Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

Chapter 178: Grand Marshal

Sect master Ma Ling was currently drowning in his own sweat as he continued to stare at Ma Bei. The sect elder still has not woken up from being tossed across the stage and planted in the wall. Initially, he went ahead with the challenge as he detected that most of the people in Xingcai city were just in the Earthen core realm.

Even their young leader, the one they call Lord Viel, was just in the Earthen core realm. He thought it would be easy taking over this city. But he should have known better, how could a city filled with people in the Earthen core realm be able to subdue the Heaven Bamboo sect in the first place? Of course, they are backed up by someone strong.

He was so blinded by greed that he was not even able to think straight.

His breathes were turning heavy by the second. He was going to fight next. If that Xing Cai lady was already that strong, he could not imagine who he would be fighting.

"And now, what all of you have been waiting for"

Sect master Ma Ling's thoughts were interrupted by Viel's voice, which seemed to be serious all of a sudden.

"The final match. Leader vs Leader", Viel said in a whispering tone, but even then, it felt like the whispers were flying just beside your ears, "The fate of the city is in their hands"

"White Bamboo sect master, introduce yourself!", Viel shouted as he pointed towards sect master Ma Ling.

Sect master Ma Ling, however, could only gulp as he nervously jumped on stage. His eyes wandered, trying to find who it is he will be fighting. The woman called Xing Cai that fought before was beside two other women. Could it be he was fighting one of the two?

The other looked like a foreigner, so there was a very low chance of her being the opponent. The one with the big bosom waving a fan was most likely his opponent. And like Xing Cai, he can't even begin to fathom the level of cultivation she had. The big-bosomed woman did, however, look quite familiar to him. Where has he seen her before?

"Oho, it would seem the White Bamboo sect master wishes to remain mysterious!"

As sect master Ma Ling was lost in his thoughts, Viel began talking again. "Very well, we will respect the sect master's privacy", Viel said. Some of the audience started booing towards the sect master, even those belonging to his own sect.

"And now"

But as soon as Viel spoke again, silence quickly drowned the entire arena. Lightning started to erupt from the skies as thunder crawled towards the audience's ears. Or at least that was how Viel wanted it to sound like as he made the noises from his mouth.

"A boy", Viel whispered, "Trying to protect his home, trying to protect those who he held dear, trying to be strong even though he shouldn't have to be."

Viel slowly floated his way up to the stage, his sedated palms pointed towards the skies, "Today", Viel then kneeled on the stage, the sound of his breath ringing in the audience's ring.

"I must fight again!", Viel then shouted as he quickly stood up. His long golden hair elegantly waving in the air, his eyes heavy as they looked towards the vast and empty sky, 

"...Because it is my destiny"

"..."

The crowds remained silent as they stared at Viel's seemingly solemn figure. Truly, a stature worthy of a leader, they all thought.

Sect master Ma Ling, on the other hand, could not help but widen his eyes in glee. This kid, who was only at the Earthen Core realm was his opponent?

As soon as he realized that, all the thoughts and the worries that he felt instantly dispersed, completely disappearing into the depths of his mind.

He wiped the sweat that accumulated on his face, and his mouth, which previously felt heavy, started to lift up as it formed into a smile, 'This would be easy', he laughed in his mind.

This way, even though they have lost twice already, the result of the tournament would ultimately lead to a draw, this was perfect.

"And so, without delaying it any further", Viel opened his arms as he looked across the audience, "Let our match begin. Let's fight!"

As soon as Viel announced the start of the fight, sect master Ma Ling instantly disappeared from his spot, quickly appearing behind Viel who was busy looking at the audience. He then swung the edge of his palm straight towards Viel's neck, slamming him to the cold hard stage.

"!!!"

The audience could not help but gasp and cover their eyes as they saw the honorable city lord dropping heavily on the stage.

"It's done", sect master Ma Ling lightly sighed as he patted his robes. They have already suffered enough humiliation, if he was going to let this fight against a puny cultivator of only the Earthen Core realm go on for more than a second, it would just add to the embarrassment of their sect.

Sect master Ma Ling slowly made his way to the edge of the stage, but before he could jump off, he heard a whisper crawl its way from behind him.

"I will not give up"

Hearing this battered voice, sect master Ma Ling quickly turned his head back towards the center of the stage.

There, his opponent was slowly getting up. His legs were trembling uncontrollably, but even then, his opponent stood up. Seeing this, sect master Ma Ling could not help but raise his eyebrows. Even though he did not use that much force, he was sure that his strike was enough to incapacitate a cultivator of the Earthen core realm, much less a kid.

"I will not give up", Viel once again repeated. His eyes, however, were not looking at sect master Ma Ling, but to the citizens of Xingcai city. The drifter children all held their breaths as they saw Viel's eyes that were full of resolution. Xing Cai and the others, however, only looked at each other.

Xing Cai was the first to leave the arena, her eyes completely blank. The second one to leave was Sofia, letting out a deep sigh as she thought of all the other things she could have done while this whole sham of a tournament was going on.

"Where are you guys going!?", Jin-ri, however, remained as she continued to watch Viel's performance with eyes full of anticipation.

"Very admirable, boy", sect master Ma Ling muttered as he snapped his white robes, "But this farce ends here"

Sect master Ma Ling once again disappeared from his spot, but this time, his fists targeted Viel's stomach.

"Ugh!", Viel's feet slid on the stage as he was thrown back a few meters, leaving a trail of smoke sizzling on the stage. He then coughed vehemently as he groveled in pain.

"Stay down, boy", sect master Ma Ling's voice was cold as he looked away, "This won't end well if you keep on struggling--"

"No!"

Even with sect master's Ma Ling, Viel still got up, "I will never give up!"

"W...what the?", sect master Ma Ling's eyebrows started to lower. Something was wrong, he thought.

The audience could not help but whisper to each other as they saw the desperation in Viel's eyes. Even with the pained expression on his face, he still stood up.

"I will not give up the city!"

And with Viel's screams, came the cheers of the crowd.

"Lord Viel!"

"We support you!"

"Lord Viel! Lord Viel!"

"We hear you, Lord Viel!"

The cheers and the cries of the audience drowned the entire arena, enough to fill one's heart with much excitement.

"And I hear you, my minion!", Viel bellowed as he pointed his finger towards the audience, "And together, we will defeat the villain that knocks on our door!"

Viel's feet then suddenly slowly lifted into the air. His whole body glowed in a golden light as he floated in the air.

"...", sect master Ma Ling's head slowly turned upwards as he watched Viel rise up in the air. He should have known that something was wrong when the boy didn't faint from his first strike... No, he should have known as soon as he entered the gates that this whole thing was abnormal.

"Everyone, please give me your strength!", Viel shouted as he raised both his hands up.

And in turn, all of the drifter children also raised their hands in the air. And then slowly, a ball of light appeared above Viel, its golden glimmer enough to blind sect master Ma Ling, who was the one closest to it.

"This isn't this illegal?", he thought as the gigantic golden ball slowly swallowed him whole.

And so, the first-ever Annual Xingcai Tournament was concluded. With Xingcai city successfully protecting itself from the evil invaders that wanted to conquer their lands or so the story would be told.

In truth, this event led to Xingcai city getting its 2nd batch of citizens. The White Bamboo sect completely disbanded not only due to the shame of losing to an unknown force but also due to the fact that some of them already bought a piece of land.

In the end, sect master Ma Ling finally bought the house that he wanted, one that had a spacious courtyard right in the middle.

***

"Is this true?"

"Yes, one of my spies from the White Bamboo sect reported it to me"

"I see. Such a shame"

Inside a dimly lit room, two men were having a conversation, their embroidered robes glistening as the candles reflected on its silky surface.

"The Princess herself, tch", one of the men muttered as he slightly fixed his long silver hair, "This just got a bit more complicated"

"What are your orders, Grand Marshal?", the informant said in a low voice.

The man called the Grand Marshal took a deep breath as he took a few steps in the dimly lit room. After a few seconds, he then let out his breath as he looked at the informant, his eyes as cold as the winter skies.

"We can't have the Princess snooping around...", the Grand Marshal whispered, "Silence her...

...Kill her if necessary"