Chapter 161
by fanqienovelChapter 161: The Top Twenty
The sun rose in the east, casting countless rays of rosy dawn light.
Linglong City was packed shoulder to shoulder with people, and the venue for the Hidden Dragon Gathering was completely filled, with not a single seat to spare.
"Gentlemen, today we will determine the top twenty spots. I wonder who will remain on the platform after today’s matches?" Yang Xuanzhan smiled as he spoke.
A solemn gleam flashed in the eyes of many spectators, though individuals like Bu Linglong remained utterly unfazed.
Their strength placed them firmly among the top-tier, ensuring their place in the top twenty was beyond any doubt.
"Let us begin."
Yang Xuanzhan announced the contenders for the first round. As his voice faded, a woman draped in light gauze from the Mystic Law Sect and a prodigy from Empress Nuwa Palace ascended the battle platform. After exchanging salutes, they immediately summoned their magical instruments and unleashed their divine abilities.
Half a quarter of an hour later, the cultivator from Empress Nuwa Palace conceded defeat.
"Thank you for holding back, Senior Sister Lu," the Empress Nuwa Palace cultivator said, clasping his hands in salute.
Lu Xuanyin replied, "I yield to your grace."
The first battle concluded with remarkable speed.
"Lu Xuanyin, you had an easy victory in this match," said Qi Zijun, the leading figure among Empress Nuwa Palace’s younger generation, fixing Lu Xuanyin with a gaze filled with a trace of sharpness.
"Qi Zijun, if you’re displeased, feel free to step forward and retake your ground yourself," Lu Xuanyin retorted coldly.
Their dispute was immediately drowned out by the sounds erupting from the next battle.
"Old Li is about to lose."
A group of prodigies from Godfall Ridge stared intently at the platform, their brows furrowing in concern.
The contestant from Godfall Ridge was facing his opponent, a young man in linen from Taihao Heavenly Sect named Beitang Jue.
Beitang Jue’s attacks were vicious, every move a killing blow.
From the very start, he fought meticulously, securing a complete upper hand. He suppressed the Godfall Ridge prodigy completely, leaving no room for the latter to secure victory.
"I concede," the Godfall Ridge cultivator declared, unable to endure any longer.
Boom!
However, Beitang Jue seemed not to hear. He shattered the defenses of the cultivator surnamed Li with a single palm strike, injuring him and sending him flying off the battle platform.
"Damn you!" Qi Wuhen shouted furiously. "Didn’t you hear he had already conceded?"
"No, I didn’t," Beitang Jue answered coldly, his eyes fixed icily on Qi Wuhen. "Your mouth is too foul. Sooner or later, I will rip it apart."
"You think I’m afraid of you?" Qi Wuhen roared in anger. While arrogant himself, he strictly adhered to the rules. Beitang Jue, however, had violated the rules out of malice, deliberately targeting someone from Godfall Ridge.
"My lord, what should be done about this?" Yang Xuanzhan frowned.
Beitang Jue had indeed broken the rules.
Ye Xu said lightly, "The wicked will meet their fate naturally. Let us proceed."
"Next, Ao Lie of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace…"
The voice of Yang Xuanzhan sounded. Everyone instantly ceased their quarrels. Ao Lie and a prodigy from the Holy Ancestor Dynasty took to the battle platform — it was none other than Prince Huangfu Xinjue.
Prince Huangfu Xinjue held a firewood chopper, his eyes arrogant. "This blade of mine has slain more than one dragon. But a dragon of the bloodline of the ancestral dragon? That I’ve yet to try."
"Today, your blood shall anoint my blade."
Clang!
His figure moved, vanishing from Ao Lie’s perception like a phantom.
The next instant, the cry of a blade rang out.
The heavens and earth vanished, replaced by a single firewood chopper slicing towards Ao Lie.
Unavoidable.
Ao Lie surged his magic power, his ancestral dragon form manifesting. As the chopper fell, he blocked with both hands. Blade-edge met dragon scale, sparks flying as divine patterns shattered one after another.
He had forcibly intercepted the chopper.
Boom!
Ao Lie unleashed his magic power, smashing a punch onto the chopper and sending Prince Huangfu Xinjue flying backwards.
He pressed his advantage, transforming directly into a five-clawed golden dragon. With a breath, dragon breath crushed the heavens, instantly engulfing Prince Huangfu Xinjue.
Prince Huangfu Xinjue immediately activated his protective divine armor, resisting Ao Lie’s power.
Thud!
Ao Lie’s Dragon Claw descended. Void birthed chaotic divine thunder, crashing squarely onto Prince Huangfu Xinjue. In moments, the protective divine armor’s power was shattered.
His claw closed around Prince Huangfu Xinjue; the firewood chopper even chipped against the grip.
"I concede."
Prince Huangfu Xinjue’s face turned deathly pale. His strength was far below Ao Lie’s. After just these few exchanges, he could hold out no longer.
Hearing the concession, Ao Lie loosened his Dragon Claw and shifted back to human form.
"I stand humbled."
Ao Lie clasped his fist.
Prince Huangfu Xinjue snorted coldly and sulked off the battle platform.
"Next…"
Yang Xuanzhan continued to call out names.
Those on stage changed like horses galloping past flowers, one shift after another, their divine techniques and methods dazzlingly bewildering.
"Nangong Zhandao…"
Finally, it was Nangong Zhandao’s turn once more.
This time, his opponent was the woman in simple robes from the Holy Sect of Transformation.
This woman’s cultivation had already reached saint level perfection. She was a contender qualified to vie for the top twenty.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury.
Without a single extra word, the woman in simple robes flicked her slender hand, instantly manifesting a world of malevolent spirits where demons and asuras roared, charging into Nangong Zhandao’s Purple Palace.
Nangong Zhandao remained utterly unmoved.
He didn’t even need to channel his magic power; the demons and asuras were instantly obliterated by the power of his Ziwei Spirit Root.
To invade his Purple Palace and attack his primordial spirit, one must first overcome the barrier of the Ziwei Spirit Root.
"This is bad."
Li Xieyun frowned deeply. "Junior Sister Qin’s illusion techniques had no effect on Nangong Zhandao."
The woman in simple robes also noticed the abnormality in Nangong Zhandao. Delicate brows knitting, her fingers swiftly formed hand seals, preparing to unleash another divine ability.
"Wasting time," Nangong Zhandao said lightly.
Clang!
He made his move.
Nangong Zhandao turned his palm into a blade and sliced down vertically.
The woman in simple robes’ movement halted. Her delicate frame trembled faintly, then she became utterly still.
"Dead?"
A shiver ran through the crowd; the woman in simple robes’ strength was undoubtedly top-tier, yet now she lay motionless, seemingly dead.
"Junior Sister Qin…"
Li Xieyun called out.
However, the woman in simple robes gave no response.
Snap!
The Great Emperor of the Holy Sect of Transformation, his eyes icy cold, shattered the table with a slap, his murderous intent surging like a tide. "You’ve killed two of my sect disciples in a row. This is utterly intolerable bullying."
"Daoist brother, this is a conflict among juniors. Surely you wouldn’t intervene personally?" The Empress of the Holy Mother Palace advised. "Do not forget, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is watching from the sidelines."
That Great Emperor felt a chill in his heart and could only suppress his killing intent.
"Nangong Zhandao, why did you kill her?" Li Xieyun roared in fury, rising to his feet and slamming the table.
"Who told you she was dead?"
Nangong Zhandao’s gaze remained indifferent.
The next second.
The woman in simple robes suddenly collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, her entire body soaked with sweat that outlined her exquisite curves.
"Senior Brother, I’m alive," the woman in simple robes said weakly.
That strike from Nangong Zhandao had severed her connection to her magic power, sealed her Purple Palace, and briefly plunged her into a state of suspended animation, but she was not truly dead.
Li Xieyun heaved a sigh of relief.
The emperors’ eyes flickered with a strange light.
Nangong Zhandao’s divine power had actually managed to deceive this assembly of Great Emperors?
"This young man truly is terrifying."
"Given time to grow, who knows what heights he might reach?"
The emperors sighed in amazement.
"Thank you for showing mercy, senior brother," the woman in simple robes said.
"You still intend to fight?" Nangong Zhandao’s brow furrowed slightly.
The woman was taken aback but quickly recovered. "I concede."
Hearing this, Nangong Zhandao gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave the battle platform.
A strange light, mixed with complex emotions, rose within the woman’s eyes.
Nangong Zhandao’s power had long surpassed anything she could hope to match. Slaying her would have been a matter done in the blink of an eye.
In that instant, a wave of admiration washed over the woman’s heart, mingled with budding affection.
Ye Xu was stupefied.
Now he finally understood the source of Nangong Zhandao’s renowned romantic luck.
The child of fortune was simply incredible.
"Now, the top twenty have been determined. They are…"
Yang Xuanzhan produced a list and began to read the names aloud.
From Godfall Ridge, only Meng Feixian, Qi Wuhen, and the sinister man, Wei Du, made the list. Ao Lie, Yan Duxing, and Nangong Zhandao were all on it. The rest were cultivators hailing from various realms.
Notably, the Holy Ancestor Dynasty had both the Third Prince, Xuan Yu, and the Seventh Princess on the list.
Both the Taihao Heavenly Sect and the Empress Nuwa Palace also had two representatives each.
The talent pool of these three powerful figures was widely considered the highest.
Additionally, there was one name from the Shadow Realm’s Yama Court, and another representing the Moon God Clan of the Star Realm.
By now, dusk had fallen, the sky stained with the blood-drenched hues of the lingering sunset.
"Following precedent, the contest will resume tomorrow, continuing until a victor is declared," Yang Xuanzhan announced.