NOVEL WEB Chapter 108: SSS
Han Mao gripped his scythe tightly, his gaze fierce.
With a powerful leap, he soared toward Yu Xuan like a predator descending upon its prey.
Yu Xuan braced himself, ready to sidestep the incoming attack — when suddenly, mid-air, Han Mao twisted and hurled the scythe directly at him.
The weapon spun through the air in a deadly arc, its unusual crescent shape giving it a warped, unpredictable trajectory.
Han Mao, having timed it perfectly, prepared to follow up with a devastating kick the moment Yu Xuan dodged. It was a method he'd used before, intimidate, force a dodge, and punish the opening that came, destroying the opponent.
But Yu Xuan didn't play as the script.
Instead of evading, he read the flight of the spinning weapon with dangerous clarity.
At the last moment, he leapt forward, catching the scythe mid spin by its handle. Gasps echoed through the audience.
Han Mao's eyes widened in disbelief. He caught it?!
The momentary shock was all Yu Xuan needed. In one fluid motion, he reversed his grip on the weapon and jabbed the blunt base of the scythe's shaft forward, striking Han Mao hard in the gut.
"Guh—!" Han Mao gasped, staggering backward, his breath leaving his body. He dropped to one knee, trying to recover his breath, but it was too late.
Yu Xuan stepped forward, calm and composed. The scythe now rested at Han Mao's throat, its curved blade gleaming just inches away from drawing blood.
The crowd fell silent, stunned at the sudden turn of events.
Han Mao stared up at the victor, a mix of humiliation and reluctant admiration in his eyes.
To lose a weapon was one thing, but to have it turned against him so quickly — it was humbling. He sighed, taking deep breaths. 'Tsk. I need to improve. I underestimated him.'
He was not a man with fragile ego, who didn't accept his loss, rather he strived to improve learning from his losses.
Above him, Yu Xuan stood tall, unfazed, holding the weapon like it had always been his.
"Winner Yu Xuan!" the referee announced, raising his voice as the silence cracked into a roar of cheers.
In the crowd, some gaped, others applauded, and many began to murmur among themselves. This so called pretty boy had just defeated the second ranked disciple.
"The last move was cool."
"Will he challenge the first ranked?"
"His daily fights are finished. Better luck next day!"
"I can be the SSS of this junior brother!!!"
"What's that?"
"Sugar Senior Sister."
The disciple who gave the last comment suddenly felt a chill running her spine. Did she say something unnecessary? Or did he already have a SSS. It was an important question.
And Yu Xuan? He simply handed the scythe back to the Han Mao and walked off the stage — silent, efficient, and unreadable.
'Should I go?' he wondered, glancing once more at the arena as cheers faded into background noise. His matches for the day were done, and tomorrow, he would challenge the first ranked disciple, the red haired man. While the battles were thrilling, Yu Xuan's curiosity leaned more toward the greater path — exploring the realm and advancing his cultivation.
With that thought, he turned and walked away, quiet and unhurried. Yet, all around him, eyes followed. The dark horse of the arena had made his mark.
By the time he stepped out, night had draped itself over the town. The moon hung high, bright and full, bathing the streets in silver. As if by habit, Yu Xuan took the familiar path toward the food stall run by the mysterious middle aged man.
But when he arrived, there was nothing.
No lantern light. No scent of broth. Just an empty patch of ground where the stall had stood.
He stood still for a moment, looking at the vacant space.
"…Did he go out of business overnight?" he muttered to himself, puzzled.
Something about the emptiness felt too clean, too deliberate. But after a moment, he shook his head.
"Damn I didn't bet on myself!" he said frustrated, more points and that too with 100% guarantee were always welcomed.
'Why am I ignoring simple things' he thought, with that his appetite, too, had vanished.
With a quiet sigh, he turned and walked back toward his temporary residence.
Tonight, he slept easily, deep and dreamless beneath the quiet moonlight that showered him through his window.
***
The next day, Yu Xuan woke up feeling refreshed. After a quick bath, he made his way back to the familiar river basin — its waters a serene, ethereal shade of blue, as if the river itself was copy pasted from a painting.
He looked at the surface and muttered, "If a fish dares to disturb me again today, I swear I'll make it my breakfast."
Settling under the shade of a tree, he crossed his legs and began cultivating.
Unlike most cultivators, he didn't rely on resources like Qi Pills, Bone Marrow Elixirs, or Muscle Tempering Tonics.
Why would he? His talent was hidden boss level, and the environment here was nothing short of divine. Spiritual energy in this region was so dense, it condensed like dew on the leaves each morning.
If someone still needed pills in a place like this, then they were either a trash tier protagonist overly reliant on external means... or just an unlucky mob character who'd stumbled into the wrong story.
With a faint, knowing smile, Yu Xuan closed his eyes and took his first breath of the morning's spiritual energy. It carried a unique scent.
He slipped into cultivation without effort.
In that moment, his mind emptied. He became the wind brushing through leaves, the breath of the earth beneath him, the rhythm of flowing water.
His cultivation technique, activated on its own, guiding the spiritual energy into him like a gentle tide lifting a sleeping boat.
Time seemed to fade.
A few curious birds fluttered nearby. One perched calmly atop his head. Another rested on his shoulder, preening its feathers.
A particularly bold red feathered one landed, ruffled his hair playfully, and flew off with a triumphant chirp.
Yu Xuan didn't stir. He remained still, untouched by trivial distractions, immersed in harmony.
He was nature, and nature was him.
[A/N: Sometimes, Cultivation is simply peace of mind. And from this day forth, by decree of the Supreme Ruler of ARC World, thou shalt remember: SSS is a trademark of Sugar Senior Sister only. Fellow Daoist, show the greatness you have cultivated with time.]