[Word Count 1625]
The top ten inner disciples weren't obviously impressed by the results of the tournament, especially the top 3 who only saw each as worthy opponents.
Zhao Chi was second ranked among the inner disciples, a position just below the clan's recognized number one genius, Zhao Linglong.
To him, Zhao Wei was just a measly peak third ranker outer disciple masquerading as someone strong and mysterious when he was, in fact, a very weak being.
Zhao Chi only saw Zhao Linglong, the Clan's genius, as someone worthy of defeating with all of his power. Zhao Linglong was known for being one of the four Great geniuses of Sun Feather City.
Despite Zhao Chi's blatant disregard for the outer disciples, Zhao Qin, the fourth ranked inner disciple was more wary of the two dark horses of the tournament. Between Zhao Wei and Zhao Feng, only Zhao Wei left her the deepest impression. There was just something about him. A feeling. An intuition that made her feel as if he was an unfathomable abyss. Behind that veil of ordinariness, he was probably hiding more power that could even rival her own. Zhao Qin found her inner implications even more absurd.
Anyways, the main tournament was just a half month away and Zhao Qin felt that maybe on that day she would know if her intuition was right or she was just overestimating Zhao Wei's capabilities. But she held a much firmer belief for the former.
Zhao Qin excused herself and bid Zhao Chi farewell. It was good to prepare well even though she was already a fourth rank Martial Artist. She had long ago learnt to never underestimate anyone. You could say she was quite intelligent at her age.
"What are you going to show me after half a month? What are you truly hiding?" A slight smile formed on her lips as her curvy figure disappeared among big houses of inner disciples.
***
'A curious one and an arrogant one, hmm.' Zhao Wei silently observed the second and fourth ranked inner disciples(Zhao Chi and Zhao Qin) through the corners of his eyes.
'Zhao Chi would be a pretty tough opponent due to the concentration of his inner energy. It would be a pain in the ass to deal with him but nothing I can't handle. He's inherently arrogant but that's what will make the fight easier for me.' Zhao Wei analyzed various scenarios in his mind.
'As for Zhao Qin… I feel sorry for her but she's sadly a fodder in my eyes.'
As he walked by himself, no one came to disturb his peace due to his sudden rise in fame.
His threatening aura acted as a deterrent against bootlickers and Co.
Zhao Wei didn't want to deal with annoying NPCs wanting to carry favor with him or lick his feet.
Being worshiped and revered? Zhao Wei didn't want such things.
What mattered to him was his own self-improvement - the feeling that he was doing something to steadily increase his overall strength and knowledge.
In the eyes of those who wanted to carry favor with him, he was a disciple with a promising future and if he became a clan elder, then they would also benefit.
But who the hell wanted to be tied to the Zhao Clan for a lifetime? Zhao Wei certainly did not.
Zhao Wei's vision wasn't merely limited to the Zhao Clan and since he was someone who wanted to experience various things in this new world as both a free spirit and transmigrator , his departure from Sun Feather City was already a foregone conclusion.
The world has a lot to offer, why limit yourself to one place?
There was no need to sow unnecessary karma since he lacked a sense of attachment to people of the Zhao Clan.
What Zhao Wei needed to do currently was to increase his cultivation base in preparation for any variables and also 'that' place. There were a lot of earthly treasures waiting for him out there. A farmer has to finally harvest whatever he has grown on his fertile lands but in this situation, Zhao Wei's was going to be an unwanted pest determined to steal the farmer's dutifully nurtured harvest.
On arriving at his cultivation abode, Zhao Wei found that he had a visitor. His visitor was a short, dark haired middle-aged man clad in lavish clothings. An air of majesty and power radiated off his figure as he silently stood there in his small courtyard.
'This should be the head manager, I suppose.' Zhao Wei thought in his mind. It was totally within his expectations to be visited by the head manager but he hadn't expected it to be this soon.
'Sixth rank Martial Artist! He's within a realm my current self can't handle.'
"Zhao Wei greets the Head Manager," Zhao Wei slightly bowed in greeting.
"Oh, what a good young man! I am surprised that you already know who I am!" The head manager released a boisterous laughter while giving Zhao Wei an appreciative nod.
'Of course, I have to know the important people of the Zhao Clan in advance. Even those not mentioned in the novel. I can't always depend on my limited knowledge when the world on paper and the real existing world are vastly different concepts.' Zhao smiled to himself.
"If I may ask respectfully, what brings you here, head manager, as you are a person of very high status with a very busy schedule in the clan?" Zhao Wei asked with a clueless tone to his voice.
"Oh right, guess I will just have to get straight to the point," The head manager cleared his throat before speaking.
"As per the superb performance that you had displayed during the inner sect promotion tournament, your status has considerably risen now that you are an inner disciple..." He then continued explaining everything that Zhao Wei already knew about. But Zhao Wei listened nonetheless.
"That's all."
"By the way, I can see that you are already on the verge of breaking through to the next level." The head manager smiled when he noticed Zhao Wei's cultivation.
"After experiencing several fights during the tournament, I was suddenly enlightened and just now, I was planning to enter seclusion," Zhao Wei replied straightforwardly. Of course, he was being one with the Dao of bullshitting like a natural.
"Enlightened?" The head manager had a weird expression on his face.
"To have enlightenment after a battle, then your comprehension abilities must be simply unprecedented." He then praised him while beginning his departure.
"Continue with the same tempo and the clan will give you more bountiful rewards, young man!" The head manager gave Zhao Wei one last smile and left.
Zhao Wei shook his head lightly as he watched the figure of the head manager disappear over the horizon.
"More bountiful rewards, huh?" Zhao Wei smiled.
"I will naturally accept them all but it's just a pity." He didn't have a sense of belonging to the clan.
Zhao Wei then proceeded to pick all of his belongings in preparation to move to the area where the inner disciples resided.
He didn't have many items in the first place so it didn't take long for him to be done with it.
With one last look at the small courtyard that he had lived in for like a month, considering most of his time had been spent in Sky Cloud Forest, Zhao Wei proceeded to the Inner Disciples' residential area.
His new place was considerably better in terms of size and aesthetics. It oozed off sheer opulence but Zhao Wei wasn't bothered by it.
He had lived like a wild barbarian in the Sky Cloud Forest for a month and several days, so he naturally didn't care about luxuries.
The place had quite a number of servants tending to everything but Zhao Wei didn't interfere with their duties and just went straight into training.
Zhao Wei practiced [Tyrant Fists] relentlessly while circulating the strands of newly created inner energy according to the [Divine Celestial Technique].
Hot sweat dripped down from his forehead onto his muscular chest as he surprisingly made 'boom' sounds to echo out due to his devastating punches in the air.
For a '14 year old' Zhao Wei's well built physique could be said to be almost perfect. His muscles were well-proportioned, not overly buff or leaner. His body seemed primed for martial arts.
BOOM!
Zhao Wei could feel his mind and body synergize to become one as he alternated between [Flowing Stream] and [Tyrant Fists].
Thick strands of pure celestial gold inner energy continuously condensed in his Dantian with every intense movement his body performed.
[Divine Celestial Technique] was basically a cheat - a cheat meant to easily enter the Martial Artist Realm. It required immense endurance and stamina for one to enjoy its benefits. For someone like Zhao Wei who had already embodied the meaning of grinding, it was simply a walk in the park.
KACHA!
A distant sound of illusory chains being broken inside his body resounded in his mind and Zhao Wei felt his cultivation base smoothly jump from the peak 3rd rank of Martial Learner to the Fourth Rank Martial Artist.
"Ah!" Zhao Wei felt refreshed as 'unlimited power' continuously flowed to every muscle in his body.
The earth below him inadvertently cracked into a series of web-like structures due to his overbearing rise in strength.
"There is really no better orgasm than breaking through to higher realms of cultivation!" Zhao Wei laughed without a care in the world. Lost in a world of his own making.
At his moment of 'carelessness', Zhao Wei was oblivious to the fact that someone had been watching him as he was 'enjoying' himself.
***