~~~
After the group stage, over three hundred participants beca sixty-four.
After the first round of fights, only thirty-two remain.
By the end of the day, only half of that will be left.
Due to the sheer number of fights, one could be forgiven for thinking the first day of the tournant is the longest. The truth is most of the fights that happen during the first day dont last more than a minute, as the weak are weeded out without rcy. Indeed, many of Liu Jins matches were over in an instant.
The next one wont be so easy.
Liu Jin has gone back to the lower levels of the arena to better watch the fights. Still, even as his eyes take in everything happening within the ring, his mind keeps going back to the mysterious girl.
Fu.
For soone to try to intimidate the competition before a match is normal. Fu approaching him during Yun Hans match is not too surprising when looked at from that perspective. Perhaps, she rely wanted to gain a better understanding of him.
Similarly, the damage she caused to her opponent is not sothing that unsettles Liu Jin. The wounds Fu inflicted on Mo Mu are not particularly hard to heal. At worst, Mo Mu will be left with so scars, though Liu Jin doubts it. The dical staff will not let soone from the Yun Sect suffer any permanent damage under their watch.
The ridicule Mo Mu will face from his peers due to losing to an unknown fighter will be far worse than anything Fu did.
Yes, Fus actions cannot be compared to what Yun Han did to Cui Tian.
Though he does not approve of the brutality Fu showed, such behavior is only to be expected in a tournant like this one. At most, Liu Jin feels so empathy for the healers who now have more work to do.
What truly bothers Liu Jin is that Fu is a complete unknown.
A person who is not affiliated with any of the Sects or Clans of the city made it out of the group stage and defeated soone in a higher cultivation realm than her. Such things do not usually happen. It is a puzzle that Liu Jins mind keeps trying to solve.
Perhaps, Fu does belong to one of the factions within the city and is rely keeping her true identity hidden. If Fu were a prodigy from a minor Clan, keeping her real identity a secret would give her the freedom to act as she wished without those close to her facing any repercussions.
However, Liu Jin doubts that is the case. Fu may not be her real na, but green eyes like those are not common in Eastern Port City. It could be a disguise, yet Liu Jin doesnt think so.
Then there is her weapon.
The flying dagger.
While it is true anyone in a high enough cultivation realm can make any weapon obey their will, true flying blades are not common. Flying blades are weapons only those in lower levels of cultivation benefit from. In other words, they are weapons made for those who are weak, and once they beco strong, theyll leave them behind. Thus, they are not considered an efficient use of resources.
One might even call them luxury items.
The Xiao and Yun Sects possess a few of them. Perhaps so of the stronger factions within the city could get their hands on one, but therein lies the problem. If only the stronger factions within Eastern Port City could obtain one, then it would be easy to discern Fus identity.
Thus, Fu must be soone who ca from outside Eastern Port City.
Liu Jin sighs and shakes his head.
Pointless.
Regardless of Fus motives, only one thing matters. She is his next opponent.
Truth be told, it is not as if Liu Jin harbors any intention of winning the Eastern Port City Tournant. Such goals are for people like Xiao Fang. He also doesnt feel any particular desire to defeat Fu.
However, he did promise himself to win his first two matches. If one cannot keep promises made to oneself, how can he be expected to keep promises made to others?
Besides...
His father is watching.
Liu Jin will do his best.
~~~
Three mbers of the Xiao Sect do not make it to the Top 16.
One of them loses to Yun Han. Though embarrassing, it couldnt be helped. The impact is sowhat mollified by Xiao Fang returning the favor during his bout as he knocks a mber of the Yun Sect out of the tournant.
Of the remaining two, one loses to an Inner Disciple of the Yun Sect, and the other one loses to the number one disciple of one of the larger factions within the city.
Su An and Big Nose Li both win their matches. Although not all mbers of the Xiao Sect have fought yet, Liu Jin feels confident in saying all those that remain will win their fights.
Liu Jin of the Xiao Sect vs. Fu!
Naturally, he includes himself in that assessnt.
The crowd cheers for him as he steps into the ring. It is a big difference compared to his earlier matches. Even though he is in the Seventh Level of the Inner Realm and Fu is on the Eighth Level of the Inner Realm, public opinion seems to be in his favor. After all, he is a disciple of the Xiao Sect and Xiao Zhengs son-in-law, while Fu is an unknown. Even her victory over Mo Mu was not enough to change this.
Fu, however, does not seem bothered by it. She walks into the ring with confident steps, her bright green eyes shining under her cloak.
Congratulations on winning your match, she tells him in a cheery voice as they et in the center of the ring. Now that shes right in front of him, Liu Jin can better see her features. Though her cloak still obscures her face sowhat, Liu Jin feels confident in saying Fu is soone who will grow into a beauty. Her green eyes are striking, her features delicate, and her hair is of an even lighter shade than ilis, more like the color of gold.
To you as well, Liu Jin says as he assus a stance. It is not always one defeats soone in a higher realm of Cultivation.
I see the people of the Xiao Sect are quite humble. Didnt you do the sa?
This one was rely lucky.
Li-ar.
Fu draws out the word, almost singing it, a teasing smile on her face.
Girls wont like you if youre like that. A braggart is no good, but soone too humble for his own good is also out of the question.
How fortuitous. I am a married man. It would be complicated if a woman other than my wife beca interested in .
It is not sothing Liu Jin would normally say. However, since he is reasonably sure Fu is an outsider, Liu Jin doesnt feel the need to worry about how his words will affect things for the first ti in a long ti.
Co now, in this era, such thoughts are way too small! Those who dont aim high are left with nothing. Without risk, there is no reward!
Be that as it may, I am a person of humble aspirations.
Oh? You say that, yet your eyes dont look like you have any intention of losing to .
If I lost to you, my blood would paint this ring. I quite prefer it inside my body.
A pity then. We are at cross-purposes.
So it seems.
Begin!
The mont the announcer speaks, Liu Jin dashes in. However, hes not fast enough. Fus flying dagger is already moving towards him.
Should Liu Jin have used Ground Contraction to reach Fu before she could use her flying dagger? Liu Jin is not sure. Indeed, it is sothing he considered before the match. Whether it is her strongest weapon or not, the flying dagger will be troubleso to deal with. Using Ground Contraction could have allowed him to remove it from the match with minimal difficulty.
It could also have caused him to lose.
Using Ground Contraction ans fully committing oneself to a movent. Had he used it and had Fu managed to use her dagger in ti, the fight would have been over in an instant. Even as Liu Jin tilts his head to the side to let the dagger fly by, hes still not sure if he has made the right choice.
Fu moves her hand, and the dagger suddenly switches direction. The mont it does, Liu Jin uses Ground Contraction to get away.
Unlike the rings used during the group stage, the ring they are fighting on now is quite large. There is plenty of room for them to move around. Liu Jin zig and zags all over the arena, using Ground Contraction to always stay one step ahead of Fus dangerous flying dagger as it carves its way through the ring.
Fus hand moves as she guides her weapon. The long sleeves of her cloak hide her arms, yet he can see sothing glinting on her finger. A ring?
Is that how she is controlling the dagger?
Liu Jin frowns as he jumps over the weapon. A triumphant grin appears on Fus face. She thinks she has him. In the air, he cannot dodge. The dagger curves as it heads right for his center.
Liu Jin uses Ground Contraction.
In mid-air, the technique is not as effective as it is on solid ground, yet it does what is needed. Liu Jins body gains new montum, giving him but a small instant to appreciate the shock on Fus face before his body blurs towards her.
His fist doesnt reach her.
Ground Contraction carries him to the place where Fu was before her flying dagger can protect her, yet by the ti Liu Jin gets there, Fu is no longer there. It doesnt take Liu Jin long to find she has moved all the way to the other edge of the ring, her dagger once more hovering protectively in front of her.
A movent technique.
Liu Jin clicks his tongue as he runs through his options. The sa trick will not work a second ti. If he wants to get to Fu, he must get rid of the dagger. The weapon has no acupoints for him to attack, so his usual thod is out. Besides, trying to attack the dagger with his bare hands is bound to end badly. If it could cut the skin of soone in the Nascent Realm, Liu Jin has no desire to see what it would do to him.
Perhaps Poison Qi?
Liu Jin considers the idea for a mont as his body blurs all over the ring. While Fu is mostly static, her weapon and Liu Jins body are moving all over the place in a deadly chase. It is not the type of fight the audience is used to seeing, yet they cheer all the sa.
Ever since Liu Jin passed Nine-Headed Snake Gods Trial, he gained the ability to use Poison-Attuned Qi, likely a side effect of being exposed to Nine-Headed Snake Gods poison for so long. Of course, the poison-attuned Qi Liu Jin can generate is nowhere near as powerful as Nine-Headed Snake Gods poison.
However, that doesnt an he has used this ability to its full potential.
White Venom Fist.
The na cos unbidden to Liu Jin. It has been doing that for a while now. Liu Jin knows his ability to create poison will grow stronger as his cultivation level rises. He knows that if he uses that technique, the damage he causes will not just leave his victims with so light numbness. It is a deadly technique that yearns to be used.
However, today is not its day.
Putting aside the part where Liu Jin has no desire to cause lethal damage, he is not sure it is the right technique for this situation.
That leaves only one option.
The audience cries out as Liu Jin finally stops dodging and rushes to et the dagger. So people stand up and cheer him on. Others try to warn him to stay away from the dangerous weapon.
A clang rings across the arena as the two weapons et.
Liu Jins knife is much smaller than Fus dagger. It is not made of tal but rather the fangs of a dangerous beast.
Unlike Mo Mus sword, Liu Jins knife doesnt shatter.
Liu Jin grits his teeth as he pushes back against the dagger. To his surprise, the dagger doesnt imdiately break. It flies back and tries to rush him from another angle. Two more exchanges go by as Liu Jin weaves around the dagger, sparks flying whenever his knife strikes it.
That it doesnt break right away speaks volus about its quality. However, Liu Jins weapon is made from the fangs of a powerful Spirit Beast. It is only a matter of ti.
By the fourth exchange, the dagger shatters, bits of tal clatter all over the arenas floor.
Liu Jin breathes heavily as he locks eyes with Fu.
He dashes in.
I surrender!
Liu Jin stops re inches away from Fu. He looks at her with a disbelieving expression. She stares back, unashad.
Fu has surrendered! The winner of the match is Liu Jin of the Xiao Sect!
The announcer declares his victory, yet Liu Jin cant help but feel cheated.
Whatever happened to needing to take risks? He asks as the two are being checked by Wu Yan.
Taking risks is important! Fu replies, not looking even slightly bothered by her loss. However, one must know when not to push ones luck.
Besides, she adds after the two have been cleared and are away from the audiences sight, a smile tugging at her lips. I think I already have what I wanted.
Dare I ask?
A business opportunity.
Fu smiles as she pulls out a card and offers it to him.
Allow to introduce myself. I am Song Daiyu of the Five Blessings Group. If youre ever near one of our businesses, dont hesitate to use this card.
Song Daiyu of the Five Blessings Group? Then that ant...
The Song Clan!
Even Liu Jin has heard of them. To be more precise, Old Jiang had made sure to teach him about them. The Five Blessings Group is a prominent rchant guild that manages several auction houses all over the continent. It is said that it is wealthier than so countries. Within the Five Blessing Group, there are several prominent families.
The Song Clan is one of those.
IThis is.... Liu Jin takes a deep breath. Why?
Originally, I was hoping to talk with the future heads of the Yun and Xiao Sects. Song Daiyu frowns. However, they both ended up being a bit too simple for my tastes. A business partner must be reliable. You, however, seem to show more sense. Since you are Xiao Zhengs son-in-law, there will co a ti when knowing you will be beneficial for . After all, the Xiao Sect controls quite a few rare ingredients.
And this card? Liu Jin asks, holding up the item in question. It is a simple black rectangle with the na of the Five Blessings Group written on it. Will it really work in any business affiliated with the Five Blessings Group?
Naturally. I want you to understand I am serious about this, Song Daiyu tells him. Ask a favor of , and if it is within my power, I will grant it.
A favor from soone belonging to the Song Clan.
Liu Jin doesnt need to think about it twice.
In that case, the disciples of the Seven Leaves School are likely to visit your auction house in Five Bats City. If they do, please ensure they are treated well.
Song Daiyu stares.
... Thats it? A daughter of the Song family offers you a favor, and you waste it on trash?
She laughs.
I am no businessman.
On the contrary, Song Daiyu says. I think you are quite the investor. I look forward to doing business with you.
She walks away with that, not willing to say more.
It is the first ti Liu Jin ets Song Daiyu. It wont be the last.
~~~
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