The final days leading up to the tournament revealed to Ren just how vast the outer sect really was. He thought he had gotten a general idea after living here for six months, but once the tournament grounds were opened, the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect started emerging from their abodes or returning from the outside world with treasures and news.
Most spent a few years to a decade cultivating qi and then advancing to the foundation establishment realm, allowing them entry to the inner sect. The others continued to live within the outer sects for the rest of their slightly longer lives. They performed tasks, gained a little wealth, and found some satisfaction in their lives that prevented them from ever returning to the mortal world. These numbers added up with new hopefuls joining the sect every six months.
The usually scenic yet busy mountains had exploded in energy and activity. It gave the air of a festival, aglow with treasures, items for sale, gambling, and endlessly proliferating rumors. That last market day had been so crowded, with many interested in the influx of new ingredients and discounts in circulation. Ren started fearing he would be lost amongst the endless numbers participating but steeled his resolve, thinking not everyone would be fighting in the tournament.
Ren approached the mountain that held the tournament grounds, joining the flow of eager cultivators all heading in the same direction. Huge sparring platforms dotted the grounds with large pavilions overlooking them all. The lavishly decorated buildings gave off an air of antiquity and power. Beautiful carvings of mystical beasts and popular sword motifs were abundant. Even now there were a few stalls bordering the grounds selling talismans and weapons to the desperate last-minute buyers. Other stalls were for the food and the popular rock carving gambling.
The tournament was divided into two sections: those up to the 6th layer of qi cultivation and those from the 7th to the peak of qi cultivation. The last three months had been good to Zhao Ren, but he hadn’t quite managed to reach the 6th layer. He was pushing up to the limit of the 5th layer but hadn’t quite found a way to cross that barrier like many others in his cohort had. It would be a serious restriction if his aim was to win, but Ren was content with simply testing his limits.
A gong resounded through the fields, easily audible over the roar of the crowd. Everyone stilled and turned to the front of the pavilion where the elders were seated. Ren didn’t recognize very many of them but knew of them from other disciples. The elders who initiated them, Elder Tian Mo and Elder Yun Peng, were seated among them. The one seated in the seat of honor was a beautiful lady who barely looked middle-aged. Ren found out from the whispers around him that she was the vice sect leader.
A voice rang out from the middle of the largest central platform, and Ren turned to the elder addressing them all.
“We shall now begin the Tournament of the Outer Sect! Here is your chance to seize fortune and overturn fate! Bring out your best efforts and advance on the path of cultivation.”
“There will be 4 rounds of melee fighting for each category. The last 4 standing on the field will advance to the next rounds. Those who have entered have been informed of the rules, but let me warn you again. Swords and fists have no eyes, and your life is not guaranteed. However, you are all disciples of the same Heavenly Sword Sect, so treat each other with honor. Let’s begin!”
With a loud roar of excitement from the crowd, the tournament began.
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Ren was assigned to the 3rd group of the melee and had to wait. The first 2 groups would fight simultaneously on separate platforms. Then the 3rd and 4th groups would fight. Following them, the fighters of the next category would climb the stage. He would have a little time to watch the fight before he had to make his way over to the preparatory area.
There were over 100 disciples on each of the vast platforms, despite which there was plenty of room. He had chosen to watch over the 2nd group because that’s where Mei Ling would be fighting. Bao Hua would be fighting in the 4th group, at the same time as him, so he wouldn’t be able to cheer him on.
There were large crowds on all sides eager to see some vicious bloodshed. Ren understood the sentiment. Not much happened on a day-to-day basis in the sect for some, and for others it was a constant cycle of fighting and surviving. Such events served as occasions to blow away all the stress and frustration. Old champions could fall, and new stars of the sect would often emerge from these tournaments. Everyone enjoyed seeing the rise of a hero, but the fall of someone who stood above them was even more appealing to many.
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The referee would be floating above the platform on a flying sword. Ren wasn’t sure exactly how it would all play out, but he couldn’t help but be nervous for his friend. With a loud crack as the signal, battle commenced. Instantly the air was charged with qi of all types, and explosions of techniques and violence surrounded them.
Ren immediately lost sight of Mei Ling, but he saw the general strategy that many followed. Everyone in the middle was fighting to secure an edge while those at the edges blocked them while trying not to be pushed out of bounds. The first few moments were the most brutal fighting, and nearly 40 disciples were eliminated. The referee would whisk away anyone they judged unable to fight and deposit them in an area filled with healers.
Seeing the healers, Ren felt a lot more reassured. There were always stories of injured or weakened cultivators being taken advantage of, and knowing the sect took care of them gave him a good feeling about the sect he had joined. It was in these small ways that the honor of the Heavenly Sword Sect shone through.
As the numbers were whittled down, he finally spotted Mei Ling. Her whirling whip had gathered enough momentum to keep away the opportunistic fighters. Rather than being smashed like an egg on a rock like her, they sought easier opponents. Every now and then Ren could identify a technique, but usually there were either too many or too subtle to tell apart.
There were 30 fighters left by the time he had to leave for his own fight, but Mei Ling was still hanging on. He had made sure to cheer loudly for her but now could only hope she would make it. His nerves were stretched taut in anticipation as he joined the large crowd of the 3rd melee group. Many were older and stronger than him, so he tried to place himself strategically.
His grass blade manual was average, leaning towards a free-flowing offense. It needed more room to show its best, so he stuck to the outer edges of the crowd. After half a stick of time, they were ushered forward.
The wild cheers rang out around them as they climbed onto the stone platforms. In the pavilion overlooking their battleground, he didn’t see the vice sect leader but a few familiar faces exchanging words. “Is that teacher Fan?”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Ren focused. The referee had announced the warnings, and with the loud crack, it began! Ren’s hand went to his hip, and he drew the glimmering bronze blade in a swift move.
His old blade had shown significant signs of wear over the months, and though Ren could have fixed it, he chose to grow a strong sword. He had meticulously grown the Bronze Grass Sword. It was better in every aspect, stronger, sharper, and could channel his qi more smoothly. Grasping his new blade gave a sense of confidence.
He launched into an attack at the disciple closest to him. He needed to defend his spot at the edge of the platform. His years of sword fighting training kept his movements smooth as he clashed blades, neatly deflected, and struck at the opponent’s hip. It was only after his blade had bit deep into their side that he even managed to focus on the girl’s face. But he had no more time, as the next opponent took her place, even as she was evacuated to the side. Ren fought desperately against the older and definitely stronger opponent. His blows were already being pushed back by it, and it was only his skill that kept him in the fight.
He didn’t know how long he had held back the man’s onslaught, but he knew something had to change. In the space between blows, he looked around wildly and made a quick decision. Rather than fight until he was knocked out, he chose to yield his place and leaped diagonally to simultaneously escape his opponent and engage a new one.
Over the next few moments, Ren crossed the field to the adjacent edge and found a new place to hold. Already the frantic rush was slowing down. He dragged in a breath, his chest heaving but his sword arm steady. Now it wasn’t only the ones before him he needed to worry about; it was those at his sides too.
He channeled qi into the point between his eyes on his forehead in accordance with his new qi sensing technique, the Third Eye Sense. It was a technique that enhanced his perception, and he could see qi better. It was extremely useful in many ways, but in a fight, it helped him widen his gaze.
Fighting essentially two opponents now, he focused on holding his ground and only struck when the opportunity presented itself. He was flagging quickly, but he finally managed to dispatch one. His latest opponent looked tired too, so Ren spared a breath to look around. There were fewer than 10 people left! He had almost made it.
Feeling a surge of renewed hope, he put in his all, forcing his breath back into the breathing technique of the Grass Blade Manual. A few more quick slashes, and he twisted and ducked in a sudden maneuver. Losing track of your enemy in a fight was the worst mistake you could make, and his move had him sweeping behind them. They turned to find a sword at their neck and stilled. The next moment they were whisked away.
Ren turned to look for the next opponent only to find three others on the platform. It took him a few moments to realize he had made it! He had advanced to the next round!
