Chapter 7: Challenging Contenders

The innumerous small dots swarming towards Profound Ice Island parted way for the giant fox hovering above the ocean. Large boats made of Gu worms, hand crafted rafts and swimming Gu masters turned directions after seeing the man standing tall on the foxes' head. He wore a fox mask on his face and carried a strange red flute in his hands. His robe fluttered in the wind showing his strong muscular build and his tanned brown skin.

"Get out of the way! Lord Beast King has arrived!" An elder of Flying Frost Sect flew above the waves shouting at people with a voice amplification Gu.

Sitting alone on one of the ice peaks of Profound Ice Island was another similarly famous Gu master. He had a metallic face, dark bronze in color and thicker than metal, almost like a mask. The symbol of a large red dragon was etched into the front of his black robe and a pair of overlapping hammers were stitched onto the back. His hair wasn't hair but thin strands of sulfur and ash that sparkled and cracked in the air. This man was only known by his title, Firesmith Dragon Chief.

"Sir." Another person came up to him, a timid young boy only around 14, also carrying the symbol of a red dragon on his uniform. "I've gotten word that Fang Yuan, the Beast King, has come to participate in the 10th round."

The man didn't turn around, disdainfully staring out into the open water. "Is he representing Immortal Crane Sect in this competition?"

"Uh, I don't know. Another group of Immortal Crane Sect disciples and elders already arrived a few hours ago. Should we go and meet them?"

Firesmith Dragon Chief nodded and got up from his seated position. The snow on the ground melted under the heat of his feet, clearing a path of stone and fire. "Immortal Crane Sect has shown an abysmal performance in this convention and I have reason to believe that Fang Yuan isn't as connected to Immortal Crane Sect as it seems. Myriad Dragon Dock asks that I press Immortal Crane Sect to the limit."

The young disciple was confused. The Beast King had dominated every single round he participated in. Such a person could only be from a great sect such as Immortal Crane Sect. Even though Immortal Crane Sect hadn't publicly spoken about him, surely he was at least an elder of the sect?

"Hah, don't look so confused brat. Fang Yuan's identity isn't as simple as you think. He isn't a subordinate of an immortal from Immortal Crane Sect. He isn't even a traditional member of the sect. He is a subsidiary force, a separate entity that operates outside of the sect. Whatever is going on, Fang Yuan definitely doesn't stand with Immortal Crane. Come, let's see just how good Immortal Crane is without him."

The two descended down the mountain, collecting the rest of Myriad Dragon Dock's disciples along the way. All together, they were only two dozen in total, but each was an elite. A majority of the members were rank 4, a small minority being rank three and Firesmith Dragon Chief was the sole rank 5. Each had the special outfit custom to Myriad Dragon Dock, a red dragon weaved into black cloth.

"Sir." The youth from earlier whispered into Firesmith Dragon Chief's ear. "The man on top of the crane. He's Fang Zheng, an elder of Immortal Crane Sect and the supposed biological brother of the Beast King."

The Chief narrowed his eyes at the sight of Fang Zheng. He looked like a completely ordinary man, very different from what he imagined a figure related to Fang would look like. He had straight black hair that was split in the middle and long enough to reach his waist. His eyes and facial features weren't masculine or feminine, they bore a unique sense of neutrality unlike any other he had ever seen. Even his hanfu set of clothing was ordinary, with a simple white collar shirt and a clean white pair of trousers.

"Immortal Crane Sect really has become the worst of the ten sects, sending an immature brat to represent them. How could you be a relative of Fang Yuan?"

Fang Zheng couldn't even turn his head to see who spoke before a blazing figure appeared in front of him. It extended a hand covered in fire and viciously grabbed the head of the crane Fang Zheng sat on, ripping it out from under him. Fang Zheng fell flat on his ass and watched as the man in front of him crushed the crane's head in a disgusting explosion of feathers, brain matter, blood and fire. A disturbing smell of cooked meat wafted into Fang Zheng's noise as the bird's entire body melted in a pile of liquid fire.

"You!" Fang Zheng rose, summoning his crane group that numbered in the hundreds of thousands to his aid. At once, cranes of multiple species appeared in the air. Iron beak cranes, fire pellet cranes, mirage mirror cranes, wind spirit cranes, and many more flew around in a swirling vortex. All of them flew in a seemingly perfect formation just waiting to unleash devastation at their master's order.

"How dare you attack me! This is the grounds of Flying Frost Sect. Anyone who harms another person will be labeled as a criminal and hunted down. Don't think I'll back down simply because of your rank."

Firesmith Dragon Chief smiled. So what if this territory belonged to Flying Frost Sect? Could they stop him from annihilating their entire clan? Of course they couldn't! He wasn't a mortal constrained by the laws of mortal Gu masters. Even if he killed every participant here, everyone would turn a blind eye to his actions. This was the difference between a rank 5 Gu master like Fang Zheng, and a rank 6 Gu immortal like Firesmith Dragon Chief.

"The quality of Immortal Crane Sect's elders really has gone downhill. How could they send a weak unskilled enslavement path Gu master to participate in the Refinement Path Convention? You bring shame onto the ten sects with your pathetic display."

"You?" Fang Zheng nervously backed away once he saw the red dragon on this man's chest. Rank 5 cultivation and fire path attainment, this could only be one man. The very same person who had been disrespecting Immortal Crane Sect from the start of the Refinement Path Convention, Firesmith Dragon Chief.

Fang Zheng had heard of his great prowess in refinement path as he repeatedly dominated every round. He was a genuine refinement path grandmaster, on the same level as most refinement path rank 7 Gu immortals. In the entire convention, this man was ranked second in terms of overall skill. Fang Zheng couldn't compare to him in any way, be it strength, wealth or attainment.

"Elder Fang Zheng!" The other disciples of Immortal Crane Sect noticed the commotion and quickly ran to support Fang Zheng, but when they saw the elite opposing force their eyes widened. "Myriad Dragon Dock..."

Unlike Myriad Dragon Dock, Immortal Crane Sect's side was much weaker, consisting of mostly rank 3 Gu masters and very few rank 4. Fang Zheng wasn't the sole rank 5, but the other rank 5 Gu master, Yan Tang, was an elderly man participating in the convention out of necessity. Even put together Fang Zheng and Yan Tang weren't Firesmith Dragon Chief's match.

"Young man, there is no reason to taunt one another. Even if we are rivals, the convention is a friendly competition designed to incite invention and creativity. There is no need to fight amongst each other." The elderly Yan Tang said this all while stroking his long white beard.

Firesmith Dragon Chief smiled. "It really is a pity old man. I only came to this place to take you out of the competition. But this fight will be between me and Fang Yuan, you clearly aren't worth my time. Regardless of whether I win or lose, Immortal Crane Sect will definitely lose. In this round only I and Fang Yuan are qualified to participate. Immortal Crane Sect was destined to lose from the start."

"Hmm, not true. Even without Yan Tang the sect still has multiple elders with high proficiency in refinement path." Fang Yuan said this from above, descending down in between the two parties in a shower of autumn leaves. "Besides, there's no need for Yan Tang to participate in the tenth round here."

"The top spot obviously belongs to me. A mere grandmaster can't compare to me. Get out of my sight." Fang Yuan arrogantly challenged Firesmith Dragon Chief. With his smiling fox mask moving it's lips into a twisted smirk.