…
On the battleground, the stage is clear, and up in the stands, the audience excitedly awaits the announcer's voice.
In a certain corner of the stands, a tall disciple sits with a grin, and next to him is a young boy.
Qian Zhelan and Xiao Bo.
Qian Zhelan turns to his child master with astonishment, "You're telling me that Ren Zhexi is…"
Xiao Bo nods, "Yes, his bloodline… it is not to be spoken about." He looks diligently at the stage, where two disciples are preparing to battle.
Qian Zhelan gulps, and then he looks towards the distant Strength Peak, where Ren Zhexi is said to be located, always in seclusion yet appearing only at battles, like this outer competition.
"Is that the reason he isn't increasing his cultivation realm? For some superficial strength?" Qian Zhelan shakes his head slowly.
"It's too much." Xiao Bo mutters.
"But!" Qian Zhelan turns to his master with a grin back on his face, "I'm in the foundation establishment realm! It's impossible for him to defeat me!"
"Arrogance like that will only take you so far, have you ever heard the tale of Tian Ni?" Xiao Bo looks at Qian Zhelan with a smug grin.
"Tian Ni? How arrogant!" Qian Zhelan yells, excitement in his eyes. "Okay, tell me, I'd like to know about this arrogant warrior!"
Xiao Bo chuckles a little, "You're giving titles to the wrong people… if you really want to know who is 'arrogant', then…"
His eyes flash. "I'll tell you. Right here, right now, I'll tell you who really is arrogant; he who has tormented the true concept of arrogance!" Xiao Bo's voice escalates until a good portion of the audience can hear him. "And received nothing but arrogance in return!" He finishes, his eyes wide with reverence.
Around, the audiences' ears perk up, and their voices go silent in understanding.
Xiao Bo stands up with his arms crossed, a mortal seeing a child go off like this would only laugh and point fingers, yet a cultivator would kneel down in pure respect.
Qian Zhelan listens intently as Xiao Bo begins telling.
"The tale of Tian Ni; a man who had defied even the heavens, a man who changed the meaning of arrogance forever!" Xiao Bo starts, "Have you ever looked at an elder standing up high at the golden core realm, and wondered why they were so superior!?"
"Tian Ni didn't think that they were superior—no—he looked at them like estranged mutts trying so desperately to live in this tribulous world!" Xiao Bo speaks with his eyes shut in reverence. "He didn't care for the differences in power, he defined arrogance as a whole! This is the tale of Tian Ni!" Xiao Bo pauses.
The audience eventually sighs in disappointment as Xiao Bo stops speaking, obviously waiting for the announcer.
Qian Zhelan's shoulders fall, though he is aware of his master's mysteriousness, and how he had cut stories short like this before.
…
Tian Ni wasn't an ordinary man.
Yet, he wasn't a divine talent… or esteemed royalty, so what exactly was he?
A question that has baffled the heavenly court for so, so, long!
Though, they do know one thing about Tian Ni.
That he had roamed during the primordial era…
…
Back at the colosseum, the blue crystal shines brightly, as it announces two new disciples to come fight.
In the stands, Fatty Wang cheers excitedly as his fortune, Wang Xiao, walks out.
"You better win! All odds point towards you!" He shouts with a wide grin.
This fight is one to be watched, as two eighth layer qi gathering cultivators will be fighting it out.
After minutes of egregious fighting, Wang Xiao stands out as the victor, standing breathlessly over his opponent's body.
"Woah! What a win!" Fatty Wang wipes a tear from his eye, already imagining the riches heading towards him.
Bai Xiao, who sits a few seats away from Fatty Wang, looks at him with curiosity.
"Ah… Uhm, senior brother Wang?" Bai Xiao mutters.
Fortunately, because Fatty Wang is a cultivator, his ears pick up Bai Xiao's voice.
"Hm?" He turns towards the auspicious white-haired junior brother. "What's wrong?"
"You seem to be very excited." He continues muttering, as if he's allergic to his own voice.
"Of course I am, I have just won bountiful riches!" Fatty Wang laughs loudly as he is reminded of his winnings.
"But… as cultivators, should we really be swayed by such mundane resources? Surely you could buy elixirs but… in the end, is all this betting really considerable?" Bai Xiao continues.
Fatty Wang pauses as his breath hitches in his throat. "Mundane resources? Right…" He takes a deep breath.
"Junior brother, you must remember this, as cultivators, we should prioritise opportunities like this over patient cultivating, pfft, do I look like a talent freak?" Fatty Wang cheekily points at Xun Shi who sits opposite to him in the stands.
Bai Xiao nods, listening closely. "You're right senior brother, thank you for your lecture."
"Haha, it's okay, us senior brothers should—"
Suddenly, Fatty Wang looks closely at Bai Xiao.
"Hold on a second, how am I your senior!?" Fatty Wang's eyes widened.
"That is because… my worth does not amount to these titles." Bai Xiao's face falls.
Fatty Wang sighs. "Look, junior—no, brother, what is your name?"
"Bai Xiao."
"Bai Xiao, what a great name, you should be proud of your name, is that not the value you pursue?" Fatty Wang looks dead into Bai Xiao's eyes.
"W-what do you mean?" Bai Xiao's eyes widened.
Fatty Wang stands up making his way over to Bai Xiao.
"Brother! Do not make yourself look pathetic! You are more than that!" Fatty Wang reaches Bai Xiao.
"Why call yourself worthless? Why lower yourself to other people's level? You are Bai Xiao!" Fatty Wang shouts at him, pointing harshly.
Bai Xiao sweats nervously, his face flushed red from embarrassment.
"Bai Xiao, the name your parents gave you! Is that not something to be proud of!" Fatty Wang continues.
By now, this segment of the audience had taken notice of Fatty Wang and Bai Xiao's interaction.
"How honorable… Brother Wang is so humble!" A thick-eyebrowed disciple mentions, crossing his arms and sighing.
"I agree, there's a reason he didn't take his win against Xuan Wu so lightly." A female disciple shakes her head in admiration.
"Haha, brother Wang's loyalty is just so admirable! In my opinion, he is the greatest new disciple!" Another female disciple adds, causing the segment to cheer loudly.
"The greatest new disciple."
Even through all of the cheering, Fatty Wang does not back away from Bai Xiao.
"Listen, brother Bai, you were the disciple who had noticed something earlier, correct?" Fatty Wang mentions.
Bai Xiao nods meekly.
"Then believe in yourself! You must've seen something, and I believe you! Even if the sect leader himself disagrees with you, I'll still stand by your side!" Fatty Wang shouts, his eyes shut in loyalty.
"B-but why?" Bai Xiao is nearly brought to tears, his ego had nearly died out from pure embarrassment earlier.
"Because!" Fatty Wang looks up.
He clenches his fist, backing away into his seat, where he sits, uncaring of the audience cheering around him.
"There is no such thing as lies in a world full of truths!"
…