[Vol. 6] Chapter 210: The Aesthetics of Violence
The possibility that Hongyan might be the sister or direct relative of Mr. [Dead Soul] led Violet to draw many connections.
First, during the “training” of Mr. Dead Soul in the St. Bergen Mountains, her teammate, the [Ferryman], had mentioned that he was a "descendant of the Four Saints." At the time, Violet didn’t fully understand what the so-called “Four Saints” referred to, but now it was becoming clearer.
Mr. Dead Soul was a native being of the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. Combined with his and his companions' uniformly gray hair, his identity as a descendant of the Four Saints and his extraordinary regenerative abilities pointed to a highly likely possibility.
He might bear the surname Yuan and is one of the bloodline members of the current Saint's family in the Western Kingdom.
As for Hongyan, who appeared to be his sister. Her real name and true identity...
Violet seemed to have uncovered a very interesting secret. However, she decided not to reveal it just yet.
Subsequently, as Violet had anticipated, Hongyan secured victory with virtually no injuries, advancing to the next round.
Of course, this wasn’t to say that the gap in strength between her and her opponent was truly that large. Rather, the national finals held within the Eastern Kingdom were more of a showcase event.
While still important, losing in a fight only meant losing some rewards. As a result, many participants were reluctant to go all out against powerful opponents in this stage, preferring to reserve their energy and trump cards for the entirely unpredictable ultimate finals.
Thus, the intensity of these matches wasn’t particularly high. Although the rankings determined here held some reference value, they weren’t absolute. After all, for most external warriors, ascending to Spirit Veil Immortal Island and enhancing their own strength was the top priority.
It was a straightforward reasoning. The benefits of breaking through to the [Eternal Life] realm and gaining at least a thousand years of extended lifespan far outweighed the allure of material rewards.
One match after another, decided through random draws, unfolded amid the audience's enthusiastic cheers. Soon, it was Violet’s turn to take the stage.
“Do you want us to accompany you?”
In response to the kind inquiry from the cat-girl, the black-haired girl simply stood up and shook her head.
“It’s just a formality, not like I’m facing some formidable enemy. I’ll be back shortly.”
Murong Yun, who was seated cross-legged on a cushion, meditating with his eyes closed and preparing for his own match, opened his eyes and couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Across the entire tournament, I think only Miss Violet could say something as confident as that. Just a formality? Aren’t you afraid of running into some reclusive master?”
“Ha, I actually hope to meet someone really strong for some fun. Don’t worry, I won’t underestimate anyone… That’s enough talking, I’m off now.”
“Good luck!”
After saying goodbye to her three companions, Violet stepped out, walking along the path designated for contestants, retracing her earlier route.
Before long, the area around her brightened significantly. She had arrived at the outdoor arena where the matches were held.
The moment she stepped into the open, a wave of noise crashed over her.
“Oh wow! Look over there, it’s a young and adorable girl! I’ve never seen clothes with such a unique style before. What culture is this from?”
“Her hair is black! A rare sight. Is she from Origin Realm?”
“She looks no older than fifteen or sixteen. Even younger than that girl named Hongyan from before. Could she be some ancient expert using techniques to stay young?”
“Tch, you’re the ancient one! Want me to punch you?”
Under the bright sunlight streaming through the open roof, the roaring cheers and chatter of tens of thousands of spectators washed over her like waves. It filled every corner of her senses, sight, sound, and even her heart. The excitement in the air ignited her fighting spirit, though she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.
“This is my first time experiencing a scene like this,” she thought to herself.
To be honest, it wasn’t bad.
Even someone as outwardly aloof and inwardly reserved as Violet couldn’t entirely resist the atmosphere. She felt a subtle desire to perform and an urge to give it her all in the upcoming fight.
As the black-haired girl slowly stepped onto the stage, the spotlight followed her, and the announcer’s enthusiastic voice boomed throughout the arena:
“Ladies and gentlemen! The next match features two remarkable contestants. On one side, we have the master of Feihong Temple from Heshan County, the Daoist Xuanmen. An expert known for his mastery of formations and ranked 54th on the [Ancient Spirit Realm Top 100 List]! On the other side, we have the mysterious traveler, Miss Violet!”
“Everyone knows that Xuanmen Daoist is a seasoned veteran and a legendary figure whose strength is beyond question!”
“And while Miss Violet might not be a well-known name, her performance in the first two matches has been nothing short of astonishing. She’s definitely someone to watch!”
“By the way, both of these contestants were top-tier competitors who received automatic advancement in the first round of qualifiers. It’s rare for two powerhouses to face each other this early, so we can expect an intense battle. Stay tuned!”
“Hm?”
Hearing the announcer’s commentary, Violet, who hadn’t paid much attention to her opponent before, finally realized something.
Xuanmen Daoist… wasn’t he the chatterbox she had encountered at the [Heaven-Opening Sect] ruins in the [Endless Wasteland Sea]? So he also ended up joining the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony] after that? Talk about a small world.
Violet glanced at the gray-robed, white-bearded old man walking toward her from the opposite side of the arena. He had clearly recognized her too, judging by the subtle and slightly awkward expression on his face. Whatever he was thinking, it didn’t seem like anything pleasant.
“So it’s you, little girl. Last time, you and your… ahem… ‘friends’ stole the opportunity that belonged to me at the ruins and disappeared before I could settle the score. What a stroke of luck meeting you here! Today, I’ll see just what you gained from that secret realm!”
“What do you mean ‘your opportunity’...?”
Violet retorted, though she couldn’t entirely deny it. She had indeed obtained some inheritance from the [Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden] at the [Void Prison] ruins. But that was only because she had cleared out the “destructive” force inside, unlocking and restoring parts of the area.
Honestly, even if someone as capable as Xuanmen Daoist had stormed in through the spatial cracks, without godlike power, they wouldn’t have been able to deal with the destructive energy inside. There was no “opportunity” for him to take in the first place. Claiming it as his was outright ridiculous.
But the old Daoist didn’t seem to know or care about these details. He simply assumed the black-haired girl was feigning ignorance and let out a cold snort. His expression grew stern as he took up a fighting stance, his voice booming.
“Let’s see what you’ve got!”
The referee, responsible for determining the outcome and ensuring the contestants’ safety, stepped forward to reiterate the rules. They were almost identical to the ones used during the earlier hundred-person melee. Violet nodded to indicate she understood.
Once both competitors were ready, the referee stepped back to the edge of the arena.
“Three, two, one… Begin!”
The announcer’s excited voice echoed across the arena.
“It’s on! We can see that Xuanmen Daoist immediately created distance between himself and his opponent!”
“As the 54th-ranked expert on the [Top 100 of the Ancient Spirit Realm], his strategy is typically centered around using formations to control and restrict his opponent, rather than close-range combat. It seems he’s playing to his strengths and starting cautiously to gauge his opponent’s skills and tactics!”
“No wonder he’s a seasoned veteran! Xuanmen Daoist is extremely cautious. Now let’s see how this mysterious contestant, Miss Violet, will respond!”
“Oh, she’s moving in! Is this an ambush? Unlike Xuanmen Daoist, she’s closing the distance between them quickly! It seems Miss Violet specializes in close combat. The outcome of this fight may depend entirely on whether she can successfully engage him at close range!”
“She’s so fast! Miss Violet is unbelievably quick! She’s moving like a blur! The gap between the two is shrinking rapidly. Will she make it close enough to attack?”
“Oh no, it’s a trap! Xuanmen Daoist planted a hidden formation along his retreat path! When did he set that up? Miss Violet is caught! Truly the work of an experienced veteran. Could this be the turning point that tips the scales in Xuanmen Daoist’s favor?”
“We can see Xuanmen Daoist preparing a new formation. This time, it looks like it’s a high-level one with potentially lethal power. But Miss Violet isn’t completely trapped yet. She hasn’t made a move, almost as if she’s waiting or planning something. How will she respond?”
“Oh, she’s making her move. Wait, what!?”
“Unbelievable! Did you see that? Miss Violet tore through the formation with her bare hands! I’ve never seen anyone break a formation in such a direct and forceful way before!”
“It’s hard to imagine! What kind of monstrous strength is hidden in her small frame? This is incredible! And it seems like she deliberately waited for Xuanmen Daoist to put more effort into his formation before acting. Such confidence!”
“The distance between them is closing again! But Xuanmen Daoist hasn’t finished preparing his formation and can only retreat further. Did he not expect Miss Violet to dismantle his trap so effortlessly?”
“She’s in range! She’s already closed the distance! Their speeds are on completely different levels. Xuanmen Daoist has no time to dodge!”
“Oh no! Xuanmen Daoist has been hit! Incredible! He’s flying through the air like an arrow shot from a fully drawn bow! That kick! Just how much power was behind it? Xuanmen Daoist has been launched out of the arena!”
“The match is over! We have a winner!!!”