After a single swipe of crimson, it was over.
The crowd stood, cultivators and mortals alike gazed with jaws agape.
"How did that sword move on its own?.."
"Is he truly a Core Forming elder?"
"No I recognize that cultivator! He's the Wu family Patriarch. I couldn't tell before but that white hair stands out."
"The one who stopped the Zhang Clan young master?"
"Yes yes! That one."
Within the VIP box Zhang Minghao overheard the crowd and sank further into his seat. He had recognized Wu Tianmo the moment he saw him.
Only this time Wu Tianmo was much stronger.
A tinge of envy radiated from his body until fear overshadowed it, the memories of that night have stalled his cultivation permanently.
His mind was muddy, and his body was now...incomplete. Unless a pill master of profound origin were to arrive, he would likely never progress again.
In a VIP box on the other side of the arena, Chen Jinshi stood grasping the railing, dumbfounded.
He at one point had higher cultivation than the Wu Patriarch, now he was left in the dust.
"How did he progress so quickly... The meridian opening realm? Father told me that you need a spirit treasure or higher to break through. How could this tra...."
He stopped himself,
If this guy is trash then what am I....
Originally he had looked down on Wu Tianmo. A patriarch at the Body Reforging stage? It was a laughable notion.
Yet now.
"Tsk... We're leaving."
He quickly turned and left with those that accompanied him, this needed to be reported to the Chen Patriarch immediately.
At highest box was Manager Qiu beside the niece of the Liu Patriarch.
She was standing motionless in her blue robes, they curved over her body showing a desirable slender figure.
Most of the young masters within the town desired her, first for her beauty, second for her status.
Her eyes were fixated on Wu Tianmo and the head of the tier two wolf next to him.
A smile slowly crept up the sides of her mouth and she giggled.
"How interesting, Uncle Changfeng told me that he would be impressive someday. I never expected this."
She looked at Manager Qiu who looked disgruntled,
"What do you know of him?"
He looked back to her and sighed,
"Benefactor, I can't even be sure he is the same one I met previously. It's unthinkable that a mere early state Body Reforging brat could grow that much so quickly."
She giggled and said plainly,
"Manager Qiu don't forget you're only in the Body Reforging realm as well"
Manager Qiu shook his head, rubbed his brow and cleared his throat.
"Tsk..."
Before he could speak further, Wu Tianmo raised his sword in the air and gave a mighty roar. His voice echoed throughout the arena like a declaration of victory.
The crowd lit up with applause and cheers.
Wu Tianmo felt proud, the snake that was coiled around his arm tightened and gave an approving hiss.
The three within the arena stood back to back. Wu Tianfeng had awoken, his injuries even stopped bleeding.
The mortal looked at Wu Tianfeng amazed,
His body was riddled with wounds, yet after only an hour they had stopped bleeding and started to mend.
Wu Tianfeng felt a hint of envy from his gaze.
The mortal shook his head resigning himself to being a mortal.
"Cultivator's bodies are truly wonderous."
He looked away still slightly aggrieved,
"Tsk... How unfair."
Wu Tianfeng chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder,
"Friend, what should I call you?"
This caused the mortal to pause, he was unsure whether Wu Tianfeng was being serious.
Sure they had fought together in the simulated beast tide but he was only a mortal, generally cultivators looked down on his kind.
He sighed,
"My name is Lin Hanye, and you?"
Wu Tianfeng nodded,
"Wu Clan, Wu Tianfeng."
"Today, we have fought and bled together. If you'll have me I will take you as my younger brother."
The mortal looked at him astonished,
"Me? A mortal... Senior, your jokes are..."
Wu Tianfeng's face was stern,
"You protected my life today I---"
The mortal turned away,
Is this guy serious....?
Manager Qiu's voice echoed above,
"The beast tide has been vanquished! Are you ready for the f--"
Wu Tianfeng looked around to find that Wu Tianmo was missing. He looked up at the highest VIP box where Manager Qiu standing with a figure near behind him.
Wu Tianmo stood close to Manager Qiu, to where the attendees couldn't see his sword pressed against the manager's back.
He whispered,
"There has been enough bloodshed, don't you think?"
Manager Qiu turned his head slightly,
"You dare to raise your sword against me? I tolerated your interruption, what makes you think you can end the festival preemptively--"
He pressed the sword tip into Manager Qiu's back slightly, causing him to bleed.
Manager Qiu grit his teeth,
"You dare?"
Wu Tianmo glared at him,
"I just slaughtered a hundred beasts, and their tier two leader. You think I don't dare?"
Manager Qiu laughed in disbelief,
"A Meridian Opening Realm kid is truly threatening the Black Tower? You frog within a well..."
The sword was pushed in more causing Manager Qiu to yelp.
"What a Wu Patriarch, how grand a Wu Patriarch! Even going against the Black Tower...."
He felt the gold blade going deeper into his back,
"Fine!"
He was about to declare the game over when Wu Tianmo spoke further,
"You will hand Wu Tianfeng and the mortal over to me as a prize. This will be the end of the matter. I won't even trouble you over the spoils."
Wu Tianmo's murderous intent leaked out,
"Release them from their slave brands"
Manager Qiu did some mental calculations within his head and nodded,
"Tsk... As you wish."
He turned to gaze at Wu Tianmo, but he was already gone.
Lingering behind was the smell of blood and a cold chill that penetrated deep within his bones.
He spat on the ground nearby and completed some seals with his hands. The collars along with the Qi fueled slave brands fell from Wu Tianfeng and the mortal's bodies.
Manager Qiu cleared his throat,
"With this victory, I declare the first Slaughter Festival of Heimu Village. Completed!"