Near the end of the training session, Wu Tian was now facing a level three Warrior wielding a halberd. Sprinting with great momentum, it was only a few meters away. It brandished the lengthy weapon nearly two meters long with expertise. They had been fighting for a few seconds already, Wu Tian at a complete disadvantage. This is bullshit!! I can't do anything with that stupid reach! A side flex of the neck and a large ethereal lump of blades scratching his cheek later, Wu Tian attempted to rush in the opening, but the opponent simply needed to pull the weapon back for Wu Tian's neck to be sliced like paper.
Healed, he heavily sighed. "Shit... this is going nowhere..." Still left with some fighting spirit, he grudgingly got up. Slumping from a slight depressive state, Wu Tian's self confidence was unstable. On one hand, he was a genius having already attained the Warrior Realm before fifty years of age, but on the other, everything was given to him by his master.
His fights were won easily by him against weaker opponents or made easy thanks to the master.
Now that he was fighting his master in person, no, his mere clones alone, Wu Tian had long since realized his pathetic state. He was bullying the weak and fearing the strong. His master would tell him that it was natural, encouraging it even, but he still felt lackluster because of it.
"Focus." Guizou's voice echoing into his mind, Wu Tian's eyes narrowed, another level three Warrior clone almost within reach. "Dammit..." Holding the longsword with a firm grip, his palm turned white. His right knee extended, boosting his forward momentum. Both thrusting ahead, Wu Tian heard the clone speak. "[Everchanging Strike]." Not again! It was with gritted teeth that Wu Tian saw the enemy's point suddenly change direction, afterimages following it like a trail. Dammit! Almost wanting to puke at the situation, Wu Tian altered his [Imperial Stab] to his lower left, desperately trying to offset the sharp point close to his ribs. But just as the tip of his longsword was about to deflect the point, this same point retreated a few millimeters before going in the opposite direction.
Fuck. With a simple thought left coursing through his mind, Wu Tian's wide open torso was impaled without any opportunity to resist. His heart was pierced through in one motion.
I feel like a piece of meat being skewered each time... His momentary depression only grew. He felt more worthless each death. He simply could not see the end. No matter how good he became in those few hours, the clone would always outsmart, overpower and outreach him. He had absolutely no chance! A halberd would not loose to a longsword with two perfect opponents competing. Except Wu Tian was not even on the same martial level!
Having noticed Wu Tian's lack of martial method usage in the recent fights, Guizou calmly snapped his fingers. "Let's call it a day."
Back to the icy cave, Guizou spoke first. "Don't think badly of yourself. Training like this can only show results years down the line. And even then, it's a continuous process that simply never stops even after thousands of years. Maybe if you fought for millions upon millions of years without rest would you near its peak. Even I always learn something after some dozens of fights more. Also, this training will help you with seated cultivation. You need better Qi control to progress, and you are training that right now. Using methods, no matter how varied, will always help this point. Qi mastery is the base of nearly everything."
Still sulking a bit, the youth caressed his dense blue beard.
Guizou returned to the pendant. During the sparring sessions, he had not expanded anything. Everything was a mere illusion from his residual strength. It was a strange ability not even he understood perfectly. A world for the strong.
Of course, he still knew a lot. This illusion was not within him, but inside Wu Tian instead. As simple to enter as it was to send gusts of spiritual energy. Everything was based on Guizou's memories and imagination.
Floating in the blank space, Guizou sat cross-legged. His purple soul began to emit a profundity. Deep and ancient, complex and intricate. His Heart Soul vibrated, a vibrant cobalt shade emerging from within. It spread out, illuminating his entire soul in blue. After this short burst, it subsided, a mere fragmented veil remaining. But this was enough. To pursue the peak of his soul and surpass his former self. Maybe his soul was the key to reach a higher realm.
He did not know what laid beyond the Emperor Realm. Had anyone ever ventured there since history surfaced? Since time and space stabilized?
Was the founder of the Eternal Empire talented enough to achieve it?
Guizou himself was the most recent Eternal Emperor of the Fairy Land. One of the strongest, too. Nine Skies. Peak Emperor Realm cultivation base. Top of the top. Summit of the mountain. Above the clouds, standing as the sky. Elevating anyone knowing of his existence. Legendary in every way.
The absolute limit of the Fairy Land. A realm extremely solid and mighty.
Reminiscing about his past, Guizou fell into a daze.
Under the clouded sky, torrential rain crashing down, eroding the world as a whole. Above mountains of earthen valor. Lost into the True Spirit Mountain Range facing the glorious capital of a large empire.
Mountains thousands of meters high tried to breach the sky. The clouds showering them with thunder and lightning. Roaring aloud in wrath.
Standing between the Earth and the Heavens. Between the sky and the land. Two beings.
A tall withering old man in dark brown robes. His long grey beard almost falling to his knees. His long grey hair erratically floating behind him.
Facing this floating antique from below, another. Burly, old and rough. A smooth tanned skin devoid of scars, proving his superior ability and talent. Without the shame of defeat or injury. A man many would later know.
Guizou.
"Is this where we fight? Is this where you draw the line?" Guizou speaking aloud, he was heard across the Fairy Land of bountiful colors and sources of blinding lights. The Heavens cried, grieving over his mischief.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"Guizou... Seven Skies, early stage Great Emperor. A talent below ten thousand years of age. You rose from the depths of the Fairy Land, where even Immortals would wail, climbing your way into this place." The withering old man stroke his extremely lengthy beard. His sunken eyes were deep, a glint escaping the darkness. Guizou could see it all. The mocking indifference, as if he was only a bug waiting to be punished for stepping out of line.
"Even if you are such a talent... Little Guizou... do you admit your wrongdoings? I may not hit you too harshly if you admit your mistakes and repent for a thousand years..." The old man remained silent, waiting for an answer. The silence only grew, Guizou, floating beneath him, unable to restrain his inner turmoil. His vision blinded from the heavenly rain. You bastard... what leniency? Not hit me too harshly?! Go fuck yourself! Raising his hands, Guizou did not hide the lustrous gloves on them. He did not say a word, having already chosen his path. A stance he could not take back.
The old man high up in the sky frowning for the first time, he exhaled with age. A simple gesture, a common expression. Yet emanating profoundness. A nonchalance rivaling that of myths. "Then so be it." Unwilling to give second chances while facing such a clear sign of rebellion, the old man's wrinkly skin stood still. His brown robes did not flutter, his hair dropping like waterfalls of history. "Guizou, I valued your talent. But slaughtering millions of innocents and thousands of Imperial Soldiers is simply not permitted. I will not let the valiant Imperial Masters, Imperial Generals and Imperial Commanders become vain sacrifices. For I today stand as the Eternal Emperor, protecting the Eternal Empire from the Ten Thousand Colored Demon. On this day, may the Land witness my deed and forever worship the Empire. This move is directed to the most impressive Imperial Guardians that perished under this worthless demon."
Looking around, Guizou's gaze slowly locked onto the now still old man. Waiting for a minute as such, the old man opened his mouth once again.
"For the crimes you committed, Guizou, Ten Thousand Colored Demon, all of your rights have been revoked. You are no longer welcomed in the Fairy Land nor the Mortal Land. You are thereby banished to damnation, stripped of your history once dead."
Guizou stayed still, circulating powerful and dense Qi within his meridians. His body began to shine a rainbow color. It was vibrant, blinding even through the walls of rain befalling the gigantic capital beneath. Still motionless, Guizou had his hands in front of his face, ready to strike or defend. The old man above was still there. And then, he disappeared. ?! Gritting his teeth, Guizou felt a powerful pressure crash into his abdomen. Gazing down, ignoring his luxurious robes, a large indentation cracked his hidden armor of draconic scales. "Puh!" Forced to spit blood, his floating figure was sent flying into a mountain down thousands of meters. His insignificantly small body collided with the earth, a crack five hundred meters wide forming on the mountain side. Trying to stand from the deep crack, he was sent back further by a residual shockwave, smashing the already damaged mountain into debris.
Dust and dirt flew around, forming mists covering the world. A mighty earthquake shook the entire capital next to it. The mud lost stability and caused landslides across the region.
Finally freed from the single blow, Guizou slowly got up, using his hands as support to pull himself out. He did not fly, catching his breath. A single strike without warning nearly destroyed some of his organs. His waning aura was not protecting him from the rain anymore. He was drenched on the spot, his wet white hair covering and sticking to his face. Each breath blew water droplets away, his robes soon torn apart under the might of his robust hands. He was left only adorning a black armor, the formerly mat finish reflecting the lights under the baptism of water.
Even though a middle stage Great Emperor was targeting him, he felt at peace. Contemplating his life choices. He did not deny those claims. To become strong, some had to risk it all.
He gasped, greedily breathing in the fresh moist air. He was relaxed. At peace with himself.
It was too late to turn back. He already made it this far. Why back down? So what if it was a stronger opponent? He defeated plenty of them. So what if it was the Eternal Emperor? So what if it was a mythical entity having lived for countless years? So what if he knew dozens of methods? He, too, knew many!
Was he not the Ten Thousand Colored Demon?
"Haha..." Chuckling at his fate, Guizou raised his head, ignoring the sharp winds brushing past the distant leaves further down the mountain. His Spiritual Sense piercing through the flipped ocean. Aware of his opponent's indifference, Guizou took his time. Only using his human eyes to peer around, spying on the mysteries of the sky. All that he saw was rain. Too dense to even grant him knowledge of his surroundings.
"Phew~" Brushing his hair, forcing them back behind his head, Guizou smiled. "Be prepared old man. The younger generation is coming for you." Back to his feet, an invisible bubble began to shield him from the torrent above. But after some deliberation, he decided against it. "One with the world. If I can't even appreciate the weather, am I even fit to live so long?" His aura growing, a pillar of seven colors blinding the sights, Guizou's figure darted above, his hands and feet glowing a different color.
"Let me show you how this Guizou reached so high from so deep!" Pushing himself to the limit, Guizou punched and kicked the hidden figure floating behind the water curtains. His moves blurred and formed countless afterimages. Thousands upon thousands of martial methods flew like fireworks of all colors and shades, erupting from below to the vast clouds.
The old man narrowed his sunken eyes. His frail eyelids twitching. "Good... good! Very good! Since you want to play with this Emperor, then I hope that you are prepared to endure this Emperor's wrath!" Taking out a hiltless sword nearly as tall as him, the old man grabbed it with his right hand. It would not even be considered a sword. It was only a straight doubled edged blade, reflective without imperfections, with its bottom covered in white linen strips.
Guizou was still ascending from the abyss, his gloves trembling under his might. It was his bet. His all out strike.
Deflecting hundreds of colorful attacks at a time, the thin old man remained where he stood. Not having taken a single step since smacking down Guizou. However, his firm attitude was not backed by his shaken heart.
Each move was diffused, appearing weak. But each hid tremendous might capable of shattering mountains and collapsing the sky. Only under his masterful control and ability could such a destructive mayhem be taken so well.
But when he finally dealt with the last, he noticed Guizou to be standing beneath him. Floating leisurely, as if waiting for something.
Unwilling to take any more risk, the old man was about to sever him when Guizou made his move. His gloves blew apart, his large burly fists clad in an emerald luster. The light around them kept bending strangely, the pressure leaking from them enough to drown the old man's heart in apprehension. Dangerous! Already so old and accomplished, the old man refused to go down like this.
Twisting his body, the old man drew the sword behind his body, his right arm focusing before slashing with absolute might from left to right. He aimed at the ground, in direction of Guizou's levitating appearance. "[Myriad Swords]!" The old withering man shouted from the top of his dried lungs, his deep voice shaking the sky and the earth. The drenched capital, its shiny rooftops and wet paved streets trembling in horror.
Guizou did not even see the giant white slash vaster than cities come down. He was focused, suddenly raising his head and arms. He punched the sky, two emerald fists forming, bigger than palaces of legends, rushing at the high sky. "[Emerald Cataclysm]!!"
Above the Immortals crawling in fear, beneath the eternal rain and howling winds. Under the roaring thunder and blinding lightning bolts. A white uneven crescent of light flew down, facing two gigantic emerald fists causing the mountains to quake.
As the two clashed, the rain froze and vaporized, the clouds dispersed and the earth below, filled with mountains, plains, forests and a lively capital was cracked open.
The two emerald fists began to push back the white crescent moon. But before long, they were grinded to light dust.
His arms hung low, bloodied, Guizou's trembling eyes witnessed the world turn pure white. When he was on the verge of colliding with this all out strike from the Eternal Emperor, he saw it to be made of countless sword strikes. Each powerful enough to split the Land.
They were small and indifferent. Pale and bland. Only filled with the essence of swordsmanship.
A slash within a slash... A trillion sword strikes within one...
His vision blinded, Guizou awoke, still seated within the pendant. He suddenly shivered, hugging his body, pained from his countless throbbing scars.