teleportation!
Too bad, Tianshi was already gone, already knowing the attack was coming.
Swoosh!
The Axe cut through empty air, making the boyish lady stagger forward.
Clank!
Metallic clash resounded on the Main Stage as Tianshi struck from behind. Using the momentum, the boyish lady managed to pull off a quick block, trapping Tianshi's sword between two edges.
"Do you think you are the only one with Ether Element?" Tianshi asked, blinking behind to strike once again. This time it was the boyish lady who disappeared from the spot, dodging without hesitation.
"You are quick and can predict my attacks well. Not bad. I wonder how long till you make a mistake!" the boyish lady called out, already unleashing another attack.
Clank!
Tianshi's sword was already waiting to receive her strike.
"Try me. Let's see who has more Qi to waste," Tianshi replied with an inviting grin.
Tsk!
The boyish lady snickered and accepted the challenge.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
Sparks flew left and right as metal blades clashed but no matter where the axe struck, Tianshi was always there to respond, as if she knew about every move ahead of time.
"Bullshit!" the boyish lady cursed as her blade suddenly turned red, and exploded on the next impact.
BOOM!
Crimson flames covered Tianshi's body as the explosion blasting her tens of meters away to the other side of the stage.
"Fuck yeah! Finally a hit!" the boyish lady celebrated, lunging forward to finish Tianshi but then stopped abruptly.
Tianshi lifted herself up as if nothing happened with a smile on her face. Getting up, she brushed off her body, throwing the flames off her with her bare hands without even burning herself. Even her clothes weren't dirtied, all snow white and pretty.
"Oh no, you hit me. I'm so scared. My legs are literally shaking," Tianshi commented sarcastically as she picked up her sword and began walking back.
The boyish lady frowned, gripping her axe more tightly. Tianshi's legs were not even shivering, walking steadily.
"You know, my idea for this battle was to burn your Qi till there is nothing left and then kill you but that would take too long. You are like a monkey that will simply escape forever. I can't let that happen," Tianshi spoke as she stopped and crouched, taking a bit of the sandy dust from the stage.
"Stop bullshitting, it wasn't even half of my power! So what if you defended it! Your attack is as weak as a chicken, you can't beat me!" The boyish lady called out but she didn't rush this time, observing Tianshi first.
"Oh, that's true. I'm weak when it comes to attacking but thankfully, I filled that void just recently," Tianshi replied with excitement in her voice and glanced down at the sand on her palm. She tilted it, letting the sand spill on the ground as she called out happily.
"Arise my minions!"
Chapter 110 Summoning Arts
Real-life update: My girlfriend is safe! I'm sorry everyone for being away but I just couldn't think of writing the last couple days. My girlfriend was missing after the Typhoon and massive flood at her country and I was panicking. I'm still in Shanghai and tomorrow the Literary Convention will start. I will be busy, so don't worry when there are no updates. I will compensate you somehow when I have another quarantine once I return to Poland. Cheers and enjoy the chapter!
———
Rumble!
At Tianshi's cry, the whole stage trembled, forcing the boyish lady to fly away from the ground. Tianshi wasn't affected at all as a small platform lifted just for her. She grinned, satisfied at the confusion she created.
A second later, rocks blasted from the ground as multiple stone hands pierced through. One hand, another, then the head, and soon the whole torso was out, showing five ugly Earth Golems leaving from the depths of the earth. They slammed their massive palms against the ground and jumped out in one move, surrounding Tianshi like five bulky bodyguards.
Summoning Arts!
If she couldn't attack herself, why not make others attack for her while she focuses entirely on defense and support! Simple!
"Damn…" the boyish lady cursed, getting ready for another offense before it was too late when she froze once again.
Bzzz!
Spirit Qi buzzed around the Golems as a protective shield surrounded their bodies, protecting them from any additional harm. Tianshi wasn't different, also having multiple shields coated around herself.
"I think there was someone boasting about their attack power?" Tianshi called out sarcastically, cracking her knuckles as she flipped her sword in the air. "Let's find out whose attack is better now."
Click!
Smirking excitedly, Tianshi snapped with her fingers and the Golems' eyes lit with green light, booting up to execute their Queens' order.
"Kill her!"
All five Golems moved instantly the moment her voice reached them. All five of them extended their arms, aiming at her which caused the boyish lady to turn pale.
"Fuck," She cursed and launched herself forward.
A small flaming bird appeared above her head and landed on her axe, the same moment she swung it while teleporting right next to Tianshi.
She was going all out!
Too bad, Tianshi wasn't even defending, showing exactly what she thought of her opponent. She stood still with her arms crossed as she watched the axe go straight at her head.
She was that confident!
Bang!
The sound of explosion filled the stage as flames covered both of them, sending one of them flying.
"Impossible!" the boyish lady cried out, halting herself in the sky.
She was the one ejected this time with Tianshi not even moving from her spot. Her face was all red, burned from her own attack. Too bad, it wasn't a friendly training but life and deathmatch! She wasn't given any break before Tianshi's summons attacked.
Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!
The Five Golems lost their palms as they suddenly shot them up in the sky. What was surprising, they didn't even aim directly at the boyish lady, all missing the target by a large margin. She didn't even try to dodge it but that was a deadly mistake.
Boom!
All five palms exploded at the same time, sending mud bullets in all directions. Even if the boyish lady wanted to avoid them, it was impossible. She slashed in front of her with Air Qi, blasting the bullets ahead only to be hit from the back. The mud stuck to her clothes with no time to even remove it.
"Hehe, enjoy!" Tianshi called out happily as a soft cloud appeared behind her and she laid down comfortably, behaving as if she was at home. "How about you come to chill with me?"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Multiple hands shot one after another, being recreated, and immediately shot forward. No matter where the boyish lady teleported, she was still hit by the multiple pieces of mud. Only Tianshi was safe from the bombardment. Using a moving barrier, she blocked all the mud while keeping her vision clear.
Bzzz!
The boyish lady's robe was all dirty with the mud weighting her down when a simple barrier appeared around her. She tried copying Tianshi but too bad, it didn't stop the problem. The mud began sticking to her structure, turning her into a thick mud statue.
With her vision blocked, how hard was it to smack her down to the ground?
Bang!
Like a huge fly, she was sent flying back to earth with her barrier popping like a bubble. They instantly pinned her down, locking her in a mud jail that hardened around her body. Even if Tianshi's Golems weren't super powerful, they could simply tire anyone out with their endless endurance.
The whole fight Tianshi didn't even do anything, simply enjoying the battle from the side. The only thing she lacked was some food and drinks to complete the scene.
"That's it? I thought you will last longer with how loud you were earlier," Tianshi commented sarcastically as she stood up, slowly walking up to her opponent while playing with her sword. "It turns out my attack was still better than yours."
His trash-talking was getting so much better after being influenced by Xuefeng, the master of this craft.
"Mhmm! Mhmm!" the boyish lady looked at Sir Liu with panicked eyes, her mouth already locked by the mud. She seemed to be pleading for help but the only outcome for her was death. Tianshi couldn't let her get away, especially with them lacking Fate Qi.
"So you are still fighting back, that's great! I like your determination," Tianshi bent the reality as she placed her sword on the boyish lady's shoulder, wanting to make it quick when her hand froze.
"Stop. She can't fight back," Sir Liu's voice reached Tianshi from the side as she felt her wrist being held by a steel-like hand. "According to the rules, when one of the participants is unable to fight, the match ends."
Her sword dropped from her hand and only then did Sir Liu release her.
'Damn, he was fast. I couldn't stop him in time,' Ming cursed, appearing right next to Tianshi who massaged her wrist while glaring at Sir Liu. 'Don't worry, I will handle this. Just buy me more time. I can feel that something is off with her.'
As she spoke, she tapped Tianshi's shoulder and disappeared from the spot. Tianshi couldn't feel her inside her body or anywhere near, so she just focused on diversion.
"Can't she still fight? I don't see any injuries on her body," Tianshi questioned with her brows knitted.
"If I didn't stop the match, she would be already dead. I know you want to kill her for her Fate Qi but experts are valuable for the Water Capital. If I can save someone from death in this Tournament, I will do it," Sir Liu explained and kicked the muddy shell that locked the boyish lady in the place.
Instead of cracking, the shell suddenly melted and turned into liquid, dripping off the lady completely before sinking into Earth. Her body dropped limply to the ground only for her to push with her legs, getting as much distance from Tianshi as possible.
"Fuck! I wanted to surrender but she covered my lips! She wanted to execute me!" the boyish lady cried out, attempting to discredit her but Tianshi only smiled.
"Oh, of course. How else can I kill you quicker? You should be thanking me. I tried to give you a quick death and you are complaining. So ungrateful. I could just tell my Earth Golems to crush your body into a paste. Nothing would be left for your family to collect."
"Fight me normally then and show your skills if you are so strong! Don't hide behind your summons and a set of barriers. Such a pussy!" the boyish lady called out annoyed.
Tianshi couldn't help but get amused.
"Thank you for the compliment. It just happens that I have one. Not sure about you though. Do you? Maybe you have a little friend down there instead?"
The boyish lady turned red, glaring at Tianshi but before she could explode, Sir Liu stepped in.
"Enough. The battle ended. If you want to continue, do it elsewhere. The victory for this match goes to Xiao Tianshi. You will move on to the second round of matches. They will begin shortly after the first round is completed. You can step down to the Waiting Lobby while awaiting your next match."
"Ugh!" the boyish lady grunted and flew away, heading towards the lobby as well.
"Thank you, Judge. I will take my leave as well," Tianshi bowed slightly, not really mad about his decision, and followed suit. She already knew he will stop her but acted out her play anyway. The only thing she didn't know yet was what would happen with her opponent.
Only when she spotted Xuefeng in the Waiting Lobby look at the boyish lady as if he want to murder her, did a possible future scene appear in her mind. It was really vivid as if there were no other future paths for them.
Xuefeng was only fixated on one plan in his mind.
'For the word she called you on the stage, she won't leave this Arena alive.'