The hour had come, and the battle between brothers was here.
Nangong Xuanhe had decided to change into the robe he had personally bought with the little stones he had after being robbed by Gu Xuanming many times.
Over the month, he was constantly challenging his brother, trying his hardest to be able to stop giving stones, but it didn’t matter.
He would lose over and over.
“I will defeat him.” He threw on a white robe, tied his hair into a ponytail, put on armguards, and slipped a yellow robe on top of it.
His eyes shone with brilliance as he loosened his muscles.
Glancing around, he noticed everyone had their eyes on him.
It was no surprise.
After the things he’s done, no wonder they’re curious if he would win.
Even better, he would be fighting his own brother, the one whom he lived in the shadow of.
The one whom he has been compared to all his life.
The one who made him look like a retard in front of everyone else!
“No more.
I will win!”
At the same time, Gu Xuanming made his way to the arena.
Everyone turned to face him, seeing what he wore.
“Huh, that’s not something for combat, is it?” One of them said.
“I don’t think so.”
“How arrogant of Young Master Xuanming!” Feng Qingwu said with brilliance, acting like a sort of cheerleader.
Gu Xuanming was clad in a layered ensemble of deep black and charcoal robes, giving him a solemn yet dignified appearance.
It was clear the innermost garment was a high-collared black tunic fastened with a row of traditional frog-button clasps down his chest, the fabric smooth and finely tailored.
And over it rested a loose outer robe with exceptionally wide, draping sleeves that hung heavily from his shoulders.
And around his waist, there was a broad black sash reinforced by multiple leather straps and secured with polished black buttons, cinching the otherwise loose robes and lending structure to the outfit.
As he stood in the arena, the wind blew as both brothers stared each other down.
Gu Xuanming was as silent as a statue, his gaze hollow and soulless, while Nangong Xuanhe stood with a fierce expression, one filled with determination and vigor.
“Brother, tell me, what do you think of my power?
I’m sure you’ve noticed just how much I’ve grown!”
Gu Xuanming stared at his brother in silence for a few moments before he spoke.
“And?”
Nangong Xuanhe’s eyes went wide.
“So, you got stronger.
Isn’t that the act of cultivation?
It’s not an achievement, it’s a necessity.
You don’t think I’ll clap for you if you breathe as well, do you?”
“I…” Nangong Xuanhe fell silent.
He wanted to speak against his brother, but he wasn’t sure what to say.
“W-whatever!
I’ll show you just how much I’ve grown and suppress you, brother!”
When Gu Xuanming heard that word, his eye twitched.
Hearing the word suppress had triggered something within Gu Xuanming.
“…is that what you wish?”
Nangong Xuanhe rushed at his brother, intending to use his Xuanhe Series against him.
Even if it only had one move, he was sure it would be a strong start.
“Then you intend to stand in my way?” Gu Xuanming said with a darkness within his voice.
At that moment, Nangong Xuanhe felt like he was naked in the snow, standing before a shadowy figure cloaked in malice.
His breathing became irregular, and he slowed down.
The determination he held on to so dearly slipped from his grasp as he faced his brother.
Gu Xuanming raised his hand once Nangong Xuanhe got closer enough…
Slap!
Gu Xuanming had slapped his own brother in the face, leaving a bright red mark where he hit.
Nangong Xuanhe fell to the ground, landing face-first onto the ground after such an unexpected attack.
“W-what?
Why did I…hesitate?”
He clenched his fist in anger, silently ridiculing himself for faltering at such an important moment.
He quickly got back to his feet and turned around.
“That won’t happen!”
Slam!
He stomped on the ground, lunging at his brother with great speed!
Gu Xuanming blinked, and the strings of fate he could see once more.
This ability didn’t allow him to see his future actions, but seeing those strings on top of what his brother had told him, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Is that my brother saying it or the heavens?
I can’t even see you as a real person, or anyone here, yet you dare stand in my path for freedom?’
‘Regardless of who is speaking, I will crush you!’
He did this during the matches he wasn’t fighting, because in his eyes, it was better to train than watch fights.
Thanks to this, circulating qi was easier than ever before.
Gu Xuanming sidestepped his brother, following up with a powerful punch to his face!
Nangong Xuanhe immediately dropped to the floor, but got right back up.
“Xuanhe Series: Flowing Wind of Ten Flowers!”
He initiated the attack, only this time, he used his bare hands, disappearing from where he stood and throwing his fist towards Gu Xuanming’s chest!
Gu Xuanming had already begun circulating Qiang Qi throughout every inch of his body, strengthening it, and for a brief moment, his body grew larger.
‘Oh?’
A sign of his pushing into his second constellation.
Should he be able to do it, he would be able to do so much more; things that would allow him to execute his plans more flawlessly.
But right now, he was focusing on the present.
He parried his brother’s attack, followed by wrapping his own arm around his brother, locking their arms together.
“W-what is this!?” Nangong Xuanhe asked frantically.
He tried to pull away, but physically, Gu Xuanming was superior in strength.
With cold indifference, he jabbed his brother in the face over and over again.
Each jab carried intense weight; each one was intended to break him.
The audience could feel the weight of each attack, starting to question why Gu Xuanming would do such things to his own brother of all people.
To hurt your brother in sparring, yes, that was fine, but to commit such brutality, most would never dare.
After all, family was important, wasn’t it?
Gu Xuanming stopped after a few more, dropping his brother, who grabbed him by the collar and threw him over himself!
Gu Xuanming landed on his back, quickly standing back up.
However, Nangong Xuanhe had already reached him, tackling him to the edge of the arena, trying to push him out!
“You bastard!
I won’t go down from something as weak as that!” Gu Xuanming was nearing the edge.
“You may have a genius brain, but I have determination!
And with this determination, I will turn this world upside down!”
Gu Xuanming nearly slipped off the edge, but he grabbed Nangong Xuanhe’s neck and lifted him into the air, throwing him away, but not out of the arena.
“Is that your goal?
Or are you delusional enough to think this world will actually listen to you?” Nangong Xuanhe looked at his brother in confusion.
“I’ve done my research.
I may not know everything there is about this world and life itself, but to say you can change this world is foolish.
Everyone desires one thing: to become a star immortal.
Many will remain on the so-called righteous path or fall into the demonic path.”
Gu Xuanming continued as he slowly approached his brother: “At the end of the day, people crave power and resources, resources that are scarce after the end of the Age of Ruina.
People cling to what they have and greedily steal from each other to have just a bit extra.
There are no allies in this world, even for mortals, who cling to cultivators, selling the resources they farmed and mined in exchange for divine gifts like rejuvenated youth and riches.
They are no different, surely you’ve done your research on our own market, no?”
Nangong Xuanhe fell silent.
He didn’t know what to say.
He couldn’t argue back because he knew his brother was right in that statement.
“And yet you believe this world can be changed?
Will the people listen to you?
The social structure of talent already ruins your credibility, yet you expect people to listen.”
His heavy gaze fell onto his brother as he looked down at him from where he stood.
His gaze felt so dark and cold, hollow and lacking any soul behind it.
Nangong Xuanhe felt as if he were being pressed down by the weight of increased gravity, unable to stand.
“You may live the life you desire.
I do not care whether you want to remain with the structure or attempt to unshackle yourself from it, but you will not stand in my way with such an ignorant mind.”
Gu Xuanming grabbed his brother by the head and slammed him to the ground!
He did this repeatedly until blood splattered onto the pavement!
He would lift his head and drop him back down, stepping on his brother’s face directly.
“Gaaaaaaaaah!” He shouted.
Nangong Xuanhe tried to resist and pull his brother’s foot off, but by this point, he had recklessly used up a lot of Qiang Qi, leaving not enough to empower him.
Despite this, he still wanted to win!
Everyone watched in terror as Gu Xuanming brutalized his own brother, beating him over and over.
He stomped on his arm, breaking it, he kicked him in the head, cracking his skull, and he stepped on his knee, snapping it!
By this point, Nangong Xuanhe was on the verge of losing consciousness, trying to stand in spite of his injuries.
Yet even then, Gu Xuanming did not stop.
“Enough!” A shout cut through the violence and blood, and someone was walking close to the arena.
All who laid eyes on him immediately gulped at his fear, some bowing their heads, even while sitting in respect.
It was Gu Chenyin.
He stopped before the arena, meeting Gu Xuanming eye to eye.
You are a genius, are you not?
You are level-headed, are you not?
Do not throw away the face you’ve earned for something as trivial as a sibling rivalry.” He spoke with a stern voice, cutting through the faint malice to Gu Xuanming’s heart.
“…”
Gu Xuanming looked down at his brother one last time, reeling back his fist and knocking him out.
After that, he looked at the sect master, who gulped.
“The winner is Gu Xuanming!”
“The examination is over!
Everyone is free to leave!”
…
A few hours after the tournament, the participants lined up before the inner sect elders.
Madame, a tall woman whose silver hair is held up high with multiple hair sticks and horns made of the silver hair, clad in multi-layered robes, with a delicate frame.
The Sword Demon, a middle-aged man whose long black hair was tied into a ponytail, with black attire.
And the Mad Doctor, his dark brown hair tied into a bun and his bangs split into a middle part, curving away from his face.
His eyes were a lazy green behind the glasses he fixed.
And just like a doctor, he wore a white mubok with a green collar over a white inner layer that extended to his palms.
Xu Changfeng, Luo Jingyuan, and Mu Lingfeng were also standing by since they were the previous masters of these students, well, only for some at least.
Gu Xuanming glanced at Nangong Xuanhe, who flinched just from the gaze of his brother.
Madame was the first to choose, pointing her finger towards Zhao Changsheng.
“Hmph, naturally, I want the most talented one here.
Even if you lost, that can be refined.
You merely lacked the martial skill, which is something your A-grade talent doesn’t measure.
However, I expect perfection.
Do you understand?”
Zhao Cangsheng bowed to her, his palm and fist brought together.
I understand, Master Madame.”
“Good.
Now come to me.
I desire no one else.”
Madame walked away with Zhao Cangsheng.
You waved goodbye to his fellow disciples as he became an inner disciple.
The next was the Sword God, who immediately pointed to Nangong Xuanhe, to the shock of everyone present.
They had thought he would choose Gu Xuanming, so to see him choose the C-grade was nothing short of an anomaly.
“His determination and abnormal existence intrigues me.” He grabbed Nangong Xuanhe by the collar.
“With enough training, I will make you a fine warrior.
Tell me, are you willing to become my disciple?”
“Y-yes!
I will follow you, Master Sword God!” He said with excitement and uncontrollable happiness in his words.
“Good.” He pulled him along, leaving only the mad doctor.
Immediately, he pointed to Gu Xuanming.
“Thank goodness.
I’m glad no one chose you.
After hearing about your desire to go down the Refinement path, I couldn’t just let you go.
I, too, once desired to go down that path, but unfortunately, I simply didn’t have what it takes.
But you, I can tell you, intend to follow it no matter what.
If I can successfully place you on that path, you will become nearly unstoppable.
Tell me, do you accept my request?”
Gu Xuanming looked at the Mad Doctor dead in his eyes before bowing to him.
“Yes, I shall follow you, Master Mad Doctor.”
In his head, he was thinking about how great this was.
‘Perfect.
I’ve heard the Mad Doctor has valuable information on meridians, the primeval galaxy, as well as alchemy.
That will be incredibly useful.’
While Xu Changfeng and Mu Lingfeng both remained professional, Luo Jingyuan was scheming in his head.
He wasn’t able to make Gu Xuanming commit any demonic act as far as he was aware during the month, but when one becomes an inner disciple, they have much more free time compared to an outer disciple.
Their buildings were also much further into the large forest that surrounded Gue Ming village compared to the outer disciples.
This meant they could train in even greater seclusion, but it also meant he could exploit such seclusion to manipulate Gu Xuanming without being seen.
Gu Xuanming followed the Mad Doctor, leaving the ones who lost crying, failing to prove their worth.
While yes, they could still graduate even without becoming inner disciples, it was still a deep scar in their minds, a gash that left them feeling worthless.
In the end, Gu Xuanming was now left with a new place to go as well as inching ever closer to finding the Liquor Poison Monk’s inheritance.