Chapter 132: The Third Round of Evaluation!

Page 1 of 3

“Hahahaha! I did it, Old Zhu!”

Zhu Mo sprang to his feet, flipped through nine and a half somersaults on the spot, landed on the back of his head, and crashed so hard that stars burst before his eyes. Yet he scrambled up with a look of wild delight.

He spread open his palm. A dim, jade-blue radiance twisted and flowed within it, strange and ever-changing streaks of lightning moving like thick syrup.

It was entirely different from Qi Xiu’s Yang Thunder—broad, forceful, peerless in its fierceness, and imbued with the pure, blazing power of Yang.

The Yin Thunder, born first from the kidney-water Yin energy, was far stranger and colder. Though weaker than the dignified and righteous Yang Thunder, it was much harder to guard against, possessing the uncanny ability to corrode the heart and muddle the mind.

“You certainly know how to choose your moment. Today is the final day.”

Seeing that Zhu Mo had completed the Palm Thunder just in time, Qi Xiu and Yan Baizhe both showed faint relief.

“There’s no time to lose. The third round of the examination is about to begin. We must reach the center of the island as quickly as possible.”

Yan Baizhe waved over his two brothers and gestured for Qi Xiu and Zhu Mo to mount the giant wolves.

“The center of the island? What happened?”

Hearing the gravity in Yan Baizhe’s voice, Zhu Mo could not help asking.

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain once we get there.”

They climbed onto the broad, yielding backs of the wolves. Yan Baizhe gave a low cry, and the giant wolf answered with a deep howl. Its four hooves thundered against the ground as it transformed into a swift, soundless blur, racing toward the island’s center.

…

The center of the island was the white-jade stairway plaza where Qi Xiu and the others had first arrived.

By now, more than forty examinees had gathered there.

The inhuman creatures had also reached the island, restless and eager to move.

Hidden in the dark, frigid corners, they continuously watched the examinees.

Once the second round of the examination ended and the Divine Firmament Sect began the third round, these powerful, nearly unkillable monsters would go completely mad and surge toward them like a flood.

Woo—

A wolf’s howl rang across the plaza.

The examinees who had gathered of their own accord all raised their heads.

They had returned to the place where it had begun.

Under the gazes of the crowd, Qi Xiu lowered his eyes and swept them across the plaza.

Compared with the first day, there were more than twenty fewer people. Aside from the handful still scattered throughout the island, the rest had probably perished in the struggles of the early stages.

“It’s that bastard!”

In a corner of the white-jade steps, the bandaged man was silently shaving a wooden blade. The moment he saw Qi Xiu seated atop the giant wolf, blazing fury ignited in his single eye.

But given the current situation, he clearly had no opportunity to take revenge.

Doing so would amount to openly violating the unspoken truce. It would inevitably provoke everyone’s displeasure, and he might even be driven out.

Qi Xiu, meanwhile, sensed a gaze as sharp as a spearpoint stabbing into him. He followed it back.

There was the bandaged fool.

An old acquaintance.

A smile appeared on his face, and Qi Xiu gave the bandaged man a slight nod.

Provocation!

He was provoking me!

With a sharp crack, the wooden blade in the bandaged man’s hand snapped cleanly at the base. His single eye widened, and his teeth ground together audibly.

Qi Xiu withdrew his gaze. He and the others found an open spot and sat down.

Though so many examinees had gathered in the white-jade stairway plaza, it was strangely quiet.

Everyone attended to their own affairs, saying nothing and paying no attention to anyone else.

“They’re all proud and arrogant people. They have no desire to associate with one another, yet they have no choice but to band together for warmth.

“Look at those people over there. They’re sitting far apart, but their eyes keep colliding, and none of them looks particularly friendly.

“They probably formed grudges during the earlier stages. They simply have no chance to settle them right now.”

Sensing the subtle, stagnant atmosphere around him, Qi Xiu drew his sleeves together, gazed thoughtfully across the plaza, and closed his eyes to rest.

Time continued to pass.

Page 2 of 3

Perhaps sensing that a large number of examinees had gathered there, the inhuman creatures that had reached the island also began converging on the center.

The sky darkened. The night deepened into gloom.

Upon the silent, deathly still white-jade plaza, a bonfire blazed merrily. A busy figure was still grilling meat with complete devotion, as though nothing else mattered.

The rich fragrance of roasted meat filled the entire plaza.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure who, despite an imminent battle, had not forgotten to eat. Their eyes were filled with incomprehension.

Sitting far away, Qi Xiu and Yan Baizhe turned their faces aside and silently repeated to themselves:

I don’t know him. I don’t know him…

“Hey, Old Qi, Old Yan, everyone! The meat’s almost ready. Time to eat!”

After sprinkling on a handful of seasoning, Zhu Mo turned around with a grin and called out to Qi Xiu and the others.

Qi Xiu: “…”

Yan Baizhe: “…”

Crack—boom!

A sudden thunderclap from the heavens cut through the dense awkwardness.

Thunderclouds radiated a stifling, nerve-racking energy.

Black as ink, they appeared even heavier against the night.

The clouds hung low, as though they intended to drown everyone beneath their somber, oppressive weight.

[The second round of the examination has ended!]

[The third round of the examination will begin at dawn tomorrow. Under attack from the inhuman creatures, hold out for ten days!]

[After the third round ends, those who have mastered the Palm Thunder will enter the inner sect for cultivation. Those who have not will be designated reserve disciples and may cultivate in the outer sect.]

[If a reserve disciple masters the Palm Thunder within three years, they may be admitted retroactively to the inner sect!]

Ten days!

That heavy, oppressive number settled across the hearts of all the examinees.

“Everyone, might I have a word?”

Just as the crowd began considering how they might survive those arduous ten days, a man rose to his feet. He looked like an aristocratic young master and held a folding fan in his hand. His voice was clear and pleasant.

“My name is Li Guanqi, of the Li family of Hexi.

“The contents of the examination have been announced. If we wish to survive these ten days, we must advance and retreat together.

“I know that many of us have had unpleasant dealings with one another. But regardless of anything else, staying alive must be our greatest concern for now.

“So I will take the liberty of stepping forward and making the first move. If any of you feel I am unworthy, you may say so. I will bear no grudge.”

When Li Guanqi finished speaking, the examinees’ eyes moved from one to another, yet no one objected.

Although more than forty examinees had gathered on the plaza, they were in truth nothing more than loose sand.

They did need someone to take the lead and coordinate their efforts.

The task would be exhausting and distracting, and in the end there was no guarantee of receiving any benefit.

Having someone step forward first was not a bad thing.

Seeing that no one objected, Li Guanqi gently waved his folding fan and smiled.

“In that case, I thank my fellow disciples for their trust. I would first ask those among us skilled in the art of formations to step forward.”

“Should I go…?”

Zhu Mo handed Qi Xiu a chicken leg and quietly wiped his palms.

Qi Xiu’s eyes shifted slightly. He studied the distinguished, handsome young master of the Li family of Hexi, then gave a small nod.

“The greater good comes first.”

“All right.”

Seeing Zhu Mo step forward, four more examinees followed.

“Independent cultivator, Zhu Mo.”

“Jade Radiance Valley, Ye Qing.”

“Former disciple of the Great Unity Mystic Sect, Luo Zhaihua.”

“Touching Cloud Peak, Hua Chun.”

The four announced their names in turn. The surrounding examinees revealed strange expressions and began murmuring among themselves.

Page 3 of 3

“A former disciple of the Great Unity Mystic Sect? Is that the same Great Unity Mystic Sect whose sect master was abducted by the Joyous Demon Temple?”

“That’s right. I heard that sect master has now become the Joyous Demon Temple’s left guardian and even married the princess of the Azure Cloud Kingdom. He’s living a far more carefree life than he ever did in the Great Unity Mystic Sect.”

“The Hua family of Touching Cloud Peak and the Ye family of Jade Radiance Valley are both famous for disliking each other. Do you think those two might start fighting later?”

“That fat man who was grilling meat is actually a formation cultivator too. Truly, appearances can be deceiving.”

“I shall trouble the four of you to accompany me.”

Li Guanqi bowed with clasped hands, then led Zhu Mo and the other four away. He apparently intended to set up formations around the plaza first, establishing the first line of defense against the inhuman creatures.

This night was destined to be a busy one.

After arranging for Zhu Mo and the others to establish layer upon layer of formations around the white-jade stairway plaza, Li Guanqi returned and questioned each person about their particular strengths.

He made detailed arrangements for everyone’s position, the direction each person would be responsible for, and even which individuals they should watch over and assist in an emergency.

He had divided them into groups for killing enemies, providing reinforcements, defending, and obstructing the enemy, among others.

Once everything had been completed—

It was now almost dawn.

The sky was gradually brightening. Daybreak was near!

Thud—

The ground suddenly began to tremble, as though a giant beast had stamped across it.

Countless terrifying inhuman creatures surged out of the darkness. Their bodies were huge and twisted, their skin covered in scales or wart-like growths.

Some possessed enormous teeth and razor-sharp claws, which they brandished through the air in savage attacks capable of devouring everything. Their piercing hisses and horrifying shrieks made the heart tremble with fear.

Others had grotesque appearances and spine-chilling abilities.

They became warped, ever-changing shadows in the darkness, weaving and drifting through the air.

A cold, foul stench spread through the surroundings, making it difficult to breathe.

Rumble!

The creatures slammed into the formations that had been laid down earlier. The ocher-colored light barrier shook violently, ripples spreading without end. Fierce friction was accompanied by countless sparks, and wave after wave of visible shock waves burst outward.

“It held.”

Hua Chun, a sturdy man wearing a floral cloth headscarf, wiped the sweat from his brow and revealed a faint smile.

The Profound Origin Central Yellow Formation had been constructed through the combined efforts of the four of them.

Not only was its defensive power astonishing, it could also continuously draw upon the earth’s energy and repair itself automatically.

Even a great cultivator of the Blood-Dyed Realm might not be able to break through it in a short time.

“But it won’t hold for long.”

Zhu Mo keenly sensed that the formation points could no longer withstand such violent impacts. They had begun to crumble and suffer damage, and his expression turned grave.

There were seventy or eighty inhuman creatures before them.

Though these creatures knew neither spells nor martial arts, their physical bodies were terrifying, and they possessed innate supernatural abilities. Their successive attacks pounded against the formation’s light barrier without pause.

No formation, however powerful, could withstand such an assault.

The formation might break in the very next second.

And indeed—

It lasted less than half an hour.

Then an inhuman creature shaped like a jackal tore through the Profound Origin Central Yellow Formation with a single bite. The collapsing radiance scattered and vanished, transforming into a rain of light.

The formation had broken!

The instant it collapsed, the martial cultivators who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground slowly rose to their feet. They stirred their true essence and set their blood and qi into motion.

Blazing killing intent surged into the heavens!

Woo—

Yan Baizhe drew the horn from his waist and blew a long, powerful note.

The horn was a magical artifact.

As its deep, stirring call rang out, an invisible scarlet supernatural force surged and boiled like a tide. Every martial cultivator present suddenly felt the circulation of their blood and qi triple in speed.

A fierce, ringing battle spirit surged recklessly through their chests!

“Battle!!!”

…

End of Chapter