Free Web NovelChapter 174: Chapter 174: Going Berserk
BANG!
Without any warning, the Frost Shadow Python suddenly lowered its proud head and prostrated itself, like a subject submitting to a supreme monarch.
Its massive body seemed to tremble faintly. It was actually afraid.
"?!"
Shen Daoxing froze, completely bewildered.
Then, he understood. He possessed the Dragon Vein, the power of an Ancestral Dragon—and the Ancestral Dragon was the progenitor of all True Dragons.
The Frost Shadow Python before him possessed only a sliver of True Dragon blood. This was bloodline suppression.
"Strange. Why did the Frost Shadow Python suddenly drop to the ground?"
The crowd on the Cloud Platforms on either side didn’t know the reason. They only watched in bewilderment as the previously menacing and imposing Frost Shadow Python abruptly prostrated itself.
Just as everyone was puzzling over this, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon within Shen Daoxing’s body suddenly opened its dazzling gold eyes. An invisible, majestic, and ancient draconic aura radiated outward.
The Frost Shadow Python felt this terrifying draconic aura and shuddered. Its eyes flew open in terror, as if it had seen something horrific. Without a moment’s hesitation, it turned, dragging its massive serpentine body away. It charged off the terrace, its thick tail held high, and with a CRACK, it shattered the Cloud Platform blocking its path.
"Oh no! The Frost Shadow Python has gone berserk!"
Someone shouted in alarm.
On the nearby Cloud Platform for the Martial Arts Ranking, Shen Mo Feng shot a cold glare at Sun Shufeng. "What’s going on? Didn’t you say this was foolproof?"
"This... this..." Sun Shufeng stared at the berserk Frost Shadow Python, momentarily at a loss for words. "I secretly placed Snake Incense on Shen Daoxing. The Frost Shadow Python should have locked onto his scent and pursued him relentlessly. How could it suddenly go berserk?"
As he spoke, he brought two fingers together before his eyes and muttered a string of secret words.
A moment later, a flying insect made of talisman paper silently floated off the back of Shen Daoxing’s clothes.
Shen Daoxing frowned. Sensing something, he turned, reached out, and instantly crushed the paper insect in his palm.
He lowered his head and sniffed his hand, detecting a strange scent. Shen Daoxing immediately understood. He turned his head toward the other Cloud Platform, his gaze meeting Shen Mo Feng’s cold, icy stare.
BANG!
The Frost Shadow Python raised its massive tail and slammed it down, splitting a Cloud Platform in two.
Seeing this, Zhao Wufeng’s expression turned grim. He shot into the air and appeared before the Frost Shadow Python.
"Beast! Get back here, now!"
Zhao Wufeng shouted, holding two fingers to his lips and murmuring. A moment later, a profound incantation issued from his mouth.
Hearing the words, the Frost Shadow Python seemed to be struck by unbearable pain, its giant serpentine body twisting and writhing desperately.
"Beast! Get back here, now!"
Zhao Wufeng bellowed again.
The Frost Shadow Python twisted its head to look back at the terrace as if it had seen something terrifying. Its pupils contracted, and no matter how much pain it was in, it refused to return.
Suddenly, the Frost Shadow Python threw its head back and roared at the sky. It knocked Zhao Wufeng aside and frantically tried to escape.
"The Frost Shadow Python... it’s running away? What is it afraid of?"
Someone voiced their confusion.
Just as the Frost Shadow Python was about to escape, a pinpoint of white light suddenly flared in the sky. The point of light grew larger and larger, revealing itself to be a sharp, silvery-white sword.
The sword shot through the air like a magnificent rainbow, piercing the sky. It stabbed straight through the Frost Shadow Python’s head and traveled down the length of its enormous serpentine body.
With a WHOOSH, it exited through the serpent’s tail, leaving a trail of mangled flesh in its wake.
The massive Frost Shadow Python exploded in the sky like a serpent-shaped firework in a brilliant flash.
After piercing the Frost Shadow Python in a single strike, the silvery-white longsword stabbed into the terrace with a CLANG. A man in flowing black robes with long, unbound hair then descended, landing with one foot on the sword’s hilt.
"It’s... It’s Ancient Sword Marquis! He’s finally here!"
Someone shouted.
Shen Daoxing turned to look. The newcomer had sharp, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. His expression was severe, giving off an unapproachable air. His entire aura was restrained, giving Shen Daoxing the impression that he was unfathomably deep.
After arriving on the terrace, Ancient Sword Marquis said nothing. He simply leaped onto the Martial Arts Ranking’s Cloud Platform, took a seat in the most distinguished booth at the very top, and closed his eyes to rest.
Everyone stared blankly at the Frost Shadow Python’s corpse. For a moment, no one spoke. It had all happened too fast for anyone to process.
After an unknown amount of time, Lv Yunsheng stepped forward on the terrace and looked at Zhao Wufeng. "Examiner Zhao, how will this third test be scored?"
Zhao Wufeng looked at the Frost Shadow Python’s corpse. This was the first time he had ever encountered such a problem. The Frost Shadow Python had always been obedient; he had no idea why it had suddenly gone berserk today.
"Allow me to consult my master and martial uncles."
Zhao Wufeng said after a moment of thought. He didn’t dare make a decision on such a matter himself.
He then took a bronze mirror from his robes, held two fingers to his lips, and muttered an incantation before pointing at the mirror. "Go!"
The bronze mirror in his hand levitated, emitting a faint glow. Shen Daoxing then saw the ethereal image of a middle-aged man emerge from the light.
Shen Daoxing couldn’t hear what the middle-aged man was saying, but he saw Zhao Wufeng nodding repeatedly.
A moment later, Zhao Wufeng tapped the bronze mirror with a finger and put it back into his robes.
Then, his eyes slowly swept over the crowd before he broke into a mysterious smile. "My Master has spoken. The Frost Shadow Python has always been obedient. Its sudden rampage today was an event guided by the unseen hand of fate! Therefore, you have all passed the test!"
As soon as he said this, everyone on the terrace cheered.
Even so, quite a few people had been knocked out of the arena during the chaos.
Of the original twenty people, only twelve remained.
"Alright. Since you have passed the third test, congratulations. From this day forward, you are all outer sect disciples of our Celestial Profound Sacred Land."
Zhao Wufeng smiled at the group. "From now on, we will address each other as martial brothers."
Here, Zhao Wufeng’s tone suddenly shifted. "However, do not let your guard down. Next, we will hold a ranking competition. If any of you can place in the top five, you will be chosen by one of our Seven Great Sacred Mountains to become an Inner Sect Disciple. Once you become an Inner Sect Disciple, you can enter the Sacred Land to cultivate."
Outer sect... as the name implies, they are disciples outside the gates. They naturally do not have the qualifications to enter the Sacred Land to cultivate. Only Inner Sect Disciples are permitted entry.
The Celestial Profound Sacred Land was a hallowed domain like a celestial paradise. Immortal Grass and Spiritual Medicine grew everywhere, and Exotic Beasts could be seen at every turn. The water there was Spiritual Water filled with Primordial Energy, and the mountain springs were Spiritual Springs condensed from Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.
Dense Primordial Energy, like a Cloud Sea, enveloped the entire Sacred Land.
A single day of cultivation inside was equivalent to ten days of cultivation outside.
For this reason, it was the place every Martial Artist in the entire East Continent dreamed of entering.
However, aside from those within the Celestial Profound Sacred Land itself, no one knew its precise location.
