I alone am the Honoured One!

569  It begins!

Rei Wian walked through the winding pathways of the sect, the wind tugging at his robes as he soon reached the gates of the sect and stepped into a waiting carriage, its driver bowing respectfully before setting off toward the city. The bustling streets of the city greeted him with a flurry of noise and activity, but Rei Wian paid little attention to the vibrant scene.

The carriage pulled up in front of a well-maintained inn and he stepped down, entering the inn without a word.

Inside, the innkeeper gave him a polite nod, and Rei Wian ascended the wooden stairs, reaching a room at the far end of the corridor.

Once there, he knocked on the door and soon he heard an grumpy old man's voice from inside "Enter."

Rei Wian pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was modest yet elegant, with a faint aroma of tea lingering in the air.

Sitting at a small table was a middle-aged man, his hair streaked with silver, wearing robes that bore the insignia of the Jade Eclipse sect. He sipped his tea leisurely, his eyes lifting to meet Rei Wian's. "So, you're here," the man said, his tone laced with familiarity as he gestured to the pot of tea in front of him. "Tea?" Rei Wian shook his head as he moved to a chair across from the man. "No." The man chuckled, setting his cup down. "Suit yourself." Rei Wian sat down, leaning back slightly, "I was watching Zhao Tian's match earlier."

The man raised an eyebrow, interest flickering in his eyes. "And?"

"He is indeed strong,"

The man's lips curled into a smile, though his eyes narrowed. "Do you think you can defeat him?"

Rei Wian gaze condensed "Not very sure.. since I heard he killed two inner court disciples,.."

The man nodded his head, tapping a finger against the table thoughtfully. "Indeed. And from what I have seen, he's at the same cultivation level as you... the Eighth Stage of Stellar Essence."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping. "If you lack confidence in defeating him, it might be wise to wait until next year's tournament." Rei Wian's fists clenched momentarily before relaxing. "I didn't come here to wait. You know that as well as I do." The man chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But understand this, Wian... if you want to make a name for yourself, to stand out in front of the sect and the Wing Masters, you must win. Anything less will render you invisible in their eyes." Rei Wian looked at him "That's why you are training me.. you shitty Master."

"So you can parade me in front of the other Wing Masters and show off your so-called talented disciple."

The man leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face. "And why shouldn't I? You should be grateful. I found you, saw your potential, and nurtured it." The man's grin widened, unbothered by the accusation. "Exactly. Among the thirteen Wing Masters, my wing is a joke to the others." "That's why I secretly trained you... so I could stand proudly in front of those bastards."

"When you step into that arena and show them what you're capable of, they'll be forced to acknowledge me." "They would fight each other to get you.. but in the end, you would choose me... "

Rei Wian sighed heavily, his voice dropping. "I don't care about your petty rivalries or recognition. All I want is my revenge." The man waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes, I know. You've been saying that ever since I found you. But trust me, boy, your revenge will be all the sweeter if you're standing at the top." "Though I am sure, it will take years to get your revenge."

...

Three more days passed-

*woosh* In his artifact, Zhao Tian is sitting under the blue array, cultivating as the astral energy condenses around him.

Streams of silver and blue light swirled in the air, coalescing into his body as he cultivated, his breathing steady and rhythmic. His white eyelashes fluttered open as a blue glint passed through his eyes "Haa.. quite close to the breakthrough."

Xia Shenyi, who was standing in front of the array to look over him smiled faintly "Your pace is great..."

"Using the Honoured One's cultivation technique, your cultivation speed has improved."

"I can see you are quite close to a breakthrough, so you cultivate that too and you can leave."

"You know how crucial the next stage is Tian, and now you are on the 9th level of the Stellar Essence Stage."

Zhao Tian let out a faint sigh "But today I got finals, so I have to go there first."

Xia Shenyi frowned slightly, "You're choosing the arena over a potential breakthrough?" Zhao Tian shrugged, "I'll finish the fight quickly. Don't worry, it won't take long."

Her gaze softened, though a trace of exasperation lingered. "You have always been confident... sometimes too confident for your own good. Just remember, every opponent is a potential lesson, even the ones you think are beneath you."

"Yes, yes," Zhao Tian stood up, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension in his body and the astral energy dispersed from his body like a gentle breeze, blending back into the array. He stepped closer to her, and his expression softened as he leaned forward, his lips brushing hers in a tender kiss.

Xia Shenyi reciprocated the kiss, softly sucking on his lips, her hands moving up and coming around his neck.

Pulling back her lips a little, she muttered "Don't get carried away. The finals may seem trivial to you, but they're important for your reputation in the sect. Finish it cleanly and come back to cultivate as you are in an important stage right now."

Zhao Tian nodded his head "Mhm, I am leaving, dear..."

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