NOVEL NEXT Chapter 550: Carving Her Own Path
The atmosphere in the arena was unmatched and Su Lan felt great pressure, with hundreds of thousands of powerful cultivators from around the country and even the world watching her battle.
However, her confidence didn't waver in the slightest and it was an opportunity for her to prove herself to her family and the great family head that gave up on her after a year.
He was one of the most powerful figures in the country, so he understood that he had responsibilities and couldn't waste his time on a lost cause, so she didn't hold resentment towards him.
She was once named as his successor and with her current capabilities and talent, she could receive that title again if she so wished, but now that she had recovered, she also didn't want to return as his disciple and would flourish independently like she had always done, relying on herself.
And it was all thanks to Adam.
Clutching her blade tightly, she was faced against a muscular man that wielded two axes and was quite famous.
Mad Hacker
That's what they call him.
He was known for striking down all his opponents with his axes and being able to break through any defence.
Not knowing much about him, Su Lan was unsure what to expect, and although she was extremely confident in her own skills, she didn't underestimate her opponent.
As soon as their match began, he burst toward her at incredible speeds, however, Su Lan was shocked to find that she felt as though he was slow.
Compared to the speed she was used to facing when sparring against Adam, the Mad Hacker despite priding himself in his speed was too slow to pose her much of a threat.
It was the first time she had been in a serious battle since the attack on her home that day, and incredulously, her body felt so light, her mind felt clear and her eyes were glued onto her opponent who used a high-level Movement skill.
By unleashing short bursts of power, he would move side to side while heading toward her, creating a mirage of afterimages that were supposed to confuse the opponent, but Su Lan completely saw through his Movement Skill.
She even felt as though she didn't need to unsheathe her blade, and as he neared her and went to hack her down with his axes, she didn't even move from where he stood.
Her movements were rapid and within an instant, the Mad Hacker collapsed to the ground unconscious and his lifeless body lay there.
Striking the back of his neck with the hilt of her blade, she knocked him out in a single strike and the crowd was amazed by how easily she made ti seem, despite her opponent being a powerful Master Level Cultivator.
Although not the most powerful participant in the tournament, his power was nothing to scoff at, and yet Su Lan made him appear pathetic.
Amazing.
The results were announced, and the crowd began to praise the great family head of the Su Family, believing that it was his tutelage that allowed her to become so powerful.
However, the great family head along with the other seniors in the Su Family didn't understand how she had gotten so powerful and couldn't claim to be responsible for her power, but they didn't deny that they were responsible for it either.
Shamelessly they basked in the glory of their descendant that they had given up on, as the great family head left where he was sat and appeared beside Su Lan who had walked out of the arena.
She was on her way to a private watching stand that participants that won could watch the rest of the battles from, but the great family head emerged before her and had a warm smile as he did.
"Su Lan my darling, I knew you would be able to recover," he said as he went to grab her wrist to check the state of her body.
Pulling her arm away, she responded bluntly, "You didn't and now that I have, you probably want me to return as your direct disciple. I am a member of your family and indebted to you, but I don't wish to be your disciple anymore."
She had thought about what she would say to the great family head upon meeting him and wasn't sure how she would feel, but now seeing him before her, her feelings became clear to her.
He was a stern and strict man, and even while teaching a frail girl like herself, he didn't hold back, but now he acted so tenderly.
It was clear that he didn't truly care about her, but that apathy was reciprocated, unlike what he was expecting.
"Are you sure Su Lan? Without me to teach you..."
"I did fine recovering without you. And being a swordsman is about carving your own path to the peak, so I do not wish to follow yours any longer."
Smiling, he was obviously disappointed, but he was also proud that she had been able to recover and become independent.
Even if she didn't want to be his disciple any longer, just her being a part of thier family would bring them great influence and rewards, so he didn't mind too much.
However, he also needed to make his authority clear.
"Su Lan, speak more respectfully to your seniors," he instructed sternly as he imposed his aura over her.
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind him and he didn't even sense it coming, which was unbelievable, considering he was one of the most powerful figures in the country.
It was Adam, and using the Step Skip Skill along with his Form Switching Characteristic, accomplishing such a feat was easy, but the great family head didn't take his sudden emergence well.
Su Lan was shocked out of her mind when he emerged out of thin air, but immediately became worried for Adam's life and things quickly began to spiral out of control.