Lheticus_Videre

Now updating daily, at 8 AM EST!

In the world of the heavens, there are an elite few in history who transcend the word "genius." They rise through the ranks of cultivation with unparalleled speed, perform feats that defy common sense on a regular basis, and generally educate all who cross their path on just what it means for the difference between two cultivators to be as the difference between heaven and earth.

This…is NOT their story.

Xu Zuhui has never been considered a genius, or particularly talented, though no one would call him a failure either—no small feat in the cutthroat world of VRMMOs, the dominant form of entertainment on a dying Earth. Indeed, he is one of the lucky few to escape the terrible, ruined real world by uploading to a persistent virtual world based on the world of Cultivation.

But though his new body and new life comes with substantial perks, he will soon discover there are substantial risks as well. He’s far from the only strong talent in this new world, and few such people are happy to welcome more into their ranks. In what was supposed to be a virtual world, Xu Zuhui will soon find that the stakes he’s fighting for are very real…and he’ll have to become very strong indeed to survive the events the real hero of this world will inevitably drag him into.

Cultivating As A Side Character

There was a delay before the final quarterfinal match, to deal with Tze Mao. One of the elders who had previously been spectating ringside "escorted" him away, and only when he returned did the tournament resume.

The final quarterfinal match was an excellent display of skill, though of course it didn't have the excitement of the last one. Both semifinals were close contests; Lo Kien struggled mightily and ultimately lost by decision simply due to his opponent being somewhat more proficient.

After the final match ended, the other observing elders stood in the court to announce that two of them would accept the loser of the final match and Lo Kien as apprentices. As for the rest, those who had made the top eight (except for the disqualified Tze Mao) would continue to be watched closely by the ones who had not made a decision over the next several weeks, so they still had a chance.

Breaking Character