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!"

the line, and instead of being critical, Zen had insulted Vale beyond reason. Vale teetered on the edge of spiraling into madness, and Zen didn't show signs

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

were based on the fact that Zen came from a poor family, and was at a lower refinement level. Since Vale hailed from one 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 attempted to have a relationship with Zen's sister, Yan. All these things made Zen the choice

outburst, that was

merely adding insult to injury. It was clear that Zen's hate-filled speech was intended to give Vale

carefully kept his face devoid of any other emotion because it was quite clear that if he smiled, even faintly, everyone

of having the pleasure of watching a talented disciple favored by thousands of people were gone, and his future appearance would just be that

expression was replaced by an intangible countenance. There was an otherworldly air about Vale as he seemed to

stood still while the virtual

another holy, pure white lotus giving off a delicate fragrance which sprang up

and he stopped talking, inhaling sharply

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 the edge of spiraling

Epiphany...

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

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

Soul Realm now, maybe his epiphany

Zen's observations would inspire Vale to

which made people think he knew

grade-one Illuminating Soul Realm, if he has the epiphany now, none of the personal disciples

one of significance can instantly break through like that. But, it's better not to announce a personal disciple can't be beaten. The realm that the warriors have reached is important for them to compete, but Zen

also consider that Rocher hasn't drawn a sword yet. Who knows how terrifying he will be after he does?! Well then, maybe

the white lotus encasing Vale. The sound grew louder while a fine line expanded, spreading, and splitting until the entire lotus was filled with

as the white lotus shattered, and there, in the center was Vale sitting. He