Chapter 196
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Chapter 196: Long Live the Peace
At the center of the trial tower of the Hidden Spirit Sect, over two hundred first-generation disciples entered the game, each with their own thoughts.
At this moment, over two hundred glowing orbs shone in the sky, waiting to descend as the battle royale game was about to begin.
Xiong Li wore a helpless expression; he wasn’t afraid of anyone in the sect when it came to one-on-one challenges.
But when it came to the battle royale game, he always found himself at a disadvantage.
At the start of every battle royale, he had thought that the first place was made just for him, but unfortunately, reality was often harsh.
Out of ten games, he only managed to secure first place about three times.
“Qian Bing, this time there are no cannons in the battle royale game; let’s see what you will do now.”
Xiong Li decided that once the game started, he would play it safe and first eliminate Qian Bing.
Not far from Xiong Li, within one of the glowing orbs, Qian Bing smugly patted the precious artifact puppet troops in his hands.
“That silly bear must think I don’t have a cannon.”
“You think just because there aren’t any in the treasure hall I can’t get one?”
Qian Bing let out a gleeful ‘gei gei gei’ laughter.
The day before the Sect Competition, he had passed by Qian Lian Peak and accidentally spotted junior brother Lei Ren experimenting with a precious artifact.
And that artifact was the cannon he had long yearned for.
He traded 2000 points for the cannon and two cannonballs from Lei Ren.
He had also seen the cannon’s power; it was stronger than the cannons used in previous battle royales.
Now, Qian Bing imagined the look on Xiong Li’s face when he got blasted out of the game by the cannon.
“Game Start!”
A harmonious female electronic voice rang out, and in an instant, over two hundred glowing orbs descended towards the circular island below.
In the audience area, Ji Muhua stared blankly at the light curtain. He only had a slight understanding of the battle royale game and perceived it as a rather interesting illusion game.
Such games also existed in their sect, though those illusions merely simulated harsh elemental environments to help disciples grasp the fundamental truths of the elements. Even so, only a few in their sect had grasped even the basic concepts of elemental mastery, rendering it not very useful.
“Friend Xu, why does your sect use such gaming methods for such an important competition?” Ji Muhua asked Xu Gang, as he always inquired when confused.
Xu Gang glanced at the yet-to-start competition.
“The purpose of the Sect Competition is to select the strongest existence.”
“In my master’s understanding, being the strongest isn’t just about fighting strength.”
“There’s one disciple among our first-generation disciples who is universally acknowledged as the strongest. Shouldn’t he secure first place every time in the battle royale game?” Xu Gang questioned.
“Shouldn’t he?” Ji Muhua responded, puzzled. The strongest should indeed take first place, right?
“On average, out of ten games, that strongest disciple only achieves first place two to three times; the rest of the time, he is within the top ten,” Xu Gang explained.
“Are you saying your sect values comprehensive strength?” Ji Muhua asked.
“Yes,” Xu Gang nodded.
“If only our sect had such illusion games,” Ji Muhua said enviously. Although he specialized in Daoist techniques, he still understood a bit about illusions.
In large-scale illusion games that allow multiple participants, the carrier has to start with a Daoist artifact. However, in the cultivation world, Daoist artifacts with illusion or intelligent spirit functionalities are quite rare; they are only known to exist within the Elder Council and the Heavenly Refining Sect.
“If Qianling Sect needs it, they can approach my master to purchase it,” Xu Gang said, as he was somewhat aware of the trade between the Hidden Spirit Sect and the Qianling Sect.
“Once I return to the sect, I will propose it to the elders.”
At this moment, the battle royale game on the light curtain officially began.
“From the aerial view of the map, all of you brothers are being very cautious. Since the identities of the other glowing orbs cannot be recognized, the positions of the fallen brothers are quite evenly spaced.”
The locations of the first-generation disciples flashed across the light curtain.
Coincidentally, Xiong Li and Qian Bing, the feuding pair, were less than 3 kilometers apart.
“Wow, if nothing unexpected happens, the first battle of the game is about to start.”
“Let’s see if Brother Xiong will get blasted again,” the young girl commentating said in an exaggerated tone.
The light curtain showed Qian Bing. He was in a concealed spot, releasing several detection puppets in the form of birds.
“My goodness, Brother Xiong, who would have thought we are so destined to meet like this?”
The detection puppets did not travel far before spotting Xiong Li nearby.
“Since you’ve shown up in front of me, if I don’t eliminate you, are we still good brothers?”
Qian Bing held the puppet troops and unleashed a hundred puppets.
Among them, two were operating a fire cannon, adjusting its angle based on the location given by the detection puppets.
“I didn’t expect to eliminate Xiong Li so easily.”
With a wave of his hand, Qian Bing fired the first shot from the fire cannon.
The young girl commentating outside the light curtain said with a tinge of sympathy, “Now Senior Brother Qian has launched a critical shot. If nothing unusual happens…”
“The strongest fighting strength among the first-generation disciples will be the first to be eliminated.”
The light curtain captured the perspective of the fire cannon’s rune cannonball as it soared towards Xiong Li in the distance.
At this moment, Xiong Li, who was cautiously moving, immediately noticed the cannonball fired.
“Qian Bing!” he roared angrily.
“Violent Energy True Form!”
Xiong Li instantly donned heavy armor-type Spiritual Energy Armor and quickly summoned the Violent Energy True Form.
“Boom!”
The Violent Energy True Form was shattered, and the heavy Spiritual Energy Armor on Xiong Li was breached, turning into a half-crippled state.
“Load the rune cannonball and keep firing,” Qian Bing instructed.
At this moment, lying on the ground, Xiong Li suddenly got up and began to move with all his strength in the opposite direction of the cannonball.
Before long, he disappeared from the view of Qian Bing’s detection puppets.
“Failed. I didn’t expect Xiong Li had this trick up his sleeve,” Qian Bing said lightly, feeling disappointed.
“There’s one last cannonball; I must seize the opportunity.”
At this moment, Xu Fan, who was chatting with Wang Yulun, remarked as he watched the scene unfold, “Nice, it can withstand and kill a Golden Core Stage beast in one shot. It seems I need to put more effort into my body refinement techniques.”
“It’s truly impressive. If Xiong Li were at Que Tian Gate, he’d probably dominate everyone in the Foundation Establishment Stage.”
“Big Brother Xu, it looks like our sect is on the rise!” Wang Yulun said excitedly.
“We’re just getting started. Are you already getting carried away just because of one talented disciple?” Xu Fan replied, sounding a bit exasperated.
“Big Brother Xu, can you tell us how Xingci and that Core Formation Stage girl fell in love?” Wang Yulun asked, feeling particularly invested in Li Xingci’s love life due to his own guilt over Xingci becoming a father.
Xu Fan glanced at Wang Yulun and said, “What about those female cultivators from your past? Did you love any of them?”
“Not at all. I was just caught up in the moment,” Wang Yulun replied.
“Did they love you?” Xu Fan pressed.
“Of course they did,” Wang Yulun said confidently, clearly remembering the looks of devotion from those female cultivators who were willing to do anything for him.
“My disciple, who lost his parents young, is in a similar situation,” Xu Fan said with a smile.
“Lost his parents? Did Xingci tell you that?” Wang Yulun asked.
Xu Fan nodded.
“Well, if he doesn’t acknowledge me as his father, I can understand.”
“But I can’t just ignore him as my son,” Wang Yulun sighed.
Xu Fan gave Wang Yulun a firm pat on the shoulder and said, “Stop overthinking it. Let’s just watch the match.”
By now, ten participants had already been eliminated in the battle royale game, and the remaining first-generation disciples were starting to form groups.
The tower defense faction, in particular, had gathered three disciples who had built over a dozen defense towers near the center of the circular island.
The light curtain shifted to show the perspective of these three tower defense disciples.
“If these three tower defense brothers aren’t too unlucky, they’ve pretty much secured their advancement.”
Just then, a massive explosion erupted not far from the tower defense faction. The shockwave and tremors made the three disciples hiding among their defense towers pale.
Xu Gang and Ji Muhua, who were watching the battle, narrowed their eyes. As fellow cannon users, they recognized the sound immediately.
“It can’t be that little rascal Xu Lingtai, can it?” Xu Gang muttered.
The explosion sent up a huge cloud of smoke, and a figure slowly emerged from it.
“Greetings, brothers. I am Xu Lingtai.”
“Since we’ve met, let’s get started,” Xu Lingtai said, beginning to form seals.
“Wait, Junior Brother Lingtai, why don’t you go bother someone else? We’re not exactly fighters in the tower defense faction.”
“Beating us wouldn’t mean much,” one of the tower defense disciples said.
“Brothers, I’m sorry, but if more than three of you from the tower defense faction gather, it becomes a threat to me. So, I have to take you out,” Xu Lingtai replied, continuing to form seals.
“Don’t! Junior Brother Lingtai, there are only three of us. We’re no threat to you!” one of the tower defense disciples pleaded.
They were especially wary of cannon-type cultivators like Xu Lingtai, whose spells were both powerful and had a long range.
“You’ve miscalculated. In this battle royale world, there are six tower defense brothers. If I eliminate the three of you, the other three won’t pose a threat to me.”
Xu Lingtai kept forming seals, ignoring their protests.
Watching Xu Lingtai’s movements, Ji Muhua asked, “Friend Xu, what technique is Lingtai using? Hasn’t he inherited your Dao techniques?”
“This is a technique my master passed down to him.”
“It’s also the most powerful technique I’ve seen at the Foundation Establishment Stage.”
At that moment, the three disciples hiding in the defense towers noticed dozens of fireballs, resembling grenades, hovering above them. Their faces filled with dread.
“Activate the defensive array at full power! We have to hold out against this attack!”
As soon as the tower defense disciple spoke, the dozen defense towers raised their protective shields in unison.
“Brothers, give up. These shields won’t hold against me.”
“Technique: Nuclear Annihilation!”
Xu Lingtai couldn’t help but wonder why his master had chosen such a strange name for the technique.
