153 Tournament 8

After a few more fights, Now the tournament advance to the Top 16. From all prodigies that were favored by their family. Soejima Isano from Soejima House and Nakagawa Yuu from Nakagawa House had been eliminated. There is a break for a while, after reaching Top 16. Because they gonna reconstruct the arena. They destroyed those four small arenas and constructed one big arena. It only took them around half-hour for them to finish that since Earth Element Martial Artists helped them in the reconstruction.

For the Top 16, the eight fights were informed at the same time.

Nakagawa Hiina Vs Soejima Takagi

Himura Soma Vs Himura Kenshin

Itagaki Kyousuke Vs Kusunoki Hikotaka

Tsutsui Aino Vs Kitajo Kagemochi

Soga Tsutsuyo Vs Fujii Haru

Kusunoki Kayo Vs Alexander Sirius

Jou Yukifusa Vs Himura Tsunehira

Endou Saneyasu Vs Ray Adams

It seems that the fights were randomly picked. If not, there is no great fight such as Himura Soma Vs Himura Kenshin or Itagaki Kyousuke Vs Kusunoki Hikotaka, or even his fight against Kusunoki Kayo. Not long after, the fight finally start.

"Nakagawa Hiina Vs Soejima Takagi"

Two fighters came to the stage. Nakagawa Hiina looks at her opponent. Her opponent this time is a Young Man from Soejima House, he is only at Peak Qi Manipulation Stage. Wearing a carefree look, he said "I surrender"

"Nakagawa Hiina wins!"

Nakagawa Hiina looks at him, this is not a rare occurrence for her. Because of their difference in strength was too great, her opponent often gave up before the fight started. Without further ado, the referee called the next participants.

"Himura Soma Vs Himura Kenshin"

This is an exciting fight. the fight between the former genius and the current genius from Himura House. Kenshin was walking slowly towards the stage, Himura Soma was already waiting for him there with his arrogant expression. He raised his head and looked at his father worried expression, he smiled a bit. The clear sky, the expectation from the audience, all the pressure welling upon him and he turned it into motivation.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I will destroy you here in front of this big stage" Soma is looking down on him.

"I know de gozaru." Kenshin nodded his head.

"You never had a single hope for victory. You are going to fight me now, even if you had defeated that b*tch, she is too weak. I will show you even if you had a new weapon and have gotten stronger, you are still nothing in front of me."

Kenshin just laughed. In front of Soma's self confidence and pride that fills his body.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing, It is funny to see you flaunting like that. What is next? Are you going to say that you are peerless under heaven? Or are you going to say that all woman shall bow down to you?" Kenshin said in a teasing tone.

"That's right. My Cultivation will only soar after I go inside the sect. That's right, the Goddess of Limewatch Town, Nakagawa Hiina, is fit to be my wife" Soma said.

Kenshin can only shake his head, ashamed. How can there be such a narcissist in Himura House? The reputation he got only for a few years or so made his head so big.

"Match Start!"

"Splitting Sword" Kenshin took the initiative for the first attack. He jumped forward and swung his katana toward him.

"In this fight, you are only an appetizer for me. I will go to the last stage and fight with Nakagawa Hiina. After that, the City Lord will recognize me and betrothed his daughter to me" Soma raised his sword. "Splitting Sword"

*Clang*

The blow was equal, Alex said, "There is still Itagaki Kyousuke or Kusunoki Kayo or even my Brother that will fight you de gozaru"

"Hmph! I can defeat them. And your brother? He is not even qualified to take a blow from me"

"Idiot" Kenshin shook his head. He raised his left hand and punched toward him. "Grand Fist!"

He concentrated his Spiritual Energy in his left hand and threw a punch toward Soma. Soma noticed this motion and retreat a few steps back in unbelieve.

"Aren't you going to defeat me? why are you retreating?" Kenshin teased him.

"Hmph! I only gave you time so you can perform in front of people. Since you can't even appreciate that, don't blame me for being impolite." He jumped toward Kenshin. And the same as him previously, he gathered Spiritual Energy in his fist.

"Grand Fist!"

"Grand Fist!"

Soma used the same technique as Kenshin. Of course, Kenshin used his Grand Fist again. From his knowledge, Himura Soma learned all the techniques he learned. That means all of his techniques are the same as Kenshin. But because Kenshin didn't feel right when using a weapon other than his newly found Katana, Soma Progress was faster than him. That's why, in this blow. Himura Soma blew him away.

"Haha, This is the difference in our strength. I'm a 2-Star Martial Master while you are only 1-Star Martial Master." Soma laughed.

Kenshin didn't use his sword. Instead, he used his fist and exchange a few more blows with him, of course, Because of their difference in strength.

In the VIP Seat, Himura Takata, Kenshin's father, watching him worriedly. Luckily, because the arena is huge, it seems that they didn't hear the mad rumbling of Himura Soma. If he was heard, not only the Himura House will get the anger of the City Lord, but their reputation will also get damaged.

Takata watching his son beaten up again and again. His heart is pained. On the other hand, the elders beside him seems to notice something.

That's right, not long after. The energy suddenly surges on Kenshin's body. Kenshin felt this body and become pensive. He stopped on his track, Himura Soma laughed at him.

"Haha, have you finally understood the difference in our power" Said Himura Soma while looking at Kenshin. But, seeing that Kenshin didn't answer him…no, he didn't even move. He thought that Kenshin was scared. He jumped forward and threw a punch toward Kenshin Spiritual Seed. Spiritual Sea is the place inside every cultivator body where they hold the Spiritual Energy and the Spiritual Seed is the center of it. That means, if he destroyed Kenshin's Spiritual Seed, he will lose all of his Spiritual Energy and will never be able to cultivate again.

"I will cripple you here. Grand Fist"

"Kenshin!" Takata shouted worriedly.

Suddenly, Kenshin raised his fist and threw a punch toward Soma's Fist. Their fist collide. But surprisingly, It was equal in power. Both of them retreated a few steps back.

"Impossible!" Soma was stunned by this. Just now, Kenshin can only be his punching bag, but suddenly their power is equal, what is going on?

"The Difference in our power? What and where is that?" Kenshin laughed, he released his Spiritual Energy and shock everyone.

"What?"

"That is…"

"2-Star Martial Master?"

"Is he hiding his power all along?"

All the clan leader was confused. But Elder Conn Kindellan has realized, "No, he didn't hide his power. He just achieved a breakthrough. I assumed that he is on the verge of a breakthrough. And he borrowed an extra power from that kid to help him breakthrough. What a smart but reckless kid, but I like it. This kid is fit for my taste. Should he get into the top ten, I will recruit him to be Heavenly Sword Sect Disciple. If I'm not wrong, he is Himura Minami's relative."

"To be precise, She is his aunt. Though, he himself considers her as his Elder Sister. They get along very well. Himura Minami's parent has passed away when she is a kid, I am the one who takes care of her when she is a kid and treats her as my own daughter." Himura Takata said.

"So you are the one who takes care of her. I heard of you from her. She becomes my disciple just before I left the sect to this tournament. And since he is her niece, I will take him as my in-name disciple first, he needs to go my trials before he can be my disciple. Do you have any problem with that?" Said Conn while looking at Takata.

"It is their great fortune to be chosen by Elder Conn Kindellan." Takata said respectfully.

"Congratulations Family Head, Himura Takata" Nakagawa Otoshi is the first one to congratulate him.

"Thank you very much, City Lord" Takata said while feeling very flattered at the moment.

"Congratulations…"

"Congratulations…"

The other family heads also congratulated him, but the one who feel sour at this moment is Soejima House head. He is the one who personally broke the engagement between his daughter and Kenshin and betrothed her to Himura Soma. But, not only this Himura Soma seems going to lose, he will very likely won't be accepted into the four sects. It was already bad enough when his daughter loses to Kenshin in Top 32 and miss her chance to join the four sects. But if he fails in this Himura Soma too, his family will decline. He needs to come up with another plan.

Meanwhile, in the arena.

"You… you are 2-Star Martial Master" Soma said in disbelieve. "You are hiding your strength!"

Kenshin smirked, Soma didn't know what happened just now. "You are a fool. I'm not hiding my strength. Since you are not smart enough to recognize what just happened, I will tell you. I only used you as an external force to help me breakthrough."

"You!" Soma was angered like crazy at this point. "I will kill you"

"First Strike"

He finally used the Low-Level Profound Tier Martial Arts from Himura House, the 'Five Strikes'. Of course, Kenshin also used the same move.

"First Strike"

Both of their swords clashed. They immediately followed up to the second Strike.

"Second Strike"

"Second Strike"

The second strike, twice power. This time, the clash sends a good shockwave. But they didn't stop here. Kenshin and Soma raised their sword once again and swung it down at the same time.

"Third Strike!"

Upon the third strike, They poured every ounce of their strength. But suddenly, there is a sudden change. The balance has been broken. Soma starting to get suppressing him in strength. "Kenshin. You have shocked me at first. But, you still haven't reached me yet. Even though you have become a 2-Star Martial Master like me, but I'm close to 3-Star Martial Master. This is my true power"

"What? He is close to 3-Star Martial Master?"

"He is a genius on par with the genius from Kusunoki House and Itagaki House"

When everyone started to lose hope in Kenshin. Kenshin laughed a bit.

"What is funny? You laughed because you lose? As expected of a loser like you" Soma thought that he won.

"Lose? No, I'm going to win. If I can't win you in the Third Strike. How about the Fourth Strike?" Kenshin smirked.

"What? No, you won't be able to learn the Fourth Strike before me" Soma panicked.

Kenshin retreated a step and swing his sword once again.

"Fourth Strike"

"Third Strike"

Of course, Soma also didn't want to lose, He used the 'Third Strike once again'. But never in his thought that Kenshin was able to use the Fourth Strike.

"No! No Way! I can't lose! Not to a loser like you!" Soma desperately used his strength. But sadly, the difference in Strike means a lot. Third Strike can amplify four times of power, while the Fourth Strike can amplify eight times of strength. Kenshin's Fourth Strike broke his struggle as he used this 'Fourth Strike' to blow away Soma's sword. Then he pointed his sword at Soma's neck.

"This is reality. You have lost de gozaru" Kenshin said solemnly.

"Himura Kenshin Wins!" The referee announced.

"Uwoh!"

"The former genius regain his talent!"

Kenshin sheathed his Katana, as he walked away from the arena. But suddenly, Soma took out another sword from his and rushed toward Kenshin, "No. I haven't given up yet. Die!"

Kenshin turned back as he furrowed his eyebrows. Just as he wanted to pull his sword. An old man comes toward the stage and blew Himura Soma away.

"Boom!"

Himura Soma crashed to the wall and passed out, judging from the injury. He might need a year before he can be fully recovered. Then after that, another middle-aged man appeared on the stage.

"I'm very sorry, Elder Conn for the disgrace of Himura family" That's right, the one who appeared is Elder Conn and Himura Takata.

"Greetings Elder Conn" Kenshin wasn't a fool. He immediately greeted him.

"En." The elder nodded and went back to his seat.

Takata can't talk much at the moment but he secretly gave a thumbs up to his son and went back to his seat.