A Death Wish

'How is she so strong? Being able to use soul attacks... She may even rival Yan Zu...' Jian Mu muttered to himself, a expression of something sinster.

This good really good! I can use her to kill Yan Zu not only that she'd be a great ally in the future!'

"Your finally using your brain, who would of thought that you'd be so sinster, planning to use her in the future."

"I see you finally decided to show up... It has been awhile." Jian Mu said in a voice of of relief.

"Oh you have grown more cocky since we last spoke." The figures voice lingered in Ju Mu's mind.

The voice was right, Jian Mu had grown quite cocky, yet smarter planning to use people for his own gain was something he'd never think he'd do.

"And why does that matter? You said I needed to win this is my first step to use her to kill Yan Zu would mean in the future I will be safe."

"You truly are fascinating! This is good this is the truth path of a demonic cultivator! Using others for your gain is what a true demonic cultivator would do!"

"What do you mean? Doesn't every demonic cultivator do this?" Jian mu asks, a voice of confusion yet curiousty lingering in his mind.

"Ahh yes while demonic cultivators do use people they never think that far ahead and, they do it without any true purpose but, you I can see it and feel it! Using them not only for your personal but to even ally them to protect you from future threats. I never thought you'd be like that boy."

"I see… but there's one thing you got wrong. She won't just be an ally, she'll be a pawn. I'll find a way to control her. It's the only way to prevent betrayal."

"How brilliant by. But be careful sometimes the chain you forget can become your prison..." The figure laughs and speaks in madness finding Jian Mu's thoughts and potential thrilling.

"This is why my plan will work perfectly... But this girl, she is different not only are the instructors allowing her to participate she doesn't seem the type to be taken advantage of easily... I need to find out more about her and her goals..."

"Heh... your own your this time. Don't die to quickly because I'd be a shame if I lost my only source of entertainment.The figure says in complete madness laughing as the voice slowly fades away.

"You bastard! Your leaving so fast!? Get back here!" Jian Mu speaks with utter anger. His blood boiling as he found this quite strange, the figure would normally never disappear so fast.

Zhao Lin taps Jian Mu on the shoulder.

"What the hell is wrong with you today? It seems like you've lost a couple brain cells, speaking to yourself as if your insane." Zhao Lin laughs not even mocking, just surprised to see his freind being what he calls 'normal'.

"I said that out loud?" Jian mutters softly in utter embarassent.

'You damn demon look at what you did!'

Zhao Lin speak in relaxed tone.

"Do not worry my friend I was the only one who heard but it does not matter."

"I wanted too ask, I sense that you you can enter the qi gathering realms 6th stage even though you've never cultivated... I find that quite strange dear freind..." His voice sounding more serious, the relaxing tone leaving nothing but seriousness as his looks dead straight at Jian Mu.

Jian Mu forced a smirk, though his fingers twitched at his sides. He couldn't let Zhao Lin see him falter.

"Dear freind I have just finished my fight and am left utterly tired... You wouldn't want your friend to push himself would you?" He talks back with the same pressing aggression as Zhao Lin did to him.

"Oh, I forgot about... Forgive me for my mistake as I was not thinking about your well-being at the time of speaking." His voice finally dropping the hostility to Jian Mu allowing Jian Mu to breathe.

"It is not your fault brother, we all make mistakes." Extending his hand to shake Zhao Lin.

"Your right, brother we all do." He shakes his hand firmly.

'Damit why the hell is he squeezing my hand, I feel like it's going to burst!'

Jian Mu breaks the shake, rubbing the back of his head to hide the fact that he was in pain.

Just then a loud a loud voice echoed through the stage.

"The second trial has come to and end! Out of the 500 who made it 300 have passed! I congratulate all of those who have passed!" Elder Bai appearing above the area, his voice as loud as ever.

'Disappointing! These fools did worse from the entries five years ago!' Elder Bai sighs.

"Those with most skillful display today shall be awarded accordingly! Now first place goes toYan Zu from one of many great clans!"

The crowd cheer as they all respect Yan Zu since he effortlessly beat his opponent.

'Dammit he got first!? Of course he'd would, his from the main clan... These bastards being praised for being strong... I hate it!'

Jian Mu clenches his fists knowing that most respect him because his the heir of the clan and a genius prodigy.

Elder Bai continues with the names as all the members from the other great clans get their rewards which were 4th grade tier heavenly pills. The pills that could help one break through by already giving them a large amount of Qi instantly.

When Elder Bai finishes the sun has nearly set as all the entries look fatigued and tired.

"You fools may now return to your dorm rooms at once!"

All the entries who passed run as they all wanted to rest or eat while on the other hand Jian Mu goes to the forest where they took the first trial.

'That bastard said I couldn't cultivate but I never tried it out my self...' Jian Mu finds a nice spot and get downs crossing his legs. He puts his hands below his meridian.

Jian Mu slowly begins to cultivate, the black qi running wild and uncontrollable as he tries to grasp and control it .

'Damit, why does it feel like my body's is tearing itself apart? That bastard said I couldn't cultivate...was he right? But if I stop now I'll be weak... I refuse to be weak!'

After what seems to be hours the black qi finally circles around his meridian and, disappears allowing Jian Mu to absorb it.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips. 'I did it... That wasn't so—'

Pain struck like a hammer. His chest tightened. Blood splattered across the ground as his vision blurred, the world around him fading to black.

'Shit... What's going on? It hurts... My body hurts...'

Darkness begins insue covering everything around him as his whispers his final words.

'Is this how I die...'

End of chapter 20