Free Web NovelChapter 170: Chapter 170: Profound Soldier Terracotta Warriors
"Alright, the first assessment is over. Forty-five people have passed."
Zhao Wufeng took a Jade Token from his robes, registered the names of all who had passed, and made the announcement.
Those on the terrace who had failed the first assessment departed with regret, moving to a Cloud Platform at the side.
Among those remaining, some were secretly relieved, while others were worried about the next assessment.
Zhao Wufeng confirmed the number of remaining participants was correct, then said, "Now, we will begin the second assessment. This test will challenge your adaptability."
As he spoke, Zhao Wufeng waved his hand, and a Cloud Platform flew over from a short distance away.
This Cloud Platform was different from the others. It had no elegant seats, only a massive wooden crate in the center.
The moment it appeared before them, a dull, thudding sound echoed from within, as if something terrifying was inside.
Zhao Wufeng reached out and snapped his fingers. The massive wooden crate opened in response, and an imposing terracotta warrior was revealed.
The terracotta warrior stood nine feet tall and was reddish-brown all over. A soul-stealing, red light emanated from its hollow eyes. Its six arms wielded six different weapons: a saber, a sword, a spear, a halberd, a staff, and a dagger-axe. It had the imposing and majestic aura of an ancient War God—clearly not something to be trifled with.
Zhao Wufeng pointed to the terracotta warrior and explained, "This is a masterpiece from our Celestial Profound Sacred Land’s Divine Forger’s Hand, Master Wuliang. It is the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior. It possesses an unstoppable Power of Slaughter and is both nimble and agile. With this creation alone, Master Wuliang once annihilated a pack of several thousand demonic wolves. Its strength is truly exceptional."
The crowd immediately erupted in an uproar. Many faces showed terror. How were they supposed to deal with such a monster?
Noticing their fear, Zhao Wufeng smiled slightly. "You need not worry. For this trial, you only need to survive against this Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn to pass the assessment. If you are in mortal danger, I will order it to stop."
As he said this, Zhao Wufeng raised his hand and crooked a finger. The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s head suddenly swiveled. It then launched itself into the air, landing on the terrace with a BOOM that sent the surrounding people scrambling back several steps in fright.
Zhao Wufeng glanced at the Jade Token in his hand, then looked at the crowd. "Alright. When I call your name, step forward to begin the challenge."
A wave of nervousness washed over the crowd.
"Hong Yuan!" Zhao Wufeng called out the first name.
A tall, thin man stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Zhao Wufeng nodded, then left the terrace with the other observers. They moved to a Cloud Platform at the side, clearing the area for Hong Yuan.
Before leaving, Zhao Wufeng added a reminder, "By the way, leaving this terrace also counts as failing the assessment. Also, you’d best not treat this Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior as a mindless object, or you will lose miserably."
Shen Daoxing and Lv Yunsheng leaped up, flying to a Cloud Platform. They landed and sat at an empty, elegant table, where a servant girl immediately served them tea.
Hong Yuan smiled faintly. "Thank you for the reminder, examiner."
Though he looked frail, his aura was anything but. Cracking his knuckles, he glanced at the terracotta warrior with an air of confidence.
"Begin!"
With Zhao Wufeng’s command, Hong Yuan drew a gleaming long saber from his robes. He leaped forward and charged straight at the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior, intending to meet it head-on.
The terracotta warrior opposite him didn’t move from its spot. It simply swung the long saber in one of its hands, bringing it down in a vertical chop.
"CLANG!"
The two sabers collided, sending a shower of blinding sparks into the air.
Hong Yuan’s body froze. As if struck by an immense force, his eyes went wide. In the next instant, both he and his saber were sent flying, crashing with a THUD outside the bounds of the terrace.
Clearly, clashing head-on with the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior was not a wise move.
Zhao Wufeng shook his head. "Assessment failed. Next, Deng Fujin!"
The next to come up was a large, heavyset man. Unlike the impulsive Hong Yuan, he stood still after getting on the terrace, warily watching the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s every move.
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior took a step and charged. Startled, Deng Fujin quickly retreated. He appeared round and clumsy, but his speed was astonishingly fast, covering a great distance in the blink of an eye.
But the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior was even faster. It shot forward like a flash of light and caught up to him in moments.
Greatly alarmed, Deng Fujin hastily changed direction and ran to the right.
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior behind him also turned and gave chase to the right.
Unexpectedly, Deng Fujin had only taken a single step—it was a feint. He suddenly pivoted and ran to the left, quickly putting distance between himself and the warrior.
It seemed Deng Fujin had found a trick. He used feints again and again, deceiving the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior and leading it on a chaotic chase around the terrace.
Deng Fujin was overjoyed. Just as he thought he could keep kiting the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior like this until time was up...
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior suddenly stopped. It ignored Deng Fujin’s feint to the right, as if it had anticipated his move, and appeared directly on his other side, its great saber slashing down violently.
"ARGH..."
Deng Fujin cried out in alarm, spitting a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily outside the arena.
At the same time, the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s eyes flashed. It tilted its head up to look at Deng Fujin’s miserable state and actually split its mouth into a savage grin.
It was obvious this Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior possessed its own consciousness.
The crowd was horrified.
On the other Cloud Platform, Zhao Wufeng shook his head. "Assessment failed. Next, Xu Gui!"
Following that, two more people took the stage, but without exception, they all ended in disastrous defeat, not even lasting a quarter of an hour.
This made the remaining candidates look at each other in dismay.
At this, Lv Yunsheng couldn’t help but complain, "This terracotta warrior is insane! How is it possible to last half an incense stick against it? At this rate, I’m afraid no one will pass the assessment!"
Lv Yunsheng turned to Shen Daoxing. "Yang, do you think there’s any way to deal with this Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior?"
Just then, another person on the stage was miserably defeated by the terracotta warrior, and Zhao Wufeng announced the next challenger.
Lv Yunsheng clasped his hands together and prayed frantically, ’Don’t call me! Please don’t call me!’
But, as luck would have it, Zhao Wufeng announced slowly, "Next, Lv Yunsheng."
Lv Yunsheng’s face went pale. He clutched his head. ’It’s over! What do I do?’
Just then, Shen Daoxing suddenly spoke up. "Don’t worry. Since this is an assessment, the Celestial Profound Sacred Land wouldn’t have created an impossible situation. The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior moves extremely fast, but its attack speed isn’t that quick. You just need to pay close attention to its attack motions and stay close to it. Focus on dodging its attacks. Just as Zhao Wufeng said earlier, this is a test of your adaptability—literally."
After Shen Daoxing’s reminder, Lv Yunsheng recalled the previous fights. His eyes lit up with understanding, and he confidently leaped onto the terrace.
"Begin!"
With Zhao Wufeng’s command, Lv Yunsheng bent his knees slightly but didn’t move.
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior took a step and charged forward, but Lv Yunsheng still didn’t move.
Not until the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior was nearly upon him, raising its saber-wielding arm for a sudden downward smash, did Lv Yunsheng finally take a step and shift his body slightly to the side.
