Chapter 988: Man of Straw Turned to Steel

As a matter of fact, if things went according to ordinary cultivation progress, the pupils could probably participate in the battle... after two hundred years.

The Residence of Nine Supremes was undeniably an excellent environment for cultivation. The spiritual Qi was thick, like concentrated gel, as if one could elevate one's cultivation base with every breath - that said, one must have the time required as well!

Based on the current state, the disciples would not be able to pick up their cultivation base in time for the Celestial Luck Banner match half a year later. Furthermore, there were the preliminary rounds in the martial world before qualifying to compete for the flag in the official contest.

All the members of the Residence of Nine Supremes were arduously cultivating, immersed in improving themselves; those as teachers supervised and taught their protégés exhaustively while those as students worked hard to push themselves further...

Yet, droves of people still came knocking on their door for a challenge during such a hectic time!

Outside the mountain gates, a drawn-out howl broke the serenity of the mountains in an alarming manner. The challenger sect had arrived.

"Kong Luoyue, take your disciples along and eliminate one of the challenger schools!"

Shi Wuchen gave the order absently as he sat in his hall. If he had not experienced it personally, he really could not imagine how the Residence of Nine Supremes' unique communication system would work. Upon trying it, he sang praises of its convenience from the bottom of his heart.

He was sitting in his own hall, but his order had already reached Kong Luoyue's hall, not taking any time at all. It was marvelous!

After Shi Wuchen sent his instruction, he had planned to proceed with training his pupils, but he added another line of command after giving it some thought.

"Make it more brutal, more bloody. A battle with a landslide victory won't be able to train them!"

Kong Luoyue, who had received the order, felt his face fall.

F*ck! He would have gone to the Heaven-Demiurge and Earth-Bereaved if he had known earlier that he would have to do everything as the Residence of Nine Supremes' Ninth Supreme! He was basically the first line officer - although he had expected it, he did not expect it to come true so soon. He had not even familiarized himself with the placing yet...

Nevertheless, this was a sect order that had no room for bargaining or doubt. Their leader did not say anything, so Shi Wuchen's words sealed the deal; this was his power as the Second Supreme.

Kong Luoyue walked out in frustration, bringing his ten disciples along.

"Let's go. I shall take you to experience the martial world battle. This will be the first battle since the establishment of the Residence of Nine Supremes. It holds a different meaning, it's not to be taken lightly!"

The eldest among the ten disciples was only fifteen to sixteen years old while the youngest was about seven or eight. They did not recoil in fear nor was their terror reflected among them; instead, all of them tailed Kong Luoyue excitedly.

Would they finally get to witness the martial arts world they had been hearing about?

Outside the sect's gate, the leader of the Black Tiger Sect stood before it, displeased with thirty to forty people of his sect.

'Isn't this Residence of Nine Supremes a little too hugely structured?'

'Isn't it a common practice to receive us once they accept this kind of challenge?'

'Why... why haven't they removed the guarding mountain formation to welcome us inside or even greet us?'

'What does this mean?'

Behind him, shadows lurked in the forest. There were dozens of more people waiting and happily watching the awkward situation that the Black Tiger Sect members were in.

'Yes, do rush forward, thinking you'll be at an advantage!'

'Embarrassed now, aren't you?'

'Hopefully, this Residence of Nine Supremes fights well and defeats the Black Tiger Sect. Otherwise, we'll have to travel and search high and far for the next school...'

Leaders from a few of these sects were already observing the other sects around them maliciously. These other schools were all merits; they were stepping stones to warrant the qualification for the Celestial Luck Banner competition.

When the Residence of Nine Supremes was settled, they would just wipe out the dozen of sects that sent themselves here in one go! They need not wipe out all of them; once ten wins were collected, they would already be eligible to join the banner contest!

This was a golden opportunity not to be lost easily!

Kong Luoyue appeared in front of the mountain gate with a joyless face. He crossed his arms immediately as he spoke, impatience oozing from his very being, "Who's come to challenge the Residence of Nine Supremes? Step forward quickly, I don't have time to waste."

The leader of the Black Tiger Sect took a step forward and said aloud, "I am the Black Tiger Sect's leader, Ge Changtian. Who are you? What position are you in the Residence of Nine Supremes? You must know that I'm the Celestial Luck Banner's..."

"So you're the challenger. Are you fighting or not?" Kong Luoyue asked, still looking unhappy.

Ge Changtian was angered. "Who are you?"

"Have you heard of the Demiurge-Flawed Ten?" Kong Luoyue started lazily.

Ge Changtian was confused.

"I'm Kong Luoyue," said the man, "Serene Soul of Nine Springs, Kong Luoyue, from the Demiurge-Flawed Ten, now the Ninth Supreme in the Residence of Nine Supremes. Understand?"

Ge Changtian was further mystified.

Kong Luoyue jabbed. "Can you understand human language? Decide quickly if you're proceeding with the battle!"

Ge Changtian was still speechless.

His mind felt muddled. Since when had the Demiurge-Flawed Ten become one of the Residence of Nine Supremes?

Springing up and landing a palm strike, Kong Luoyue furiously yelled, "Looks like you really can't understand human language. I'll fight if you don't!"

With a loud bang, blood flowed profusely from Ge Changtian's face as he flew away from the attack's force.

Ge Changtian's cultivation base was on par with Kong Luoyue's cultivation base before the latter achieved a breakthrough; he was the Black Tiger Sect's leader too, most probably more skilled than Kong Luoyue. However, Kong Luoyue had improved tremendously since he had come to the Residence of Nine Supremes and was now far leading in front compared to the former. In addition, his attack was an ambush that Ge Changtian was not prepared for.

The unexpected episode ended with Ge Changtian's surprised cry, for his experience and cultivation base had still allowed him the clarity to shout "Stop him!" as he flew out. Then, his brain finally untangled the knot as he continued angrily, "It's the Bound of Universe's whetstone I see... Take him down!"

Being the leader of a sect, Ge Changtian was equipped with substantial experience. The palm strike just now was enough to tell him that Kong Luoyue's cultivation base was above his own. In spite of it, Kong Luoyue did not lead many people out and by the looks of it, they were all young children with average combat ability. On the other hand, his men were powerful and strong; this was a possible battle.

Nonetheless, Kong Luoyue had come with the goal of making an impression. He would never allow the challenger any room for countering. He wielded the Stealth Marker immediately as he barged into the group of Black Tiger Sect members.

"Pupils, look properly - this, is the martial world!"

The Stealth Marker shot and spun, making soft noises of skin breaking as silhouettes fell one after another, bleeding and shouting in terror.

"Rules? What rules? I am the rules before the gate of the Residence of Nine Supremes!" Kong Luoyue sounded furious.

The Demiurge-Flawed Ten absolutely loathed being called whetstones. Moreover, this man in front of him had called him "Bound of Universe's whetstone"!

...

'Am I born to become the whetstone for everyone in the Bound of Universe?'

'F*ck you!'

'Your father will sharpen you today, grind you away until the extinction of the Black Tiger Sect!'

Kong Luoyue's actual cultivation base was above the strongest combat force of the Black Tiger Sect. His blow that had dealt severe damage to their leader was apparent of it. Now that he brandished the Stealth Marker, his combat force increased further; as he gave it his all, he was unstoppable!

Under Kong Luoyue's merciless attacks, all thirty-six members of the Black Tiger Sect who had come for the challenge this time were laid in pools of blood after an instant.

The result was unexpected!

The Residence of Nine Supremes that was originally the man of straw actually contained such an expert?