Free Web NovelChapter 172: Chapter 172: Frost Shadow Python
Lv Yunsheng cried out in alarm, whirling to face Zhao Wufeng. "Examiner Zhao, what are you waiting for? Make the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior stop! If you don’t, Yang will be killed!"
The sudden turn of events on the terrace made Zhao Wufeng realize something was wrong.
He frowned. Raising two fingers toward the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior on the terrace, he swiped them through the air. A stream of golden characters materialized before he roared, "Profound Soldier Wuji, stop!"
A beam of golden light shot out from between Zhao Wufeng’s fingers, striking the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior.
However, the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior showed no sign of stopping. It continued to spin its unyielding body, forming a massive tornado that roared like a tsunami, sweeping toward Shen Daoxing with unstoppable force.
In a mere moment, the warrior’s tornado reached Shen Daoxing, sweeping up everything in its path.
At this critical juncture, Shen Daoxing didn’t flee. Instead, he raised the Poisonous Fiend above his head and hurled it forward.
A sharp, purple light shot out like a Wandering Dragon.
"CLANG!"
The purple light lodged itself in the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior with a sharp clang.
Instantly, the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s spinning body ground to a halt.
But the Demon Soldier Poison Fiend was jammed in the warrior’s rotating joints. It made a harsh, screeching sound—GRIND! SCREECH!—as sparks flew. It wobbled precariously, looking as if it might be flung away at any second.
Faced with this, Shen Daoxing didn’t retreat. He advanced, charging straight for the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior.
The crowd on the surrounding Cloud Platforms was stunned.
’What is he doing?!’
’What is Shen Daoxing doing? Is he trying to get himself killed?’
Just then, with a sharp SNAP, the Poisonous Fiend could hold on no longer and was flung from the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s body.
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s body slowly began to spin once more.
But Shen Daoxing’s forward charge didn’t slow in the slightest. He kicked off, dropping his body flat against the ground, and slid forward feet-first.
The Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior was already spinning rapidly, the six weapons on its arms gleaming menacingly. At this rate, Shen Daoxing’s death was certain.
In the blink of an eye, Shen Daoxing slid underneath the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior.
The six weapons in the warrior’s hands flashed with a deadly light as they chopped down, about to strike Shen Daoxing.
The small red snake coiled within Shen Daoxing’s body gave a yawn. A flicker of ethereal, formless power shot out, striking the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s abdomen.
Instantly, a faint light glowed. A mysterious, deep-red Crystal Stone with a profound aura was pulled from the warrior’s abdomen and vanished into Shen Daoxing’s body.
The warrior’s chopping motion stopped dead. Shen Daoxing slid past it by a hair’s breadth.
The little red snake’s action was incredibly subtle, over in the blink of an eye.
No one on the Cloud Platforms noticed a thing. All they saw was the warrior, which had been moments from killing Shen Daoxing, suddenly freeze without any warning.
"HSSSS!"
A large amount of white gas suddenly vented from the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior’s body. With a loud CLATTER, its entire frame collapsed into a pile of scrap iron on the ground.
Zhao Wufeng looked from the pile of scrap that was the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior to Shen Daoxing. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally announced the result. "Shen Daoxing, you pass the assessment."
’What?!’
The crowd erupted. They couldn’t believe Shen Daoxing’s luck was so incredible. Just when he was about to be killed, the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior had suddenly broken down.
On the Cloud Platform reserved for the prodigies of the Martial Arts Ranking, Shen Mo Feng’s face darkened. He shot a cold glare at Sun Shufeng. "What happened? Didn’t you say it was foolproof?"
"It was supposed to be!"
Sun Shufeng stared at the terrace in disbelief. "I had someone tamper with the Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior, but I never expected it to just fall apart like that! All I can say is, Shen Daoxing got incredibly lucky this time!"
Sun Shufeng quickly composed himself, turning to say earnestly, "Young Master Sun, don’t worry. There’s still another assessment! We have another card to play!"
Shen Mo Feng paused, his expression grim. "It had better be!"
With a muffled CRUNCH, he crushed the wine cup in his hand.
"The second assessment is over. Twenty people passed."
Zhao Wufeng recorded the names of everyone who had passed on a Jade Token, then stepped to the center of the terrace to make his announcement.
Shen Daoxing returned to his private booth on the Cloud Platform.
"Yang, you scared me to death just now! That Profound Soldier Terracotta Warrior was terrifying. You were a hair’s breadth from death."
Lv Yunsheng said, approaching him with a look of lingering fear.
Shen Daoxing just gave a faint smile and said nothing.
’Kid, I’m going to refine this Primordial Soul Nether Crystal now. Don’t disturb me unless it’s something important!’
The little red snake’s condescending, ancient-sounding voice echoed in Shen Daoxing’s mind.
’Elder, can’t you do it later? At least wait until I’ve left Daqian!’
Shen Daoxing asked inwardly, startled. He was currently being hunted by the entire Celestial Profound Sacred Land. Losing the powerful assistance of Elder Blood Dragon would be a disaster.
’I cannot!’
The little red snake’s voice replied coolly.
Shen Daoxing sighed silently. ’Looks like for the time being, I’ll have to rely on myself.’
"Alright, let’s begin the third assessment."
Zhao Wufeng announced slowly from the terrace.
Shen Daoxing turned to look. He saw Zhao Wufeng raise a hand and beckon, summoning another Cloud Platform from the distance. On it sat what looked like a large, square box draped in a brown silk cloth.
Just then, a strong gust of wind swept by, slowly lifting the brown silk cloth.
The crowd first saw a massive iron cage, then a pair of blood-red eyes. Inky black, vertical pupils, like abysses set in sclera the color of blood, stared out. An unparalleled, terrifying aura emanated from them, causing everyone’s breath to catch in their throats.
When the silk cloth had fallen away completely, the crowd saw a gigantic serpent coiled within the iron cage. Its blood-red eyes were massive, and two small bumps, like nascent dragon horns, protruded from the top of its head.
Zhao Wufeng began to explain. "This is a Frost Shadow Python, captured by our Sacred Land from a long-sealed Ice Abyss. It is said to have the blood of a True Dragon and is already showing the initial signs of being able to Transform into a Flood Dragon. Give it another thousand years of cultivation, and it might even transform from a Flood Dragon into a True Dragon."
As he spoke, Zhao Wufeng’s gaze swept meaningfully across the crowd. "Your objective this time is to work together to defeat it. Anyone still standing on the terrace at the end will be permitted to enter our Celestial Profound Sacred Land."
His words caused an immediate uproar.
’It was obvious that this python’s power was astonishing. The first to attack would surely die. To pass the trial, they had to conserve their strength and avoid elimination. But if everyone chose to hang back and refused to fight the Frost Shadow Python, it’s likely that no one would pass the assessment at all.’
Zhao Wufeng gave them no time to think. "Alright," he announced immediately, "the third assessment begins now. Will the candidates please come to the stage."
Figures rose from the Cloud Platforms, floating down onto the terrace. Shen Daoxing and Lv Yunsheng landed together in a corner.
Then, Zhao Wufeng waved his hand. The massive iron cage flew into the air and—BOOM!—smashed down heavily in the middle of the group.
