The weather was gloomy that day. Gray clouds spread across the sky like droplets of ink in water.
The atmosphere was depressing, suffocating even.
On the great plaza of Mount Shu.
The Dark group was assigned to the first battle ring.
The ring was surrounded by crowds of spectators. In contrast to the silence of the first stage, the second stage had the undivided attention of many. Participants who were eliminated in the first stage came with their mentors to observe the second stage matches.
The students stood to learn a lot from these matches.
The first round was between the teams in the Dark group—the two academies that dominated the first stage with perfect scores.
The battle was between Luojiang Academy and Donglu Academy. Donglu Academy was a well-established academy that stood toe to toe with Changan Academy. Naturally, anticipation thrummed through the crowd as they waited for the exciting battle.
Outside the battle ring.
Dressed in white with his sword on his back, Mentor Wen scrunched his brows as he stared at Lin Yun, who was standing in the ring.
The veiled Jiang Linglong narrowed her eyes. "This student from Donglu Academy…"
Before she could finish, Mentor Wen turned to her and asked, "You feel it too? That boy, Lin Yun… The stench of blood is strong on him."
Jiang Linglong nodded solemnly in agreement.
Fang Lang overheard their conversation and instantly stopped smiling.
"He has killed before?"
Mentor Wen shot him a glance. "Killing surprises you? Cultivation is not a sentimental practice."
Mentor Wen's simple reply made Fang Lang gulp.
Fang Lang looked up and saw Liu Bubai standing across Lin Yun—a solemn expression crossed Fang Lang's face. Fang Lang thought, 'Does this mean there's a possibility Liu Bubai will lose?'
What a tragedy…
To meet such an opponent in his maiden match…
Fang Lang had a moment of silence for Liu Bubai.
The teen who wanted to carry him to victory had awful luck.
…
In the ring.
Dressed in a martial robe, Liu Bubai gripped his fancy sword with elegance and held his head high with confidence.
"Luojiang Academy, Liu Bubai, ninth-grade sword disciple."
Standing across him was Lin Yun from Donglu Academy—the boy was grinning ear to ear. "Such tender and delicate skin you have. I bet you'll squeal melodiously when my blade cuts you."
Liu Bubai looked up, eyes squinting. His body tensed as he sensed the malice.
"Donglu Academy, Lin Yun."
Lin Yun dragged his rusty blade behind him and licked his lips. He did not announce his cultivation grade. There was a half-hearted smile on his face.
Liu Bubai cared not about the formalities. He lifted his fancy sword and stood in his battle stance.
After three days of special training with Mentor Wen, Liu Bubai's sword mastery had improved tremendously, and so had his confidence.
Even so, Lin Yun still intimidated him.
Dark clouds billowed in the sky.
Thunder roared among the clouds.
The wind whistled as it blew, rustling the sand and soil on the ground.
The fight began.
Liu Bubai unsheathed his blade with a loud ring. Neither participants were using cultivation techniques. With only their swords, the battle was already fraught with danger—one wrong move could lead to death.
Liu Bubai's attacks rained on Lin Yun like a storm but the boy managed to block every single attack with his rusty blade.
"Too slow. Too weak. Is this the standard of Luojiang Academy? How disappointing!"
Lin Yun's face was partially shielded by his rusty sword as he stared down Liu Bubai's relentless attacks. Lin Yun let out a derisive snicker.
Liu Bubai's expression was cold. As he doubled his efforts in attacking, his expression soured.
Lin Yun had abundant combat experience. He was able to block every attack by Liu Bubai with minimal effort. If it came down to a battle of endurance, Liu Bubai was wasting his energy while Lin Yun was conserving his.
At the same time, Lin Yun was constantly taunting Liu Bubai in an effort to provoke him.
Liu Bubai forced himself to keep calm—the sword in his hand did not waver.
After all, his reputation as Luojiang Academy's sword mastery genius was not baseless.
Liu Bubai's determination did not go unnoticed. Unamused, Lin Yun pouted.
In an instant, Lin Yun got out of his defensive stance. A bloodthirsty aura surrounded him, like that of a raging tiger. It took Liu Bubai by surprise and startled him.
Lin Yun took the chance to move in.
The heavy rusty blade was thrust forward.
It was aimed straight at Liu Bubai.
Liu Bubai's expression changed. He drew back his sword and blocked the attack.
Clang!
The clashing blades rang loudly. Liu Bubai felt his sword hand go numb as he stumbled a few steps back.
Lin Yun's weapon was heavier. Liu Bubai struggled to hold up against the attack. In the past, Liu Bubai would have been knocked out by such a strike. Fortunately, his sword technique had improved greatly after the special training—he was able to switch from offense to defense in an instant.
He spun his light sword, forming an impenetrable shield.
"Oh? So you do know how to block."
A sinister grin appeared on Lin Yun's face—his demeanor suggested he was confident in the match outcome. Like a sly jackal, he watched as his prey walked into his carefully placed trap.
Lin Yun thrust his rusty blade forward with his backhand.
Liu Bubai fended him off with his sword.
However, Liu Bubai's expression shifted a second later.
Liu Yun threw his weapon at him. The metal hilt curved in the air and struck Liu Bubai's head.
His skull was cracked open!
The bloodstained hilt bounced off and returned to Lin Yun.
Blood splattered onto Lin Yun's face and excited him.
Thunderclouds rumbled in the sky, creating a depressing atmosphere.
Stunned by Lin Yun's hit from the heavy sword, Liu Bubai moved his head. Fresh blood stained the battle ring floor.
"You're not surrendering so soon, right?"
Lin Yun heaved his heavy sword and put on an exaggerated expression.
Liu Bubai lifted his head and gripped his sword. Surrender?
Impossible. This was his first match!
Before the match started, he had told Fang Lang he would carry them to victory. It would be embarrassing to lose so badly in the first match.
Would he be the weakling who has to be carried to victory?
There was no way he would let that happen!
That was not his style!
"Come on," Liu Bubai said coldly as he wiped away the blood and tightened his grip on his sword.
Lin Yun grinned. Immediately, he charged at Liu Bubai. The aura he exuded was intense.
He dragged the rusty blade behind him and swung it at full force.
Lin Yun's every move was reflected in Liu Bubai's eyes. Liu Bubai stepped aside and struck his sword at the ground.
The blade bent at an extreme angle.
This was Liu Bubai's ace up his sleeve.
As the blade glowed, Liu Yun felt its threat. He lifted his sword as the beam of light shot toward him. The shot took an abrupt turn and hit him square in the chest.
Liu Yun's chest burst open—blood erupted from the wound.
He looked down at his bloodied chest and smiled maniacally.
Whoosh!
Lin Yun sped up. Just as before, he swung his heavy sword downward at Liu Bubai's head. Liu Bubai countered with a thrust but Lin Yun did not attempt to dodge—death did not scare Lin Yun.
Liu Bubai's face turned ashen. His only choice was to block with his blade.
Lin Yun used the same technique again.
The hilt hurled toward Liu Bubai and struck his skull again.
Blood splashed everywhere!
The hilt bounced back and Lin Yun threw it again, hitting Liu Bubai on the head again!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Once, twice, thrice!
The sound of cracking bones filled the ring.
The crowd around the ring instantly fell silent. They were completely stunned.
The bloody scene sent shivers down the students' spines.
Outside the ring.
Mentor Wen's pupils narrowed. An intense aura surrounded his body.
Jing Linglong had a veil over her face which shielded her expression. However, Fang Lang could see her gaze turn colder and colder.
Fang Lang clenched his fists.
The air was filled with the cloying stench of gore.
Lin Yun's maniacal laugh sounded from the ring.
It was nothing but a game to him.
Liu Bubai clenched his teeth, unwilling to yield. Stubbornly, Liu Bubai held on to his sword even when Lin Yun continued to use his long-range sword technique to strike at Liu Bubai's badly-damaged skull.
Blood pooled on the battle ring, yet the pale-faced Liu Bubai refused to yield.
The umpire from the Sword Guild would not intervene until Liu Bubai was in a fatal situation.
The gory scene silenced the crowd.
Outside the ring.
Mentor Wen slammed his hand, cracking the battle ring floor.
"We surrender," Mentor Wen uttered in a low voice.
Right after the surrender, the umpire from the Sword Guild appeared in front of Lin Yun and grabbed his blood-soaked weapon.
"That's enough. First round, victory to Donglu Academy," the umpire announced after glancing at Lin Yun.
Meanwhile, Liu Bubai swayed on his feet. His face was bruised and swollen—fresh blood flowed down his cheek from a cut on his forehead.
"Come on… Come at me!" Liu Bubai yelled.
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
Fang Lang and Jiang Linglong appeared beside Liu Bubai at the same time.
Both students wore sullen expressions.
"Should I?" Fang Lang and Jiang Linglong asked simultaneously.
They were both surprised.
Then, Jiang Linglong's eyelashes fluttered and she took a step back.
At that point, Mentor Wen had entered the battle ring. He stuffed a strong-smelling medicinal pill into Liu Bubai's mouth and carried Liu Bubai out of the fight zone.
As they shuffled along, the bruised and swollen Liu Bubai ignored his own injuries to speak to Fang Lang. Despair filled his eyes. "Lang'zi, I couldn't carry you to victory…"
Fang Lang gave him a cheery smile and relieved Liu Bubai of his sword.
With a sword in each hand, Fang Lang said, "It's okay. You should lie back and rest."
Closing his eyes, Liu Bubai did not reply.
'I'm tired. Just end it all,' he thought.
Mentor Wen stared at Fang Lang.
With gentle footsteps, Jiang Linglong sauntered toward Fang Lang and uttered softly, "No mercy?"
Fang Lang simply replied, "Sure."
Shortly after, Jiang Linglong exited the ring.
Lin Yin stood in the battle ring with a sinister grin on his face. Blood dripped from his rusty sword.
"I heard the Luojiang Academy team fancies scoring hat-tricks. What a coincidence. I'm like that too."
Thunder tore through the skies of Mount Shu. Finally, the wrath of the bellowing dark clouds was released.
Large droplets of rain fell from the gray clouds.
They showered everything below. Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter.
With a sword in each hand, Fang Lang stared at Lin Yun.
He tightened his grip, his face expressionless as he lifted his chin.
"Luojiang Academy, Fang Lang. Seventh-grade sword disciple."
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