643  It begins

"Seems like fate has something in store for you too, Shen Bao," Old Fu replied.

"I guess so, but not to fret or anything, it"s a several million-person tournaments. I"d be more surprise if we get to meet him, but I"m not too keen on tempting fate."

The people downstairs continued debating between who of the new generation is going to take the t.i.tle of Strongest Under the sun.

Though for me, that t.i.tle is rather vain. It gives nothing but a big old target on one"s back especially since there are cultivators far stronger than whoever would win this t.i.tle.

An ironic t.i.tle it is. Even the one who obtains it will have to bow down not even to the Suns, but to those far below them as they are still several realms stronger.

We soon finished eating, and even more commotion happened in the inn. The busboy spent more time cleaning up blood than he did serving clients. But the mood didn"t get sour in the slightest.

"Even still, it"s rather sad that there are very few cultivators from the vagrant and loose cultivator section. The chances of one of them achieving anything is rather slim," a cultivator next to us said.

Looking at him, he was wearing a set of blue robes and a scholar"s hat. He drank tea as if he was carrying a ceremony, a hand below the cup and the other holding it as if he was carrying a priceless treasure.

His words sounded rather simple but they were directed at me and Old Fu.

He had a group of female cultivators next to him who all had veils on covering their faces, and they all had the symbol of an eclipse.

"Followers of the Cryptic Sun… annoying bunch," Old Fu sent me a divine sense message explaining the situation.

I looked at the scholar and said, "Even the smallest spark can ignite the greatest inferno, and even the humblest of seeds can grow into the mightiest tree. Defying the odds and reaching the heaven is the path of a cultivator, and for you to deny one who is weak such a chance is to act as the emissary of heavens, I would watch my words," I replied to the scholar.

The man" brows rose and he stood up.

Old Fu"s fist clenched, but against all odds, the scholar bowed toward me. "I apologize, I have been proven wrong. You are right. Who am I to deny a man"s chance at reaching the heavens…even the smallest spark can ignite the greatest inferno…and even the humblest seeds can grow into the mightiest trees. I shall take your words to heart," the scholar said as he raised his cup toward me as if taking a toast.

I nodded to the man.

At least he wasn"t b.u.t.thurt or got offended, unlike what many other cultivators would react. He is rather logical.

"Please, could you join our table. It is the least we can do," the scholar said.

There was no malice in his request so we joined in.

"I apologize for speaking out of turn, you seem like a man well versed in Dao," he said.

I shook my head, "I know of the Dao what a frog inside a well would perceive his world to be. We"re all nothing but frogs in a well," I said.

"It takes a man but words to say they know, but it takes a scholar an eternity to know they know nothing," said the scholar.

"Though we strive to grasp the wisdom of the heavens, in the end, we depart this world having gleaned no more than a needle"s worth from the vast sea of knowledge."

"Your words spill of wisdom as if I was next to my master. What is your name fellow cultivator," he asked.

"Call me Shen Mo," I said.

The scholar turned to Old Fu.

"I go by the name Fu, my brother here calls me Old Fu, do the same if it pleases you," he said.

"Brother Shen, and Brother Fu, I go by the name Xuan Zhiwei. it is but fate that we met today, I have learned many things and wish to join you in the upcoming event," he said.

"From the silver bracelet on your arm, you"ll be a spectator," I said.

"Indeed, I do not take too fondly of spilling blood, and would only watch among the spectators, as for brother Shen, seeing your golden bracelet I would a.s.sume you"ll be competing despite the dangers."

"For what is life if it is not fraught with dangers of death and possibilities. Though I join not for the thrill of battle but for a goal of my own," I said.

"A man with a goal is a man with a plan, may you find success to achieving your goal," he said as he raised his cup once more and drank in toast.

"However," he added, "Many lives were spilled needlessly here, it soured my mood and made the liquor more bland. We shall be taking our leave soon, and we hope to meet you soon. Brother Shen, I shall be rooting for you in the podium. As for brother Fu I hope we can be seated next to each other, I have many things to discuss," he said.

"If fate permits it then, however, I don"t think you"ll need to leave right now," I said.

"Why so?" he asked.

I held my arm up, "It already started." I said.

The scholar looked at my bracelet for a second frowning, and before he could even exclaim the bracelet began reacting and s.h.i.+ning.

I smirked at him and funneled my Qi into it starting the teleportation process.

Everyone then realized and all began activating their bracelets.

The tournament had begun and it seems that we"ll all be leaving at the same time.

Soon my whole body was teleported into a ma.s.sive sized arena. Looking around, it seems that we are inside the colosseum itself. And far in the distance the ma.s.sive walls of the amphitheater rose high above with eight pillars that overlooked the entire arena.

Each of the pillars carried a gigantic flag, belonging to one of the eight factions.

and high above us was a floating holographic image of the arena showing the people inside it.

More people were materializing and it was obvious that the arena will not be able to take in the ma.s.sive number of partic.i.p.ants. Yet before things got too crowded, another formation appeared underneath us where cultivators began sinking inside it.

I too was dragged down yet was rather prepared.

After all, the arena itself was definitely not where we"ll start, but definitely where we"ll all finish.

"Well, let"s see how this goes then."