NABC 024 Fourth Day
024 Fourth Day
024 Fourth Day
The fourth day of the festival had arrived. For me, it was almost the fifth day since I’d been thrown into this world.
An attendant led me through the grand estate manor of the City Governor, Ren Jin. The walk was slow—painfully slow—because the attendant was just a regular mortal, and this place was huge. Every step I took on the polished stone floors echoed softly in the quiet halls.
So why was I here?
Well, Ren Jin had been kind enough to offer me lodging while Elder Lei Fen worked on transposing Gu Jie’s cultivation technique into something she could use at the First Realm. While I wasn’t the type to sit around waiting, I wasn’t about to let my follower deal with her misfortune alone.
I took in the sights along the way, appreciating the absurd wealth on display. The walls were lined with intricate paintings, the wooden pillars had gold-inlaid carvings, and the incense that burned in the corner filled the air with a refined, expensive scent.
Just as I was starting to enjoy the luxurious stroll, a familiar presence appeared beside me.
Fan Shi.
I had already sensed her tailing me for a while thanks to Divine Sense, but now she finally decided to show herself.
“How may I help you, Ms. Fan?” I asked without breaking stride.
She narrowed her eyes. “What is your cultivation realm?”
I sighed. This question again? Did everyone in this world have a realm obsession?
“That’s something I wish to keep to myself.”
Fan Shi studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “I have a match, so please excuse me, Senior.” With that, she turned and walked away.
I finally arrived at the heavy wooden doors guarded by two armored cultivators.
The attendant gave a respectful bow. “We are here, master cultivator.”
The two armored cultivators standing at attention beside the heavy wooden doors gave me a quick once-over before pushing them open. The doors swung inward with a smooth, weighty motion, revealing the opulent VIP box beyond. The scent of fine incense drifted in the air, and the polished wooden floor gleamed under the soft glow of enchanted lanterns.
I stepped inside, taking in my surroundings.
The VIP box was a grand space, far more extravagant than I had expected.
Five seats were arranged in a slight arc, offering an excellent view of the arena below. The center seat belonged to Ren Jin, the City Governor, his regal presence commanding attention even while he sat at ease. To his left was an old man I recalled seeing before—he wore the flowing robes of the Cloud Mist Sect. Further left sat a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and an even sharper aura, likely from the Sword Canopy Sect.
To Ren Jin’s right, there were two seats: one was already occupied by a representative of the Isolation Path Sect, and the other, I assumed, was mine.
I took my seat, quietly observing the people around me.
The man to my right turned toward me and greeted me with a polite bow. “Greetings, Senior, my name is Chang Fan, a disciple of—”
Unfortunately for him, the Elder from Cloud Mist Sect cut him off before he could finish.
“Where is Lei Fen?” the old man grumbled. “It is quite rude of him to leave us here like this. Does watching the next generation bore him so much?”
I suppressed a sigh. Cultivator power plays were such a bullshit thing.
Chang Fan stiffened, his expression caught between fear of offending the Elder and loyalty to his Sect.
I decided to step in before this got unnecessarily tense. “Lei Fen is absent for the simple reason that he is doing a favor for me.”
The Sword Canopy Elder, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. “And you are?”
I relaxed slightly. No way a fight would break out here, right? This was a civilized setting. Surely, these elders wouldn’t be that temperamental. Still, it was best to tread carefully. The way I phrased my answer could make all the difference between satisfying their curiosity and accidentally provoking trouble.
“My name is Da Wei,” I said, keeping my tone even. “I’ve inconvenienced Lord Ren Jin with a certain... debacle outside his walls—”
The Sword Canopy Elder interrupted, “That was you?”
Rude.
I continued smoothly, “Since then, I’ve apologized to his lordship. I am grateful for his hospitality and generosity.”
I could feel the two elders’ gazes boring into me, their qi sense probing at my presence like invisible tendrils.
According to Gu Jie, when qi was used to sense someone, it felt like tiny pinpricks on the skin. I wasn’t feeling anything like that, but—God bless my Perception stat and Divine Sense—they couldn’t have been more obvious.
Her presence was regal, her expression composed like a winter landscape untouched by warmth. She wore pale blue robes embroidered with silver mist patterns, her long, frosty silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her aura was distant, refined, and carried the faint scent of frozen lilies.
I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the others in the VIP box. “So, anyone here wants to do a commentary?”
Silence.
I looked around. Pan Xia, Long Xieren, and Ren Jin were all watching the arena with the serious expressions of seasoned cultivators analyzing a battle of importance.
Even Chang Fan was studying the field with careful eyes.
Damn. I got spoiled by Gu Jie too much.
She would have already started spouting details about the competitors, giving me a helpful breakdown of sects, fighting styles, and notable achievements. But now, I was left with a room full of solemn old men and their scrutiny.
Luckily, Chang Fan was a helpful chap.
He turned to me and asked, “Master Da, what is it you wish to know?”
I gestured to the ice beauty. “I know Fan Shi, but not the other gal.”
Chang Fan gave a knowing nod. “That’s to be expected, Master Da, since you are not from around here.”
Pan Xia leaned back, waving his fan with an air of satisfaction. “She’s our Sect’s pride and treasure, a direct descendant of our noble lineage. Her roots trace back to the Parent Sect of Cloud Mist.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What’s a Parent Sect?”
It was an innocent enough question, one that shouldn’t have raised suspicions. If I was playing the role of a traveler unfamiliar with their customs, this level of ignorance should be forgivable. Still, Pan Xia clicked his tongue in annoyance, clearly displeased at having to explain something so obvious—at least, obvious to them.
Thankfully, Chang Fan was much more accommodating. “Master Da, some Sects expand their influence by establishing branches in different provinces, and in rare cases, even across entire continents. The Parent Sect refers to the original Sect that gives rise to these branches.”
Huh. So something like a franchise, but for cultivators?
Chang Fan continued, “The Cloud Mist Sect has a long and illustrious history, its roots tracing back to the main continent.”
Main continent? That was new. I’d read a fair bit since arriving here, and Gu Jie had shared stories, but I hadn’t come across a proper world map. From what I gathered, Riverfall Continent was just one of many under the dominion of the Empire. If the main continent was being mentioned so casually, that meant there was a larger world beyond what I’d seen so far.
Chang Fan gestured toward the stage. “Jia Yun of Cloud Mist Sect is a rising star, currently at the Second Realm, Sixth Star, Mid Stage.”
I rubbed my chin. “And Fan Shi?”
Chang Fan’s expression turned serious. “Fan Shi is stronger, but... her path is different.”
I glanced down at the arena, where both fighters were already facing each other. Jia Yun stood with an ethereal grace, her pristine white robes edged with silver, contrasting sharply against Fan Shi’s darker, more ominous attire. If Fan Shi was a jade beauty, then Jia Yun was an ice beauty—cold, unapproachable, and untouchable.
Liang Na, the acting referee, stepped forward and raised her hand. The match was about to begin.
I leaned back in my seat.
Fan Shi moved first, stepping forward with a graceful bow, her movements precise and deliberate. "Disciple of the Isolation Path Sect greets Jia Yun of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Jia Yun, in contrast, barely put in any effort. She cupped her fist in return, her expression indifferent, her voice carrying a lazy drawl. “...The same.”
From my seat in the VIP box, I observed them closely. The contrast between the two was striking. Fan Shi exuded a quiet menace, her dark robes blending with the eerie stillness that surrounded her, while Jia Yun stood like an untouchable figure of ice, pristine and unmoved.
Liang Na, standing as the acting referee, gave them both a level look. “The same rules apply as yesterday. The condition of defeat is to be out of bounds, drawing first blood, a call for surrender, or incapacitation.”
The tension in the arena thickened. The crowd, sensing the impending clash, hushed in anticipation.
A moment of silence.
Then—
“Fight.”
Jia Yun didn’t move.
Fan Shi didn’t either.
A subtle but unmistakable pressure radiated between them, neither willing to make the first move.
I narrowed my eyes. This wasn’t just a battle of techniques—it was a battle of will.