Foiled
Any illusion barrier only works if the victim is unaware. However, since I can see every single array, I notice that those Patriarchs and elders are gathered to discuss their next move.
Everyone has left to sightsee the island or to grab a meal.
Yin Qiang and I are the only ones who stayed.
I sat beside Yin Qiang. "Listen carefully, execute whatever you are tasked to do, I will handle the rest."
...
Yin Qiang imitates writing an "okay" secretly on the seat.
Yin Qiang steps onto the arena after the break. He throws a glance at me and the opponent.
System, infect Yin Qiang's current opponent with the second virus.
He must now try his best and win as shamefully as possible, even resorting to foul play.
------------
Mind Control activates.
------------
Yin Qiang's opponent, from the Mountain Fist sect, jerks a little and his brows narrow in rage. He clenches his fist tightly and waves of ice and fire Qi emits from his left and right hand respectively.
"Wait what." The Patriarch of the Mountain Fist mumbles.
Their original plan was to sacrifice a disciple from the Mountain Fist sect and Yin Qiang will kill him, using that excuse to 'capture' Yin Qiang and criticise or even blame me for an attempted assassination. With so many audiences and spectators, including the ones from other countries, my reputation will plummet and I will become a wanted criminal by the Murim Alliance
Throw whatever you can at me. I will just return them right back.
The disciple smirks at Yin Qiang and attacks him before even the start is issued.
?!
"Stop!"
The disciples throw a punch at Yin Qiang who hasn't even drawn his sword, but, I emerge and grab his fist.
!
"What are you doing?" I say.
The confused disciple blinks a few times before saying "I need to kill that bastard, get out of the way!!"
"What the fuck are you doing!?" The Patriarch of Mountain Fist sect shouts. The old man that screams at the beginning of the matches lands beside me and pulls the disciple away.
"STOP! LET ME GO!"
He looks like a drug addict unable to satiate his drug desire.
You will now push the blame to your Patriarch.
The disciple jolts and looks at his Patriarch. "YOU! WHY ARE YOU NOT HELPING ME! YOU INSTRUCTED ME TO DO THIS! HELP!"
"W-What?! Stop your preposterous slander! I did not-"
"Patriarch, please settle down." The old man says as he glares at the Patriarch of the Mountain Fist sect. "Is what you said the truth?"
"Yes Yes!" The disciple says. "I swear on my Martial Soul and Life!"
!!!!!!
A martial vow on the soul and existence of one's being, a vow that if broken will curse the person to eternal suffering in the underworld and cripple him. Due to its cruel and absurd nature, nobody does such a vow at all. Most of the time, Martial Artists only vow on their Martial Soul, not life.
As he says that, the disciple remains intact, further reinforcing the truth of his words.
"Patriarch..." The Jade emperor mumbles.
"URGH!" The Patriarch of Mountain Fist covers his ears and groans on the floor.
What happened?
The Jade Emperor inflicted mental damage to the Patriarch, who is in Peak Nascent soul and a distance away, by a simple murmur? The attack was precise in addition, nobody else suffered.
I couldn't determine the Jade Emperor's cultivation base and infecting him is impossible; If my virus gets close to him, it will be vaporized.
Such a strong ruler in a small country? Has he not attempted expansion into neighbouring countries?
I shouldn't mess with the Jade Emperor for the time being.
"Forgive me, your majesty!" The Patriarch says.
"Take him away." The old referee man says.
The perpetrators in cahoots couldn't help but stare as one of their comrades was taken away. The envoy from the Murim Alliance grits his teeth in anger and frustration. What exactly is going on?
Life in the Murim is similar to Chess. Make the right move and even a pawn can devour the queen. In my case, however, it felt like going against an entire army of queens with only a few pawns.
That disciple had a reason and choice to be the sacrifice, the Patriarch made a deal with him. Why is he turning his back on us?
"No...that cannot be..."
The envoy throws his glance at me and I smirk.
"WANG JI!!!" The envoy softly curses in fury.
...
Now that they are aware that the disciples can turn on them at any moment, using the Blood Demonic Pill is simply suicide. They have no choice anymore, only watching on the sidelines as Wang Ji rise to prominence.
"Now that the Mountain Fist sect has forfeited, naturally the battles against them are an automated win for lucky participants. Except for the Heavenly Divine Dragon, begin!" The old man shouts after jumping back up to stand beside the Jade Emperor.
Hahaha!! One of the men in a white robe has his face contorted inwards as he plucks his finger. From the reaction of everyone, the culprits behind all the scheming are every single Patriarch, Elder, and that one guy from the Murim Alliance.
All of the former Profound Poison disciples win every match. Xiang Hou easily destroys his opponents in a single strike. Li Xing improves with every match and moves faster with deadly accuracy and power.
The only match lineup I manipulate is the remaining core disciples.
After 3 Miraculous wins when she have done absolutely nothing, she faced Dei Lo.
"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what's going on." says An Qing.
"Sure..." Dei Lo replies.
Dei Lo takes a deep breath and braces himself for whatever suffering that is to come. He does not want to disappoint me by simply forfeiting in fear after he has come this far.
After the signal was dropped, An Qing runs toward Dei Lo. Her confidence went uphill.
"Hyah!" Her sword clashes with Dei Lo and Dei Lo close his eyes, waiting for the series of pain.
...
"What?" Dei Lo says. Nothing happened.
...
"U-Uh...haha..." An Qing starts to sweat and becomes fidgety.
...
...
Dei Lo deflects An Qing's sword away. It flies and plunges into the side of the arena.
An Qing trembles and raises her hand to surrender.
"Oh! That boy is strong?! He looked the most ordinary out of his sect mates." a woman spectating says.
Dei Lo stares at his blade in confusion.
"Huh?!" Dei Lo exclaims.
He walks back to his seat while staring into space, contemplating the phenomenon.
Before everyone knows it, the only remaining participants are the Heavenly Divine Dragon sect and the remnants of weak cultivators. Dei Lo was matched to fight against Xiang Hou.
Two best friends fighting in an official tournament, Dei Lo is unaware of Xiang Hou's position. Their backstory with one another was quite interesting...
Dei Lo takes a deep breath. "I won't go easy on you."
Xiang Hou smiles. "Going easy is enough for me to destroy you."
The beginning commences Dei Lo to charge at Xiang Hou who purposely lifts his right foot out to trip Dei Lo.
Dei Lo saw that coming and kick his left foot, almost causing Xiang Hou to lose balance. Xiang Hou retaliates with a thrust at Dei Lo. Dei Lo couldn't react in time and was forced to deflect it, he follows up with a kick to Xiang Hou's crotch which Xiang Hou avoided by jumping back.
It felt like watching two teenagers having fun.
After Dei Lo loses to Xiang Hou, Xiang Hou purposely loses to Li Xing.
Not long after, the semi-finals came and Li Xing was matched against Yueling.
...
"Senior, please guide me." Li Xing says as she bows.
Yueling nods and both draw their weapon. The four tiles of the arena have fused into one whole.
"Begin!"
*BOOM!*
Yueling ambushed Li Xing from behind and Li Xing blocked it. Twirling her body, she kicks Yueling away. Both were propelled back.
"Huff huff..."
The long tournament is taking a toll on Li Xing's stamina.
Yueling smiles. "Do you want to end this quickly?"
!
Li Xing returns the smile. "Thank you."
With a burst of Qi integrated into both's weapons, Yueling is holding back and only using the sect's martial arts. Two dragons materialize behind both Li Xing and Yueling.
"HAH!"
They leap and slash.
*BOOOOOOOOM!!*
"Huff...huff..." Both Li Xing and Yueling have their swords met. But Yueling faints in the arena as Li Xing barely stands, the jagged hole surrounds them.
"OHHHH!!!"
The crowd cheered in jubilation. With her last strength, Li Xing punches the air with tears of joy rolling down her face. It was unbelievable. Something like this would not have happened, it was only a mere dream.
Li Xing's name was known throughout Kunlai and the Heavenly Divine Dragon rose to fame.