The Ceremony has finally begun, the Heavenly Demon Viren dropped from above before elegantly lands on the top of the podium
This sudden entrance was met with shock and awe from the various students
'Woah!'
'Isn't that the Heavenly Demon Viren?'
'Viren?! The Hokien Butcher?'
Despite the various compliments and praise he received, Viren remains steadfast and stern. He then bellowed with his voice.
"ATTENTION!"
The voice booms throughout the court, ringing the student's ear as if rupturing them.
"Welcome to the Academy! Here, we see only talent and strength! Hence, we don't care about your status!"
Viren declares with a prideful look, even when it was hidden behind his mask, it was clear what sort of face he was making. And that short sentence has managed to burst almost all the student spirit, whether it was inspiring them or not, who knows?
"Which means, it doesn't matter if you're a noble, commoner, hell even a former slave. If you are strong, we will acknowledge you!"
His declaration sparks up the competitiveness of the students as they realize that this might be the chance where they could rise to the top of the world, while the noble child realizes the gravity of the situation. They cannot abuse their lineage.
But it seems that both the Demon Princesses and Wu Chen weren't bothered by the fact, instead, they look even more fired up knowing that the rigid social norm of the noble is no longer necessary. Or at least that's what they think.
"Now! We will begin the ceremony!"
As soon as he said that the entire court was engulfed in a strange blue light with sparking lightning energy from its edge
'What?'
'What is this?'
'What happens?'
The confused and scared voice meld towards each other in a cacophony of confusion and terror, as the engulfing blue light closes in on the courtyard. The students were becoming increasingly restless
"Nanming? What is this?"
Chen asks, his face is strangely calm, the Demon Princesses is looking nervous for a bit, but the moment they notice Wu Chen calmness, they calmed down as well
"I don't know yet, but it seems that we will be teleported"
Sure enough, the moment the Blue Light vanishes, the entire courtyard was washed in a deafening, booming sound and they were all moved to a large plain with reed all around.
"Welcome!"
A voice echoes through from a man with black trimmed beard and a cascading black hair tied with an ornate Hair-Crown, his imposing form wearing a Hanfu draped with a white cape as he holds down a large, curved sword
"I am the Lord of Sword! Musashi Gen!"
He introduced himself with prideful smile, some of the students looks in awe and shocked
"Now, this is where you will be tested. Whether or not you will be allowed to join our academy or not!" He spoke with commanding voice, drawing fear and admiration from the students
"What is the test you ask? Simple"
He then slammed the sword to the ground, immediately the entire air rushed towards all directions as his Aura becomes a barrier naked to the eye, yet the energy was felt all around.
"Wow" Chen gasp in awe at the barrier that glows in translucent red, casting the plain bellow in an eerie crimson glow.
"…What a powerful barrier!"
A student with a black robe and a glass said as he marvels the barrier
"Now! All of you, kill each other…"
He said with a cold smile.
For a second, none of the students are willing to fight, either they are caught in hesitation or that the command is so shocking that they fail to realize what was about to happen.
Then—
BLAM
Nanming punch the students close to him, sending him flying before hitting other students and knocking both unconscious.
As if sparking a flame, other students immediately fight each other. It was mainly the Demonic Sect students who fought as other students were either running away or were too shocked to even move.
A scream and shouts filled the bloodbath, as each student tore at each other as if possessed. Each one is bloodied, hurt and in pain, yet their instinct took over, it's either they die or the other dies.
A Dog fight, it's nothing more than a fight in between crazed children in a landscape bathe in crimson.
Among this Dog is Chen whose face has changed into a cold, unfeeling mask, much like Nanming yet less natural. He tore through the throat of one of the children just now. As he investigates the scene of Bloodbath, a strange urge grew.
'Ah, I should felt disgust and fear…'
But he remembered the scene of Nanming healing his burned body after the encounter with the Ghost, how his burned cloth reveals a reddened flesh with charred skin and boiling blood as his entire body is covered in smoke.
'But emotion will only get me long enough, I don't want to make others hurt themselves for my incompetence…'
He then choked a girl, her hair is black, and her skin is smooth as her green eyes met him in an asphyxiated plea
But Chen cannot hear her plea, his sense is overwhelmed by impulse as he sees her as a pitiful hare. Not even a human, just a prey. In this dehumanizing fight, there is still an innocent one who got caught in the ugly cross fighting.
"Don't hate me too much"
He said as he looks at her with cold gaze, not even a slight fear in his face. Knowing this, the girl stops trying to plea and instead fighting back by grabbing his hand.
"…Pitiful"
She died, with a tear in her eyes
"Pitiful?"
'I guess I am the pitiful one'
He thought as he gazes at his palm, this palm that just takes someone's life. Strangely, the weight of life is meaningless in front of a purpose. With a goal, every road is possible.
Yet, it doesn't change the fact that he had just killed someone. The mental power requires for him to brave the psychic impact upon hearing the last breath that the girl draws is…. suffocating for Wu Chen.
'I thought killing is a matter of taking just another thing from someone…who knows—'
Wu Chen looked at his bloodied palm, closing and opening it interchangeably. Feeling the weight of life.
'—That it would be so tiring'
But not all the children are as savage as Chen or Nanming. In the corner, lies Prince Edward as he cowers in fear.
"Helppppp!"
He screams, his crony. Two burly kids were killed by a girl with golden eyes and black hair
"That's the Demonic Princess Wu Yuen! How could she be here?"
But before he could comprehend, a figure approach, it was Wu Yuen
"Ahhh"
He pissed his pants in fear as he covered his face
But Wu Yuen continues to approach, she then forced his hands out of his face as she saw his pitiful, fear-stricken face, growling in piss and stain
"…This is what happens when you mess with my siblings"
She said with a cold face
"W-What are you talking about!"
Prince Edward protest as he desperately tried to scare her off
"I'm not messing with the Demonic Princesses Wu Liza and Wu Laizha!"
At his declaration, Wu Yuen smiles turned into a soft, menacing smile
"Of course not, you messed with both Wu Nanming and Wu Chen…"
"What?"
Suddenly, he remembered the boy from the courtyard earlier, the Demonic Princesses called Chen, could it be him. He was screwed.
"I-I didn't know!"
"Of course not! You are just an ignorant foolish bastard after all!"
She then covered her entire hand with Demonic Energy and pierced his chest, his mouth spits bloods as his eyes reddened. He tries to scream, but the pressure in his chest won't allow it.
'It's unfair… Why?'
Prince Edward looks at beauty not with admiration or perverted desire. He just wanted to live, why is it that he can't live?
'I just wanted to…. Impress you'
No more breath allows itself to enter his lungs, he has stopped breathing.
'…. Father'
Prince Edward is dead.
Wu Yuen coldly looked over her bloodied fist. Quietly, she licks it with glee. Savoring the metallic scent of the blood.
.
.
.
This carnage was all started by this one man, now he sits in his wooden chair, sword in his hand as he looks at the carnage with a glee.
"Hehe, pitiful one, you all are a nourishment for the greatness of our Sect!" he said with a prideful and pleased looks.
'From the beginning, the Southern Academy is just a guise to strengthen our Sect. How pitiful, you who are not Fiends are sent here to become a manure for our crops.'
He glances over at the Demonic Sect students and smirks at acknowledgement that they are indeed strong enough to inherit the Sect.
'Prince Chen is more savage than I expected, I thought that the Demon King kindness had soften him up, but I was worried for nothing'
He thought as he saw Chen killed another student, then he glances over to Nanming
'And that boy, he's the first one to attack. Truly, my liege has a way of seeing talents, shit this generation is so promising that I can feel my blood boils'
He thought as he restlessly stomped his knee due to the excitement, this generation of the Demonic Sect will be the one who lead them to attack Sichuan Basin
'Those Orthodox bastards will get what was coming for them, the southern wind will reach you and blow you all!'
On the other hand, Nanming massacre was abruptly stopped by someone. He wears a blue robe and uses a sword that he picks up from the ground as he smugly locks his gaze towards Nanming.
Nanming, is on edge, he doesn't have any weapon which means he is at a disadvantage.
"Well, look here! The beautiful war maiden"
He teased while pointing his swords at him, he then twirls the blade around
"Oopss, I misgender you, apologies for that pretty boy"
He taunts, but Nanming just gaze over him coldly, not reacting to any of his provocation
Right now, the main goal is to survive, Nanming knew that much. But then it struck him, this Reed filled landscape is oddly familiar to him.
"Come on now!"
The swordsman then charged at him, swords in hand as he swings it to his throat, but Nanming dodge at the last second
The swordsman was surprised for a second, but he decided to continue attacking. But again, Nanming effortlessly dodges it by a hair breadth
"Shit, stop dodging!"
He is getting irritated as his attack becoming increasingly reckless.
But Nanming can't exactly attack him either, until he got a proper weapon.
SHASH
Then an attack connects, it was from another student with a rusted saber
Nanming was hit in his left arm, he limps away while clutching the damaged arm
"Haha! I got a hit!"
Said the Saber man
"Focused! This guy is big deal, we strike him when he is vulnerable!"
The Swordsman then dashed to followed up the Saber man attack, forcing Nanming to retreat further
Nanming then works his brain, he really can't attack without any weapon, and he doesn't know any palm technique. Then it struck him, this field of Reed is indeed familiar.
'I've been here before…'
Memory of thunder filled reed plain, three swordsmen and… a fairy?
Nanming tossed his mind aside and sprinted to the east where he was sure about something.
"Get him!"
The Swordsman shouts as the Saber man follows suit
Nanming is still running while clutching his damaged arm, the place where it was hit engulfed in white smoke
Then he reaches the place, there is 2 skeletons here, it seems that they have died a couple years ago, and there are 3 weapons here. A massive Katana like sword, an actual katana and a sword
Nanming grab the sword and unsheathe it, checking its condition. It's rusty, and it only has a single edge.
But he can't really complain now.
The Swordsman and the Saber man has catches up, they are hyperventilating after the chase.
"No where for you to go now!"
"Wait, he got a weap—"
SLASH
Before the Swordsman can finished his sentence, he felt a sharp pain in his right hand. It was severed in one strike by Nanming
He squirms in the ground as he clutches his missing appendages while the Saber man is stunned by the sudden action
Nanming on the other hand, already managed to position his blade in the Saber man throat. In one swift motion, he beheaded him.
SHASH
"Ughhh"
The Swordsman is in pain as he saw Nanming deadpan face, looking at him. His porcelain face is drenched in blood as his plump lips draw in air, it scorched his lungs a bit.
Then, he swings with practiced ease, ending his life painlessly. Another body
Nanming then glances over at his sword, then at the two skeletal remains, thinking.
'Why is there so much Moon energy—'
He thought as he glances at a weird blue thread, hanging around him, but he dismissed the thought as he quickly rushed to the field to search for Chen.
'Heaven and Earth by my command, all from Clay is my slave'
...
...
...
Where is this?
Day 1, Students remain: 467
.
.
.
"Quite curious don't you think?"
A lady in a red robe is talking to another woman who wears a weird armor
"What do you think?"
She replies, her purple eyes swept over the bloodbath
"Those fiends are as sick as ever, even after their banishment from the Spirit Realm, they never change"
She said as she clicks her tongue
"I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about that kid"
The lady in red said again as she curiously watches over Nanming projection in an orb-like device
"…I can feel it, he's the one who killed Heidi"
The purple lady said as she rests her hand on the hilt of her Nodachi
"Fufu, to think that he could kill a Higher Spirit. So mysterious"
The Red lady said in a playful voice as she hovers her hand to Nanming figure
"But she will revive right? She is a Divine Spirit after all"
She said as she glances over to the purple lady
"Thanks to Kirin"
the purple lady replies
"But then, I'm not surprised. He has the Twisting Tree Constitution after all, he is tough"
She commented in a rough tone.
"That is enough evaluation, now it's up to us whether we could use him or not"
The red lady said as she leaves the room, leaving only the purple lady to watch the massacre
"Tch, crazy lady, as if you could control an Asura"
She commented before leaving the place as well
But then, she stopped on track.
"That being said, I do have to get revenge for our dear Thunder Bird Heidi…"
With a flick, a blue strand pierces the orb and into Nanming, she then scoffs lightly and leaves.