Chapter 21 Round Two

With that day one concluded, the results were posted on a large board outside of the main arena. The teams congregate in less time then it takes to boil tea. The Crystal Kingdom barges its way through and scans the chart.

"Look at that Augus we're at the top… and second is THE DIAMOND CONTINENT!!" Qin Ming gushed like a school child.

"Ha well it only makes sense since we crushed them!" Augus said as he held his hands high in the sky.

"Oh so you're the one that stopped us…" a dark voice called from the back.

The room fell quiet, Augus's face turned pale like an eggshell. "YOU!!"

A walkway opened up in the crowd where the dark figure began to walk through. He passed them delicate glances "oh my if it isn't Qin Ming! Quiet the show."

Qin Ming could only grit his teeth. His eyes trained on Akemi, he just glares back in a cocky manner at Qin Ming. "You know you caused quite the disturbance when you reached the Xiantian."

Qin Ming held back his tongue, he glossed over his old rival. "Oh fine then just pout I guess!"

Akemi walked off into the distance not bothering to look at the scores. Augus ground his teeth, a vein protruding from the side of his forehead. "Qin Ming… this bastard is testing me!"

"NOT now Augus! Let him go." Qin Ming exclaimed as he held Augus back.

Augus only huffed hot air as he silently grumbled underneath his breath. Qin Ming looks at his team, if his head was any lower it'd be playing with the worms, "lets go…"

The rest of the team all headed back to the common area of the dorms. Ryu sat and hummed in a chirpy manner. He was deeply locked in meditation. For him to make a brakethrough now was astounding.

Tianlong walked side by side with Qin Ming, she clung to his arm tighter than a newborn infant and his mother. Qin Ming couldn't help but frown. "This is my fault."

Tianlong lifted her head then tenderly looked at the ground. Qin Ming thought to himself "was death really that scary?" he held his chin as he pondered away.

Qin Ming retired to his quarters, once he arrived he slouched down defeated in a bed near him. "Akemi…"

Qin Ming began to hum in a harmonic manner, he was locked in a deep seeded form of meditation. After the several battles he saw take place, he was able to gather many inspirations. The Dao started to flow through him like a symbiotic stream. The Dao gathered around his body, Qin Ming could clearly see the Dao of Martial Arts laid out before him. "interesting…"

Qin Ming sat very still as though one was looking at a quiet stream trudging along the bank. The Dao only grew stronger as it spun around the room.

In the main room

Augus sat down, he glossed over the room then took a small glance at Tianlong, "my friends… this situation doesn't seem favorable!"

"What's so bad eh? If Akemi becomes a problem then we'll deal with him!" Ryu retorted.

"Yeah but…" Augus hesitated.

"If there are any problems, let's try not to stir the pot in the future." Tianlong trailed off then quickly grew quiet.

Augus's expression changed faster than a breath's time. A frown grew on his face as he gazed at Tianlong Xun, "Tianlong…"

A tear fell down her delicate, almost porcelain face. Augus stood up and turned his head and looked off in the distance, "don't worry I won't stir up trouble."

Augus left the room just as quickly as he entered. He leaned up against the wall right next to him. The sun had begun to set and with it a cascade of wondrous beauty followed. "Ahhh!"

The sun fell beneath the horizon, dark clouds rose and shrouded Augus's view. "huh?"

Three figures gently dropped to the ground, the absolute instant Augus saw this he immediately elected to flee instead of fight. "RUNNING ARE WE!! LET'S CHASE HIM!!"

Augus looked back and he saw they were still on his tail, he grit his teeth in a sharp manner. He sucked his teeth and continued to fly even faster. "GET HIM!!"

The other two men flung out a chain that charged him. The chains snaked at him at great speeds. Augus tried his best to avoid those mystic chains because he knew the second he was trapped that would be his death. "Just a little longer…"

The lead only grew more furious as his men couldn't lock him down "useless!"

Augus turned his gaze forward, his gaze was serene and calm like a winding river, yet as immutable as a mountain range. "I hope this works."

Augus flew downwards; he was now over a hundred kilometers from his base. He saw the men that followed him down "here Tianlong Xun won't be disturbed!"

"You ran a long enough pesky worm!" the man grumbled.

"Who sent you!" Augus shot back.

"Doesn't matter you will be dead before that information becomes relevant!" the man retaliated.

Augus flared up, flames coaxed his entire body in a scarlet blaze. Eight multi-colored petals covered his back. "Last chance."

The man began to sweat "why did he even run.."

The man flung his hand and the other two bursted and sped at Augus. Augus could only sigh "oh well."

Augus took in a deep breath the area around him began to slow down and become simpler. He crouched and right when he did a blast of wind blew across the men. He moved his hands in a wave-like pattern with each movement flames trailed behind them. Augus ran his fist through the circle made of flames.

BOOOOM!!!!

In an instant a torrent of flames and wind crashed against the two men and instantly incinerated them. The third one tried to flee, however Augus would simply not let this happen. He hopped up, caught him in a second and then slammed him into the ground just as quickly. "Who sent you?!"

The man refused to speak, "answer me and you might live!"

He remained quiet, "oh well!" Augus snapped the man's neck.

Augus stood up and patted the dust off of him, he started to head back to the dorms, however, another figure dropped down to where Augus was. "Oh come on there's more of you ants! Oh well more fun for me!" Augus boomed.

The dark figure doesn't say a word. He rushed Augus in the very next moment. Augus used his arm to block the blow. A blast of wind leveled the battlefield by a couple of centimeters. The man raised his other hand and flung it down like an axe. Augus blasted flames which blew back the man's hand.

When he was sent back Augus rammed his elbow into the man's lip. Augus took a right hook to the man's jaw, then he twisted his fist around and threw an uppercut into the man's chin. Flame trailed behind the uppercut, the dark figure was sent upwards at an extreme pace. Augus jumped up to meet him, this arrival was shut down just as quick.

In a breath's moment the dark figure shoved his fist deep into Augus's stomach, blood spewed out of his mouth. A black miasma coated Augus's body, Augus screamed out with ear rupturing might!

Back at the Dorm.

In the faint background a loud scream rang in Qin Ming's ear. "Troubling…"

He stood up and left his room and each of his comrades greeted him. Qin Ming stepped out of the door and flew at extreme speeds to reach Augus. Since Qin Ming became a Xiantian as a body refiner he has been able to move at around a kilometer a step.

In less than a second he arrived "so you wish to bully my Junior yet you haven't asked me if that was ok?" Qin Ming exerted himself.

The dark figure looked at Qin Ming in a quick gaze. "You…"

Qin Ming glossed his eyes over the figure, his eyes filled with disgust you could only find at a garbage dump. He wanted nothing to do with this man, how dare he hurt Augus. Qin Ming stepped over to the dark figure, the dark figure also walked forward releasing his grip on Augus.

They both shot over at each other and the dark figure sent a fist towards Qin Ming's face, Qin Ming used the back of his hand to throw his attempt asunder. Qin Ming looked the man in the eyes and wagged his finger as if to tell him 'no'.

Qin Ming lifted the back of his hand and swung it with all his force into the man's chin. The dark figure was brought back a bit, his face turned ugly and he threw fist after fist at Qin Ming; however each blow was easily countered. The dark figure tilted his body and his leg looked like a mountain as it was about to crash into Qin Ming. Qin Ming hopped back then went right back at him.

Qin Ming threw his palm into the dark figure's lip, when his head was rocked back Qin Ming used his other fist to crash into his ribs. The dark figure coughed up his lung, he took another swing at Qin Ming.

Qin Ming flipped backwards several times until he put enough distance between him. Qin Ming bobbed and eved when there was no danger at all. He wiped his nose and used his hand to motion the dark figure over. The dark figure roared with anguish.

"SLIPPERY LITTLE INSIGNIFICANT WORM!!!" he yelled.

"Come get me!" Qin Ming taunted.

"My boss told me about you, but I'm not scared!" the dark figure added.

"You will be," Qin Ming stated coldly.

Nine beams of dark miasma shot up from the ground and charged at Qin Ming each beam converged on Qin Ming, "[Third Stance, Wave Cacks Stone]"

A jet of pressure smashed apart the streams of Miasma in an instant it dissipated. The jet continued and slapped against the dark figure's chest. Qin Ming sent three more jets of pressure which collided against the man's chest and legs. The man was forced on his knees and he looked up at Qin Ming. Uhsinow walked up to the man, he peered into the man's soul, "you shouldn't have ambushed Augus!"

"Do what you're going to do, kill me!" the man taunted.

Qin Ming raised his hand to the sky just as he swung his hand down another caught it. "No Qin Ming." Augus demanded.

Qin Ming dropped his hand and shook his wrist, "yeah whatever just get back to the dorms." he grumbled as he walked away.

Qin Ming turned into a blur, Augus looked at the man and peered into his eyes. Augus had a fire in his eyes; he was definitely not going to let this man go. "Who sent you?!"

The dark man gazed at Augus and spat in his face. Augus's left eye turned bloodshot "why you…"

Before Augus would do anything the man bit down on his tongue and a capsule in his mouth released poison instantly shattering his soul.

"What a waste!" sighed Augus.

He stood up and fled back to the dorms about an hour later and the teams were called up.

In less time than it takes to boil a kettle of tea all the teams shuffled into the main courtyard for the next challenge. The tournament director bellowed out loudly "everyone gather round this will be the second preliminary match, the aim of this game is…"

Tianlong began to trail off, her mind wandered off in many places she knew she would be up next. What would this game hold for her? This was all very unknown for her but she would try her best regardless.

"This is known as the hell tower where you may bring on a teammate to compete alongside you, choose wisely." the director continued.

Tianlong thought for a moment, she wanted someone who she worked well with. This left her with two options, her kin brother, and powerhouse, Qin Ming; or someone with complementary abilities, someone she has already worked well with, Augus. With his comprehensive knowledge and prowess over the Dao of Fire.

Tianlong Xun stood up, her eyes carried a serene glance as she surveyed the competition. Tianlong Xun extended her hand, "join me, I need your strength!"

"Alright, wouldn't mind knocking some heads!" Augus cracked a smile as he took her hand.

They walked shoulder to shoulder and moved in perfect harmony up to the stage. The director was pleased enough and snapped his hands together. The ground underneath them began to shake as a moving platform opened its maw. A tower that puts the heavens to shame arches its head to reveal its awesome glory. Before anyone could take their next breath, everyone of the contestants teleported inside of the tower.

"What's this?" Tianlong held up the sheet of parchment that lay in her lap.

"Here give me that." Augus beckoned.

"Huh oh yeah sure not like I understand it anyway." Tianlong handed the sheet while scratching her head.

"What the hell… it's empty!" Augus rubbed his chin.

Tianlong took it and stored it away in a ring. Air slowly began to fill this space until it seeped through every part of the tower. "Hmm just as I thought!" she exclaimed.

"What is it Tianlong?" Augus touched the walls and pulled his fist back getting ready to break the wall down.

"Wait, stop that, one false move and you'll blow this place up!" Tianlong sent out her hand to stop him.

"Huh why's that?" Augus slowly retracted his hand and turned to Tianlong.

"This entire tower I just rigged to explode, that's what the air in the room is for!" Tianlong explained.

"Heh crazy girl! What's the plan then! Why even bring me?" Augus pondered?

Tianlong smiled and she lifted up her hands and a cone enclosed the space around them. "You're gonna blow it sky high!"

"HAHA! Yeah yeah put those bastards in their place. TIME FOR FIREWORKS HAHAHA!! Augus was giddy and practically unable to remain still.

He stuck his hand outside the barrier and small sparks poked through his fingertips.

BOOOOOOOM!!!!

RUMBLE RUMBLE!!

"HAHAH HOW PRETTY YES, THIS IS WHERE WE BELONG HUH TIANLONG" Augus bellowed.

Tianlong looked to her side and put her ear against the tower and closed her eyes.

"How!?!" Tianlong's face was snow-white.

"Huh, what's wrong?" Augus calmed down a bit.

"There's still someone alive in this tower…" Tianlong felt a lump in her throat.

"Well, well, it was your group of troublemakers. Oh Augus is here that makes this job much easier." The man undid the knot on his robe and the top half fell to his waist.

Augus stepped in front of Tianlong Xun and put his arm in front of her, "nothing will happen to you I promise!" Augus stood there as if he were a solitary mountain. His heart resolute and tranquil, the image he conveyed, no skilled artisan could copy.

The man was even taken aback " Akemi told me about you, this should be easy! Before you die you should know my name at the very least. My name is Lu Xin" he said coldly.

Augus looked at Tianlong then stepped forward, coating himself in flames. Lu Xin also stepped forward and lightning struck his body.

The ground shattered as Augus charged at Lu Xin, Augus swipes his hand at Lu Xin. Lu Xin easily blocks and sends a blow of his own. Augus gripped his fist and threw a fist at his elbow, a blast of flames followed. Lu Xin swiped Augus's feet and threw a bolt of lightning at him. Augus ate the bolt. Augus put his hands together and a cone of flames consumed Lu Xin. As the flames devoured him, Lu Xin threw a hand out to break the curtain blocking him.

Augus backed up to avoid Lu Xin's hand. Augus used his hands to create a spiral, from that spiral eight mighty leopard-printed Qilin danced gently to greet the battlefield. The eight charged Lu Xin. in the next moment he coated his hands in lightning, sending out a blade from his knuckles.

One galloped, crushing his lungs, but the blade stabbed into the beast's neck. Then the next one came looking for blood, Lu Xin started to see the pattern. One jumped into the air, Lu Xin sliced the beast in half, then extended his hand to stab the one next to it in the head. Two more came charging in unison and those two were quickly sent away.

BOOOM!

Pressure flattened the room, air rose above Augus, Lu Xin became pale, Augus sent his fist through the wave-like flames. A jet of fire and pressure crashed into Lu Xin. A veil of static blocked the biggest front of the blast.

"I wondered when you used that!" Lu Xin laughed like a mad man.

Augus was speechless, it was Akemi that sent the hit squad. It all made sense now! Augus retreated to meet with Tianlong "Tianlong get your ass in gear no way I'm beating him alone!"

Tianlong was still frozen from fear but these words broke through to her. "B-but I.."

"No fucking time for this shit, get it together or we both die here!" Augus threw up a wall of flames, to block the impending blow.

She stood up and casually walked through the wall of flames. Space distorted around her as she moved, her eyes shined a bright yellow, her mouth even grew dragonic fangs. "YEAH HA TIANLONG IS BACK!" Augus rejoiced loudly.

A flurry of wind spun around the room lifting up rocks and debris. They were like a bull destroying everything in its path. Lu Xin was shaking, Augus walked over to Tianlong's side. Wind swirled around Shenlong's fist, flames also coaxed Augus's fist. They smack the back of each other's hand, a small explosion erupts from the mixture. They stand back to back as they ready themselves for Lu Xin.

At this moment Augus and Tianlong were in perfect sync. When Lu Xin took a step forward, space enclosed him in place and he couldn't move. Augus leapt on top of him and a wall of flames crashed down on Lu Xin. His chest ripped open, but before he could heal this wound Tianlong sent a torrent of wind to shred his body into pieces.

Lu Xin was covered in his own blood streams from his forehead clouding his view. Millions of bolts of lightning escaped from his mouth and a blast wave of lightning followed out and crashed against Tianlong.

The blast wave pummeled into Tianlong, she grit her teeth and her beast-like hands crashed into the blastwave. This was futile; it was simply too strong. She was sent flying and came crashing into the tower wall. Augus tried his best to catch her. She was always just shy of his grasp.

Augus's shoulders dropped. His face was covered in anguish, he was a failure. Lu Xin was the least of concerns right now he was a dead man walking. Augus ran to catch Tianlong in his arms. She fell perfectly into his arms like she was meant to be there, a missing piece.

"Come on Xuny stay with me, hold on. DON'T DIE YOU CAN'T DIE!!" Augus sobbed. Tears ran down his face like two rivers.

Lu Xin charged at him, Augus lifted his head, his eyes stabbed into Lu Xin's heart. Lu Xin slightly stopped in his tracks. Augus sent out two scarlet dragons, behind his back 7 multi-colored flames hung high. Lu Xin had no way to stop this front anymore. He could only accept his fate and die.

Augus held her tighter he lightly put his head on hers "come on Xuny we made it so far!" Augus was beginning for the gods at this point.

Augus was unnaturally uneasy; it's not the fact that she hit the wall, or the blastwave, it's that Tianlong hasn't been herself. If she wasn't ready then this might have actually killed her.

His tears dripped onto Tianlong as soft as a feather. "Xuny…" Augus's voice cracked

"Hey, hey no tears I'm going to be ok!" Tainlong spoke softly.

Augus grabbed the hand that was on his cheek "Xuny are you-" Tianlong cut him off.

"I said I'm ok let's finish this." Tianlong stood up and went through Lu Xin's things. That same parchment that was empty was also in his things as well. Tianlong picked it up, holding it side by side to theirs.

Augus was befuddled. "Uhhh Xuny are you ok, like you took a pretty big hit you don't wanna lie down or something?"

"Huh why would-" Tianlong collapsed before finishing her words.

Augus quickly leapt to catch her fall. He softly patted her head. "Ok, ok just rest now Xuny I'll finish things up here!"

Augus lifted the parchment in front of him and began to scan through its contents. When the two different scrolls were brought together it finally revealed its secrets. "Hmm a map?" Augus puzzled.

Augus quickly ran throughout the tower and collected all the map pieces. Although the blast displayed immense power the scrolls were still left intact, these were no run of the mill parchments.

To be completely fair this challenge would have been leagues harder if it wasn't Tianlong and Augus working together. With that being said this entire challenge took about the time it would take to boil a kettle of tea. Augus was able to capture all the fragments of the map in less than a second. Once he did that the tower expelled all its miscreants.

Augus was holding Tianlong Xun in his arms as he walked up to the director to hand over the map. He did all this with a stone cold expression. Qin Ming jumped from the stands to meet him "is Tianlong-" Qin Ming felt a lump in his throat.

"She's going to be just fine!" Augus said this plainly enough, but really this was his own hopes.