The day everyone has been waiting for has arrived.
Each team was brought forward to a large tournament arena, the seats of spectators were filled to the brim, everyone was excited to see what was going to happen!
"YEAH! SHOW ME SOME BLOOD!"
"DON'T DIE THIS TIME!"
"WOOOOO GO LU CHANGSHENG!"
Cheers erupted as everybody was excited for the battle to begin.
Fights amongst recruits were very popular due to the raw nature of the battle and the unpredictability.
Not only was this the case, but Lu Changsheng seemed to have a cult following amongst the females.
"LU CHANGSHENG, DUAL CULTIVATE WITH ME!!!" A woman cried out but was glared at by the other nearby women and was subsequently beaten.
Lu Changsheng's face flushed at these comments. He had long since known that he was popular for some reason and only felt embarrassment at the fact.
Lu Changsheng regained his mental state and then entered the center of the arena.
Beside him were the other two outer sect instructors, Lu Xin, and Peng Feng. Each instructor had a ribbon that had a number, indicating their team. Lu Changsheng was team 1, Lu Xin was team 2, and Peng Feng was team 3.
"Welcome to this year's tournament!" Lu Changsheng announced, using his qi to amplify his voice.
"WOOOOOOOH!" The cheers erupted.
"We are happy that all of you have come and are excited to show you the disciples that we have been training!" Lu Xin shouted.
"Wooh.." The cheers were clearly lessened and Lu Xin got a bit frustrated but tried not to show it.
"Now then, for the first round we will be having these fighters: Zhao Xuan, Tang Min, and Yu Xin!" Peng Feng announced and the crowd went crazy!
"YEAHHHHH!!"
The three elders of the sect, Elder Fu, Elder Hang, and Elder Dong were also present and watching the scene from the sky, far enough to not be seen by the crowd of spectators.
"So, who do you think will perform the best on your team?" Elder Hang asked Elder Fu. Elder Dong rose his eyebrows as he was anticipating the answer to this question.
"Oh.. that's simple. I firmly believe our team's genius Liuyan Xue will perform the best, undoubtedly!" Elder Fu smiled as he thought about the stacked line up he possessed.
"As for you Elder Hang?" Elder Fu replied.
"Hmm. Most likely Yu Xin. He's due to fight first and I am excited to see the progress he's made." Elder Hang said with a nod.
The two elders than both stared at Elder Dong expectantly.
Elder Dong sighed.
"Fine I'll play in your little game. I believe that Leng Miao will take the ultimate victory. He has proven to be such a prodigy that I even gave him an outer disciple combat technique and he's perfected it!" Elder Dong said as he revealed his trump card.
Both elders raised their eyebrows in surprise.
"We will just have to see, sounds like we have some interesting matches ahead of us, hohohoho.." Elder Fu said as he looked down at Wujin Ji who was amongst the crowd.
"Contestants, take your places!" Lu Changsheng shouted and then as if on cue, Tang Min appeared, and then Yu Xin appeared, but Zhao Xuan didn't?
Tang Min looked cunning and sly, an aura of an assassin was being exuded by every move he made.
Yu Xin however looked most similar to a standard sword cultivator, with a sword in his hand, and his stance that showed he was ready to fight at any moment.
But.. Zhao Xuan didn't seem to show up, so Yu Xin's pose seemed a little silly now.
Yu Xin's face began to get red. "My body is starting to fall asleep on me while I'm making this pose! Can we start already?!" He thought. If he moved now then he would lose face!
"We will wait exactly 5 minutes before starting without any late participants!" Lu Xin said with a sly smirk directed at Lu Changsheng.
Lu Xin had made sure that this participant would not show up. The injuries his disciples have caused under his orders should take a week to heal!
Lu Xin also noticed the expression Yu Xin was making. It only served to make him feel even more gratified to accidentally embarrass his younger brother like this!
"So, where's your guy?" Elder Dong asked Elder Fu.
"He was injured, it seems, he may not be able to make it." Elder Fu sighed. He knew that Lin Xin wouldn't have the balls to pull such a move without his elder backing him, but he had no proof.
Elder Hang smiled "I doubt your team will even last one round! Plus, there's been some rumors regarding one of your recruits? Apparently he dual cultivated with Liuyan Xue!" He then erupted in laughter but Elder Fu ignored it.
"We have 10 seconds left before we begin!" Peng Feng shouted.
"BOOOOOO!"
"COWARD!"
"ZHAO XUAN YOU SUCK!"
Clearly, the crowd wasn't happy at Zhao Xuan (Bu Xuan) missing the duel.
But it was just then, that a miracle happened.
Bu Xuan was limping onto the stage while using his sword as a walking cane!
"WHO LET A CRIPPLE IN THE ARENA?!" A shout was heard and the announcers noticed Bu Xuan's arrival.
"It looks like we have movement! Zhao Xuan has shown up, but he appears to be battered and bruised! There are multiple bandages all over his body!" Lu Xin shouted as he was somewhat surprised that he was able to make it.
Bu Xuan was huffing in exhaustion and seemed like he would collapse any moment, but the light in his eyes was like no other.
Yu Xin met eyes with Bu Xuan and shivered. "Those eyes.. They aren't normal, it's like I'm looking at the end of a sword and it's going to pierce my neck at any moment!" He couldn't hold his stance anymore with this combination of mental pressure and fell slightly but caught himself.
"HAHAHA YU XIN IS SCARED!" The crowd erupted and Lu Xin's mouth curled in satisfaction.
"It seems like Zhao Xuan has forced himself on stage here. Elder Fu, if you don't wish for this recruit to die, I suggest you remove him!" Elder Hang said with excitement. He would get to win for free!
"No.. I think it will be okay." Elder Fu said with a smirk as he too saw the light within Bu Xuan's eyes.
Bu Xuan then reached his destination and grabbed his sword, planting his feet firmly into the ground. He drew a deep breath, feeling the weight of his injuries in every muscle.
Then, with a low, resolute shout, he swiped the air with a precise motion.
"Your petty tricks mean nothing in the face of pure skill, now who wants some?!"
Yu Xin and Tang Min surged forward, their movements almost a blur. Tang Min's form was fluid, like water twisting around an obstacle, while Yu Xin's sword cut through the air in sharp, disciplined arcs. Bu Xuan closed his eyes, feeling the flow of their qi and the vibrations of their blades in the air.
"Left hand strike, right upper slash," he muttered softly.
The moment Tang Min's blade swung from the left, Bu Xuan pivoted, deflecting it with the flat of his sword. Simultaneously, he raised his right arm to parry Yu Xin's downward chop, metal clanging sharply. Sparks flew as their strikes collided against his blade. His stance barely shifted, yet each block absorbed the force cleanly, redirecting it into the ground rather than his arms.
Tang Min accelerated, spinning to attack from behind Bu Xuan, but Bu Xuan's body reacted instinctively. A swift twist of his wrist redirected the momentum, sending Tang Min's blade glancing past without grazing him.
Yu Xin tried a feint to the left, then a vicious downward thrust, but Bu Xuan had already shifted his center of gravity, letting the strike slide harmlessly across his bandaged forearm.
"Up. Then Down. Left. Left. Right feint. Above. In front," he continued muttering under his breath, each syllable timed with a block, a parry, or a pivot.
He ducked under one swing, rolled to the side, and countered with the tip of his sword to push back against Tang Min.
Yu Xin's eyes widened. "This doesn't make sense, he looks like he will fall over and die at any second, but he is still blocking my attack?!"
With a roar, Yu Xin channeled qi into his sword, sending a torrent of accelerated strikes toward Bu Xuan.
The sound of metal on metal rang through the arena, a sharp percussion that made the spectators' hearts race.
Dust kicked up with each clash as Bu Xuan's boots scraped against the arena floor, pivoting and shifting weight with flawless balance.
Every block absorbed the impact, yet none of his movements showed strain.
Bu Xuan opened his eyes, a radiant focus emanating from him.
With a sudden burst of speed, he drove forward, the blade a whirling arc of silver. It intercepted Yu Xin's last strike, bending the sword backward with a metallic screech.
A final push of his weight and Bu Xuan shattered Yu Xin's blade, sending shards of steel clattering across the arena floor.
Yu Xin stumbled, fists slamming the ground as he screamed in frustration and disbelief. "GOD DAMN IT, TANG MIN, HELP-"
Before he could finish, Tang Min lunged, throwing a punch with the force of a striking crane.
Bu Xuan sidestepped at the last moment, but Tang Min's momentum carried him into Yu Xin, sending the younger disciple flying through the air and slamming against the arena wall with a heavy thud. He lay unconscious, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
The crowd erupted, the roar shaking the stands. "WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! GO CRIPPLE!!"
Tang Min's eyes narrowed. He lunged again, this time calculating, anticipating Bu Xuan's counters.
Bu Xuan moved like water, stepping lightly, twisting, and redirecting every attack with precision.
When Tang Min attempted a sweep to knock him off balance, Bu Xuan leapt backward, landing with barely a sound, then dashed forward, his blade a streak of silver aimed for a critical strike.
Tang Min drew hidden knives, spinning to throw them with deadly accuracy. Bu Xuan parried two with quick jabs of his sword, the metal ringing, but two of the blades grazed him.
Pain flared, slowing him fractionally, yet he ignored it, eyes locked on his opponent.
With a final, decisive motion, Bu Xuan launched himself into a leap, sword angled with perfect alignment.
The tip cut through Tang Min's throat before he could react. Blood sprayed, the audience gasping and screaming in shock and awe.
Tang Min's poisoned hands clutched his own neck, but it was too late, he crumpled to the arena floor.
"Shit, I haven't been able to get complete poison immunity yet!" Tang Min thought as he began to fall.
He didn't want to fall, he didn't want everything to end here! He had so much riding on this tournament! But, alas, these were just his hardships and he had no choice but to slowly close his eyes as he watched Bu Xuan emerge victorious.
Bu Xuan stood amidst the chaos, chest heaving, bandages fluttering as dust and blood mixed in the air. The arena erupted in astonished cheers: "THE CRIPPLE WON!!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"YEAAAAAHH!!!"
"THE CRIPPLE DID IT"
"THE CRIPPLE WON!!"
The crowd erupted with amazement.
Everyone was shocked.
Immediately Elder Dong and Elder Hang rushed down to the arena and picked up Tang Min, bringing him to the healing pavilion.
Wujin Ji looked at Bu Xuan with a complicated expression as he too collapsed and Elder Fu picked him up.
"Thank you for trusting in me, and in turn, I trusted in you. You didn't let me down." Wujin Ji muttered as he locked eyes with Lu Changsheng who was also proud of Bu Xuan and nodded in affirmation.
After a short break, the next round of the fight was announced.
Chen Long, Wang Lee, and Dang Wong were set to fight!