Inside his room, Wang ng abruptly slapped himself. As he replayed the last battle in his mind, he realized he’d screwed up again. In Moo Shan’s words, this kind of unnecessarily convoluted fighting style was no different from courting death. His strenuous effort to redirect his opponent’s Double Arc Sword Qi had been completely redundant. In that situation, the best choice would have been to do as Du Ziyu had: use the Seven-Star Step to dodge, then counterattack. An opponent has an opening right after they unleash such a powerful move. While he was busy redirecting the Sword Qi, a slightly stronger, more ruthless, or more experienced opponent could have landed a surprise attack and finished him off for good.
After a round of self-reflection, Wang ng decided to punish himself with an extra ancient hour of training. ’...Who is this Du Ziyu, anyway? His na sounds kind of familiar.’
In his Quiet Chamber, Wang ng practiced his Life Mark Combinations over and over, tempering his fundantals. Whether it was the advice from Moo Shan’s Godhood or his own intuition, he knew that the basics were paramount. Repeating them ten thousand tis, even a hundred thousand tis, wouldn’t be too much.
Hu Jing had once teased him and Zhang Xiaopang, "Slow birds have to use slow thods."
Yet, Wang ng found joy in this very tediousness.
Master’s victory sent shockwaves through the entire Cultivation Academy.
The dean of the Cultivation Academy, Lv Yuantian, a mber of the Star Alliance, was watching the recording of the fight between Master and Du Ziyu. Lv Yuantian’s Star Ring was clearly different from an ordinary person’s. Cultivators at the academy generally had light blue Star Rings, whereas his was a deep blue that shimred with starlight.
When he saw Wang ng unleash a three-arc Curved Sword Qi, Lv Yuantian couldn’t help but chuckle.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Shan Lin walked in. "Dean, you were looking for ."
"Haha, Shan Lin. You’ve seen this, I presu?" Lv Yuantian said.
Shan Lin nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Tell your thoughts."
"The man is quite strange. At first, I thought he was just pretending to be weak to lull his opponents into a false sense of security. But if that were true, there’s no way he would have kept losing for an entire year. And from what I hear, his losses were utterly humiliating."
Shan Lin said, though in truth, he had been racking his brain about this for the past two days.
"Haha, that’s why I’d say the boy has been at the academy for no more than five years, and his Elental Power is in the low thirties at most."
"You’re interested in him, Dean?" Shan Lin was a little surprised. ’This guy is a bit special, sure, but is he really special enough to attract the interest of the Dean, a mber of the Star Alliance? That seems a bit ridiculous.’
Lv Yuantian smiled faintly, his eyes on the "Master" in the recording as he gently tapped the table. "Shan Lin, I have a plan. Here’s what I want you to do."
As Lv Yuantian spoke, Shan Lin’s surprise grew. "Sir, isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?"
"Just do it," Lv Yuantian said coolly.
A jolt went through Shan Lin as he was reminded of who he was talking to. "Understood. I will get it done."
Leaving the dean’s office, Shan Lin was still confused. ’Why is the Dean making such a big fuss? Isn’t the level of these fighters a bit too low for this kind of treatnt?’
’That Ge Mang kid is decent, but he hasn’t even reached the Fortieth Layer. Usually, only important, scheduled duels above the Fortieth Layer are broadcast academy-wide. That itself is a trendous honor... and now they’re giving it to these two...’
To be honest, Shan Lin had his reservations. But in the Cultivation Academy, the dean was supre. He was just a soul ntor. If this plan succeeded, he stood to gain from it. But if it failed and beca a farce, it would be a stain on his record as a soul ntor.
However, he had no choice. He could only pray the two would deliver a spectacular Magical Combat.
The buzz from Master’s victory over Du Ziyu hadn’t even faded when even more explosive news swept through the Cultivation Academy.
The battle between Master and Ge Mang would be held as a public "Academy War"—aning the duel would be broadcast via the Array Technique in the academy’s Heaven-Reaching Square for the entire student body to watch.
This was a trendous honor. At the Starlight City Cultivation Academy, only the most elite combatants above the Fortieth Layer were ever granted such a privilege.
In the Cultivation Academy, honor and reputation were paramount. Consequently, the Empress Faction’s prestige soared. Among the three great factions, the Empress Faction was already a bit stronger than the Dragon King Faction and the Celestial King Faction, and now Ge Mang had ascended to an Academy War with just the Thirtieth Layer of Elental Power. What a trendous glory!
When Ge Mang himself got the news, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Moo WuZheng, on the other hand, was furious.
"What a waste! A total waste! Look at this! All my brilliant maneuvering would have been so much better used on myself! I’m heartbroken! No, Ge Mang, you have to compensate for my emotional distress!"
Moo WuZheng lanted that any Academy War, even one like this, had a chance of catching the eye of the Star Alliance, or at the very least, the academy’s top brass. And those were opportunities.
In this day and age, what was the most important thing?
Opportunity!
"Ge Mang, the Empress has spoken. You are to put on a good show and uphold the honor of our faction," Mingyue said coolly, though her gaze also held a hint of confusion.
’Why would the academy do this? Isn’t this level of combat a bit too low for this?’
This wasn’t just their question, but a question puzzling the entire academy. Ge Mang, with his Thirtieth Layer of Elental Power, was going to fight Master. To be blunt, it was a low-level Magical Combat. Was all this fuss really necessary?
"Don’t you think this is a move to build montum for the Empress Faction?"
"You’re saying the Empress is about to join the Star Alliance?"
"It’s a real possibility. The Empress, the Dragon King, and the Celestial King have always been the most likely candidates."
"But reaching Minor Perfection is the absolute minimum to join the Star Alliance!"
"Tch. What rules can’t be bent these days? All that matters is being strong enough. That said, the Dragon King and the Celestial King definitely won’t take this lying down."
Nearly everyone’s focus shifted to the conflict between the three great factions. For a ti, no one paid Master much mind.
anwhile, Wang ng was with Fan Hong in the corner of a small tavern.
"So? What did you find out?"
"Heh heh, when I’m on the case, you can relax. Money talks. For the right price, I could find out how many pairs of underwear those bastards from the Celestial Demon Sect own," Fan Hong said smugly.
"Damn, I had no idea you were so loaded!" Wang ng laughed.
Fan Hong shrugged. "That’s just how it is. We may not compare to the Heavenly Pride Small Thousand Realm, but my Dharma Flower Sect is quite wealthy. And I’ve co to terms with my situation. So I’m an illegitimate son, what’s the use complaining about it? The old man is happy about my new attitude, so he’s loosened the purse strings. I have money to spend, so I’ll spend it. I’d be more than happy if you could help ."
Wang ng clapped Fan Hong on the shoulder. "I doubt anyone would refuse that offer. I’m going to destroy the Celestial Demon Sect!"
Fan Hong nodded. "According to the intel I’ve gathered, destroying the Celestial Demon Sect will be extrely difficult. To be honest, they already made the first move and you guys suffered heavy losses. If you counterattack now, you’ll probably be playing right into their hands."
Fan Hong transferred the data he had collected to Wang ng through his Star Ring. Wang ng examined it carefully. In a head-to-head comparison of strength, they were clearly outmatched.
"Who said I was going to brawl with all of them at once? I’m going to take them out one by one."
"Are you crazy? You can’t be thinking of taking on the entire Celestial Demon Sect by yourself! That’s suicide! I’m not helping you with that!" Fan Hong’s head shook back and forth like a rattle.
"If you won’t help , who will? I know what I’m doing. I’ll start with Qian Fei. I’m sure he won’t pass up such a golden opportunity," Wang ng said with a smile.
"Of course he won’t! If I were a mber of the Celestial Demon Sect, I wouldn’t miss it either! No! It’s not a big deal if you get yourself killed, but what about ? How am I supposed to survive all alone and miserable here at the Cultivation Academy?!"
Fan Hong just kept shaking his head.
"Jeez, why are you being so difficult? I’m sure I can take him. I’m not stupid!"
"That’s debatable. No offense, but you seem smart, but you’ve got an overblown sense of justice and a tendency to be impulsive. You’re nowhere near as clever and level-headed as !" Fan Hong was still shaking his head.
Wang ng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’When have I ever been impulsive?’ he wondered. ’Other than choosing a rather... aggressive na.’
"Ahem. Let’s set that aside for now. Is there a way to raise the Holy Hall’s ranking?" When it ca to Cultivation, Wang ng was skilled, but in other areas, he was no match for Fan Hong. While Wang ng had been engrossed in his arduous training, Fan Hong had experienced a great awakening: life is short, like a flower that blooms for a single spring. This was true even for Cultivators. And so, Fan Hong had decided to live life on his own terms.
"The conventional way is for the Holy Hall Disciples to get stronger, but that’s too slow. There is another option: the Holy Hall Disciples could form a faction. Only the strong can establish a faction. If you manage to create one and survive, it would definitely change things for the Holy Hall. But I should warn you, new factions are almost always crushed."
Fan Hong took a large bite of at. His appetite had been improving recently. Ever since his change in perspective, he’d found that life was actually quite fun.
Wang ng ignored Fan Hong’s warning. He had to deal with the Celestial Demon Sect and the Holy Hall’s ranking crisis first. Everything else could wait. He had co to the Cultivation Academy fully prepared to die. Looking at it now, the atmosphere here was far less dangerous than he had imagined. ’This level of danger is nothing.’
"Fan Hong, I’m going to establish a faction. Will you help ?" Wang ng asked, his voice firm.
PFFT—
A spray of chewed at splattered across Wang ng’s face.
"*COUGH, COUGH!* Wang ng, are you for real? Even if soone has to be a martyr for the Sect, it doesn’t have to be you! Doesn’t your Holy Hall still have Hex Zui? Being a faction leader is flashy, sure, but they all have short lifespans!"
Fan Hong wiped his mouth. ’This kid is the craziest person I’ve ever t.’
"Didn’t you say it yourself? That’s what living is. I just want to do sothing crazy. Are you willing to play along?" Wang ng said with a grin.
Fan Hong stared at Wang ng with wide eyes. "Fuck it! How did I get stuck with a guy like you? First you lose the girl, now you’re about to lose your life... But... it does sound exciting. Alright, let’s give it a try!"
The two of them discussed the details. Fan Hong would gather the necessary resources to establish the faction, while Wang ng would handle everything else.
If they could successfully create the faction, the Holy Hall would receive a number of points, which would be a great help in recovering from the losses inflicted by the Celestial Demon Sect.
But Wang ng had no intention of letting the Celestial Demon Sect off so easily. To catch the bandits, you must first catch their king. While the Celestial Demon Sect still didn’t know much about him, he would start by taking care of that piece of at, Qian Fei. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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