Degrade from Nobility to a Humble Slave

After spiraling into the depth of madness, remaining calm after future setbacks of any kind, would be impossible for anyone to do.

Difficulties would bedevil the person, and he would bring more harm to his mind and soul by worrying.

Under the circumstances though, the individual needed to help himself, without others interfering or removing the problems.

Hall Chief Ouyang was standing back away from the competition field, scowling. He watched as his greatest source of pride, and chief disciple, Vale, was beaten, and deteriorated, succumbing to insanity, by Zen's hand in front of everyone.

However, he knew the only solution in this situation was to leave the afflicted person alone, since confronting someone in the grips of madness would result in sending the struggling victim into the abyss.

When a woman became angered, she could regain and maintain control, unless a well-meaning individual tried to comfort her, then the tenuous balance would tilt, and she would end up in tears.

Nevertheless, Zen approached the white lotus slowly. No longer filled with life vitality, the lotus was draining quickly, but, Vale didn't have time to care about the white lotus.

All the while, step by step, Zen drew closer, until he stood over the white lotus, looking down at Vale.

"I'll give you a chance to follow my steps! In three years, you can battle me! But, even then, you won't be able to beat me. Then again, if you aren't courageous enough to try, you may as well leave with your shame and die. Although your talent is outstanding, you lack determination to excel in martial arts. Look at you, a minor frustration and you fall apart, becoming impossible to calm. Even if you didn't meet your match yet, it wouldn't be long before you did...

This is a large world. In the Eastern Region alone, there are billions of people, add to that, there are ten times as many in the Central Region, or so I hear. Out there, genius disciples refine the cultivation skills above tier four from childhood and use all kinds of panaceas to improve. Their talents are inherited from their parents, and they have profoundly strong mentors to guide them. And just maybe, one of those geniuses can defeat you, even one as young as nine or ten. Heck, they can clobber me even now. Your pride is twisted! It's ludicrous! It's arrogance...

Only when you understand that your pride is deceptive, can you transcend it and begin to cultivate in earnest. At that point, you may have a chance to catch up to my level. If you don't though, you will be nothing but a loser your whole life. No. In fact, if you don't, it will prove that you were always a loser!"

Each word Zen said, cut into Vale's head, and felt like a knife stabbing over and over into his heart.

The more Chief Ouyang listened to Zen, the more irate he became, until he wasn't able to stand anymore and suddenly exploded, "Zen! You already won against Vale. Don't take things too far!"

beyond reason. Vale teetered on the edge of spiraling into madness, and Zen didn't show signs of letting up.

match most people preferred Vale over Zen, but watching him beat Vale, their feelings changed, and even now, many people were on Zen's side.

of the noble clans and was a personal disciple under Hall Chief Ouyang, it was assumed that Vale was more powerful indeed. Add to that, Vale had

Zen's outburst, that was

insult to injury. It was clear that Zen's hate-filled speech was intended to give Vale a final shove into the fire.

looking down at Vale, and Zen's gaze was reminiscent of a spring breeze. He carefully kept his face devoid of any other emotion because it was quite clear that if he smiled, even

Vale was done, and the days of having the pleasure of watching a talented disciple favored by thousands of people were gone, and his future appearance would just be that of one more idiot of the Cloud

feet. The empty, sad expression was replaced by an intangible countenance. There was an otherworldly air about Vale as he seemed to gaze at everybody, and no

the virtual lotus shadow grew, spreading under his feet.

delicate fragrance which sprang up fast, and in a split second the blossom

and he stopped talking, inhaling sharply

he could foresee. For a long moment, Kenneth stood silent with his mouth agape, and then Kenneth chuckled as he shook his head, and said, "I didn't think it was possible for me to underestimate Zen still! He knew Vale was on

Epiphany...

seeing the white lotus materialize worn off, Elder Xu's blank gaze

and never experienced the epiphany. Realizing an epiphany was even more difficult for those talented, more powerful, and more advanced in martial arts training. After all, when the warriors were unenlightened in the ways of martial arts, that was when they were more open for a sudden epiphany. However, if a warrior gleaned a great extent of

Illuminating Soul Realm now, maybe his epiphany would greatly enhance his

would have believed that Zen's observations would inspire Vale to

the calamity, Zen's serene deportment never changed which made people think he knew from the start what

at the peak of grade-one Illuminating Soul Realm, if he

disciple can't be beaten. The realm that the warriors have reached is important for them to compete, but Zen made headway against

knows how terrifying he will be after he does?! Well then, maybe Rocher

five minutes went by when suddenly a cracking sound drew attention to the white lotus encasing Vale. The sound grew louder while a fine line expanded, spreading, and splitting until the entire lotus was filled with fissures.

piercing explosion startled everyone as the white lotus shattered, and there, in the center was Vale sitting. He opened his