Chapter 328 - Devastation
Ren Ning wasn’t a talented or top member of the Rising Tide Sect. In fact, he was decidedly average. He’d gotten a big boost when his spirit roots had been raised from F+ to E-, but that left him, relatively speaking, in the same position he’d been in previously—about average.
His only—very small—claim to fame was a congratulations he’d received from the sect leader. Only council members and very few others were addressed by name from him, and somehow, Ren Ning randomly became part of that number after he’d advanced his spear technique to Large Success.
He didn’t let that event inflate his ego, though. His dad had impressed two pieces of advice upon Ren Ning from the time he was a small boy—keep your head down and work hard.
That counsel had served him well in the days prior to the sect leader arriving in Prosperous Gray Forest Village. Back then Ren Ning’s only goal was to help his parents provide for his two younger siblings. He’d avoided drawing attention to himself, letting his work ethic speak for him. Whereas some of the flashier and even some of the more connected villagers his age had drawn the ire of those who needed help tending crops inside the walls, Ren Ning had kept his head down and did what he was told, never trying to tell the person directing the work that he knew best.
Food was still scarce, but his reputation got him enough jobs to keep his family from suffering hunger pangs.
Then, the sect leader had appeared, and soon after, food scarcity stopped being a problem. Ren Ning’s solid reputation had once again benefited him as he was included in the second group of fifty villagers to be inducted.
He’d then proceeded to do what his dad had told him—kept his head down and worked hard. And he’d been … average. So average, in fact, that he’d been quite surprised when he’d done well enough in the Martial Pavilion tournament to qualify to go to Sixth Flawless Flowing City. Once there, he’d been less surprised to get past the first round as his Body Cultivation and superior spear technique carried the day against his opponent from the clan.
The second round, though… That was much tougher. Along with about three quarters of his sect mates, he’d eked out a victory. Leading him to the third round.
As one of the lower seeded of the sect, he’d been matched up with a talent from the Poison Claw Sect, one who’d had a bye for the first two rounds.
Ren Ning had tried his best, utilizing his superior speed and strength, but nothing he did mattered. His opponent was simply too good. Too talented.
The match wasn’t a rout. The Poison Claw Sect member had even given what appeared to be a respectful bow at the end, and Ren Ning held his head high as he exited the arena floor.
He was looking forward to being an observer for the rest of the tournament. Huang Yimun, Zi Delan, and several others had made it through to the fourth round and still had a chance at the finals. And, after the Qi Gathering round ended, the twins would fight as the low Foundation Establishment competitions began. That promised to be entertaining.