Chương 24: SHI 24: First Bout

I glared up at the Storm Wings. Both of them stared down at me with big, silly grins, absolutely zero repentance in their gazes. I was so mad there was a ringing in my ears—ah, no, wait, that was the crowd. Everyone was absolutely losing their shit. That brought me back to the present. The entire arena was shouting and hollering.

I looked at the Soaring Heaven's Isle box, which was on the other side of the arena from Bailu and Seiyu, and the girls there were shouting too—and I could see some of them mouthing "Young Master!" with pride, while the Captain of the Skytower was scolding them and getting them to settle down. I was in the middle of the arena, the center of attention, and all eyes were on me. I couldn't stay frozen like this. I forced myself to move towards the Heavenly Ascension Stone. The Storm Wings had got me good.

But Minyan had told me to use Tianzhe as my surname… I reached up to the necklace she had given me. The only thing she had left from her brother, who had died saving her life. … I was just so used to being nobody. But that wasn't the case anymore, was it? I let out a breath. It was kind of funny, now that I thought about it. They had gotten me real good. I hadn't suspected a thing. Well. What was done was done. I would devise some punishment for the Storm Wings later.

I reached the black stone, pressed my palm to it, and fed in my Qi. Like with all the others, images began to form on the stone, approximating what my cultivation was about. People had rushing water, coursing flames, or swords, normally. For mine, it started at the bottom. Mountains grew into the giant black stone, with towering, misty peaks. Great trees grew upon the sides, full of vital energy.

Then the image pulled out, showing that the mountains were not mountains at all, but titanic antlers, attached to a buck whose crown scraped the heavens. Between the antlers formed the symbols of my cultivation.

"Fifth Stage of the Profound!" the announcer roared.

"The upper end of the pack!" A great roar once more issued forth from the stands. The strongest person so far had been at the Second Stage of the Spiritual Realm, with only two more in the Spiritual Realm. With the cutoff at thirty, the Spiritual Realm was extremely good. Sometimes Earth Realm cultivators showed up, but that was exceedingly rare—the domain of once-in-a-thousand-year prodigies. There wasn't any of that today.

Of course, the Spiritual Realm cultivators were a massive threat, and all of them were staring at me with focused eyes. Maybe I should have shrunk back or been intimidated, but compared to Minyan's gaze, it was nothing. I bore the stares without breaking stride, returning to my position. It was time to see how I measured up. Bailu said she fought at the Spiritual Realm when she was pushing me… but I had to see it for myself.

======================== Xieren watched with amusement as the Soaring Heaven's Isle box quieted down, all of them beaming at the young man, while the rest of the crowd discussed the exciting new development. He really was their Young Master. And… it made sense. A man so courteous to ladies must have grown up surrounded by powerful female cultivators. And while he was their Young Master… it also meant he wasn't truly a part of their sect.

According to all histories, elders had had sons before, and each one of them had not stayed on the Isle long, if they went at all. Even Tianzhe Minyan would not be breaking that tradition, it seemed—the Storm Wings called him Captain, but were in a separate box from the rest of the Isle's cultivators, suggesting some distance. Minders, then, for a journey. What an overprotective mother Tianzhe Minyan was… but it also meant that he could be convinced to join another organization.

"How interesting," Yunxi mused—it was clear she had come to the same conclusion. Her eyes were focused directly on the young man… before some hesitation entered them.

"The Fifth Stage of the Profound is good—and yet I would have expected more from the Divine Falcon of the East Wind's son." Xieren raised a brow. It would be better if he were Spiritual, true, but the princess's concerns were less about whether he could help them… and more that she was concerned for the young man's safety. It was an adorable trait, and one Xieren had been on the receiving end of quite often… so sometimes Yunxi needed a push.

"I would not be so sure," Xieren said.

"He was at the Third Stage when we met mere weeks ago." Yunxi paused.

"The Third Stage weeks ago? But his cultivation, it's so…" The portion of the arena near the Heavenly Ascension Stone was configured in such a way that those in the Imperial Box could feel the cultivator as if they were standing right next to them.

"Stable, like he's been there for a year already? Displays no signs of having recently advanced?" Xieren finished.

"Yet he likely ascended within this week." Yunxi's gaze snapped to the young man again.

"There was another rumour, wasn't there?"

"Yes. Quieter, but still there. The whispers say he was ambushed by multiple Earth Realm cultivators, barely survived, and was reduced to the Initiate's Realm. This is him finally healed and recovering his former power." Yunxi shot Xieren a look, knowing what she was pushing for, and frowned.

"That is all well and good, but I shall reserve judgement until I see him fight," she said, before rising. The last of the contestants had been judged.

"And now, some words from Her Highness, the Tenth Princess!" the announcer declared. ================================= I was lucky Minyan had insisted on those etiquette lessons, or I wouldn't have had any idea what to do as the flames around the main box were lit, and a silhouetted female form appeared within them. Then the princess stepped out of the fires. She was a beautiful woman, I would give her that—but what cultivator wasn't? There was a mark on her forehead that looked like a flower.

She had long black hair, with eyes that burned. Around the pupil, they were gold, which bled into a fiery crimson. And, for a brief moment, our eyes met. I immediately averted my gaze, hoping I hadn't been disrespectful… and since she didn't call me out, I think I was safe. Everyone dropped to a knee and bowed their heads, making the gesture of respect. Not a full kowtow for the princess, apparently. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The woman was silent for a moment.

"We are gathered here today for an ancient tradition, started before even the Age of Heroes," the hidden princess said. Her voice was almost musical, and I saw several people blush at the sound of it.

"Where the youth gather to show their mettle, and where we find the new flames that shall spark an inferno visible to the heavens."

"Fight now with honour; claim your prize—and may the victor's name resound all over the world. In the name of His Imperial Majesty, the Son of Heaven—we declare this tournament to begin!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Five hundred thousand people roared in unison, including myself. This bit of procedure I knew, thankfully.

"The first bout!" the announcer started, while the rest of us were directed to our own private little alcoves. We were separated by walls, but we would still watch the fights—presumably to limit foul play. So I settled in to watch… and I wasn't disappointed. The first match immediately turned explosive as two sword cultivators met and instantly went all out. The crowd roared; blades clashed, and I watched the fight. Unlike before in the sect…

I was also watching to see how I could beat them, instead of just being awed by their power. And… I was finding, as I studied their styles, the answer to "Can I beat them?" was yes. I let a smile spread across my face. The two fighters were awesome. And when one was finally forced to yield, they bowed out with grace. The victor gave them the gesture of respect, and the crowd roared again. There were three preliminary bouts—neither were as cool or as respectful as the first, but they were still pretty cool.

One of the combatants got hurt pretty badly, but members of his sect leapt down into the stands and extracted him to recover. And then, it was my turn.

"From Soaring Heaven's Isle! Tianzhe Rou, versus! From the Twilight Ember Sect! Wei Huojian!" Wei Huojian was at the same level as I was. A good, balanced match, right off the start! A great way to test how strong I was! The stands immediately erupted—and the Soaring Heaven's Isle box practically exploded. ==============================="Serenity and decorum! Serenity and decorum, you dogs! You are fairies of the Isle— act like it!"

Ma Lee, the Captain of the Skytower, snarled at her girls, who had immediately started yelling and cheering again when the Young Master took to the field. She had just gotten them to shut up! The Midships had immediately broken when they saw their Young Master finally standing on the stage, ready to do battle, going from what they should be to utter fools—and not just the Midships; her two officers from the North and South Winds were clapping enthusiastically. She got it, she really did.

Ever since his debut a year ago, the Young Master's existence was the only thing most of her sisters could talk about. Gossip and news about Lady Minyan's son was the most prized currency in the fleet—with the woodblock print series by Vice Admiral Mengyao of the South Wind being most prized of all. The one of him carrying Young Mistress Chunhua on his back after the Skyshark hunt was absolutely worth every coin; both of them were so cute!

It was hanging on her quarters' wall, and everyone who visited was most jealous she got that print run, one of only ten! It paid to be friends with the Vice Admiral! But more than the prints, everyone who got rotated home tried to at least catch a glimpse of him. Ma Lee had seen him twice: at his debut, and at a feast during a brief rotation home to report in person—where she had even spoken with him! She knew well his charm! He was tall and handsome, but he was also always so calm and polite.

He had asked about her duties and… well, actually listened. He called her Senior Sister without hesitation! He… respected her. Like he respected everyone—even the lowest midships. His eyes contained not lust, like most men outside their home, but… warmth all the same. Those who had one said he was like their little brother. Not their Junior Brother, but… almost like family. But little brother or not, they could not be acting like this!

Ma Lee's Qi and commands were whipping her girls back into shape; however, the cheering died down, and the Midships fell back into discipline—"Ha! The Isles are getting weak, if that's their Young Master! The old bird is losing her touch!" a voice boomed out from a nearby box.

"This is a fine stepping stone for our sect!" Every single head in the Soaring Heaven's Isle box, including her own, snapped to the Twilight Ember Sect's contingent, the weaklings smirking at the heckle. They were supposed to ignore insults like that. Give it a cold glare at most, above such things as the perfect, ethereal fairies they were. Ma Lee's foot found the edge of her box, and her Qi slammed into the wretches.

"What hells you be say'n 'bout our Young Master?!" she roared, her Qi flaring, and her own Ivory Cloud Savannah accent coming out in her fury. Her voice and Qi scythed through the arena, and the worthless scum before her quailed under her gaze." Haaaa? What kind of stupid shit is coming out of your mouth?!"

Kai Heili of the South Wind said, the normally demure and elegant lady sneering down at the Twilight Ember Sect, her own accent from the southern islands of Opal Sand Shores completely at odds with her appearance. The flower garlands that hung from her neck had started to sprout, thorny vines writhing through the air.

"They're so bold, when a breeze can put these embers out!" Yingsha of the North Wind growled, a vein bulging in her neck. She was rolling up her sleeve, revealing the Marauder's Range ritual scarification—Ma Lee knew that it extended up both arms and across her entire back, forming a great bird.

"Let's ask the Imperial Family! We can have an exhibition match and trade pointers right now!" another of her subordinates said, drawing her thumb across her throat. Someone started slamming her fist into the stone—thumping out the beat to quarters. Every one of her girls' Qi spiked, and more fists started adding to the thundering beat that was the call to battle. Every one of her crew was on their feet by this point, jeering down at the weaklings who had run their mouths. He was their Young Master.

The only one they had. And this bastard was trying to insult him? Insult Lady Minyan?! Their entire section of the arena was leaning back from them, looks of shock on their faces as the normally calm and cold disdain of the Isle was a frothing cauldron of wrath. They wouldn't break the Emperor's Peace… but it was a very near thing, their killing intent making those closest to the box want to find somewhere else to be.

The Twilight Ember Sect members tried to rally, blustering and glaring back, but it was clear they were unnerved. They meant to provoke a reaction, and they sure as hells got one! Oh, every ship was going to be re-routed to fly directly over the hovel this scum called a fortress! The Heartland Battlegroup was getting bored; some fleet exercises would do them all some good! Unable to take their anger out immediately, they all turned to the stage below them.

"Kick his ass, Young Master!"

"Beat the shit out of him!"

"Show them the might of the Soaring Heaven's Isle Sect!" her girls roared, shaking their fists and making rude gestures. ================ I blushed at the fervour coming from the Soaring Heaven's Isle box. Man, they really didn't know we had been exiled yet, did they? It was kind of nice of them, but also kind of embarrassing. They were also pissing off the guy I was supposed to be fighting. It was good that he was getting angry rather than getting demoralized…

"Sorry about them," I said to my opponent, a classical-looking cultivator. He had long dark hair in a ponytail, dark eyes, and red, fiery robes. I made the gesture of respect.

"They can be a bit enthusiastic. Let's have a fine match." My opponent, however, just scoffed." Hmph. Trying to suck up to me to avoid a beating? There shall not be a fine match. There shall only be your defeat. I'll spank you and send you crying back to their breasts—what other outcome can there be for a pampered princeling who has never known hardship? I look forward to hearing those wenches wailing when I crush their young master.

If you kowtow to me now and promise to send those noisy things to my room so that I may instruct them on how to use those flapping mouths properly, I won't hurt you too badly."

My friendly smile froze on my face. In one of the places I was from, trash talk didn't really mean anything. It was just trash talk, to get under your opponent's skin. At the rink, you talked as much shit as you could. But this guy meant it. He looked at the Soaring Heaven's Isle box with nothing but contempt… and me as well. I sighed. Why couldn't I have gotten a cool rival?

"Man, are you for real? That was one of the lamest things I've ever heard. Did you get those lines from a story?" I asked, rolling my neck.

"You know, you're supposed to copy the main character, not the loser who instantly gets slapped." My words clearly carried to the crowd, because the stands erupted with laughter. Huojian's cheeks went red from embarrassment and anger.

"You speak of stories instead of living in the real world," he replied.

"Who has time to waste reading stories about cultivation rather than be cultivating? Only one who is not working hard enough." His eyes focused solely on me, with a dark gleam within them. I felt the killing intent. It was nothing compared to Elder Song's. The gong sounded, and our bout began.

"Now I will show you the true difference between us—" Now, I had been intending on keeping this a secret. My trump card, like all good tournaments had. It was supposed to be a surprise for a later opponent. Instead, I braced myself and caught a fraction of the world. [A Body As Immovable as the Mountains] I froze myself in place. Now, this technique was just supposed to be a defensive one, hardening my body but rendering me unable to move. The only problem was, we were still moving.

This arena was moving, spinning with the earth. My technique, understandably upset with this, said: I'm immovable! And doubled down. Too bad, said the earth, and kept spinning anyway. A year ago, like I had told Seiyu for her water cutters… when you decrease the volume, you increase the speed. The force of a couple hundred thousand tons of buildings, rock, and humans moving at the speed the earth turned pressed directly against my leg.

For a fraction of a second, I tried to defy the planet, frozen in space, while the pressure built. Naturally, the earth won and shoved me aside… which was really helpful of it. Especially when I could control how I bounced off. [Mountain Leaping Stride] The sound barrier popped like a soap bubble. The prongs of my horns impacted my opponent's chest, low on the ribs like Bailu had said. My curled hands heaved.

Ribs shattered, and my opponent went flying, smashing into the barrier that surrounded the arena and collapsing bonelessly to the ground.

"You can't read fun stories or live a little while cultivating?" I asked my opponent.

"Sounds like a skill issue." He gargled and coughed, trying to breathe. I crouched down at the edge of the arena so I could see his bloodshot eyes. My amused smile was completely gone from my face.

"And hey, bud? Don't talk about my big sisters like that again, okay?" The only thing I got in response was a wheeze. I think he learned his lesson.

"W-winner! In a single blow! Tianzhe Roooouuuuuuu!" the announcer howled. =========================== Xieren's fingers tightened around her sword, a grin spreading across her face.

"Oh my," Yunxi said, her glimmering eyes locked onto the man walking out of the arena.