[Bonus Chapter] As Promised. And finally, today marks the start of Xu Mo's real journey and world-building outside the Hidden Dragon Sect.
Chapter 89: A Legend's Rise or a Fall into Despair?
"For someone like you, I wouldn't even need to use..." Xue Lingxi abruptly shut her mouth. No one doubted her; the majority assumed she had almost cursed at Fang Jinhai after being provoked by the audience, letting her emotions take over for a split second.
But I had an inkling of what she might have been about to say.
Xue Lingxi was at the peak of Qi Condensation, and combined with her experience as a reborn person, it was safe to assume that she could handle Qi better than her peers. I, who had been struggling to manage Qi Reinforcement just yesterday, was only able to sit here and enjoy the match because Shadow Sentinel had provided me with assistance before things got out of control.
However, Xue Lingxi took Qi Reinforcement one step further. The entire crowd gasped as they saw a translucent longsword materialize in her right hand.
"What?!!"
All five sect masters of the vassal sects stood up from their seats. Many knowledgeable spectators also rose from their spots, recognizing what Xue Lingxi had just achieved.
Ignoring the crowd's reaction, Xue Lingxi swung her sword, leaving behind a trail of bright white glow as pure as milk. The blade cleaved the hard stone platform in two, continuing its momentum unimpeded, cutting through the air toward Fang Jinhai.
Fang Jinhai, unsure of what was happening, felt dread for the first time since becoming a cultivator. There was no stopping that bright white glow as it sought to swallow him whole. He wanted to dodge, jump, or duck, but his instincts screamed that if he did, he would lose his life without a doubt.
A moment later, Fang Jinhai's black pupils were no longer visible as the white glow from Xue Lingxi's swing illuminated his entire face. His breath hitched. Unable to withstand the terror, he shut his eyes tightly, hoping that not seeing his death might somehow lessen the pain.
Boom!!
The spectators, who had been sitting and watching in stunned silence, suddenly shot to their feet as a massive dust cloud engulfed the arena, obscuring everything from view.
Who won?
What was that move Xue Lingxi just used?!
Did an elder step in?!
Is Fang Jinhai even alive?!
The dust slowly began to settle. Faint silhouettes could be seen from the audience stands, causing whispers to spread.
"Huh? Both are still standing."
"And... there's no third person in the arena."
"Was Miss Xue Lingxi's attack just for show?"
As the dust finally cleared, the audience took in the sight before them. Xue Lingxi stood proud, like a phoenix ascending to the heavens. Meanwhile, Fang Jinhai had... wet his pants.
Yet, no one laughed.
Their eyes were fixed on the trail carved into the hard stone platform by Xue Lingxi's attack. It had been traveling in a straight line toward Fang Jinhai, but at some point, it had veered slightly, striking the wall behind him instead. Fortunately, the audience sat slightly above ground level, a precaution taken by the stadium's planners to prevent stray attacks from injuring spectators.
Their gazes turned to the deep groove in the wall, its jagged edges resembling the marks left by a dragon's claw. A reminder of the sheer power Xue Lingxi had just displayed.
I stood up as well. I had already gathered valuable insights from the fights and decided it was time to leave and comprehend them further.
While everyone remained focused on Xue Lingxi—the most likely candidate for the tournament's first rank—I quietly slipped away from the colosseum.
After returning to my residence, I immediately sat down and began writing down and refining my notes. There were new discoveries I had never considered before—techniques used in today's fight that had broadened my understanding. Some ideas even sparked thoughts on how to further improve those techniques. However, the key lay in whether I could successfully apply them to my physique.
Packing some clean clothes and a few snacks into a sack, I steeled my resolve.
Today, I was going to do it.
I stood before the Mission Hall, my gaze trailing upward as I took in its imposing grandeur. The building loomed over the outer sect, a towering structure of dark stone reinforced with intricate formations that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Its wide double doors, crafted from deep mahogany, bore carvings of ancient battles—disciples striking down fearsome beasts, defending mortal villages, and confronting rogue cultivators. The engravings seemed almost alive, their details so finely chiseled that the figures appeared to shift under the daylight's movement.
Above the entrance, a massive black jade plaque hung proudly, inscribed with the words "Mission Hall" in bold, golden characters. The strokes gleamed with a subtle, otherworldly luster, likely carved by a senior elder long ago. Even from here, I could feel the weight of countless disciples who had passed through these doors, each taking their first steps toward true cultivation through trials and tribulations.
The Hall itself stretched wide, resembling a fortress rather than a simple building. Its sloping roof was supported by thick obsidian pillars, each etched with glowing runes designed to withstand damage from the inevitable fights that broke out between disciples competing for lucrative missions. The entrance bustled with activity—disciples clad in sect robes moved in and out, their voices filled with either excitement or frustration over their completed or failed missions.
I took a deep breath, my fingers unconsciously clenching at my sleeves. Though Elder Long Bai's condition had initially prevented me from taking on my first mission, my recent progress had finally convinced the sect to grant me access—at least for lower-level assignments. My strength now exceeded that of an average eighth-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, perhaps even a peak ninth-stage one, despite still being at the fifth-stage peak.
I exhaled slowly, steadying my heart. Helping villages, subjugating weak beasts, capturing bandits, escorting caravans—these missions were simple but necessary. And today, for the first time, I would step forward and carve my own path in the world beyond the sect.
With that thought, I took a step toward the Mission Hall's grand doors, the weight of anticipation pressing against my chest.