Shuren didn't even bother to think. The moment he saw the flying Deviant Beast heading towards him, he used everything in his legs to leave the scene.
Using his staff as leverage, Shuren vaulted himself away. "That Stage 2 is dead meat." Realisation dawned on Shuren as he looked back. "Wait!"
He's not Stage 2, he's Stage 3! He already reached the stage during this exam? Most of all, that beast!
The flying Deviant Beast, a pure white roc, landed with its wings sheltering Tez under it. And in Tez's hand was a slight glow. Shuren thought back to when he last saw Tez running around while mounting another creature.
"Beast subjugation? Not good!" Shuren gripped his staff while churning Qi around his body. This was the only chance he had. Hesitation would be defeat!
In that small gap between the beast landing and causing blasts of wind to bellow across the field, and Shuren landing back on the snow, he acted. Sliding his foot and hips around with his staff in a javelin stance, he aimed right at Tez's chest.
Right now, he still had most of his Qi Reserves after the battle with the prior Deviant Beast. If a Stage 6 had six times the capacity of a Stage 1, then just his Qi Aura was equivalent to the complete reserves of a Stage 2.
He was going to use most of his Qi Aura to boost his next attack!
I just need speed. I'll use over 90%! And with those words, most of his Qi Aura concentrated around his left arm. Right now, his defences were at its lowest.
With the staff now above his shoulder, Shuren did one simple motion. His arm moved forward like a cracking whip.
Tez's outer shoulder burst open like a squashed fruit.
But that was not good enough. Shuren gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath. "Damn it!"
In that one moment, that gap between the beast landing with Tez barely able to figure out how to mount it to retreat, Shuren had already struck Tez.
Tez noticed in the final moment even in the midst of his elation, observing his mount. He barely reacted in time, finally climbing on the roc.
I have to run into a crowd now! I need to grab a weapon! Shuren dashed towards the nearest group of fighters. Perfect to be used as meat shields in the worst-case scenario. He had no doubt the roc would chase him to the ends of the earth.
But the roc would only disappear from the ground, flying straight up to the sky.
Shuren could only stare with frustration. He almost got rid of him in that one blow! With someone controlling a Deviant Beast on their side, the power balance had shifted completely.
While Shuren was in rumination, a spear stabbed towards his torso. He stepped to the side without even shooting a glance, still looking at the sky with contempt while grabbing the pole of the spear. With a single tug, he pushed the assailant right next to him.
"Do I ask that guy Wu Ming to team up with me again? No, there's no guarantee he'd work together." Shuren smacked the spearman in the chin with his fist, taking the weapon for himself. "If I can just get one more hit on him, he'd lose control of it. But that swamp creature he used hadn't appeared, so there's a chance he's still restricted by time."
With the edge of the spear, he stabbed the assailant in the heart.
"There has to be an opening. If not, I'll just have to make one myself."
***
Hidden Quest Complete! Survive an unwinnable battle with Liu Shuren!
Reward: Turtle Shell Qi Manipulation Technique! So long as you stand still, automatically optimise flow of Qi Aura for defence without needing to think!
Tez gasped for air as he crawled on the back of the Vrostin Roc. He couldn't even bother speaking his mind. All he wanted to do was just go a bit closer towards the Vrostin Roc's neck. The searing pain in his shoulder worsened as the icy winds in the sky rammed through his body. It melded together to give him a sharp slicing pain as well.
Luckily, the Rejuvenation Pill still had time before its effects ran out. He just had to continue cycling Qi around his injuries to speed up his regeneration, at least to the point he wouldn't bleed out to death.
Making it towards the neck, Tez collapsed while facing towards the sky. For a minute, he still had to wheeze and gasp for air in a feeble attempt to calm his nerves.
In that moment, he checked the rankings list once more. The screen of clouds once more appeared in front of him, detailing the best of the fighters.
Rank 1. Wu Ming. 4370 points.
Rank 2. Yuang Chen. 3860 points.
Rank 3. Aerestia. 3610 points.
Rank 4. Huang Shi Junyu. 3370 points.
Rank 5. Liu Shuren. 2640 points.
And Rank 10. Tez. 1500 points.
Tez couldn't care less about his ranking right now. What mattered most was the quest he had to complete no matter what, and survive till the end!
"T-too much, he's too much. Instead of running, he still tried his best to kill me in the face of a Deviant Beast! He figured out that quickly I was trying to subjugate it. Damnit, this shitty pain!"
Tez ranted out loud, but he patted the Vrostin Roc to send out its next commands. "Aim for the weakest. Kill seven of them. Be careful and protect yourself."
With a chirp, it acknowledged his command. He had less than four minutes to make the best use of this move.
***
Huang Shi Junyu was surrounded by five people. But that was the least of his problem. He kept one eye on the Deviant Beast circling around above, while fanning his face with a hand. "Interesting. You're all looking at me like I'm some a piece of luscious meat. Am I really that desirable to you lot?"
Yet none dared to take a step forward. After all, only the last person who manages to killing blow would reap all the benefits. They couldn't exactly trust each other, either.
There was a silent stand still.
Junyu started to sweat, as beads poured from his forehead. He even sighed the more sweat caused his robes to cling to his back.
But it wasn't sweat for nervousness or exhaustion.
He raised two metal fans above his shoulders. He had to make this quick. "It seems we are not fated to battle today," he said, bringing confusion to the rest. They still backed up in a defensive stance.
Veins popped out of Junyu's hands, to the point it seemed like his fans would break apart. With a blur of his hands swinging out, they practically did break.
Break into dozens of flying metal feathers.
In that moment, he opened up an opening in the encirclement and ran away, without a speck of his prior grace.
The air got hotter, almost like he was burning in a furnace, so he continued to run. Run far ahead to break himself away from the crowd.
A brilliant breath of blue fire ravaged the snow beneath, charring its prey into well done meat. Those blue flames flew outward as the Deviant Beast flapped its wings, slamming into the ground once more.
With a screech, it continued to claw away to ensure everyone at the scene was dead.
Junyu made his way over a snowy hill, rolling himself down to gather at much distance away as possible. There was absolutely no way he was going to deal with that thing.
Those flames, it incinerated them down to nothing. Even the bones weren't left. This is a demonstration of just one aspect of the Fire Path…
Hearing the shuffling of footsteps in the snow, Junyu regained his composure.
He took out his spare fan from the back of his robes when he saw the person in front. Shuren wielded a spear at his side, observing the Deviant Beast's attack with complete concentration.
"Friend, there's no need for us to fight. Be at ease," Liu Shuren said, with a tone Junyu couldn't tell was of malice or jest. He nocked his spear over as a hidden threat as well.
Junyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Of course, friend, of course. There's no need for us, the strongest in the finale, to waste time with each other. I wholeheartedly believe both you and I would make it as Inner Disciples of the sect." He kept a smile, still unsure of the nature of this person.
"It's good that you understand. Then I'll see you at the sect," Shuren raised his chin as he declared, before heading back towards the Deviant Beast.
Junyu inwardly sighed as he continued to make space between him and the Deviant Beast. It was one thing if it was grounded, but with the advantage of the skies as its realm, it was nigh impossible to deal with.
But when Junyu thought back to Shuren walking towards it, he couldn't help but consider an absurd thought.
Don't tell me that guy's trying to face that thing?!
***
The Vrostin Roc didn't disappoint. Within the next minute, it'd already swooped down below near the ice field, bellowing radiant blue fire below towards a crowd of fighters.
"Please, make it count!" Tez hoped in his heart, as much as he could. Otherwise, his plan would all be for naught.
Ding!
Nice, just three more to go!
Tez tried looking at his shoulder, only to sweat when he even saw a bit of bone sticking out. The blood may have stopped spurting out like a fountain, but it was still a miserable sight.
He looked away, focusing on the reward he'd gained from the System from surviving the bout with Liu Shuren. It didn't sound anything insane from the likes of it. A technique best served if he was being a punching bag. I still don't get why he's an S Grade Threat! It can't even grade stronger cultivators beyond Rank 1. Unless it's grading those who pose the most danger to me within Rank 1?
Tez could only sigh. Feeling the vertigo of the Vrostin Roc swooping down once more, he could only count down until he finished his main mission. The absurd quest of taking out 10% of all fighters in the sect finale. He gradually stood up, using the neck of the beast as support. At the same time, the Vrostin Roc landed deep in the ground, killing the last three fighters with ease. This time, it didn't fly away.
Finally, I did that absurd 100 man quest! Tez held down his excitement for the time being as the screens popped up in his periphery. He had to pay extreme attention for now.
Its crimson eyes once more glared at its prey. Tez could only sweat out of instinct at the site. Why the hell's he already back? There's no way he thinks he can take down a Deviant Beast all on his own!
Liu Shuren stood there with a spear by his side. He was opening his inner robes, sighing as if he was despairing at its tattered state, more so than his own injuries.
Tez could only raise an eyebrow at his action. With a hand held on the Vrostin Roc's neck, he only gave out one command. "Kill him as fast as you can."
The Vrostin Roc roared with battle intent, ready to bite his prey down in a single gulp. But its prey refused to yield, instead taking the first move.
Shuren vaulted off the ground, aiming straight towards the beast's open mouth. Once he was in the shadow of its maw, he sliced to prod the beast.
Qi surged within the thorax of the Vrostin Roc, now glowing with a bright blue. It shut its mouth tightly, killing Shuren in one move, spear and all.
It didn't even need to breathe out its fiery breath. With a swallow, it swallowed its prey with satisfaction.
Killing Shuren instantly.
New Achievement Unlocked! Defeated Your First Young Master!
New Title Unlocked: Kowtow or I'll Cripple You!
Effects: Gain 20% increased stats against young masters and scions of major clans and sects.
Tez could only blink with surprise. This Deviant Beast was really strong. "Arrogant idiot. You thought far too ahead of yourself."
Remembering the absurd amount of points Shuren had, Tez finally cracked in a deep grin. "I should be within top three now! Winning this competition with this bird is actually possible!"
Ordering it to fly high up once more, Tez saw the notifications pop out.
System Complete! Defeated 10% of the sect finale contestants! Reward: Awakening 10 Spiritual Meridians.
Talisoul has been upgraded from Bronze Grade to Iron Grade. Qi absorption and refinement speed has increased by 20%.
New Achievement! Iron Talent Achieved!
Reward: Quest to upgrade Talisbody unlocked!
Tez almost felt like crying. Finally, after all these years, he'd finally gotten rid of his trashy Bronze Grade Talisoul. It was pretty much the most lowest tier in terms of cultivation speed. He could finally see hope, his first true step in becoming an overpowered cultivator in the future!
Not even the pain in his body mattered anymore. Tez raised his arms wide up as he stared at the sky. It had never looked so beautiful in all his life until now. Radiant and blue, devoid of pollution or smoke from nuclear warfare. Even in this cutthroat world, there was still far more beauty to behold.
And even though he held zero belief, habits were hard to let go of from his past life. "Thank God!" He proclaimed, to be relieved in his soul.
Now, he just had to check the new rankings. He should surely be in the top three now!
Rank 8. Tez. 1820 points.
The over 2600 points he expected to grab from Shuren didn't seem to register. Was it some sort of malfunction?
A spear shot out right in front of him, tearing open the skin of the Vrostin Roc.
"Huh."
The Vrostin Roc yelled in pain, flapping its wings in chaotic tandem. Meanwhile, the spear was gone, while two hands grabbed the open wound and tore it wide open.
A bloodied thing crawled out like an abyssal worm.
No, it wasn't a thing. It was human. Human in every single way.
System Recalibrating…
Rescinding Achievement: Defeated Your First Young Master.
Rescinding Title: Kowtow Or I'll Cripple You.
A dead man stood, undying.
Liu Shuren stood on the beast, its blood on his body. He tugged at his now bloodied robe, sighing with disappointment. That was the only thing he was worried about. Like his favourite set of clothes was ruined.
His cold blue eyes stared deep into Tez. In a way, it looked similar to the Vrostin Roc.
The eyes of a predator, looking at its prey.
Updating Threat Level To User.
Threat Level of Liu Shuren has increased to S+.
What is this bullshit! He's not even peak Rank 1!
Tez desperately tried to think of a way to deal with this situation. Now, with the help of his reward, he could think just a tad more clearer.
He still couldn't figure something out, sweat dripping down his forehead. But Shuren posed a question, having heard Tez's own declaration of sheer bliss in his hubris.
"Who is God?"