Page 89: Real place

Inside the sect leader's courtyard, the top five martial winners and the top three winners from the alchemy test gathered together according to the sect leader's order. While everyone was having a conversation, Chen Weimin was all alone on his own on a corner. It seemed that everyone was getting along since everyone has a strong connection with Long Bai. And just then, Chen Weimin's disgusted voice.

"Hmmpt. You just met each other and you're already acting so chummy with each other? What do you think did we came here for? This is the sect leader's place, not your playground. If you want to play, do it outside."

His words were full of contempt but in everyone's ears, they were words coming from a person who never had a friend. Tan Zhong who was the oldest wasn't able to hold it in and instead he let out his own words to Weimin.

"Hee? You're so young and yet that's how you speak with your seniors? If the sect leader hears that his disciple never learned about respect, I wonder how he would react? Hmm?"

Tan Zhong's words managed to shut Weimin's mouth. After that, their conversations returned to normal and have only stopped when they heard footsteps coming closer. By that opened door, a strong built middle aged looking man showed up.

"Gather up! I have something to announce. Two weeks from now we will be departing for the Cup Island. With such time, you'll be allowed to use the essence pond once. There are eight of you so starting tomorrow, the first placer of the martial meet will go in first and will be followed by the next ones the next day. Take this token. This will be your pass when you enter the pool. While you are waiting for your turn, use the martial field to have some friendly spars. It would be nice to learn from one another. I'll leave the rest to Yue. I'll leave you then to your accords."

After the sect leader left, the atmosphere returned from tense to relaxed. For those who were not used with the presence of the sect leader, they were the ones who felt the heavy atmospbere the heaviest. Ah Mu for instance was not even able to look at the sect leader's upper body due to fear. On the bright side, it looked like they were all in high spirits. Due to the idea that they would be able to use the essence pond for an a day, they would be able to double or even triple their cultivation speed.

"Alright, everyone, I think we need to make some schedules. Since we can only enter the pond for an hour a day, we still have so much time left. Does anyone have any suggestion?"

Yue who was left to take over the group was feeling awkward since most of them were older than her, except one person. It was her first time giving orders to someone who were older than her. Zhang Li noticed this and tried to make the atmosphere more accommodating.

"Sister Yue, the sect leader has appointed you to manage the group. You don't need to be reserved that much. We will support you in your decisions. Isn't that right everyone?"

Zhang Li's voice was soft but it contained something hard that hit everyone who were silent. Understanding Yue's predicament, everyone replied agreeing with her. Although she was the second youngest, everyone can't deny her position even so that the sect leader was the one who left the task to her. While only one was looking at her with scorn, the rest were silently cheering her up with their bright smiles. As Yue gained back her confidence after seeing Long Bai's supportive gesture, she resumed her orders.

"Thank you. Alright then, since we will be joining an exhibition match, we need to improve what we are lacking. Starting tomorrow, we will have some match ups. Remember, we are only having a friendly spar. We can't afford disabling one of our peers or our force will dwindle. Fighting is not just a fight of strength, all sorts of things may happen during a fight and that's what we want to experience. On the other hand, Brother Bai will be taking care of the alchemy group. Since everyone knows how much awesome you are, I don't think there's anyone who would disagree with me. Hm hm. Right."

When Yue started talking about Long Bai, it seemed that she lost her normal composure. Ling Tian noticed such apparent change in her self every time this happened so before it goes out of hand, he tried to change the topic.

"Ahem. So tomorrow, we'll have a round robin, right sister Yue?" Ling Tian interrupted.

"Ah, yes. Ah Mu is good with his defence, sister Mo Lan is good with range attacks while Brother Ling Tian and Brother Weimin are versatile types. If everyone will fight with a diverse opponent, there will always be something we can learn from that."

"I doubt it. What can I possibly learn from someone weaker than me?" Weimin interrupted. Since he came from a different upbringing, his sense of camaraderie is different from the rest. Everyone except him was an example of someone who didn't have enough interaction with various types of people. The rest on the other hand grew up in an environment where they would need to mingle with strangers.

"Speaking about who's weak and strong, how about we see who's the real deal? Because of the competition's system, we didn't have a chance to fight each other. Say, brother Weimin,how about we take it on the stage tomorrow? We are both on the same cultivation level. Aren't you curious who's really stronger?"

Ling Tian doesn't have a good opinion about Weimin. Since the start of the meet, he noticed Weimin to be giving a lot of annoyed look at everyone especially to Long Bai and him. It was as if he was trying to say that Yue can't just mingle with ordinary looking ones.

"Ah? You think just because you caught up with my cultivation that you can beat me? Uttering nonsense! I am the 2nd disciple of the sect leader. That means that I am the second strongest among all the disciples here ."

Weimin has to keep his pride. Since he became the sect leader's disciple, he thought that he would be able to get everyone's attention but then, a young girl came and stole his thunder. He just can't accept it but during the martial competition, he lost even with everything he got. Now, he is being challenged by a lower rank disciple. He blamed all this to Yue but he just can't touch her because of 1st disciple's warning.

"Weimin, does that mean that you agree?"

"Hah! Bring it on. Just to remind you, no one is allowed to take supplements before the fight. We will only use our strength and skills."

Weimin was afraid that Long Bai will give his opponent a pill that would enhance his abilities later on. Knowing that Long Bai is a capable alchemist, he might help his friend win the fight.

"No worries, I'll agree to that. Tomorrow then."

Everyone returned to their respective places but just before Ling Tian separated with the rest, Yue and Long Bai gave their support.

On the next morning, everyone was early. Everyone except Yue were present on the martial grounds while Ling Tian and Weimin were already on the stage. The rest were staying below the stage waiting for what's next to happen.

"Alright! Gentlemen on my left and right, go take your positions! I, the great Tan Zhong will be your referee. In this fight, crippling or killing is not allowed. You only need to let your opponent acknowledge their defeat. The fight will only end when that happens.

Are you ready??? On my left? On my right?

Begin!"

Dong!

Tan Zhong made the initiative to play as the referee. Since he was also the oldest, it was like his responsibility to take care of the situation.

On the stage, Ling Tian was holding his wooden sword. Since it's not a life and death match, he opted to use the wooden sword. Weimin on the other hand has only his bare hands since his martial skill was based for palm strikes.

At the time that the gong was sounded, Weimin initiated the attack. Seeing that his opponent was holding a sword, he expected him to be a close ranged fighter so he intensed to keep the fight at long ranges. Based also from the matches during the competition, he saw how he fights.

<Jade Dragon Palm>! Ha!

The attack was swift but was not enough to leave a mark on Ling Tian's clothes. He tried repeating his attacks but non of them were hitting. Ling Tian was dodging all of them with great dexterity.

"What's wrong? You've already sqeezed all out of your entire essence? That's it?"

Ling Tian was taunting his opponent. He found such thing effective against opponents who are usually aggressive. When they take the insult, the opponent usually looses their natural ability to think logically in dire situations which makes them vulnerable.

"Don't get arrogant! I have just started.!"

Weimin realized his long ranged attacks were not working and so he chose to go closer and hot him with his skill. If the distance is closer, he thought that there is no way for him to dodge it.

With the incoming Weimin, Ling Tian prepared to do a counter. Judging from Weimin's face, Ling Tian saw some agitation on it which could be saying that he was desperate to land an attack on him. With a steady stance, Ling Tian waited for the attack to reach his circle of attack.

For a brief moment after Weimin dashed, something flashed in his mind. He saw something familiar from the stance his opponent made. There was also the feeling which he can't forget no matter what he does. His mind was in chaos. 'Why does this person have Yue's fighting stance? Why do I feel like something I already knew would happen?'

Weimin was practically distracted when he saw Ling Tian stood in a familiar stance. This certain effect made him remember the humiliating fight he had against Yue. Ling Tian went to meet the attack.

<Plexus stab>!

A wooden sword was trying to drill into Weimin's upper abdomen. Weimin on the other hand felt the same pain he took when he first fought Yue. He was hit with a combination of physical pain and humiliation. The right hand that was supposed to hit his opponent was parried by the wooden sword causing it to sway on the side. Due to his momentum, Ling Tian used it as he docked down and pushed the tip of the wooden sword towards Weimin's upper abdomen. This was how Ling Tian took advantage if his opponent. Although if he really used his movement skill to the fullest, he could have given Weimin more hits.

"Ack!" (vomits)

Weimin was crouching with both of his hands on his stomach region. He was in pain. Good thing, he's already at the visceral tempering or else his organ could have received more damage.

"Chen Weimin, you are strong but arrogant. Haven't you learned that there's always someone stronger than you as long as you are still living under the heavens? If you think I won because you were not in your best condition, that is your fault, not mine."

Ling Tian was about to step out of the stage when Weimin asked something.

"What is your relationship with Yue? Why do you have the same sword technique? Tell me!"

Weimin was traumatized by the sword technique used against him since again and again, he was always defeated by it. It was not just a few times but multiple times. Everytime he would have a mock battle with Yue at the sect leader's place, he always ended up on the floor by the same sword swing. Now that he saw someone use it again to defeat him, he mist know where such skill came from.

"Why should I tell you? I'm ,not obliged to answer that question. But if there's something I want you to know, I trained under the same master as her."