Bai Mei led Li Tian toward the Outer Sect Gathering.
The Truthful Sword Sect was huge.
Buildings with curved roofs lined the paths, and training grounds stretched out as far as they eye could see. Li Tian's old room, where the servant disciples stayed, was a mess. It was small and dirty, a stark contrast to the houses of the outer disciples. Those were spacious and much cleaner.
"Bai Mei," Li Tian asked, his voice casual, "how strong are the best fighters at this gathering?"
Bai Mei's face showed that she was thinking carefully before speaking. "My Lord," she said, "the top prodigies are usually at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation. They often have an Earth Grade Spiritual Root. The sect values them highly."
Her steps were slow and deliberate because her body was sore. But she would follow her Lord's every command.
Bai Mei's cultivation was at the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation. That wasn't very high, but it was impressive for someone in their first year in the Outer Court. Li Tian listened to her. His eyes lit up with interest.
He thought, 'System, can I hypnotize someone at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation?'
Ding! If the energy level of your target is one level of magnitude higher, it is impossible.
Li Tian understood, 'Okay, so I can't hypnotize someone who is as strong as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.'
He frowned. He really needed someone stronger than Bai Mei. He glanced at her, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
She was cute, but at the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation, she was pretty useless. 'Should I just discard her now?'
'System, can I add another slot to the people I can hypnotize? How much does it cost?'
Ding! Adding one more slot would cost 10,000 Points.
Li Tian sighed. Ten thousand points? That's way too much. There was no easy way to get stronger, it seems.
As they walked, Bai Mei suddenly tensed. She had spotted some people she knew.
"Lord," she said, her voice a little nervous, "those are some of my friends. They are also outer disciples. The strongest one is Wei Changge, at the 4th Layer of Qi Condensation."
Li Tian looked at the approaching group. Their robes were elegant and expensive, a clear sign of their status. Two slender women with long, dark hair walked with a very tall man. He was almost two meters tall.
Li Tian wanted to see their stats, just like he could see Bai Mei's.
...
╔═════════════╗
GENERAL STATUS
╠═════════════╣
NAME: Bai Mei (Hypnosis Target)
RACE: Human
AGE: 18
╠═════════════╣
CULTIVATION STATUS
╠═════════════╣
REALM: Qi Condensation
LEVEL: 3rd Layer [██████▓░░░] 66%
FOUNDATION: ★☆☆☆☆ [1/5]
╠═════════════╣
SPIRITUAL ROOT
╠═════════════╣
COMPOSITION: Fire, Metal
GRADE: Mortal
QUALITY: Superior [██▓░░░░░░░] 35%
╠═════════════╣
POTENTIAL
╠═════════════╣
TALENT: ☆☆☆☆☆ [0/5]
Physique: None
╚═════════════╝
...
╔═════════════╗
GENERAL STATUS
╠═════════════╣
NAME: Lian Yueming
RACE: Human
AGE: 18
╠═════════════╣
CULTIVATION STATUS
╠═════════════╣
REALM: Qi Condensation
LEVEL: 3rd Layer [███████░░░] 73%
FOUNDATION: ★☆☆☆☆ [1/5]
╠═════════════╣
SPIRITUAL ROOT
╠═════════════╣
COMPOSITION: Earth, Wood
GRADE: Mortal
QUALITY: Superior [██░░░░░░░░] 20%
╠═════════════╣
POTENTIAL
╠═════════════╣
TALENT: ☆☆☆☆☆ [0/5]
PHYSIQUE: None
╚═════════════╝
...
╔═════════════╗
GENERAL STATUS
╠═════════════╣
NAME: Mei Ruolan
RACE: Human
AGE: 19
╠═════════════╣
CULTIVATION STATUS
╠═════════════╣
REALM: Qi Condensation
LEVEL: 3rd Layer [███████▓░░] 75%
FOUNDATION: ★☆☆☆☆ [1/5]
╠═════════════╣
SPIRITUAL ROOT
╠═════════════╣
COMPOSITION: Water, Wood
GRADE: Mortal
QUALITY: Superior [▓░░░░░░░░░] 8%
╠═════════════╣
POTENTIAL
╠═════════════╣
TALENT: ☆☆☆☆☆ [0/5]
PHYSIQUE: None
╚═════════════╝
..
╔═════════════╗
GENERAL STATUS
╠═════════════╣
NAME: Wei Changge
RACE: Human
AGE: 17
╠═════════════╣
CULTIVATION STATUS
╠═════════════╣
REALM: Qi Condensation
LEVEL: 4th Layer [▓░░░░░░░░░] 7%
FOUNDATION: ★☆☆☆☆ [1/5]
╠═════════════╣
SPIRITUAL ROOT
╠═════════════╣
COMPOSITION: Earth, Fire
GRADE: Mortal
QUALITY: Superior [██████░░░░] 60%
╠═════════════╣
POTENTIAL
╠═════════════╣
TALENT: ☆☆☆☆☆ [0/5]
PHYSIQUE: None
╚═════════════╝
...
"Greetings, Junior Sister Meimei," Wei Changge, the burly man, spoke first, his voice booming with a casual warmth. The others nodded in agreement, all of them addressing Bai Mei with a familiarity that suggested a shared past.
"Greetings, Senior Brother and Sisters." Bai Mei greeted them back.
"Junior Sister Meimei, are you ready for the Outer Sect Gathering?" Wei Changge asked, his eyes lingering on Bai Mei's face with obvious admiration.
He often sought out her company. Bai Mei was undeniably the prettiest junior sister in their group, and Wei Changge had made his romantic intentions clear on more than one occasion.
'If he knew what I did to her last night...' Li Tian thought, a cold smirk playing on his lips. He would love to see his face.
A pretty woman with dark, intelligent eyes, Mei Ruolan, stepped forward, her gaze fixing on Li Tian. "Meimei, who is this?" she asked, her voice laced with a subtle curiosity, but also a hint of suspicion.
Li Tian's appearance was rather unremarkable. His features were bland, and his presence was easily overlooked.
Bai Mei's heart pounded in her chest.
'Who is this?' She looked at Li Tian, her gaze searching his face.
'He is my Lord... my master... my divine being.' She knew she shouldn't have called him just a "servant disciple" to her other companions. That was a blasphemy. That would be degrading him.
She couldn't decide on how she should call him, though. If she called him "My Lord", they would think that she was insane. But if she called him as a "mere servant disciple", then she would be insulting him. She closed her eyes for a moment. It was hard to choose.
'No, they are wrong, not me!!!!' she thought, desperately trying to regain control over herself. She needed to remember who she truly belonged to. He was the most powerful, most perfect being in her eyes. He is everything.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Bai Mei finally spoke. "This," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "is one of the servant disciples under my care, Li Tian." She felt a cold sweat break out across her brow, the weight of her words crushing her.
I have overstepped my boundaries!!!
How could I refer to my Lord as just a "servant disciple"! That's an insult to his divine glory. How can I ever atone for such a sin?!?!
The internal conflict raged within her, a desperate battle between her imposed subservience and her frantic desire to please her master.
She felt as if she had failed her master. Her whole body quivered, desperate for forgiveness.
Li Tian, meanwhile, remained completely unconcerned. He wasn't even paying attention to her internal struggle. He simply didn't think about it.
Li Tian nodded, bowing to the the outer disciples with a detached politeness. "I greet the three outer disciples! I apologize for having not bowed earlier." he said, his voice even and devoid of any real emotion.
He knew that their status was superior to his right now, but he couldn't care less.
After his simple greeting, the three outer disciples promptly ignored Li Tian.
The group walked on. Their talk turned to gossip about the upcoming tournament.
"Did you hear?" Lian Yueming's voice was sharp. A hint of envy laced her tone. "Fairy Xue will be there. I heard she might have reached the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation."
Li Tian's ears perked up at that.
'10th Layer?' He thought. 'I thought there were only nine!'
...
The group waited for the tournament to begin.
The arena was beautiful. It was a large circle made of polished white stone. Tall pillars with carvings of dragons and phoenixes surrounded the area. Banners with the sect's symbol fluttered in the wind. It felt grand and important.
Then, a hush fell over the crowd.
A woman walked into the arena.
She was Xue Liying, also known as Fairy Xue. Li Tian's eyes widened. She was breathtaking. Her long, white hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. Her ice-blue eyes seemed to pierce through everyone. She wore a white robe that shimmered as she walked. She looked like a goddess, powerful and untouchable.
She's even more stunning in person, Li Tian thought, his gaze fixed on her. That's the power I want. I need to enslave her. He could feel a familiar hunger grow inside him.
There were other talented disciples at the tournament too. A young man with a burning gaze, his hair as red as fire, stood tall. He had a very imposing aura. There was also a girl with a graceful style, her movements flowing like water. They were all at the 8th or 9th Layer of Qi Condensation. Li Tian glanced at them, his interest piqued. They were stronger than anyone he had met so far.
Around Li Tian, the other disciples were chatting excitedly.
"Did you see that? Fairy Xue is here!" one of the disciples whispered, his voice filled with awe.
"I heard she broke through to the 10th layer of Qi Condensation!" another one replied, his eyes wide.
"She's too powerful, I wonder if anyone can even challenge her!" a third disciple chimed in.
"Maybe Elder Ning will try to make her her direct disciple?" another disciple replied, dreaming.
"Hmph, as if someone as arrogant as Elder Ning would have a direct disciple!" another man replied.
Suddenly, a powerful presence descended upon the arena.
Two figures stepped into the arena. They were the outer elders, Jian Yue and Hua Feng.
They wore different colored robes, one blue and one green, and their presence caused the whole arena to fall silent. Their cultivation was far above anything Li Tian had seen before.
'Late stage Foundation Establishment!', he exclaimed inwardly as he looked at the system's response. Their power filled the air. The crowd bowed their heads in respect.
"Greetings, everyone," Elder Jian Yue announced, her voice clear and authoritative, as she settled onto the platform with a sharp glance around the arena. She sat down with perfect posture, her eyes surveying every single disciple.
Elder Hua Feng, in contrast, smiled warmly at everyone. "Welcome, everyone! Let the Outer Sect Gathering begin!" his voice was filled with enthusiasm, "May everyone show off their talent today!"
The crowd started cheering at his words. The atmosphere became more lively, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Elder Jian Yue ignored the crowd and announced, "Today, the top three cultivators will receive a spot in the Inner Sect. You may now begin!" Her voice was firm and concise.
...
The first fight of the tournament began. Two disciples clashed in the center of the arena, their wooden swords meeting with a sickening crack.
Then, it happened. A young man with a hopeful glint in his eyes, pushed too hard, his opponent exploiting the opening to slash across his neck with his sword.
Blood gushed out, painting the white stones a dark crimson.
The young man stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock as he fell to the floor, his life draining away.
The crowd gasped and murmured, but their reaction was short-lived. The next match was already being called.
Elder Jian Yue barely acknowledged the scene. "Trash."
Elder Hua Feng simply sighed, his eyes showing a moment of sadness before he was once again excited about the match.
Li Tian watched the indifference of the elders, the cold dismissal of a life, and a chill settled in his bones.
'This is the truth of it!!', he thought, a chilling sense of confirmation settling within him. It was the bitter taste of validation, like witnessing the cracks in a carefully constructed lie. Society spoke of equality, of inherent worth, but here, in the brutal reality of this world, such notions were exposed as hollow.
The strong live, the weak die. And Bai Mei… she was weak.
His gaze drifted over to Bai Mei.
She was watching the battle with a mixture of awe and terror in her eyes. Useless. He knew what he had to do.
Li Tian had no space to waste and Bai Mei was just a waste of a slot. Although she was pretty, was beauty something that he would lack in the future?
Just look at Xue Liying, so beautiful, her cold personality made him want to conquer her too.
A fight was announced for the disciples at the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation. Bai Mei's name was called.
He locked his eyes on Bai Mei, his gaze sharp and cold. "Be discreet, slave. When the moment is right, you will throw yourself into his sword," he said, his voice a low, almost whispered command.
"I don't need you attracting attention. Do it quickly, so nobody suspects a thing."
Bai Mei's body trembled, her heart pounding in her chest. She understood, but she also didn't understand.
She knew that what he said was an order and she had to follow it, but at the same time, she also knew that it was an order for her to die. But such was her Lord's will. His every order was absolute.
"Yes, Lord," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.
She tried to steel herself for what was coming. A deep, dark fear bubbled within her, but it was quickly buried by her devotion. She knew she didn't deserve to live, so if her Lord wished her to die, then it was something she deserved.
Her opponent was a young man with a strong build, his movements aggressive, a smirk on his face as he looked at the pretty Bai Mei, trying to impress her with his strength.
As the fight began, Bai Mei moved with a strange mix of grace and clumsiness. Her techniques were precise, but they lacked power. Her body was still sore from their previous encounter, her movements a little stiff.
She fought desperately, but she was not strong enough. She felt a crushing sense of despair.
Then, the moment arrived. The young man lunged forward, his sword aimed at her chest.
Li Tian's command flowed into Bai Mei's mind: "Throw yourself into his sword."
Her body moved on its own, no longer hers. Her eyes glazed over, her face contorted in a strange mix of despair and devotion as she moved into the path of the sword, impaling herself on it.
A sickening thud echoed in the arena as the sword pierced through her chest. Blood blossomed on her white robes like a dark, grotesque flower. Her eyes locked onto Li Tian before she fell to the ground, the light fading from her eyes as her body went still.
The arena was silent, then a wave of murmurs washed over the crowd.
Li Tian watched, his face impassive.
Ding! Hypnotized Target has been killed, one slot has been regained. +300 Points
Li Tian's face lit up as he read the message!
I can gain Points if the Hypnotized Targets also die?
(Author's Note: Hello! I would like if you would review the webnovel and give it Power Stones. I want to say that I never intend to make this novel go premium ever, and I write this for fun. Doing the things previously mentioned will push the novel to more people.)