How! Am I really too late?!
A bead of sweat dripped down the back of Wu Tianmo's neck as he glanced at the full moon above. His chest felt tight and his pace increased with each stride.
Did that pavilion alter my sense of time. Or was I too distracted. These last few days... I haven't been idle, I might have been there much longer than I anticipated.
His eyes narrowed.
I can only hope he is still alive.
---
Black Street Within Heimu Village
---
The street where the slaves are sold and the arena shines brightly. While it's not some grand arena like the major capital cities, it still is quite imposing when compared to the rest of the village.
It was an arena fashioned out of Blackwood, reinforced by some kind of deployed array. Around the edges of the amphitheater there are many rows of descending seats offering a prime view of the events.
Tonight was something special, everyone who was anyone was here for one reason only.
The Slaughter Festival.
This three day event was coming to its conclusion where only one would be left alive.
Wu Tianmo arrived at the black tower where the once tall and imposing door guard was standing watch taking coins for entry.
With Wu Tianmo's advanced cultivation he looked pitifully at the mortal, a flick of his finger could break bone and a slash of his sword could level a house.
Next to the large black tower was the grand arena, an amphitheater of death.
The sounds of cheering mixed with the clash of steel and the roars of mighty beasts could be heard throughout the whole village.
Wu Tianmo's face sunk,
Beasts and men.... is this the final day of the festival?!?
He firmed his resolve and leapt onto the roof of a nearby establishment then made his way to the edge above the rafters of the arena.
Wu Tianmo paused, while he had killed many beasts and even bathed in their blood, what filled the arena was pure death.
A sea of blood flowed carrying the corpses of both man and beast.
Surprisingly there were few still struggling for life.
Yet it wasn't just cultivators that survived, there was even a single mortal standing his ground.
This impressed everyone in the arena, the tenacity of this mortal was truly terrifying.
Wu Tianmo glanced across the battlefield anxiously, even deploying his divine sense to find Wu Tianfeng.
Many of the cultivators viewing the games turned towards him uncomfortably noticing his gaze.
When someone uses their divine sense to scan an area its gaze is felt by those observed, as if a hand was slightly placed on ones shoulder.
Depending on a cultivator's realm, this feeling can be lessened and amplified at will.
Spread throughout the arena were so many bodies, so much death that his divine sense was overwhelmed.
Looking for his one clan member among the hundreds of bodies was equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack.
His blood started to boil, the amount of death mirrored that of major beast tides.
He could only imagine if this was throughout the streets of Heimu, a real beast tide was still to come.
Hundreds of mortals and cultivators were dead within the arena and the crowd roared in excitement.
Most of the viewers were mortals, who watched those they normally deified, fight and die in front of them.
Giving them a sense of superiority that didn't reflect their normal sense of inferiority.
There were even some VIP seats where the larger clans had representatives, all three of the frontier clans, Liu, Chen, and Zhang were present.
In the VIP box for Zhang was the recently removed young master, Zhang Minghao and his uncle Zhang Guolin.
On the opposite side of the arena was another VIP box.
Within were many cultivators covered in green robes, one whom Tianmo vividly remembered .
Chen Jinshi, the young master of the Chen Clan. He was accompanied by a few guards and their elder Chen Baosheng.
In the highest and most luxurious VIP box was the Liu Clan, where within only one cultivator was present accompanied by two mortal masked guards dressed in deep blue robes.
Liu Qinglan, the niece of Liu Changfeng sat eagerly watching the fight, a smile plain across her face. Unlike her passive Patriarch, she cheered anytime blood was shed and warriors died. Laughing manically as warriors were torn apart in front of her.
Wu Tianmo scanned the arena and finally found him, it was Wu Tianfeng.
Drenched in blood, towards the edge of the arena he was back to back with the one remaining mortal. Each of them had a weapon except Wu Tianfeng's sword was broken midway.
Two tier one Silverback Tigers attacked them from each side.
Surprisingly, they worked in a coordinated fashion with Wu Tianfeng blocking the strike and the mortal dealing the killing blow.
The mortal was dressed in rags but wielded a long polearm, he seemed like a normal mortal but every time he slashed with his weapon, a slight green glow coated the blade.
That mortal can use intent?!
This man had to be special, his circumstances were not clear. Wu Tianmo cheered him on within his heart. He wanted his clan member to live.
A full hour went by, only the mortal and Wu Tianfeng were left alive. It was then that the voice of Manager Qiu echoed throughout the stadium.
"How impressive isn't it Heimu Village?!?"
The sounds of cheers mixed with boo's echoed. Yet more boo's than cheers.
This puzzled Wu Tianmo, why would they boo? The mortal and Tianfeng have fought valiantly..
Manager Qiu looked towards the highest VIP box where Liu Qinglan was now standing looking down in disgust.
It was clear she was not happy with the outcome.
She looked down at Tianfeng and the mortal who were leaning against one another back to back, not daring to take their eyes away from the corner gates of the arena.
Manager Qiu yelled, using a vocal technique to amplify his voice,
"Our benefactors, our great VIP's! We now turn to you for the final vote. Have these heroes fought valiantly enough?"
He paused as the crowd echoed their pleasure or displeasure.
Each of the VIP's stood and raised their hand.
There were rules within the Slaughter Festival.
If not enough blood has been spilt then the VIP's, the benefactors could rule for another round.
To allow the event to conclude, a thumbs up would be given. To begin the next round, a thumbs down.
The Black Tower was financially supported by these VIP's and would bend to their will when possible. This would not only gain favors from the wealthy, but this supposed authority would encourage others to spend more to be given this opportunity.
The three clans voted, first and most surprisingly Zhang Minghao gave a thumbs up, voting for the event to conclude.
Zhang Minghao spoke, with a slightly higher pitched voice than normal,
"The event was grand, blood flowed and many died. These valiant warriors who have lived deserve their chance at life."
Chen Jinshi sneered at the surviving mortal, he truly hated their kind.
He was aggrieved that cultivators died while he lived.
Jinshi gave a thumbs down,
"Why don't we see how much farther a mortals determination can go. Tsk.."
The Chen clan elder was of a similar opinion, nodding in approval.
Finally everyone's eyes turned to Liu, this caused Wu Tianmo to sigh in relief.
Thankfully it's the Liu clan they should--- No...
He froze, his eyes fixed on the hand of Liu Changfeng's Niece.
*Badum Badum*
His heart began to pound as his hand instinctually grasped the hilt of his sword. A fury built up within him that even cause little green to awaken from it's slumber.
She gave a thumbs down,
She gave a thumbs down, her eyes were cold, yet full of anticipation,
"Let there be blood."