The night sky was serene over the pagodas of First Sky Martial House. I was walking alone on the meadows that were stretched on the ground, the grass blades swaying subtly along with a small breeze.
There were lanterns lit, hanging on the ceiling of the five-story pagoda that I was approaching. The trainees were outside, some chatting while some were still training their bodies. When I reached the main gate, I saw the fatty Kong Bo and he immediately came near me.
''Whoa!'' First was his surprise and then he tried feeling over my body. ''You have already reached rank four! You're an even bigger cultivation maniac than brother Zhao!''
I swatted his hands away and asked, ''Where are the girls?''
''Which gir-'' I glared at him, ''Oh,'' he seemed to have remembered. ''They are inside. Heartless, truly heartless!''
I was confused, what was this fatty saying making such a dramatic expression? He leaned on the pagoda's white walls and sighed, ''Broke too many hopeful hearts. Especially that girl called Shu Lingling, she even beat up three practitioners because they kept asking her out.''
I burst out laughing. Damn, beating up trainees… I knew she had that killer gaze but she was fierce in combat as well.
''As for that Chunu girl, people would beat up whoever even looked at her for more than a few moments,'' sighed the fatty, shaking his head. ''Go inside, they are treated like queens, along with other young misses. Be careful, you might get into trouble yourself.''
He then waved his hands and went, muttering, ''Juniors such as us have us have no chance at all…''
I was a little amused. It seemed their army of simps had increased. The main door of this pagoda was yellow, metallic and carved with tiger faces. As I went inside, I saw the large chandelier-like lantern hanging from the middle of the ceiling.
This was a big circular hall that had nine entrances which lead to different corridors with rooms on both sides. The walls inside were painted white as well and the flooring was marbled.
Right opposite the main door was a large yellow staircase that led to the upper floors. I didn't go up but went towards one of the entrances instead. I knew where Chunu and Ling'er stayed.
However, as I reached their rooms, I saw different girls there. They told me that my sister and Shu Lingling had already gotten rooms on the second floor. I asked at which hall entrances their rooms were located and getting the answer, climbed the staircase.
I remembered Feng Yi told me that Ling'er wanted to talk with me. The second floor's walls looked more polished than those down. The floor was also clean, with no spots of the practitioners' soles. This hall was a little smaller but there were fewer trainees here.
Seeing me in two months, the trainees who recognized me were amazed. I had disappeared and come back having improved my rank. Many thought that I had taken some impossible mission and died.
''Look, isn't he Zui Fan, the last in both rankings? He should be on the lower floor actually.''
A few trainees pointed at me, whispering to each other. However, they didn't dare speak with a louder voice. The most high-ranked practitioner on the second floor was a rank 7 Viscera Purifying practitioner. I could be among the top ten strongest trainees on this floor, considering my 4th rank.
I wasn't interested in what opinions others held of me here. Coming before a rank 1 trainee, I grabbed his collar and asked, ''Have you seen Shu Lingling?''
He seemed to have come from the ground floor but knew about Ling'er. Pointing towards the first left entrance, he stuttered, ''Yes, they are there.''
'They?' I threw him to the ground and walked over to that entrance. The girls from below told me it was the first right entrance, this guy was correct.
Entering the corridor, I saw about 7 to 8 trainees gathered around two rooms. The doors of the other rooms on this corridor were open and the people, especially the girls, were looking at those trainees with disgust in their eyes.
''Goddess! Please open your doors for this servant!''
''My love, my heart refuses to beat without you!''
Such cringe phrases were heard in this corridor. I was profoundly disappointed in these young men.
''Dear Chun-'' I suddenly grabbed a guy's collar who was about to call out Chunu's name. He turned around angrily. ''Who the hell are you!?''
''Your mom's secret cock-provider.'' I punched the trainee square in the face and swatted him away. Even as a rank 4, my body was much stronger than a rank 5 practitioner.
The trainee who just fell unconscious was a rank 2 Viscera Purifying practitioner. Alone, he was just a fly to the current me. The sound of the earlier punch stopped the young men from buzzing. They all looked at me, the most powerful among them was a rank 6 practitioner.
''Scram!'' I acted like a shitty young master. One of the simp trainees was triggered by what I said.
''Junior, you-''
''That's too cringe, try saying something else.'' I yawned. Really, these fellas had zero creativity, all muscle-brained thirsty pigs. I gazed at these mortals like they were air, not worthy of even a thought.
The rank six practitioner was ready for battle when one of the doors suddenly creaked open. Seeing the girl who was frowning at them, the simp from earlier put his hands on his chest. ''I see goddess Lingling, my heart is at peace.''
''I'll mince that heart into pieces,'' Hearing Ling'er, the other practitioners shuddered but he looked expectant.
I shook my head and pulled him back. He struggled to break free of my grip but I easily threw him on the floor. There was no technique involved, just raw strength.
''Is he really last in the rankings? With that strength, he could contend for top 100!''
''He might challenge junior trainees. After all, you can take the rank of whoever you defeat.''
The onlookers chattered but I wasn't concerned. Suddenly, I ducked and used the Silver Sand Technique to rapidly back away. I unsheathed my longsword and held it before the rank six practitioner who had just attacked me.
''Wow, he dodged Daajun Logai's Coiling Iron Fist! But… what move was that?''
''Are they really going to fight here? Is it even allowed?''
Daajun Logai was a short man with an oblong face. It would be difficult defeating someone two ranks above me with this sword on. However, I wouldn't unequip it just to make it easier for me as that would defeat the whole purpose of passive training.
The trainees gathered around were wimps when it got real. Except for a rank four practitioner who was Logai's close friend, they all ran like frightened dogs.
''Ha!'' Logai's friend also probed me with a casual fist. However, he was forced to take his hand back when I nearly chopped his palm off.
Both practitioners took out their weapons. Suddenly, Lingling came from behind the rank 4 practitioner, aiming at his neck with her sword.
Her attack technique wasn't as good as her Body Technique which I had given her. Still, it was deadly when she used it.
Clang!
Daajun Logai blocked her attack with his own sword, saying, ''Shu Lingling, I may like you but that doesn't mean you can treat me like this. If you are really going to harm my friend here, then don't blame me for being merciless.''
''Hmph, big words coming out of a foul mouth.'' Ling'er made a disgusted expression. She was pushed back as her strength was lower than Logai's.
In such a short time, she had broken through to Viscera Purifying rank 2, she was a cultivation genius in sword path. Still, she wasn't strong enough to beat a rank 6 practitioner yet.
I took a firm step forward and leaped a rather large distance, coming before Logai in a flash. He sidestepped, evading my horizontal sword slash but I wasn't finished and kept attacking in an unrestrained manner, raining down sword strikes over his body.
Logai's friend tried helping him but Ling'er kept that practitioner busy with her own set of sword attacks. The sounds of our fight travelled through the corridor and reached the ears of those at the hall.
The trainees on the second floor all came to have a share of free entertainment as we fought.
I had changed my fighting style this time, not being opportunistic and quick but remaining on one spot and attacking with heavy slashes or thrusts. This sword wasn't fit for rapid movement. I blocked every attack with a counterattack and didn't, even once, remain passive.
There were various foundational sword techniques in my mind. I employed one with a fancy name of Dragon Cross. This technique utilized the opponent's force when our swords were crossed.
Tonnggg~
Like scissors, our sword blades aligned with each other's. The onlookers failed to see what happened as our swords separated extremely quickly.
A moment later, panic suddenly appeared on Logai's face as he backed away three steps. There was a fine cut on his left hand and he couldn't properly hold his sword due to it.
''Gale Sword.'' Wielding it with both of my hands, I pointed my weapon at him.
My body moved with a dark blur and a white sword light gleamed. The next second, The Piercer's tip was just millimeters away from Logai's chest.
''No! Noooo-'' Just as he thought I was going to kill him, I stopped. One wrong movement and my sword could have pierced his heart.
Clang! His weapon fell on the floor as he put his hands up, surrendering on spot.