Chapter 19 - Public Enemy

A disdainful smirk was Falven’s answer.

“You are not worth of Crimson Bloodlust! You despise the holy Heavens, the merciful benefactor who has granted a new life to us all. A trash cultivator who dares to disparage the Heavens, put the sect in peril, waste its resources and ruin its reputation, that’s what you are. I don’t know which underrated methods you’ve used to trick the Palace, but I won’t allow you to leave with with our sacred blade!”.

“Such a virtuous speech, excellent. Do you think I dare to disparage Heavens? Well, hell yes, the fucking Gods you believe in are villains, to be slain by me is their fate. Your meaningless blabbering on this sacred blade of yours is worthy of a shitty minded character like you, would be this saber on top of the Bestowment Tower if it was meant for sect defensive purposes? It’s stayed there for so long because of the foolish disciples who aren’t worthy of being its master, who lose their time bowing to the Heavens instead of raising to face them! Stop me if you dare, or are you just a dog that only knows how to bark?”.

The harsh rebuke left the inner sect disciple glaring angrily. Everyone was shocked again by Falven’s desecrating words. His aggressive and contemptuous attitude, in face of so many opposing disciples, could only stem from unshakable confidence or endless foolishness.

Falven was tired of the hypocrisy all around him, the attitude of this era was unacceptable to him and his mood deteriorated each time he had to listen to this senseless blabbering. He had learnt how to be diplomatic, but he was a proud prodigy of an era. Back in the days no human would dare to disrespect him, even the sectmasters of first rate sects had to act respectfully and tactfully towards him. He felt the urge to make a stand, getting things straights and vent his frustration.

Falven stepped forward with a scornful look “You falsely accuse me of cheating, disparage the reputation of an estimated elder of the sect and now you want to go back? Well, actually I’m your senior brother and core disciple, you’re forbidden from killing me. Let’s see… got it, here in front of everyone I declare you can kill me, if you’re up to the task of course. In your eyes I have put the sect in peril and I am cursed by the Heavens or something like that, right? So it’s your duty to slay me, prove your Dao and resolve. If I die no elder nor sect expert shall pursue you for that, it’s the Heaven’s will”.

The words echoed loudly in the Bestowment Palace courtyard. The inner disciple had already stepped forward and couldn’t back down now. He was indeed scared that the elder would come for his life, but Fate Destroyer’s declaration had dispersed his fears. He didn’t know where his boldness came from, but it was likely just foolishness, he was a trash cultivator, no doubt about that. As an early Knight expert who had trained in slaying arts for some years, he was confident in defeating his opponent. The only threat could come from that amazing saber, but to wield a so high graded blade one needed to be accepted by the weapon, have deep Dao insights and a powerful cultivation.

The disciple made up his mind and shouted “I’ll slay you today, devil-spawn. I’m freeing our sect from a trash like you, saving our reputation and our position before the Heavens”.

He moved forward, immediately mobilising all the chi he could. A long sword was unsheathed and surging chi started to swirl around its blade. A chi vortex drenched in sword laws surrounded the long sword, creating chi ripples all around the cultivator. This was his final move, a killing blow.

The Sword Vortex Slaying technique had a great reputation in the sect, it provided a solid attack with much offensive potential. The required sword laws to activate this technique were not too difficult to understand and several sect manuals explained them, it could be defined as one of the signature techniques of the Devil Slayer Sect’s inner disciples.

The inner disciple was wielding with both hands the long sword, standing high, with a chi vortex full of sword potential creating havoc all around him. His proficiency in this technique had reached middle success, although he couldn’t exert its full potential this was already a satisfying result.

A deafening shout was followed by a firm swing of the sword. The sword chi vortex came crashing down full of killing intent, aiming to take Falven’s life.

Scorn, indifference, satisfaction and even relief. This was what the majority of the onlookers was feeling in foreseeing Falven’s imminent demise.

Without worry the core disciple unsheathed Crimson Bloodlust. His black shaded chi flame intensely burned, generating terrific surging chi floods. The pure chi currents overworked chi circuit of the cultivator, straining each meridian before converging in the saber.

Asura laws drenching the chi permeated Crimson Bloodlust, while the Slaying Dao was being performed. A dark crimson chi blade full of bloodlust and killing intent was projected, crashing against the opposing chi vortex.

BOOOOM!

An explosion echoed in the sect. The sword vortex was destroyed and the dark crimson blade continued its path, slaying the early Knight disciple.

Blood gushed out, the body of the disciple flew for a dozen of meters before crashing on the ground, lifeless. He died on the spot. Astonished again, the onlookers couldn’t help but feel utter amazement.

Attracted by the explosion and by the calls of some disciples several protectors arrived in a hurry “What’s happening here?”.

Some malicious disciples, still not willing to recognise the new core disciple, or maybe pushed by ulterior motives, quickly took action “The new core disciple has disparaged the sect, tarnished its reputation, insulted the Heavens, stolen Crimson Bloodlust and killed our beloved brother who tried to talk to him!”.

Besides several disciples were disparaging Fate Destroyer, trying to put him in danger with false accusations, the majority of the presents didn’t manifest any dissent. Although the last part of the accusations was false, all the rest had actually happened in their view. There was also a minority of disciples who found unjust this treatment and looked ashamed for the actions of their martial brothers, but they didn’t dare to voice any dissent. It was clear to all that some influent characters were moving the strings behind the curtains.

Before the protectors could decide what to do, an old man came out of the Bestowment Palace “Please calm down everyone, no need to be so agitated. Fate Destroyer has killed his opponent in a fair duel. Although it’s against the rules of the sect to kill each other this way, both opponents have started the fight with killing moves. Let me deal with him myself, providing the right punishment for each of the accusation”.

Listening to the words of the old man, every disciple quieted down. “Old Blade Master, we’re leaving everything in your hands then, thank you for taking the burden” the protectors greeted the Bestowment Palace Master bowing their heads, followed by the disciples.

Old Blade Master was one of the oldest experts of the sect, probably the oldest. He was known as a peak Captain expert who’s status was only inferior to the core elders. He had been in charge of the Bestowment Palace for several generations, providing useful guidance to the disciples helping them picking suitable weapons and discerning their secrets. He was a very respected character, beloved by all, whose knowledge of every kind of blade had no equals.

The higher the cultivation stage the longer the lifespan of a cultivator. Many believed Old Blade Master was nearing his end, it was already surprising for him to have lived until now. Because since memory could reach he had always been in charge of the Bestowment Palace, there were jokes about the Bestowment Pala closure after the old man's death.

Falven followed Old Blade Master inside a small building next to the Bestowment Palace. “Please have a seat junior” the old man indicated a comfortable wood chair, while putting two drinks on a refined round table and sitting in front of the youth.

“This is a juice extracted by the Purple Draconic Grapes, it is beneficial for letting the meridians recover and most importantly its taste is just awesome” the old man smiled amiably.

Falven was taken by surprise and politely thanked this enigmatic person, bowing his head.

“I can understand why you did that, even risking to compromise your meridians, but I have to ask you to be more tactful from now on. Tell me in confidence, do you believe in anything you’d said? Why?”.