Pan RuYue took a deep breath after finishing the announcement. Initially, she had intended to skip today's selection match. If it hadn't been an order from their father she would not have bothered to take up her clumsy elder brother's duties. Now that Pan RuYue was actually present at the selection event she immediately dismissed it as an opportunity for the upper echelons to tear at each other's throats. As Pan RuYue shook her head from her immense disappointment a loud explosion shook the arena.
On stage 9 a jaw dropping event had just unfolded on the stage that had been packed with hundreds of warriors the moment the exercise had begun!
Yue Chen clasped his palm, melting the shards of ice that had condensed in his palm. Looking up at the family seats a cold glint flashed in his eyes as his gaze swept over each one : Zhu Family, Du family ,Yue family.
Yue Chen stepped onto the concrete floor, leaving the gaping participants of stage 9 behind him.
Arriving at the seating area reading Blood Sword Pavilion Yue Chen did a polite fist palm salute and took his seat.
"So? how does it feel opposing the great powers, awesome right?" A middle aged man dressed in a coarse blue outfit sat by Yue Chen's side, raising his gourd above his head the middle aged man drank a mouthful before exhaling with a satisfied look. Despite his simple clothing of choice if anyone looked at him they could tell this man was an expert and if any disciples of the factions were present they would have recognized him as the Blood Sword Pavilion's Supreme Sword Master
Yue Chen's cold demeanor from earlier vanished and was quickly replaced by a troubled look "Uncle Tao this technique's drawbacks, did you overestimate it?"
"Silly Chen'er, the Frost of the Sleeping Dragon is a move that requires one's body to be vulnerable to the cold true energy of the user. When used consecutively it's power will continue to grow along with it's drawbacks" Yue Tao shook his head in disapproval "if only you had consulted me beforehand, I would have chosen a more compatible skill for Chen'er"
"If this skill was truly created by my father it would be a waste not to learn it" Yue Chen shrugged in a carefree manner. If the attitude Yue Chen had displayed earlier could be compare to a frozen wilderness his current behavior could be described as a forest in midsummer.
Yue Tao immediately steered the conversation with a mischievous look "Xiao Chen, do you really not intend to return my disciple's affection?"
"Uncle please do not entertain these conversations, don't you have anything better to do?" Yue Chen watched the remaining fights occurring in the other arenas with a deadpan expression. He really did not plan to continue the conversation.
"How cruel of you! how can you play with a fair maiden's heart like this?!" Yue Tao feigned a pitiful expression like a father grieving for his injured daughter as he shook his head.
"You seem quite relaxed I see" a crisp, familiar tone rang in Yue Chen's ears. It was that voice again.
"And here I thought I'd finally gotten rid of you Zu Zhou" Yue Chen remarked in a mocking tone.
"That's quite the overbearing tone for a man who stole my body" Zu Zhou let out a screeching laughter as if he had heard the funniest thing.
"Don't try to rattle me with your senseless banter, if you weren't gone why make your presence known now?" Yue Chen scoffed at Zu Zhou's words with closed eyes.
"Another one, another child like that Tang brat from the times forgotten is present in this place" Zu Zhou's screeching laughter echoed in Yue Chen's head causing Yue Chen to furrow his brows.
What horrible laughter...
Zu Zhou took notice of Yue Chen's discomfort and became more energetic in it's endeavors "The path of the children chosen by God interweaves constantly with the children who bear hell's stigma and once both paths intersect, one of you will die without fail kekekeke!"
Yue Chen opened his eyes and let out a light laughter " I am aware of these things already. Is that all you have to say? Begone"
Yue Tao could see that despite Yue Chen's calm demeanor his mind was in a state of turmoil. Yue Tao shook his head helplessly. Such a young child had been burdened with the life of his own parents, had he truly wished to forsake them from weariness Yue Tao would not belittle Yue Chen.
"Xiao Chen if you are feeling burdened by your parent's well-being do not worry about chasing after them, Uncle Tao will do his best to help sister in-law"
Yue Chen absentmindedly nodded. While his focus was elsewhere it was true he was concerned about his parents. Yue Tao had informed him of the situation his family was in. His father Yue SoRan had committed the taboo of coupling with a demonic priestess which was forbidden by the Yue family. Two years after Yue Chen's birth, Yue Tu led a rebellious force against the acting head of the family which was his father. In an attempt to protect his wife and child Yue SoRan sacrificed himself to aid in their escape. Yue Tao who was preparing to leave the blood world agreed to hide the child in the lower realm to grow as a normal human being. After having returned to her clan Yue SoRan's wife launched an attack on the Yue family, causing a major reduction of the family's power and influence in the city. It was unknown the reason but the attacks ceased after the first clash and the demonic priestess' whereabouts have remained unknown for the past sixteen years.
Ding Ding!
The allotted time of the first round had come to an end. The remaining participants were then required to place their names in a box from which the participants of the second round would be randomly matched.
"A waste of time, Xiao Zi I permit you to enter the gates" the Zhu family head stated in an overbearing voice. "pay no mind to these fools, you are my most prized offspring, no one present is your equal"
"I will not bring shame to your Zhu family" Zhu Zi nodded and performed a palm fist salute then started in the direction of the Seven gates transfer array that was located at the center of the arena.
Pan RuYue sighed helplessly at the Zhu family's brazen act before the 9 families that had concentrated in the arena. This was a feat only family head Zhu would dare to attempt.
"Wait" Yue Chen called out with an amused look "are you stepping over the remaining 8 families and our factions? have you forgotten that the Blood Sword Pavilion and Quazi Monastery are both present as well? don't tell me the Zhu family has a hard time seeing?" as he said this Yue Chen raised his brow and gave Zhu Mu a smug look.