AST0047 – Kill
Countless gazes were fixated onto Qin Wentian, what decision would he make?
“Buzz!” Orchon didn’t attempt to mask the killing intent he had towards Qin Wentian as the long spear in his hands began to emit a terrifying light. Staring at the grin on Qin Wentian’s face, a disquieting feeling filled his heart; could it be that this Qin Wentian would actually dare to kill Orfon?
“Release him.” The tone of Orchon’s voice was filled with a immensely chilly air.
Looking at the cold-looking face of Orchon, Qin Wentian felt exceedingly calm as he continued, “Even when things have reached such a stage, you still refuse to put aside your so-called ‘pride’. That stare you used to look at me, it’s still the same as previously. It seems that Orfon’s death doesn’t bother you in the slightest.
As he finished speaking, the fist of Qin Wentian began to glow with a brilliant light. At this moment, the hearts of all the spectators tensed.
“If you dare to kill him, I guarantee that your fate won’t be like the third person. You’ill definitely have the same ending as the first.” Janus glared at Qin Wentian. The third person had gone on to become the Principal of the Emperor Star Academy, while the first person was executed by the Emperor Star Academy.
“That might be so, but even if I don’t kill him, in the Royal Capital, I’d still have nowhere to go too.” Qin Wentian’s smile remained the same. The first person suffered that fate because he was not worth much to the Emperor Star Academy. Since that was the case, how could he have a firm footing in the Royal Capital?
Lowering his head, Qin Wentian glanced at Orfon.
Orfon was looking at him as well. This time around, as he saw the gaze of Qin Wentian, Orfon felt true terror.
“Your life and death is in my hands, but there’s no one willing to lower their heads for you. The one you should hate, shouldn’t be me.” Qin Wentian calmly stated, causing the body of Orfon to shiver violently. The words of Qin Wentian were akin to an announcement of his death.
This was correct considering the few times he wanted Qin Wentian’s life — it was only expected that Qin Wentian wanted to kill him. However, between his brother and Janus, there was no one who was willing to lower their heads and beg for mercy. This caused him to feel a tragic wave of sorrow. The brother he had always respected, had threatened Qin Wentian with his ‘pride’, even when Orfon’s life was on the line.
Qin Wentian raised his Heavenly Hammer, integrated the essence of the Dragon Subduing Fist within it, and slammed the head of the hammer down violently as the draconic roar of an azure dragon rang out.
“I regret this!” Orfon howled with rage and depression, an instant before his body exploded. The only sound remaining after that, was the echo of his unwillingness, reverberating in the air, unwilling to be dissipated.
It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Qin Wentian, as of that moment, became the fourth person in the history of the Emperor Star Academy that had broken the iron rule.
The heartbeats of Mustang, Luo Huan, and the rest, palpitated wildly. Qin Wentian had actually chosen to kill Orfon in front of so many people.
The spectators all drew in a huge breath. The Emperor Star Academy had just produced two madmen.
The eyes of Orchon radiated an extreme chill as he approached Qin Wentian. Roiling waves of anger and killing intent could be felt emanating from his body.
“Orchon.” Janus shouted, causing Orchon to halt his steps. He wanted nothing more than to pierce Qin Wentian’s brains with his long spear. Qin Wentian had already committed the huge taboo of the Emperor Star Academy, becoming the fourth person to break the iron rule; Orchon couldn’t be the fifth. If he did become the fifth, even if he avenged Orfon’s death, he could still land himself into hot soup. The Emperor Star Academy was famed for ignoring social status and authority when it came to meting out discipline.
“Killing your own colleague during the ranking competition of the Emperor Star Academy; you’re the first that’s so audacious in challenging the authority of the academy.” Janus’s stare bore into the eyes of Qin Wentian, as if he was looking at a dead animal.
“I, Janus, with the status of an Elder of the Academy, humbly make a request of the Disciplinary Committee. Please allow Orchon to kill Qin Wentian, in order to avenge the death of his brother.” Janus beseeched, and shortly after, several silhouettes jumped up on top of the arena. These people were none other than the students belonging to the Disciplinary Committee. They all appeared up upon the stage, using their presence to pressure Qin Wentian.
Behind these silhouettes, a middle-aged figure slowly made his way up.
Thousand-Hands, the Elder in charge of the Disciplinary Committee, had appeared.
His gaze was expressionless, as he cast a glance at Qin Wentian.
“Within the Dark Forest, during the training exercise, Orfon attempted to kill Qin Wentian countless times. If this wasn’t the case, both of them wouldn’t have attempted to seek their revenge on Orfon. I, Mustang, beseech the Disciplinary Elder to have mercy. I’m willing to accept Qin Wentian as my personal disciple.” Mustang stepped forth, as he walked towards the Arena.
Janus wanted Qin Wentian to die, while Mustang wanted to protect Qin Wentian.
“Elder Thousand-Hands, Mustang instigated Qin Wentian to kill his own colleagues. If we allow this beast to roam free today… I strongly urge the Disciplinary Committee to punish Mustang in his place instead.” Janus stepped forwards as well, his eyes staring daggers at Mustang.
All the older students of the Emperor Star Academy knew that Janus and Mustang belonged to two different factions, akin to water and fire. The scenario that was happening wasn’t out of their expectations. What remained now, was how the Disciplinary Committee would chose to handle this situation.
“Qin Wentian, do you plead guilty to killing Orfon during the ranking competition?” Thousand Hands ignored the words of both Janus and Mustang as he asked this question, staring at Qin Wentian with a cold glint in his eyes.
The members of the Disciplinary Committee had surrounded Qin Wentian.
Looking at this situation, the hearts of the spectators all trembled. It seemed that the Disciplinary Committee had no intention of sparing Qin Wentian.
“The matter of Orfon attempting to kill me within the Dark Forest, would the Disciplinary Committee investigate this and seek justice for me?” Qin Wentian asked as he looked at Thousand-Hands.
“Nope.” Thousand-Hands replied bluntly.
“Since the Disciplinary Committee can’t be bothered, is there anything wrong with me seeking revenge for myself?” Qin Wentian asked, not backing down in the slightest.
“This fellow.” Mountain, who was in the spectator stands, was dumbstruck. Why was Qin Wentian still not budging an inch, clashing directly with the Disciplinary Committee.
“I humbly beseech the Disciplinary Committee again, to let Orchon kill this fellow, allowing him the right to seek revenge for his brother.”
Thousand-Hands remained silent for a moment, before waving his hands, signaling the students of the Disciplinary Committee to withdraw, leaving Orchon alone against Qin Wentian.
“Elder Thousand-Hands, if the Disciplinary Committee agrees to Janus’s request, then I’m afraid that I’ll have to interfere.” Mustang stepped forward strongly, without backing away.
“Mustang, you dare to interfere with the Disciplinary Committee?” Janus coldly sneered, as he moved to block Mustang. While Orchon, emitting killing intent, slowly stalked towards Qin Wentian. The students of Janus and Mustang, with Qin Wentian as the centre point, all appeared on the Arena, standing opposite of each other.
The wind of this commotion was blowing stronger and stronger.
At this moment, in the center of the raging typhoon, Astral Light glimmered atop the forehead of Qin Wentian, as he released his Astral Soul. The incomparably resplendent glow of the golden halo signified that his Astral Soul was condensed from at least the 3rd Heavenly Layer.
This scenario caused the eyes of Thousand-Hands to narrow. He wasn’t acquainted with Qin Wentian, and thus, he had no idea of knowing that Qin Wentian’s first Astral Soul was condensed from the 3rd Heavenly Layer.
TL Note: Due to the effects of the needle technique, they still think that his first Astral Soul was condensed from the 3rd Heavenly Layer.
“The 3rd Heavenly Layer, what’s this guys background? No wonder Mustang wants to protect him.” Seeing Qin Wentian releasing his Astral Soul, many people felt that things had just gotten more interesting. Was the Emperor Star Academy going to execute a talent whose first Astral Soul was condensed from the 3rd Heavenly Layer?
Traces of contemplation could be seen in the eyes of Thousand Hands. This fellow, Qin Wentian, was extremely prideful, but despite being so, did indeed have the ability to be proud. Thousand-Hands was considering how best he should deal with him.
“Orchon, make your move.” Janus shouted. Almost immediately, Orchon dashed towards Qin Wentian, while Janus moved to block Mustang.
Mountain stepped forth, releasing his Astral Soul. His whole person seemed to become a huge solid wall in front of Qin Wentian, as he punched out with his fist, as a projection of a heavy rock containing boundless might smashed towards Orchon.
“Scram.” Orchon hollered in rage, as the long spear of his glowed with Astral Light, as the shadows of several frenzied python struck forth, shattering the projection of the heavy rock.
The countenance of Mountain, sank. The pressure that was emitted by Orchon forced him to retreat. Although Orchon was arrogant, within the Emperor Star Academy, he could indeed be considered a strong cultivator.
As for Thousand-Hands, he was still in the midst of spectating and pondering.
At this moment, Qin Wentian was still incomparably calm. Since he didn’t want to be persecuted by the Ou Clan and the Ye Clan, there was only one method remaining to him. He would have to showcase his true worth in front of this Arena!
An even brighter radiance shone when the second Astral Soul of Qin Wentian was released. Besides the Heavenly Hammer Astral Soul, the Dreamcast Astral Soul appeared.
Thousand-Hands inclined his head as he gazed at the second Astral Soul of Qin Wentian. The next moment, his gaze stiffened as his countenance froze.
The color of the halo of this Astral Soul, was actually pure gold. The Dreamcast Astral Soul was revolving within the pure-golden colored halo.
Thousand-Hands was an extremely strong cultivator of the Yuanfu Realm, and was the Elder in charge of the Disciplinary Committee. But in his entire life, he never would’ve imagined that he would witness a pure-golden corona of an Astral Soul being released by a 16-year old youth.
But today, he witnessed it.
Not only him alone, so did everyone else.
And when the Dreamcast Astral Soul, which possessed a pure-golden corona, was released, in that instant, the matter of Qin Wentian killing Orfon lost all it’s meaning. Everyone’s gaze landed upon the 2nd Astral Soul that Qin Wentian had released.
The expression of Qin Wentian was still exceedingly calm. But now, his place in the hearts of the spectators was no longer the same as before.
That pure-golden color of the Astral Soul that he released, should’ve been condensed from the 4th Heavenly Layer right?
His first Astral Soul was condensed from the 3rd Heavenly Layer; his second Astral Soul, was condensed from the 4th Heavenly Layer.
This was unprecedented throughout the entire history of the Emperor Star Academy. Qin Wentian was the only one who’d managed to achieve this.
“Ceasefire.” A voice, akin to the rumbling of thunder, drifted from a figure in the sky, causing both those in combat, and the spectators, to be awakened from their shock.
The pupils of Thousand-Hands narrowed, as hints of reverence flickered in his eyes, and he commanded. “Everyone, halt. Those who disobey will be dealt with according to the disciplinary rules.”
Everyone’s gaze, during that short instant of ceasefire, rested upon Qin Wentian, as traces of awe were reflected in their eyes. While Janus and Orchon’s expressions were extremely fascinating to behold.
Silence, like the quietness of the dead, descended. The focus of the spectators was on the youth who’d killed Orfon; he had became one of the lead actors of today.