Jie scoffed. The judge practically leaped at the chance to save Chen Huo from further pain. If only he'd done the same for Chen Huo's victims. Anger burned in her heart even as she looked coolly upon Chen Huo's whimpering form being carried away by healers.
She gradually reduced her lightning step skill back to nothing and tried not to let the relief show on her face as she did so.
"The top three have been decided! Due to... the events of the final round, we shall wait for Chen Huo to recover enough for the awards ceremony where our headmaster shall present the prizes to the strongest three of the younger generation!" the judge said, "Please, feel free to partake of refreshments. It won't be long now."
Jie hopped off the stage and strode over to where Ithilix sat in the stands.
"Most impressive, Princess," Ithilix said.
Jie shrugged. "He was weaker than I expected," she said.
Ithilix nodded. "This one is very grateful that you held back so much in your fight with this one. If you had not... this one shudders to think of dying so soon," she said.
Jie laughed. "I'm not that scary," she said.
"Forgiveness, but this one disagrees," Ithilix said with a shiver.
"That was quite impressive. Though, one wonders whether you have it in you to survive the consequences of your actions," said a handsome young man who radiated power. Not as much as some of those in the audience, but definitely one of the strongest. He looked human, as did most of those in the stands, but his accent was slightly different. And he smelled like the ocean.
Jie gave a respectful bow to the stronger man. "Time will tell," she said.
The man chuckled. "Brazen and yet reserved. I think I like you. Perhaps you should think of joining my clan should you survive," he said.
"I'm sure it would be an honor," Jie said carefully. It wouldn't do to make any promises to people she owed nothing to. Besides, her plans would take her far beyond the power of any of these clans. It was success or death.
"Wisely answered," said the man, "well, I'd better go gossip with the rest of these so-called experts. Take care of yourself Liu Jie."
The man flickered and vanished, but Jie felt his power not far away. No doubt doing exactly what he said. Jie wondered how many offers she'd get after her display.
After half an hour, but what felt like a thousand years, the answer became clear. A lot.
None of them were willing to offer her anything now though. Everything they said came with the caveat that she get stronger and somehow survive the retribution the Chen family was sure to bring.
Perhaps she'd made a mistake making an enemy of a family everyone seemed to fear.
"Hey you," Pan Tian said as she pushed through the crowd to Jie, followed by her brother.
"Hey back," Jie said.
Pan Tian frowned. "Is that all you have to say after what you did? That was super impressive!" she said.
"And dangerous," Pan Zhanshi added.
Jie shrugged. "What kind of cultivator sits back and does nothing about their friends being hurt like that?" she asked.
Pan Tian giggled. "Most of them?" she asked.
"Tch," Jie said, "then they're weak. No matter how high their cultivation."
A few elders looked her way as though having heard her, and she returned their gazes evenly before bringing her attention back to Pan Tian.
"I only wish I could've done more. He deserved to truly suffer," Jie said.
Pan Zhanshi shook his head. "The Chen family is prideful to the extreme. I imagine that Chen Huo will be punished in horrifying ways over what you did today," he said, "you've made the entire Chen family your enemy for life."
Jie shrugged. "I know," she said.
The four of them talked a bit more, but soon Chen Huo returned to the arena. He looked healthy and whole, and he'd even taken the time to don a fresh set of armor.
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"Esteemed guests!" Headmaster Siluvius bellowed from where he stood on the platform in the center of the arena, "Please return to your seats as we give out prizes to these three future experts! As for our top three! Join me and bask in your moment of glorious victory!"
"I guess that's our cue," Jie muttered.
She and Ithilix hopped off the stands and onto the arena floor where they leaped up onto the platform.
The Headmaster waved his hand and three steps rose up out of the platform, each one at a different height and marked with a number. Three being the lowest step and one being the highest. Jie smiled softly, it reminded her of the Olympics back home. It felt weird to think she was already so much faster and stronger than anyone on Earth. So much so that she would be like a god among insects there.
She wondered if a nuclear bomb would kill her. It was hard to tell things like that when everything in this world was so different. From the gravity to the very air she breathed. Would it kill her in an instant or would it be more like a firecracker?
Ming didn't seem very impressed by Earth weapons. That was for sure.
By the time she'd pulled herself out of her thoughts, most people seemed to have returned to their seats. Why were all these people here anyway? It seemed silly for such powerful cultivators to take an interest in anyone who wasn't their children. Jie decided to ask Elder Shi about that later.
"And so, our tournament has ended. We've witnessed incredible skill and power by many of the younger generations, but these three stand supreme! Ithilix of The Hive has placed third!" The Headmaster said.
As he said that, the third step slid across to where Ithilix stood on the platform, submerged into the tiles, and then shot out with Ithilix on top. To Ithilix's credit, she didn't even twitch.
There was a smattering of begrudged applause. Many of those in the audience looked disgusted and they didn't care to hide that fact. Jie clenched her fists. How dare they treat her friend this way! But she let out a slow breath. These people cared about strength above all and while they applauded Ithilix's strength as it was... they would never truly honor her until they were made to cower before her.
One day, Jie would make them bow if Ithilix could not.
"I think we can all agree that her strength and skill are prodigious even among those of the hive!" The Headmaster continued.
There were a few nods at that and a second round of applause followed, more than the first.
"For coming in third, Ithilix is awarded ten heavenly moon pills to aid her cultivation as well as a single session in the cultivation chamber!" Headmaster Siluvius said.
There were a few greedy eyes among the less powerful cultivators and students in the audience, but it only left Jie wondering what the cultivation chamber was. It hadn't been mentioned in the tour.
The Headmaster waved his hand and the second-place step slid across the platform, dipped under Chen Huo, and shot upward higher than Ithilix. Rings of dazzling fire formed around the column.
"Behold! At second place! The second strongest of the younger generation! Destined for a life of greatness! Chen Huo!" Headmaster Siluvius said, his voice carrying over the entire arena. The crowd applauded, but many did so almost mechanically. Even among those who supported the Chen family.
His humiliation remained strong in their minds it seemed. Jie felt no small sense of satisfaction about that. Chen Huo held himself proudly but looked as though he were resolutely standing before a death sentence rather than the excitement that came with a prize.
"None can deny that Chen Huo is indeed a formidable cultivator among the younger generation. For his impressive strength and skill, he is awarded fifteen heavenly moon pills, two sessions in the cultivation chamber, and this..." the Headmaster said as he held out a scroll.
"This martial skill scroll is restricted. Given out only rarely. It relies on the lower dantian, but as to what it does... that shall remain a mystery... unless Chen Huo wishes to share that knowledge with others. The scroll is his and may be taken back to his family should he wish to do so," Headmaster Siluvius said.
The Headmaster waved his hand and Jie suddenly felt herself skyrocket upward, standing atop a column so high that it put her just beneath the highest tier of the arena's stands.
"And our champion of the younger generation! Liu Jie!" Headmaster Siluvius said as fire swirled around her in intricate patterns.
The applause was deafening. Even some of those who Jie thought supported the Chen family applauded, though a few stopped after someone beside them exchanged a few words with them.
Do they applaud because of my strength despite everything? Is it truly what matters most in this world? Jie thought.
"Liu Jie is the youngest to win such a tournament, and possesses not only immense strength and speed that surpasses even those of a higher cultivation, but also incredible skill with her martial skills! Truly, she is a genius among geniuses! Destined to reach heights only ever dreamed of by lesser cultivators!" Headmaster Siluvius said.
A few of those in the stands eyed her hungrily, many of whom had approached her with offers should she survive the Chen family's wrath. Suddenly, Jie felt like a piece of meat on display and wished for all the world to simply return to secluded cultivation. But she kept her face expressionless and remained utterly impeccable. A model of perfection.
"Strength stands above all! As such, Liu Jie shall receive the horned lion's share!" Headmaster Siluvius said, "Fifty heavenly moon pills! Six sessions in the cultivation chamber! Three sessions in the conditioning chamber! Two martial skills for the lower dantian! And... a spirit coin!"
Even the powerful experts' eyes gleamed with greed and shock at the mention of a spirit coin. Jie suddenly felt that being awarded that prize might put her in danger... couldn't they just have quietly handed it to her? Was the Headmaster actively trying to get her killed or was it just to display the Crimson Academy's wealth?
Judging by the way even the most powerful experts' eyes shone, a spirit coin had to be worth a fortune. Good thing she hadn't told anyone that Ming had handed her thousands like they were pocket change.
"Now, I believe it's time to allow our young prodigies to celebrate in whatever way they choose. As for the rest of you, I want to thank you all for attending. Especially our delegates from the Spectral Emperor and our southern allies from the Iron Kingdom. A feast has been prepared, and appropriate entertainment has been provided just outside the arena! Thank you all for coming and I bid you have a fantastic time!" said Headmaster Siluvius.