Cultivation Through Artifacts

The entirety of the Request Hall froze up almost as if the passage of time itself was halted!

"Master Gram has appeared! Those two now are in deep trouble!"

Although the man stared at both Khal and Mad Claw with an indifferent gaze, even a fool would feel and know if either of the two tried anything they will be beheaded right on the spot!

"I hope both of you understand how dire the consequences will be if you try to fight here." the man warned the two once again, but this time his gaze was on Mad Claw's figure, especially on his hand that was firmly grabbing Khal's shoulder.

"Tsk..." with a cold sneer, Mad Claw released his grip from Khal, but instead of going away he just stood still, his hatred-filled eyes trying to stare holes into Khal's face.

When the man saw this nodded and withdrew his presence and killing intent before shifting his gaze at Khal.

"So it's you, the boy from Moon City that almost won against Young Miss." exclaimed Master Gram with a profound gaze as he examined Khal's figure from up to bottom.

Khal obviously figured out that the Young Miss was Seila, but as why everyone called her like that from Heaven City, he had no clue. Instead, he took this chance to bow and turn around to leave.

But who could have guessed that just as he was ready to leave, Master Gram appeared before him and asked in a cold voice, "Where do you think you are going?"

"Huh?" Khal looked at Master Gram with a raised brow before asking, "Why? I can't leave?"

'...' Master Gram furrowed his brows upon that question and crossed his arms before his chest before replying, "You could have but now that you have caused trouble in this Request Hall, I shall punish you."

"Eh?" Khal was simplified hearing this, even feeling as if he just heard something wrong 

"I am deeply sorry, but I do not recall doing anything that is punishable much less something that could have offended this place's rules. I think there is a misunderstanding here."

"Oh? And what makes you say that?" asked Master Gram as he found it interesting Khal didn't back down even though he knew he was facing a Cultivator on the Ninth Stage.

"Is he a fool? Just who in their right mind dares to question Master Gram's statement?"

"Right? Everything that Master Gram says in the Request Hall is like a verdict! No one should oppose him or death will easily find its way at you!"

"Talking back to Master Gram... Damn, he has balls harder than steel, I must give that to him!"

People whispered among each other, thinking Khal was an idiot that was dropped onto his head during his birth, and alas, that is why he was so arrogant before Master Gram.

One more mistake and his head will definitely fly high up into the air, no questions about that!

Khal heard the whispers from others, but as he knew that Master Gram was not that type of person who would kill without reason from the way he stood and talked, he didn't panic.

"I just came from the Star Forging Competition to see what task I can accept just out of pure curiosity, but not even a minute after I have arrived, I was accused by something I didn't do while also was almost attacked for no logical reason. If Respected Master asks, the one that needs punishment here should not be me, but him," said Khal, even pointing toward Mad Claw who was trembling from anger.

Once Khal finished talking, the entirety of the hall became significantly quieter, while Master Gram raised a brow, finding Khal quite interesting.

"Bullshit! He was the one bumping into me I just defended myself. Everyone can see just what an arrogant liar he is just from the way he talks back to Master! It should be obvious he should be the one punished not me!" Mad Claw pointed at Khal, his voice as loud as thunder even though he controlled himself as much as he could because Master Gram was present.

Although Master Gram saw everything from start to end and knew who was right or wrong, he also knew things won't be solved as easily as saying sorry to each other thus...

"I see, then what do you intend to do? Fighting here and in the city is strictly prohibited, I hope you know this." Master Gram glanced at Mad Claw, hoping he will give up.

But who could have thought, the thing he tried to achieve was backfired and something even worse occurred he didn't see coming beforehand!

With a smug grin, Mad Claw took out his Cultivator's Badge before pointing toward Khal, whose badge appeared out of thin air too and lit up with a black light!

"I will challenge you to a deathmatch! If you are a real man, you should accept it!"

"!?"

A huge uproar broke out from the Request Hall, almost everyone staring at Mad Claw like a madman with widened eyes and dropped jaws!

"Did I hear it right? Does Mad Claw want to challenge that boy who just finished 5th on the Thousand Life Tournament for a deathmatch?"

"Yeah, now his name truly makes sense... Even though he is strong than average, I don't think he has what it takes to beat that boy. He has gone mad this time for sure!"

"Will he accept the challenge?"

Every Cultivator whispered spirited among each other, waiting eagerly for Khal's reply. But just a few seconds later when they thought Khal will accept and fight Mad Claw, Khal just simply said...

"No."

'...'

'...'

'...'

"HUUUHH!?"

An even greater uproar broke out inside the Request Hall than the previous time, almost as if they just heard something impossible!

"You... What did you just say?" muttered Mad Claw with a terrifyingly cold grin, his hand, and body now shaking from pure anger.

Khal however just crossed his arms before his chest with a nonchalant gaze on his face and proceeded to repeat his answer, "I said, no. Why should I accept something so ridiculously outrageous as a deathmatch, particularly from someone like you? It makes no sense at all." 

"Someone... Like... Him... Now he has done it!" was the only thought inside everyone's mind, and just as they have thought Mad Claw exploded with anger right at that instant.

"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!" with a thunderous roar, Mad Claw jumped at Khal, both of his arms already turned into Beast Claws that looked extremely sharp and fatal!

But not even after he took a meter forward into the air, Master Gram's figure appeared out of thin air, his feet right above Mad Claw's skull.

BAM!

Without the chance to even utter a word, Mad Claw's head together with his body was buried deep into the ground, Master Gram standing gracefully atop his body with his right feet atop the head.

"I hope you will take full responsibility for your previous actions and pay for the damage you have caused. And if you dare to resist even for a bit from this moment on, I have the right to kill you right here and now!"

Every Cultivator sucked in a mouthful of cold air, scared almost shitless by the killing intent and the suffocating presence that Master Gram was currently emitting from his body!

"I... Fuck it!" Mad Claw just simply cursed out loud from below the debris before relaxing his body, knowing he stood no chance against Master Adam, not even if he had a thousand more lives!

Upon seeing this, Master Gram retrieved his power and shifted his gaze toward the spot where Khal stood, but obviously, he no longer was there as he left a long time ago. 

'What an interesting young man...' thought Master Gram before averting his gaze with a mysterious smile on his face.