Gods of Destruction

Chapter 29 First Sign of Brilliance

The noontime sun was tender, casting its warm rays upon everyone as it streamed through the drifting white clouds, bringing a faint sense of warmth.At this moment, all eyes from both the Azure Bamboo Hall and the Sword Hall were fixed on Nasser Reza and Wafa. Hassan glanced at Arthur, who happened to be looking over as well. Their gazes met briefly, and a glint of coldness flickered between them before Arthur quickly looked away. Yet, a faint smile lingered on Arthur's face, as if victory was already in his grasp.On the dueling platform, Nasser Reza gazed into the vast, clear sky and boundless sea of clouds, feeling a sudden wave of emotion. It had been a year and a half since the massacre in Nasser's family village. Back then, he was just a rural child who clung to his sister's hand, clamoring for treats. He could have never imagined that one day he would stand atop the peak of Mount Tur. No, it wasn't that he had never imagined it—it was that he had no idea the world even contained the path of martial arts, nor had he ever heard of the Youming Sect.The world changes in the blink of an eye, and life drifts by, fleeting like the clouds.Thinking of his sister and parents, Nasser Reza couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. He reached out, gripping the blade of the blood sword. Its cold touch sent a chill through him, yet it also seemed to strengthen his resolve. No matter how unpredictable the world became, he would fulfill that dream alongside Changsheng.As Nasser Reza was lost in thought, mocking laughter suddenly erupted from in front of him."A worthless member of the Azure Bamboo Hall dares to compete in the Nine Halls Tournament? Giving you a spot is a complete waste."A wave of laughter burst from the Sword Hall disciples below the platform. Dina, fuming, tried to shout back, but her voice was drowned out by the uproar. Arthur's face showed a trace of ridicule, while Hassan's lips curled into a subtle and meaningful smile.On the dueling platform, Nasser Reza said nothing, his eyes narrowing slightly as his energy surged rapidly through his meridians. Suddenly, with a flicker, he vanished from Wafa's sight.Wafa had not expected Nasser Reza to be so fast. Startled, he hurriedly drew his long sword, only to hear a faint whistling wind by his right ear. His nerves tightened, and he instinctively thrust his sword diagonally in response.The sound of the clash reverberated, yet Nasser Reza's blood sword remained sheathed, its sharp tip pressing against the scabbard. Wafa felt as though he had struck an immovable mountain, unable to budge it in the slightest. His face changed drastically."A Sword Hall disciple, and this is all you amount to?" Nasser Reza said coldly, retracting the blood sword, which still remained sheathed. With a swift motion, he slashed toward Wafa's right shoulder. Wafa quickly raised his sword to block, but the moment their weapons collided, the web of his hand tore, sending a massive shockwave through his body that pushed him several steps back."You've lost," Nasser Reza said indifferently. Before Wafa could react, Nasser Reza kicked him square in the abdomen. Wafa's body flew into the air, landing ungracefully off the platform in a backwards fall."The winner is Nasser Reza of the Azure Bamboo Hall," Gui Youming announced calmly, though there was a hint of surprise in his half-closed eyes.The crowd erupted in awe.The crowd erupted in astonishment, voices rising in a deafening roar.In just three moves, without even unsheathing his sword, Wafa had been defeated.Not only were the Sword Hall disciples shocked, but even Reza, Zayd, Khalid, and Dina stood there, mouths agape. However, Hassan and Amina showed little reaction, as if they had already anticipated this outcome."Little junior brother, you were amazing! You've finally brought some honor to the Azure Bamboo Hall!" Dina exclaimed, her voice filled with delight.Reza and Khalid couldn't help but share a knowing smile. The Azure Bamboo Hall had long been looked down upon by the other halls, but now, with Nasser Reza winning in just three moves without even drawing his sword, they finally had a moment to hold their heads high.Only Zayd's eyes were filled with envy. He glanced at Hassan, his gaze brimming with resentment. If not for their master's favoritism, giving the Heavenly Spirit Pill to Nasser Reza, then it would have been him standing on the dueling platform, shining in glory today. With this thought, seeds of bitterness began to take root in Zayd's heart."Master," Nasser Reza called out respectfully as he leaped down from the platform.Hassan nodded slightly and, with a flick of his sleeve, left the scene. The Azure Bamboo Hall disciples quickly followed, leaving behind the Sword Hall disciples to murmur amongst themselves."Wasn't he once considered dull and untalented, with none of the hall leaders willing to take him as a disciple, so the headmaster had him join the Azure Bamboo Hall? How could he possibly have such immense power?""To defeat Senior Brother Chang Jian in just three moves without even drawing his sword— even our senior brother would struggle to achieve that!"Hearing the discussions of the disciples, Arthur's face turned livid. He let out a heavy snort and stormed off. The Sword Hall disciples fell silent instantly, too frightened to even breathe.On the white marble plaza, the atmosphere was electric. Sixty-four participants from the various halls were competing in the Nine Halls Tournament, divided into thirty-two matches across eight rounds. The victors strutted proudly, swelling with confidence, feeling as though their cultivation had reached new heights. They believed they were destined for victory, and winning the championship seemed within reach. Meanwhile, the defeated were filled with bitterness, lamenting that they would never stand among the hall leaders.As dusk approached, all thirty-two matches concluded. Abbas, Hina, and Shirin had all secured easy victories. For the Azure Bamboo Hall, aside from Nasser Reza, only Reza managed to win his match.Zayd, however, had the misfortune of drawing Faisal as his opponent. He was defeated in just one move, his face turning ashen. Without a word, he left the plaza on his own and returned to the Azure Bamboo Hall.Night fell, the full moon hung high in the sky, and the stars twinkled. From atop the sea of clouds, the moonlight and starlight appeared even clearer and more vivid. The thirty-two victors were permitted to rest in the Heavenly Dragon Hall, while the others returned to their respective halls.At midnight, Nasser Reza was sleeping soundly on his bed when he suddenly heard a voice calling his name—it was Hassan's voice. He awoke with a start, but Hassan was nowhere to be seen. Glancing at Reza beside him, he found him still fast asleep.Confused and uncertain, Nasser Reza wondered if he had just been dreaming. Just then, Hassan's voice echoed once more: "Nasser Reza, meet me at the arch bridge."Though Nasser Reza didn't understand how his master's voice reached him without disturbing anyone else, he was certain it was indeed Hassan's. Without hesitation, he rose quietly and slipped out of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.The moonlight was intense, the starlight deep. As Nasser Reza gazed toward the arch bridge, he saw Hassan standing with his back to him, enveloped in mist, bathed in the cold moonlight like a veil of gossamer. The mist swirled around Hassan, his green robe gently swaying, giving him an inexplicable air of loneliness.Nasser Reza stepped onto the arch bridge, bowed slightly, and softly called, "Master."Hassan did not turn around. Instead, he mused aloud, "The morning dew fades, the ephemeral flower wilts; so close, yet so far. The rivers wind through ten bends, but ultimately, they all flow eastward. Nine thousand miles of sky, who dares to seek its peak? Birth, aging, illness, death—through the ages, the world's splendor endures. The way of heaven remains constant, not born for oneself, not perishing for another."Nasser Reza felt a tremor in his heart. He sensed that Hassan had something important to tell him, so he lowered his gaze slightly and listened quietly, awaiting his master's words."This is something your master, my predecessor Bassam, once said. He was deeply devoted to the art of divination. Though his achievements in martial arts were limited, his expertise in divination was unmatched in the world."Hassan paused and continued, "Before he ascended, my master mentioned that despite the Azure Bamboo Hall's decline over the past century, a prodigious talent would emerge from the hall. However, this talent, destined for greatness, would be beyond the reach of the Azure Bamboo Hall. It seems that the prodigy he spoke of is you.""Unfortunately, the Azure Bamboo Hall has fallen for a century. Among the current disciples, Reza is too straightforward and lacks adaptability, Zayd has a narrow mind and cannot achieve greatness, Khalid has mediocre talent and is unfit for the leader's position, and Dina is too mischievous to inherit the tradition. And you, yourself, have little interest in the Youming Sect. It's a pity that the Azure Bamboo Hall has no one to succeed it."Nasser Reza felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He lowered his head and said softly, "Disciple has failed to live up to expectations. I hope Master will forgive me.""Don't blame yourself. It's simply fate, and there's little we can do about it. The top ten disciples from this Nine Halls Tournament will be sent to train in Huangqiu City. My master said that the changes within the Youming Sect began with the tournament and originated in Huangqiu. You need to prepare yourself and advance to the Martial Sovereign realm as soon as possible.""Yes, Master."Nasser Reza looked up and replied, though he wasn't sure what changes within the Youming Sect Hassan was referring to, he understood that increasing his strength was always the right course of action.However, at the moment Nasser Reza lifted his gaze, he caught a glimpse of two figures on the jade stone plaza—a man and a woman. Upon closer inspection, he realized the man was Faisal, and the woman was Dina.