Chapter 421: Dual Wielding
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Even at such a young age, Patroclus had displayed incredible martial talent. But, he was not the only one who had possessed such talent; during the days of Rilangalos, the Phantom Strike also consisted of eight concise moves. However, his offspring were unable to decipher the condensed movements, and therefore was forced to reverse the move list back to one hundred or so. It had been a significant setback in the history of the Dower family.
"KOM!"
Bright lights erupted from the scintillating silver lance as Patroclus thrust the lance at Wang Tong's heart.
How dare Wang Tong come to the match so unprepared? Didn't he know that it was not just any battle? It was a sacred duel to appease the gods who demanded sacrifice!
From the corner of Patroclus's eyes, he caught an eerie smile creep onto Wang Tong's face. The curl on Wang Tong's lips tingled the hair on the back of his neck, as he suddenly realized what was up the former's sleeve. Patroclus had been focusing on attacks from above, but had entirely overlooked the ones from the opposite direction.
"KOM!"
Right before Patroclus was about to unleash the twelfth attack, the earth roared, and then a " pillar" protruded out of the ground with such force that made the earth moan. The pillar was formed out of concentrated energy, and only the Mastery masters could tell that this energy was the primordial force from the core of the Earth, extruded by Wang Tong using extraordinary Mastery skills.
However, Wang Tong's counter-attack had only slowed down Patroclus, but was not able to stop him entirely. Patroclus about turned and rode on his momentum, then plunged the lance into the giant pillar.
"Kaboom!"
Patroclus was blown away by the impact. Such was the power of nature, much greater than that in a human's body.
Patroclus whooshed across the stage and struggled to regain balance. Finally, he landed on one of his knees like a meteor, making a sizable crater on the stage. Not a lot of people knew that this was his unique way of diverting the energy in the attack to the ground.
The invincible heir of Rilangalos was finally wounded.
Wang Tong had come prepared for this battle. He knew that he lacked both technical fineness and soul energy. However, he had one unique advantage—the Soul Essence. Combining the soul essence with Wang Tong's Mastery skills might give him just enough leverage to turn the tide of the battle. Although it was easier said than done, with the struggle to maintain two power sources being painful, if not tortuous. Wang Tong had still pulled it off, thanks to his immeasurable endurance and perseverance. Thus, Wang Tong's achievement was not only due to the predestined fortune to become the chosen one, but also because of his hard work and his will.
Wang Tong finally attacked. Although his opponent had many advantages, the combined effect of METAL combat and Mastery, enhanced by the power of the golden lance, was devastating.
The air caught fire and burned brightly around the golden lance as it closed in on its target. Patroclus acted out of instinct and moved to block the attack. However, he immediately noticed that the injury was much worse than he had thought.
The situation had taken a turn towards the dark corner for the Ivantians. They wondered what Patroclus would do under the pressure, considering he had never been experienced such circumstances.
Zhou Sisi had picked up the clues from the panicking looks on the Ivantian audience's face. 'That's it! That must be Patroclus's weakness.'
Patroclus was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a golden brain. Life had always been smooth sailing, and never once had he seen a splash of water on the deck, much less the perfect storm that Wang Tong had summoned.
Miao Xiu and Luv Ma looked at each other with a blank face. They were two of the very few people who knew Patroclus well, and they too sensed the imminent capsizing of Patroclus's unsinkable confidence. Wang Tong's biggest strength, they reckoned, was his resilience and ability to cope. In contrast, Patroclus perhaps didn't even know how to spell the word "stress."
By then, everyone was aware that Patroclus was about to face the biggest challenge in his life. Wang Tong was merely the instigator, but not the challenge itself. The Ivantian Prince had to learn ways to cope with difficulty or face defeat.
"Kom!"
Patroclus's defense faltered, and he was about to be unable to fend off Wang Tong's attack.
"Ice Dragon Tornado!" Wang Tong shouted as he added ice element GN force onto the burning fire GN force.
It was the first time that GN force of different attributes got mixed. It was only possible because of the new Mastery techniques.
Although he had a superior soul energy, Patroclus did not know how to deal with the new technique.
"KOM!"
The strike hit home, and Patroclus was blown into the air. Wang Tong suddenly launched himself into the air above him and bore down with the lance. All the while, a whirlwind of energy surrounded Wang Tong, blurring the outline of his figure.
"Kom!"
Patroclus took another hit from above and thudded to the ground face down, as if he suddenly remembered a date with the floor.
Wang Tong landed beside the fallen prince lightly.
The turn of events even caught Mr. Wannabe by surprise. Although Wang Tong had discussed with him the possibility of using two attributes at the same time, Mr. Wannabe didn't change his outlook on the match. The struggle and pain Wang Tong had endured while practicing the dual attributes had further confirmed Mr. Wannabe's speculation—it was so difficult that it might as well be impossible. Despite the immense pain Wang Tong had to endure, he had made it. After hours of practice, Wang Tong had learned to harmonize the two energies using his Soul Essence, and therefore, eased the pain by a considerable measure. Although there was much more he could do with the Soul Essence, Wang Tong's ability to harness the power of Soul Essence so far was very impressive.
So powerful was the combination of soul energy and Mastery that it had even brought down the invincible Patroclus.
As the dust settled, people watched as Patroclus stood in the middle of the crater, his shoulder half slumped. The blow had clearly taken the wind out of his sail.
Li Shiming's heart sank. He wondered how he would have felt if it were him.
"Patroclus is having some difficulty. The young Blade Warrior is indeed powerful!" Michaux Odin exclaimed. Although Patroclus was considered the perfect human, he was a human after all. On the other hand, Wang Tong's ability had surpassed human's capabilities. In other words, his power had become irrelevant to the strength of his soul energy.
"Get out of here! Is he for real? How am I going to fight him?" Lie Jian shouted in disbelief.
"There is nothing you can do about it," Michaux said calmly.
"Sucks to be you, Patroclus..."
"No kidding! I have heard that Wang Tong didn't have his mind opened until he was sixteen. Who would have thought that he would improve so much in just two years! "
"Sounds like the Blade Warrior would dominate the world for the rest of the centuries, just like the good old days."
"Haven't you heard? The Templar's Court has already acknowledged Wang Tong's status. He is also engaged with Ma Xiaoru; he is not fighting by himself."
"That's true, but he does not lack enemies either."
"Touché, touché..."
By then, only the Martians could carry on the conversation regarding Wang Tong with such a nonchalant tone. Every Ivantian's heart was caught in their throat as they feared that the history would repeat itself. They had waited three hundred years after the defeat of their champion, Rilangalos, for the birth of another perfect Dower, but the promised glory was about to slip away because of Wang Tong.
Patroclus straightened himself; his wound was severe. As he channeled energy into the Deva Lance, the silver light flickered, threatening to distinguish.
Wang Tong didn't attack. Despite his opponent's apparent weakness, he registered that something was amiss. Patroclus's face was devoid of expression, but his eyes burned with anticipation.
Chapter 422: The Youngest Einherjar
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
This sudden development unsettled Zhang Jin and rendered her at a loss. Should she feel happy for Patroclus's comeback, or should she be afraid of what Patroclus would become? It was something she did not know. But, what she was sure of was that Patroclus was about to unleash a power that was unimaginable by mankind.
The audiences watched in horror as the blue sky took on a tinge of forlorn grayness. Einherjar Li Moshan knotted his face and was shocked by the development. A few seconds later, his concern and disbelief were shared by all audiences.
"Could it be...?"
Patroclus' face had an eery tranquility that shattered all doubts about his capability. However elaborated they might have been, people's presumptions were naïve, because one had ever truly understood Patroclus.
The Deva Lance stopped flickering and started to glow with a dazzling light as bursts of bright energy spilled out from within Patroclus.
There and then, the youngest Einherjar the world had ever seen was born.
The entire arena has succumbed to the brilliance of the perfect human, the real genius. Even the earthlings who were still drunken with pride for Wang Tong's power suddenly quieted down and watched the development with disbelief.
The age of the youngest Einherjar had been forty, but Patroclus had reduced that number by more than half as he reached the Einherjar level when he was still under twenty! From then on, no one would ever doubt his power.
All the top fighters, including Li Shiming, Lie Jian, and Michaux had a hard time accepting reality. However, Zhang Jin sat quietly and was not the slightest surprised. But she did not feel joy in her heart either.
In contrast to the significant ramification of the development, Patroclus announced quietly, "I am now fighting at Einherjar Level. Just a heads up."
Zhang Jin searched for words to describe the otherworldly expression on Patroclus' face, but eventually, she conceded that an Einherjar's expression was beyond the descriptive capability of words invented by the human.
Patroclus had proven to the world that all the presumptions about his power, about who he was, were completely bogus.
After three hundred years, the humans had forgotten that there had been two gods. Blade Warrior was not the only one, because there was also Rilangalos. Much like what had happened in the history, not only had the Blade Warrior found his heir, but also Rilangalos Dower.
Like the sun, Patroclus shed light and warmth into the hearts of the audiences. No one had expected to witness the birth of an Einherjar during a live-cast of the tournament.
After the dramatic turn of events, Patroclus had rightfully returned to the center of everyone's attention, as public opinions started to favor him. Many people were convinced that with his transformation, he already had the victory in the bag.
He was the chosen one, the son of the god, and he would stop history from repeating itself.
The Ivantians were ecstatic; no one would ever doubt Patroclus's authority, as he would be the strongest man in the world from then on. The next three centuries would belong to the Ivantians!
People were no longer certain about their prediction of the upshot as the tide took a 180-degree turn. How would Wang Tong fare against an Einherjar? How powerful exactly was an Einherjar anyways?
Patroclus opened up his sea of consciousness and welcomed the unseen forces in every molecule in the air. This was the unique ability of Einherjars as they were able to transform their body into a vehicle that could absorb enormous power from his surroundings.
"Deva Lance, CHARGE!" Patroclus shouted as a silver light slithered down from the sky at Wang Tong. Wang Tong hurried to safety and watched as the beam of light melted a hold on the floor. Before Wang Tong had time to gather himself, a web of silver lights rained down on him from above. There was nowhere to hide.
Although Patroclus had just become an Einherjar, his advantage was evident. His effortless ascension had made many levels six warriors' faces green with envy. If the gods were fair and just, why would they grant power to one so easily while denying it to the others?
Even Patroclus's Father, an Einherjar, and the leader of one of the greatest clans in the Confederation, felt that his son was destined for something much greater than him.
Not only was the Dower the perfect family, but they also had a unique family dynamics. Although Einherjar Andres was Patroclus' father, he was no more a father than a servant to his son. Andres's life purpose was to support his son until he claimed ownership of the entire world. So power-hungry were the Dowers that they would ignore and abandon any transitional values that hindered their expansion. Because of that, the Dower Family was always considered a bunch of queers.
Meanwhile, the other Einherjar, Lie Moshan, was deeply disturbed by the scene. He had high hopes for his son, even after his recent defeat. However, after seeing the power of Patroclus, all hopes were abandoned. Watching the power of a great house at full display, Lie Moshan realized that his family still had a long way to go.
As the swirl of energy danced about the silver lance, Wang Tong failed to evade the attack; Patroclus's Einherjar-level attacks had gained an immeasurable vigor and frequency. To put Patroclus's technique into simpler terms, he had transformed his entire body into GN force and unleashed it along with his attacks. The new technique, combined with the Ivantian's superior soul energy, had totally overwhelmed Wang Tong.
The intense exchange of blows kept all audiences on the edge of their seats. Each movement was a near miss of a fatal blow for Wang Tong.
After five minutes of pounding and jabbing, Patroclus finally stopped the aggression. He hovered in the air and watched the pile of rubble beneath him; the last bout of attacks was merely an Einherjar's warming-up.
"KOM!"
The pile of rubble exploded, sending a plume of dust into the air. From the dust emerged Wang Tong, covered in a golden shield. This was not the first time the audiences saw the golden shield, as Michaux had used it before.
"Did he just copy your ability?" Lie Jian asked.
"No, not really. His shield is much more powerful than mine, as it is formed using the primordial force in the earth. It seems that Wang Tong has improved a lot in just a few days."
"Do you mean that Wang Tong actually has a chance of winning?" Lie Jian asked in disbelief. He had never heard any level six fighter defeat an Einherjar before.
"I say its fifty."
Michaux understood the full extent of the power of the Soul Essence, and therefore knew that Wang Tong was not very far from becoming an Einherjar. One fact that even Michaux had to admit was that Wang Tong would never enter the state of Einherjar anytime soon; his power still needed to be mature over time. However, he wondered how much of the power Wang Tong could harness before he had the soul energy and cultivation level match with the soul essence.
Patroclus and Wang Tong each stood in one corner of the stage and locked each other's gazes. They smiled at each other knowingly while admiration flickered in their eyes. Slowly, the smiles evaporated from their face like honeydew under the morning sun. From then on, they would unleash their ultimate power, and therefore, caution was called for both combatants.
Suddenly, the sky was scarred by a light that carried intense energy into the silver lance. Patroclus held the lance high up and attacked. However, Wang Tong didn't move out of the harm's way.
"KOM!"
Even as the tip of the lance gnawed a piece of flesh off of Wang Tong's side, he stood still and did not move by even a hair's width.
Only Lie Moshan and Andes nodded in approval since they knew that Patroclus and unleashed a technique called the "Einherjar's Snare." It would kill any moving creature in an instant.
After a couple of seconds, Wang Tong finally retaliated as the golden lance re-appeared in his hand.
"Fire Drake Swirl!" Wang Tong shouted as a thousand spikes pierced the ground under Patroclus's feet.
Chapter 423: Power of the Soul
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
The improvement came from not only strength, but also a fighter's overall responsiveness to changes on the battlefield.
The two lances collided with each other, spilling out enormous amounts of energy that rippled through space.
Wang Tong's recklessness and his whimsical fighting style seemed unprofessional in comparison with the Ivantian Einherjar's set-moves. However, no one other than Wang Tong would have held his ground for so long under an Einherjar's attacks.
Nevertheless, Patroclus still had the absolute advantage as long as he kept at it; his victory was only a matter of time.
The Einherjar Lance was laced with a sizzling GN force as Wang Tong gave all he had in this fight. He had infused his attack with as much natural force as he could harness. Each jab and thrust carried a measure of levity and a sense of nonchalant finality. On the other hand, Patroclus's direct and purposeful attacks were straight out of textbooks. There was no need to pull any tricks as Patroclus was confident that he could win the match with his Einherjar-level strength alone.
"KOM!"
Patroclus managed to open up the wall of ice spikes surrounding him, so he took the opportunity and dashed out of the encirclement, charging directly at Wang Tong. One advantage that Wang Tong had over his opponent was his experience in a real war. Never been the boots on the ground, Patroclus would never learn what it was like in fighting a real battle, much less drawing power from such experience.
By then, Wang Tong's pupil had already turned bloody-red as he inched closer towards a battle trance. The risk was high as he went further into a battle trance, but Wang Tong conceded that his options were very limited. After years of training, Wang Tong had learned to enter battle trance by conditioning his mind and emotions. He had learned that his trigger was the scene of the bloody massacre of his comrades on Norton. While in a trance, Wang Tong was practically a hungry beast with limited mental capacity. In exchange, his physical damage was exponentially increased.
"KOM!"
A quick jab landed on Wang Tong's shoulder, which felt like a mosquito bite to the entranced Wang Tong. He hurled his fist and landed it squarely on Patroclus's face.
In the trance mode, Wang Tong's defense was greatly reduced, since the simple mind of an enraged beast would not comprehend the act of evasion. There was only one way he could go, and it was forward, no side or back steps.
Wang Tong knew that this was the only way to victory, since he wagered that Patroclus would be much more afraid of being injured than he would. It was a scare tactic. However, what Wang Tong didn't take into account was the eccentric mind of his opponent. Not only did Patroclus not show any fear, but he also looked to be enjoying the moment.
As the intensity of the battle grew, so did the recklessness of the combatants' moves. They exchanged a few bare-knuckle rounds, taking their opponent's hit with its full intent. But, neither of them seemed to be faltering.
It was clear by then that Patroclus was more than a wimpy rich kid who couldn't take a hit. When Wang Tong's powerful blows landed on the Ivantian Prince, it was not the pain that flickered in the young Einherjar eyes, but the excitement and fragile edge of calmness.
"KOM, KOM, KOM!"
As the heat of the battle intensified, both combatants had forsaken the cautious approach and started to trade blows directly. Everyone had abandoned the hope of seeing a peaceful ending of this struggle.
"KOM!"
The two fighters backed away from each other to take a breath and recuperate. Patroclus's face was pale as wounds scattered all over his body. Wang Tong had cleverly used the GN force to penetrate the Ivantian's defense before he injected the natural forces into the opening. However, none of the natural forces were able to hurt Patroclus more than causing superficial wounds. On the other hand, Wang Tong's injury was much more severe. That being said, Wang Tong had an inhumanly fast rate of healing thanks to his Soul Essence.
Patroclus channeled his soul energy and floated into the air as the Deva Lance started to swirl in his hand like helicopter blades. The air moved in the same direction as the lance as energy poured into Patroclus' system.
Everyone realized that Patroclus was about to unleash an Einherjar's coup de grace.
The Deva Lance eventually created a silvery black-hole that started to suck in the energy from even the energy barriers.
Although Wang Tong could not yet utilize the power of Einherjar, he would not give up the match so quickly. Sensing the enormous pressure coming down on him from above, Wang Tong shouted out as fire spilled out of his eyes. The Einherjar Lance hummed, resonating with his owner's calling. Suddenly, a fire drake appeared out of nowhere and swooped down on Patroclus. It was just another common Mastery trick. Wang Tong would be too naive to think that he could stop an Einherjar with it.
While thinking that, Wang Tong gripped the lance and pushed it forward and started chanting. An ice drake appeared right next to the fire drake, interlocking its serpentine body with the fire. However, as the two serpents got closer, wild explosions erupted as the two opposite elements worked against each other.
Even as the two drakes was about to come apart due to the insistent explosions, Wang Tong doubled down on his attack and summoned a tornado that wrapped tightly around the two deadly harbinger of deaths, binding them together.
The turmoil inside the tornado increased by ten folds, but the wind-cage held and didn't give in. All mastery masters were shocked by the scene. They would have never imagined to combined two opposite natural forces together; they wouldn't be able to pull it off even if they had thought of it. Michaux was also taken aback by Wang Tong's technique. He reckoned that Wang Tong had used the wind element as a binding force to glue the fire and ice together, a truly precarious move.
Meanwhile in the sky, Patroclus's Einherjar attack was ready to be unleashed. The space-time web had already crumbled into one singularity, resting on the tip of his lance.
"KOM!"
Carrying the cosmic energy, The Deva lace bore down on Wang Tong.
Wang Tong reacted quickly and removed the binding wind around the boiling concoction of death.
As the two energies collided, everyone was blinded by a bright flash. No one could hear or see anything, and the world seemed to have come to a halt.
After a while, a rumbling in the distance broke the silence. As the rumbling increased its intensity, it turned into a roar and then a moan. People started to feel the world tremble under their feet as if the arena would collapse at any second.
When the bright light finally faded, people watched in horror as they discovered that last attack had destroyed 12 out of the 14 layers of energy shields. The last two layers opened up at a dozen places and were barely holding on. The scene at the center of the stage was even more gruesome, as the entire stage had been pulverized.
In a plume of dust, people found Wang Tong and Patroclus, both standing. Wang Tong's eyes were blood-shot while the Ivantian Prince was injured at a few places.
They were both smiling at each other!
"HAHAHA!"
The smiles turned into joyful laughter. This was the most satisfying battle they had ever fought, and they could finally understand the Blade Warrior and Rilangalos. The results of the match no longer mattered, and only the match itself would live forever.
After the laughter, Wang Tong rubbed the blood from the corner of his mouth and announced, "I'm getting bored. Let's finish it!"
"Haha! Might as well!"
Even as the two fighters spoke, their lances hummed as if they were also communicating with one another. The arena maintenance crew had promptly restarted the energy shields, putting the facility back to service.
Wang Tong squeezed the lance and announced, "Charcoal, start!" He stomped the end of the lance on the ground as he charged up his soul energy. Patroclus was already hovering in the air, absorbing as much energy as he could.
Wang Tong clenched the lance as he harnessed the primal power from the inner core of the moon. This was the ultimate strike that had defeated Michaux.
Patroclus's face contorted as he overloaded his system with energy; this would be his final blow!
Ma Xiaoru was terrified. She didn't care about the outcome; she only wanted Wang Tong to be safe. But, however overwrought she was, she could not do anything. She felt like she was watching a slow train wreck.
"KOM!"
A golden dragon, ten times the size of the fire and ice drakes, charged out of the Einherjar Lance. Meanwhile, a silvery shield was formed around Patroclus.
Kaboom!
Patroclus blocked Wang Tong's ultimate strike with ease. Patroclus didn't give Wang Tong a second chance as he leveled his lance and charged at Wang Tong.
This was the moment of life and death; the suspense made many audiences cover their eyes.
However, Wang Tong had promised Ma Xiaoru that he would return safely as the winner. In a blink of an eye, the belligerent energy in Patroclus's attack was absorbed by Wang Tong's lance.
It was the power of the Soul Essence!
Chapter 424: Uncrowned King
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Using the Einherjar Lance as a vehicle, Wang Tong commanded an immeasurable amount of natural power. No one, other than the Einherjar, could have done that.
Wang Tong launched himself into the air while holding the golden lance to greet his attacker.
"KOM!"
The collision caused a powerful shockwave to sweep across the stage and annihilate all layers of energy shields.
Silence eerily crept into the jam-packed arena. The stage was gone while the two fighters still stood their ground and stared into each other's souls. The difference in power was palpable as Patroclus's power dominated the last exchange of blows. Patroclus stood with his back straight while carrying the lance in one hand with a measure of confidence. On the other side, Wang Tong slouched his shoulder and half leaned on the Einherjar Lance. The damage had overloaded his defense and severely wounded him.
Everyone's heart was caught in their throats as they wondered what would happen next.
After a while, Patroclus finally took a difficult step forward to prove that no matter how powerful Wang Tong was, a level six fighter would never overcome an Einherjar.
During the last impact, Patroclus could feel that Wang Tong was able to alleviate some of the damage using the intrinsic connection between his soul essence and nature. However, his ability in doing so was very limited.
As Patroclus took his first step, Wang Tong's body seemed to have quivered slightly. He looked so beaten-up that he could barely stand upright.
The Ivantians were elated; they were about to witness the most glorious moment of the Dower family. The legend of the Blade Warrior that had started with the Dower and would eventually end with the Dower.
Patroclus took another small but heavy step; each step was a leap for the Ivantian's history.
Wang Tong was at his most vulnerable state, and all that he could do was to watch as his opponent strike him down.
Patroclus attacked again.
"KOM!"
The attack hit home and blew away the defenseless Wang Tong.
Despite the victory, Patroclus's every single movement was a struggle. It was apparent that his injury was no less severe than Wang Tong's, but his Einherjar power had supported him until now.
Patroclus struggled to raise the bright lance again and aimed it at Wang Tong. This was his ultimatum: surrender or die.
Patroclus wished that Wang Tong would fight till death, as he didn't want the latter to cower.
The struggle inside every Earthling's hearts was beyond words. Surrender? What about the honor and dignity of the Blade Warrior? Then, should he keep fighting? Wang Tong could barely stand up, much less fight.
Everyone waited for Wang Tong's decision quietly.
A sense of forlorn resignation suddenly rose inside Ma Xiaoru. She clenched her fists and tried to clear her thoughts, but realized that her mind was already a bleak wasteland. She wished that Wang Tong would live, but she knew that her boyfriend would not give up so easily.
Having received no response from Wang Tong, Patroclus knew it was the cue for him to claim his final victory. After this attack, he would have achieved what his ancestor had failed. After this attack, he would finally become the most powerful man in the universe. As Patroclus poured more and more energy in the Deva Lance, he felt his soul was aflame; he felt the power of a god.
Watching the glaring tip of the Deva Lance, Wang Tong smiled.
Everyone gazed at Wang Tong as they screamed in their minds, 'Was the legend of the Blade Warrior about to end there and then?' Reality forced them to come to terms with the fact that Wang Tong was no more than poor soul in mortal coil.
As the world had abandoned hope, Wang Tong finally gathered enough strength to strike back for the last time. He would never give up even if death was already at his doorstep.
The Einherjar Lance was lighted up by a gush of energy from Wang Tong as it charged at the unwitting Patroclus.
"KOM!"
Blood spilled out from Patroclus's silver jacket as he dropped the Deva Lance. Patroclus lowered his head to study the golden lance buried in his chest. Mouth gaping, Patroclus's head lolled to one side, and he collapsed to the ground.
The invincible Prince, the perfect human, the son of the god had fallen without a sound. With his fall, the hope of all Ivantians followed suit.
How was that possible?
Wang Tong was piratically defeated! He was defenseless!
Overwhelming nausea came over Wang Tong. He stumbled a few steps but was able to stand on both feet in the end. By then, Wang Tong was unconscious, but a voiced at the back of his skull called out to him, reminding him to stand still.
After a few seconds of reverential silence, a tsunami of cheers erupted.
The euphoria of every Earthling was beyond description. This victory belonged to everyone from the Earth!
The outcome of the match had taken the wind out of Rockefeller. He slumped in his chair as he was still trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened.
Had an einherjar failed to defeat a level-six warrior?
What had just happened?
The same question rang inside of every Ivantian's mind. "Why?"
They were so close to victory, yet so far.
The flame inside Andres Dower's eyes turned into cold ashes. The dream of the Dower was crushed and stomped upon by a seventeen-year-old fledgling.
The arena had turned into a sea of colors and celebration.
Karl was so ecstatic that he couldn't even speak.
"B...B...Boss! You're...are the BEST!" Karl took off his shirt and whirled it in the air.
Ma Xiaoru and Zhou Sisi embraced each other in sheer excitement. It wasn't easy for them to watch the match; every minute felt like a torture.
In stark contrast with the Earthlings, all Ivantians drooped down their heads, and many were sobbing.
The pride and confidence of all Ivantians had collapsed with Patroclus.
Never before had the Ivantians felt the presence of the Blade Warrior overshadow, if not entirely subdue their existence.
Li Shiming watched Wang Tong thoughtfully. Perhaps Wang Tong's performance had made him accept Li Feng's decision, and perhaps he had even seen some of his ancestor inside Wang Tong.
The Martians were not sure which side they should be on. After all, their combatants had all but failed.
"The Living Lance of Soul Essence!" Michaux shouted.
"What the hell is that?" Lie Jian rebutted bitterly. How much had he wished that it was him standing at the center of the stage right then?
Michaux Odin didn't spare him an explanation; he knew that the brute would not appreciate a wee-bit of what he had to say. Instead, he applauded for Wang Tong as well as Patroclus. Deep down, the young divine master knew that the real struggle between Wang Tong and Patroclus had just begun.
Chapter 425: Two Girls One Pillow
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
The tournament had finally closed its curtain. It was an unprecedented success, which also marked Wang Tong's coronation. Although he had defeated Patroclus, one victory was hard to convince everyone that Wang Tong was a superior fighter.
As Wang Tong carried on the Blade Warrior's banner, everyone wondered how far he could go and how strong he would become.
On the other hand, the defeat ought to have been a wake-up call for Patroclus. Would he gather himself after the defeat and seek revenge in the future?
Both of them were still very young, and their journey had just begun.
The final match had been epochal, and it would live forever inside people's hearts.
Although the Ivantians were upset that their prince had failed to claim the title of Champion, Patroclus's performance had given them some hope that he would one day bring Wang Tong down from his throne. For now, they would let the earthling warm up the cold seat for Patroclus.
Many powerful fighters, although defeated, had improved themselves during the tournament, and they were all eyeing the title of Champion for next year. But first, they would need to train harder. Although the tournament had ended, it had lit up the enthusiasm inside every fighter's heart.
The biggest winner of this year's tournament was Ayrlarng and the S club. Membership applications fell into their mailbox like snow in December.
Unlike Wang Tong, who had lots of friends, Patroclus had only one: Zhang Jin. Although he was recognized as a prodigy at a very young age, his exceptional talent had overshadowed day-to-day life. As a result, Patroclus had always been a loner, and he found it hard to blend in with other schoolmates.
On the other hand, almost everyone could relate to Wang Tong and easily become friends with him. His circle of friends grew out of control after his victory.
"Piss off!" Li Ruoer had finally broken the ladies code and cussed out loud at Lie Jian.
Lie Jian's servile smile didn't waver. "I have never seen anyone who looked so pretty even when she is mad. My hometown on the Mars is a beautiful place. Why don't you come visit me after the trip to Valhalla?"
Michaux stood a good ten feet away from Lie Jian; the latter's ingratiating smile made him want to puke.
Frustrated, Li Ruoer finally brought out her coup de grace. "I already have a boyfriend. His name is WANG TONG!"
Lie Jian knew she was bluffing, so he ran his finger through his hair like a hair shampoo model and attempted a smoldering tone, in vain, "Wang Tong is with Ma Xiaoru. Oh, I know everything, baby."
Disgusted, Li Ruoer paused for a second and then said, "Well, didn't you know that both my BFF Ma Xiaoru and I are sharing the same boyfriend? "
At the corner of Li Ruoer's eyes, she caught the unwitting Ma Xiaoru walking by. Li Ruoer rushed to grab and pulled her in front of Lie Jian. "Ask her for yourself."
Li Ruoer squeezed Ma Xiaoru's hand as a signal. Ma Xiaoru had heard many stories about the rascal standing in front of her, and therefore she decided to play along for the sake of Li Ruoer's sanity.
"Yes, we had promised each other ever since we were little to share the most powerful man in the world."
Li Ruer hugged Ma Xiaoru and then cast a searing glance at Lie Jian. "Can you fu*k off now?"
Michaux nudged Lie Jian and said, "Let's go unless you want to fight two Enchantresses."
Lie Jian shrugged, "I know I couldn't count on you. Anyways, I am no match for Wang Tong right now, but I will bring him down from his high horse one day. Don't you dare go near him before I come back for you!"
Michaux hurried to drag Lie Jian away before the martian brute could provoke the two girls any further.
Three days later...
"How are you feeling?" Zhang Jin took out the old flowers in the vase beside Patroclus's bed and replaced them with a new bouquet. She studied his face as the latter lay quietly in the bed, his face devoid of any expression, but handsome nonetheless.
Patroclus's wound had healed at an astonishing rate. After the battle, Patroclus conceded his lack of resilience and endurance. Despite the Einherjar level power, Patroclus was about as tough as a glass cannon.
"I had opened my mind ever since I was five, so it took me twelve years to reach Einherjar. He didn't open his mind until fifteen, and he still defeated me...Ha-Ha!" Patroclus beamed from side to side.
Zhang Jin smiled, "Sounds like you are taking it pretty well. I should thank him for finally letting you taste defeat."
Patroclus smiled and regarded the blooming flowers under the sun. "How is he doing?"
"Don't worry. He is more resilient than a cockroach. You should worry about yourself first. Who would have thought that a level six fighter would—"
"It caught me off guard as well… haha! Cough...cough" Patroclus rubbed his chest where he had received the blow.
"Be careful! You have not recovered yet. Once you have recovered, we will leave for Valhalla right away."
"Templar's court? I will pass." Patroclus was convinced that he would not learn much at the Templar's court.
"They specifically invited you... I think it was about Wang Tong. Maybe ..."Zhang Jin paused, but Patroclus knew what she meant.
"Ah...Alright, alright. I will visit them, I have never been to the earth before."
"Great! If you have time, I want you to visit Ayrlarng with me. I have heard many good things about that school."
"Ayrlarng..." Patroclus mauled the words as he vaguely remembered that that was the school Rilangalos had attended.
Wang Tong lied on the soft bed while Ma Xiaoru was spoon-feeding him some food.
Li Ruoer's rolled her eyes and scolded, "Why did he need you to feed him? He is already recovered! Pathetic!"
"It's ok. He is still weak."
"He is going to take advantage of you if you spoil him like this."
After Wang Tong's secret identity was revealed, Li Ruoer felt more related to Wang Tong than before. After all, he was her ancestor's successor. Although it was no longer a secret that Li Ruoer had a crush on Wang Tong, she felt it hard to be as nice to Wang Tong as Ma Xiaoru would.
"Wow, what a lucky guy! Ma Xiaoru, don't be too nice to him!" Zhou Sisi walked into the room and jested.
"That's what I told her, but she won't listen."
"Boss, there are too many applications for the S-Club. What should we do?"
"I think we should only accept members who are currently enrolled in school, eh?"
Chapter 426: The Real Templar's Court
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"I see your point, and it reminded me of something that I wanted to talk to you about. As you said, our original intention in forming the S-Club was to facilitate the exchange of new ideas and not grabbing attention. Looking at our club today, it seems to be heading in a different direction.
Wang Tong nodded.
"Ah...There is someone who insisted on seeing you—"
Before Zhou Sisi could finish her sentence, Wang Tong noticed a little head poking through the threshold: it was Bei Bei.
"Haha! Bei Bei, come —come!"
Having gotten the permission to enter, Bei Bei ran into the room with a skip in her steps.
"Uncle Wang Tong, you are the BEST!"
"Cough, cough... Call me brother. I'm not that old."
Bei Bei was too young to see the humor in it, so she pulled an overwrought face and the rebutted, "Mommy told me to call you that, saying that you are about the same age as daddy."
"Ok... fine. I will be your ... uncle." Wang Tong gave in.
The three girls laughed at Wang Tong's helpless face after watching the comical interaction.
In response to the girl's snickers, Wang Tong held Bei Bei's hand and started to introduce the "aunties." "Come here Bei Bei. This is your aunt, Li Ruoer. She has a hot temper. Don't be like her when you grow up. "
Li Ruoer closed into the little girl and said with a pleasant tone: "Bei Bei, Call me sister. Do you think I am the same age as your mother?"
"Sister Li Ruoer is pretty. You are not...aunt." Bei Bei was quick to pick up the cue and wiser in choosing the side.
"Follow me Bei Bei. I will give you candies and treats, but we won't give any to that old uncle. OK?"
"YAY! I like treats!"
It suddenly occurred to Wang Tong that he still had no clue why the little girl would show up in his room, so he asked. "Bei Bei, did you come here by yourself?"
"No, mommy took me here." Bei Bei said, her mouth half full with rice pudding.
"Principle Samantha invited Bei Bei and her mother to cheer for you." Zhou Sisi explained.
"That's very nice of her. How is she doing?" Wang Tong asked.
"Very busy! She has been elected as the Earth Councilor, and she still needs to look after the school. She is such a doer. I don't think I could do those many things at once."
"That's good. She has finally reached her goal." Wang Tong exclaimed.
Wang Tong fed puddings to the little girl and tried to get as much information from her about Jansining and other comrades as possible.
The conversation brought out Wang Tong's memories of the days he had spent on Norton with his beloved comrades, and that love-defining moment when he held the dying Ma Xiaoru close to his body. He didn't notice when his eyes glazed over. The couple locked each other's eyes in a knowing and loving gaze.
"I can't stand you two!" Li Ruoer couldn't bear the couple's public affection, so she stormed out of the room.
A few minutes later, the doctor came and cleared the room. When Wang Tong was alone by himself again, a mix of nostalgia and accomplishment came over him.
There was no doubt that Patroclus was a stronger warrior than him. However, strength and power alone did not dictate the outcome of the match, where Wang Tong's will and adaptive strategy triumphed. After the tournament, Wang Tong had seen a new field where he could cultivate, and learned much more about his power than he ever would, particularly regarding his Soul Essence.
"Thank you, Mr. Wannabe. I really appreciate your help."
Mr. Wannabe and Charcoal both appeared out of the crystal. Wang Tong knew that he would not have been able to bring his opponent down without the help of his old friends.
"Balls! That Ivantian's feminine diarrhea-BS must be contagious. He made you so sentimental, gross! Have you recovered yet?" Mr. Wannabe jested.
"Don't worry. I will be fully recovered soon."
"Atta-boy! That's it! Good job, by the way."
"Haha, thanks! Have I told you that Old Fart is actually the grand master of the Templar? He is in charge. I think I should be able to free you."
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
"On another note, are you...interested in that harpist? She is quite a looker!"
"None of your business!"
A few days later, a space-liner full of young warriors headed towards Earth from the moon. Although the tournament had ended, their journey had just begun. These young warriors were excited about the promise of entering the Templar's court.
A couple of hours later, the space liner landed at the Washington Bay. Without taking a break, the group headed directly towards the Templar's Court.
Although it was not the first time for many earthling teenagers to enter the Templar's court, curiosity gripped the hearts of all of the boys and girls from other planets.
The airplane dropped the group of young fighters in a valley and disappeared behind the mountain range. Zhang Buyu and the other three inner curt disciples felt light-hearted as they had finally reached home.
"Attention everyone, you have entered the territory of the Court. Look above you… You will see the light at the mountaintop. That's the Hall of Valhalla. Feel free to look around, and I will meet you up there." Zhang Buyu announced to everyone.
"Michaux, follow me!" Lie Jian shouted out and started up the mountain. He was eager to be the first one to arrive at the top, so he used his soul energy and started flying.
It turned out that Lie Jian was not alone, as Li Shiming, Patroclus, and Wang Tong all started flying towards the top. The other fighters had to follow them on foot.
As Lie Jian approached the plateau at the top, he was blown away by the scale of the development. The Templars had practically turned the entire mountain into a city. Streets weaved into each other and skyscrapers jutted out like teeth of an ancient giant. Lie Jian had imagined the Court to be similar to a senior's complex, but the vibrant and lively scene proved him wrong. Even Wang Tong was taken it back by the ambiance.
"Hehe, who would have thought, eh?"
"Haha, this is the real Templar's court."
In a heartbeat, the four air-bound warriors had already reached the gate of the city.
"What an extravagant place!" Lie Jian shouted.
"They all seem to be top level fighters."
"Of course, even a peddle could be a level-six warrior." Li Shiming said lightly.
Wang Tong was in no mood for sightseeing. He looked left and right, searching for the culprit.
"Ah...you have finally arrived, young master." A disciple greeted Wang Tong with a deep bow.
"Yes. No need for the formality. Could you please show me the way?"
"Hey, are you going to pretend we are not here?" Lie Jian piped up.
The young disciple didn't even spare him a glance and replied, "Please help yourself."
Seeing that he was not alone in the cold-shoulder treatment as Li Shiming and Patroclus also stood quietly beside him, Lie Jian decided to let the matter rest.
Meanwhile, Wang Tong was concerned with only one task: finding Old Fart.
Chapter 427: Where Is My MONEY?
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"Let's follow him and go take a look." Lie Jian announced. The rest of the fighters followed Lie Jian's lead and filed through the large gate.
The inner court disciples were not in a hurry to catch up as they took their time and enjoyed the quiet scenery on the outskirts of the city.
Inside, the city was brimming with cultivators bustling about their business. As soon as the young fighters entered the Court, the clamor of street peddlers turned into that of training drills, telling them that they had entered the training ground.
"Young master, the grand master is waiting for you inside the hall."
"Thank you, but can you stop calling me young master? It gives me jitters. By the way, what is your name?"
The young disciple beamed from side to side, revealing a row of healthy and shiny teeth. "My name is Qi Bin, from the inner court, Archery Branch." Qi Bin said as he bowed deeply.
Wang Tong looked up at the roof line of the giant hall in front of him, and after only the slightest hesitation, he carried on and walked into the building. A few minutes later, Patroclus and the other fighters also arrived at the entrance. They stood for a second as they mused over their choices. Everyone wanted to enter the hall; however, they hadn't received the invitation from the grand master.
Lie Jian broke the silence and continued; Martians were not well known for their courtesies.
As Wang Tong walked through the threshold, he was greeted by a dozen old men, all at a similar age as Old Fart. They were arguing about something before they saw Wang Tong entering the hall. He glanced over the dozen old men and locked his eyes onto the one in the middle. His face looked the same; however, the rascal quality that had always been a part of Old Fart's character was gone. Instead, Wang Tong sensed a hint of otherworldliness, perhaps an immortal-like nature, in the old man's surprisingly radiant face.
The grand master opened his arms and shouted, "Welcome back! WELCOME BACK!"
The touching scene of the reunion of father and son had coaxed out a few old tears. The other Templar masters backed out of the young boy's way so that grand master's warm embrace could greet him.
Wang Tong's eyes were red and his face crumpled. He also opened his arms as if he were to return the embrace.
"Screw YOU!"
A golden light lit up the poorly-lit hall as Wang Tong charged towards Old Fart with the lance. The sudden turn of events stumped everyone. However, the grand master remained calm as a slyness glinted in his eyes.
Old Fart reached out his right arm and stopped the lance.
"Tsz... Too young, too simple, sometimes naive."
"F*ck off! Where is my money?"
"Stingy ungracious brat! You live like a king now. What money are you talking about?"
"WHAT? A KING? Hell no! You are going to give me my money back, today, right now! I don't care if you are the grand master or the grand monster. Give…me…my…MONEY! "
The two spared the trouble of words and went directly into action as they fought inside the sacred court of the Templars over the bloody matter of stolen allowance.
Wang Tong was tired after a while, so he paused and stood aside to take a rest, getting ready for the next bout of a brawl.
"Why don't you take the other youngsters for a tour of our place? I wish to speak to him privately. Obviously, he is very excited to see me. " The grand master announced to the other masters.
Picking up the cue, the rest of the young fighters followed the other masters out of the hall.
"You are doing very well." Wang Tong half-mocked and half-grunted.
"You too. Your upbringing was not wasted after all."
Wang Tong cast a sidelong glance at the Old Fart, "Why don't you look into the mirror? Grandmaster? Hmph! I wonder if all Templars are blind."
"Haha! Who would think, eh? I had tried my entire life getting out of this accursed place, but now I am back!"
"Can you tell me what is going on now? It seems like everyone knows something except me."
"Well, come and join me in my study. It's about time for you to know."
After blowing off the steam, Wang Tong and Old Fart had quickly bonded again. Wang Tong could never truly hate Old Fart, since he could never have done anything without Old Fart.
After Wang Tong listened to Old Fart's explanation, he learned that the space crystal was from the Templar's Court, and it was the Templar's tradition to hunt for exceptional talents across the universe. Even if they couldn't find the heir of the Blade Warrior, the search would always bring in some disciples to fill up the rank.
One day, the grand master Wang Buting, aka Old Fart, heard a baby crying inside the Hall of Valhalla. Even after a thorough investigation, no one knew whose kid it was. Therefore, Wang Buting had decided to adopt the kid as his own and named him Wang Tong.
When Wang Tong was four years old, the Blade Warrior's sentient weapon responded to the little Wang Tong and clasped onto the boy's arm. This had been great news for the Templar, but no one ever heard what happened to Wang Tong next.
Behind the closed door, there had been fierce debates regarding what they should do with Wang Tong among the masters. Some suggested that they should leave Wang Tong in the Court, but the grandmaster insisted on training him by himself in the outside world.
Wang Buting knew that the kid would have to shoulder immense pressure if his connection with the blade warrior was revealed. In addition to that, a privileged upbringing might do more harm than good to the kid.
"See? I did everything I could for you. Look at you now!" Old Fart said proudly.
"Yeah, yeah. I think I am just your excuse to escape to the real world."
"Hey, you ungracious little sh*t! I did all this for you!"
"Fine, fine. Who are my parents?"
Old Fart was expecting this question. He sighed and then said, "I had been searching for the same answer, but I have failed so far. I think it is up to you to carry on the query. Perhaps you can take the question to the Hall of Valhalla. "
"Hall of Valhalla... On another note, what's in my space crystal?"
"Hold on!" Old Fart waved Wang Tong to shut up. "Whatever is in the space crystal, don't mention anything to anyone. No one can answer your question anyway. That... thing in there is of matter beyond my pay grade."
"What should I do then?"
"Seek the question inside the Hall of Valhalla. I am sure you will find it there."
"Well, I will then, I guess."
"Haha! Good, GOOD! Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, let's ... celebrate? I have some nice vintage saved up here, and those old fools won't be able to stop me enjoying it with my son, will they? Haha!"
"Haha, yeah. Let's go and get ourselves comfortable!"
When the rest of the young fighters returned to the meeting hall, the father and son had already retired to the cellar downstairs.
"Not bad! You have gotten a nice girl for yourself. Kind of like me. "
"Tsz... My standards are much higher than yours. " Wang Tong waved his hand. "Xiaoru will be here in a couple of days. You better prepare some gifts for her."
"Of course, I will! She will be my daughter in law after all." Old Fart smiled.
Wang Tong downed another gulp of wine and said, "I would have never thought that I could be a hero! Bah! Why don't you tell me what I should do next, you know, as a hero?"
Old Fart wiped the wine-stained lips and said, "Well, well, you want to play the hero, don't you? Want to save the world, don't you? I recommend you to focus on staying alive first."
"Ah-ha! That's the Old Fart I know!"
"Remember, you are not a superman. Think for other people when you have finally become an Einherjar. As for now, enjoy your life as much as you can."
"For a second, I was afraid that you are going to tell me BS like 'with great power comes great responsibility'… Haha!" Relieved, Wang Tong patted on Old Fart's shoulder. However, he didn't notice the shrewdness on the tip of Old Fart's curled lips.
"Lad, you have made a name for yourself. Join us!" Old Fart urged.
"Buzz off! I don't want to be the 'Young Master.' What's up with that name anyways? 'Master'...sounds like a terrible translation of a cheesy Martian novel!"
Chapter 428: Masters of the Templar
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
"Haha! Nothing would have happened if you didn't reveal your secret identity. To tell you the truth, my options are limited." Old Fart striped a slice of smoked salmon and hand it to Wang Tong.
"Come on! I don't like to be followed and watched all day long! I just want a ... normal life."
Old Fart clapped his hands in sheer excitement. "Exactly! Right? There's ...booze and b*obs outside, but I had to sit here on that cold and clammy seat, listening to the old man preaching! 'Save the world,' 'don't save the world'… Bah! I'm so sick of it! For you, there is still one way out of this as long as you are willing to enter the Hall of Valhalla. I can request to have you training in the outside world, sort of like a sabbatical leave."
"A leave? Is it temporary?"
"You idiot! The power over the Templar's court is quite a fortune that I can pass down to you. What if you got down on your luck out there and wanted to come back here? You know, you will always have a place to go!" Old Fart rebutted.
"Hehe... I do see sense now. If I really can't survive out there, I could always come back here and turn it into a private training school or whatnot. It should be profitable."
"That's right!"
The court didn't restrict the movements of the young warriors. So, as soon as they arrived, the young fighters would join the different branches of the court that they were most interested in and started learning.
Although the Templar's Court didn't lack powerful and legendary fighters, Patroclus continued to enjoy his idol status even inside the court.
Wherever he went, his fans followed him, asking for selfies and signatures. Despite being the home base of the Blade Warrior, people admired Patroclus for becoming the youngest Einherjar the world had ever seen.
Lie Jian's eyes had turned green with envy; even Michaux seemed to have more fans than him.
During the time of their stay, the young fighters had skimmed through many skills and techniques unique to the Court. However, so difficult were these techniques that none could be mastered in a short time. But, the powerful fighters were not here to learn new techniques anyway. Their goal was the secret inside the Hall of Valhalla.
The young warriors were granted access to all parts of the court, which had been an eye-opener for them. Their first impression of the Templar's training was old school and intense.
Wherever the boys and girls went, they were greeted by excited disciples, ready to spar with some of the most powerful fighters of their age. All of the disciples had followed the tournament from start to finish.
Meanwhile, inside Wang Buting's living quarter, the grand master hosted a family reunion party. There were only three attendants: Wang Tong, Ma Xiaoru, and himself. Old Fart praised the marriage proposal between Wang Tong and house Ma, and had even paid a subsequent visit to Ma Dutian. After the conversation, Old Fart was absorbed in reflection. He realized the heavy burden on Wang Tong's shoulder, particularly after he had revealed his connection with the blade warrior to the world. As soon as Wang Tong entered the real world, he would face formidable opponents who were backed by centuries of accumulation of power and wealth. He would need allies such as House Ma. After having toiled in the world more than a half century, he knew well that the world was not a perfect place, much like the court. However, Wang Tong's achievement so far had greatly impressed him.
Thinking so, he glanced over at Wang Tong, who were wolfing down a drumstick, and Ma Xiaoru. Their happy faces warmed his heart. But, there was something else. A forlorn darkness lurked behind the intimate scene, threatening to take over. The world was not fair, and some tragedies were inevitable.
When Old Fart was of Wang Tong's age, he too was convinced that his fate was in his own hands. After half a century of falling, getting up, and falling again, he had finally given up the hope of shaping up his own destiny. The only wish he had was to make Wang Tong's life better. While living with Wang Tong in Shangjin, Wang Buting had learned to care for others and change his point of view. He found it hard to force Wang Tong to take up the responsibility that was too heavy for even a grizzled old soul, much less a teenager. As a father, Old Fart would be content with whatever Wang Tong chose to be.
"Old Fart, are you fasting? Eat more, or you gonna starve." Wang Tong shouted.
"Buzz off! I'm still young. If you have time, you should visit the other branches of the Court with Ma Xiaoru."
"Stop that! You know I hate it when you tell me to do things." Wang Tong was in no mood to receive old and tired preaching from those old and tired masters.
"Xiaoru, you need to work on him. I had been successful all my life, but I failed to educate him properly. Sigh..."
Ma Xiaoru giggled at Old Fart's whimsical lamentation. The joyful old man with a radiant face was very out of character for a grandmaster.
Ma Xiaoru was grateful for an easygoing father in law. Their marriage from here should be smooth sailing. Ma Xiaoru had reckoned the importance of her marriage, since it would affect not only herself, but also the world.
Disciples life in the outer court was practically no different from that of a regular academy, except for the doubled down sense of pride and honor. However, the life in the inner court was different. Every inner court disciple needed to follow their master's order to the letter. Discipline and dedication were essential qualifications of the inner court disciples, and also what set them apart from the outer court.
In the three centuries after Blade Warrior's passing, never once had the Templar's court failed to produce top warriors thanks to those traditions.
Most of these mighty warriors were unknown to the outside world. The current grandmaster, Wang Buting, for example, was a living legend while he trained under the Blade Branch. The same went for all the other ten masters. However, little was known about their power, especially to the outside world.
The Templars were not bonded together by blood like the great houses. They were connected by a shared belief, the belief of the Blade Warrior.
Ma Xiaoru often wondered what would happen to the world if the Templars decided to reveal all of their secrets? She knew it was a big question, so she never bothered to seek the answer. Looking at Wang Tong sitting next to her, she felt the same question come over her again. From the outside, Wang Tong was still the same person, going about his business with the same nonchalance and carelessness. But deep inside, Ma Xiaoru knew that he had changed.
Old Fart left the table as he has some other matters to take care of.
"Xiaoru, do you think I am ungracious? "Wang Tong blurted out.
Ma Xiaoru paused for a second and replied, "Why do you say that?"
Wang Tong finished chewing the food and put down his chopsticks. "I know that he had high hopes for me. Sigh... I never thought life could become so complicated. I just wanted everyone to be happy. But, after what I have been through, I have to admit that it's not that simple. I can't make EVERYONE happy."
"Hehe... You have finally grown up."
"Don't poke fun at me. I don't think I can make the world a better place. I mean... nothing is wrong with the world, is there. So, I doubt it would need me anyways."
Chapter 429: Enter Valhalla
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
Ma Xiaoru's face lit up with glee, "The world would be a better place if everyone thought like you. Whatever you decide to do, I will always be with you."
Wang Tong held onto Ma Xiaoru's hand and felt grateful for having such an understanding fiancé.
"Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me."
"There's no need to worry about it right now. A lot of your questions will be answered inside the Hall of Valhalla. Don't forget about Mr. Wannabe. "
"You bet! He is my priority. I thought my life was miserable, but every time I think of you, Old Fart, and Mr. Wannabe, I feel there is really nothing to complain about."
"Let me guess...your life will be perfect if Li Feng didn't give you the title of the savior?"
"Haha, you know me the best. I felt that Li Shiming was a better fit for that role than me. He loves to be the one that's calling the shots, and knows how to handle responsibilities. Although Michaux and Patroclus are both capable of taking up the challenge, they don't seem to care about the world as much as Li Shiming does."
"Nailed it. Michaux cares only about his cultivation, and Patroclus... Dad used to tell me to never trust a Dower." Ma Xiaoru had hit the mark. Three centuries ago, Rilangalos had hidden among the earthlings for ten years to destroy the entire human fleet in a blink. But in the end, he switched sides again and aided Li Feng.
In the three hundred years that followed, the Dower had many opportunities to dominate the world when the other factions were tangled in in-fighting, but they never did. Their quietness, however, did not amount to lack of ambitions, as they maintained a tight grip on many aspects of Confederation's politics.
As for Patroclus, he had caught people off guard countless times. Not only had he allowed Wang Tong seven days to recuperate, but he had also passed up many opportunities to finish Wang Tong during the battle. The nonchalant and carefree appearance carefully eclipsed the seemingly self-contradicting motivations. Unlike Patroclus, Li Shiming was much easier to read; he never hid his real ambitions.
"Ah... Why did they have to make things so complicated? Be like me and don't hide anything. I just want to be a fleet captain and marry you and have kids while we are still young. Haha!"
"Who said I want to have kids with you?" Ma Xiaoru hurried to pick up a meatball and forced it into Wang Tong's mouth like jamming a stopper into the wine battle.
The two talked and laughed, painting a rare picture of happiness during this brief moment of respite.
It had been a while since the Templar's court had seen so many visitors, and everyone eagerly waited for the opening of the Hall of Valhalla. For most people, this could be the only chance in their life to step into the sacred hall that held the most important secrets of mankind.
Zhou Sisi had also arrived at the court a few days after Wang Tong. She was accompanied by core members of the S club. Although they were not supposed to be there since she didn't make it into the final, Wang Tong had invited them to enter the court. It caught Wang Tong by surprise how Old Fart had quickly accepted his request, which made him sense the convenience of having his new title.
"Sh*t! Boss, is this your hood?" Karl gawked at the exuberant city and asked. Since they were Wang Tong's friends, the court had rolled out the red carpet for them.
"I have never thought that I would come to this place one day."
"Just saw some disciples during their training session. It was brutal!"
"Of course, this is where all the badasses are. We are badasses too now! "
"Where is Hu Yangxuan?" Karl asked.
"He has old friends here, must be with them. You won't find Cao Yi and Apache either. One is busy recording everything, and the other…fighting."
"You should join me the day after tomorrow at the opening of the Hall." Wang Tong asked.
"Are we qualified?" Zhen Zhong asked in disbelief.
"Of course, I make the rules here. It's all about luck anyway."
"Mwahahaha! This is it! That will be my time to shine! I can feel it! " Karl shouted hysterically despite his friends' eye-rolling.
"Me too?" Rumi pointed at herself sheepishly.
"Why not? You never know, you could be the chosen one!" Wang Tong beamed from side to side.
Rumi blushed. "Ok, I will give it a try."
To the Templars, the guardians of the Hall, no other day held more significance than the day of Hall-Opening. This was the third time the Hall had opened to the outside world during the court's three hundred years of history. The number of people attending the event was unprecedented. In addition to the young warriors from the tournament, the grand master had also called back hundreds of disciples scattered around different galaxies.
The Templar masters were in white robes, chanting an archaic verse at the top of the long stairs that abruptly ended at an altar. At the bottom of the stairs stood hundreds of anticipating warriors.
"Ah...It's too hot! Start already!" Karl wiped the sweat off his forehead as he complained.
"Shut up, Karl!" Zhou Sisi refuted.
Wang Tong cracked a smiled and said, "The proceeding is quite onerous. I almost feel sorry for those old bones up there." Wang Tong also wondered how the Hall of Valhalla was going to appear out of thin air.
Patroclus waited quietly with a half-bored, half-arrogant look. On the other hand, Lie Jian was jumping up and down, unable to control his burgeoning anticipation.
As the master's chanting ended on a high note, the grand master stepped forward and secured a sizeable golden emblem into a perfectly-fit slot on the statue of the Blade Warrior.
The sky answered with a rumbling, and the din ushered in dark clouds. As more distant rumblings joined the carol, the daylight disappeared, and dark impenetrable clouds smothered the sun. Suddenly, a flash of bright light tore an opening in the shadows, revealing a gate-like structure.
Basking under the sun, the gate looked magnificent. The Templar masters' overwrought faces finally relaxed, and some of them sighed out in a profound relief.
Wang Tong was amused by the elaborated ceremony and the intense look on the masters' faces.
The gate cracked open slowly and steadily.
As light poured out from the other side, all the Templars and their disciples kneeled before it. This was an old-fashioned miracle in the age of advanced science. Many were stunned by the perplexing development. Did gods really exist?
As the light rained down from the sky and fell on Wang Tong, he felt his body being lifted, and he actually was. The light guided his body as he floated closer to the gate.
The masters had anticipated this, since Wang Tong was supposed to be the heir of the Blade Warrior. The grand master watched Wang Tong with a solemn face; he knew the boy was about to embark on a treacherous path.
Chapter 430: Noah's Ark
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
After Wang Tong had ascended through the gate, the Ivantian Prince followed suit. The third chosen warrior was Michaux, and the fourth was Heidi.
The onlookers were shocked and elated by the number of chosen warriors, but the Templar masters knotted their eyebrows as concern shifted in their eyes.
Suddenly, a light-headedness came over Karl. He immediate shouted out, "Hey, stop! Who is f*cking with me?" Half a second later, he realized that he was also afloat in the air.
Lie Jian's patience was wearing thin, and he found it hard to believe that the Templar would instead choose a buffoon such as Karl over him. While thinking this, Lie Jian charged up his soul energy and decided to fly himself to the entrance. However, he was unable to lift himself up for no more than three feet before an unseen force nailed him back to the ground.
Dangling in the air, Karl was speechless. He had never thought he would actually hit the jackpot.
A few seconds later, people watched as Zhou Sisi was also lifted up. However, unlike Karl, Zhou Sisi didn't seem to be surprised by the development.
The light in the sky was waning as the gate slowly closed up. Lie Jian was not the only one who was disappointed by the outcome, as Li Shiming was also denied the entrance to the sacred hall.
However upset he was, Li Shiming kept his confident mask on his face, as if he didn't mind the Blade Warrior ignoring him even a bit.
As soon as Wang Tong entered the threshold, he found himself surrounded by a thick fog. This fog reminded him of his first encounter with Li Feng. Amidst the fog, Wang Tong discerned a flickering light that pulled his body closer. When Wang Tong was only a few feet away from the glowing light, he reached into it and felt something familiar: a memory stick?
"Hello?"
"Balls! HELLO? Anyone here?" Wang Tong shouted. Even as he was about to ask about how to get Mr. Wannabe out of the crystal space, he felt that the fog was retreating, and the world around him was fading away by the second.
"For f*ck sake! All these efforts for a memory stick?"
Patroclus watched the person in front of him. His eyes held the fragile edge of calm that threatened to explode.
"Can you do it?" The host asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Patroclus asked.
"No."
"Then, why do you ask?" Patroclus turned around and disappeared without even spare his host a final glance.
"You can ask one question." A voice told Heidi.
Heidi paused for a second and said, "How would the Kaedians and Earthlings live in peace?"
"The answer is in your heart."
Heidi nodded and also disappeared from the sea of fog. She already had the answer, but she kept on denying and refusing.
But, she would not do it anymore.
"Hello? Anybody? Where is the treasure?" Karl looked around for any discernable valuables.
As he looked around another corner, a giant fireball appeared out of nowhere and wheezed towards him.
"Holy sh*t! Is this the Hall of Valhalla or the Hell of Valhalla? Boss! Boss? Help ME!"
When the fireball was about to engulf Karl whole, his mind held only one thought, "I will never come here again!"
Zhou Sisi stared at the elegant face in front of her as a mix of excitement and resignation rose inside her.
"Are you willing to oblige?"
"Yes."
"He needs you. "
"I know."
"You will get nothing out of him."
"I never wanted anything."
"The end is near. Here, this is for you."
"Wait. If you know the end is coming, why don't you stop it?"
The beautiful girl gave Zhou Sisi a mesmerizing smile and said, "When you are looking at things from my spot, you will understand why. The humans can't survive on blessings; they can only survive through hard work and a perpetual struggle."
The light surrounding the woman faded, and so did Zhou Sisi's conscious.
"Ahhhh! HELP!" Karl jumped out of his bed. "Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! I am still alive?"
"Yes, Mr. Karl." A Templar's disciple bowed to him.
Karl padded himself from head to toe, making sure his limbs were still attached.
"What...What happened?"
"You had been in a coma for three days after you walked out of Valhalla." Envy was written all over the boy's face.
"Oh... Where is everyone else?"
"Young master has already awakened. He is in the main hall."
"Thank you."
Karl was the last one to wake up. Both Wang Tong and Patroclus were able to walk out of the sacred land and remain conscious. However, their faces suggested that they had very different experiences.
Heidi and Zhou Sisi had been staying in their rooms ever since they came out of the gate. As for Michaux, no one had seen him coming out, but news reached the court two days later that the divine master had already safely arrived on Mars.
All the chosen ones kept things to themselves and didn't say a word about what had happened in Valhalla… well, except for Karl.
"Boss, Boss! They almost got me KILLED!" Karl shouted as soon as he saw Wang Tong.
"You look pretty lively to me."
"Yeah! But... But, there's no treasure!" Karl complained.
People shook their heads in dismay. The gods already blessed Karl, but his foolishness blinded him.
Ma Dutian and Wang Buting sauntered into a meeting room.
"It has to be it! What's the next plan?"
"Are you sure that there are no other ways?"
"I am afraid not. We can't make this stuff up. No one knows for sure when the Zerg army would descend upon us."
"No other choices then..."
"No. Fortunately, we had been preparing for this day for many years, and it is about time to put our planning into actions."
"Wang Tong still needs time though."
"I hope he will be ready before the war starts."
"Perhaps, I can help. Let me tell you..."
"Sounds like a plan to me!"
Irritated by the lack of attention, Lie Jian left the Earth. Many young fighters had decided to stay for a few more days; it was a rare opportunity to learn from the Templar.
Wang Tong and his friends had decided to stay at the court a bit longer. On the third day of their stay, they learned the astonishing news on TV: House Ma had completed the new battery technology! What was more, they had already built the biggest spaceship the world had ever seen, called the Noah's Ark!
With the help of the new energy source, House Ma had turned iron and steel into a formidable space cruiser that was capable of raining destruction on Zergs from galaxies away. Thanks to House Ma, the humans had taken a solid step towards galactic domination.
The deployment of Noah's ark also meant that the space cities were no longer vulnerable to Zerg raids.
The ship was two thousand and three hundred meters long in total, weighing over five million ton. This space fortress could accommodate over a hundred thousand residences.
Its weapon system used the cutting edge technology, and was five times more effective than standard weapons. It boasted a one Megaton gun, and its broadsides were filled to the brim with artillery batteries that defended the ship from all angles. The new battlecruiser had made the previously largest ship, the Zeus class battleship, look like a peanut.
On its virgin voyage to Andromeda Galaxy, House Ma had invited all military experts to be aboard the ship to evaluate its might and endurance. It would pass through a few pirate hot spots, and therefore, the trip should tell a thing or two about its capability in real-life warfare.
To be invited to sit on the Ark's virgin voyage was an honor for most people. Although Ma Dutian wished that he could sit on the ship that he had devoted his life to, he had other business to attend, and therefore, Ma Xiaoru would be sitting in for her father. The crew aboard consisted of three teams: the armed force, the tech, and the logistics crew. Although the battlecruiser looked like a hunk of cold metal traveling in the inhabitable deep space from the outside, it was a vibrant city filled with life inside.
House Ma had invited not only the established experts on the cruiser's virgin voyage but also many elite students, since it would be an excellent opportunity for the students to learn.
Chapter 431: Competition
Translator: Oneshotwonder Editor: Hitesh_
The Noah's Ark was capable of cruising between galaxies without any protection, as the battleship itself was a flying death machine.
Needless to say that supporting the life of an entire city and such a gigantic weapon system required a massive amount of energy. Thanks to the new battery technology, House Ma had turned a dream into reality. With the new battery technology, humans had entered a new era!
House Ma had given themselves one month to prepare for the Virgin voyage, during which they accepted applications from all over the confederation to join the crew. The application was open to everyone. However, although the qualification of becoming part of the team was not high, it was not the same regarding the captain.
The captain's ability to control this flying death machine would directly affect the efficiency of the ship's weapon system. Whoever would sit in the captain's cockpit would have to be the most brilliant battle strategist in the world.
To command such a mighty ship would be the dream of all Fleet Commanders. The world boiled over ever since House Ma had announced, and the battle-cruiser's virgin voyage had become the second most followed news after the tournament.
Of all the candidates for the crew, the young fighters who excelled during the tournament were the most likely to be chosen. This was promising news to them, since the Noah's Ark class battlecruisers were bound to be the next generation mainstream battleships. Studying on board the first-of-its-kind would provide the young warriors precious experience, and help them further their career. The experience gained on this battleship would be much more valuable than that on any other ships.
Despite the promising future Noah's Ark would bring to everyone, the Ivantians felt beaten by the earthlings once again after the defeat of Patroclus.
Before the earthlings had invented the Noah's Ark, the moon faction had held a decisive advantage concerning fleet combat.
They were especially proud of their powerful spaceships. However, the Noah's Ark had wrenched their pride away from their hearts.
This explained why the Ivantians had been so curious about the development of the new Battery Technology. The Ivantians had also invested an enormous amount of resources in developing their own batteries. However, House Ma was one step ahead of the Ivantians. House Ma didn't invent the technology by themselves, as their success was primarily due to the technology left by the Blade Warrior. This was the advantage that had made House Ma a political powerhouse.
This was not the first time that house Ma had announced a world changing technology, as it had done that numerous times in the past.
The success of the Virgin voyage had suddenly become the most critical point in human history. Therefore, the confederation had spared no expense in collaborating with house Ma to assist in their preparation.
Nevertheless, the sudden breakthrough in the research had caught many intelligence officers off guard. They had been keeping a close eye on the development, and they were aware that the research was put on the shelf after it had reached a bottleneck. None of the intelligence officers would know that the bottleneck was successfully solved by the memory stick that Wang Tong brought back from the heart of Valhalla.
As the House Ma worked diligently on the preparation for the Virgin voyage, faction leaders contact them regarding prospective contracts on the return of the ship from its voyage. Every faction wanted to be the first one to own the new battlecruiser, as they knew that it would boost their political clout significantly.
On paper, the most conservative estimate suggested that the Noah's Ark battlecruiser was equivalent to an entire squadron of space fleet at the very least.
So many things with far-reaching consequences had happened in such a short time, and all of them were related to House Ma. The most low-key great house had become the center of the Public's attention overnight.
Meanwhile, although the public media had tried all the tricks up their sleeves, they had failed to pry any information from the Templars Court regarding what had happened in the Hall of Valhalla.
Since three out of the five chosen ones were from Ayrlarng, the fame of the school kept on rising. People couldn't stop asking themselves what had made the Blade Warrior choose Zhou Sisi and Karl. What did they have in common with the legendary fighters such as Patroclus, Princess Heidi, and Michaux?
It was common knowledge that whoever had the blessing of the god held the fate of mankind in their grasp.
The Templars kept their silence over the event, and the only information the public could get was from Karl. However, his convoluted description about the attack of the fireball painted an even muddier picture about what had really happened.
Having failed to get any information on the Hall of Valhalla, the public quickly turned their attention to the Noah's Ark virgin voyage. They were particularly interested in the drafting of crew members.
To be chosen as a crew member was only the first step, since the closer the position was to the center of power, the more they would learn about the super battlecruiser.
"Brother Shiming, why did house Ma keep breaking the status quo?" Porten asked.
"What is your take on this, Bother Porten?" Li Shiming had returned home. The relationship between House Li and the Templar had toned down a few notches since Wang Tong had officially become the heir of the Blade Warrior.
Porten studied Li Shiming's face and felt light-hearted due to Li Shiming's misery. House Li had failed on many fronts. Not only had they let Wang Tong's real identity pass under their radar, they had also lost another critical political ally, House Ma, because of their oversight. The situation seemed to have turned around for everybody, except House Li.
Despite the satisfaction of seeing defeat take the wind out of Li Shiming's sail, Porten loathed Wang Tong and despised his rise to power.
"I would be hard-pressed to believe that Ma Dutian would ban us from his expensive toy. Two other tasks are the most urgent, the first being the captain. We have to do all we can to make sure that the captain is neutral to all parties. The second is the degree of our involvement. We can't just be there as a tourist... You know what I am eluding to."
"I agree with you. But, it's easier said than done. Based on the information I got, both the Dower and the Zhang will be there as well. It complicates things by a great degree."
"Hehe. We can still try."
"Brother Shiming, if—you could excuse me—"
"Go ahead. You can be completely open with me."
"In my opinion, you are too soft on the matter of Ma Xiaoru's marriage. If you could have done what Wang Tong did and popped her cherry first, the situation would be completely different now." Porten lamented.
Li Shiming cracked a smile and said, "Yes, sometimes I do regret not seizing the opportunity while I still had it."
"Great! It's still not too late. I sense that the old fox Ma Dutian is still on the fence on this matter. He had agreed to Wang Tong's proposal largely due to that little sh*t's connection with the Blade Warrior. Without the influence of the Blade Warrior, I bet Ma Dutian would choose you over Wang Tong in a heartbeat."
"You mean Ma Dutian is wavering?"
"Obviously! Wang Tong cast a large shadow thanks to his new title at the Templar's court, but when the Old Fox finally sees him for who he is, he would ditch Wang Tong right away. " Porten explained.
"If what you said was true, Wang Tong is no more than a pawn in his master plan. "