Ryu's aura grew frosty, the polar opposite of his previously oppressive heat. His mood only grew worse when he realized that the stage judge had actually still yet to call the match. If this was the definition of being unable to continue, then what was?
Without another thought, he suddenly stood, his figure flashing forward.
Host Minn immediately noticed the change. "Contestant Ryu, please return to your seat!"
There was nothing wrong with his words, in fact, it seemed he was simply doing his job. However, the sinister glow in his eye was obvious to anyone who took a second look.
"I won't say it again!" He roared, but he was already making his move.
Unfortunately for him, he had completely underestimated Ryu's casting speed. Just when he thought he would intercept Ryu, the latter's body was swallowed by the ground once more, bringing him to the outer edges of the stage's array in an instant.
Host Minn was stunned and embarrassed. He was an Immortal Ring Realm expert, yet he was actually outmaneuvered by a young pup. How could he not be infuriated?
At this moment, how could Throne Byrine not realize the situation? Even to now, the stage judge had yet to call the match, as though waiting for Guiot to die… as though it was something he deserved.
After quickly calming himself, Host Minn was no longer worried. So what if he got by him? Even he couldn't pass through the protective array, let alone Ryu. His [Warp] would be useless before it.
The sinister light in his eyes grew fiercer.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" His shout was filled with a righteous indignation that made one's stomach crawl.
Throne Byrine sneered. "You want to save this ant? Watch well as I kill him!"
Byrine raised his palm once more, a swarm of fire coalescing around a point in the sky above Guiot's charred half-dead body. The fact Guiot had survived at all was a thorough humiliation to Byrine who had intended to kill him with a single strike. Such an ant didn't deserve to live on for any longer.
However, it was at that time something astonishing occurred. Just as the palm descended upon Guiot's body, Ryu passed through the stage's array as though it was never there to begin with.
Shock colored Host Minn's expression as his own palm strike shattered against the outer dome, reverberating through the arena that was already filled with excited cheers and shouts.
It felt like he only took one step, but Ryu had already appeared beside Guiot's body even as the flaming palm enveloped them both.
Byrine was shocked by the change, but he soon sneered. "Since you want to die together with him…"
Before he could finish his words, his expression changed once more.
His flaming palm seemed to slow. It didn't dissipate, but rather moved as though it was wading through a thick, viscous liquid. It hovered above Ryu's kneeling form, slowly losing power before it began to visibly shrink… Eventually, its form began to flicker weaker, its heat cooling and its body deforming from a palm, to a ball of flame, and ultimately to nothing.
"What an exquisite defensive technique…" Ancestor Ember mumbled softly.
Others couldn't tell, but Ancestor Ember could certainly see that although the palm had appeared to stop, it was actually travelling hundreds of meters in a very confined space. Throne Byrine's attack essentially dissipated because it had crossed too large of a distance! It hadn't even met the true defense of Ryu's technique before it winked out of existence.
Ryu calmly placed his hand on Guiot's chest. After a moment, he lifted it upward, taking with it a torrent of raging fire qi that had been wreaking havoc within Guiot's body.
He flicked it into the distance, dispelling all of the latent heat within him. As an Herbologist, Ryu knew well that the worst danger in severe burns wasn't actually the initial hurt, but rather the lingering heat that would continue to do damage over time. Unless it was dealt with first, the situation would only become worse and worse.
The stage's array quaked as the string of fire qi collided against it. It was clear and obvious that this casual qi could obliterate a Divine Vessel Realm expert, yet Ryu had handled it so deftly…
However, there now remained a dilemma… Even if the latent heat was now gone, just how could he save someone at death's door?
Guiot's mother and sister had cheeks flooded with tears. They had wanted to move forward to retrieve Guiot just as the Minn Clan had been allowed to receive Jonete, yet their path had actually been blocked. They thought for a moment that they really could only watch Guiot die until Ryu came out of nowhere.
Ryu's brow furrowed.
The stage judge cleared his throat. "Um… Guiot Alos is unable to battle. Throne Byrine wins…"
He knew it was simply impossible to delay it any further. He wanted to fillet Ryu where he kneeled, but he didn't dare to. He wasn't as brazen as Host Minn, unless the Apostles said they were removing their protection from Ryu, he would not make a move.
Throne Byrine's gaze flickered uncontrollably, but there was already nothing more he could do.
'Oh?' Ailsa's brows arched. 'When did my Little Ryu get so soft?'
Ailsa knew what Ryu planned to do even before he did it. However, even if she was prepared, the torrent of shocked gasps showed that others most definitely weren't.
A Spiritual Herb appeared in Ryu's hand.
Toward its center, its beautiful whiteish green petals were folded similarly to the center of rose, except in this case, it took the form of a sleeping baby. Outward from this center, a fluffy white haven was created like clouds formed of balls of cotton.
This gorgeous interior was surrounded by a lush green lotus the size of two palms held together. The heavenly fragrance they wafted made one's heart tremble.
"Crown Grade Herb!"
No one knows who said it first, but the ensuing chaos nearly brought the arena down. It felt like for the first time, voices alone would be enough to shatter its very foundation.
Yet, from this precious herb, Ryu actually plucked a leaf, causing its radiant rainbow aura to dim slightly.
The sounds of several hearts breaking was nearly corporeal. They could only watch as Ryu crushed this leaf and placed it into Guiot's mouth.
At first it was only one… But then Ryu used a second… Then a third… Eventually, the petals of the lotus were gone, leaving a bed of puffy cotton and a whiteish-green rose-like center formed into a sleeping baby.
Guiot's chest thumped, his weak vitality slowly strengthening.
Seeing this, Ryu took action once more, steeling his heart and cutting a wound in his chest before placing what remained of the Spiritual Herb inside.
Guiot's body trembled more violently, his limbs quaking to the point where his charred skin began to peel, revealing the bone and muscle beneath.
'Whether you can survive now it up to you.' Ryu thought silently.
He had just fed Guiot the Crown Earth Grade Herb known as Cotton Rose's Lullaby. The issue was that Crown Earth Grade Herbs allowed Divine Vessel and Connecting Heaven Realm experts to experience eating a Heaven Grade Herb without suffering the consequences… However, Guiot was only a Spiritual Severing Realm expert.
In the end, though, Guiot did not disappoint him. Maybe it was because he was already so close to the Divine Vessel Realm, but his aura surged, his meridians crackling and popping as his first Qi Vessel was opened.
His body underwent a rebirth, a sharp spear qi radiating outward in every direction.
'It seems this little one has a spear soul… how interesting.' Ailsa said with a light smile.
'A spear soul?' Ryu was faintly surprised as well.
There were four pillars of cultivation talent. One's Meridians, one's Bone Structure, one's Spiritual Foundation, and finally, one's Bloodline. But, there were rare instances where a fifth pillar might appear. This fifth pillar wasn't necessarily better than the other four facets, it was only that they didn't often manifest…
They were known as Soul Natures.
This hidden Fifth Pillar of Talent was rare already, but they were especially rare amongst humans and beasts. They were only slightly more prevalent amongst creatures like Faeries and Elves.
Of course, Ryu didn't have a Soul Nature. With his pitiful Mental Realm talent, it was a wonder he could practice at all, let alone birth such a good thing.
Guiot's Soul Nature was fairly restricted now, but when he entered the Soul Birth Realm, his talent would blossom forth. The small Outer Ring would definitely be incapable of holding him.
Later stages of cultivation heavily relied on Comprehension, and those with Soul Natures were far beyond others in this respect. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Guiot's raw spear cultivation talent was even beyond Ryu's. Of course, with the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth pupils by Ryu's side, he could ignore this difference with ease.
Guiot slowly fell back to the ground. His eyes slowly opened, but his gaze remained filled with confusion. Just what happened? Why was everyone looking at him like he was a zoo animal? And why was this handsome guy standing over him?