Against the Stars (1)

Gareth's time in the past month had a set pattern. Spent mainly between two places, as he closed himself off from others, maximizing the use of his time.

His room and the combat ground were his new haunts. Ever since he studied the books Lunara recommended for him, his mastery over his techniques which had been going at a slow pace shot up.

The time spent in his room was for his daily cultivation, the remaining time was spent in the challenge ground. Improving his combat skills and moves, refining the use of his techniques. The insights he gained from the books were applied real time in combat.

He lasted for longer periods against the dummy with each fight. Reaching a point where there was neither a loser nor winner in their fights.

He was sure if he had a few more weeks he would reach point where he could suppress the dummy's every move. His combat skills when rated had surely reached the superior rating.

The event everyone in the outer court had been anticipating was here at last. The dos and dont's, the rules of the challenge had been released. Everyone in the outer court below the initial completion had received the message on their sect tokens.

A day was all that was left before he would start receiving challenges. He had progressed in his cultivation during the past month, reaching halfway to his first completion. Right now, he was confident enough to face anyone issuing a challenge.

The days ahead would surely be fun. He smiled. He realized there was something he had missed all this while.

The night passed, calm as a breeze. His mind clear, unburdened by no thought, he cultivated. The world energy flowed through every inch of his body, steady and serene.

His sect token buzzed. The morning had arrived, and every qualified person received the message.

He rose from the cushion. His body stretched through a graceful routine, before he stopped all movement, still as a rock. This was a practice method he had devised. It did nothing much, but let his world energy flow more smoothly.

For whatever reason. On this day, he was in a very good mood. He left his residence. His steps light, a spring in his every move, he reached the challenge ground.

The challenge ground was deserted. There was still more than an hour before those interested could start issuing challenges. Two challenge grounds were designated for the event, one for Gareth and the other for Qian. The two stars of the year.

Someone didn't arrive too far behind Gareth who was inspecting the stage.

He turned around, and he saw her.

Jasmine had a smile on her face as she came to stop before him. Her smile was beatific, alike the first touch of dawn.

"Don't tell me you are here to challenge me too." Gareth laughed as he said that.

"Who is here to challenge you." She rolled her eyes. "And is that all you will say after being so hard to see these days, brother Gareth."

"Alright. Alright." Gareth couldn't argue with that.

She took his hands. She dragged him to sit at the edge of the stage. She had a lot to tell him that she had been holding in this past month.

Gareth listened to her, as his mood became more relaxed.

More people began to arrive, and the sight that appeared before them stunned them deeply. The man most of them were here to challenge sat there at the edge of the stage, comfortable. He even had a woman nestled on his chest, giggling at whatever it was that he was whispering to her.

This scene caused a lot of them, if not all, to fume in anger. This guy wasn't taking them serious, and he sure as anything was being blatant with it.

Some people, probably being unable to control their anger, walked up before Gareth. The ten of them, by the looks on their faces, were clearly displeased.

This guy, no matter how they saw it, was not taking them serious.

One of the men, most likely the leader, stomped his foot hard on the ground as he stopped before Gareth. That stomp was enough to draw everyone's attention.

Gareth looked up from Jasmine's palm which was on his. He had been trying some palm reading, an arcane art of divination he read about somewhere, without much luck. Not wanting to admit his unsuccessful reading to Jasmine, he had made up some reading, which she found funny.

She had been giggling, her fists softly hitting Gareth's thighs when these people decided to walk up here.

Jasmine was clearly displeased, evidenced by her glare. She said nothing as she left her comfortable position at Gareth's chest. She cast one last look at the ten of them before leaving to one side of the stage. She smiled back at Gareth when he looked at her.

Gareth turned to the ten of them, looking at each all over.

The leader probably couldn't take it anymore. He raised his sect token into the air.

"The ten of us will be challenging you."

The challenge ground became silent. Everyone looked at him strangely. The rule allowed it, yes. However, going straight to that, at the first challenge...

The leader was thick skinned. Uncaring of the eyes on him, he shouted. "Do you accept?"

The ones that came with him were also eyeing him strangely, but they said nothing.

Gareth didn't think too much about it. This would make things faster. He accepted the challenge.

A display lit up in the air above the stage. The information of the challengers was displayed. All of them were new disciples, same as Gareth.

Gareth got up on the stage. He gestured for them to get up.

This seemed to displease the leader. He jumped on the stage with a bang. The others behind him followed.

The disciples were already here in full force. The new disciples were the ones closest to the stage. Some of the senior disciples were watching from the distance. They weren't many. It seemed this first day was given to the new disciples.

The leader of the ten opened his mouth to say something.

"Today, you all will remember my name. You will all remember me as the person who will show you the fact that cultivation is not only all about talent. I worked, and I still work tirelessly for my cultivation. I don't spend my time listening to the sweet nonsense of beauties, and their foolish giggles. I will show you all how hard I have worked and still work despite my meager talents."

Gareth had been taking all of this with not much care, until the young man started his speech. However, his demeanor didn't change.

He only looked at the man for a while, and nodded at him.

"Well said."