After The Calamity-Chapter 16: I’m Ready

Li Shan looked at Tian Han, whom he had just caught, with utter shock painted across his face. His eyes trembled, and his mouth was so wide open it nearly touched his knees. He was completely dumbfounded by what he had heard.

With a trembling voice, Li Shan spoke.

"Little Brother Han, are you serious?"

Tian Han, with an excited and joyful expression on his face, shouted his response.

"Yes, Big Brother Li, I'm very serious! I've finally reached the Arcen Awareness stage!"

After hearing Tian Han's words, Li Shan stared blankly for a while, speechless. His mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts.

"You monstrous brat! It's only been five weeks. Five damn weeks!"

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he suddenly paused and a smile formed on his face.

"Why am I even surprised? I've seen with my own eyes how fast this kid improves. Damn little monster! So extraordinary, so brilliant."

Li Shan managed to calm himself down. After all, he already knew Tian Han had sensed Arcen energy in just two weeks—so it wasn't exactly a surprise that he had now reached Arcen Awareness. But even so, it was a terrifying speed. How could it not be? It had only taken this child five weeks from zero to reach Arcen Awareness.

Li Shan had every right to be shocked—even terrified. This was a monstrous pace of cultivation. Something neither seen nor heard of before.

Though his face still bore traces of disbelief, Li Shan calmly responded to Tian Han.

"Congratulations, Little Brother Han. You've finally reached the Arcen Awareness stage. Now, you can walk around the Outer Sect without relying on me."

Tian Han looked at Li Shan, his eyes filled with joy, pride, and excitement.

"Yes! I can finally leave this house on my own. If anyone tries to bully me again, I can defend myself. I'm finally free!"

Li Shan let go of Tian Han, and once freed, Tian Han stood in front of him and they continued talking.

"So, Little Brother Han, what do you plan to do next? Will you head out or stay at home and continue your training?"

Without even thinking, Tian Han replied instantly.

"Of course I'm going out to explore the Outer Sect a bit! The structures in the Outer Sect are truly fascinating. I want to see them for myself. And I could also learn more about the sect's structure and rules."

Li Shan nodded silently, approving of his answer.

Tian Han then added,

"If Big Brother Li is available, I'd be really happy if you could accompany me."

Li Shan placed his hand on Tian Han's head and gently ruffled his hair as he spoke.

"Little Brother Han, you're now a real cultivator. You shouldn't rely on me anymore. You should explore the Outer Sect on your own for the first time. After all, I won't always be around to help you."

Tian Han showed an understanding expression, but it was still obvious he wanted to explore the Outer Sect with Li Shan.

Li Shan noticed this but had no intention of joining him.

"Little guy, I've already toured the Outer Sect years ago. It no longer interests me. Go on and see it for yourself."

From the look on Li Shan's face, Tian Han could clearly tell he wasn't coming along. Disappointment flickered across Tian Han's face. He wanted Li Shan's company, but he couldn't force him—so he didn't push the subject.

Li Shan continued speaking.

"I came here to check if you were alright, and now that I see you are, I'll be heading out. See you around, Little Brother Han."

After saying this, Li Shan turned around and began to leave, but Tian Han called out to him from behind.

"Big Brother Li, let me walk you to the gate. After you leave, I'll go on my little exploration of the Outer Sect."

"Alright, Little Brother Han. I'd be happy if you walk me to the gate."

After saying that, Tian Han accompanied Li Shan on his way to the sect's exit.

Once they exited Tian Han's garden, the crowd outside continued to watch them with curious eyes, murmuring among themselves. Li Shan paid them no mind, but Tian Han couldn't help but feel tense.

The last time he had seen such a crowd, Guang Mu had beaten him nearly to death. So the sight of a crowd made him anxious, but he also knew he was no longer the same as before. Maybe he could still get beaten, but now he could defend himself.

Li Shan noticed Tian Han's uneasiness and smiled inwardly.

"Yes, little monster. Let's see how you handle this crowd after I'm gone. Consider this your second test. If you pass, I'll see you as a true monster. If you fail, well, maybe you're still a little human after all."

As Li Shan smiled, he turned to Tian Han and spoke.

"This is where we part ways, Little Brother Han. I'm going to do some training. I wish you luck on your little Outer Sect adventure."

"See you, Big Brother Li."

As Li Shan walked away, Tian Han continued watching his back for a while, not too pleased about being left alone in the middle of the crowd.

With Li Shan's departure, the crowd began to buzz with confusion.

"Hey, wasn't this kid supposed to be getting tortured?"

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"I heard Guang Mu was going to beat him up again."

"Didn't the kid go insane and try to off himself? Who lied to me?!"

Loud voices began to rise from the crowd—it seemed an argument was breaking out. At that moment, one of the students asked a question.

"Hey, Li Shan looked really worried. It's clear he cares about this kid. But now he just left him alone? Isn't he afraid we'll hurt him? Or does Li Shan look down on us?"

With that question, the crowd fell silent and began glaring at Tian Han with sharp eyes. Tian Han swallowed hard when he felt their gazes.

"Damn it, no matter how strong I've gotten, there's no way I can fight everyone here at once."

As those thoughts ran through his mind, the crowd slowly began to direct all of its anger toward Tian Han.

The students kept saying different things, fueling the crowd's fury.

"Li Shan, are you underestimating us? Do you really think we can't handle a mere kid?"

Another student shouted:

"Just because you're strong, Li Shan, doesn't mean we'll fear this brat too!"

Tian Han had no idea what was happening and was drowning in his thoughts.

"Are you all idiots? No one said Big Brother Li was underestimating you—you completely made that up. And now I have to get beaten because of your dumb paranoia? Are you kidding me? Do immortals have rocks for brains?"

Tian Han was rebelling inwardly. Weren't these supposed to be immortals? How could they be so foolish? Ordinary people worshipped them, yet they were this sensitive over nothing?

While Tian Han continued his mental protests, the crowd kept creeping toward him, and he kept backing up to avoid getting trampled.

As they approached, an idea struck Tian Han.

"If you're all so strong, why are you coming at me as a group? Are you afraid to fight me one-on-one?"

The crowd froze for a moment, then roars of curses and shouts erupted.

"You filthy brat! Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a lowly mutt. I'll skin you alive!"

Another student yelled:

"You're just a spoiled kid who got into the Outer Sect through connections. You didn't bleed and sweat like us! I'll devour you alive!"

"You're dead, kid."

...

Tian Han's words had enraged the students to their limit. The Arcen energy bursting from them made the air itself tremble. Tian Han was a little frightened at first, but he stood his ground and continued speaking.

"Am I wrong? Each of you claims you can kill me easily, so why come at me in a group? If you're truly strong, why not face me one-on-one?"

The shouting and insults ceased. The students realized what Tian Han said made sense.

Yes, they realized he had a point—but now they each wanted to crush him individually. To them, he was an insolent brat who didn't know his place. He had barely even sensed Arcen energy before, and now he dared challenge cultivators already at the Arcen Awareness stage?

This kid was asking for death!

Tian Han didn't stop talking.

"If anyone wants to fight me one-on-one, step forward."

After Tian Han spoke, everyone in the crowd took one step forward.

"ALL OF YOU?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FIGHT EVERYONE?!"

Tian Han was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected everyone to want a turn, but he quickly gathered himself and began thinking.

"Everyone wants to fight me, but I can't possibly take them all on. What do I do? Right, I'll let them draw lots. That way it'll be fair and no one can complain. Tian Han, you're a genius!"

"I can see you all want to fight me. I'd love to fight each of you, but I don't have that kind of time. So I'll only fight one of you—and we'll choose who by drawing lots. Does that sound fair?"

The students looked at each other, confused. Was this kid laying down conditions for them? It sounded like a joke, and they all began laughing.

Tian Han couldn't understand why they were laughing.

"Why are they laughing? Was what I said funny? These immortals must really have boulders in place of brains."

While Tian Han was thinking this, a voice rose from the back of the crowd.

"That's actually quite interesting. Why not do as the kid says?"

Both Tian Han and the students turned toward the source of the voice. Standing before them was a tall, strikingly handsome young man with long blue hair and green eyes.

He had a sharp jawline and pointed brows. He was so handsome that any girl who saw him would have to fight the urge to fall in love on the spot.

The students froze the moment they saw him. They were all thinking the same thing: What is he doing here?

Tian Han immediately noticed the shift in the crowd's behavior. This young man was clearly someone very powerful and important.

"These people might be afraid of Big Brother Li, but their reaction to this guy is something else entirely. He must be even stronger than Li Shan."

Tian Han quickly grasped the situation with his sharp wit. Yes, this man was much stronger than Li Shan. One of the students in the crowd shouted in surprise:

"I greet Senior Chun Hai! What brings Senior Chun Hai here today?"

Chun Hai smiled—a smile so captivating that even dead flowers might bloom again upon seeing it.

"I just wanted to take a short walk. Who could've guessed I'd stumble upon something this interesting?"

All the students were fixated on Chun Hai, their faces showing such reverence that they looked ready to obey every word he uttered.

After hearing the student's question, Tian Han understood.

"So this is Chun Hai—the most talented and powerful figure in the Outer Sect that everyone talks about. He really does have an aura about him. Just looking at him makes me admire him. He lives up to his name."

Chun Hai slowly started walking toward Tian Han with small, graceful steps. As he walked, the students parted to make way for him. That alone was proof of his power and authority.

Soon, Chun Hai was standing in front of Tian Han. He gave him a brief glance and a smile, then turned around to address the crowd.

"I am Chun Hai. I want you all to follow this boy's request. The one who will fight him will be chosen by his conditions. If anyone has an objection, step forward now."

His words silenced the crowd entirely. No one made a sound—they stood frozen, not speaking, not moving.

"Since there are no objections, the person to fight will be chosen by drawing lots."

Chun Hai turned to Tian Han and asked:

"Would you like me to choose the location of the duel, Little Brother?"

Tian Han nodded in agreement.

"Then the battle will be held at the training arena. Anyone have a problem with that?"

Again, silence from the crowd.

"Excellent. Since no one objects, let's proceed with the draw and see who the lucky combatant will be."

After Chun Hai finished speaking, the students quickly began writing their names down for the draw. Once everyone had written theirs, all the slips were placed in a bag and handed to Tian Han. He reached into the bag, shuffled the papers around, and drew one.

Without looking at it, Tian Han handed the paper to Chun Hai, who opened it slowly and read the name aloud.

"Mu Shen. You've been selected for the fight. Step forward if you're willing."

Mu Shen stepped out from the crowd. He was a middle-aged man with short hair and a sparse beard. His face was slightly below average in looks, and he was neither tall nor short—an utterly average man in every way.

After Mu Shen stepped forward, Chun Hai gave a nod and said:

"Then follow me. Let's head to the training arena."

Tian Han and the other students followed Chun Hai. As he walked behind him, Tian Han glanced at Mu Shen, trying to size him up.

While Tian Han was evaluating his opponent, Chun Hai stopped in front of a building with a sign reading Training Arena. The students and Tian Han halted as well.

"From this point on,"

Chun Hai announced,

"anyone who wants to enter and watch the duel must pay an entrance fee. Those who don't pay won't be allowed to view the fight. The fee will be five sect contribution points."

Hearing that, both Tian Han and the crowd were a bit surprised. Was Chun Hai using this duel as an excuse to collect contribution points?

"Hahaha! Don't get the wrong idea. I'll personally give these contribution points to the winner. I just thought a little wager might make things more exciting."

The students found this a bit odd. That little kid was about to get beaten badly by Mu Shen, and they were supposed to pay to watch it? Though many shared this thought, none dared oppose Chun Hai.

Those unwilling to part with their contribution points quietly left, while the rest paid Chun Hai directly. In the end, a little over half of the original crowd remained—those who believed this wasn't going to be a fight but a one-sided beatdown, deciding it wasn't worth five contribution points.

Only those who had paid remained. After the fee collection ended, Mu Shen and Tian Han went inside, spoke with a staff member, and moved to an arena.

The ground of the arena was covered in sand. Tian Han and Mu Shen stood across from each other, thirty meters apart.

Chun Hai had assumed the role of referee and would be overseeing the match. He stood on elevated ground and declared:

"The duel will begin once both fighters are ready."

Then he asked loudly:

"Mu Shen, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Tian Han, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."