Chapter 525 - 490: A Low-End Version of the Eight Holy Halls
Bloodthirst was a trait etched into the very bones of these tribespeople,
or rather, a means of survival.
Without it, they could hardly secure enough resources to survive the struggles of nature. This five-person free-for-all, a chaotic mix of blood and stone, was particularly effective at stoking the ferocity of these "cubs." And the closer they drew to ultimate glory, the more heart-pounding the fighting became.
Injuries were to be expected.
Even death could be cast aside.
Huo Zhuang dodged a frontal assault from a snarling opponent while simultaneously evading a sneak attack from another opportunist. With a flick of the Bone Saber in his hand, he deliberately bypassed his foe’s vitals and stabbed him in the shoulder. Then, with a vicious kick, he sent the competitor flying off the stage.
His saber technique was steady.
And the disposition he had forged was even steadier.
This was not a tribal war, so unnecessary sacrifices were entirely avoidable. For Huo Zhuang, the saber in his hand fought not only for the king he had never met but also for his fellow tribesmen. This was more than just the technique he had learned from Shi Ming; he had also inherited the conviction within the saber art itself.
For whom did he wield his weapon?
The young man had a clear answer in his heart!
"YEAH!"
Amidst the cheers, Huo Zhuang undoubtedly became the sole warrior left standing to receive glory in this five-person brawl. He let out a great roar, raised his Bone Saber, and pumped his arm, full of vigor.
With Mr. Ming’s expert guidance, victory hadn’t been difficult.
The Priest at the side was satisfied, yet also a little dissatisfied.
’This little guy is still too young. He doesn’t understand that boons and sacrifices are two sides of the same sharp blade.’
Without offerings,
how could the gods bestow their boons?
The cheers from the watching crowd rose in waves, ringing out endlessly.
Shi Ming, however, nodded to himself.
’He can wield power without becoming its prisoner, and he remains firm in his goals without losing his principles. This Huo Zhuang is truly malleable talent. Even without any gifts from fate, he would still carve out his own path. The only difference would be between being dazzlingly bright and *exceptionally* bright.’
’But on this planet, the more one stands out, the more unfortunate they’re likely to be.’
’To the lofty beings looking down from above, even the Holy Hall or an ordinary Nirvana cultivator might be less important than a single piece of intelligence.’
’Just like the Endless Ocean of the past,’
’...everything was an object of observation in the false gods’ petri dish, lab rats used to test quantitative changes.’
CLANG!
Bone clashed with stone axe.
On another battlefield on the other side of the altar, however, a death had occurred.
A young boy’s body was pierced by a stone weapon. The sight of his blood-splattered corpse only served to incite the ferocity of these "cubs," who were not very old. As his life ebbed away, the glory of death descended upon him.
The black circle at the altar’s center grew even deeper in color.
The aura of death gathered within it.
’The ritual is as its name implies.’
’The bonding ritual here... is death.’
’It seems this altar can only connect with the Tomb Star Realm after accumulating a certain amount of death energy. The selection held every five years must also be deliberately guided by those false gods behind the scenes. The livestock slaughtered earlier, along with the lives lost in battle, have all become keys to activating the altar.’
The Silent Crystal tucked into Shi Ming’s robes glowed faintly.
If he so wished, he could most likely use the Silent Crystal to force a passage to the Tomb Star Realm right now.
’But now is not the right time.’
He decided to wait a little longer.
’I should at least watch this ritual meant to please the "King" and see if the boy I’ve taught for the past dozen-odd days can get what he desires after this battle.’
’Besides, I still haven’t given him the promised gift.’
...
...
...
The five combatants for the final battle were chosen.
After a short rest, the five young men, all bearing different degrees of injury, took their weapons and stepped onto the mottled altar. Each was sturdily built; some were steady, some were ferocious, others reserved... Their skin was painted with chalky white patterns symbolizing courage, and they held either Bone Blades or stone axes.
The rest period was not long.
Even Huo Zhuang, who was in the best condition, was still panting lightly after three battles.
But being in poor condition didn’t mean their fighting spirit was low. They were now only one step away from ultimate glory, and every participant’s eyes burned with genuine desire! If they could just defeat the other four opponents, they would become the God-Chosen one,
able to leave the tribe, travel to the land under the King’s protection, and truly serve him!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Even if it meant fighting to the death!
They had to seize it!
Huo Zhuang glanced at Shi Ming from a distance.
Shi Ming nodded back at him.
The young man’s hand, which was gripping his Bone Saber tightly, seemed to grow steadier and more powerful, and a strange strength bloomed in his heart.
A five-person melee was about more than just strength and skill. It demanded opportunism, wisdom, and the exploitation of enemy weaknesses. To be more specific, it required forming and breaking alliances—understanding both cooperation and betrayal. Unsurprisingly, Huo Zhuang, being in relatively better condition, became the primary target for the other four. If they didn’t eliminate him first, the others would have little to no chance of victory!
In this situation, his prior special training became all the more precious.
"Grip your saber tightly. Be steady, but carry momentum!"
"Weapons are instruments of deception, but their power follows a discernible form."
"And finally,"
"Be fast! Fast! And faster still!"
The fifteen days of special training had remarkable results. Though it was four against one, each of his opponents harbored their own schemes. With his Bone Saber, Huo Zhuang incapacitated them one by one, until the arm of the final, ferocious boy dropped heavily to his side. Unable to lift his battle-axe again, this last combatant finally succumbed and collapsed onto the altar.