8 Rury's Day

Day prior to the tournament,

Rury walked away from Ning Fan and Yu Lin from their room and headed to the third floor of the palace.

Rury is considered an important character. She's a rising star with a high realm for her age that few can match. Rury's also favored by the Patriarch's grandson.

The Patriarch doted his grandson by fulfilling each of his grandson's desires. Rury left him no choice but to agree with her conditions since she used her life as a bargaining chip. If Rury died it would cause his grandson to fall into a state of depression.

The main reason Rury left the main branch was because of the Patriarch's power and influence. The sole reason the Patriarch didn't force her is because of his ancestor's teachings and traditions. If the Patriarch chose to go against these traditions, he would face opposition from several powerhouses of the faction.

Rury couldn't leave the faction as she pleased, all these developments lead to her interaction with Ning Fan, so she didn't despise the Patriarch as much as before, but she didn't respect him.

Rury reached the third floor and spotted two figures. The two figures have an aura of those in power. A young figure and elderly with numerous wrinkles.

The young figure is wearing a tight white shirt complimented by his slim black pants. He has well defined muscles that Ning Fan can't match.

The elderly although he has innumerable wrinkles that his face is hard to define, he is comparibly more defined than the young figure next to him with bulging muscles that appear to possess an explosive strength.

"Patriarch and young master, what brings you here?" Rury asked.

"Rury I told you to call me Feng Fa" Feng Fa lovingly told Rury.

"Young master I'm just an orphan I have no right to be so presumptuous" Rury retorted.

"I've told you birth doesn't dictate that others can control you and to call me Feng Fai, if anyone has a problem than I'll show them the might of the Patriarch" Feng Fai proclaimed.

"Such an honor goes to the miss Qing Rou, her status outranks mine, she's more attractive and gentle, she also has a higher cultivation with a younger age than mine" Rury indifferently mentioned "I heard she also carries affection towards you."

"I love you, I don't care that she's more attractive than you with better prospects." Feng Fa paused solemnly "I heard you have fancied a man is the true"

"Young master you shouldn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong" Rury coldly retorted.

Rury understood his intentions to kill Ning Fan and was enraged but held it in. If he wasn't the son of the Patriarch she would have left him with an inch of his life.

"I can stick my nose wherever I want, I've loved you far longer than anyone else, I gave you more than anyone in your road to becoming an alchemist and a cultivator I have every right to stick my nose in your affairs." Feng Fa angrily retorted.

"These were nothing more than gifts and if I refused my reputation would plummet, I never had any intention of accepting your gifts this is just your own one-sided affection. You're not sincere you just treat me as an object to buy" Rury spoke what she held in her whole life.

"How is this man any better than me" Feng Fa shouted angrily.

Feng Fai's brows were furrowed while watching his grandson quarrel with Rury.

"Unlike you he's more passionate, kind, loving, and sincere. He never lets me be depressed, when I feel down he always finds a way to bring me up, never letting me feel sorrow, carrying all my burdens, and reassuring me enough that I'm willing to risk my life. He doesn't think of me as an item to buy but as a woman who's gentle and frail that's willing to support me more than anyone else." Rury talked lovingly as she was reliving the moments in her head.

Hearing Rury talk lovingly about Ning Fan, Feng Fa had an indignant appearance and the Patriarch Feng Fai had a sinister gleam in his eyes.

"Tell me what's his name I at least want to know what kind of figure would cause you to act this way?" Feng Fa indignantly asked.

Rury understood from the start that they would eventually figure out, but when Feng Fa asked her who she fancied she knew it wouldn't be long for them to figure out. Rury felt frustrated that she couldn't stall for enough time. She felt unworthy of Ning Fan because she felt that Ning Fan is extraordinary and she couldn't handle this simple task.

From the way things are turning out she would be the only one to escape her faction, she felt contempt to the Patriarch and young master and hatred twords her own weakness.

"I don't want to be weak anymore, I hate this feeling, of not being able to do anything, when we escape from here I won't care about talent anymore I'll care about results" Rury vowed silently in her head.

"If you choose not to tell me his name that's okay I'll find out by tomorrow, I only wanted to hear his name from you" Feng Fa left afterwards impatiently.

Rury let out a sigh watching the two leave.

"I'll have to think of a solution the longest the tournament has ever lasted is two weeks, the shortest was a few hours. If the tournament doesn't end before tommorow I'll have to use every means to get help." Rury contemplated while looking at her body.

Rury spent the rest of the time creating pellets and medicinal pills at the Spirit grade although they were failures she made more progress than she ever did in her past.

After four hours concocting pills Rury had an understanding after being stuck for so long in her realm.

An hour later Rury's eye's became brighter proving that she just broke to the next realm. They dimmed back to normal after adjusting her breathing, hiding her cultivation.

"Now I'm in the third rite of the Ming realm. Hehehe... I wonder what Ning Fan will say when he gets back." Rury expectantly thought of Ning Fan's gentle embrace while blushing.

Another hour later, Rury successfully concocted a Spirit pellet, Rury's lips curved upwards.

One hour later, Rury successfully concocted four Spirit pellets on her first try. Rury is now officially a Spirit grade alchemist.

After Rury stored her pellets she noticed it was time for the third floors exclusive dinner where they can gather and enjoy a meal as well as voice their thoughts, opinions, and declarations.

As Rury walked towards the dining hall, mid-way she encountered Qing Rou. Qing Rou glanced at Rury with disdain clear in her eyes.

"You don't have to worry about me soon, you'll understand during our meal." Rury mentioned indifferently.

Qing Rou stared at her while they were walking and didn't say anything. She was patiently waiting for what she'd say in the dining hall, and the disdain apparent in her eyes decreased. Qing Rou already knew about Rury's unwillingness to marry Feng Fa, but Qing Rou envied her.

Qing Rou is mentioned as the true flame of the Phoenix with unsurpassed talent and beauty, but the one Feng Fa fell for was Rury and this upset her. Qing Rou's jealousy turned into hatred towards Rury. Hearing Rury saying she wouldn't need to worry about her anymore, she understood something must have happened and now felt appreciation towards her. Qing Rou also thought she finally knows her place.

Rury noticed her change in attitude. Rury sneered inside, she clearly knew about Qing Rou's haughtiness. Rury disliked her factions top geniuses because they were all like Qing Rou, from well known families in the faction and they felt a social hiarchy superiority.

Rury didn't have any attachments from leaving the faction. The only one she got along with is Phoex, he's always helped her. Phoex's cultivation is similar to the Patriarch, but as a child he was disowned from a well known family, during his childhood he was thought as untalented, this incident caused Phoex to be impartial, this is why he gets along with Rury.

No one fears talking to Phoex but they make sure not to upset him or touch Rury in case he would kill them. This was why Rury was able to successfully rise as one of the most talented in the faction which later attracted Feng Fa's attention.

Rury and Qing Rou arrived at the dining hall. There's more than two-hundred seats and five tables. The room is spacious with four-hundred cubic meters of space and elegant decorations made of priceless materials to make a Phoenix and several flames forming an exquisite and powerful formation.

There is a small table in the center of the room surrounded by four large tables with fifty seats each. The table at the center is more refined and unique, amazing anyone who stares at it. The table at the center has only twelve seats.

As soon as Rury walked in she spotted Feng Fa. Feng Fa noticed Rury walking in and gestured her to sit in the middle.

Although Feng Fa was upset he calmed down as he was confident that he could find her secret lover and kill him. He believes she will eventually move on and forgive him, and may even beg him to be betrothed with her.

Rury didn't refuse, and walked to the center. Only those of the Patriarch's children and grandchildren were allowed to sit in the center as well as their betrothed.

Rury passed the four large tables surrounding the Patriarch's table and stopped midway. Rury turned to the two tables behind her while confirming that most of the important families of the faction were here.

"EVERYONE I WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THE FACTION AFTER THIS TOURNAMENT" Rury shouted confidently.

The Patriarch stood up from his seat staring at Rury. This is the first time the Patriarch became upset at Rury.

"I believe you stated that you will marry my son if your selected team fails to win tournament." Feng Fai spoke slowly and didn't shout but his voice resounded throughout the dining hall.

"My team won't fail, you agreed that you won't pursue me and I could safely leave the faction with no reaprocussions." As soon as Rury finished, she walked out the room.

Everyone there was dumbfounded besides the Patriarch, he was enraged, he wants to disipline her for her unscrupulous act.

Everyone started discussing this topic, Ning Fan and Yu Lin became the center of attention for the tournament. They started betting on whether Rury's or the Patriarch would win. A few even bet their family heirlooms. This tournament has more anticipation than the previous tournaments because of Rury's bold move.

As soon as Rury reached her room she passed out on her bed. Boldly talking in front of several powerful figures and acting arrogant took everything out of her.

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Rury felt someone touching her cheek. Rury slowly opened her eyes and saw Ning Fan.

"W-what are you doing in my room" Rury was embarrassed from the surprise.

"I noticed how much effort you put in, you even broke through another sub-realm" Ning Fan lovingly caressed her face.

"Y-you noticed" Rury stuttered expectantly.

"Your the only woman I love and hold dear, if I couldn't notice something this important how could I call myself your lover" Ning Fan proclaimed.

Rury felt her heart lighten. Rury and Ning Fan began embracing each other.

After an unknown time they reached the climax.

___________________________

Day of the tournament,

Rury woke up embracing her pillow and blanket.

"Huh?" Rury stared at herself.

After understanding what happened she blushed and took a shower, every room has a shower installed to respect everyone's privacy.

Rury changed into a new set of clothes. Rury walked to the window and saw all the participants leaving with Black Market owners assistant.

Rury sighed seeing Ning Fan leave. Rury left soon afterwards to the viewing area inside the arena.

Rury noticed several figures already here. The outer area of the arena is spacious enough so that all the important figures from the four factions can sit comfortably and still have more space.

The outer area of the arena can only view by the screens displayed in front of them. Each member there has their own digital screens for viewing the participants inside.

Rury found an area that none of the four factions occupied and gracefully sat down.

As soon as she sat down the assistant began speaking.

"This year's difficulty will be a notch harder than the previous ones, the goal is to survive and keep your sanity. The survivors will then enter a free for all after all survivors are accounted for, BEGIN!!!!" The assistant explained.

As soon as the assistant shouted, multiple screens appeared in Rury's vision. Rury spotted ten black screens. The black screens mean that the participants got chosen for the hardest difficulty.

Rury quickly skimmed through the screens searching for Ning Fan. Rury couldn't spot Ning Fan and stared at the black screens.

Soon after she heard screams of agony coming from multiple screens. She glanced at them and noticed the difficulty was enough to challenge those at the second and third rite of the Nascent realm.

Rury stared back at the black screen and started praying for Ning Fan's safety no matter the odds. As soon as she opened her eyes she noticed Feng Fa smirking from the corner of her eye.

"FENG FA, A BASTARD LIKE YOU WILL DIE AN EARLY DEATH" Rury angrily shouted.