The arena was full to the brim with spectators as the final battles were ongoing. The crowd was excited to see who this year's winner would be, and some even made bets.
After Guang Jian was defeated by Rui, he joined the Rune Sword Immortal's side throughout the tournament. The Sword Immortal would telepathically teach him about the fights he witnessed while honing his sword skills through mental illusions.
Despite being so young, Jian was extremely talented in swords, having already formed a 'Sword Heart.' The Sword Immortal nurtured him with great care thanks to this.
Meanwhile, Rui had just finished another battle, finding his opponents fascinating.
So far, he had defeated six of them, making him the strongest, statistically speaking.
The only one who could compare to him was Guang Wen Bo, who also had the same track record, though with much more effort and time.
Rui was sure that his fight with Guang Wen Bo would be the last battle of the tournament to build up a bit of suspense.
With his arms crossed, he closed his eyes and waited patiently for his name to be called.
"Guang Xin Lan and Guang Rui, please step onto the stage of Arena 1."
It was only after five more rounds that his name was called, and this time, his battle was against Guang Xin Lan.
'Finally a decent opponent'
Rui thought, having a great impression of Xin Lan. He was the best opponent in the tournament regarding skills; even Guang Wen Bo was worse than him in terms of technique.
The two stepped on the stage and clasped their fists as a greeting.
Guang Yuan gave the signal for them to start the battle.
In an instant, Xin Lan unsheathed his saber, this time coating it with runic energy. Rui's eyes narrowed at this sight, recognizing the skill as similar to his [Cloak].
Not wanting to fall back, he conjured a simple sword from his inventory, not using [Sun-Cutter] or runic energy to construct a sword.
Although he would still be at a disadvantage, he didn't mind since he was stronger than his opponent. His main goal in this tournament was to test his strength compared to others his age.
Xin Lan frowned when he saw the ordinary sword but didn't underestimate Rui because of it. Rather, he felt like he was being looked down upon. He recognized that Rui was powerful since he had seen his other battles.
With clenched teeth, he challenged his instinct to act upon his impulses and charge at Rui with rage. Instead, he used his runic energy to increase the strength of his footwork. His feet lit up in a subtle blue hue while the saber exuded a sharper beam of runic energy.
Rui watched as Xin Lan approached, his posture relaxed. Xin Lan could see many openings but hesitated to strike since he felt something was amiss.
Energy rushed on his saber blade, congregating like water droplets before launching towards Rui's throat at astonishing speeds.
Rui smiled at this scene, his figure phasing through the attack unharmed.
'The [Heaven's Netherrealm Step] sure is useful.'
Rui had used the skill to phase through space and effortlessly evade the attack.
Rui decided to take the offensive as Xin Lan recovered from his missed strike. With a swift movement, he closed the distance between them and swung his sword at Xin Lan with precision.
Xin Lan reacted quickly, parrying Rui's blow with his saber. The clash of their weapons echoed through the arena as they exchanged blows, each trying to gain the upper hand.
Since Rui hadn't coated the sword with runic energy, there were cracks on the blade as soon as he struck the refined saber.
Rui repeatedly continued to strike the saber on a specific spot, utilizing brute strength despite knowing the outcome. Xin Lan couldn't comprehend his actions and was starting to feel irritated.
With a hint of fury, runic energy rushed out of his body, pushing Rui away with a strong gust. However, before he could attack Rui with his saber, he realized it cracked during his sudden rush of runic energy.
Confusion clouded his vision, throwing his thoughts into complete disarray.
What Xin Lan didn't know was that Rui could see the flow of runic energy with his eyes. He could see any minute change in energy and even pinpoint the exact weakness or energy source of his saber.
He hadn't used any runic energy while attacking his saber because of the interference it would cause, especially since his runic energy would be in the way of his vision.
Rui couldn't help but laugh at the flustered look on Xin Lan's face, prompting Xin Lan to blush in embarrassment.
"Just pull out another saber from your storage device. I'll wait."
Rui commented on the situation with a mischievous grin.
"Damn it!"
Xin Lan cursed, summoning an ornate saber from his storage device. The saber seemed much higher quality than the previous saber, and a powerful murderous aura radiated from it.
Rui couldn't help but smile at the sight, having succeeded with his plan. He was certain that Xin Lan wasn't using his best weapon since the start of the tournament and wanted to manipulate him into unleashing all of his strength in this battle.
Xin Lan wielded his new saber with determination while Rui remained calm and focused, his eyes locked on his opponent.
Xin Lan charged forward with a fierce battle cry, his saber gleaming in the arena's light. Rui met his attack head-on, their blades clashing with a loud clang.
The two exchanged blows with lightning speed, each trying to gain the upper hand. Xin Lan's saber intently danced through the air while Rui's sword struck all his weak spots.
Despite Xin Lan's skillful maneuvers, Rui seemed to have the upper hand. His attacks were calculated and precise, each strike landing with devastating impact.
Xin Lan grew more frustrated as the battle went on. He decidedly summoned his physique avatar, its towering figure merging with his body in the process, changing his appearance to something more similar to that of the avatar.
Like others, Xin Lan could merge with his physique's manifestation, which increased his strength exponentially.
Although Rui knew of the phenomenon, his own physique had a different effect once merged with it, which he didn't want to use in a fight like this. Thanks to the Sword Immortal, he even discovered the unique circumstances of his physique.
With a burst of energy, Xin Lan launched a powerful attack at Rui. Rui dodged it with a slick move, showing off his agility. He then countered with a strong strike, hitting Xin Lan's weak spot.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Xin Lan was pushed back, vomiting a mouthful of blood.
"Hey, if you have anything better, use it now."
Rui spoke coldly, his personality somehow different from earlier. He had used [Clarity] to completely clear his mind, knowing he was going overboard with the current battle.
Xin Lan wiped the blood from his mouth, panting heavily as he struggled to regain his composure. He knew he was outmatched by Rui, but he refused to give up without a fight.
Gritting his teeth, Xin Lan summoned all his strength and focused his mind. He had to think fast to stand a chance against Rui. However, he noticed that there wasn't much he could do.
Xin Lan gritted his teeth, not wanting to accept defeat, but he soon realized that Rui hadn't even broken a sweat throughout their entire fight. At this point, he was just being played with.
Sighing, he calmed his raging emotions and spoke.
"I admit defeat."
"Winner, Guang Rui! Guang Rui gains 1 point!"
Guang Yuan's voice soon sounded throughout the stadium, announcing Rui's victory.
----------------------------------------
On a crowded street in the Qin state, a young man covered in old rags sat on a rug on the side of the road, begging for people's money.
The young man's long white hair cascaded down his back, and most of his face was covered by bandages, making his appearance indistinct.
While he was begging, he observed every person passing by with his one free eye, which glowed bright blue.
However, the young man's concentration soon faded as another beggar passed by him, dropping a piece of paper in front of him.
The young man quickly picked up the paper before stashing it inside his robes. Soon after, he gathered his things, and his figure disappeared down an alley as if he never existed.
After a few minutes, another figure emerged from the same alley, this one a handsome young man with long white hair and refined features. He held an aura of royalty, while his blue eyes gave him an exotic feeling. A rune glowed brightly on his forehead, signifying that he was a rune master.
The common folk made way for him as soon as they said he was a runemaster.
Reaching into his sleeves, the young man pulled out the same note the beggar had dropped, his eyes narrowing into slits.
'To think that the war is starting so soon. The blood emperor must be truly insane to side with White Lily School and the Puppet Sect.'
The young man thought to himself, a hint of worry in his eyes.
Walking through the crowd, the young man made his way into the nearest inn, making his way to the front desk.
"How can I assist you today, sir?"
Asked the lady on the counter, a pleasant smile on her face.
"Two rune stones and a pot of Venis Rabbit meat."
The young man said casually, prompting the lady's expression to become more serious.
"Right away, sir. Please make your way down the hall since all the seats are full at the moment."
Saying so, she pointed him the way.
Nodding, the young man walked down the hall, finding himself in front of a reinforced wood door. Rhythmically knocking on the door, the door opened, and he was greeted by the same homeless man who had dropped the piece of paper.
The young man walked into the room and closed the door behind him, his gaze falling on the other figures inside.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Han Feng?"
A man sitting on the side of the table spoke, getting up from his chair and patting Han Feng on the shoulder.
Han Feng smiled at the gesture, nodding to the man as a greeting before speaking.
"It seems that they sent the elites for this mission, though they weren't going for strength but rather information gathering."
Spoke Han Feng, recognizing all the people in the room.
There were 6 in total, himself included. All of them had a distinct appearance and had a rune master rank of at least the third rank, with Han Feng being the only exception.
"Alright, listen up, everyone, we've got a big task ahead of us. The Blood Emperor has made some dangerous alliances, and it's up to us to gather as much information as possible."
Han Feng began, his tone serious.
The others nodded, their expressions determined.
"We'll split up into teams and cover different areas of the Xieye Empire. Make sure to be discreet. Report everything through our union members and keep delicate info coded."
Although Han Feng was much younger than the others, ranking inside the sect was extremely important. Han Feng had officially become the sect master's apprentice, meaning his words were on the level of an elder.
He was also known to be extremely competent, to the point of growing an entire branch on his own and even improving the sect's information-gathering capabilities as a whole.
----------------------------------------
After his fight with Xin Lan, Rui had to wait for the other battles to finish before his final battle would start. As he had predicted, his fight would be against Guang Wen Bo.
Once again, Guang Yuan called out for them to enter the stage.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Guang Yuan's voice rang out, calling for Rui and Guang Wen Bo to step onto the stage.
Their two figures immediately flashed and soundlessly appeared on the stage, their expressions calm. Unlike other battles, the two simply exchanged a single nod and waited for the signal to be given.
Guang Wen Bo was a tall man with broad shoulders. He had short dark red hair and bright green eyes. The Fehu rune shone brightly on his forehead while a green aura crackled around him.
Guang Yuan raised his hand, signaling the start of the battle. Rui and Wen Bo prepared themselves for the fight ahead with focused expressions.
Wen Bo wasted no time, immediately unleashing a barrage of powerful attacks. His movements were swift and precise, fueled by his determination to win.
Rui met each strike with skillful dodges and counterattacks. Despite the pressure from Wen Bo's relentless assault, Rui remained calm and composed, analyzing his opponent's moves precisely.
The two had yet to unleash their true powers, only relying on pure brute strength at this moment. Despite being well-known for using the spear, Wen Bo didn't utilize a weapon for most of his fights.
Rui also followed suit and didn't use a weapon, using his fists to counter all of his attacks. Since Rui's body was far more refined, essentially making him a physique cultivator simultaneously, Wen Bo was slowly pushed back from the exchange.
Frowning, Wen Bo stopped using brute strength and began channeling runic energy into his fists.
Rui followed suit, his runic energy being purer and far more potent.
Wen Bo's frown deepened, his body leaping backward to stop the fight's momentum.
Extending his hand, he finally summoned his spear that he hadn't used throughout the entire tournament.
Rui did the same, pulling out [Sun Cutter] from his inventory.
Since [Sun Cutter] was in its normal form, untransformed, he was just holding an ornate knife, which only annoyed Wen Bo further.
Gaung Yuan, who was overseeing the fight, immediately recognized the knife, but a hint of greed appeared in his eyes. Wen Bo was his descendant from a hidden relationship, whom he had nurtured to completely crush the other branch clans.
Wen Bo propelled himself forward, his spear coated in potent runic energy. Like Xin Lan and Guang Jian could use saber and sword aura, respectively, Wen Bo could utilize spear aura.
With the spear pointed at his face, Rui expressionlessly activated [Sun Cutter] 's true form. Its blade and hilt expanded, turning from a knife to a sword in less than a second.
He wanted to push Wen Bo to his limits, so he didn't hesitate at this moment, using the third form of the beginning sword, Adulthood.
He didn't use any other skill, only a single sword move.
Wen Bo could feel the momentum of the attack as soon as he saw Rui's movement. His pupils constricted, and he stopped his attack halfway, pushing his body to the side to dodge the sword wave.
Rui's attack landed as soon as he made way, unleashing a devastating sword energy that decimated everything in its wake. The arena floor, which had not experienced a single wear and tear, was blown to pieces while the barrier at the side of the attack shook.
It was clear that the attack itself was of a higher level than Rui's current third rank.
After Rui's powerful strike, the arena fell silent momentarily, the dust settling as everyone processed what had just happened. Guang Wen Bo, though shaken, managed to avoid the full force of Rui's attack, but the damage was still evident.
Wen Bo's spear clattered to the ground as he stumbled backward, his breath heavy and labored. He looked up at Rui, his eyes a mix of shock and admiration.
Rui stood tall and composed, his sword still crackling with residual energy from his devastating strike. He glanced at Wen Bo calmly, waiting to see if his opponent would continue the fight.
Recognizing Rui's immense power, Wen Bo shook his head in defeat.
"I concede."
He said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Winner, Guang Rui! Congratulations, you are the winner of this year's tournament."
Guang Yuan's voice boomed through the arena, declaring Rui the winner. The crowd erupted into cheers, impressed by Rui's incredible display of strength and skill.
Rui offered Wen Bo a hand, helping him up from the ground. Despite their fierce battle, they respected each other as fellow rune masters and clansmen.
After the tournament, Rui was hailed as the champion, earning the admiration of the spectators and his fellow clansmen.
The Sword Immortal personally gave him the rewards, with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Rui could feel something was wrong with him as soon as he locked gazes.
Standing where everyone could see them, the Sword Immortal spoke.
"I congratulate those who participated in this year's tournament, from those who entered the top eight to those who failed in their first battle. This year's contestants were far more interesting than I anticipated."
Pausing slightly for the crowd to applaud, the Sword Immortal continued with a resolute voice.
"As you all know, the winner of this year's tournament, Guang Rui, is a descendant of my deceased second son, Guang Ren. I personally brought their branch clan over from a very far away place, and they had long lost any knowledge of us."
"Recognizing this child's talents, along with his younger brothers, I decided to take them in as my disciples, and today, I'm officially declaring this to the rest of the kingdom. From now on, Guang Rui and Guang Jian will become my direct disciples. My wife, the Lotus of Life, will also take another disciple, and that is Rui's wife, Jane."
The crowd quickly uproared at the news, not expecting their ruler to take a disciple at this time. Meanwhile, the clansmen were confused and felt utterly betrayed. Guang Yuan especially ground his teeth, his eyes expressing a massive killing intent, which was quickly hidden not long after.