I Am Supreme

A drawn-out wail of the sword rang out, like the cry of a dragon hurtling through the sky. Moreover, everyone could hear the distinct sense of victory from the sword’s cry. Yet, the autumnal chill grew increasingly piercing.

Luo Dajiang took seven staggering steps back in the ring, his face pale. There was a slash that extended from his left chest to his right lower abdomen. Luckily, it was only a gash to his clothes and did not actually reach his skin. It was apparent that Shi Wuchen had held back, the fight fierce, but not life-threatening.

“I’ve lost.”

Luo Dajiang stood up straight, a reverential expression on his face.

“Shi Wuchen, your swordsmanship has gone to the level where your heart and the sword has become one. I willingly admit defeat. The Second Supreme of the Residence of Nine Supremes, the Supreme Sword – the title belongs to you legitimately. I acknowledge my loss sincerely.”

A smile broke out on Shi Wuchen’s countenance.

“You’re too polite. I’ve just found only an inkling to the path. Still, I’m surprised by your current standard as well, Dajiang… I don’t even have the strength to stand now – if my last attack had missed, the one who surrenders in compliant defeat would have been me.”

As he spoke, Shi Wuchen stumbled. It was not in jest, as his legs looked like they were giving up on him. Sweat poured from his head and his body. It was after the battle ended that sweat began to ooze out from him. His face looked so drained of color that even his eyes seemed to be losing focus.

Be it Shi Wuchen or Luo Dajiang, they had given this match their all!

The other eight members of the Demiurge-Flawed Ten who watched from the side looked serious; no one doubted Shi Wuchen’s victory. The second standing in the Residence of Nine Supremes and the title of Supreme Sword were deservingly his; he lived up to the name!

Shi Wuchen and Luo Dajiang were both panting heavily, puddles of sweat growing steadily under their feet.

Yun Yang looked at Shi Wuchen’s genuine grin despite his exhaustion and said, “I think… things aren’t that bad yet.”

“It’s budding, it can’t be ignored,” replied Dong Qitian.

Yun Yang smiled faintly.

“Since the seedling has been discovered so early, it shall be nipped in the bud. No brother in the Residence of Nine Supremes will go astray in their path. With so many brothers by his side, it’ll be our neglect, our mistake, if he’s allowed to continue being wrong when we’ve already given the hint. It won’t be his fault anymore.”

Dong Qitian was stunned by Yun Yang’s words and did not say a thing for some time. He was silent but what he heard incited a tidal wave of emotion within him. He asked himself, ‘Is this what brotherhood means?’

Then, Yun Yang announced out loud, “Now, the Nine Supremes placing match has determined the first standing – it goes to Shi Wuchen! Henceforth, Tri-Autumn Swordsman Shi Wuchen shall be the Residence of Nine Supremes’ Second Supreme, Supreme Sword! Everyone here, do you have any objection?”

The Demiurge-Flawed Ten, aside from Shi Wuchen, actually sighed in unison, replying, “Shi Wuchen is really lucky getting the spot of the Second Supreme. What can we do – Yituo has finally earned his title, well deserving of his fame…”

Angered, Shi Wuchen shouted, “I’ll punish whoever f*cking calls me Yituo again with the sect rules!”

Yun Yang chuckled and prodded, “Brothers, Yituo doesn’t look very good now. I shall emphasize this; he’ll be the legitimate Second Elder Brother tomorrow! Be careful!”

“He’ll be tomorrow” meant that he was still not today!

The other nine men were clever, immediately catching the drift, and sprung up at once. They charged forward in unison, burying Shi Wuchen beneath them swiftly amidst howls and cries. The latter was completely drained after the battles, how could he defend himself against a group of men who were not unlike a pack of wolves? He could only be a puppet, manipulated by the rest.

With a pitiful wail, he was pinned at the bottom. At that very instant, he felt like even his sacks were being pressed, so much so that his tone of voice changed. “I’m going to penalize all of you with the sect rules… Ow… Save me…”

He struggled to ask for help from the bottom of the human avalanche, only to see Yun Yang leap up with a face full of ecstasy and land right on the top…

“Ow!” Shi Wuchen’s eyes rolled back in anguish. It felt like even the last breath of air in his chest had been squeezed out. Other than his leg that was left twitching outside the pile, the rest of his body could no longer move even an inch.

“Hahaha…” Ten people guffawed.

“Yituo’s become the second elder now, we must take our revenge…”

“Who’s afraid of him? We have boss!”

“True!”

“Better not say it. Yituo is Lao Er (second elder in Mandarin)… Yituo Lao Er, Lao Er Yituo (can be slang to mean balls and penis)… This…”

“Hahaha… Ping Xiaoyi, you’re a genius! What a way with words! Good thinking!”

The competition to determine the Supreme placing of the Residence of Nine Supremes finally came to a close.

The boss of the Residence of Nine Supremes was, of course, Supreme Cloud, Yun Yang.

The Second Supreme – Supreme Sword, Shi Wuchen.

The Third Supreme – Supreme Saber, Luo Dajiang.

The Fourth Supreme – Supreme War, Tie Qingcang.

The Fifth Supreme – Supreme Kuang (madness), Ren Qingkuang.

The Sixth Supreme – Supreme Meng (dream), Wu Menghuan.

The Seventh Supreme – Supreme Lan (orchid), Lan Ruojun.

The Eighth Supreme – Supreme Shi (rock), Shi Bujia.

The Ninth Supreme – Supreme Yue (moon), Kong Luoyue.

Demiurge-Flawed Lord Supreme – Guo Nuanyang;

Earth-Bereaved Lord Supreme – Ping Xiaoyi.

Majordomo – Qian Duoduo;

Chief Instructor – Dong Qitian.

At this point, the Residence of Nine Supremes’ top-level administrative structure was complete. The installation of Nine Supremes was concluded while the two Lord Supremes after them were consummated as well.

Supreme Sword, Supreme Saber, Supreme War, Supreme Shi, and Supreme Kuang were under the combative unit; whenever the sect needed to fight, these Supremes, alongside their divisions, were the main frontliners, heading each battle.

Supreme Lan was tasked to collect intelligence, Supreme Meng was responsible for penalties and awards, while Supreme Yue was assigned to sect management and working together with the majordomo.

The Demiurge-Flawed and Earth-Bereaved duo were in charge of matters that could not be handled openly by the school. Once the Demiurge-Flawed and Earth-Bereaved struck, both heaven and earth must be deprived!

Shi Bujia was most probably the one at the most loss in the placing match of the Demiurge-Flawed Ten. His capability paralleled Tie Qingcang’s and was even on par with Luo Dajiang. In spite of this, he had exerted too much after fighting Tie Qingcang that he was unable to keep up in the latter bouts and the advantage was taken by Lan Ruojun.

It was a matter of course that Shi Bujia was rather unhappy about it, but after some jokes, he had let it go.

Just like what Yun Yang had said before the battle, the chronology and pairing of the matches consisted of the aspect of luck. In addition, luck was the majority of a cultivator’s general ability.

Shi Bujia believed in the term ‘no compare, no despair’ anyway. He was the Eighth Supreme but he was still one of the Nine Supremes. He still had Kong Luoyue, Guo Nuanyang, and Ping Xiaoyi after him! Looking at Guo Nuanyang and Ping Xiaoyi who were cheerily contented and unaffected despite not being enlisted as Nine Supremes, what else could he regret about?

Regarding Yun Yang’s assignment, Dong Qitian had only scoffed.

It was too general, too perfunctory, too unspecific… It was child’s play! He had never seen someone managing a sect like this. His identity as the chief instructor was even formalized – this was not what they had agreed on earlier!