In the Wilberforce Empire, a storied decree mandates that younger siblings must show respect to their older counterparts. Yet, this decree intriguingly does not forbid the younger from seeking an exchange of clashes with their elders. The Wilberforce tribe, renowned for its dedication to cultivation, firmly believes that such exchanges are essential. It is through these sanctioned clashes that the tribe forges powerful cultivators capable of facing formidable adversaries.
This ancient decree contains a profound stipulation: if a younger sibling possesses the audacity to challenge an older sibling, the elder is bound to accept, unless a significant reason, approved by the tribe’s elite, is presented. This clause underscores the tribe’s commitment to fostering strength and resilience among its members. Indeed, it is not uncommon for the younger sibling to file a formal complaint if an elder is perceived as unwilling to impart cultivation skills.
Despite the occasional instances where younger siblings surpass their elders in power, the Wilberforce tribe staunchly maintains the decree. The possibility of younger ones humiliating their elders serves a dual purpose: it motivates the older siblings to continually enhance their cultivation skills and discourages complacency born of seniority. The decree is a constant reminder that being born first carries not just privilege but also the responsibility to lead by example and strive for continual improvement.
The decree serves as a warning issued by the Wilberforce tribe to its members: If you do not strive to improve your cultivation, your younger siblings will surpass and look down on you, and the tribe will not intervene, despite the original decree of respecting elders written by the great Aldaima before his death.
However, there is complexity in Prince Sufa's challenge to Armad. When Prince Sufa sought a duel, the judge was taken aback and momentarily speechless, wanting to admonish Sufa. After some time, the judge closed his mouth, knowing he did not have the authority to change the decree. According to the Wilberforce tribe's decree, Prince Sufa has the right to challenge his elder brother, Prince Armad, to a duel. This is not the first time such a duel has occurred.
Before Prince Armad left the capital city of Wilberforce, his younger siblings occasionally challenged him to duels. Initially, Armad could participate without being humiliated by his younger siblings. However, as his siblings grew older, their cultivation and power increased. Before Prince Armad left the capital, none of his younger siblings could defeat him in a duel. Prince Sufa, in particular, often humiliated Armad whenever he won a duel against him.
The judge inhaled a long breath, his eyes closing momentarily as memories flooded his mind. He recalled a day when Prince Armad and Prince Sufa faced off in a duel on one of the exercise fields within the palace of the capital city of Wilberforce. A crowd of around 80 people, mostly servants and maids of the Wilberforce tribe, had gathered to watch the spectacle. Some of the maids had even come from other tribes, and Prince Sufa had often thought that the only way to impress them was to challenge his elder brother to a duel and emerge victorious.
As the two princes drew their weapons, the judge remembered the stark contrast between them. Armad held his inherited sword, a symbol of his heritage and power, while Sufa wielded a knife that, despite its sword-like shape, seemed almost diminutive in comparison. The audience gasped as the brothers circled each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
The air was electric as they charged at each other, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks. Armad's sword sliced through the air, aimed at Sufa's chest, but the younger prince was quick and agile, using his knife to deflect the attack. The two weapons met above them, the sound of clashing steel echoing through the field.
The audience held its collective breath, expecting Armad's superior strength and swordsmanship to quickly overpower Sufa. They anticipated the younger prince's knife to be knocked from his hand, followed by a swift defeat and possibly even injury. But Sufa was determined to prove himself, and with a fierce cry, he countered Armad's attack, their blades locked in a fierce stalemate.
However, in a stunning turn of events, the small knife wielded by Sufa miraculously halted the mighty sword of Armad, leaving the audience in awe. But the astonishment was short-lived, as the very next second, Armad's sword began to rip and tear, its metal shrieking in protest. It was as if Prince Sufa had unleashed a hidden power, one that no one could comprehend. Some speculated that it was the pure strength of his noble blood that had allowed him to achieve this feat.
Before anyone could even process what was happening, the sword of Armad exploded into a thousand pieces, sending shards of metal flying in all directions. The sound of the explosion echoed through the air, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. Armad was devastated, for the sword had held great sentimental value - it was a gift from his mother, and now it was nothing more than a memory.
As Armad mourned the loss of his beloved sword, Prince Sufa stood tall, his eyes fixed intently on his opponent. With a swift and graceful motion, he raised his left leg and unleashed a powerful kick aimed directly at Armad's stomach. Armad, anticipating the attack, bent slightly and countered with a similar move.
The two legs met in mid-air, resulting in a sickening crunch of bone. The sound sent a shiver down the spines of the servants and maids who were watching, their gasps and cries filling the air. The two combatants stood there for a moment, their legs locked in a painful embrace, before they stumbled back, each one grappling with the consequences of their actions.
The audience was in an uproar, their mouths agape in shock and disbelief. It was clear that one of the sons of Emperor Ayrion would likely be hospitalized, and the tension was palpable as the outcome of this intense duel hung in the balance.
Many people, especially those who had never witnessed such a duel, thought that Prince Sufa would be the one to be hospitalized. After all, Armad had deliberately raised his leg to attack his younger brother, leg to leg. If he hadn't planned something, he wouldn't have used his leg. However, contrary to what people thought, a few seconds later, a powerful air emanated from Prince Sufa's body and threw Armad somewhere else. Professionally, Prince Sufa put his leg down and brought out a handkerchief, which he used to wipe his leg where he had hit Armad's leg. A little farther away, Prince Armad was holding his leg, writhing in pain. It was clear who had suffered a fracture. The sound of the fracture hadn't come from Prince Sufa but from Prince Armad.
Instantly, the young women from other tribes who had witnessed the duel started gazing at Prince Sufa with admiration and happiness. It was no secret that the main reason these tribes had sent their young women as guests to Wilberforce was to seek marriage with the Wilberforce tribe. However, officially, these young women were sent under the guise of requesting to witness the Wilberforce tribe's cultivation art. The parents of these young women had paid a substantial amount of money to the council members of Wilberforce before they were allowed to enter the palace.
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As Prince Armad struggled to get up, his face contorted in pain, the young women couldn't help but be impressed by Prince Sufa's strength and skill. They had never seen anyone defeat an opponent with such grace and precision. The air was filled with whispers of admiration, and it was clear that Prince Sufa had won not only the duel but also the hearts of the young women present.
In some cases, the council members of Wilberforce held conferences where they would teach the young women from various tribes some cultivation art. This was a highly sought-after opportunity, and different tribes would race against each other to send their young women to these conferences. In some instances, young men who were believed to be future leaders of their respective tribes would also be sent to these conferences. However, it was an open secret, though no one dared to speak it aloud, that the main reason for sending these young people, especially the young women, was not just to attend the conference, but to seek marriage into the Wilberforce tribe.
If they were lucky enough to gain the affection of one of the elite young men of Wilberforce, they would consider themselves successful. And now, as the young women witnessed Prince Sufa's brevity and skill in defeating his brother, they couldn't help but feel happy and hopeful. They thought to themselves, "We've found a worthy man to marry!" Although there were more than 30 young women present, none of them was willing to compromise; they all wanted the best for themselves.
This was also the reason why Prince Sufa had wanted to humiliate his brother in front of these guests. He wanted to impress them, and he had succeeded. The young women were now gazing at him with admiration and longing, and Prince Sufa knew that he had made a lasting impression.
Slowly, the judge opened his eyes, his memories of the past fading away. He had been remembering the events that had transpired before Prince Armad left the capital city of Wilberforce, but now his focus was back on the present.
"Prince Sufa, I think you've misunderstood the situation," the judge said, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Your brother didn't refuse to come to humiliate you or disrespect you. I don't think things have reached a point where such drastic actions are necessary."
The judge's words were laced with a hint of concern, for he knew that a duel between Prince Armad and his younger brother would not end well. It had happened before, and Armad's younger siblings had always emerged victorious, their difference in blood giving them an edge. The judge had witnessed significant changes in Armad recently, especially since the wild people's attack. He had seen Armad's brevity and strength, but even that couldn't guarantee victory against his brother.
The judge's mind raced with the potential consequences of Armad losing the duel. This was his home, and if he was defeated, it would be like an outsider coming into his own home and beating him. The repercussions would be severe, especially in terms of disrespect. If the soldiers, particularly those not from Armad's legion, like Ai and others, saw their king humiliated by his younger brother, it would lead to a breakdown in respect and trust between Armad and his people.
The judge had seen it happen before in the palace of Wilberforce, and he was determined not to let history repeat itself in this village. He knew that if Armad lost, it would create a rift between him and his people, and the judge was not willing to let that happen again.
As the judge's words fell on Prince Sufa's ears, a brutal laughter erupted from his lips, echoing through the hall. "Hahaha, oh, you judge, do you dare to imply that you don't trust the bravery of the person you're representing? He may be a king, but I'm just a son of Emperor Ayrion and his younger brother at that! Do you think you can break the decree of Emperor Ayrion, which clearly states that a younger brother has the right to seek training from his elder brother? Or do you think that just because you've left the capital city, you're above the law and can disregard the decree without consequence?"
Prince Sufa's voice dripped with mockery, his words laced with venom. He turned to face the judge behind him, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. "As you hear, your colleague judge, you want to break the decree of Ayrion. If this statement reaches our enemies, don't say I didn't warn you. The consequences will be on your head." His smile twisted into a triumphant grin, a sign of victory etched on his face.
The judge's expression changed, his face pale and worried. He knew that Prince Sufa would not enter the palace unless he humiliated either him or his elder brother. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. The judge's eyes darted around, searching for a way to defuse the situation, but Prince Sufa's words had made it clear: he would not back down.
The silence that followed was oppressive, the weight of Prince Sufa's words hanging heavy in the air. The face of the that accompanied sufa remained frozen, his mind racing with thoughts of how to salvage the situation. But Prince Sufa's laughter still echoed in his mind, a brutal reminder of the prince's determination and cunning.
Indeed, the judge accompanying Prince Sufa understood the prince's intentions. He wanted to use him to humiliate his fellow judge, Armad's judge. If Prince Sufa were to humiliate Armad's judge himself, it would create a problem, but if Armad's judge were to be humiliated by another judge, nothing would come of it. After a moment, the judge took a deep breath and addressed Armad's judge, "My brother, I think it's best if you go inside and inform Prince Armad that, according to Emperor Ayrion's decree, he cannot escape this duel. He must come out and allow his brother to learn from his skills, which he has acquired over the years. I believe Armad will not lack the skills he can teach his younger brother."
Despite his attempt to sound confident, the judge's words lacked conviction, and the sign of fear in his eyes was evident. However, this fear was not for Prince Armad but for his fellow judge. There was a mutual understanding between the judges, and the fear he had for his fellow judge was rooted in the knowledge that since he was assigned to guide Armad, his continuity in leadership and cultivation had been compromised. Even before they left the capital city, several judges had expressed their grievances against him, believing that his assignment to guide Armad meant that his progress had been hindered. This was the same fear he still harbored for his fellow judge.
The judge of Armad closed his eyes, his mind racing with the implications of Prince Sufa's statement. He, too, understood that the duel was inevitable. He opened his eyes and gazed out at the soldiers who filled the surroundings, from the inside of the palace to the outside. The palace doors were open, and the long lines of soldiers who welcomed Prince Sufa could see and hear everything. It wouldn't be surprising if everyone heard what was happening, since most of the soldiers were cultivators, and those who hadn't awakened their core used herbs to enhance their senses, including their hearing.
However, this wasn't the problem that worried the judge the most. What concerned him most was that Armad had yet to return. A day hadn't passed since he sent him the message, and it was difficult for the prince to return to the town of Tiriba within the next three days. The problem is that if these guests knew the prince wasn't in town, they would likely return and report to home that Armad wasn't in charge, but rather his judge. The judge's forehead began to sweat at the thought.
However, it is at this precise moment, when the weight of his responsibilities and the tension in the air seem almost unbearable, that the judge feels a gentle yet reassuring hand placed firmly on his shoulder, offering a sense of comfort and support amid tension.