Death... and me
chapter-1023

However, instead of panicking, Rean was angry with the current situation. 'It's irritating how Roan is always right about these things. I just tried this feint once, and this guy already fell for it...'

Suddenly, Rean's body spun in an inconceivable manner, evading a fatal strike from Galer. At the same time, his Black Star, which seemed to have missed the target, closed in as Rean rotated his body.

*Swish!*

*Arrrgh!*

Immediately, the Black Star opened a huge cut on Galer's chest, exposing the bones and organs behind it. Since there was no Divine Energy to increase one's defense, the contact between flesh and weapon was a lot more terrifying.

Rean then stepped back as Galer fell on his knees while covering his chest with his hand. Unfortunately for him, he wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding unless he summoned his Divine Energy from his Dantian...unless he wanted to die of blood loss, of course.

Rean didn't attack either. How many people had Rean healed so far? He knew a human's body better than most. Even if the Truik Race wasn't identical, it was still human in shape. Rean knew very well how deep he had to cut without killing his opponent.

Roan, seeing the match through the illusory formation, immediately contact Rean through their Soul Connection, telling him, 'You're too soft for your own good. He was truly trying to kill you just a second ago. Besides, you didn't leave that exchange unscathed either.'

Rean then looked on his right shoulder and could see the deep cut left behind by Galer's True Charge. It wasn't as serious as Galer's injury, but it would definitely affect him during the fight if it continued. 'It's fine. We already have more than enough Divine Veins to thank for the help Cynthia gave us. If I get in a real dangerous situation, I'll give up straight away.'

Roan snorted in response after hearing that. 'That's considering you have the time to do that.'

'Hahaha!' Rean laughed after hearing that. 'Don't worry. If there's one thing I know, it's that I definitely have the time. Besides, you should know that I'm not going all out at all.'

Roan narrowed his eyes as he said in response, 'Is that so? Then, what about this injury on your shoulder?'

'It's part of my plan to destroy everyone's confidence,' Rean replied.

In the end, Galer couldn't endure anymore and used his Divine Energy to stabilize his injury. Naturally, the judge saw it with his Divine Sense. "Galer is disqualified by breaking the Anti-Divine Energy rules. Rean Larks wins!"

*Wow!*

Everyone was surprised by the outcome of that battle. Rean and Galer were battling at a similar level. Galer's defense was great, and so was Rean's constant assault by relying on his speed. They didn't expect it to end in a single exchange with the very first injury.

"Did you see how Rean's body moved in the very last moment?"

"Of course! Look at Galer. Rean's move was obviously a feint!"

"A feint?" Someone snorted in response. "Then, it was one of the worst feints ever! Look at Rean's shoulder. His injury isn't as impressive as Galer's, but it definitely isn't anything that easy to heal."

"He's right. Rean's battle was one of the last of this round. He only has thirty minutes to get his injury under control before the next battle."

"I see...now that you say that, it could be said to have been a worthy exchange."

Kayla's group sighed in relief, though. At the same time, they couldn't help but think, 'We don't want you to die, so please, just give up on the next battle, will you? It's not worth risking your life anymore.' Well, they were being honest and not being honest at the same time. That was just a way of them mentally begging for no more Divine Veins to come.

However, while Galer was helped out in coming down the arena, Rean looked at his bleeding shoulder and muttered, "It sure hurts a lot." Soon after, he removed the fabric around the injury and...

'Life Style, Second Form, Instant Recovery!'

Divine Soul Power and Light Element gathered in and out of Rean's body, quickly activating his cells around the injury. In front of everyone's eyes, including the still transmitting illusory formations, Rean's shoulder began to heal at a ridiculously high speed. In just a few seconds, his shoulder injury was gone!

Rean then began to move his arm after that, testing if everything was okay. In fact, if not because of the blood around it, no one would be able to tell that there was such a deep injury present there before. "Alright, it's back to normal now. Guess I have to wait for the next round to start." Only then did Rean come down from the arena while he took new clothes from his Spatial Ring to change the ragged one.

The plan to destroy everyone's confidence! Only now did Roan understand why Rean was hit by Galer's saber so badly. He was planning to show everyone how fast he could heal himself! Except for a few, everyone would come out of these battles with a few injuries. The worst part was that thirty minutes probably wouldn't be enough to heal them unless they weren't anything serious.

However, Rean was definitely in the seriously injured cultivator's group... just to leave that group a moment later. How unfair did that feel? If he could heal himself like that after every battle, didn't that mean he could go all out in the next ones? He was basically the only one with that advantage while the rest played somewhat safer.

"Th-that should be prohibited!"

"Yes, yes! Look at him! He's completely fine while the others are suffering to get back in shape."

"He should be disqualified!"

Ravio, the elder responsible for this test, had to admit he felt the urge to kick Rean out of the competition. His advantage compared to others is simply too great. Sadly for the others, the rules said that everyone could heal themselves however they liked during the thirty-minute window between rounds.

Rean smiled at the complaints around him and thought to himself, 'A very successful plan.'