Chapter 27 - Wanna Ploy Me?

That night Falven took a stroll in the areas surrounding Soaring Hill. He had always loved to walk when emotions surfaced. “I know she’s not her, but I continue to have this feeling… she has the same emerald green eyes, the same caring and elegant attitude. I cannot help it…”.

A figure covered in dark robes sneak-attacked him, slashing a saber at his back. Falven had already been betrayed and caught off-guard once, that event had changed his mindset. Because of his constantly alerted state and his high perception, he could perceive the incoming threat.

The 3 primordial steps quickly activated and the slash didn’t hit any vital body parts. Blood gushed out from his hip, a burning sensation quickly spread.

“Such a quick explosive power. This will be more training for me, show your face!” Falven commanded.

His opponent didn’t utter a single word, instead he kept attacking with murderous intentions. Falven continued eluding the slashes using his primordial steps, while the opponent pursued him with increasing fury. Each slash had explosive power, making the saber quick and frightening.

On the side some disciples were observing the scene “Nurvel Yeath has some skills indeed, he’s reached half success in the 3 + 1 Step technique. He can easily connect the series of steps thanks to the fourth step, don’t giving time to breath to his opponent. Each of his slash is an accurate execution of the Fierce Saber Technique, a huge amount of chi is channeled at once generating an explosive effect”.

“Senior brother, do you really think the core disciple can survive this battle?” “I hope not, but if he does we need to finish him quickly”. The group of disciples evilly smiled. They were all inner sect disciples who aimed at the first 100 ranks. Their chances to enter those coveted spots were quite narrow, although their ranking was close to 100 their potential was still a bit lacking. They joined Kuorn Muy’s faction hoping to receive his support. Mountains Slayer’s direct disciple had promised them rewards in exchange for their help in achieving a higher position in the Sect. Obviously, the new resource draining core disciple was an obstacle for him.

Falven unsheathed Crimson Bloodlust, using his 3 steps and the blade to frustrate the incoming attacks. He knew a group of disciples was eying him, he needed to handle things in a clever way this time. Although his opponent was weaker than him, if they joined the fray the situation would become dangerous.

He continued to elude the enemy offensive, limiting the chi consumption. His quick steps plus a wise and pondered slaying technique allowed him to not receive further injuries, while causing his opponent to consume chi much more quickly than him. After sparring many times under the supervision of the Royal Lord, he had learnt to activate the Slaying Dao Manual techniques at the bare minimum, increasing the efficiency of his energies.

His opponent’s striking pattern was clear, his goal was to prevent Falven from retreating to Soaring Hill, where he could likely enjoy some sort of support. An invisible smirk appeared on Falven’s face. After fainting to rush towards Soaring Hill, he changed direction, running further from it.

“Escape is his only salvation… but running in the ancient trial grounds won’t help him, on the contrary it makes our job easier” Kuorn Muy gloated, while he moved behind the aggressor, followed by the group.

Nurvel Yeath’s explosive steps allowed him to continuously harass the fleeing prey, closing to him every time he tried to run away. His attacks became even fiercer, the feeling of not being able to knock down his enemy after so many attacks was frustrating him.

Attack after attack the duo got closer and closer to the ancient trial grounds. This was an abandoned area of the sect, quite far from the central areas where the dorms, palaces and arenas were located. Soaring Hill could be seen as the border between the two zones. In the past this ground was used to test disciples, then the Heaven Punishment capsized it to remind the sect what its fate could have been. It was now a dead land, nothing could be found here, completely desolate. The perfect place for committing murder, the group thought.

The aggressor was now visibly tired, his saber started losing precision. The disciple understood he had to end this fight as soon as possible, otherwise he would miss the chance to gain rewards from his backer. Another extremely fierce series of slashes unfolded, ravaging the land, threatening Falven’s life.

Thanks to the use of the Asura Law and Crimson Bloodlust the attacks were diverted and while Nurvel was still grasping for air after the huge effort, a victorious smile brightened Falven’s face.

Extreme bloodlust was emitted by the crashing down saber. Crimson Bloodlust was enveloped in endless slaying chi potential, bringing glory to the Slaying Dao Manual. A murderous cry soared from the saber, calling for blood. The slash was unavoidable for Nurvel, who tried to defend raising his saber, but his move was too weak to resist it.

The saber flew away, a fountain of blood gushed out. The disciple neck had been cut, his head was clinging on the side. The body felt on the ground, lifeless.

While the echo of the explosion was still reverberating through the ancient trial grounds, the group enclosed, ready to encircle Falven.

“What’s happening here!” a domineering voice startled the group.

“Roaring Lion!” a girl next to Kuorn Muy exclaimed.

“Senior Brother, are they attacking you?” Gentle Waters arrived, quickly understanding the situation. Falven knew the duo had been training in these forsaken lands, he had suggested them to. This was a perfect ground where battling without worrying about collateral damage. With the presence of his two younger martial brothers the worst outcome could be avoided.

The two youngsters weren’t the only ones to quickly react, though. Soon after a confident voice spoke “Martial brother Fate Destroyer, you have killed again. You’re putting us in a difficult position, although we would like to support you your vicious nature is getting out of control”.

The core disciple Devil Suppressor, followed by some protectors and disciples, showed a heartfelt displeasure.

“Senior brother, he has killed my friend, a rising star of the sect. My martial brothers and I were attracted by the noises of the battle and once arrived we saw Fate Destroyer killing our beloved friend, backed by those two! I demand justice for my martial brother and the sect, his murderous actions cannot go unpunished!” Kuorn Muy stated, hate filled his eyes.

More and more disciples were attracted by the commotion until the elders arrived.

“Junior, you dare killing again! Don’t think that because of your contributions we can fake blindness, you have brought your demise on yourself!” elder Mountains Slayer proclaimed, angrily shouting.

The elder wasn’t really enthusiast to oppose Fate Destroyer, it was evident he already played an important role in the sect, even if it hadn’t been disclosed to the disciples. But his more talented direct disciple, Kuorn Muy, had started a feud with Fate Destroyer and as his master he couldn’t help but backing him up. His goal was to make Kuorn Muy a future pillar of the sect, so that his talentless descendants would have a powerful backer to support them. The elder understood the new core disciple had great potential, his development was fast and his perception extraordinary, he needed to definetly stop his rise, not just hinder it.

“Do you really wanna ploy me?” Falven smirked.