It had to be said, the privileges the Old Demon Dean granted were truly useful. The Cultivation Academy’s fees were a total rip-off; they demanded piles upon piles of Spirit Stones as if they were common rocks. Coupled with the help he’d received when establishing his faction, Wang ng found it increasingly difficult to fathom what on earth the Old Demon Dean’s intentions toward him were.
As for his opponent, he was a catalyst for Wang ng. This was, in fact, Wang ng’s very thod of Cultivation: setting up a powerful enemy to force himself to overco them, all in the pursuit of faster and more powerful breakthroughs.
Of course, this pressure-style thod of Cultivation wasn’t suitable for everyone.
Wang ng was completely imrsed in his Cultivation, and surprisingly, no one ca to disturb him. A few peaceful days passed. If Luo Xian had considered Wang ng a powerful opponent, he would never have allowed him such a leisurely ti. He would have definitely sent people to harass him in all sorts of ways, preventing him from calming his mind. But once Luo Xian reviewed Wang ng’s file, he completely dismissed him.
In Luo Xian’s view, Wang ng’s victory over Qi Feiyu was only because Qi Feiyu had suppressed his Elental Power—a careless mistake that cost him everything. He deserved to die for it.
It was rare for soone in their twenties to defeat soone in their thirties, but not unheard of. Those with extraordinary talent simply had Elental Power that was different from ordinary people’s. In Luo Xian’s eyes, a piece of trash like Qi Feiyu was worthless, and he himself was one of those geniuses. Even if Wang ng was talented, he was fated to die an early death.
What Luo Xian was worried about now was the person behind the Holy Hall Faction sabotaging the upcoming life-and-death battle. That was why he restrained his subordinates, forbidding them from causing any trouble for the Holy Hall Faction.
At this point, even if the Holy Hall ca charging to his door, Luo Xian would simply smile and politely show them out.
Those who accomplish great things don’t sweat the small stuff, especially when it concerned a dead man walking.
Of course, Luo Xian would eventually repay everything he was enduring now, twofold. Ti had never seed to pass so slowly; he was growing impatient.
In the Empress Faction, the Five-Star Monarchs were having their regular eting.
"Ge Mang isn’t coming again?" Ling Huo chuckled.
Moo WuZheng shrugged helplessly. "That guy took a huge hit. He’s been in closed-door Cultivation ever since."
The Five-Star Monarchs were not necessarily the five strongest mbers currently in the Empress Faction. Ge Mang, for example, was only in his thirties in terms of layers, but he was destined to be one of the strongest in the future. The Empress selected elites from various levels, her eyes set on their potential.
In terms of true comprehensive strength, Ge Mang was the weakest of them. What he needed was ti and tempering to fully realize his talent.
"You’d better be careful, WuZheng. Don’t let him surpass you," Ling Huo said with a faint smile.
Mingyue stood alone to the side as usual, gazing at the distant scenery.
Moo WuZheng laughed. "Heh, how could a diligent person like ever be surpassed?"
Ling Huo and Wua Qingfeng looked like they were about to gag.
"Speaking of which, it’s a real sha about that Ma Tian’Er. The Empress thought very highly of her. If she’d stayed with us, she definitely would have received priority training."
Wua Qingfeng shook her head. "Only low-level factions look at layers. A powerful faction like ours values potential. Elental Power is sothing everyone will eventually max out; it’s just a matter of resources and ti."
"How is she doing now?" Mingyue, who had been silent the whole ti, suddenly asked.
"Haha, Mingyue, I thought you’d fallen in love with the scenery," Moo WuZheng laughed. Seeing her sharp glare, he quickly waved his hands in dismissal. "Just kidding! Ma Tian’Er joined so... oh, right, a small faction called Holy Hall. I hear they’ve been causing quite a stir lately."
"I did hear sothing recently. Apparently, a newly established faction has picked a fight with the Demon Refining Faction. It couldn’t be this Holy Hall Faction, could it?"
"She’s wasting her life."
"WuZheng, Ma Tian’Er’s talent is truly excellent. Give her one more chance to choose," Mingyue said.
Moo WuZheng froze for a mont. "Alright. I’m always the one stuck with these things. Just an errand boy, that’s ."
Moo WuZheng and Ge Mang were still in their growth phase, whereas Ling Huo, Wua Qingfeng, and Mingyue were the true top-tier masters. This was especially true for Mingyue, who was the second most powerful expert in the Empress Faction, surpassed only by the Empress herself.
Fan Hong was growing more and more cunning, and his spirits were high. Wang ng, anwhile, was making the final preparations for his battle with Luo Xian. Though he acted like he didn’t care, he was, in his heart, preparing for every eventuality.
The Old Demon Dean, however, wasn’t about to let him be. That evening, Wang ng’s Star Ring lit up, and an image of the Old Demon Dean appeared.
"Co to my office. Imdiately."
Wang ng was speechless. ’This old fiend is sure direct,’ he thought. ’What if I had been in the middle of cultivating?’
He could grumble all he wanted, but he still had to go.
"Dean, you were looking for ?"
Lv Yuantian glanced at Wang ng. "It seems your preparations for battle are going well. Follow ."
Without waiting for Wang ng to reply, he pointed at the wall behind him. Elental Power swept out, and an Array Technique gradually materialized on the wall. The wall then began to ripple like water, and the Old Demon Dean walked right through it.
Wang ng didn’t hesitate; he followed right behind. ’When you don’t have a choice, there’s no need to choose.’
The sensation was similar to a Teleportation Array, but different. As his feet touched solid ground, Wang ng found himself surrounded by pitch-black darkness. A flash of light flickered in his eyes, and his vision returned.
It felt like being inside a sealed container. Wang ng could only see Lv Yuantian beside him, yet he had the distinct feeling of being watched. By whom, he didn’t know. With a master of the Great Perfection realm present, Wang ng didn’t dare to recklessly use his Divine Sense, lest he make things worse for himself.
"Old Lv, we were just waiting on you. Who’s this kid?"
A voice erged from the darkness, followed by murmurs of agreent from others.
Lv Yuantian’s voice was clearly laced with anger. "You’ll know after they fight!"
"Hehe, Old Lv’s getting angry."
"Let’s test his level."
"Old Lv, don’t you have your ’big three’ on your turf? Don’t tell you’ve given up and are just throwing anything at the wall, haha. If so, we won’t make things hard on you. There’s no great sha in admitting defeat."
"Cut the crap. He’s the one I’ve chosen!"
At so point, Lv Yuantian had vanished from his side. As Wang ng stood there, a beam of light suddenly swept over him, too fast to dodge.
"Hehe, Thirty-Fifth Layer of Elental Power, with a Sword Cultivator affinity. It seems Old Lv is trying the low-end strategy now. Interesting. I guess that counts as an attempt."
Wang ng’s head was spinning. ’I knew the Old Demon Dean was up to no good,’ he thought. ’It feels like I’m being sold off by the pound... Well, the important thing is, I hope he gets a good price for !’
"Regardless, Old Lv has presented his champion. Old ngg, who is yours?"
Just as Wang ng was about to open his mouth and ask what was going on, another figure materialized out of the void.
"Fenglan, pay your respects to the seniors."
"Fenglan of the Star Cultivation Academy greets the seniors!" Fenglan announced, a Great Sword on his back and an air of dignified arrogance about him.
"Old ngg, this boy of yours has improved greatly. It looks like achieving Minor Perfection is only a matter of ti."
"You flatter , senior. This disciple still has much to learn."
"Hehe, it’s been over a year, and the boy’s strength has grown so much, yet he remains just as humble. The heirs of the Ten Great Sects are truly sothing else."
"Old ngg has trained him well. I’m putting my money on Old ngg this ti."
"Hehe, Old Lv, my friend... while I support you in spirit, my actions... well, I’m betting on Old ngg."
’Damn it all,’ Wang ng thought. He’d been wondering what was going on, and after all that, it turned out to be a pissing contest between big shots like the Old Demon Dean. Wang ng couldn’t help but pick his nose in disdain.
"Hmph. Enough nonsense. Sa as always, calibrate the Elental Power!" Lv Yuantian’s voice bood.
"Very well. Let’s begin."
SWOOSH~~~
A pale blue light suddenly illuminated the darkness. A massive Pentagram Array glowed beneath their feet, and the space around them beca as beautiful as a starry night sky.
Fenglan’s appearance was now clearly visible. He wore a magnificent silver robe with trim that emanated a faint blue light. His entire being gave off a soft glow. His head was tilted slightly upward, the posture of a man accustod to his own superiority. With a Great Sword on his back, his eyes shone with absolute confidence.
Fenglan, in turn, sized up his opponent... and saw a guy gawking around with a blank expression on his face, utterly lacking in decorum.
The light from the Pentagram Array swept over them, and the voice from the void announced, "Elental Power calibration complete. The upper limit is set to the Thirty-Fifth Layer. You may begin."
"Wait!"
Fenglan was just about to strike when soone suddenly called for a halt.
This was the first ti sothing like this had ever happened.
Master Wang cleared his throat a few tis. "Dean, do I just need to take him out?"
The figures in the void froze for an instant before bursting into laughter. Across the array, a hint of disdain crossed Fenglan’s refined features.
’A toad trying to swallow the heavens. What arrogance.’
"Hehe, that’s correct. It seems Old Lv didn’t make things clear to you. In Magical Combat, a winner and loser are determined, regardless of life or death."
"Old Lv, that’s not very sporting of you. You should at least explain the rules to your disciple."
"Take him out!"
The ssage Lv Yuantian sent to Wang ng consisted of just three words.
Fenglan shot him a cool glance. "The one who will defeat you is Fenglan of the Wind God Sect!"
The mont the words left his mouth, Fenglan’s aura erupted. He stepped forward and drew his sword, all in one fluid motion.
KILL~~~
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A Sword Array that moved like a veritable hurricane enveloped Wang ng.
Wang ng desperately wanted to drag the Old Demon Dean out and give him a sound thrashing. ’That bastard! Even if I have to risk my life for him, would it kill him to give a heads-up?!’
Fenglan’s sword strike was flawless, leaving no openings. He unleashed the full potential of his Thirty-Fifth Layer of Elental Power. He wasn’t posturing; he knew the advantage of striking first.
Wang ng’s body weaved and flickered amidst the Sword Qi, his Body Technique pushed to its absolute limit. Fenglan’s gaze sharpened. ’This opponent may be uncouth, but he’s not as weak as I thought.’
"Seven-Star Linked Movent—Dawn Slash!"
Fenglan levitated into the air, the Long Sword in his hand radiating a dazzling light. Wang ng instantly felt targeted, as if attacks were about to converge on him from below, the air, and directly in front.
It was like the very mont dawn breaks; though not as dazzling as the midday sun, it possessed an indescribable, urgent force.
The killing intent within the attack was sothing one would only truly comprehend at the mont of death.
Lv Yuantian watched Wang ng, his face an emotionless mask. In truth, his hands were tied. After testing Wang ng in several battles, he’d discovered that the kid was truly special. But as for what Wang ng’s limits were, he honestly had no idea. This was a complete shot in the dark, treating a dead horse as if it were still alive. That was why he hadn’t bothered to explain anything to Wang ng; it was still an open question whether he would even survive the day.
Fenglan was clearly a model expert of the academic school. He ca from a prestigious background, had received the most ticulous instruction at a Cultivation Academy, and possessed both strength and composure. Even knowing his opponent was supposedly weak, he still attacked imdiately to seize the advantage.
Four other Cultivators stood beside Lv Yuantian. Although their auras were perfectly contained, their every gesture revealed an absolute sense of Control Power. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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