[RSM] Chapter 98. Tour III (Patreon)

Those from the Verdant Snow moved with relatively close distance to each other, never too far, and not too close, either. 

Each battle between cultivators is a gamble. 

Is the prize worth it? Is the battle hard? Will the battle leave me injured that others can take advantage of me?

It is a fact not unknown to the competitors of the Verdant Snow, and for the two core disciples, the key strategy was essentially simple.

They may not win if they were attacked by strong fifth-realmers, but they were going to make the battle so painful and long that they would be vulnerable to the other fifth realmers of the other Great Challenger Sects. These competitors would be able to make that calculation and weigh the trade offs in their heads, and realize it is not worth pursuing their relatively modest prize. 

It was also a painful, sobering reminder of life as mortals. That the powerful ignore them because it isn't worth the trouble from others who do care for more idealistic things such as laws and social order. That even trivial offenses can be used as a cause for others to give them trouble.

"Will they be alright?" Anna asked. 

"We don't know." Yavin answered.

The Wartigers were now harder to find. Much, much harder, and now the attention of the top competitors, those of the Great Challenger Sects moved to those around them. 

Who could they steal from? Easily? 

It was a common occurrence in the past, so entirely predictable. Many of the weaker competitors quickly formed groups to guard their share, but even they were looking to steal from each other. 

The competitors calculated and weighed their risks, and Tundra knew that many would want to try their chances on the newbie on the block, since they were an unknown element of the competition.

There were four main Great Challenger Sects participating in this tournament, other than the hosts. 

Naturally, they were the first to test out each other's mettle.

In the deepest parts of the Forest of the Thousand Rainbow Wartigers was a spring of everlasting green. The spiritual energies of the spring was dense, and it is of a strong wood element. This naturally attracted Wartigers and the lesser spiritual beasts that became the Wartiger's prey. 

During competitions, it is one of the many landmarks where encounters often occur.

"I've long wanted to meet the supposed young genius son of the famed alchemist Gurdra Black. It is impressive how you've taken the lead on your home ground." The man held two swords on his back, while his teammates guarded their haul of Wartiger heads.  

Lundar Black didn't even flinch. He was the leader of the White Tiger's delegation. The three major families supposedly rotated the leadership of these competitions between them, and used it as one of the many ways they've competed with each other. "If you are here to fight, make your move."

"Naturally." The man, Candor Greyedge, was not much older than Lundar Black, and was also from the Swaying Sword School. The twin swords shone with spiritual energies and his form blurred into the ephemeral apparitions. 

The battle between the Great Challengers was on.

From afar, Anna wondered whether anyone would take advantage of them, but it was well acknowledged that if they encountered any of the Great Challenger Sects, they would be in trouble.

She looked around the massive viewing gallery, and peeped at what everyone else was paying attention to. 

The battle between the two fifth realms of the Great Challengers flashed on the illusionary formation, their movements so quick that it is hard to make anything out. 

Anna, naturally turned to her father and Elder Yavin for information. "Who is winning, father?"

Tundra sat and shrugged. "It is hard to say. They appear fairly equal so far." 

The Hundred Wings of the Woods, commonly known as the Hundred Wings, a rather esoteric wood-focused cultivation sect with a heavy use of certain insects and worms as spiritual weapons. They are generally famed as a major supply of all sorts of exotic bugs and insects for medical and toxic purposes. 

There is the Bearmound Peak, a strong elementally neutral sect with a heavy focus on combat strength, and also quite well known for their strong leathers and furs industry. . 

There is also the Swaying Sword School, a sword-focused sect that happened to also have a strong sword-manufacturing arm, along with mines and smelters. They are widely seen as the strongest of the Great Challenger Sects, owing to their deep ties to the Slicing Heavens Tower. Perhaps, it is this confidence that gave Candor Greyedge the gusto to challenge Lundar Black to a battle.

Then there is the one perceived as the weakest one of the five present Great Challenger Sects, the Myriad Truths and Flowing Clouds Sect, more commonly referred to as the Trueclouds Sect. They were mostly seen as an academic-focused sect, preferring the comprehension of ancient texts and studying scripture, than the ways of combat. Even so, Father said that their immense depth of knowledge meant their disciples were often capable of countering difficult and stronger opponents with unusual abilities and techniques. 

"Do you have favourites, father? Other than our own."

Tundra sat and found that question interesting. "Politically, it would be dangerous to claim favorites amongst the great pretenders. But I suppose I am rather fond of the Trueclouds Sect. They were one of the first to attempt to reason with me, rather than fight me outright. For that alone, I look at them favorably."

"I don't recall we have ever fought a great challenger sect." Anna said, a little unsure what her father meant. 

Tundra blinked a few times, perhaps, it was a slip of tongue. 

Celestia, who was seated between Anna and Tundra, decided to answer. "It is probably just a dream."

The flashing lights in the screen finally stopped, and Lundar Black stood imperiously, even though his arms were covered in cuts. 

Candor Greyedge's left sword was broken, and he looked like he suffered cuts and bruises throughout his body. Some of his robes were torn by tiger claw-like marks.

"It appears Lord Black's fangs have been well inherited." The clearly defeated man answered. "Let's leave."

Lundar Black frowned, as a spiritual claw cut off the other man's escape. "Did I say you can leave? You came to fight and leave without giving away your share of the prize?"

"Oh?" All I see are two injured warriors that are easy pickings. 

A slender woman covered in a bear-skin robe smiled. "Why not the two of you fight me together, then whoever wins gets all our wartiger heads?"

Candor Greyedge spat a load of saliva on the ground, as somehow he retrieved another new set of swords. "Typical brainless bear behavior. As if that makes sense."

Lundar Black smiled. "The bear walked into the trap."

 The two's insults seemed to work, as the woman's facial expression burned with fury. "Trap? You two were waiting for me to appear?"

"No." Candor answered.

"Yes." Lundar emphasized. "We were discussing it while fighting."

Candor looked absolutely offended. "As if I would scheme with someone like you!"

Lundar Black shrugged. "Exactly why it would be a good scheme."

Candor stared at the woman. "Do you actually believe this scheming man?"

"I don't, and it doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this, and it will be me." 

***

From afar, Anna could not help but frown at the kind of massive egos that led the five participating Great Challenger Sects. 

Celestia, however, then gave a good tip. "The type of person that they show is what they project outward. Most of these geniuses have to maintain a kind of pride, to ensure that the other sects don't bully them. Don't think too much of how competitors behave in tournaments, a lot of what they show is as much of a show, than actually how they behave back in their sect, but instead, pay attention to those around them. Whether they look calm, worried, anxious, or stressed, and who are the ones stressing them out."

Anna looked at her stepmother and wondered. "How'd you know?"

"I met your father at a tournament. How he behaved during the competition is not how he is behind the scenes. I believe that is true for most geniuses. The world has expectations, and so many of them have to live up to it."

***

The battle between the three great geniuses of the Great Challenger Sects was what almost everyone was paying attention to.

But for the Verdant Snow Sect's competitors, trouble came as expected.

One of the young masters of a fellow mid-sized Sect, the Ivory Blades Sect, happened to be in the low fifth realm, and found it fitting to taunt the Verdant Snow Sect. 

"As it so happens, I am quite lucky to stumble upon the new participants to this tournament." The young master Eran Vorus smiled, his arms spread out as if he was sure of his victory. The man had a signature blade made from the bones and tusks of a Greyskull Mammoth, likely of the fifth or sixth realm. 

Yerra countered. "It is indeed our fortune to encounter young master Vorus, I saw a fifth realm wartiger in that direction. It was too strong for us, and so we left it."

It was a lie. They could tell the young master's intention the moment the Ivory Blade's party blocked their path.

"Oh? Really? Would you be so kind as to lead me to my prey?"

"Unfortunately not. My tracking skills are subpar, but surely an expert like the young master can handle it." Yerra again, tried to defuse the tension and buy some space. But judging from the behavior of the other party, it was of no use. 

***

"Oh no." Anna gasped as she watched the screen. Celestia held her hand. She quickly looked at her father and Yavin for reassurance. "Will they be alright?"

Tundra merely answered. "Have some faith in your fellow brothers and sisters. Their training was not for naught."

***

"I do appreciate that you'd point out another wartiger, but it seems you have quite the haul." The young master declared. 

Yerra and Sam were both at the peak of the 4th realm. In a battle against a 5th realm, they'd have to work together. The rest of the team were a mix of 3rd and lower 4th realms, and they would not be able to contribute in a fight with the young master. Not yet. 

They were perhaps a few years to a decade too early. 

Yerra grinned. "It is but a modest collection, young master Vorus. I believe the young master's collection is superior."

"Superior is superior, but numbers are a quality of their own. And I happen to like to have more. Go!" The young master declared, and the battle was on.

Yerra and Sam knew that they didn't have to 'win'. All they needed to do was make life extremely difficult for the young master, such that other nearby competitors decided it was an opportunity to take advantage of their weakness. 

So, Sam reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a long silver spear, the [Silver Fissure Spear], a treasure rated in the high fifth realm. "Since the young master has sights on our modest harvest, then I must do my best to make it a good show."

***

"Oh?" Tundra looked at Yavin, with a hint of amusement. The preparation of the disciples for the tournament was delegated to the elders, and included the equipment. Tundra certainly was not going to micromanage what equipment each of them chose to bring to the tournament. "I suppose this is your doing?"

Yavin blushed slightly, and tried to explain himself. "I thought they would be underequipped without some of our relics and treasures. Given our recent improved financials, we can afford to be a little exuberant." 

The sect master merely turned to look at Sam's spiritual attacks slam into the young master's protective shield. He was a little thoughtful. "Well, the young master likely has treasures of his own."

Yavin agreed. "He certainly does, but I doubt he would use a treasure on a mid tier sect like ours. It's a trump card, and he'd be a fool to use it against us."

Sam's attacks managed to push the Ivory Blades' disciples away, even if both sides were largely unharmed. 

"Heh. To think a newly joined sect has the means to deploy a fifth realm treasure." The young master clearly wasn't happy, but he was smart enough to know this would be a loss if they pushed. There were other easier prey. 

"In the presence of such illustrious experts and geniuses, how could we come unprepared?" Sam answered. 

"Hmph. Let's go." The young master called the attack off. If they pushed, Sam could likely make them suffer quite a bit of losses. 

Tundra nodded. "Your gambit worked. We'll see if it works some more."

As it turned out, Yerra and Sam then bumped into the Storm Peak's competitors, and so decided to work together. A few of the smaller sects tried to challenge them, but after they traded a few exploratory moves, decided to back off. 

***

Elsewhere, the battle between the three geniuses came to an end, with Lundar Black's heavenly claws overpowering the other two. 

Both Candor Greyedge of the Swaying Swords, and the woman from the Bearmound Peak were defeated. They were injured from the battle, but managed to flee with at least some of their wartiger skulls. 

Lundar Black's lead was now unassailable. 

Still, Yerra and Sam's luck was tested once more.

Because Candor Greyedge, though injured, was well in the fifth realm, wasn't a quitter.

"It is your misfortune to bump into me." Candor Greyedge declared, as he took out two more blades. 

"We have no quarrel with the Swaying Blades." Yerra said. "Surely, there is no need for this."

"We do not. But it is the way of the world that my lessers shall act as stepping stones."

***

Yavin sighed. "How unfortunate. Even if it was me against the young master, it would be quite a challenge." 

"He is wounded." Tundra countered. "The battle with Lundar Black and the Bearmound's mistress did him no favors."

Anna thought the whole thing felt sad. Cultivators, because of the need to prove themselves and earn merit, go to such lengths to step over so many others. Was there a world where cultivators could exist in peace?

No. There probably wasn't.

It was not time to feel thoughts about such things. If she wanted peace, then she must prepare for war. 

But it was at that moment, a huge, unusual explosion occurred. 

***

Tundra's blood boiled the moment he felt the energies of the explosion, as his eyes immediately moved to scan the Forest of the Thousand Rainbow Wartigers. The panic was immediate. 

The source was not one, but three mutant Wartigers, infected by the Zuja parasite. Three powerful mutant wartiger all the way in the high seventh realm mauled the already injured Bearmound mistress, and tore through the rest of the Bearmound's party like they were nothing.

How could they? Most of the party was in the 4th realm, before the might of a 7th realm wartiger, their defenses were for naught.

Only the mistress survived, a powerful protective barrier brought her crucial seconds to activate more defensive items and run. Or at least, attempted to run from a creature two realms above her.

Across the viewing gallery, one of the Great Elders of the Bearmound Peak screamed. "Sect Master Tugra, what madness is this?!"

His power flooded the world temporarily as a mark of his anger. 

But this too, was interrupted by a second series of explosions. This time, it brought down the formation that supplied information to each of the screen formations. The viewing crystals and jades were empty. A blink later, that same Great Elder rushed into the Forest of the Thousand Rainbow Wartigers, and slammed right into the mutant wartiger. 

Tundra sighed. The Zuja must be moving against other sects already. 

Once Tundra understood that Zuja's goal was conflict, it became obvious that they wanted this event to turn into a bloodbath where the Great Challenger Sects have just cause to fight bloody wars against each other. 

Though he could no longer see the Forest through the viewing formations, he still possessed a key advantage that others did not. His exceptional senses for the Zuja's energies, and he could already know what they were after.

The best he should do now is to minimize the bad blood.

He scanned the forest where he could, and there were three of them, and two more were now headed elsewhere. The Wartiger Mutants had keen senses, and could identify the strongest opponents. So, one towards the strongest competitors, and another, towards Candor Greyedge. 

"Yavin, Julia, watch the group. I'll rush in and help." Tundra said. 

Yavin and Julia nodded. Tundra immediately activated his movement abilities, and rushed to help them. 

***

The beast landed right behind Candor Greyedge, and his own protective swords swirled to block the giant mutant wartiger's claws. The world itself seemed to tear from the powerful spiritual claws.

The young heir's swords shattered in a single strike, and the force of the attack sent them all flying. He still cursed anyway. "Madness, where did this crazy kitty come from!"

Yerra and Sam knew this wasn't a good sign, and quickly sent the party fleeing. "Leave the wartiger heads behind!" Sam screamed, and was thankful that the Wartiger clearly had its eyes on the young master of the Swaying Swords. "Run run run!" 

Yerra and Sam both moved. With their abilities, they could likely stop one strike. And only one strike. 

The young master clearly panicked briefly, but quickly regained his footing once he looked around. The giant mutant now eyed him, as if preparing to strike again. 

"Foolish cat. I have enough protective talismans to block you the whole day!" Candor Greyedge taunted and feigned bravery in the face of the wartiger. It was a smart move, because the wartigers often mistake bravery for strength.

At that moment, a few more explosions could be heard, and across the entire forests, some of the collected Red Wartiger heads transformed into new mutant Zuja wartigers. There were dormant parasitic worms hidden in their heads, waiting for their moment.

These were weaker than the three seventh realm mutants, but were still in the fifth realm. Unlike more predictable wartigers, these mutants attempted to consume their contestants.

The elders of the various sects realized they had to intervene.

The giant mutant wartiger called the young master's bluff, and charged. The beast almost struck with a second swipe, but this time the claws did not find flesh or protective talismans. 

They slammed into the hard, steel walls instead.

"Young Master Greyedge, stay behind me. I will buy you time for your elder to arrive." Tundra stood as his steel barrier endured the battering and swiping of the mutant Wartiger. It hissed unnaturally, a series of sounds not meant for the throats of tigers. The wartiger's roar was oppressive, and the lesser cultivators in the vicinity found their hearts shaken, their minds muddled. 

"Ah!" The young master screamed a little improperly, perhaps out of fear. But it was only for a brief second, as another artifact on the young master activated, and his heart stilled. 

The mutant wartiger attempted to break through Tundra's protective barriers, but was for naught. It began to realize it was outmatched and attempted to leave.

But the regressor wasn't going to let the tiger leave and threaten someone else. 

A spiritual chain that resembled a giant chain looped around the wartiger's flesh and pulled it. 

Just in time for the elder of the Swaying Swords to arrive a few breaths later. The elder's fury unleashed on the wartiger and the Great Elder's hurricane blade edges turned the mutant wartiger into dust. 

"Preposterous." The Great Elder of the Swaying Swords was in the eighth realm, and was clearly occupied with something else. The fact that he was delayed was enough of a sign. "To think I'd almost lose my sect master's son at an event under my care. This humble one thanks you, Lord Fox."

Tundra nodded. "I did nothing much but hold the mutant off. There are many more, Great Elder. I believe we should intervene."

"Indeed. Young master, come with me. We have some unruly tigers to hunt."

***