"Child of the Han clan, give these two old men some face and let Ken Sue fight next."
Gerald looked upward warily. He could not tell who they were, as those beneath the third floor could not see the audience up there. However, he knew those elders should be in the seventh or the eighth stage.
"Since Senior asked me directly, I will respect your request." Gerald bowed and left the stage.
"A great man can bend as well as extend." (1) Another old voice talked next.
"I didn't bend, I only respect my seniors!" Gerald protested but did not get any answer.
Ken and Paul climbed into the stage and took their positions.
"Ken Sue VS Paul, fight!"
Paul summoned his heavy club from his storage ring and held it in front of him carefully, ready to react if Ken crouched, which he believed was the tell of Ken's dashing technique.
"Your dashing will not work against me a second time!"
"I don't need it, but it would work," Ken's goal was not to win by a small margin this time. He wanted to leave a deep impression of his talent to acquire allies and supporters within the sect. Nobody would support a man with no skills.
Ken disappeared from his spot without crouching, an ability he gained when he mastered the Advanced mastery realm. His speed was so high it seemed like he materialized behind his opponent, and with a slap, he sent him rolling on the ground.
The message was clear. If Ken tried, Paul's head would be rolling on the ground now. By letting his aura out, everyone could notice now that Ken was at the peak of the fourth stage.
"Peak fourth stage? How can you advance so fast?" Paul was shaken. His head felt dizzy from the slap, and his legs were shaking when he understood he challenged someone out of his league.
"Still want to fight?" Ken ignored his questions and asked.
"Yes, please enlighten me, Young Master!" Previously, Paul referred to Ken as Forbidden Fruit to provoke him, however, he did not have the right to do it anymore and improved his attitude.
'Magnetic Power,' Paul used a technique to create a pulling force against Ken, the same thing he used to pull the Qi Stones in the Hall of Glory, but in a much greater magnitude.
Ken let himself be pulled toward the heavy club, but by using Cloud Running and a gentle push of his palm, he redirected the club above his head.
"Ah!"
Paul groaned in pain as a fist connected with his stomach, sending him back to the ground as saliva came out of his mouth.
"Young Master, accept my attack!" Paul shouted and got up from the ground. He wanted to do the same combination he did in his previous battle against Ken.
"Sure." Ken agreed to receive the man's attack and watched him perform it without interrupting.
Paul upsurged with a powerful leap, reaching a height of 13 meters, an improvement of 30% compared to the last time they battled. Then, he kicked the air behind him as his head faced the ground in a diagonal line, and a small platform made of Earth Qi could be seen behind him for a short moment.
Paul flew down toward Ken at high speed, and instead of dodging as he normally would, Ken raised his arm and brought it down, coated with Sword Qi.
'Slash, 27 in 1.'
He didn't use the full attack as it would split Paul in half along with the man's club. Instead, he used 33% of it to resist the heavy blow of the club while using only his arm without a sword.
The club met the slash a meter away from Ken and Paul's club bounced back from the hit as Paul was unable to hold on. The young man was sent flying the other way and he lost the grip on his club after it crashed into his head.
"Winner, Ken Sue!"
The crowd cheered for Ken, albeit with surprise. Everyone who knew how the previous battle played out assumed the rematch would end with Paul's victory or at least in a close call, but it was completely one-sided, and Ken never drew out his sword.
"Ken Sue, let us take you for lunch," Ken heard the elders from earlier.
"Seniors, may I ask for your names?"
"I'm Elder Fang, and my friend is Elder Leylin."
They understood that they needed to introduce themselves before taking a son of an elite family away. In a way, everyone would know they were the ones who sought Ken if he was to disappear afterward.
"I'm willing to meet you, elders," Ken said and bowed with his fist cupped.
He soon felt a strong wind envelop him, something similar to the time he was carried by Elmer from the Serene Lotus Sect. The wind carried him at high speed out of the arena to a well-known restaurant in the sect.
Paradise Delicacies, it was one the only successful restaurant managed by commoners, and it only stood thanks to the support of people like Leylin and Fang who disliked elite clans and wanted to support businesses managed by the weaker members of the sect.
"Hello, Ken. I'm Elder Fang. I'm at the peak of the seventh stage, and I used to be Diana's master."
"I'm Elder Leylin. I was Jane's master."
"Ken Sue greets Elder Fang and Elder Leylin. I assume you approached me to inquire regarding your disciples' deaths?"
Ken found it reasonable that the two old men would be interested in their disciples, and it was the only reason they had to approach him.
"Indeed, we would like to learn about their fates. We learned they were seen traveling with you. We've been saddened to learn the three of you never made it back, but our hope was reignited when we heard of your return."
"I'm sorry. Diana and Jane died in front of my very eyes and there was nothing I could do to save them," Ken sighed with a ping of pain when he recalled the two cheerful ladies.
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A/N: A great man can bend as well as extend - a great man knows how to deal with humiliation and glory.
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