Qin Lao was an outstanding talented genius...
There was nothing he couldn't do. There was nowhere he couldn't go. There were no dreams he couldn't realize. And if he was given time, surely, he could become the very best...
Or... That's what he wanted to believe until reality crushed his dreams with the advent for a single person.
Wang Xie... A name he loathed to death.
The guy, being a lot younger than him, was typically the naive dumbass of a genius who thinks he had the whole world in the palm of his hand.
He was devious, hedonistic and found pleasure in asserting his will onto others. Becoming a tyrant that no one wanted.
Well... If that was all there was to him then the sect would just leave him be after pummeling him into proper shape.
After all, that was how they all groom their unruly geniuses if they go crazy with wicked ambitions.
However, Wang Xie was a different case compared to a regular talented frog in a well.
He had the backings off two of the most influential organizations in the entire Immortal God Continent. Which had assured his safety anywhere in the world as long as he doesn't do anything crazy.
He also has a Unique Body Constitution. Something that was rarely noticed that you won't even see one for the next ten generations.
Not only that, his talent in cultivation was heaven-defying. In a mere few months, he had already unlocked all 12 Gates of the Practitioner realm which would have taken years for an ordinary talent to achieve.
And aside from that, he also had a few notable achievements... But half of them are a bit... Atrocious.
Well it wasn't like he was cruel as a person. It was just his mood swings influencing him every day and everyone else were just unlucky to suffer his wrath mercilessly.
But even though he was a troublesome kid, the elders never moved to trial him for his misdeeds. Which sparked unrest for a lot of victims.
But that's how special the bastard was. Even if you try you're hardest, when you look at this guy who had golden wings since he was born, you will never catch up to him. That's how special he is.
As for Qin Lao, he had thought that Wang Xie's was his rival.
... Or at least he wanted a position close to that level.
Because honestly, the years are just getting more and more frustrating to cultivate when these ordinary geniuses were being compared to that freak of nature.
It was getting to the point where they even wondered what a genius really was... But anyway
Qin Lao did everything he could to improve himself in both Cultivation Realm and Sword Arts. And he reached Foundation Formation Realm in less than a year since he became a 12 Gates Practitioner.
But compared to that, Wang Xie and a few others still overshadowed him.
So, he became diligent with the sword to supplement his lacking aspects. Swinging deep and gracious sword swings every single day without slacking off.
But compared to that, Wang Xie still overshadowed him with his vast repertoire of Spells that could dominate a battlefield in another second. And Qin Lao's sword was far cry from making such capabilities.
He tried to become a Spell Cultivator himself but realized a bit later that he has no talent for such skills. And that sparked an envy within his heart.
Years had gone by and everyone forgot that Qin Lao actually even existed in the sect.
Everybody was always talking about Wang Xie this and Wang Xie that, it's making him sick just hearing it. And that only kept kindling the flames of jealousy bit by bit.
And what was worst that a new freak had been recruited in the sect.
And that's not all, she was a fair, lovely maiden who had potential equal or even greater than Wang Xie!
The reason why they said she had greater potential wasn't because her Unique Body Constitution was greater in class or her talent was Heaven-trampling. It was because her attitude was too damn pleasing for others!
Grrr! Why is this bitch acting all like the perfect princess?! Why is she fooling around with our hearts?! Why is she even existing anyway?!
She's just going to be like Wang Xie. Someday later, she's going to be so arrogant around others because we're only ants to her and we'll contempt her for it...
Frustration boiled up in the hearts of the diligent disciples and the pressure was suffocating them.
Even Qin Lao himself started to think that hard-work isn't going to be enough.
And the last straw that snapped the nerve that kept everyone from going crazy from jealously, was the time where some nobody actually defeated the undefeated Wang Xie!
The first time when that guy toppled the annual tournaments duel by duel and claimed the number one seat, that arrogant prick actually challenged Wang Xie to a duel!
They couldn't believe it. It just didn't feel real. But when they saw this bastard getting cocky just because he won the tournament without breaking a sweat, they all sneered and jeered and called him an ignorant frog in a well.
And then... Ling Xiufeng won.
They couldn't believe it again. It just felt like a dream somehow. But when they saw this injured lion unleashing a roar that shook the sky as he claimed victory, all our pent-up frustration had crushed our sanity!
They didn't know what was real anymore and didn't even know what to believe in.
Reality had warped from the usual days ever since those genius's advent themselves into this world and dominated the ants below.
That was when Qin Lao became aware of his devilish thoughts. That he wanted to trample these geniuses. That he wanted to fuck them up. That he wanted to enslave them.
And the next thing he knew, he was already scheming to make that happen...
Hah~ Qin Lao sighed.
Those were foolish thoughts as he realized them later. In the end, he was only human despite the power he wielded. And humans can't overcome their limits unless they had one hell of a talent. Which he didn't have as he realized again.
And then he thought, maybe it's not so bad that things got this way.
I mean, compared to those freaks of nature, I'm pretty normal for a human being.
And if things flow this way then just let it be.
Qin Lao was just looking the bright side of life. That maybe he was just unlucky today but perhaps tomorrow, it will be better for him.
That kind of belief was blind and foolhardy... But what choice did he had?
And who would have thought that this would've been the luckiest day of his life?!
It all happened since afternoon when sect leader came before him and requested that he go run a simple errand for him.
Simple as it was, he was feeling excited to do it. After all, this was direct request from the big boss himself. If he did well, maybe he'll get a reward for it.
So, along with an acquaintance he knew, he went to wherever Wang Xie was in the infirmary.
And that's not all, it just got even better.
Who would have thought that squirrels would come rushing in with swarming numbers and take the defenseless Wang Xie captive?!
That was completely humiliating for the arrogant genius if word got out. And as for the only witness himself, Qin Lao's heart was gleeful and all the pent-up frustration he had over the years had vanished in an instant.
Right now, it was in the middle of the evening where he was chasing alone inside the Demonic forest.
Adventuring the Demonic forest at night was extremely dangerous for the disciples since all the ghouls and demons were always awake under the blessing of the darkness and Spiritual Yin energy was rampant in the night.
But Qin Lao was confident with his sword skills that he could at least, escape successfully when in a pinch so he had less to worry about in the darkness of the Demonic Forest.
In his gleaming eyes, what reflected was the unconscious Wang Xie being hauled away by a massive number of squirrels.
And honestly, it was hilarious.
He was glad that he was the only one who gets to enjoy such an event after sending that other guy away to report this unbelievable scene to sect leader.
Qin Lao followed silently and patiently and wondered to himself where these frightening little creatures are taking the bastard away.
Actually, he also wondered why these squirrels are even taking Wang Xie like an angry mob that's rampaging in a witch hunt.
Also, that black great sword his right hand been clutching since the beginning, isn't that a Demonic Sword?
Why would something dangerous as those armaments be in hands?
But that didn't matter to him, all he was satisfied was how he was going to spread this ludicrous incident with the recording crystal in his hand.
While he was recording this incident that's probably going to acquiesce the frustration of all his peers, he also took careful consideration around his surroundings. Careful enough to camouflage his presence in the darkness.
...
It's been about an hour since Qin Lao had begun chasing the little rascals hauling Wang Xie away. And honestly, he was starting to get a bit scared of these guys.
Not only did these rodents entered the Demonic forest like it was their own backyard, the monsters that lurk in the forest aren't even doing anything about it!
What's going on? He thought it was odd that monsters weren't showing up to eat these guys despite showing them their defenseless selves.
But after observing how the angry mob had passed through the blue zone, AKA, the most dangerous zone after the red zone, he was terrified in his heart and hesitated to follow even further.
And these guys, they've been going in a straight line ever since they took Wang Xie. Also, the monsters aren't even doing anything about it even when they've crossed their territory.
Some of these monsters were even dangerous to confront.
More dangerous than the Demonic Fertile python that he had confronted to death with Ling Xiufeng and Wang Xie.
And during the process, he had the constant urges to take Wang Xie and run.
But he hesitated as curiosity got the better of him. Therefore, he ended up following them until they passed...
The Red zone.
...
'I can do this I can do this I CAN DO THIS!'
'SO, LEGS, STOP FUCKING SHAKING!!!'
Qin Lao gritted his teeth and hammered his thighs with his fists to stop himself from trembling.
He was well aware how precarious his situation got ever since he entered the forest. And now that he had gone pass the Red zone, danger was now looming over his head.
The RedZone, the zone meant for Power Core experts and the playing field for all monsters to wreak havoc.
A Foundation Formation Cultivator like him will only get eaten as cannon fodder.
Sweat drenched both his forehead and back and soaked him yet before drying himself again to avoid the monsters catching his scent. He was crouching still like a solid statue under a dark leave-less trees. His lips twitching endlessly as he felt rueful that he didn't do what he was supposed to be doing.
In his eyes reflected a dark cave were the squirrels took Wang Xie ahead. With the entrance wide enough to fit an elephant, its interior was dreadfully ominous and dark despite his keen eyes that can illuminate any dark areas.
He dared not to use his Spiritual Sense to scan the area inside as his Spirit Pulse will attract unnecessary attention to himself. So, he only has his physical cognitive abilities to rely on.
Qin Lao felt regretful. He should've retrieved Wang Xie from those rodents instead of satisfying his curiosity. Now, what is he going to do to get Wang Xie back?
He remained still for a moment as he contemplated. Then he gulped, took a deep breath, and clutched dearly on the sword hung on his waist.
It was new sword he got after his old one got destroyed by the python beast. This new sword was a better version as well. Although it may look simple and generic, it was imbued with 2 Sword principles to complement his sword arts. Making him an even more formidable sword cultivator than he was before.
But Qin Lao felt it wasn't enough. So, he took out two pills from his new storage ring and consumed them.
What he ate were two Qi-booster pills. A 3rd grade pill with medicinal properties that can enhance his Qi flow even when injured as well as increase the quantity of Qi he could store temporarily.
He sucked in a deep breath again. And, with his half-assed determination, his body flickered executing movement technique and disappeared into the dark cave.
'Wang Xie, you little prick, you better be thankful that I'm doing this...'
Those were the last thoughts he had before his determination vanished in an instant.