Ye Mo stood on the stage looking at the spectators.
The healing instructor arrived beside him along with his comrade who watched over the battles. They gazed at Ha Jun before they shook their heads.
"As expected, he's dead."
"Look at his face, it would be surprising if he survived."
"I thought with his body refining art he might cling to life, I guess I was too optimistic."
Ha Jun's head was crushed between the stone tiles and Ye Mo's fist, he died in an instant.
The instructors then turned towards Ye Mo.
"Come with me, I will heal your arm." The healing instructor made a sign to Ye Mo.
Ye Mo only nodded when his vision began to darken. He exerted himself to the maximum, wearing both his mind and body to overcome this challenge. Now that it ended, the tension left him, and his muscles relaxed as he collapsed on the stage.
In the meantime, the crowd erupted.
"What happened, how could he defeat Ha Jun like that..." Some people were still in disbelief, not understanding what occurred.
"The kid is crazy, he destroyed his own arm to kill him!" Some people were looking away, haunted by the vision of Ye Mo's injured arm.
"Such cruelty, to mutilate your own body like that... This kid has no sense of self." Some were shocked by the brutality with which Ye Mo finished his opponent.
"As expected of an institute recruitment competition, these guys are ready to die to reach a good spot." A lot of them took pleasure in the spectacle they witnessed and in the state both contestants ended.
The savagery shown by Ye Mo in this round surprised them.
In the end, Ye Mo sacrificed his own arm to put an end to this fight.
With his strength he could break trees with his own hands, but if he tried to strike a boulder, not only he wouldn't do much damage, he would probably hurt himself.
Without a defensive battle skill to support him, he would make more damage to himself than the target.
Now, if he tried to punch it with all his might without minding the injuries he would suffer and the state he would end in, although he might not shatter it, he would make sustainable damage, albeit being badly wounded.
This was such a case. Ye Mo punched with determination and since Ha Jun's amplification battle skill wore off, he was able to break his arms and crush his face. However, due to Ha Jun's Iron Skin art and the stone tiles supporting his body, Ye Mo suffered tremendous injuries reaching his shoulder and invalidating his arm.
"Hahaha, I was right all along, this kid is an inborn fighter." Hong Li on his platform cracked in laughter.
"Dean?" Han Zhen Jun inquired as the esteemed guests on the platform, perturbed by Hong Li's laughter, looked at them seemingly puzzled.
"His natural instincts are well developed, and he doesn't lack the wits to support his powerful body. He's made to relish in battles. Now there's only qi cultivation missing, if his talent is good enough, I will take him as my personal disciple." Hong Li said with shining eyes.
"But you never took a disciple before, isn't this decision a bit too precipitous? Most of all, you must have noticed... This kid has traces of demonic nature." Han Zhen Jun spoke lowly.
Ye Mo didn't hail from any clan but came straight from the street. In the tournament, he didn't hesitate to kill his opponent in the middle of his greetings, tried to cripple them, and kicked Ha Jun between his legs, he had no consideration for both himself and other participants.
If he wasn't checked early, it could grow into a wild and uncontrollable personality, such a member was useless for any organization.
"Of course I noticed, but this is of no worry. He's still young and just joined the righteous Tiger Martial Institute. Under our care and my guidance he will turn into a virtuous hero that will bring justice to our students and punishment for our enemies, raising our institution to new heights… Tell the healer to take good care of his arm and send Wang Fei to test his aptitude once he wakes up."
Hong Li looked deeply at the unconscious Ye Mo, being carried away by the healing instructor.
…
At the same time, in the eastern district deep inside the Liu clan's estate was a cemetery.
It would look like an ordinary spacious garden without the numerous tombstones standing erect on the grass, it could be seen it was taken care of regularly.
There was no ceiling linking the walls together in this place, the cemetery was directly connected to the sky as the rays of the ardent sun shone inside.
Only the patriarch's direct lineage and heroes who made great contributions to the clan were allowed to rest in this place
In the middle of the burial grounds was Liu Hao, half-kneeling in front of two newly erected tombstones.
His red and watery eyes had a lustrous effect under contact with the light as he looked at the names of his children inscribed on the stones with sorrow.
"My children, I'm sorry, it's my fault. I was too careless, I thought there was no danger, I should have sent one of our best men to accompany you. No, if only I wasn't poisoned by these despicable scums in the first place, none of it would have happened! But fear not, as all our enemies will pay with their life, I will shred them to pieces and paint the walls with their blood as their families shall hold you company in death. Starting with your murderer!" Liu Hao vowed in a deep tone laced with killing intent.
In front of the solemn atmosphere of the cemetery ancestral door, Liu Dan and his first son Liu Han stood by.
"How is he?" Liu Dan asked calmly.
"The medicine hall's elder was able to help him suppress the poison, but it's only a question of time before it erupts again. He has been inside the cemetery for hours now." Liu Han answered inflexibly.
As the firstborn, he should have been destined to take the place of patriarch, but by a twist of fate he turned out to have ordinary aptitudes towards cultivation. Liu Hao, who was five years his junior, was very talented contrary to him and over time, caught up and surpassed his brother.
As they grew up, the gap enlarged and when they reached adulthood, no comparison could be made between them anymore.
When Liu Dan retired, Liu Hao took the place of patriarch with unanimity while Liu Han had to use his connections and blood ties to reach the post of a disciplinary hall elder. Although he was very competent, his cultivation was insufficient as he was only a 2nd layer Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, while being a disciplinary hall elder requires having at least reached the 3rd layer. Even then, most of them were actually 4th layer Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
If it weren't because he was the brother and son of the current and past patriarchs, he wouldn't be able to hold this position even if he were efficient.
"What about the kid, why hasn't he been brought back yet?" Liu Dan asked, frowning.
"I don't know father, he should already have been eliminated from the competition, but I haven't received any news from our men since they left." Liu Han barely finished his sentence when they saw a man at the other end of the corridor quickly approaching them.
The man stopped in front of them and bowed nervously before he spoke, "Ancestor, elder, I have bad news... The boy, Ye Mo, he didn't get eliminated. He reached the 10th position and joined the Tiger Martial Institute." The man didn't dare meet their gazes as he narrated.
"What!" Both father and son exclaimed loudly.
"This is impossible, the kid is just an orphan, he has no cultivation." Liu Han said in doubt.
"We couldn't see it with our own eyes, but from what the passers-by that left the institution before the end said, the boy cultivates a strong body refining art. With his powerful body, he defeated every opponent until he reached his current position."
"How did this happen, from our investigation, there hasn't been any signs of him cultivating any martial art in recent years. Does he have a secret backer?" Liu Dan thought aloud, contemplating multiple possibilities.
"What do we do now?" Liu Han inquired, frustrated.
Abruptly the ancestral doors opened as Liu Hao left the cemetery to join his father and elder brother.
"Don't do anything, let our men stand by in the institute's surroundings. He's just a brat, once he realizes his chance, he won't resist and will leave the institute grounds to brag and enjoy his new status in the city. Even if he doesn't, I don't believe he can stay holed up inside the Tiger Martial Institute's grounds indefinitely. When you spot him, don't act and report to us first."
At once, Liu Hao gave his commands with firm determination.
The man reporting wasn't sure what to do or to whom he should answer. He hesitatingly looked at Liu Dan for confirmation.
"I guess that's the only thing we can do for now." Liu Dan sighed.
"Yes, my lords!" The man bowed again and exclaimed before he quickly departed.
"Now that we know he's actually a powerful body refiner, everything makes sense. He could even reach the top ten of the tournament, it's understandable for Liu Hualing and the others to lower their guard and fall at his hands. As for Liu Huan, he was probably tricked and killed by him." Liu Han spoke in realization.
"Don't worry, I won't forget nor forgive. I have other plans to deal with him, this kid won't escape my claws." Liu Hao said lowly in cold rage.