章節 5: Chapter 05: The Art of Provocation: Luo Tian's Calculated Moves.
Luo Tian was unaware that a group of respected elders were watching him with great interest, wanting to see what he would do next. He had no clue that his presence left an indelible mark on their minds.
Amidst the commotion, Mei Ling felt an icy chill as Xiao Honghui's accusations filled the air with tension. The revelation of Luo Tian's mortal-grade spiritual root had taken her by surprise; she had been hopeful that he would possess a higher caliber of aptitude like her own peak-earth grade spiritual root or that of Zhang Ying.
Mei Ling narrowed her gaze, shrewdly assessing the gravity of the situation and quickly finding an excuse to distance herself from Luo Tian. She put on a mask of shock and disbelief, feigning surprise at his alleged attempt to cheat in the spiritual test qualifications. "What, I can't believe you tried to cheat in the spiritual test qualifications?!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with mock indignation. Yet, beneath her theatrical reaction, a subtle glint betrayed her true emotions, which Luo Tian picked up on.
Luo Tian slowly surveyed the scene, taking in Mei Ling's expression and tracking Xiao Honghui's subtle body language. He could feel the tension in the air, the subtle tug of war between the two. It was all so familiar to him, like a script he had memorized many times before. Despite this, he remained unfazed—he had seen much worse than this before.
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao, for bringing this to my attention" Mei Ling spoke with a gentle voice, full of innocence and admiration. But beneath her subtly crafted words lay a hidden agenda that only Luo Tian could discern. She shifted closer to Xiao Honghui and his companions, silently aligning herself with them as if she were under their protection. Those around her were unaware of her true intentions while Luo Tian watched on confidently; he knew exactly how to handle this situation.
Xiao Honghui basked in Mei Ling's admiration, swelling with pride. He offered his arm to her, unaware of her ulterior motives. His grand gesture was interrupted by a harsh voice pitting itself against him.
"Indeed, Miss Mei," Xiao Honghui sneered. "This cheat's audacity knows no bounds--lying to an innocent lady and revealing himself for the impudent scoundrel he is." The deck stilled at the barb aimed straight at Luo Tian, hungering for more scandalous drama.
Another speaker emerged, stroking Xiao Honghui's ego as they sought to lure Mei Ling from her seemingly sorrowful state. "Miss Mei, please rise. You need not bear any sadness because of this deceitful rogue," he cooed, pouring on false sympathy and working to discredit Luo Tian further.
from start to finish, no one made any effort to check if the allegations against Luo Tian were correct or not; instead, they simply joined in with the majority opinion.
Their jealousy was boiling as they watched Mei Ling talk to some guy. No single act should have been enough to incite such rage among all of them, but when they also heard of Luo Tian's Mortal-grade spiritual root, as well as his supposed cheating during the assessment, it was too much for their egos to handle. How could a goddess with Peak Earth Grade Spiritual Root be associating with a mortal grade scum? Who did he think he was to cheat on his assessment? Their heads filled with these questions and their jealousies surged like flames into the sky.
…
"Are you all utterly foolish?" Luo Tian's voice boomed in the surrounding disciples ears, laced with a hint of anger. His gaze flickered between Mei Ling and Xiao Honghui, noting the distinct lack of emotion on Mei Ling's face. His earlier praise seemed to evaporate into thin air as his brows furrowed in frustration. He felt his patience slipping away like sand through the cracks of his fingers. 'How could someone from a renowned cultivation family be this gullible?' he thought, his mind conjuring up images of Xiao Honghui emerging from his mother's womb dull-eyed and brainless. Despite these mental musings, Luo Tian managed to maintain the facade of composure.
Luo Tian stood entrenched in the center of a raging crowd without a hint of timidness, his face unmoved by the accusations hurled his way, and his eyes staring right at the souls of the disciples slandering him.
"You've all been keen on accusing me of deceit," his words remained tinged with indifference, as though the accusation was aimed at someone other than himself. The crowd seemed to shrink under his unyielding gaze, their murmurs becoming near-silent as he spoke again.
"What evidence do any of you possess to support your claims?" His voice was like cold steel, able to freeze the heat radiating from the group. No one dared to answer, for they knew that even if they did, it would not be enough. He surveyed the sea of faces before him and emitted a low snort through his nose as he turned away. "It seems you have nothing without which to accuse me." His tone left no room for argument.
"Evidence, isn't the strange reaction of the talent crystal the best evidence?" Xiao Honghui's words boomed with indignation. He had been labeled a fool in front of Mei Ling, and that stung his pride. His face flushed from a combination of humiliation and anger, which he worked hard to barly conceal beneath a mask of poise.
Luo Tian scoffed derisively and chuckled mirthlessly. "You think I'm capable of manipulating the results of the spirit root test? Surely you don't believe it's so easy to cheat in the Profound Sword Palace when we mortals can barely muster enough spiritual qi to even unlock our abilities? Do you think all higher-ups of the profound sword palace are foolish enough not to have any security measures at all?"
Xiao Honghui's retort stuck in his throat, stunned by the eloquent response. He had never anticipated such a swift and crafty counterargument.
Luo Tian's voice gained a touch of razor-sharp precision as he continued, "Let's not overlook the fact that this examination occurred under the watchful eyes of not only the deacons but also Elder Yu Hui himself. Do you truly think that I hold more power than them, capable of weaving trickery unnoticed? Or, even worse, do you imply that all esteemed deacons and elders are so feeble that they would fail to detect a mere mortal's ploy unfolding right beneath their very noses?"
With a few simple sentences, Luo Tian had turned the tide of perception to his advantage. The air seemed to shift, the atmosphere crackling with his words.
Should Xiao Honghui continue to accuse him, he would be implying that all the deacons and Elder Yu Hui who were present were so naive that a mere mortal boy was able to deceive them.
As Luo Tian's powerful words echoed in the air, a tense silence filled the hall. Xiao Honghui felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere; his plan to slander Luo Tian had backfired.
Rumbles of shock and criticism rippled through the crowd.
"This young disciple is getting too arrogant!"
"What
disrespect, I never thought this new generation would be so insolent!"
"Hump, does he think we are weak, does he think my Profound Sword Palace is so weak that an insignificant mortal with no cultivation whatsoever can also fool us"
"It looks like these so-called cultivation families have forgotten the fact that they are but insignificant bugs in the eye of my Profound Sword Palace"
Xiao Honghui could practically feel the gazes of many servant disciples of the profound word palace upon him, even some of the deacons were coldly gazing at him.
Xiao Honghui's face rapidly lost its color as he stepped back, realizing the trap he had stepped into. He shot a desperate look to Mei Ling who remained in silence, while Luo Tian's gaze was like an eagle eyeing his prey.
The other disciples who had joined forces with him to accuse Luo Tian went mute when he spoke. They all understood that if they said anything else, they could end up on the bad side of some of the deacons aboard the ark—something that would be especially detrimental for those heading to the outer court. it won't matter much to Xiao Honghui, since he was already chosen as an inner court disciple thanks to his earth-grade spiritual root; it was important for the outer court deacons to have a good impression of them, or atleast not have a bad impression of them.
"I... I never meant that," Xiao Honghui stammered, taken aback by Luo Tian's coolness and unwavering stare. His throat went dry as his heart pounded like thunder, and sweat started trickling down his forehead. He hadn't expected this turn of events, and his attempt to expose Luo Tian had only led to his own humiliation. "Well, it's just... the crystal reacted so strongly, and... and I saw you concentrating really hard," he muttered, barely managing to complete his thought.
Luo Tian smiled coldly knowing that he had alrerady won the battle of wits the moment Xiao Honghui faltered in his speech, leaning forward with an intensity that made Xiao Honghui take another step back in fear. "So what your implying is that I used trickery? Please provide proof if you want me to be held accountable for your baseless claims," Luo Tian said in a deep voice, a menacing glint flashing in his eyes.
A hushed murmur rippled through the surrounding disciples as they watched the exchange, curiosity mingling with the tension. Mei Ling's eyes flickered between Luo Tian and Xiao Honghui, uncertainty evident in her gaze.
Luo Tian's smile remained enigmatic, his tone unyielding. "Concentration, Xiao Honghui, is hardly a crime. You've cast a shadow over me without concrete evidence. Your thoughtless assumptions hold no weight."
Xiao Honghui's frustration was so intense, it seemed to fill the air around him, a palpable force of unease and tension. He finally looked down to avoid Luo Tian's unwavering gaze; his face betraying the apprehension he felt in the presence of such strength. "I only know that you have cheated, I don't know how but you must've used some sort of artifact," His voice was trembling as he spoke, and he still hadn't realised the gravity of his situation, foolishly attempting to cause embarrassment for Luo Tian.
The words that spilled from Xiao Honghui's mouth hung in the air, a mixture of bewilderment and incredulity rippling through the gathered disciples. It wasn't just Luo Tian who found himself flabbergasted by the sheer absurdity of Xiao Honghui's claim; even the other disciples were stunned by this foolhardy accusation.
An almost tangible wave of skepticism swept through the crowd like a gust of icy wind. Everyones expressions conveying their doubts and disbelief towards Xiao Honghui's outrageous claim. Likewise, Luo Tian's own thoughts echoed those sentiments as his mind raced in confusion. 'Is this guy serious? He really thinks that I could cheat?' He couldn't help but marvel at the extent of Xiao Honghui's stupidity, his inner thoughts in perfect harmony with the reactions of the onlookers.
The skepticism grew even more pronounced as Xiao Honghui's words faltered, his attempt to defend his position crumbling in the face of collective incredulity. Mei Ling's expression was now an ugly one - she never thought this guy had been so brain dead - her eyes flicking between the two young men caught in this baffling exchange.
A cacophony of laughter and gasps emerged from the disciples, their reactions transforming the atmosphere from tension to one of a comedy show. Amused glances were exchanged while muffled guffaws filled the air as hands desperately tried to stifle their snickers. Luo Tian couldn't help but crack a wry grin as he locked eyes with those that shared his bemusement. Even Xiao Honghui's countenance seemed to waver as he faced the quizzical gazes of his peers. His cheeks flushed red and he stumbled over his words as he tried to regain composure. "I…uh…that is…"
The deafening silence was only broken by the delighted chuckles of some disciples, a pleasant breeze that spread throughout the room. All of Xiao Honghui's confidence melted away like ice in an open flame as he stammered out weakly, "You're just trying to confuse me with your words." His unintentional admission of confusion echoed throughout the surroundings and made even more evident what had become apparent several moments ago.
Luo Tian's amusement quickly dissipated as he watched Xiao Honghui struggle through humiliation and embarrassment. His expression remained serene before finally adding in an unexpected tone of pity, "Young master Xiao might not understand this, but sometimes it's better to think before you speak."
The words seemed to deflate the tension, eliciting a momentary wave of chuckles from the surrounding disciples. Xiao Honghui's embarrassed expression slowly shifted to one filled with a complex mixture of emotions as his gaze turned icy. Resentment, frustration, anger, and hatred began to overflow from within him as he was overcome by humiliation.
Amidst the continuing chuckles and amused exchanges that surrounded him, there was a perceptible shift in the atmosphere. The laughter that had initially flowed freely between his peers now seemed distant and awkward, as if they were all suddenly aware of his brewing emotions. An oppressive silence settled over them like an unwelcome guest as everyone grew conscious of Xiao Honghui's growing displeasure.
Xiao Honghui's eyes blazed with a newfound intensity, his body tensing slightly as he felt the warmth of rage coursing through his veins.
...
Amidst the ongoing chatter on the Ark, Xiao Honghui's resentment had festered into a seething rage. The repeated chuckles and playful conversations of the others felt like mocking laughter ringing in his ears. He couldn't shake off the humiliation of being laughed at, especially when it was Luo Tian who had turned the tables on him so effortlessly.
'I will only make it worse for myself if I go against this trash's words.' Xiao Honghui uttered these few simple and calculating words, knowing that Luo Tian had already pitted him by saying that he was belittling the Elder Yu Hui's strength and judgment.
Realizing that he was sinking deeper and deeper into a muddy swamp, Xiao Honghui quickly decided to retreat from the argument. Even the deacons were looking at him with frowns on their faces while the servant disciples had varying expressions of anger, disdain, and some were even leering at him.
The hateful glint in his eyes intensified as he formed his plan; 'I'll just take a step back for now, after getting accepted into Profound Sword Palace, getting rid of this trash won't be hard - my talent ensures that I'll be selected as an inner court disciple while this idiot can only enter the outer court. There's no way I won't be able to kill him then!'
Xiao Honghui glared at Luo Tian with contempt, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Hump, no matter how much you try to deny it all the disciples present here know that you tried to cheat during the assessment," he said coldly and turned around to leave.
'Do you think I will let you off so easily after messing with me? If I were to let you go now, then surely you'd seek revenge on me later. Although I can't kill you right now, there are still other ways I can make you suffer.' Luo Tian thought as a cruel smirk flashed across his face.
Luo Tian knew what was going on in Xiao Honghui's mind. He could see the barely contained fury boiling within Xiao Honghui, kept in check by his fear of offending the deacons or elders in the room. Luo Tian smiled inwardly – he had spent years experiencing himself how to read a person's expressions, and that meant he could easily read Xiao Honghui like a book.
He could easily read people like Xiao Honghui, the latter had already revealed his personality. Being from a high-ranking cultivation family, Xiao Honghui was very proud and haughty. From birth, he had been spoiled to no end; his family should have only been strict with him when it pertained to cultivation. Aside from his authority in that field, he was mediocre—his temperament was atrocious, and as if he didn't learn to control it, he looked down on those who were beneath him.
Luo Tian knew that Xiao Honghui would come back in search for vengeance. As soon as he entered the Profound Sword Palace, the latter would undoubtedly begin causing trouble for him. Luo Tian wished to entirely avoid such people when he was at a disadvantage; but by not speaking up during the incident, the outcome of that situation would have been far worse than this one. 'If I'm getting myself into trouble either way, then there's no reason for me to hold back,' he thought.
seeing Xiao Honghui leave, Luo Tian muttered "all the people in Xiao family are just like him: stupid and noisy. Or was this guy born in the month of dogs?" Although his muttering was quiet, Xiao Honghui who was about to leave could still hear him, and of course those disciples who were around them were no exception.
"Hahahaha~" A wave of laughter erupted in the area as soon as Luo Tian uttered the words. He had insulted Xiao Honghui and his whole family, calling them dogs or that he was born in the month of dogs. It was evidently unbearable for someone as arrogant and proud as him.
The surrounding disciples began to laugh uncontrollably, many of whom were from lower social standings or non-cultivation families. Xiao Honghui's face contorted with anger and humiliation and he seemed ready to burst out any moment. Luo Tian gazed at him with smirk on his face, knowing his intentions had been fulfilled.
As the laugher echoed throughout this area of the deck, it was clear that all reasoning had been thrown aside through this public humiliation. Xiao Honghui clenched his fists tightly, trying to contain himself from doing anything outrageous.
Pity, his anger grew like a storm gathering force, until it reached a boiling point. Xiao Honghui's voice suddenly cut through the air like a blade.
"Enough of your games, Trash!" His tone was sharp and venomous, silencing the nearby disciples laughter in an instant. The abruptness of his outburst sent a ripple of surprise through the surrounding disciples.
Luo Tian looked at him, his expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity, of course it was only a made-up expression, he knew perfectly well that this guy was already at the point of losing his mind. "Games? I'm just here for the ride, my friend."
Xiao Honghui's hands trembled with suppressed fury. His eyes bore into Luo Tian's with an intensity that crackled like lightning. "You think you're so clever, huh? You humiliated me in front of everyone, Humiliated my Xiao Family! How dare a lowly commoner like you insult a noble cultivation family, Now you will pay for that!"
"You will pay for your insolence against my Xiao Family !!!" Xiao Honghui bellowed, his face distorted with rage as he charged towards Luo Tian.
"Oh no, has this guy gone mad? He's starting a fight on the deck of the ark!"
"This is ridiculous, it's like he's trying to pick a fight in front of the deacons and inner court elders".
"He has guy gone crazy!" exclaimed one of the disciples, "fighting here is disregarding the words of the profound sword palace! This is insanity!"
"This is crazy," muttered another disciple, shaking his head
The disciples around them hastened away from the two men, their faces stricken with fear as they watched the sight before them. Xiao Honghui's teeth were gritted, his fists violently shaking at his side. It was almost as if his fury was consuming him alive. Luo Tian stood steadfastly still, his eyes narrowed slightly as an aura of calmness surrounded him.
He swung a fist at Luo Tian, the air whistling as his attack struck out with unexpected speed.
Luo Tian's eyes narrowed as he sidestepped the attack with ease, Xiao Honghui's fist grazing past him. He then smoothly redirected his momentum, using Xiao Honghui's own force to unbalance him.
As Xiao Honghui stumbled forward, Luo Tian capitalized on the opening, his movements swift and fluid. A controlled strike from his palm met Xiao Honghui's shoulder, sending a surge of vibration through his body. The impact wasn't meant to cause harm, just to halt his assault.
However, Xiao Honghui's body was less accustomed to the nuances of battle, and the force of the strike sent him sprawling to the ground. He landed with a thud, his breath knocked out of him.
Luo Tian stood over him, his expression still calm despite the confrontation. "I didn't want things to escalate this way, but if you insist on making a scene, then let me show you the difference in strength."
Xiao Honghui's anger had only intensified with his defeat. Ignoring the pain in his body, he surged forward again, a guttural growl escaping his lips. He swung wildly, desperation mingling with his attack.
...
All the people present were surprised by the audacity of Xiao Honghui to attack someone under the watch of all the deacons and elders.
The deacons also came out of their stupor, just as one of them was about to move in order to stop this madness, 'Don't do anything and let these younglings play' a sudden message was sent to him, right in his mind.
He stopped in an instant and looked at the elders group only to see them also concentrating on the two fighters, 'it seems that the elders want these two to fight against each other' this thought came to the minds of all the deacons when all of them received the message from the elders.
…
"I never thought that boy would be arrogant enough to attack someone right under our watch" elder Tian Ping said as he looked at Xiao Honghui, even though his face didn't show it, all the elders sensed it though his eyes, he was very angry right now.
"It appears that although our disciple Xiao Honghui has the talent, but his mental fortitude is too weak and he's far too immature," Elder Zheng commented as he glanced at the two younger disciples fighting each other on the deck of the ark. He shook his head in disappointment as Xiao Honghui and Luo Tian faced each other.
"It wasn't Xiao Honghui that has too weak mind set, it's the other way around the boy named Luo Tian is the one who is far too cunning and sly" another elder chimed in. "Xiao Honghui was about to walk away when Luo Tian used a few simple yet provoking words that made him burst out in anger."
Another thing that everyone noticed was that Luo Tian knew martial arts. It had been a while since the general public seen someone proficient in this martial art, and what's more astounding, was the fact Luo Tian wasn't even an adult yet.
The practice of martial arts is vastly different from that of Immortal Cultivation, for one, unlike Immortals who relied on heavenly spiritual Qi to power their cultivation, martial artists were instead determined to master the inner strength hidden within their own bodies. They train to strengthen both body and mind - a process which involves immense pain and dedication. But, there was an inherent limitation in the practice of martial arts; Once they reach a certain point, they can no longer progress due to the limitations of their mortal flesh.
On the other hand, Immortal Cultivators use spiritual Qi to refine themselves as much as possible and break through their shackles. The potential of an Immortal Cultivator theoretically is limitless with enough hard work, talent, commitment and resources. This quality gave them an unrivaled advantage compared to martial artists whose capabilities were bounded by physical limitations set upon them because of their mortal flesh.
The surrounding disciples watched with wide eyes and held their breaths. Despite their youth, all of them were aware of the profound knowledge needed to practice martial arts with expert proficiency and Luo Tian had it.
"Elder Yu Hui, it seems you were right about claiming Luo Tian was different from others," Elder Zhuo Ren remarked looking intently at the boy who was standing across from Xiao Honghui. "He's far more mature than his age and holds an unusual air around him. Let us allow these two to continue until we can witness how capable Luo Tian truly is."
With these words, everyone present including Elder Tian Ping nodded in agreement as they focused their attention back towards the battle taking place.
It was indeed unexpected that the situation would escalate to this extend, but when they saw Luo Tian easily dodge his assault, they knew that the boy still hid deep secrets.
To see how he would perform, they allowed Xiao Honghui to still attack and stopped the deacons, they also hid their presence to not let anyone know that they were observing everything.
…
"Why is no one stopping this guy from running rampage, why are all the deacons just standing there doing nothing" Zhang Ying expressed her thoughts, and other disciples were also thinking the same thing.
Why was it that no deacons tried to stop the fighting between these two, 'is fighting among like this allowed in the Profound Sword Palace' everyone thought, but they didn't have time to pounder more as the fight had reached its climax.
Luo Tian sighed inwardly at the persistence of his opponent. With a fluid motion, he deftly evaded each of Xiao Honghui's blows, his movements appearing almost dance-like. When an opening presented itself, he delivered a precise strike to Xiao Honghui's abdomen, sending him crashing to the ground once more.
"Humg...Trash..."Xiao Honghui's pained murmurs mingled with the aftermath of his own humiliation.
BOOM!
His attempts to rise were thwarted as a forceful kick to his head sent him hurtling back, his form crashing against the ground with a resounding impact.
The scene unfolded with an almost surreal brutality, the thud of flesh meeting force and the subsequent groans creating an eerie rhythm. The onlookers were caught in a whirlwind of emotions, their faces displaying a mixture of shock, fear, and morbid fascination. The once-jovial atmosphere had shifted drastically, leaving behind a heavy tension that seemed to hang in the air like a storm cloud.
Luo Tian's actions were relentless, each stomping a declaration of power and dominance. The crowd watched in a mixture of horror and awe, unable to tear their eyes away from the spectacle before them. The unforgiving force of Luo Tian's actions seemed to embody a truth that transcended words – a harsh lesson in the hierarchy of strength.
As Xiao Honghui's cries pierced the air, the sound seemed to reverberate through the hearts of the spectators. The vivid display of vulnerability and pain cast a somber pall over the scene, silencing even the most daring whispers.
Luo Tian's chilling words cut through the tension "Your spiritual roots mean nothing to me. You're mere ants, not just you, but all of you who think you're superior due to them. Even an Earth-Grade root won't change your status as mere mortals who don't know the first thing about refining spiritual Qi,
beneath my feet. Your arrogance is pathetic; you're weak dogs in my eyes."
The cold detachment in his gaze was a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within the spectators. The silence that followed seemed to echo with the weight of what had transpired, a silence that carried the weight of realization.
Luo Tian's voice sliced through the charged atmosphere, each word a chilling reminder of the power he wielded. His actions cut through the bravado and arrogance that had once fueled the interactions among the disciples. The sudden shift in perspective left many feelings like they were staring into an abyss of their own shortcomings.
With the finality of a master concluding a lesson, Luo Tian stepped away from the fallen Xiao Honghui.
With a single glance back, Luo Tian turned and walked away, leaving behind a scene that had etched itself into the memories of those who had borne witness.
…
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