18 Tournament
-NORTH GATE OF FROZEN LAKE SECT-
This is the last spot to place the last rune to complete the tier 2 formation array. I also added something in the equation for later use. But the most important thing that happened to me today is my soul finally reached the mid-shapeless form again. Creating countless runes did help my soul to gain more power.
"It just baffles me, how come there are two runes instead of one?" Runemaster Elder Chitang Yu somehow is curious about why I created 2 runes instead of one. Since he doesn't know about the other rune I created, he will be surprised at what's its use when the time comes.
"Tier 2 runes are not that simple. It requires a supporting rune which is called reinforcement runes. Once the barrier runes get weakened, this rune will help it hold on much longer. It's definitely a must to have if you want your defense to last longer." Sparkle in his eyes shows that he bought what I just told him.
"I didn't know a rune like that exists! I would love to learn how to create one of those when the time comes. I hope you could teach me one day." Bowing and showing respect, it will take more than a week for you to figure things out that it's not what you think.
"..." I just smiled at him. I don't want to stay here any longer.
The last tier 2 barrier rune has been placed and with a little energy infused to it, the other part of the city where runes were placed are now emitting blinding light towards the sky and curved meeting at the center of the city creating a magnificent sphere barrier of light.
The runemakers behind me, after seeing a magnificent show, couldn't help themselves but admire the masterpiece I created. Even I couldn't still believe that I made this.
Suddenly, shouting together, "We thank you for your work today, Venerable An Hei!" All of them bowing toward me with their hands together showing utmost respect.
"No need for that. I just did what I promised. But, it seems that my soul power is weakened, I better rest. I'll see you again some other time." Walking away, they didn't make a move and still bowed.
I hope they don't regret showing respect to me when the time comes...
Now, all I have to do is wait...
...
-FROZEN LAKE DUNGEON-
Only a week left before the execution huh... it's been a long 6 months for me. After what happened to the auction house with the elders, I decided to not show up to them anymore but since the formation array is the most crucial part of my plan, I didn't have a choice but to appear once again. Even Elder Yu was surprised when I visited and told them that I would help them with their formation array reinforcements.
"Your opponent at the tournament would be the last hurdle. Your knowledge with the Attraction Art is still not good since you practiced it after learning blacksmith. Learning a lot of specialties in a short period of time is an achievement already but right now, your life is on the line." The gap between me and Bo Zihao is too large. I don't think I can win easily against him. Even Elder Zun Yan wanted one of the disciples of the Liu family to fight for the rank of top 1 but... their resources weren't good enough to produce a cultivator capable of fighting against Zihao. Though, her idea of taking the 1st spot and not killing me at the arena is a good gesture.
"You really have a good elder from your family that isn't blinded by greed and power. She'll be a good asset to your sect later on." Master, to be honest, having my own sect, it's basically not someone at my age would even imagine but if I want to do something right, I rather do it myself.
"That's why I chose you as my disciple. You're eager to learn new things. You're curious. The martial world isn't just about being the strongest, it's about surviving, and having great knowledge plays a huge role in this. But right now, I doubt that you'll be able to reach the pristine spirit realm before the tournament. In this case, you need to rely on runes and a technique that could execute him before he could defend himself." Just like Endless Arts. Still, I'm stuck at 2nd step but even so, it's enough to land a killing blow. I still have soul thorn as a last resort if things go south.
"You should only use it when you know you're about to get killed. It only works once and against someone like Zihao who's one of the geniuses of the sect, I can tell that his soul would be stronger than common people making your soul thorn have lesser effects. Even so, I doubt that he can withstand a soul thorn from a mid-shapeless soul form, you just have to be careful. He is still 5 layers higher than you, that's a huge factor." Of course. It's like a child fighting an adult. But I'm not just a normal child, I'm a child with a knife against an adult with a stick.
"Don't underestimate the Bo family. For now, you better try continuing your cultivation. Maybe a miracle would happen and you might be able to breakthrough." It's not encouraging at all, master.
...
Days have passed and finally, the Annual Frozen Lake Sect's Tournament is about to begin.
...
..
.
-FROZEN LAKE SECT'S ARENA-
Loud cheers coming from the arena can be heard even in the depths of the city. The grand elder also delivered his long speech but I couldn't pay attention at all. 32 participants already fought against each other and now there's an ongoing fight for the 8th spot for the quarter-finals.
"WOOOOH! BO FAMILY WILL TAKE THE FIRST SPOT AGAIN!"
"I BET MY WHOLE STIPEND FOR THIS! YOU BETTER BE THE CHAMPION!"
"CHITANG FAMILY END BO FAMILY'S REIGN TODAY!"
People don't seem to know that there will be an execution today and only hyped by the tournament. The elders might have made it as a surprise to everyone to boost their morale and their excitement. Sick bastards.
Right now, I'm currently at the prisoner's area where prisoners like me stay before the execution. I'm chained up from my hands to my legs but at least they have the decency to let the prisoners watch the tournament before their execution, showing them who will they be fighting but I couldn't get the courage to look. Unfortunately, I'm the only one here and to be honest with myself... I'm fucking scared. I couldn't stop shaking and sweating. If things go wrong, I'd die on the spot. I still can't believe that this is happening to me.
"Don't worry, you have Bei inside the ring. She'll save you when your life is in danger." I certainly hope so, master.
"ACK!" One of the participants was thrown out of the arena, I could only hear...
"You better watch them soon." I know that master but...
"And the last spot of the quarter-finals was taken by Liu Xi Wang!" From the Liu Family?! I decided to look and found a girl showing great confidence and prowess. Judging from her aura... she's a 4th layer pristine spirit realm! She might stand a chance against Zihao!
/Liu Xi Wang 25
Liu Family's Top Disciple / Frozen Lake Sect's 11th Ranked Disciple
5th layer of body refining realm
4th layer of pristine spirit realm/
"Zihao is still at the 5th layer and the others are also at the same rank. Your chance of defeating him might be higher this time if they weaken him enough before your fight and I'm quite sure it will happen today." Every fight, they are given mid-grade healing pills and mid-grade energy pills for their next match but that doesn't mean they get to have their full power back. It requires time as it burdens the body if energy is used continuously.
"I've thought you well. By only thinking about it, you could deduce some information on your own. But always be careful, knowledge is not enough if you can't apply it in a real situation." Yes, of course. I better watch the remaining fights and find everyone's weaknesses.
"The quarter-finals will begin!" Cheers once more echoed throughout the whole arena.
"Chitang Sui, former top 8th ranked disciple against Bo Jinguan, former top 7th ranked disciple!" Both of them are 4th layer pristine spirit realm. They will have a tough fight.
/Chitang Sui 25
Frozen Lake Sect's 8th Ranked Disciple
5th layer of body refining realm
4th layer of pristine spirit realm
/Bo Jinguan 25
Frozen Lake Sect's 7th Ranked Disciple
5th layer of body refining realm
4th layer of pristine spirit realm/
Both of them went to the arena and now showing their fighting stance. Pond Arts against the Wave Art. This will be the first time I would see their potential.
"FIGHT!" Just after the announcer said that word, Bo Jinguan rushed towards Chitang Sui. Strength is the specialty of Wave Art while Chitang depends on stationariness and balance.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOOSH!* Attacks of Jinguan roared while releasing a great force of energy using his fists but, Sui, not moving at all but only using his hands and arms to deflect the attacks, sent Jinguan's energy force to other directions! This must be the second step of Pond Arts!
*BAAAAM!* *BAAAAAM!* The energy force released by Jinguan hit barriers created to protect the audiences! I didn't know they have barriers like that as well in the arena.
Jinguan couldn't land a single attack as they were only being deflected by Sui! A great defense against a great force!
"This will end soon." Master, what do you mean?
"Sui is losing his balance. Once Sui gets out of his defense range, he'll surely lose. Consistent attacks from an opponent without the chance to counter, he'll definitely soon run out of stamina and will be forced to fall back. This Jinguan must have fought against him a lot before that he already knows where might Sui release his counter attack and before he could do it, Jinguan already has a plan to disrupt it. *BAAAAAAM!*
"A solid blow broke Sui's defense knocking him out of the arena! They have been fighting for the 7th spot every year but it seems this is not Sui's time to steal the spot! And the winner is, Bo Jinguan!" It seems that they are rivals even before.
Why didn't they used the law of ice or weapons, though? I'm quite sure both of them have a high comprehension of the law of ice.
"Since both of them use the law of ice, it's only viable to use it when one of them has higher control or the other reason might be that they want to simply fight using their own martial arts so weapons are not needed." So either they have the same comprehension of law of ice that using it is not going to work both ways or probably just because of their pride as rivals.
"The next one is a new contender this year! Liu Xi Wang, former 11th ranked disciple against Bo Qule, former 3rd ranked disciple!" Another from the Bo Family. He's quite sturdy looking, he must have a higher body realm than most of the participants.
/Bo Qule 25
Frozen Lake Sect's 3rd Ranked Disciple
6th layer of body refining realm
4th layer of pristine spirit realm/
"Will the Liu family finally take a spot of the top 3 ranked disciples of the Frozen Lake Sect! We'll see soon enough!" Both readied their martial arts, Xi Wang with a sword and Bo Qule with knuckles, but somehow, Bo Qule won't aggressively leap forward unlike the other members of the Bo family I've seen before. They usually take the first strike.
Knuckles huh... seems to be a good choice for a weapon.
"I prefer a spear when using art that specializes in raw power. Knuckles, on the other hand, can be used for defense as well so I guess Qule has a balance of defense and strength based on his body refining realm." No wonder. He must have practiced physical training a lot.
Qule finally made his move with a forward frontal punch releasing energy force from mid-range, *SWOOOOOSH!* but was easily dodged by Xi Wang with a side step but *BAAAAAAM* The moment she moved, Qule already released another one but was blocked by Xi Wang's sword. Even so, the forced knocked Xi Wang a little bit and stopped her movement for a second.
With great frontal distraction from Qule's last attack, he was able to close the gap between them and managed to reached Xi Wang unnoticed! She's in trouble!
A side punched was released by Qule aiming for Xi Wang's body but with great maneuvering, Xi Wang stepped back before she gets hit and grabbed Qule's arm! She, then, pulled him using the momentum of Qule's attack, tripping him with her feet and swiftly turning around appearing at the back of him and delivered *SLASH* a quick slash aiming for his neck! What a technique! Her movement alone isn't as fast as Qule but she used his speed to her advantage and used that chance to create the perfect counter-attack! I'm amazed!
*BAAAAM!* But somehow, her sword was stopped by thick ice on his neck! If not for the ice, he could have died in one hit!
"Stop! The winner of this round is Liu Xi Wang!" Clearly, her attack was interrupted by the elders to make sure that no severe injury will be inflicted on the participants. They don't have the luxury to have a deathmatch anyway since they only have limited geniuses and losing one is not an option.
