Tribulation of Myriad Races

Su Yu was standing in the ring.

His loud voice rang out, “The quarrel between the single and multiple character factions has persisted for many years, throwing the academy into disorder. The people of the academy have also strayed from their paths because of this conflict. They no longer focus on research and cultivation. Everyone is busy scrambling for power and wealth. Everyone is fighting each other over our existing resources instead of developing new resources.

“This is not the Great Xia Cultural Research Academy I had imagined before joining. Here, people are busy fighting and scheming against each other. If it is something as simple as competition, it will naturally not be an issue. But even a simple tournament like this has turned into a big conspiracy. If the single character faction is really unwilling to let go of those slots, why bother holding this tournament?

“Since you have decided to hold the tournament, at least make an effort to follow some rules. Are you not embarrassed of having your reputation plummet even further?”

Su Yu had a look of contempt as he glanced at Liu Hong, Elder Sun, and the other single character faction students. Liu Hong said nothing. Elder Sun frowned.

Su Yu smiled, “Since you have schemed and plotted, why bother trying to cover up your dirty deeds? Just be honest about it. I’m your target. Well, here I am. I don’t care about the slot. But I have still decided to come.

“Since you have decided to be a snake, embrace it. Don’t learn from Teacher Liu and turn into a hypocrite instead of a proper snake. What’s the point of keeping up the act if everyone already knows you’re a hypocrite?”

Liu Hong’s voice rang out, “Su Yu, watch your words. You know the punishment for slandering a teacher. Just a few days ago, some students have been punished for the same offense.”

“The punishment is for the offense of slander.” Su Yu smiled, “But that’s not what I’m doing. I’m telling the truth. Who doesn’t know about the conflict between the single and multiple character factions? You’re already dirty. Why pretend to be clean? Teacher Liu, let me ask you something. Will the single character faction not target me if I hadn’t said all these words?”

Looking down at the crowd from the ring, Su Yu raised his voice, “Since you’re here for me, stop pretending. I’m here. You have managed to stuff even some of your people into my team. What are you still waiting for? What are you afraid of?”

“Has the single character faction fallen so far? Is it so difficult for you to deal with a mere new student? If you are capable, I welcome the challenge. If you are incapable, learn to shut up and mind your own business. You won’t get far playing around with petty tricks every single day. Produce a few Sunmoons or cultivators unrivaled within the same cultivation level first before talking about replacing us.”

“…”

Su Yu’s words were deafening. A clamor slowly erupted from the crowd. In the ring, Liu He and the others had their heads lowered.

Su Yu had a look of disdain as he asked, “So after all this, none of you dares to meet me in a ring? Also, stop wasting time with a simple spar. Since you want to target me, let’s make things simple. Let’s fight to the death. This is what you want, right?”

Among the spectators, Chen Yong’s expression changed.

He stood up and called out with a frown, “Su Yu!”

Su Yu looked over and smiled, “It’s fine, Martial Uncle. These people are not enough to deal with me. If they have the guts to do so, I am willing to fight any single character faction in the same cultivation level to the death. If they can kill me, so be it. If they end up killed instead, they can only blame their lack of skill. If you keep creating trouble even when you don’t have the ability to back your own actions, you deserve death.”

Elder Sun stood up and coldly said, “Su Yu, you intend to fight to the death?”

Su Yu calmly asked, “Why not?”

Elder Sun looked at the single character faction students. But many of them avoided his gaze and looked down. When he saw that, his face fell.

Su Yu smiled, “Anyone with the courage is free to step into the ring. This is the only reason I’ve decided to leave my seclusion. You guys need to learn that as pieces of trash, you should shut your mouth and stop making so much noise.

“This tournament is a great chance for us to solve things. I will give you a chance. I doubt you dare to face me one on one. But we’re now fighting in teams of five. As long as my teammates stay still and not stab me in the back, I will accept their inaction in the match and fight five of you alone. The losers will die. Do you dare to accept my challenge?”

Su Yu’s voice grew even louder as he said, “Fine. How about this? Even if they decide to stab me in the back, I will still fight all nine of you alone. As long as you have the guts to make a move, I will have the guts to kill you. Do you dare?”

“…”

Silence descended.

After a while, someone snorted coldly, “This is blind arrogance.”

“Blind arrogance?” Su Yu looked at that person and sneered, “You! Get in the ring. Sign the waiver and fight me to the death. If you’re capable enough, feel free to kill me. Are you pieces of trash really so scared? You don’t even have the courage to face me? What a waste of academy resources. Yes, as a member of the multiple character faction, I have used way more resources than any of you in cultivation. I have spent tens of thousands of merit points for my cultivation. So what? So what if you can use the same amount of resources to produce 10 single character faction students of the same cultivation level? Get in the ring and I’ll show you that those 10 students are the same as lambs I can slaughter as I please.”

“Bastard!”

“He has only been in the academy for a few months! How dare he be so arrogant!”

“Does he really believe that nobody can defeat him?”

“…”

One single character faction student after another shouted in anger. But the other students remained silent. None of them said anything.

They couldn’t understand why Su Yu had decided to pick this moment to challenge the single character faction. This didn’t seem like the smart thing to do. Was he not afraid of death?

The answer was yes. He was afraid of death. But at this very moment, he wanted nothing more than to fight to his heart’s content. To fight without holding anything back.

Thus, he continued challenging the single character faction, “The single character faction, or to be precise, the Character Faculty, has changed long ago. Members of the single character faction will be given preferential treatments and good teachers. I have nothing to say about their prejudice toward me since I am a member of an opposing faction. But how about the other students? Those with slightly lacking talent or background will be sidelined. And after suffering such prejudice for a few years, these students will reach 30 years old. The academy will then consider them hopeless and give up on them.

“Because of the single character faction’s prejudice, these people have missed out on the chance to properly cultivate during their prime. They are left wasting their lives away. And after reaching an old age, they will be forced to join a tournament like this and compete against people young enough to be their grandchildren just for an opportunity.

“To these people, I have something to say. I hate to be honest, but this tournament is being held for my sake. Without me, there would be no meaning to this tournament. Those important individuals will merely watch with amusement while all of you are out here fighting with everything you have.

“Is this what you want? Is this what you pursue? Is this the great cultural research academy of your dreams? How ridiculous. The academy has indeed grown after Principal Wan became the principal. But only a bunch of selfish individuals have benefited from the growth. The influential families rose in power and numerous factions formed. Any dissident or outlier will be suppressed. The blooming of a hundred schools of thought? Numerous teachings prospering together? That is nothing but a joke. In the current academy, the various factions such as the beast taming faction, the pillmaking faction, and the talisman faction are all left playing second fiddle to the single character faction.”

Standing before thousands of people, Su Yu preached on and on.

There were a few times when Elder Sun wanted to stop Su Yu, but he was kept still by a certain powerful pressure.

Su Yu continued, “The academy has long declined. It looks strong, but it no longer has stable foundations. I am a weakling. I do not know the thoughts of our principal and elders. I only know that if I have to go to the battlefield with these people, I would probably spend more time worrying about being stabbed in the back than the enemies. Rather than putting so much effort to guard against backstabs, I might as well take this chance to take them out. That way, I will be able to give my all in fighting the actual enemies when the time comes for me to enter the battlefield as well.”

At this point, someone interjected. The cold voice said, “Su Yu, there is no need to sing yourself praises while stepping on your rivals. The conflict between the single and multiple character factions has nothing to do with us. We are only here for the slots. Why waste our time with this speech?”

Su Yu looked over and said, “You’re right. Sure enough, nobody cares about things that do not directly concern them. Zhan Hai, this matter might not concern you. But let me ask you a question. If you are sent to the battlefield with the single character faction members, would you dare to leave your back to them?”

Zhan Hai indifferently replied, “There is no need for me to do that as I will never fight alongside them.”

“Hahaha!” Su Yu roared with laughter, “Look at how great the single character faction is! Fifty years ago, did the people dare to leave their backs to the predecessors of the multiple character faction?”

Su Yu looked at the elders and said, “Do you understand now? The conflict between the single and multiple character factions is no longer a personal grudge. It has long since escalated to a level where the entire academy, the entire Great Xia, or even the entire Human Realm is affected.”

A lot of people frowned and sank into thought.

Su Yu said, “I guess it’s pointless to keep preaching. Someone once said that everyone is a bystander when it is someone else facing the blade. When it is their turn to face the blade, the others will be the bystander as well, leaving them to fight alone. Thus, even if these people end up suffering from their inaction, they deserve it.”

At this time, Liu Hong asked, “Are you done with your speech? If you are, let’s continue with the tournament. A mere student like you is still incapable of changing the state of affairs in the Human Realm, in Great Xia, and in the academy. The higher you stand, the more you see. Su Yu, what you see might not be the same as what we see.”

“Are you standing very high?” Su Yu smiled, “As a cultivator, if I lack the courage to even voice my thoughts, what’s the point of my cultivation? I say what I have in my mind. I don’t follow the trends and echo popular sentiment just so that I can feel good about myself.”

He then looked at the students again. “What are you waiting for? Are all of you afraid? You don’t have the courage to fight me to the death? I was worried that you guys would be too scared to fight me alone. But even when I’m offering to face five of you alone, you’re still scared?”

“Su Yu, do you really think that you’re very strong?” Zhan Hai frowned and said, “Like I said, we are only here for the slots. Stop wasting our time. This is not your lecture hall. If you enjoy lecturing so much, hold a public lecture after the tournament. You are free to talk as long as you want then.”

“You are a callous man.” Su Yu raised his voice, “Even if you manage to grow into a powerful cultivator in the future, you will only be a selfish expert who does not care even if all your comrades die.”

Zhan Hai coldly said, “Don’t waste your time throwing accusations at everyone who disagrees with you. Su Yu, don’t make the mistake of believing that you are the smartest person in the world.”

He knew very well what Su Yu was trying to do here. But that did not concern him. What could Su Yu change? Nothing!

Apart from swaying the minds of some fools who would join him in his resistance, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. And those hot-blooded fools would only end up dying miserable deaths because of him. They would be nothing but cannon fodder.