Chapter 300: The Dao of Face-Slapping
Jacks fist was held high. The entire stadium shook from the voices of countless cultivators and immortals, rumbling from their combined shout.
So what if the presenter was against Jack? So what if he was in the opponents home field? He was the man attempting the impossible. The ultimate underdog.
Just who was the audience going to support?
Jack let the cheering go on for a few moments as his eyes furiously scanned the crowd. Hed just arrived, and locating the Sage between a million people wasnt easy. Finally, however, he found himall three of them were on a raised platform, shackled and ready for execution.
Sage! he said quickly.
The Sage seemed as in control as ever. Yes?
Jack explained the entire situation with the Hand of God invitation.
I see, the Sage replied. Feel free to ignore them. I have good news. The Church sees this duel as your initiation test. If you can defeat both Sapasun and Maximus, you will have our full support.
Jacks eyes lit up. Do you mean
Yes. After you win, the Kingdom will let us go temporarily to recapture us as soon as the projection stones deactivate, but the Church will have an escape shuttle waiting. We will be out of here.
Even if I kill them both?
The Sage raised his head, crossing gazes with Jack. He smiled. Do as you wish. Just dont reveal the Life Drop!
Jack looked ahead. I got it. Thanks, Sage.
No problem. Everybodys watching. Make us proud.
You got it.
This conversation took place within three seconds. The crowd was still cheering. Slowly, Jack lowered his arm. Silence fell again. Everyone knew there wasnt going to be a starting announcementJack and Sapasun could start fighting anytime they wanted.
Did you think this time would come, Sapasun? Jack asked calmly. When you were torturing me, did you ever think that one day you would be trembling at my feet?
The audience oohed collectively. They hadnt known that these two shared history. The excitement just kept ramping up.
Shut up! Sapasun replied. Whos trembling, bitch? Come here and I will show you that I am not just a canine; I am your daddy!
Jack smiled calmly. As you wish.
He disappeared. Not through teleportationhe just rushed ahead with speed that most of the audience couldnt follow.
Sapasun, of course, could. He stretched his claw-tipped fingers out, stabbing them Jacks way. Jack leaned away from the strike, slapped Sapasuns other hand, and drove a fist into his opponents stomach. The canine folded in half and flew into the barrier protecting the audience, spitting out foam all the while.
The arena went silent. They had not expected such a quick exchange. Was Jack that much stronger!?
Is that all? Jack asked with disappointment, retracting his fist. I thought you would become my daddy. Yet, you only have that tiny bit of skill?
Sapasun unglued himself from the barrier and wiped his mouth. He then snorted. Ill show you how, he rumbled, charging ahead. Jack simply stood in place and waited. The two enemies clashed, exchanging a dozen strikes in an instant. Jack defended calmly and successfully. Finally, he threw out a sharp punch, finding Sapasun in the nose and flinging him away.
The audience roared, but reality warped. Sapasun was flying at Jack from behind, slashing towards his head. Jack detected the strike and ducked under itbut Sapasuns claws sailed over his head, into a spatial tear, and out towards his leg. Jacks hand moved with lightning speed, clamping down on the canines wrist and stopping the strike just before it landed. He then used his other hand to backhand Sapasun, sending him spinning away like a ballerina. His wrist emerged from the spatial tear, still in place.
In truth, Jack could have held it down, and space itself would have severed Sapasuns wristbut he didnt want to end things that way. He still had a debt to repay.
I see how it is, Jack said with his chin raised high. That was a good attack. You have a little bit of skill. In that case, let me face you with a more appropriate Dao.
The audience erupted in hushed whispers. Another Dao? What did Jack mean?
Even Sapasun seemed taken aback. His eyes narrowed, and he settled into a careful battle stance. He licked his lips.
In the entire arena, only two people realized what Jack was referring to. Their eyes widened for a second, then they each showed a wry smile.
Jack extended a fist. Then, slowly, his fingers uncurled to form a straight palm. Amidst the crowds sounds of wonder, he raised the palm as if to slap the air and said, Dao of Spanking.
Stunned silence. Then, roaring laughter. Sapasun was speechless, while every Animal Kingdom elder on the honor seats went red in the face.
Jack Rust! the Warden roared in Jacks head. Dont go too far!
Jack ignored him. Do you think this is a joke? he asked Sapasun. Let me show you the power of spanking. Maybe it will even cure your insanity.
Thats not how
Before Sapasun could respond, Jack was upon him, both palms poised to strike. The slaps came like rain. There wasnt much expertise behind them, but at this point, the difference between Jack and Sapasun was simply too large. Sapasun wasnt one of the factions strongest deaconshe was just the top disciple of the Warden, who wasnt famed for his teaching skills.
The canine did his best to defend, but it was impossible. The spanking was too rough. A palm slipped through, slapping his cheek, while another met his buttocks with a crisp sound. Sapasun went flying, but Jack teleported in his way again. Purple color surrounded his palm. He raised it high. Meteor Spank! he shouted, bringing the palm down on Sapasun. The canine twisted reality to make the palm hit his shoulder instead of his head, and with a crack, his arm was dislocated.
ARGH! Sapasun roared, flying away. Damn you!
Whats wrong, Sapasun? Jack asked. You once took all my limbs, but I only took one of yours. Do you feel this is unfair?
Damn right it is! Sapasun roared back. Youre mocking me!
So what if I am? Did you not mock me as you tortured me? Jack snorted. This is the karma you have sown, Sapasun. Prepare to reap it all.
The Elders were embarrassed, and the audience was flabbergasted. Jack was being a bit of a bully, but who could blame him? After all, he was only repaying the grievances hed suffered. In the cultivation world, this was already pretty light for revenge.
Jack Rust! a voice rang in his headthat of the white-robed man. You are going too far. Dont humiliate the Kingdom more than necessary, or even we wont be able to save you!
Jack ignored him too. He had already decided to go through with this. If they didnt like it, they were welcome to scold him laterif he didnt find a way to escape them.
Sapasun gritted his teeth. More foam leaked from the corner of his mouth. He was embarrassed in front of the entire galaxyin his centuries of life, he had never before suffered like this. Not in public, anyway.
Take this! he roared, raising his remaining arm high. Reality warped around him. Light danced erratically. Space changes its rules. Sapasun had unleashed a skill that was and wasnt a domain, an area where logic did not apply.
The audience exclaimed in surprise. This was no weak move. Sapasun may have looked like a joke compared to Jack, but at the end of the day, he was a strong peak D-Grade of the Animal Kingdom.
You cant mock me! he roared. Only I can mock me! Lose your mind!
He charged at Jack, who only laughed lightly and walked over. A new aura emerged from his body; a hint of his Dao Domain, a place where the Fist reigned supreme. Im sorry, he said. I have no Domain of Spanking, so this will have to do.
Where Jack walked, reality settled down. Insanity lost its grip. The fist was hard and resolute. It was the epitome of facing reality instead of distorting it for ones own benefit. It carried discipline, power, and indomitable will.
Sapasun roared and stabbed out his remaining hand. INVINCIBLE STAR GRASP!
Jack walked up to him. Cracks spread through the dominating insanity, and then it shattered, leaving Sapasun exposed as the insane man he really was. Jack slapped his hand away, then spanked the canines hip with all his power. The bone shattered under the impact. Jacks hand then returned as a back-slap, breaking Sapasuns other hip as well.
Only now did the canine manage to react, flying backward to escape, but Jacks grip on his wrist was iron.
Let me go! Sapasun screamed.
When I was captured, did you let me go? Jack asked. Purple covered his palm, and it landed on Sapasuns remaining shoulder, dislocating it as well. Only now did Jack let go of Sapasuns wrist, letting him fly away. Once, you took all four of my limbs, as well as my dignity, Jack said slowly. Now, I have done the same. Only your dignity remains. Prepare yourself.
Purple aura shone on his fist, far stronger than before. Color and light was sucked in. The audience was unaffected due to the energy barrier, but they saw the inside of the arena go dark as Jack drew the entire world into his open palm.
I surrender! Sapasun cried out in panic.
Jack shook his head. There is no surrender in a duel to the death.
Jack Rust! Stop! ordered the white-robed woman.
Brat, dont you dare! the Warden roared in Jacks head.
Jack ignored them both. He teleported over Sapasun, raising his palm. STOP! Master, save me! Sapasun tried to roar, but the sound of his voice was sucked into Jacks fist, leaving him stranded in a dark, lonely silence.
Jacks palm came crashing down, spanking the top of Sapasuns head. It exploded like a watermelon. Bits and pieces flew everywhere, instantly vaporized by the ensuing explosion. He flew down like a missile.
When the air cleared, Sapasuns remaining body lay on the ground of the arena, completely lifeless.
Level up! You have reached Level 231.
Level up! You have reached Level 232.
The entire arena was silent. The entire stadium was silent. Everyone looked at Jack, not knowing what to think.
Did he really have to bully the Animal Kingdom that hard!?
Jack landed besides Sapasuns lifeless body and turned to the audience. I do not claim to be a saint, he said. I am a warrior, and the Animal Kingdom is my enemy. This man once tortured and mocked me; now, I have returned the favor. Compared to everything they have done to me, this is nothing.
The audience stayed silent for another moment. However, the cultivation world was a harsh place. Killing ones enemies was natural. Bullying the weak was commonplace. And they could all tell that Jack was no bullyhe was just, as he said, a warrior paying back his dues.
A warrior who, with his actions, did not hesitate to spit in the face of one of the strongest factions in the galaxy. He hadnt just defeated one of their strongest warriorshe had literally slapped him to death.
That was That was
Completely unheard of!
It was absolutely sensational!
One person cheered. Then another. As if someone had opened the floodgates, every man and woman in the audience cheered at once, raising their voices to the sky. The same scene was playing out all across the galaxy, with one exception: the arenas honor seats, where every single Elder of the Animal Kingdom was glaring at Jack with every fiber of their C-Grade cultivation. If not for the people watching, they would have already jumped out and torn him to pieces.
As it was, however, there was nothing they could do. One by one, they turned their dirty glares at Artus Emberheart, the Warden, the one who had caused this entire thing. The moment he was blinded by arrogance and accepted Jacks proposal to duel, he had consigned their entire faction to humiliation.
You fucked up, Artus, said the Grand Elder, not caring to keep his voice low.
As for the Warden himselfwhat was he supposed to say?
Of course hed fucked up! Hed fucked up big time, but he was also the greatest loser here!
Not only had Jack killed his son, infiltrated his planet, killed his disciples, and repeatedly humiliated him in public, but hed now just slapped his top disciple to death. And to top it all off, everyone blamed him as well!
It took everything the Warden had to maintain his facade of composure. He kept his eyes lowered, his mouth shut, and his arms tightly crossed. This was just too much. Already, his Dao of Supremacy was tettering on the brink of collapseif he didnt find a way to take revenge against Jack Rust, he would never advance again!
Even the announcer must have been caught by surprise at Jacks actions, because it took him a few seconds to speak.
Sapasun was a disciple of the Animal Kingdom, and if he lost, he can only blame his own weakness, he announced. However, the Kingdom will get revenge. Step forth Maximus Lonihor, the Head Disciple of the Animal Kingdom, the strongest D-Grade in this constellation!
A fierce figure jumped out of the spectator seats and into the arena, meeting Jacks calm gaze with outrage.
Did you enjoy that? he asked.
Not really, Jack replied honestly. But it had to be done.
Hmph! Sapasun and I had our differences, but I remain his senior. You will pay for your actions.
The corner of Jacks lips rose. Make me, bitch.
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