Wan Ling settled in a corner of the training ground in silence.
Finding an unoccupied training dummy, he summoned a double edge blade from his storage ring and began slashing at the dummy with incredible precision.
He didn’t use Qi just raw strength and yet each slash left scars deep within the dummy.
Scars that quickly healed themselves because these were no ordinary training dummies but low grade artifacts.
They were built from a special time of wood which when damaged would absorb the Qi in the surrounding to replenish itself.
They were durable enough to take hits up to the Qi refinement stage.
Of course those in the inner court could take even higher.
Right now Wan Ling was trying to himself with the blade.
Even if he was a Cultivator he was no fighter.
As a matter of fact the first time he picked a weapon was his first day in the sect and he had hardly used it since that day.
As for the duel he had been forced into over the years, he hardly got a chance to defend himself before it was over.
Even so as he practiced more and more with the sword swings he was slowly understanding how to use it.
[Fairy Dance]
[Mastery: 1%]
[+10 Comprehension points]
His movement grew more fluid and the complexity of the blade began unraveling with much ease.
He couldn’t perfectly mimic the fairy dance sequence he saw a few days ago but basic sword movement was something he could do.
"Pretty nice!"
Satisfied with himself, he grinned happily and attempted a sword thrust into the dummy but a hand flew out of no way and stopped it with a tight grip.
"Why don’t you give us some attention, Friend?"
A hand wrapped around his neck as a familiar but detestable voice whispered in amusement.
Wan Ling furrowed and lifted his head to find Zhang Hao having caught his sword while Li Wei was so close he could catch his breath.
He looked around some more and noticed He Xue and Chen Yu not far behind.
These four have really gotten on his nerves even since their arrival almost a year ago.
To Wan Ling they were just a bunch of idiots who didn’t have much to do but bully others.
They took pride in going about and messing with the lives of those that caught their eye.
They had once driven a girl so mad she tried to kill them but because of their higher status they got off free while the girl was kicked out the sect.
Power, status and connection.
If you didn’t have any of this in the Cultivation world, then you won’t make it far.
Unfortunately not all who had them deserved it and Wan Ling was certain these four were among them.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly and knocked Li Wei back with his elbow.
"Woah now Senior Ling. We’ve just come to bargain."
Assuming a playful tone, Li Wei leaped back and replied.
"Bargain!" Wan Ling arched his brown, his sword leaving Zhang Hao grip.
The surrounding disciples also took note of the situation and within moments stopped their training to murmur amongst themselves.
"Look, the four are at it again!"
"Hey now that Wan Ling’s back they’ll stop messing with us?"
"Either way it will be entraining to watch."
Whispers spread like wildfire as disciples starved for entertainment or relief they were no longer the targets of the devious four gathered around.
Wan Ling seeing this let out a quiet sigh while the four gave him mocking smiles.
"Not interested!" He quickly declined whatever they were plotting.
Before he had been blinded by emotions and the frustration of trying to prove something but after becoming stronger he realized how stupid that was.
These four were idiots with too much time on their hands.
Why should he indulge them when he could be practicing with his sword or plotting how to get with a powerful woman.
"If you have nothing more to say. Leave you’re wasting my time." He added only for Chen Yu to scoff.
"Wasting you time. Don’t make me laugh, Wan Ling, when you haven’t even made significant progress after a whole decade."
"They can’t sense my growth!"
Wan Ling was less offended and more surprised at how ignorant they were.
Even so he didn’t plan on boasting so he tried walking away but Zhang Hao blocked his path.
Given he was taller he looked down at Wan Ling who was a second away from drawing his sword and cutting him down but alas he decided to toy with these fools.
"I have no plan on taking an unfair bargain so just let me be." He faked being irritated but Li Wei merely chuckled.
"Don’t worry Senior Ling. Us four have seen the error of our ways. So we will make this fair for you."
Even though he tried sounding genuine, no one believed him.
As for Wan Ling, he turned to him intrigued to say the least.
" How so?"
Li Wei, feeling his plan was running smoothly, cracked a smile and placed his arms around Chen Yu’s neck.
" You and Chen Yu will battle without Qi..."
He paused to let his word settle in before his grin widened.
"If you win, the four of us will be at your command but..."
His expression turned sorrowful as if mourning a great loss.
"....if we win, you will leave the sect."
Loud gasps echoed as a commotion erupted.
Many were certain there was no way Wan Ling would agree to such atrocious demands and yet they were proven wrong within seconds.
" Provided this duel is overseen by an arbiter, I will agree."
His voice was calm and casual as another commotion exploded.
"No fucking way!"
"Has he gone mad?"
"I detest Wan Ling as much as the next gal but even this is excessive."
Even the four of them were surprised.
Especially Li Wei who had grown suspicious at why Wan Ling was suddenly being so corporate.
Of course such suspicion was quickly drowned out by envisioning the victory he was certain Chen Yu would obtain.
As for Wan Ling himself, he was already plotting how to use the fools to his advantage because even if they were detestable, they had worth.
Worth he wanted to exploit.
Never one did he think he would lose, that was how confident he was in the Fairy Dance.
A technique he had used just once.