In terms of appearance, Yin Zhu was well dressed with gray-colored robes and sleeves that covered his hands. He had long black hair with a white streak running down it. It had been been tied down with a simple ribbon. There were no weapons on him though his loose sleeves said differently.
"Hidden Weapons? Or does he use his fists?" she thought.
She looked at him a few seconds before the looking back at her sword. Yin Zhu barely moved from his position, only running his fingers through the words and flipping the pages. His face showed nothing except for interest in this novel in front of him.
Elder Xiang was still floating above them, watching and waiting for eveyone to organize themselves. He saw a 120 little groups dotting the arena grounds and proceeded to announce the first rotation of battles. Those groups ascended the platforms while the rest stayed back and watched.
Of the ten arenas, Ming Yue paid attention to specific one, positioned close to the center of the coliseum.
Two groups met face to face but on one group, three people had mocking smiles and arrogant eyes as they all looked at one person. Opposite to them was Xukun with his swords sheathed, his expression was calm but his eyes betrayed the hatred he held.
This trio of people were ones that Ming Yue found familiar.
When she had first encountered Xukun and Anqing, they had been bullied by a group of disciples led by Jia Xiang. They had ridiculed him for his attitude and jabbed at his origins as the son of the fallen Wu Clan. Now, not only was it two of his followers but Jia Xiang himself was on the opposite team.
In fact, Jia Xiang looked Xukun directly and spoke a few words to him. His face did not contain as much disdain as before, instead he had a look of spite. He must have wanted revenge for earlier and this was his opportunity to do so.
However, Xukun did not respond to his mockery. Instead, he waited silently for Elder Xiang to start the first battles.
The battles were set and weapons were drawn, it was about to begin.
The elder checked all ten arenas and he gave a look towards the tower, where the the Grand Elder was. He gave a quick nod to the Grand Elder and shouted out.
"There will be a mark on your bodies! Should you experience a fatal strike, you will be sent out of the arena!"
No one seemed to acknowledge what he said, they were all focused on the enemies before them. The elder merely nodded and commenced the round with a single word.
"Begin!"
In an instant, flashes of light and explosions sounded off across all ten arenas. Each platform had the same intensity as the next.
Ming Yue watched Xukun's arena closely.
His two swords were out but this time, there was one floating behind his back and the other grasped tightly in his hand. They were thin swords, the one that floated was pure white and it was what he obtained at the Ren Huan Battlefield. The one in his hand was his first sword, the beige colored blade.
With it, he charged at Jia Xiang, who wielded a single edged sword. It was a fancy sword with pearls embedded on the handle. Jia Xiang smiled, cackling as his sword clashed against Xukun's. All around them, the other members of their team began their fight.
"You fool! Don't forget that I'm not alone! Take care of him before anyone comes to his aid!"
From behind Jia Xiang were his followers, who ran to either side of Xukun and struck. One had a mace that sparked with lightning, the other used a warhammer covered in flames.
"Lightning Beast Slam!"
"Shattering Flame!"
Holding it over their heads, they smashed down on Xukun's position, who could not back off because of Jia Xiang. But he was not flustered. The white sword that floated, hummed and shined before splitting into three.
"Veil of Swords, Three Blades: One Life!"
The swords spun like a shield, blocking both of the attacks and deflecting them.
"Split! Three Lives, Three Minds!" Xukun shouted as the three white blades separated and did battled against Jia Xiang's lackeys.
With its thin but durable body, the white blades contended against the mace and hammer.
"Damnit, these swords! When did this bastard even get such a thing?!"
"It was less than a year, when did he get so strong?"
Jia Xiang's followers found themselves pushed back and unable to help their leader. The quick strikes made it difficult for them to move. Worse because they were floating swords, it was difficult to catch them or match their speed. The three swords flew about, attacking whichever it they pleased. It was as if they had a mind of their own.
With those two under control, Xukun sought to take care of Jia Xiang, whose smile had frozen.
"Don't think that I can't deal with you myself! You're still a weakling trying to climb out of the debts of your failure of a family! Blessing of the Earth" he shouted and his weapon began to glow.
The single-edged sword glowed green, transforming into a larger saber. Dark brown wood encased his once beautiful blade into a cruel weapon. The saber's edge was serrated with thorns that could tear through skin.
But Jia Xiang was not finished yet, tree roots and stone covered his body like armor. Just like that, he gained several inches above Xukun and his strength skyrocketed.
He pulled his saber back and attacked swiftly, catching Xukun's sword in its thorns.
"Twisted Grasp!"
The thorns elongated tisting around the beige sword and trapping it. Having caught the blade, Jia Xiang pulled back both his saber and the beige blade. To his surprise, Xukun did not pull back or even try to resist, allowing himself to be pulled forward as he twisted and spun the blade.
"Coiling Dragon Thrust!"
He thrusted forward, allowing the sword to leave his hands and dig into Jia Xiang's armor. Then he kicked the sword, driving the sword deeper into the stomach.
Propelling himself back, Xukun held his hands out as two of the white blades flew to him.
He dashed to the side, stabbing the two swords into the hammer-wielding follower. The follower seemed to panic and swung his hammer wildly. Xukun was fast and weaved through the swinging hammer strikes. He crossed his swords and attacked, piercing the follower in the chest. In that moment, the mark on his body activated, sending him out of the arena.
The follower with the lightning clad mace stepped back in shock before charging. At the same time, Jia Xiang finally ripped the beige sword of of his armor and threw it to the ground.
"Take this! Thunderlight Strike!"
He thrusted the mace, summoning a beam of lightning from it that shot towards Xukun.
"A Thousand Thorns, A Battalion of Spears!"
Jia Xiang pointed his saber towards Xukun as thorns grew from his saber and armor. They lengthened and shot forth. Like spears, they were aimed at Xukun, ready to skewer his body and riddle it with holes.
"Shift! Blade and Shield!"
Xukun called for his beige sword, which flew to his hands and the three white swords converged, spinning as they floated in front of him.
Controlling it with one handed, he commanded the swords to block Jia Xiang's attack while he went to deal with the beam of lightning. He rolled to one side, dodging the attack and attacking, stabbing into the follower's chest.
There was surprise on his face as the mark on him glowed and transported him out.
The shield of blades spun at an extreme speed, shaving the thorns down and keeping them away from Xukun. Seeing this, Jia Xiang face scowled as he retracted his thorns and went for a direct clash with Xukun.