Read Novel Full Chapter 157: Five-Year Tournament (2)
Chapter 157: Five-Year Tournament (2)
The only woman among the five branch leaders, Leader Meihong of the Diplomacy Branch, watched with an icy gaze as servants removed her fainted disciple from the center of the courtyard.
Her long, pale fingers tightened slightly around her own arm. Disappointment was a bitter taste in her mouth.
’How far we’ve fallen.’ She thought. It wasn’t the first time.
’Our branch has become synonymous with weak talk and even weaker strength. A disciple who cannot withstand even the Core Test was the best we could choose after Mei Li...’
’What future will we have?’ Her cold gaze then settled for a moment on Mei Li, her other participant and the one she placed her hopes on. The girl was intelligent, but would it be enough?
Dong Zhen, standing motionless at the center, seemed to catch the frustration in the air. Without a word, he extended his hand and touched the formation around the pulsating core once more, but this time with a specific sequence of fingers.
A subterranean tremor ran through the courtyard. The red veins in the black stone floor glowed intensely, as if blood rushed through them at full speed.
Then, with a low and continuous sound of stones rearranging, the courtyard itself began to transform.
The rows of spectator seats that had previously been arranged simply slid backward and upward, forming a circular, sloped grandstand that completely surrounded the central area.
The floor in the center sank slightly and expanded, becoming a perfectly circular arena at least fifty meters in diameter, its black stone surface now marked with a complex and gigantic crimson griffin. The symbol of the Blood Court.
The altar with the blood core remained on one side, but now on an elevated platform, where Dong Zhen and the five leaders repositioned themselves.
It was a natural platform, isolated, with a privileged view of the arena below. The transformation took less than a minute, revealing the living and adaptable nature of the fortress itself.
The silence that followed was one of respect and a hint of fear. Many of the young disciples had never seen anything like it.
Dong Zhen looked down at the ten remaining participants, who were now gathered at the edge of the large arena.
"The second phase of the Five-Year Tournament of the Branches begins now." His voice, amplified by Qi, filled the space without echo.
"The rules are the same. Simple and direct. The fight ends with a clear verbal surrender or incapacitation to continue fighting."
"Killing the opponent, intentionally, will result in severe punishment."
The final sentence hung in the air, heavy and unadorned. None of the youths moved.
"I, Dong Zhen, will be the sole referee. My judgment is final. There will be no intervention unless I declare it."
"The only forbidden weapons are spiritual treasures and life-saving treasures."
"Other than that, use what you have. And show why your branch deserves the resources of the next five years. Show that you deserve the name of the Blood Court."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the ten.
"The drawing will determine the five matches of the first round."
An obsidian urn was brought. Dong Zhen reached inside and withdrew the first name.
"First match. Bai Zhu, Military Force Branch."
The giant young man smiled, his teeth seeming sharper under the crimson light.
The second name was drawn.
"Against Lin Mo, of the Resource Collection Branch."
The thin young man, whose face still showed hints of someone who did not like hearing who his opponent was, swallowed hard. His fingers trembled as they touched the saber hanging at his waist.
The other pairs were announced quickly, but every eye remained on the first.
Many believed it would be the most unbalanced fight on paper, many already knew their names. And all wanted to see the gulf in power in practice.
"Participants of the first match, enter the arena." Ordered Dong Zhen.
Bai Zhu entered with long, heavy strides, each step echoing solidly. He stopped at the center, crossed his arms, and waited.
A mountain of muscle and confidence.
Lin Mo entered as if walking toward an execution. He positioned himself ten meters away, unsheathing his saber. The blade tip glimmered faintly.
"Begin." Said Dong Zhen, without raising his voice.
Lin Mo knew his only chance was an immediate all-out attack.
He shouted, a cry meant to drown out the fear, and channeled all his Qi into his strongest battle technique.
His blood Qi, cultivated through his branch’s cultivation technique, was fully utilized, it surged through his channels. A dull, heavy red energy that enveloped the saber.
"Cutting Blood Blade!" He screamed, charging forward in a desperate rush.
The saber, now wrapped in vibrant red energy, sliced through the air in a deadly arc meant to split Bai Zhu from shoulder to waist. It was a powerful attack for his cultivation level, one that would make many want to dodge or retreat.
In the stands, some elders of the Military Branch nodded with silent approval. The technique was decent. But their eyes were on Bai Zhu.
Bai Zhu did not retreat. Did not dodge. He turned his body slightly and, with a movement that was both disdainful and economical, launched his left fist directly against the Qi-drenched arc of the blade.
"Idiot!" Someone whispered in the crowd, seeing that.
’BANG!’
The impact did not sound like metal against flesh, but like a hammer striking a stone bell.
The dull red energy of the Cutting Blood Blade shattered like glass under the force of the blow.
The metal saber itself let out a sharp screech and was thrown backward, almost flying from Lin Mo’s hands.
But what drew everyone’s attention was Bai Zhu’s arm.
At the instant of impact, beneath his skin, something pulsed. Veins grotesquely enlarged, the color of coagulated blood, and as thick as small cords, became visible, rising from his fist through his entire arm, neck, and forehead.
They did not look like part of a human body, they looked like conduits of raw power, filled with a dark substance that pulsed rapidly with a life of its own.
"The Blood-Iron Body of the Military Branch..." Commented the leader of the Shadow Branch with a neutral voice.