"Y-You.... idiot".
Iron Lotus snarled at Eric, his body stiffening, as the older Fae Master spat out a mouthful of blood. Tilting his head downwards, Iron Lotus could see the sword handle thrust right through his chest, just narrowly missing his heart, piercing straight through his lungs.
In that single moment, Eric completely disregarded all manners of defensive postures.
Facing an opponent with such a hardened external carapace, even one that had been transformed with Fae, Eric knew that he wouldn't be able to win in an extended battle.
His technique was rough, and other than perhaps his breathing, everything else about him was weaker than his opponent.
Even if he could hold his own for a little while, his opponent would undoubtedly reveal a trump card or two, forcing the standstill to an end, or pushing Eric past his limits.
So instead, Eric bet everything on a single move.
One that was the complete sum of everything that he possibly had. Using both his physical strength, sword techniques, Fae Weapon and combat knowledge.
He thrust out, disregarding his own body or injury, dedicating himself to a single thrust.
It definitely caught Iron Lotus off guard, although Eric too suffered an enormous amount of damage.
The seventeen year old young man was currently unconscious, his chest caved in and being treated by two different Violet Clan healing type Fae Masters. Most of his ribs were broken, and the muscle around his chest was mangled, as if being torn by a morning star.
His internal organs were relatively fine, although a few pieces of broken bone had been embedded in his lungs and heart. If it wasn't for the fact that there had been healing type Fae Masters present, Eric would've undoubtably been killed.
Iron Lotus gritted his teeth, ignoring the extreme pain that bloomed from his chest as he pulled out the Fae Weapon. The moment that he threw the one star Rank 1 Fae Weapon on the floor, a healing type Fae Master pressed their hands on Iron Lotus' back, quickly repairing the damage done.
Despite the fact that one of his ribs and one of his lungs had been pierced, an extraordinary amount of sword type spiritual essence ran rampart throughout his internal organs. A sharp pain often reverberated throughout his extremities, as the foreign spiritual essence was quickly suppressed by his cultivation base.
Gazing at Eric's unconscious body, Iron Lotus' expression twisted into one of disgust.
"You fucking idiot! If you weren't strong enough, then you should've just stayed down like the rest of you! If we weren't at this martial gathering, I would've fucking killed you by now".
Eric was completely unconscious, so all of Iron Lotus' words fell on deaf ears. The Iron Clan genius just walked off the stage slowly, the same way that Eric previously entered.
His face turned red as he suppressed another bout of pain emanating from his left leg. He knew that he would inevitably fall the ground when faced with something as simple as jumping from a five metre ledge, due to the spasms caused by Eric's attack.
The entire time, he glared at the unconscious young man, cursing him while simultaneously nurturing his own injuries.
Eric was quickly taken off the stage, and the blood removed with a quick use of Fae.
Violet Sunglass just smiled, as if the previous near loss of life didn't just happen.
"Who would like to go next? Remember, one can show anything off, from Attribute Control Skills, to rare knowledge, or even Law attainments! Everything is open here!".
Vladimir just glanced at Arthur, noticing his unfazed expression.
"You don't care that your fellow Clan member nearly just died? Although it was the only way he could've won, it was still idiotic".
Arthur didn't seem emotional at all. In fact, he seemed quite collected about the whole event.
"I told Eric that he had no talent for the sword. And yet he continues to practice it anyway. His perception of Laws is non-existent, and his heart is muddled, clouded by his Emotions. He will not be able to form Intent. Unless he has some sort of fortuitous encounter in the future, he will not be able to reach the apex".
Vladimir, nodded, albeit a little slowly.
"Not everyone desires to reach the apex though. The vast majority of Fae Masters from the White Dominion Sect want to reach the limits of Corpses. That is not the same as trying to reach eternity".
Arthur just shook his head.
"It is not that he doesn't wish to become strong, it is that he does not know what he wants for himself. Reaching the peak is a goal, but how one goes about reaching the peak is what is even more important".
"You yourself walk the path of Ghosts. And you are already aware of how you want to reach the apex. Eric.... doesn't even know where to start".
Vladimir hummed.
"Isn't it just a case of needing to be enlightened? He should visit more places and broaden his horizons for a few years, seeing what the apex is. Then he should be able to solidify his own resolve, and walk a path for himself".
Arthur glanced at Vladimir for a moment, shaking his head.
"It does not matter how much knowledge or experience he accumulates. If his heart is not in the right place, then he will be forced to travel with a blindfold on. He must resolve his emotions, and deal with them before being able to move on....".
Arthur let out a sigh, pretending to be slightly nostalgic.
Vladimir knew that there was something more than he didn't know about Eric and Arthur, and remained silent, just watching on intently.
He was raised within an Immortal Sect, so his horizons had been broadened every single day for the vast majority of his life. He was given opportunities that even talented geniuses would envy, and possessed an innate talent which was almost unrivalled within the Thirty Three Heavens.
He had seen most of what the Azure Envy Continent had to offer, and knew where the limits of Human Heaven laid.
As he grew up, his eyes would inevitably be drawn to the other Thirty Three Heavens, and his desire for more strength and his desire to reach the apex would definitely take him there in the future.
There was a mountain above a mountain, and a sky above a sky....
Arthur knew Vladimir better than he knew himself, yet the young man standing beside him, didn't even realize it.
"I can't force him to follow my every action. He is his own person after all. I can only be frank with him and not hold back whenever we fight. Perhaps through tempering, he can steel his resolve".
Both the Formless Night Shadow and the Boundless Forest Yearning just gazed at the martial gathering, noticing a young woman stand up on the stage.
She possessed brightly coloured crimson hair, although her facial appearance was slightly lacking, her demeanour and temperament was pleasant to the eye, reminding oneself of a virtuous young journeyman, walking the path to enlightenment.
Arthur opened his mouth slightly, being reminded of a certain young Clan.
Despite the fact that they were extremely young, their first Ancestor was actually still alive, although on another Continent. He was someone who earnestly walked the path of martial arts, trying to seek the limits of the Dao of martial arts.
He left behind a relatively untalented group of children, although their own descendents on the other hand, were by no means untalented wastrels.
The crimson haired young woman stood tall and valiant. A small smile marred her expression as she shouted out towards the large crowd.
"My name is Blissful Leaf! I am 17 years old and walk the path of martial arts! I am a practitioner of the School of Techniques! I specialize in Strength Attributed Fae!".