Eventually Tian Mo and Xing Lin class with, Elder Pan Hai ended, he learn most about cultivation and about eternal soul sect. While Elder Pan Hai doesn't usually teach classes it happened once a month, sometimes the very first months for the new outer courtyard dicples...
He would give an introduction to the sect and grant some teachers time off.
Though Xing Lin already learnt all about it already, Tian Mo thought it would have bother him, instead it didn't. Still he would have liked to focus on his own cultivation so he felt stoic, like ever since he joined the sect, he did nothing other than practice to strenghten himself for the future... There, both had clashing desires.
As a result, even with his stoic nature, he couldn't ignore a growing curiosity about Tian Mo. He felt torn because he felt there more to Tian Mo and against he wanted focus on himself.
His explosive qi… what exactly is he really capable of?
Tian Mo walked out of the sect hall with Xing Lin at the moment was process all the newfound information, it wasn't something he thought he about before this still he noted.
I didn't think there was so much more to cultivation? While he learned the difference in races cultivation, still it was the basic.
'With, each species having different realms of cultivation, how can I ever hope to match their strength?' Tian Mo pondered, his thoughts drifting. 'Humans, demons, gods even creatures... how do they compare when they're all in the same realm?'
If he really thought about fighting against all, which race was weaker to give a advantage, unease stirred in his gut as he pondered the vast gap between the races... Would he ever stand a chance in a world so far beyond his comprehension? How could a mere human hope to match the power of gods or demons? Demon, Gods... what really are they?
He became overtaken by fear and curiosity, yet more excited to learn, he wouldn't have devoted himself to this but now. With these thoughts had him motivated, at the same his sudden joining of the sect spread like wildfire, it made him a target of interest of good and evil…it's one of those thing where people saw the benefit in him more than the worry of why.
…
Meanwhile walking with Xing Lin, he couldn't help but asked. "Senior brother…what should we do now?" His brows furrowed faintly. His hand twitched but stayed at his side.
Xing Lin didn't say a word his lips twitched. He didn't need to, his calm eyes spoke that was asking him to keep quiet, he didn't want attention same as always didn't bring attention of troublemakers or eavesdrop. More importantly Tian Mo this time didn't pick up on it.
While Xing Lin might seemed to ignore Tian Mo, he could also believe that Tian Mo needs to prove himself worthy of respect and attention... 'He has potential, but potential alone means nothing here. Let him prove he's worth my time.'
Tian Mo signed dejected, he couldn't verified if Xing Lin didn't want to speak to him or still didn't accept his apology.
Still he pressed. "Senior Brother, should we head to the practice grounds?"
Suddenly, nearby a commotion broke out, the sounds of raised voices reached his ears... His head snapped, he saw a disciple aggressively choking another, dragging them away. tia mo was stued The item from the bullied disciple's hand disteacted him as it flew toward him, hitting the ground in front of him with a soft thud.
'Why are they so cruel to each other?'
Tian Mo lips curled into a sneer toward that bullying dicple, because he first encountered it from a outsider, visiting the three steam they thought they could do anything. He had a disdain for it.
For this reason, he slowly knew that the world wasn't, as he thought instead it the survival of the fitness, even when he fully didn't know about the outside world, where even they attack each other instead the races that attacks back.
To the right Xing Lin who kept walking, averted his eyes even his heart was steady… accustomed to such life, while it wasn't from a young age it was mainly when he joined the eternal soul sect.
For the bully disciple, he had been bully other all, since he joined the sect no felling any consequence, despite before joining he was the one that gpt bullied so he did it to others.
Tian Mo was no longer focused on the attack of the other dicple, his gaze fell on a tattered, grey-black book. He crouched, fingers brushing its worn cover, curiosity igniting in his chest.
Before he even attempt to read it, a voice broke the silence. "What do you think you're doing with my book?"
Xing Lin, a couple feet ahead sensing something wrong had stopped, narrowing his eyes for a second before diverting it.
'Let's see if be hunted or hunt backs' he thought, This was something that every new entry encountered even himself, whereas other get hurt, he already knew at a young age to don't be the hunted.
Also that attaching himself to anyone, especially newcomers, was dangerous. The sect taught harsh lessons, and those who couldn't endure were discarded.
Tian Mo, head jerked up to see it was the disciple who bullied the other disciple.
Frowned annoyed. What does he mean...this his?
Tian Mo, clearly saw that the book came out the hand of the bullied dicple, he saw glanced at the bullied disciple's, standing far behind with a face bruised face and shivering.
He realized what was happening this was another bully who really like to display they power to everyone and not just one person, so he held the book steady in his hand.
Tian Mo straighted his back. "This isn't yours."
The bully's eyes narrowed. "What did you just say? Are you going to keep my stuff?"
The bully brought his hand toward Tian Mo head about to grap it, suddenly Tian Mo felt his muscle tensed. What the bully didn't expect was Tian Mo to block it even himself wasn't sure he was about so he didn't move, hence he involuntary moved.
Tian Mo sharp eyes locked onto the bully. "What are you doing?"
The bully, not responding, pushed Tian Mo its force surprising, sending him stumbling backward into a stone pillar. The air was knocked from his lungs, pain flaring in his chest. He gritted his teeth.
'This is the first time I've been hit... It hurts, but my body... it's stronger than before.' He thought. Biting back the pain,outsider had already bullied some of the children he got a couple hits before.
Hence, he felt if he don't fight back now, how will get revenge, if he couldn't fight back Elder Pan Hai…specifically someone weaker.
"You dare to take my stuff and question me"
When Tian Mo looked up to the bully already infront of him another punch landed on him, before he could even attack he was continuously punched that he almost went down to his knees. He body kept trembling he couldn't even defend or attack he had never been in a fight before he even felt like not attacking anymore. He was iterated from it. He had battle against himself on his choices.
Even when the bully was attacking with his fist and not qi it still pain him.
Still, he couldn't help but think I can't afford to back down now, not after this.
Finally, after several blows, the bully stopped, seeing that Tian Mo wouldn't fall. He took the book from his hands, fixed his clothes, his expression filled with disdain.
"Don't let me run into you again," he spat, before turning to leave.
Tian Mo looked up, watching the bully walk away...The pain from the blows still throbbed, but it wasn't unbearable. He swallowed his pride, the fire to fight back burning in his chest, but he knew... now wasn't the time. Not yet. The disciple was far stronger than him, he had no way of winning.
He wondered... if disciples got in trouble for fighting or even killing each other here?. In the distance some dicples were terrified because they were previously attacked the same.
Tian Mo glanced to see that Xing Lin looked at him with a bit of disappointment, which he thought wasn't good he mess up not getting on his good side more. While he didn't want him around to protect him, it was good to keep somebody close who knows the realm.
In conclusion he knew what Xing Lin really thought, making him felt shame, he never really had to fell shame around his family but now, he had a glint of understanding.
'Ahh, atleast he tried' Xing Lin thought.
"Come let's go eat" he said then waking off which Tian Mo followed dejected behind.
…
As time passed Tian Mo, arrived at the food distribution area his eye widened, heart skipped a beat, in his view was over fifty disciples fighting each other continously. The smell of sweat and blood filled the air, mixing with the sharp scent of fear.
"What's even happening here?"
It was like worse than what he just saw and experienced, what he just felt was just a warm up of all the attack this sect are always having.
Xing Lin who heard him explained. "The outer court doesn't have a lot of rules like the inner court…" His eyes flicked from one fight to the next, indifferent to the violence unfolding. "And because of it, here, you have to fight for your food."
So your fighting for free food?
There were all like beast, Tian Mo eyes even himself there were other disciples, hoping to avoid conflict, standing outside. Some of whom are injured to get the food palced at the center howver it didn't look like you were allowed to kill anyone. Still they all moved like they were unsatiable hunger.
Why would they need at like this if there food everywhere? Is it That good? How are able to get away with this?
Xing Lin continued, his voice almost detached. "The inner court has its own order. Rules that govern every action, every decision. But here, in the outer court, those rules mean nothing. The only rule that matters is strength. If you can't fight for what you want, you don't eat."
For this reason, Tian Mo was still baffled as you can't kill but can injury, as he saw several weaker disciples are knocked aside and trampled underfoot. The fights were brutal, with disciples using every dirty tactic to get ahead.
While distracted, he saw that Xing Lin was a couple feet infront just relaxed easily moving throught the disciples. It was a encroaching darkness.
'Wait, wait, I can't fight them... ' he thought, his mind racing. What am I even thinking? I can barely defend myself against someone like the bully, let alone these brutal beasts...
Tian Mo, now he was on his own he touched his stomach starving be didn't eat anything scine arrived at the sect so he stood there for second thinking. He started taking deep breaths.
There were dicples fights for a scrap of food, he sees others using various tactics some fighting outright, while others use stealth, parazlton techniques, and even manipulation. One disciple who's clearly stronger than the others sets up an ambush, waiting for the weaker ones to exhaust themselves before swooping in.
'It's not about survival or about fighting i have be smart strategies and use the weakness.' Tian Mo thought.
Man is but a beast that lies to itself, disguising savagery as civility.
He walked foward, hiding behind some of the dicple being attack even dogging when there dodging. It was when slowly gotten closer with more ducking under tables and even pushing other dicples toward the fights.
Tian Mo who was trapped back a couple discples blocking his way, . He wasn't ready to fight yet…not here.
'Damit I made it unscathed I have to move before they target me…do I have to try using my qi…no that will attract attention to me faster' he thought.
Almost there Xing Lin was at the center locking eye with a couple dicple then he saw Tian Mo he decided to thow a plate of food at him where he was suprised but he caught with forced chuckle. While chuckling, Xing Lin already moved fast that be left afterimages.
"Xing Lin your running again!"
Beside the other disciple that wants to challenge Xing Lin there multiple others, were sore lower, or who heard about him, this attention was brought to him, after all his early in the sect fights to strenghten himself.
Now he was at the stage where he spent at his time on cultivation refining of qi, unlocking more stages.
Tian Mo who was about to leave when was attacked by a chair, he instinctively ducked, with a swift motion, his fist collided with the attacker's chest, forcing the air from his lungs. Tian Mo's, heart raced, darted away from the chaos with a final burst of speed, clutching the plate of food tightly in his hands.