"What the hell?! Jian Shen is dead?!"
"How…?"
"That was just one slap!"
The audience was up in an uproar, unable to believe what had just happened. Yet they could clearly see the evidence laid before their eyes. To be fair, even I was finding it difficult to believe what had just occurred. I was gaping at Jian Shen with my jaw hanging wide open.
"What the hell…look at Hei Ye…even he didn't expect to kill Jian Shen in one slap!"
"Who would? After all that insulting and calling other people trash, that Jian Shen couldn't even withstand one blow! Who's the real trash now?"
"How dare you!?" An elder from the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion leaped down from the spectator seats, his sword streaking out to stab at me, but the referee from Azure Water Sect stopped him with a hand. I recognized Mu Chen as the same guy who held the entrance examination.
"Calm yourself, Elder Mu!"
"He killed my disciple!" Mu Chen roared. "How am I supposed to be calm? This was just a tournament match, was there a need to go this far?! This brat is so young, yet he's already so ruthless and murderous. If we don't solve him now, he'll go on to do more evil things in the future!"
Actually, I was a demonic cultivator, so I already did evil things in the past. Not that this was the right moment to tell him that.
"Enough!" Bai Yao Cai roared, rising from his seat. "Elder Mu Chen, do you not put my White Herb Sect in your eyes? All disciples who participate in the tournament are aware of the danger! They fight with their lives on the line! Your own disciple used a weapon! He tried to kill my sect's disciple with a sword! Is Hei Ye not allowed to fight back and defend himself? So only your Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion disciples are allowed to kill, and others have no choice but to let themselves be killed? What sort of logic is this?!"
"Even so, must he go that far?! I don't care, I want an explanation for this today!"
Cheng Kun cleared his throat, a distasteful expression on his wrinkled face. "Elder Mu Chen, all the disciples signed an indemnity form before participating in the intersect tournament, stating that nobody will be held responsible for any injuries or deaths that happen here. This is a combat match, injuries and even death are bound to be inevitable. If you can't accept that, then why did you send your disciples to participate? If you're that scared of losing more disciples to death in the arena, then your Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion is more than welcome to withdraw from the tournament."
There were sniggers and guffaws throughout the spectators. Mu Chen bristled, but didn't say anything. He knew they were correct. In fact, everyone was laughing at his sect now.
"Didn't their disciple, Jian Ao, severely injure Yi Shou from the Astral Star Sect earlier? Cut off his arm and taunted him. But even Astral Star Sect didn't say anything. How come Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion didn't mention anything about being ruthless or going too far?"
"Like Jian Shen who refused to pay up the Ghost Iron Ore after losing the bet…the people of Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion only know how to make bets and participate and brag, but they don't know how to lose or admit defeat."
"This is the so-called honor of the greatest swordsmen in the Tian Xuan Continent. My eyes have been opened wide by them!"
"What honor, why not call it what it is…shamelessness!"
Mu Chen clenched his fists, trembling furiously, but he felt the weight of the mocking stares on him. I felt a little sorry for him.
"I am very sorry. I didn't mean to…take Jian Shen's life. I was simply defending myself…I didn't even attack, that was just a reflex. I never thought he would actually succumb to my defensive blow."
"Ha ha ha ha! Reflex!" A spectator roared with laughter. "Jian Shen didn't even die to an actual attack! He got killed by a single reflexive counter!"
"This is the very definition of the idiom 'unable to withstand a single blow' (Bu Kan Yi Ji)!"
"No, that's not what I meant," I protested. "I'm sure senior Jian Shen is talented and strong, and by right he should have warded off the blow…"
"But he didn't! He was totally caught off guard! Not only that, he died! From a slap!" The spectators were hooting with laughter. Despite my attempts to downplay the incident, they only ended up infuriating the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion further. Mu Chen continued to shake from rage.
"Can you believe it? Jian Shen was going around spreading rumors in Azure Cloud City about how brother Hei Ye was trash. He was doing everything he could to spread malicious rumors and smear brother Hei Ye's reputation. Even last night, in front of everyone, he insulted brother Hei Ye and insisted that he's trash. Even though he refused to honor a bet, even though he didn't have the guts to go to the Crimson Forest to obtain the blood of a Red Python for the father of the girl he claimed to love. And he called the guy who succeeded trash. And now look at him! Who's the trash, huh?"
"Ha ha ha ha! Maybe it's actually a good thing that he died from that single slap! If he was still alive, he would probably be embarrassed to death!"
"I can't believe he had the face to tell brother Hei Ye that he has to accept being bullied and trampled upon because he was weak and useless…but it turns out that he was killed by a single slap! Truly, the emptiest vessels make the most noise! Despite all that bragging and insulting, it turns out that Jian Shen is the weakest and most useless! I wonder where he had gotten the face to insult others with!"
"Senior Jian Shen is not that weak and useless," I began apologetically. "He was just careless, maybe? It's my fault, I should have controlled my reflexes better…"
"My goodness, Jian Shen is so pathetic that even his opponent pities him and has to speak up for him."
"No, I'm just being honest…"
"Enough!" Mu Chen's face was flushed crimson from a mixture of fury and shame. He turned away, embarrassed, realizing that his disciple had brought everything upon him. He glared at Jian Shen's corpse for a moment before turning back to me and lowering his head. "I apologize for losing my temper. This brat was the whole reason why you chose not to join Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. It was my fault for not educating him. As a master, I'm a complete failure."
"No, not at all." I shook my head, taken aback. I had expected him to swear vengeance or some sort of cliché villain dialogue where he twisted logic and painted white as black. You know, like how those cultivation story antagonists usually did when the protagonist killed their disciples or sons or whatever. "It is also my fault for lacking control and restraint."
"You shouldn't blame yourself." Mu Chen shook his head. "Jian Shen died because he was too weak. That's all there is to it. Nobody can blame his opponent for being too strong. Whining about defeat is the same as coming up with excuses for one's shortcomings. Also, your sect patriarch is correct. Jian Shen literally tried to stab your heart with his sword right in front of everyone. Of course it's natural that you would reflexively defend yourself." His glare darkened. "The idiot spent too much time scheming and bullying others instead of devoting himself to his training and growing stronger. He can only shoulder the blame for his own failings and death."
He reached out to carry Jian Shen's corpse, and then paused for a moment, digging through his late disciple's spatial pouch. I gaped at him, wondering why he was violating his own disciple's belongings when his body had yet to fully turn cold, but Mu Chen suddenly spun around and tossed me something. I caught it reflexively without thinking.
"I believe this is yours," Mu Chen said with a grim smile. I blinked in confusion and looked at the thing he threw to me. It took me several seconds to realize that it was the Ghost Iron Ore. When I raised my head to stare at Mu Chen, the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion elder nodded. "My foolish disciple made a bet with you, and as his master, I will not allow him to renege on it. Even if he's dead."
"My thanks." I bowed deeply. Mu Chen gave one last dismissive wave before he left the stage with his disciple's corpse hanging from his hands. Then I descended from the arena as well, so as to make way for the next match.
Making my way to my seat, which was right next to Lan Bei Er, I flopped down and studied the Ghost Iron Ore in my hand. Even though I was aware of its impressive reputation as a defensive mineral that warded against soul attack, I had no idea what to do with it. I didn't even think the Ghost Iron Ore would actually fall into my hands. I had made the bet with Jian Shen on a whim, mostly because I had nothing to lose and a free item to gain, but when he reneged on his bet, I wrote it off.
At that time, it wasn't even worth pursuing. It wasn't as if I was desperate for Ghost Iron Ore anyway. I was admittedly curious about it when I first saw it in the auction, but it was more an object of amusement than one of fancy.
"What am I supposed to do with this? Sell it?" I wondered out loud. Lan Bei Er frowned and shook her head.
"That will be a waste. After going through all that trouble to obtain it, you might as well put it to good use."
"But how do I put it to good use?" I scratched my head with my free hand while studying the Ghost Iron Ore. "I'm not a blacksmith. Do I just carry it around like a charm and it'll increase my protection against soul attacks or something?"
"Hmm, good point," Lan Bei Er nodded thoughtfully. "For it to display its ability to the maximum effectiveness, you need to forge it into a weapon or equipment. We'll look for a blacksmith to help you with that when we return to Azure Cloud City."
"Oh, okay. Thanks." That sounded reasonable. Now that I had it, I might as well use it, as my wife correctly pointed it out.
"I have a better proposal."
Both Lan Bei Er and I jolted up in surprise at the familiar voice. Turning around, we caught sight of He Shan Jie from Elemental Mountain Sect. He grinned and waved at us before taking an empty seat behind us.
"It's been a while!" I exclaimed, delighted to see an old friend. Or a new friend, considering that we only just met him a couple of months ago. Even so, we were comrades who fought together in life and death battles. No stronger bonds of friendship could be forged than in such tribulations of fire. "How have you been?"
"Good, good." He Shan Jie smiled. "I saw your match. You're doing well. I hope White Herb Sect advances far into the tournament."
"Thanks, you too. I saw Chi Yan's match too. He's as strong as ever. What about you? Is your match later?"
"Nah, I'm not participating in the tournament. I'm here as support. I'm in charge of repairing and maintaining my seniors and juniors' weapons, armor, equipment and armament." He Shan Jie held out a hand. "So I can help you forge equipment with the Ghost Iron Ore. Give me a few days, and I'll turn it into something you can use in practical combat."
"Really?" I passed him the Ghost Iron Ore without any hesitation. "Oh, we'll pay you. How much is the blacksmithing fee?"
"What fee? We are friends. I don't need payment."
"It's because we're friends that I refuse to take advantage of you." I thought for a while. "I'll have to give you something in exchange at least. We'll treat you to a meal afterward."
"Good enough for me." He Shan Jie chuckled. "But I warn you, I eat a lot."
"All the better." I grinned back.
"Hopefully I'll be able to forge the Ghost Iron Ore into something you can use during the tournament. It'll also serve as advertisement for my skills." He Shan Jie was nodding thoughtfully before he put the Ghost Iron Ore into his spatial pouch and rubbed his hands in anticipation. He was already running through several ideas in his head.
"I hope I don't get eliminated before then," I said with a shrug. I glanced at the stage, where someone from the Golden Thunder Sect was dueling against someone from the Azure Water Sect. Lightning spears clashed against water blades, the elements exploding volatilely and buffeting the audience with static and moisture. I thought to my previous opponent, and all the other people I had to watch out for. "Is Cang Qiong participating in the tournament? I remember Jian Shen mentioning him quite a bit. If they're as close as Jian Shen seems to imply, that guy might want to take revenge for his junior."
"Huh? Cang Qiong? No." He Shan Jie shook his head. "His status is too high for him to participate in the intersect tournament. He's no longer just a disciple."
"Oh, he's an elder?" I couldn't help but be impressed. He Shan Jie smiled somewhat solemnly.
"No, he's not just an elder. He's one of the thirteen Sword Saints in Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, the Ten Thousand Sword Saint (Wan Jian Sheng). He made history as the youngest person ever to become a Sword Saint…despite his position and Saint Realm cultivation level, he's not that much older than us. He's an unpreceded genius almost on par with Bai Ning Shuang."
"Does he have a Sacred Sword Body or some bullshit physique like that?" I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
"Uh, no. Not that I've heard of. He just rose through the cultivation realms very quickly and defeated all of his rivals with his invincible sword techniques."
At least he earned his achievements rather than had them handed over to him on a platter by virtue of possessing some cheat constitution or whatever nonsense. Nonetheless, I felt a lot of tension from hearing his achievements.
This guy was going to be an extremely troublesome rival. In fact, given my current cultivation realm and strength, I wouldn't be able to defeat him. I was only at Innate Realm, while he was already at Saint Realm – the realm above mine.
I still had some way to go. Good thing he, as a Sword Saint of his venerable sect, wasn't eligible to participate in the intersect tournament, or he would wipe the floor with the rest of us. No wonder they didn't allow him…it would be totally unfair and one-sided.
Even Bai Ning Shuang, the owner of the Divine Spirit Body, was only at the first level of Innate Realm. She was actually at a lower cultivation realm than me, but already she was so powerful. Her future was unlimited, or so they said…but I personally thought it was useless to talk about the future. It was more practical to look at what one actually did. She had to earn her success, not take it for granted that they would come.
I mean, Jian Shen – the heavens bless his soul – was supposed to be a genius as well, but he wasted his potential with all his arrogant scheming and bullying…and now he was dead. So what was the point of him having violet potential or whatever measuring stick the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion used when he died before having anything to show for it?
No wonder Mu Chen was pissed. The guy was a total waste of resources.
Shaking my head and sighing heavily, I waited for the first round to end and the second round to be announced.