Strongest Cultivation Swordsmanship System-Chapter 42: Winner

Xiaotian stared at him and spat out some blood. His body was bruised by the fire in several places, his clothes were destroyed, and part of his growing fur was burned.

"Thank you," Xiaotian replied. "Although that wasn’t going to kill him."

The count shrugged. "You won anyway. With that attack, you would have sent him outside the boundaries of the arena, and there would have been no turning back. I won’t take away your victory, but I can’t let a genius like him die just like that. He is valuable to our region."

Xiaotian simply nodded and looked at the referee. He was practically hinting: Tell him to announce my victory and give me my prize.

The referee was still afraid, but he looked at the Count above the arena, and the Count nodded.

Finally, the referee climbed into the arena and shouted. "The final match is won by Zhang Xiaotian! He will receive the Representation Token!"

The spectators were so stunned that they didn’t react, except for three people.

Elder Yan. Mu Tao Lei and Mu Ruxue, who approached Xiaotian, not only to congratulate him, but also to protect him.

"Take this, Tiantian," Ruxue said quickly, handing him a high-level healing potion.

Xiaotian took it immediately. "Thank you, Ruxue," he said gratefully.

Then he looked past Elder Yan’s shoulders as he stood in front of him.

"Keep your word," he said. "That token belongs to me."

Zhang Hao was burning with rage, but under the Count’s stern gaze, he had no choice but to comply.

"Prepare the ceremony," he said, forcing a smile.

"No need," Xiaotian replied. "I don’t need that. I just want my prize."

’This little bastard...’ Zhang Hao clenched his fists, but he was forced to take out the token and throw it to him.

The token fell firmly into Xiaotian’s hands, and he verified that it was the original.

Then he looked at all the members of the Zhang family, one by one. Especially Lucheng and Zhang Hao.

He had so much to say, but at the same time, so much to avenge that he preferred to remain silent.

In a way, he felt grateful to little Xiaotian... perhaps his life in this world would be boring or meaningless if he hadn’t inherited a vendetta from him.

Thanks to that vengeance, he could know where to move safely.

He turned and left.

As he did so, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small spider run toward him and jump onto his fingers, before disappearing into them.

No one saw it. No one could sense it.

Since Count Lu had taken control of the situation, he took it upon himself to close the event, emphasizing once again that he would give them a detailed explanation of what had happened today regarding Zhang Xiaotian.

Many felt that something was wrong, while others drew their own conclusions. But nothing official was said that was not already known.

-

With the revelation that Zhang Xiaotian was alive, the city was turned upside down.

First, the Zhang Family’s "Sword Son" had awakened a supposed F-grade talent, which later led him to commit suicide. His death was announced, and a funeral was even held in the Zhang family.

But now it turns out that not only was he not dead, but his talent was not F-grade at all, and his life root was never level 1.

Many people wondered: Had the Son of the Sword awakened long ago, and they hadn’t said anything? Or had he just awakened a month ago and in that short period of time managed to raise his cultivation to the advanced stage of the Body Strengthening Realm?

Most leaned toward the first option, but there were still those who chose to believe urban legends announcing the birth of a legendary cultivator, even though those urban legends didn’t know what level of talent to attribute to him.

The problem is that, whichever option you choose to believe, many questions arise nonetheless.

Zhang Xiaotian had an established status in the city, even having fans here and there. And being one of the most famous sons of the current most powerful family, naturally everything about him would attract attention.

Especially if it was about his death or "fall."

That’s why this time the Zhang family was caught red-handed. Perhaps, if it weren’t for the Count who practically protected them, a revolt could have broken out within the family itself.

Meanwhile, those who saw Zhang Xiaotian walking with Mu Ruxue back to the Mu mansion began to clean up Mu Ruxue’s "alcoholic" image, but that’s a story for another time.

In his personal courtyard, Zhang Xiaotian, Elder Yan, Mu Ruxue, and Mu Tao Lei gathered at the table to drink some refreshing tea.

Zhang Xiaotian had to be meticulously healed by potions made by a prominent alchemist because his bones were broken.

"Your body is too weak, Tiantian. You must be careful," said Ruxue as she helped him bandage himself.

Broken bones wouldn’t heal so easily, unless he took special pills that were only sold in Oak City, the capital of the Sect.

Xiaotian smiled. "It’s okay, don’t worry. I can still move," he replied.

"You could move better if you were more careful. I’m sure you decided to take one of those hits on purpose; that guy didn’t even use all his cultivation." She scolded him, so Xiaotian had to laugh with some embarrassment.

He couldn’t argue with her, she was right.

Elder Yan laughed when he saw the exchange between the two.

"I didn’t think the always serious Xiaotian would have a playful side with a woman," he joked.

Xiaotian glared at him. "Of course I’m going to joke around with my girlfriend and future wife."

"Haha." Elder Yan nodded. "Yes, everyone does." His words somehow made Xiaotian frown slightly.

Now that he thought about it... he didn’t know anything about Elder Yan, but somehow he had proven himself to be quite loyal.

"Little Xiaotian, I think things are going to get difficult for you from now on," Mu Tao Lei said when Mu Ruxue finished bandaging Xiaotian.

Xiaotian smiled. "I think they’ll go much better than I thought."

Mu Tao Lei raised an eyebrow. He didn’t understand what he meant at first, but after a moment he started laughing.

"You certainly take after your father. You love trouble," he said. "But you must be careful. It seems that Count Lu has his eye on you; no one has ever come out alive after that man decided he wanted them dead."

Xiaotian nodded. "Speaking of Count Lu, I’m curious about something. Who is the man who always accompanies him? The one who dresses like a butler."

Mu Tao Lei and Elder Yan’s expressions changed when they heard that question. They both seemed to have something to say about that man.