Evil Samurai In Cultivation World

"What most of you need right now is experience and understanding. You may be at a high rank, but without experience in fighting, you would be unable to fully utilize your skills and techniques and reach your true potential. And it is only through continuous sparring that you learn more about your shortcomings as well. You can only identify your complete set of weaknesses if you place yourself in different kinds of situations. A single fight might tell you one weakness, but another might provide you with an entirely different one. Different people fight in different ways, and you need to learn to adapt to various situations."

The disciples nodded their heads again, as if they were saying they understood his words.

"Although it would be a better option for you to have real battles, I'm afraid we don't have sufficient time until the tournament, and it would definitely be terrible if our most powerful members ended up not being able to recover, or even worse, succumb to death." The Headmaster snapped his fingers as he continued. "Which is why I have decided to conduct a sparring contest between the members!"

'A sparring contest?'

As the Headmaster finished his words, the disciples glanced at each other, giving doubtful looks. Most of them were wondering whether or not this was a test to figure out who among them were the strongest. After all, knowing about your most powerful disciples would give the Headmaster an idea on whom he should be focusing his attention more. 

Of course, these kinds of speculations only pumped up the disciples even more, as they wished to show their strengths and abilities to their master.

For them, this was a chance to get the attention of the Headmaster.

"The sparring contest will commence in one week's time. I urge you all to use the time remaining to prepare for the contest, for anyone, even juniors who are completely new to the faction, can participate." The Headmaster glanced at Claude for a brief moment as he said so. 

"Master, is there any reward for getting first place in the contest?" A female disciple, Katherine Warner, raised her hand and asked. The other disciples also nodded their heads for they too had the same question.

"Of course there is a reward for reaching first place!" The Headmaster smiled as he stretched his hand to the side and snapped his fingers, and Elder Kenneth reached into his sleeves, pulled out a scroll and passed it onto him.

The Headmaster's answer did not disappoint anyone. He looked at his disciples for a few seconds before continuing, "The victor of the sparring contest shall receive the 'White Blossom Palm Techniques', a secret palm strike technique that was created by the Legendary General Gareth Frasier!"

A secret technique that was created by the Legendary General Gareth himself! Every disciple had their eyes glued to the scroll in the Headmaster's hands now. They all wished to be able to cultivate a secret martial arts technique in their life, and this was their chance!

"I want you all to give it your all and show off your skills!" The Headmaster's voice echoed throughout the room, and the disciples couldn't help but feel motivated. "With only a short period of time remaining until the Golden Crown tournament, we have to make sure that we win! To win, you need to improve. And to improve, you have to fight!"

Everyone nodded their heads. All of the people here knew that as a faction that was under the mastership of the Headmaster of the Royal Academy, they had to give it their all to win the Golden Crown tournament. 

"I also would like to remind you that this contest is simply for educational purposes, and any techniques which are implemented with the intention of seriously injuring the opponent will result in immediate disqualification!" The Headmaster's expression turned serious as he spoke, for he knew that there might be disciples who might have grudges on others and might see the contest as an opportunity to take care of their enemies. "I don't want any of my disciples to seriously injure themselves and miss the chance to participate in the Golden Crown tournament! Understood?"

"Yes master!" As soon as he finished speaking, all the disciples bowed their heads together and yelled out in unison, and their voices echoed throughout the building.

"Good!" The Headmaster stared at his disciples for a few seconds before nodding his head in satisfaction, and said, "Well then, you can all leave to your residences now, for the meeting is now over!"

He glanced at Claude, giving a meaningful look at him as he walked back, disappearing from everyone's view, and Claude simply nodded his head.

Although he knew that the Headmaster didn't completely trust him, he still had no choice but to stay under him for now. After all, survival was important, and he would simply be reducing his chances of surviving if he did decide to leave the Grand Astral Faction.

Claude walked out of the Headmaster's residence along with the rest of the disciples, and decided to head back to his residence in order to train. 

"Junior brother Claude, wait for me!" Someone behind Claude called out his name just as he was about to leave the area and he turned around to see his senior, Wilfred Beldon, walking towards him.

"Why were you in such a hurry to leave, junior brother?" Senior Beldon walked over with a joyful smile on his face and asked. "Don't tell me that you were planning on practicing again?"

Claude shrugged his shoulders and replied, "That was the idea.."

"You really need to find some good hobbies, junior brother Claude!" Senior Beldon let out a sigh and shook his head. "Oh, and by the way, what did you think about the Headmaster's proposal about a sparring contest?"

"Of course, I am planning to win it.." Claude turned his gaze towards Senior Beldon as he said so, and the senior nodded his head with a smile. "I was expecting you to say that. But what do you think about the rest of the disciples? Do you know anything about your potential opponents?"

Claude shifted his gaze towards the front and began walking as he responded, "I do plan on finding out more about my opponents, but for now, I am thinking of focusing on my practice first."

"Well, whatever you want to do, I guess..." Senior Beldon shrugged his shoulders as he spoke. He then glanced behind for a brief second, before leaning towards Claude and whispering softly, "By the way, I think someone is angry at you..."

Claude looked at him strangely, confused about what he meant and Senior Beldon pointed to his back, "I don't know the kid, but I assume he's the one you beat up?"

Behind them, a few metres away, were a group of people walking towards them with cold expressions on their faces, and Claude, who saw what Senior Beldon was talking about, quickly wore a disinterested face and sighed. 

This idiot just wants to get beaten up, doesn't he?

The group was of course, Ian Jefferson and his lackeys, who were all glaring at Claude as though he was the devil. Senior Beldon, who was watching the group with an interesting expression on his face, leaned over to Claude with a smile and said, "I think you should've beat him up harder."

"Thank you for the input," Claude said with a sarcastic expression. "I'll make sure that I keep that in mind."

"Claude Rayforth!" Ian's voice came from behind them, as he walked towards him with his lackeys and said, "You might've won because I underestimated you, but never again. You're participating in the sparring contest, right? I'll show you then that you only won because you were able to catch me off guard!"

Claude snorted in response and said, "You know, that would've worked if you were some powerful cultivator, but we all know that you are just merely average at best. You think you can fight me in the sparring contest? Better think about beating the average disciples, because you aren't worth my time."

"Oh really? Then how about me?" All of a sudden, a voice interjected their conversation, and Claude turned his gaze towards the place where the voice had come from with a surprised expression.

'Well, well, well… It seems that it wasn't only lackeys that were accompanying him,' Claude thought to himself as a sinister smile appeared on his face. 

The person who spoke was one of the people who were standing next to Ian, and he had spread out their aura when he spoke, and Claude realized that this fellow wasn't his average opponent. 

He's extremely powerful! Claude narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man, who had a handsome face and wore a dark blue robe. 

The man's aura slowly surged up as he walked forward, until he stood right in front of Claude, staring at him as he said, "My name is Russell Davies. I'm Ian's senior, and I heard you beat him up. May I ask why?"

Claude stared at Russell for a second, and said "Does it matter? You're planning to take revenge anyways, aren't you?"

"So you don't have an answer, I presume?" Russell stared at Claude coldly, who simply shrugged his shoulders in response. He then said, "I'll make sure you regret your actions in the sparring contest."

Claude snorted and replied, "No you won't."