It seemed like the whole world had gone silent as if they couldn't believe what they had just seen. A snap, it only took snap of his fingers to reduce someone who was ranked 110th to a puddle of blood.
They couldn't believe it as it seemed quite inconceivable, what kind of power did one need to have to pull off something like that, their minds were still in tumor when.....
"YOU BASTARD. DIE!!!!!!!!"
Lou Zhongzi bellowed as he charged at Vin with intense murderous intent, he looked like he was going to flay his skin, eat his flesh and drink his blood.
He wouldn't rest until he tortured Vin and kill him with his own hands, it took only a split second for him to cross the distance from his seat to the stage, his hand passed through the barrier protecting Vin as it headed to his head.
But before that could happen, Vin vanished, someone had moved him away so quickly it seemed as if he had teleported, all this seemed like a long time bit in actuality it only took a split second.
The crowd hadn't even had the time to rein in their shock yet, "Lou Zhongzi, what do you think you're doing?!" Elder Ling asked steely, he was the one that had rescued Vin just now.
"Ling Fengzi, don't even think about stopping me, this demon most die here today" Lou Zhongzi said, his expression was maddening.
"That's Palace master Ling to you, and besides, based on what do you think he should die?" Elder Ling asked as he corrected Lou Zhongzi's blunder.
"This scoundrel is a scourge who kills his fellow deciples wantonly, I'm just cleaning up the sect" Lou Zhongzi said, he had changed his words quite quickly.
"Are you the Palace master or am I, besides these so called deciples just fought a life and death battle, a battle you clearly approved, don't even think about touching a strand of his hair." Elder Ling stated.
"And based on what grounds do you think you can stop me." Lou Zhongzi sneered, he looked like he was itching for a battle as he flared his aura, his aura covered everywhere on the martial stage affecting even the crowds.
"Based on the fact that I would kill you right now if you don't back off" Elder Ling said as he released an even more domineering aura that slightly surpassed the former.
"You've actually taken that step" Lou Zhongzi narrowed his eyes at this "Brat, don't even think about having a good life in the outer court" Lou Zhongzi said as he waved his sleeves and turned to leave.
"You should be more worried about yourself old foggy, don't worry when I get enough strength, I'll come back to kill you myself" Vin said Confidently, Lou Zhongzi didn't say anything to this and just vanished.
Although he looked quite calm on the surface, Vin was actually quite frightened inside, in that split second he had actually felt the threat of death just like that day and he didn't like this feeling at all.
Frankly he had actually taken quite a huge gamble, he wanted to see how much Elder Ling valued him, if he won he'd gain himself a backing in the outer court, but if he lost, he'd just die a dogs death, well at the very least he'd had his revenge and it felt damn good.
Now that his gamble had paid off he was quite relieved "That was quite the gamble there kiddo" Elder Ling said, of course he had seen through his thoughts.
"My humble thanks to Elder Ling for saving my life" Vin said as he bowed deeply, he truly meant it as Elder Ling had really saved his life today.
"Well never mind I've always been been dissatisfied with that guy and his deciple for a while now, if you ever need my help in anything, you can come find me" Elder Ling said as he waved it off with a smile.
After that he turned to the crowd "Alright that brings us to the end of the tournament today. Tomorrow would be the start of the Round-robbin." Elder Ling Declared before he turned to Vin smiled and left.
***
The whole sect was in frenzy as talks about what happened in the martial stage spread, even reaching the ears of the inner court and so everyone anticipated the Round-robbin tomorrow.
***
"This place has become quite desolate in my absence" Vin said in nostalgia as he stared at the state of the cottage, the leaves had occupied the majority of the courtyard, and even the walls had cracked the more.
Now that he had become an official member of the sect he didn't need to come here anymore as the sect had assigned him his residence which was quite a nice place as he had checked it out earlier.
But he still decided to do so as this was his roots in the sect, he kept on staring at the cherry tree in the courtyard as old memories resurfaced in his mind before.....
"I thought I might find you here." a husky old voice sounded behind him and immediately his body froze as he trembled, either from excitement or fright.
That voice, that husky old voice, he would recognize it anywhere even in his sleep, because this was the voice of his only pillar in the sect, as far as he was around that person he had no worries.
"Ol.d...ol..d old Bai." Vin stammered as his voice quaked, his eyes already misty and threatening to Spill hot tears.
"Hey kiddo, it's been a while. Vin." old Bai said, his usual husky old voice sounded huskier after all he too was excited.
"Old Bai!!.! " Vin shouted as he turned around and pounced on the old man, hot tears spilled as he cried like a child, the trauma and emotions he had buried deep down came rushing out in droves.
" There there, it's okay now, it's all okay, you shouldn't be crying like a child." old Bai said as he patted Vin's head softly, he could understand what the young lad had gone through.
After Vin had vented a little he backed up and returned to his usual casual expression, old Bai looked at him and nodded in approval at how well he controlled his emotions.
"How have you been doing all these years." old Bai asked even though he already knew, "Truthfully it's been rough for me." Vin sighed after which they went inside the cottage and he proceeded to tell old Bai about his experience of the past three years.
Down to his Awaken at the overhanging edge cliff and his adventures in the dark wind forest to the battle on the martial stage, he told him everything and didn't leave anything out.
Although his story seemed novel-like the later parts were filled with life and death struggles, it could be said that within the last few weeks Vin had moved between the border of death and back countless times.
Even within the middle layer of the dark wind forest he had met a lot of demonic beasts that almost took his life, surviving only by a hair's breath.
The cottage was silent for a while each one were with his own thoughts, after a couple more minutes Vin decided to break the silence, "Old Bai, why did you leave?, where did you go? and why are you only back now?."
He rapidly fired the questions that had been plaguing him all this while.
"Sigh*. I guess I should start with my identity on the sect, I'm the grand elder of the Flaming sun sect Bai Linxang, but every one just calls my old Bai as only a select few knows of my true identity, the rest only know I'm quite important to the sect so they still pay me due respect."
Old Bai sighed as he said casually, but this shocking information shooked Vin to the core, he couldn't believe that he had actually been living with the grand elder all the while.
No wonder he had left so many good things to him, but wait that's not right, if he was just the grand elder then he should at most only be at the Nasant soul realm, if so then how could he create a small world and how did he come across that book about Eridoria and those skills and techniques that seemed too incredible.
All these thoughts ran through his head as he looked at old Bai for more explanation, old Bai saw this and nodded "I know you've had your suspicions and the truth is, my strength is not merely at the Nasant soul realm, well was actually as I'm currently suffering from a grievous injury." old Bai explained, helplessness fill his tone.
"Grievous injury, what happened?" Vin asked in surprise "That's a story for another time, I'll naturally tell you when you get stronger, but for now lets talk about why I came here" old Bai said as he continued.
"Vin. Are you willing to become my deciple?."
*******