The Ceremony has finally begun, the Heavenly Demon Viren dropped from above before elegantly lands on the top of the podium
This sudden entrance was met with shock and awe from the various students
'Woah!'
'Isn't that the Heavenly Demon Viren?'
'Viren?! The Hokien Butcher?'
Despite the various compliments and praise he received, Viren remains steadfast and stern.
He then bellowed with his voice.
"ATTENTION!"
The voice booms throughout the court, ringing the student's ear as if rupturing them.
"Welcome to the Southern Academy! A place where you learn and cultivate to be a Martial Artist worthy to carry the honor of the South!"
Viren declares with a prideful look, even when it was hidden behind his mask, it was clear what sort of face he was making.
"Here, you will learn about the Real Jianghu and its cunningness, and not only that, but you will also learn the Way of the Worlds. And for those who favor a peaceful path, rest assured that there is a place for you here as well"
Viren added, enticing more students for wanting to get in. Even without his speech, almost everyone in the South wanted to get into the Southern Academy due to the increased chance for them to be accepted inside the Demonic Sect.
Because those who live in the perilous South have no choice but to live under the protection of a Sect, and from the many Sects here in the South, the Demonic Sect was viewed as the safest option.
"And it matters not what your background is, Noble and peasant, Royalty or Former Slave, all is welcomed and no one…"
His declaration was abruptly cut as his eyes suddenly glow in bright red.
"…is discriminated upon…"
He said as he glare upon those with the power of lineage, be it the Mugeon Clan Prince or even the Wu Clan children, all receive his Contemptuous Gaze equally.
To those who comes from such lineage, realization dawned upon them as they cannot abuse their lineage as much as they normally did.
But it seems that both the Demon Princesses and Wu Chen weren't bothered by the fact, instead, they look even more fired up knowing that the rigid social norm of the noble is no longer necessary.
Or at least that's what they think.
"Now! We will begin the ceremony!"
As soon as he said that the entire court was engulfed in a strange blue light with sparking lightning energy from its edge
'What?'
'What is this?'
'What happens?'
The confused and scared voice meld towards each other in a cacophony of confusion and terror, as the engulfing blue light closes in on the courtyard.
The students were becoming increasingly restless
"Nanming? What is this?"
Chen asks, his face is strangely calm, the Demon Princesses is looking nervous for a bit, but the moment they notice Wu Chen calmness, they calmed down as well
"…Mass Teleportation"
Sure enough, the moment the Blue Light vanishes, the entire courtyard was washed in a deafening, booming sound and they were all moved to a large plain with reed all around.
"Welcome!"
A voice echoes through from a man with black trimmed beard and a cascading black hair tied with an ornate Hair-Crown, his imposing form wearing a Hanfu draped with a white cape as he holds down a large, curved sword.
"I am the Lord of Sword! Musashi Gen!"
He introduced himself with prideful smile, some of the students looks in awe and shocked
"Now, this is where you will be tested. Whether or not you will be allowed to join our academy or not!"
He spoke with commanding voice, drawing fear and admiration from the students
"What is the test you ask? Simple"
He then slammed the sword to the ground, immediately the entire air rushed towards all directions as his Aura becomes a barrier naked to the eye, yet the energy was felt all around.
"Wow"
Chen gasp in awe at the barrier that glows in translucent red, casting the plain bellow in an eerie crimson glow.
"…What a powerful barrier!"
A student with a black robe and a glass said as he marvels the barrier.
Energy Barrier, an epitome of an Energy Manipulator technique. Anything that goes inside that isn't allowed by the one who created this Barrier will be detected.
But given the extremity of this one Barrier, it is safe to say that being 'detected' is the least of the intruder worry should they wander inside.
"Now! All of you, kill each other…"
The Lord of Sword said with a cold smile.
For a second, none of the students are willing to fight, either they are caught in hesitation or that the command is so shocking that they fail to realize what was about to happen.
Then—
BLAM
Nanming punch the students close to him, sending him flying before hitting other students and knocking both unconscious.
As if sparking a flame, other students immediately fight each other.
It was mainly the Demonic Sect students who fought as other students were either running away or were too shocked to even move.
As screams and shouts filled the bloodbath, each student tore at each other as if possessed.
Each one is bloodied, hurt and in pain, yet their instinct took over, it's either they die or the other dies.
A Dog fight, it's nothing more than a fight in between crazed children in a landscape bathe in crimson.
Among this Dog is Chen whose face has changed into a cold, unfeeling mask, much like Nanming yet less natural.
He tore through the throat of one of the children just now. As he investigates the scene of Bloodbath, a strange urge grew.
'Ah, I should felt disgust and fear…'
But he remembered the scene of Nanming healing his burned body after the encounter with the Ghost, how his burned cloth reveals a reddened flesh with charred skin and boiling blood as his entire body is covered in smoke.
'But emotion will only get me long enough, I don't want to make others hurt themselves for my incompetence…'
He then choked a girl, her hair is black, and her skin is smooth as her green eyes met him in an asphyxiated plea
But Chen cannot hear her plea, his sense is overwhelmed by impulse as he sees her as a pitiful hare.
Not even a human, just a prey. In this dehumanizing fight, there is still an innocent one who got caught in the ugly cross fighting.
"Don't hate me too much"
He said as he looks at her with cold gaze, not even a slight fear in his face.
Knowing this, the girl stops trying to plea and instead fighting back by grabbing his hand.
"…Pitiful"
She died, with a tear in her eyes
"Pitiful?"
'I guess I am the pitiful one'
He thought as he gazes at his palm, this palm that just takes someone's life.
Strangely, the weight of life is meaningless in front of a purpose. With a goal, every road is possible.
Yet, it doesn't change the fact that he had just killed someone.
The mental power requires for him to brave the psychic impact upon hearing the last breath that the girl draws is…. suffocating for Wu Chen.
'I thought killing is a matter of taking just another thing from someone…who knows—'
Wu Chen looked at his bloodied palm, closing and opening it interchangeably. Feeling the weight of life.
'—That it would be so tiring'
But not all the children are as savage as Chen or Nanming.
In the corner, lies Prince Edward as he cowers in fear.
"Helppppp!"
He screams, his crony. Two burly kids were killed by a girl with golden eyes and black hair
"That's the Demonic Princess Wu Yuen! How could she be here?"
But before he could comprehend, a figure approach, it was Wu Yuen.
"Ahhh"
He pissed his pants in fear as he covered his face
But Wu Yuen continues to approach, she then forced his hands out of his face as she saw his pitiful, fear-stricken face, growling in piss and stain
"Why did you run?"
She said with a cold face
The prince shrieks in terror as he kicks her, trying to push her away, yet his pitiful kick is like a gust of wind for Wu Yuen.
She then grabbed his kicking leg and broke it in one swing of her knee.
"AGHHHH"
The sound of wet and guttural screams permeates from the prince's mouth as he tried to claw on anything, to stifle the pain.
"If you are this pathetic and weak, you should've not mess with my brother and sister"
"W-What are you talking about!"
Prince Edward protest as he desperately tried to get away.
"I'm not messing with the Demonic Princesses Wu Liza and Wu Laizha!"
At his declaration, Wu Yuen smiles turned into a soft, menacing smile
"Of course not, you messed with both Wu Nanming and Wu Chen…"
"What?"
Suddenly, he remembered the boy from the courtyard earlier, the Demonic Princesses called Chen, could it be him. He was screwed.
"I-I didn't know!"
"Of course not! You are just an ignorant foolish bastard after all!"
She then covered her entire hand with Demonic Energy and pierced his chest, his mouth spits bloods as his eyes reddened.
He tries to scream, but the pressure in his chest won't allow it.
'It's unfair… Why?'
Prince Edward looks at beauty not with admiration or perverted desire. He just wanted to live, why is it that he can't live?
'I just wanted to…. Impress you'
No more breath allows itself to enter his lungs, he has stopped breathing.
In the last remaining moments that he has, an image of his father appears once more.
His gaze so cold, unfeeling towards him.
As if he was an unwanted child.
"Father…."
Prince Edward is dead.
Wu Yuen coldly looked over her bloodied fist.
Quietly, she licks it with glee.
Savoring the metallic scent of the blood.
.
.
.
This carnage was all started by this one man, now he sits in his wooden chair, sword in his hand as he looks at the carnage with a grim look.
"…Pitiful, you all are but a mere nourishment for our Sect"
He said, yet his face is covered with ugly sorrow and gloominess uncharacteristically him.
'From the beginning, the Southern Academy is just a guise to strengthen our Sect. How pitiful, you who are not Fiends are sent here to become a manure for our crops.'
He glances over at the Demonic Sect students and with a solemn sigh he mumbles.
"Is strengthening our Sect being enough of a justification for this?'
He sighed once more as he drove the notion away from his mind.
"What am I saying… Everything I did is for this Sect, this too, is for my Sect…."
He thought as he saw Chen killed another student, then he glances over to Nanming
"They could've been just a normal child, just a normal 10 years old playing and laughing but no… This is what they get…"
He thought as he restlessly stomped his knee due to his guilt, but once again, he drives the thought away from his mind, focusing on what's necessary.
"No, its because this World is cruel that we need to be even crueler. All for the longevity of our Sect…"
...
On the other hand, Nanming massacre was abruptly stopped by someone.
He wears a blue robe and uses a sword that he picks up from the ground as he smugly locks his gaze towards Nanming.
Nanming, is on edge, he doesn't have any weapon which means he is at a disadvantage.
"Well, look here! The beautiful war maiden"
He teased while pointing his swords at him, he then twirls the blade around
"Oopss, I misgender you, apologies for that pretty boy"
He taunts, but Nanming just gaze over him coldly, not reacting to any of his provocation
Right now, the main goal is to survive, Nanming knew that much.
But then it struck him, this Reed filled landscape is oddly familiar to him.
"Come on now!"
The swordsman then charged at him, swords in hand as he swings it to his throat, but Nanming dodge at the last second
The swordsman was surprised for a second, but he decided to continue attacking.
But again, Nanming effortlessly dodges it by a hair breadth
"Shit, stop dodging!"
He is getting irritated as his attack becoming increasingly reckless.
But Nanming can't exactly attack him either, until he got a proper weapon.
SHASH
Then an attack connects, it was from another student with a rusted saber
Nanming was hit in his left arm, he limps away while clutching the damaged arm
"Haha! I got a hit!"
Said the Saber man
"Focused! This guy is big deal, we strike him when he is vulnerable!"
The Swordsman then dashed to followed up the Saber man attack, forcing Nanming to retreat further
Nanming then works his brain, he really can't attack without any weapon, and he doesn't know any palm technique.
Then it struck him, this field of Reed is indeed familiar.
'I've been here before…'
Memory of thunder filled reed plain, three swordsmen and… a weird girl?
Nanming tossed his mind aside and sprinted to the east where he was sure about something.
"Get him!"
The Swordsman shouts as the Saber man follows suit
Nanming is still running while clutching his damaged arm, the place where it was hit engulfed in white smoke before he can swing it normally once more.
Then he reaches the place, there is 2 skeletons here, it seems that they have died a couple years ago, and there are 3 weapons here.
A massive Katana like sword, an actual katana and a sword
Nanming grab the sword and unsheathe it, checking its condition.
It's rusty, and it only has a single edge.
But he can't really complain now.
The Swordsman and the Saber man has catches up, they are hyperventilating after the chase.
"No where for you to go now!"
"Wait, he got a weap—"
SLASH
Before the Swordsman can finished his sentence, he felt a sharp pain in his right hand.
It was severed in one strike by Nanming
He squirms in the ground as he clutches his missing appendages while the Saber man is stunned by the sudden action
Nanming on the other hand, already managed to position his blade in the Saber man throat.
In one swift motion, he beheaded him.
SHASH
"Ughhh"
The Swordsman is in pain as he saw Nanming deadpan face, looking at him.
His porcelain face is drenched in blood as his plump lips draw in air, it scorched his lungs a bit.
Then, he swings with practiced ease, ending his life painlessly. Another body
Nanming then glances over at his sword, then at the two skeletal remains, thinking.
'Why is there so much Moon energy—'
He thought as he glances at a weird blue thread, hanging around him, but he dismissed the thought as he quickly rushed to the field to search for Chen.
'Heaven and Earth by my command, all from Clay is my slave'
Nanming heads feel light suddenly, his vision swimming in vortex as his movement becomes sluggish
Nanming is disoriented, he knows someone has put him under a Puppeteer spell, but he cannot counter is soon enough and succumbed to it.
"Where is this?"
Day 1, Students remain: 467
.
.
.
"Quite curious don't you think?"
A lady in a red robe is talking to another woman who wears a weird armor
"What do you think?"
She replies, her purple eyes swept over the bloodbath
"Those fiends are as sick as ever, even after their banishment from the Spirit Realm, they never change"
She said as she clicks her tongue
"I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about that kid"
The lady in red said again as she curiously watches over Nanming projection in an orb-like device
"…I can feel it, he's the one who killed Heidi"
The purple lady said as she rests her hand on the hilt of her Nodachi
"Fufu, to think that he could kill a Higher Spirit. So mysterious, anyway all we have to do is to do what we wish around here right?"
The Red lady said in a playful voice.
"Our contractor is an interesting fellow, he is a Fiend, yet he asks us to mess around with his kin, well, anything to screw over the descendant of the Asura of Contempt is fine by me…"
She said as she glances over to the purple lady
"Indeed, pitiful mortal and their little mind game… Anyway, what about Heidi?"
the purple lady replies
"She will be fine; Kirin will revive her during the Spirit Rise"
The Red Lady responds as she fiddles with her armor.
"…But it bothers me, who is this kid? He had enough power to kill a Divine Spirit and yet we cannot see his Cultivation level"
The Red Lady said as she plays around with the display of Nanming.
"Probably because of his Constitution, no idea what it is yet though"
The Purple Lady commented in a rough tone.
"That is enough evaluation, now it's up to us whether we could use him or not"
The red lady said as she leaves the room, leaving only the purple lady to watch the massacre
"Tch, crazy lady, as if you could control an Asura"
She commented before leaving the place as well
But then, she stopped on track.
"That being said, I do have to get revenge for our dear Thunder Bird Heidi…"
With a flick, a blue strand pierces the orb into Nanming.
"Heaven and Earth by my Command, all from Clay is my Slave"
She said an incantation, a spell to control whoever she desires.
As she gazes upon Nanming's Mind Palace—
'Kill'
"…Damn"
KILL
DEATH
BURN
KILL
KILL
KILL THEM ALL
DEATH
KILL
'I will not become Wrath'
The multitude of voice soon overwhelmed hers, a voice of Wrath and Flame in a landscape of Burnt Forest leaving a trail of Soot.
She clutches her head and soon cancels the Spell. She cannot handle such murderous intent.
"…You're not just as Asura are you?"
She remarks, but then she notices that the sky, the veil separating the Spirit Realm and the Mortal Realm has begun to crack, so she decided to leave.
Otherwise, the Mortal Realm can no longer contain the pressure of a Divine Spirit should she lingers around more.