There were four matches that happened before Shu He could finally have his turn, most of them weren't too notable, the senior disciples that were all at Balance Attainment or lower were all the low hanging fruits of the sect, they were fairly equal in power and the matches were decided at a moments noticed because of a slip or opponent compatibilities.
Even the crowd didn't take much notice, there was little to cheer for and at most there was a mere "Oh".
All except one of the matches that is, one that took many by surprise; The subject of said surprise was the young master of the Jin clan, Jin Bao.
Everyone knew about his cracking incident a few months back and the following fallout he had with his clan, they had all mocked and laughed at him since they full well knew what type of person he was, he had been uplifted by his clan due to his potential but once he settled into the sect he became a mere leech doing the bare minimum and using the resources from his clan to joy seek.
When they saw his change in appearance, his sickly skin, the black rings lining his eyes and the filthy hair they only felt pity for a single moment before they remembered.
'It's his own fault'.
His manhood damaged, the support from his clan revoked, isolated in the sect alone with no help; It's no surprise what such things could do to someone.
They all expected him to go out, not with a bang but a whimper, forgotten by all.
At least until the fight started that is, the eyes of all spectating were split wide open as they watched on, the one thought that passed everyone mind was –
'Vicious!'
The Jin Bao of the past was slow, clumsy, unresponsive, and completely un-cultivator like, yet in these few months he had seemingly become another man!
The moment the battle started, Jin Bao charged at his opponent like his life depended on it, roaring out as the wind whipped around his body.
What followed was a relentless barrage of his sword followed by blades of wind slicing through the air, swamping his opponent from start to finish until the match was over, by the time the formation activated, and the battle ceased his opponent was covered in cuts from head to toe- obviously not deemed dangerous enough by the formation- creating a horrid image.
One could only imagine how his opponent would look without the formations help.
It was then that the crowd realised for the first time that he was from the Jin clan.
THE Jin clan, responsible for some of the strongest Wind type cultivation techniques, a clan that stood toe to toe with the likes of the Huo and Bai clan.
Everyone had forgotten because he was a mere concubine's son, but it was clear now that he had been given a chance for a reason! Under pressure, his true abilities were beginning to show!
For the crowd, Jin Bao had become the black horse of the tournament.
But one person in the crowd was fixated on something deeper, his brows furrowed as everyone else cheered in excitement for the pleasant surprise.
…
Shu He stood to the side of the tent; he was doing some basic exercises to wake his body up from sitting down for so long.
Again, he didn't really need to do this, the gentle flow of qi in his body revitalised his muscles constantly so he could move to action whenever he wanted, it was just a habit.
That and it also gave him some time to distract his body while he thought.
'Jin Bao… something was different about him' Shu He's eyes glimmered with gold as he secretly looked at Jin Bao as he sat in the waiting stand alone, the other senior disciples were avoiding him even more than before.
'I see nothing right now, but I'm sure of it; During that match something was different!'
He could see a pale green Qi circulating Jin Bao's body, he had seen this before once back when he had seen his confrontation with Mei Ling, this was clearly Wind Qi, the amount he had now was definitely higher than before.
From what he understands, like Bai Lian's Ice Qi stemming from Metal and Water elements, the Jin clan's Wind element stems from Wood and Fire, it's an advanced element, so its strength isn't surprising.
'But that's not what I felt' He shook his head.
'For a short period, the moment the battle started, it felt like there was a… suction towards Jin Bao, I could see it clearly with my own sight, the qi around him began moving towards him at an alarming rate, like it was being devoured'.
Shu He felt it odd because it was very different from the natural flow of Qi that a cultivator would cause when cultivating, it was sudden and forceful, there wasn't an ounce of beauty to it like natural cultivation.
He couldn't help but remember once instance where he saw something similar, back then his knowledge about cultivation was lower, but that event was a big black box for him when it came to his understanding even now.
His father had taken an elixir and then, as a mortal, became a cultivator and fought equally with a monster like Tai Min.
It made no sense to him even now.
"World Devouring Elixir…" He murmured to himself as he gazed unknowingly at Jin Bao.
He hadn't seen him take any kind of medicine, searched his clothes with his sight and the bag he brought along, even inspecting his weapon but saw nothing.
Plus, when his father had taken it… it had spelt the end of his life.
Jin Bao looked worn for wear, but he wasn't getting worse.
Shu He's mood had completely soured.
The question he had put into the back of his mind was now front and centre.
Where did his father get the elixir? Who gave it to him?
'Whoever it was…' A dark glint sunk into the depths of his eyes.
He felt his Qi surge, before he snapped out of his daze and took a deep breath.
The match before him was just wrapping up, the fight was over and the final discussion and short break was happening, he picked up his bow, made sure his pouches were tightened to his body, checked his arrows and then the knife sheathed on his leg holster.
He was ready, his name was called out as well as his opponents so he began to make his way over, as he did he could hear comments from the crowd.
"It's a new disciple!" One mentioned, seemingly happy to not see another fellow senior.
"What's with his clothes?" Another questioned, looking at his modified outfit.
"Ah I've seen a few other senior brothers and senior sisters doing such a thing, isn't it rather impertinent to do it as a new disciple though?" Someone clearly dissatisfied with his modifications spoke out.
"Clothes are clothes, as long as he wears the right colours and our name it's fine" An elder chimed in before a discussion brewed.
"His choice of weapon is interesting; I don't think I've seen many using a bow".
"No, look, he has a short sword as well, that's his true weapon, no?"
"Idiot, that's a knife look closely".
"Does anyone know where he's from?"
"I don't think he's from any of the clans, he may be from one of the families though…"
"Heh, I've heard that he's like that Tai Hui fellow from before, a mere common mortal".
"Really?! Two in one batch of new disciples.. how surprising."
"Hmph, I don't see why we're bringing commoners into the sect, it's a disgrace If you ask me".
"You're just saying that because you're getting showed up in your division by one of them!"
"Wanna fight bastard!?"
The discussions around him ranged from his appearance, his weapons all the way to his background.
He listened blankly as he walked over to the stage, normally he would have reacted to the comments but right now his mind was twisted with many thoughts.
But he had decided on one thing for sure.
No matter what, he HAD to make sure he fought Jin Bao, he had to see exactly what was going on, he had to confirm his suspicions.
He stepped on the stage, feeling the smooth stone beneath his leather shoes, the cold surface making him feel the pressure of the duel beginning to push down on his mind.
He took some deep breaths before exhaling, as he stared down his opponent in position he felt it once more.
He was inexperienced in a true fight against other people, he had sparred plenty with Gang Bo and occasionally with Bai Shun, the one and only time he had truly tried to fight another human was Tai Min.
And that fight left scars gaping and deep in his mind and heart, how useless he felt, how pathetic he was, how he couldn't save a single thing.
That's why, to overcome them, he needed to give his everything!
He took his bow in hand, isolating every noise in the stadium from his mind, all he could hear was the steady breathing of his opponents and the dust in the wind scraping against the white stone beneath him.
He used his 'sight' to expand his conscious, taking in everything so he wouldn't miss a single movement, he had prepared years for a true fight and now he was beginning to bring everything out.
His opponent held a hammer, it was a flat ended hammer unlike a war hammer, more like something you would see used in forging but a size bigger, being hit by that would be incredibly painful, his other hand was free yet twitched ever so slightly.
'He will do something with his other hand when the match starts' Shu He concluded.
He didn't know what, he couldn't see any other items on the other person's body other than some vials and a couple scrolls, external items were permissible here as long as they weren't poisons so maybe he had a special pill to use.
"BEGIN!" He heard the announcer's voice shatter the silence of the stage and without another moment's notice, his Qi soared as it crashed around his body to reinforce everything, it was a beast waking from hibernation as his eyes glowed with Gold as he hyper focused on every action.
His opponent lifted his hand and began to form seals.
'An external technique!'
Shu He didn't hesitate either, with a speed far faster than before he draws four arrows with one swish of his hand as he shot off from his starting position, dashing clockwise across the stage.
As he was doing so, he drew the black bow, instinctively adjusting his aim and twisting the string and arrow feathers before releasing it.
And again. And again. And again.
Like a machine he drew, adjusted, and shot; Within the space of a mere sixth of a second four arrows were sent flying in completely different trajectories, they weren't flying in simple straight lines either they all flew in wonderous arcs as their heads steered all towards their target like they had magnets attached.
The crowd seethed as they saw the vicious salvo launched from the get-go.
His opponent wasn't much different, a bead of sweat dripping from his brow as he desperately tried to decide whether he should abandon forming his technique or carry on in hopes of finishing it before the arrows hit him, he knew if he moved he would become distracted and break the technique.
Unfortunately for him, he had underestimated the speed of the arrows.
Shu He's current bow wasn't normal, it was considered a heavy bow, the arrows he used were much heavier than normal arrows as well.
They flew faster and had more power but were far more difficult to control which made Shu He's feat all the more amazing to those watching.
Shu He continued dashing as he awaited his opponents next come.
'What are you going to do now?!' He watched his opponent with eagle eyes.
Unfortunately-
"Match over!" The announcement came and Shu He paused in place, his expression completely dumbfounded as he looked over at his opponent.
He had almost succeeded in the technique, but then he saw how close he was to getting hit and tried to dodge, sadly the formation of arrows Shu He had formed was tricky, even more so when they were so close to hitting.
He had avoided one only for the other three to strike their mark, one in the leg, one in the side and the other in the side of the head.
With the formation blocking his arrows the man looked like a pincushion as his face was white as a sheet, before long the red light rescinded, and the arrows clattered to the groundbreaking the utter silence in the stadium.
The crowd broke out in cheers.
"Seriously?" Shu He didn't think he would win that easily.