Chapter 73: A Flick of the Finger

Liana stood alone with her blade. Aloof and detached. Like a divine snow lotus from the celestial mountains. She naturally became the focal point of all gazes.

Many in the audience couldn’t tear their eyes away.

Opinions varied on just how talented she was. But there was no dispute about one thing. Her beauty was beyond compare.

She amassed a dedicated following within the sect.

"Go, Liana!"

A disciple’s voice rang out.

One voice led to another. Soon, the cries multiplied like wildfire. The disciples of the Silent Thunder Sect erupted in a deafening roar.

On the high platform.

"Go, Liana!"

Vespera waved her fists. She stood up without a care for decorum as she cheered loudly.

Elder Silas’s lips twitched. What was this?

As an elder overseeing a peak, she had no sense of dignity at all. How utterly improper.

"Go, Liana!"

The elder of Falling Mist Peak shouted even louder.

Silas: "..."

Liana is fighting your disciple, for heaven’s sake.

The high platform descended into lively chaos.

The other factions, big and small, were no exception. They watched with bated breath. After all, many came precisely because of the recent celestial phenomenon.

That radiant light might very well be tied to Liana.

The scene grew slightly unruly.

Opposite her.

A drop of sweat slid down Seraphina’s forehead. Not because the crowd supported Liana, but because of Liana herself.

Gritting her teeth, she spoke up.

"Junior Sister, I would like to add a wager."

"If I win, I ask you to yield Frost-Bite to me."

"If I lose..."

"Agreed."

Before Seraphina could finish stating her terms, a voice as clear as jade striking jade answered.

Liana didn’t even wait to hear what Seraphina would stake in return.

This disregard stoked Seraphina’s irritation.

"Very well. Junior Sister, make your move."

"You first."

For the first time, Liana lifted her gaze to study her opponent.

Seraphina understood this wasn’t courtesy.

It meant that if Liana struck first, Seraphina wouldn’t get a chance to act at all.

How arrogant.

Theo’s scalp tingled as he took a deep breath.

Yes, this was it.

This was exactly the vibe.

"Junior Sister, be careful!"

Seraphina wasted no more words. She unleashed the Serpent Blade Art at its peak. Sending unpredictable, razor-sharp slashes forward, aiming to overwhelm with the sheer force of her Inner Scenery cultivation.

She was angry, but that didn’t mean she underestimated her opponent.

If Frost-Bite acknowledged Liana, her blade arts were undoubtedly superior.

But Seraphina still held advantages. Higher cultivation and far more combat experience.

In that instant, she thought of many things.

How to cut off Liana’s retreat if she dodged. How to press her own rhythm if Liana countered.

But in reality, all her thoughts were unnecessary.

The intricate web of blade light closed in. Sharp enough to grievously wound even someone of the same realm.

Yet a pale hand passed through the deadly dance as if it were nothing.

Amid the ever-shifting combat, it moved as effortlessly as plucking a leaf in one’s own garden.

The Serpent Blade Art halted.

Because the flexible blade was now pinched between two slender, jade-white fingers.

Clang.

A flick of the finger.

The blade recoiled. It grazed its owner’s robes.

A fraction closer, and it would have pierced her chest.

Seraphina stood frozen. Her pupils contracted. Her breath suspended.

She instinctively looked at the girl just a blade’s length away. Those mirror-like eyes remained serene and unreadable.

She held back.

Otherwise, that fraction wouldn’t have existed.

Silence engulfed the arena.

...

The high platform, too, fell into stunned quiet.

They expected Liana to win.

But not like this. Not with such ease.

Against an opponent a full realm above her, she didn’t even draw her blade. Just a wisp of internal energy wrapped around her fingertips.

"That blade of hers... it is called Frost-Bite, right?"

The white-robed youth from the Blazing Jade Forest lost all trace of arrogance.

The scholarly middle-aged man didn’t answer. He merely sighed.

"Every time the sect seems to decline, heaven sends them a prodigy."

As for the elders’ reactions, there was no need to elaborate.

Theo was providing a live commentary.

"This woman... is formidable!"

"Tsk..."

"What are you doing?"

Liana frowned at Theo. He alternated between dramatic whispers and exaggerated gasps, fully immersed in his role.

Theo: "Being a properly shocked bystander."

Liana: "?"

...

After some more tea-drinking, just as Theo was about to excuse himself for a bathroom break, the steward’s voice rang out.

"Next match."

"Arthur of Ruyi Peak versus..."

"Theo of Armory Peak!"

Good news: it was finally his turn.

Bad news: he really needed to go.

Coincidentally, his first match was against an acquaintance.

Sure enough.

The moment the steward announced the names, the crowd’s eyes swiveled toward them. Many filled with scrutiny.

Discussions about Theo were always divisive in the sect.

Some praised him as a righteous and warm-hearted gentleman.

Others claimed his strength fell short. Unworthy of being called one of the twin prodigies alongside Liana.

Haters called him a pretty boy, Vespera’s kept man.

Of course, that last one was pure slander. Any senior disciple knew Vespera was too focused on hoarding metals to afford a pet goldfish, let alone a boy toy.

Regardless, opinions varied.

But one thing was certain. Everyone wanted to see what this true disciple was made of.

Under the weight of countless stares, Theo couldn’t very well announce he needed a bathroom break.

So he stepped onto the stage and said softly.

"Arthur, let us make this quick."

"Sure thing."

Thus.

Arthur, who had just climbed onto the platform, walked straight to the edge.

The moment the steward shouted "Begin!"

He jumped off.

"I forfeit."

Arthur declared without hesitation. As if afraid that delaying even a second would give Theo a chance to strike.

This had to be rigged.

Both of you are at the Body Cleansing realm, and you didn’t even throw a punch? Do you think we are idiots?

Arthur, how could you betray us like this?

Screw you, refund!

Wait, we didn’t pay to watch.

Never mind.

But something was definitely fishy here. Big-time fishy.

The rules didn’t forbid forfeiting, and stepping out of bounds did count as a loss. But this was the first time something so bizarre happened.

With prestigious factions from the province watching, the steward felt this was downright embarrassing. He hurried back to consult the other elders.

"How do we rule this?"

"Should we make them fight again?"

"Look at Arthur. Is there even a point? It is meaningless."

The elders couldn’t reach a consensus.

The steward suddenly had a thought and asked suspiciously.

"Vespera... you didn’t secretly threaten Arthur into forfeiting, did you?"

The elders all turned to her. This was exactly the kind of thing she would do.

"Watch your words!"

"Would I bother threatening a mere junior disciple? Too much trouble."

"Wouldn’t it be easier to just pressure the steward into rigging the match?"

Vespera was furious.

People could question her morals, but doubting her intelligence was downright infuriating.

The elders: "..."

What exactly are you so righteous about?

And so, the steward had no choice but to announce reluctantly.

"Theo wins!"

"Boo..."

A chorus of jeers rose from the audience.

Theo fell silent for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh.

"Arthur, quick to concede, I see. But was this really necessary?"

"I am not stupid."

Arthur shook his head like a rattle-drum.

He remembered it clearly. At the training grounds, a single punch from Theo turned the Abyssal Coral Stone blue. A strike equivalent to the mid Inner Scenery realm.

Fighting Theo? That was just asking for a beating.

By forfeiting now, he could at least conserve his strength for the next match.

If he didn’t, ranking in the sect evaluation would be the least of his worries.

If Theo happened to lose control, Arthur might as well start planning his own funeral feast.

....

Theo was momentarily speechless. He was at a loss for how to refute. He could only respond with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"My thanks for your mercy."

"Many thanks, Theo, for going easy on me."

Arthur let out a relieved sigh.

And so, Armory Peak claimed its first victory.

The match was supposed to showcase skill and foster camaraderie. But to the spectators, it seemed like nothing but camaraderie.

Among the inner disciples, murmurs arose.

"There is definitely something fishy going on here!"

"I know Arthur. He is the type to fight a late-stage demon beast during sect trials without flinching."

"Something is off. Ten out of ten, something is not right."

Amid the buzzing discussions of the inner disciples, Gael’s gaze turned icy as he watched Theo descend leisurely from the stage.

Gael was a senior disciple of Beast Taming Peak. Ever since the rogue cultivator Vargas was killed in the capital, Gael had harbored a grudge. Vargas was a distant relative, and Gael suspected Theo’s involvement in his demise.

"Senior Brother Gael, it is your turn," a fellow disciple reminded him.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Gael stepped onto the stage.

His opponent was a core disciple at the Inner Scenery realm.

Though Gael’s displayed cultivation was also at the Inner Scenery realm, he was far older. His martial foundation was far more solid.

The battle raged fiercely. Neither side yielded. Until Gael emerged victorious.

Yet, instead of retracting his aura, his sharp eyes swept over Theo like blades. His hostility and challenge were unmistakable.

Seeing Gael’s demeanor, Theo actually felt relieved.

At least he wouldn’t have to worry about lacking opponents.

If every match ended with his opponent jumping off the stage to concede, this sect evaluation would be utterly pointless.

Of course, surely he wouldn’t face conceding opponents in every match, right?

...

The more you dread something happening, the more likely it becomes.

Next match.

On the stage, two familiar faces stood in silence.

"Theo."

Kaelen smiled sheepishly at him.

Theo: "..."

He shot a suspicious glance at the steward who was in charge of the draw.

The steward took a subtle breath, equally puzzled. How had he managed to draw another of this kid’s acquaintances?

Kaelen was also a rising star in the Silent Thunder Sect.

Though only at the Body Cleansing realm, his dormant Berserker bloodline and refined body-tempering techniques allowed him to defeat several higher-ranked opponents.

By all accounts, he was stronger than Arthur.

With a bit of luck, he could even make it to the top sixteen.

On the elevated platform.

"Kaelen. The prodigy of the Valerius family."

"Surely he will give this match his all?"

A white-robed young master from the Blazing Jade Forest watched Kaelen with both admiration and competitive fire.

He believed the title of top regional prodigy should rightfully be his.

Over at the Crimson Whale Syndicate, the Blood-Robed Youth remained silent. His eyes had narrowed.

Like Liana, he couldn’t gauge the depths of Theo’s strength.

"Elder Silas, what do you think?"

The steward’s question drew the attention of the other elders toward the Armory Peak elder.

As everyone knew, Elder Silas was rigid, stubborn, and above any form of match-fixing.

So this duel had to be fair.

Yet, to their surprise, Silas shook his head.

"Kaelen is no match for Theo."

His admission was blunt.

The elders were stunned.

As Kaelen’s master, Silas surely knew his disciple’s capabilities. Yet he didn’t hesitate to declare his defeat?

That could only mean one thing.

Theo possessed strength even Silas acknowledged.

"Seems my peak’s sole disciple might just surprise us all," Vespera chuckled, turning her gaze to the arena.

However, the steward’s voice soon rang out.

"Kaelen concedes."

"Theo, victorious!"

This time, the elders didn’t comment. Their expressions were thoughtful.

But the spectators, both sect disciples and outsiders, were baffled.

A wave of exclamations erupted.

"Huh? Kaelen conceded too?"

"Did you hear how he called him by his first name? Must be letting him win out of friendship."

"Are the elders not going to intervene?"

"Rumor has it Theo’s connections run deep, but this is ridiculous. Using social clout to reach the top thirty-two?"

"If there is match-fixing, the steward would know. Bet he has money on this."

Amid the growing skepticism, Theo took a deep breath.

"Kaelen, you—"

"Theo, you broke through again, didn’t you? I am afraid you might not hold back."

Kaelen shuddered, recalling Theo’s display in the training hall.

He had thought an earthquake struck.

"At least give me a few moves for appearances’ sake," Theo sighed.

"But I still want to aim for the top sixteen," Kaelen muttered, aggrieved.

That Abyssal Coral Stone had been discolored from a single punch.

Theo hadn’t even used a martial technique. A simple strike packed the force of an Inner Scenery expert.

Now that he broke through? No chance.

Theo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Three matches in. Top thirty-two. Without lifting a finger.

Call it networking? Not exactly.

Where was the justice in this?

...

The morning matches concluded with the steward’s announcement of a break.

Two more rounds followed, whittling the top thirty-two down to the final eight.

Those who emerged were exceptional. Each with unique strengths, showcasing abilities that made this year’s tournament highly competitive.

Among them were veterans like Gael, whose combat experience was vast.

There were also prodigies like Kaelen.

And then there was Liana.

Dominating every match with absolute superiority. Ending fights in moments.

Though someone had been even faster.

Namely, a socially gifted Armory Peak disciple who hadn’t thrown a single punch yet.

Regardless, the afternoon promised thrilling clashes.

...

Main peak dining hall.

Theo, Kaelen, Corey, and Arthur sat together at a table.

Watching the three shovel food into their mouths, Theo sighed.

"Now the whole sect says I am coasting on connections."

"Some even accuse me of match-fixing."

"Any ideas why?"

A full morning of competition. Zero fights.

All this pent-up energy with nowhere to go. It was frustrating.

"Theo, if I fought you, I might not have advanced," Kaelen said awkwardly.

Arthur nodded emphatically, as if he narrowly escaped disaster.

"Theo, the restorative pills probably cannot bring the dead back to life..."

Theo’s lips twitched slightly before he turned to the side.

"Corey, what about you? You are at the Inner Scenery realm. You should at least humor me with a spar, right?"

"Huh?"

Corey, his eye bruised and his nose stuffed with blood-soaked paper, looked dazed.

He pointed at himself with a bandaged hand.

"Me?"

Corey had terrible luck.

He ran into another true disciple at the Inner Scenery realm. They engaged in a real duel. By the end, both were wounded.

He barely scraped out a hard-fought victory. But his right hand was temporarily out of commission from the injuries.