Of course, the true masters clearly weren’t bothered by this. At least for Lear and gang, they passed the first level effortlessly. Such was the difference in thinking and mentality. Lear was ambitious. He wouldn’t waste his time on such low levels, and would charge through the level as soon as he had a rough understanding of it. Moreover, he felt it was embarrassing to waste time at such places. Who knew if someone from the Saint Church was keeping an eye on them from a corner?
Wang Zheng saw this differently. The most basic areas were in fact the most significant areas. The core was never-changing. The so-called “higher levels” were just helping to develop one’s specialisations. One’s foundation was tempered at the lower levels.
Of course, this came from Bonehead’s training and management right from the very beginning. The smaller something seemed, the more precious, and complicated changes came from seemingly simple things.
Entering the sequence of the final battle, Wang Zheng saw lines after lines of people. They were all here for the last battle.
Some of them had begun fighting, and anyone could watch, as long as they pay a nominal viewership fee.
On top of that, those dueling were not allowed to reject others from watching.
Tentacles went on first, and invited Wang Zheng to watch. After all, he now had a follower, and wanted to show Wang Zheng his worth.
Tentacles was rather popular. Many came to watch their duel. Here, people did not watch matches for fun. They had to pay to watch, and it was not cheap. Even the lowest tiered entrance tickets cost ten thousand dollars. Hence, only those matches that were of a certain standard attracted an audience.
Tentacles entered the arena. The opponent wore a mask, too. It was Someone he didn’t know, who went by the name of Mad Scamper.
The level of disciples did not involve weaponry. It was all bare-handed fights. With a wave of his arm, Tentacles made a signal to indicate a free fight.
Wang Zheng smiled. The pose was very accurate. It showed that he had some training. Boxing technique was something all pilots had to learn, too. Only then, could they perform well in physical matches.
It was the same for other martial arts. You’d have to have adequate technique to be able to display your physical strength, or it would all be useless.
The Mad Scamper had no intention of dueling right away. “Tentacles, the Wind Group is intrigued by your capabilities. This would be a test for you to join us.”
The Wind Group was one of the larger organisations in the world of Saints. They had members in all three different levels, but when it was time to assess someone, they would send out members from another level.
Tentacles was taken by surprise. They had obviously used a tracking card to be directly matched to him in the duel. That thing cost a bomb, too.
“”I’m sorry, but I’m already following someone else. You’re too late,” Tentacles said, smiling.
“Oh really? Who would that be?”
“There is no need for you to know about that. Moreover, I have no interest in the Wind Group whatsoever.”
The Mad Scamper looked coldly at Tentacles. “You’re naive and arrogant, aren’t you? Too bad you got one thing wrong. You have no say in this matter. You should be honoured that the Group has taken interest in you! Bring it on!”
Tentacles flicked his hair. “Why do such narcissistic people still exist? You’re not a loli!”
Zoom!
Tentacles struck, launching the Eight Point Blade Technique to its fullest. The instant flying kick was extremely fast and accurate. This person had obviously been trained, and had a certain level of background in boxing.
Everything that was reflected in the World of Saints was something personal.
But the fast and forceful leg strike missed. The opponent had just taken a step back, and Tentacles missed. Tentacles readied himself to continue attacking, but the opponent had taken the offensive. In the speed of lightning, he had moved to Tentacles’ side. The warning lasted a mere instant. His Ability X activated. Tentacles dodged aside quickly.
He was surprised. His Ability X was speed, and his element was wood, leaning towards wind. That had made him particularly confident of his speed.
But the opponent had closed in, crashing a punch right in. Tentacles subconsciously put up a defense, and… Boom!
His body flew, but his still had a sense of balance. However, the opponent followed up, crazily launching attacks from all directions, so much so that Tentacles was only left with the ability to defend.
Wang Zheng looked on calmly. The opponent had used a Sixteen Point Blade Technique’s understanding to improve his abilities here. Even though he could only use up to the Eighth Point on this level, his understanding on the Technique was in a totally different place.
Trainings usually came in three stages. First – the mountain you see is the mountain. Then, the mountain is you see is not a mountain. And finally, the mountain you see is what it really is.
Similarly, in the first stage, what one saw was just the surface, and can be easily interpreted right away. It required speed, accuracy, and viciousness. Come to the second stage, there were deeper layers of thinking involved. Every punch took into considerations of many different aspects, and involved continuation, prediction, and so on. A simple punch may encompass various changes within, but it was still merely a punch. But when it came to the third stage, on top of speed, accuracy and viciousness, there was control.
And thus, even if it’s the same level of prowess, those in the higher stage would still turn the ones in the lower stage into pulp.
The Mad Scamper was a master of the same category, and had the same background in Thai Boxing. But when it came to the level of understanding, he was much better than Tentacles. Tentacles was dead meat.
Tentacles was beaten into depression. He felt as if he was unable to perform. He knew that the opponent was able to beat him down because of their difference in stages. He had a similar encounter before, but it was not as powerful as this.
The Wind Group was a well-known organization in the World of Saints that specifically took in people with Wind type Ability X. There were many things in this world that happened against people’s wills. Here, once taken notice of, you either join them or get forced to leave this place.
The reason why they created such an image for themselves was just so that people wouldn’t dare to fight back. It was easy to deal with one man. But what about facing an organisation?
It wasn’t just the Wind Group. Most organisations including the Five Holy Sons were the same. Regardless of the world, so long as men existed, the way things worked was through one rule – the survival of the fittest.
The Mad Scamper’s Thai Boxing techniques were sharp. Coupled with the force that came from the high speed, Tentacles was beaten so much so that he could do nothing apart from trying to defend.
To put it simply, he was being bullied.
“You’ve got a pretty good foundation. Join the Wind Group and you’d be considered one of our own,” the opponent said, landing a punch on Tentacles’s face.
“Buzz off! I only join groups that have a future.”
“Listen to a dead man talk!”
The opponent kneed right into Tentacles’s chest. Tentacles’s pupils shrank. Duels simulated one hundred percent of the sensations felt.
A high kicked landed immediately afterwards, smacking right on the neck. Just watching the kick land alone made people feel nervous.
Boom…
Tentacles was beaten onto the ground. The Mad Scamper stepped on Tentacles’s face. “I’ll give you one day to think about it. Otherwise, you shall never show up in here ever again!”
The duel ended. Tentacles was defeated.
Leaving the arena, Tentacles gave a self-mocking smile. His face had turned pale. A battle like that would definitely cause mental traumas.
“I’d wanted to show what I can do, but it had turned into a sad story. I’m sorry.”
Tentacles turned around to leave. He had wanted to put on a good show, but now that things have taken such a turn, he was too embarrassed to stay.
Wang Zheng stopped Tentacles. “Is there anything such as seeking vengeance in the World of Saints? Let’s say I’d like to go up against that person from earlier on.”
Tentacles was stunned. “There is a vengeance card. But let’s just forget it. They are masters from the Wind Group. They came here from a different level.”
Tentacles sounded upset. Anybody humiliated this way would certainly feel upset. It was also the reason why they didn’t want to advance into the level of Believers. The higher they climbed, the more organisation and groups, and the stricter the level of control. In comparison, being a Disciple gave them more freedom.
There was quite a huge crowd that had gathered to watch the duel that took place earlier on. And by now, they were all buried in discussion, too. It was a good thing to be met with an organisation’s recruitment this way. Why would he take it so seriously?
“That vengeance card thing, do you have one?”
“Yea, you…” Tentacles was stared for a second, and shook his head. “Forget it, such things happen frequently here. You’ll surely encounter it on your own in future.”
“Heh. I like these things. Moreover, don’t you want to take a look at the standards of the person you’re following? If I get beaten up into pulp, we can suffer together. That’s better than you suffering all on your own,” Wang Zheng chuckled.
Tentacles paused for a moment, and took out a vengeance card.
Underneath the mask, Wang Zheng smiled. He crushed the vengeance card in his hand. A battle like that would not be taken into consideration for advancement onto the next level, but that was unimportant.
The Mad Scamper completed his mission. There were plenty of people like him, who thought they were great. Their little bit of talent led them to think that they were good. They simply lacked a good beating. Beat them up a few times, and they’d know where they really stand.
All of a sudden, he was challenged to a vengeance match.
Mad Scamper laughed. Damn, there really were people who did know the difference between life and death. I don’t believe this. I’ll teach you your place!
Entering the battle arena, Mad Scamper stared at the idiot wearing the black iron mask standing before him. Look at how confident he seems. A moron who stood a zero chance of winning.
Upon hearing that someone had used a vengeance card for Tentacles, the crowd went wild. Those who sought out a match like that were either highly skilled, or were simply jokers. Everybody knew the opponent was someone from the Wind Group, and how would anybody dare to stir things up even more? Forget being beaten up, just lay low and disappear for a period of time, and they would let things slide. Courting for trouble this way? They would definitely punish and torture you to death just to protect the reputation of the group.
“Eh? That person name sounds really familiar.”
“Damn! Isn’t that the one who triggered the Saints’ Training at the disciple level?”
“It seems like it. There can’t possibly be another person with a silly name like Charcoal.”
Mad Scamper looked at the idiot before him. Charcoal? Charcoal my ass. “You’re the one who came out from a crack on a stone. How dare you court trouble from the Wind Group?” Then, Mad Scamper waved his arm. “Forget it, I have no interest in knowing anything about an useless creature like you.”
Zoom!
The Mad Scamper charged wildly. This was different from when dealing with Tentacles. When beating up Tentacles, his intention was to teach him something, which was why he didn’t kill him. But for trash like this, he did not want to waste his time.
Looking at the fast and furious Mad Scamper, the Charcoal appeared to be in shock, standing there, motionless.
Tentacles was stumped. What was he doing?
Did he really want to get tortured too?
He only liked being tortured by Lolly!
Seeing how shocked his opponent appeared to be did not make the Mad Scamper more merciful. He gave a high speed, furious knee kick, aimed right at his opponent’s head. In the World of Saints, attacks targeted at the head caused the greatest consequences.
…
Tentacles’s jaw slowly dropped… this…
Just before he managed to strike, Wang Zheng grabbed onto Mad Scamper’s neck with one hand, stopping him and lifting him up. The black iron mask gave out a cold, fearsome air.
“Tentacles is following me. You’re welcome to visit us anytime.”
Crack!
A loud scream rang through the battle arena. The Mad Scamper’s head was bent at an angle…