Free Web NovelChapter 175: Chapter 175: Begone
Some said the Celestial Profound Sacred Land was hidden within the Wuchen Mountain Range of the Daqian Empire. Others said it lay beneath the Endless Abyss in the East Continent. Still others claimed it was actually on Penglai Immortal Island in the East Continent’s East Sea.
No one knew for sure, because for thousands of years, no power had ever managed to invade the Celestial Profound Sacred Land—not even Celestial Heaven, the most powerful unorthodox faction in the East Continent today.
After hearing Zhao Wufeng’s words, some on the terrace grew faintly excited, but most were filled with worry.
After all, the most brilliant prodigies of the East Continent were all ranked in the top twenty of the Martial Arts Ranking. It was already a feat for the rest of them to enter the Outer Sect; competing with these prodigies for a spot in the Inner Sect would be incredibly difficult.
"Alright, everyone, come up to the stage."
Zhao Wufeng clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. Then, with a light flick of his sleeve, a pile of brocade pouches appeared in his hand.
"These pouches contain sixteen numbers. Please come forward and draw one. Disciples who draw the same number will be paired for a match. The process will repeat until a final winner is decided."
Zhao Wufeng explained.
The disciples on the terrace then came forward one by one to take a pouch from Zhao Wufeng.
The prodigies from the Martial Arts Ranking also leaped down from the nearby Cloud Platform. Each one was domineering, making no effort to hide their imposing auras, which invisibly suppressed Shen Daoxing and the others.
Shen Mo Feng landed directly in front of Shen Daoxing, staring at him coldly, his icy eyes seeming to freeze everything around them.
"Was that your doing just now?"
Shen Daoxing merely gave Shen Mo Feng a faint glance.
Shen Mo Feng didn’t answer, only saying coldly, "You got lucky just now. You’d better pray you don’t run into me later. In the arena, I will show you no mercy!"
With that, Shen Mo Feng stepped forward and took a pouch from Zhao Wufeng’s hand.
Ancient Sword Marquis took a pouch from Zhao Wufeng, quickly opened it to reveal the character for "One," then casually flicked the pouch away. A longsword shot out, pinning the pouch to the Celestial Pride Stele with a DING before he turned and left without a backward glance.
Everyone turned to look at the character for "One" on the Celestial Pride Stele, their eyelids twitching.
This time, twelve disciples had passed the assessment. Combined with the top twenty from the Martial Arts Ranking, there were thirty-two participants in total, requiring five rounds of matches.
The first-place winner would receive a World Divine Soldier, one hundred Spirit Stones, and an Earth-rank, high-grade Cultivation Technique.
Those who reached the top four would receive a third-grade Spirit Tool, fifty Spirit Stones, and an Earth-rank, mid-grade Cultivation Technique.
Those who reached the top eight would receive twenty Spirit Stones and an Earth-rank, low-grade Cultivation Technique.
Those who reached the top sixteen would receive ten Spirit Stones.
Thus, the more matches one won, the better the rewards.
Naturally, the other prodigies from the East Continent did not want to face a prodigy from the Martial Arts Ranking early on, let alone Ancient Sword Marquis.
"Not One! Please, not One! Anything but One!"
Lv Yunsheng carefully opened his pouch, squeezing one eye shut. He wanted to look but dared not, terrified of being matched against Ancient Sword Marquis.
Finally, he opened his pouch to reveal the character for "Ten." Lv Yunsheng instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
He then leaped up and shouted, "Who has Ten?"
"I do!"
A sharp voice called out.
Shen Daoxing turned to look and was surprised to see a familiar face—the rookie Young Prince, Cai Ji!
When Lv Yunsheng saw that the speaker was, like himself, a disciple who had just entered the Outer Sect, he grew ecstatic. He ran over and threw his arms around him, stopping just short of kissing him.
The Young Prince, Cai Ji, was so startled he could only stand there, dumbfounded.
"Who has Four?"
"Who has Twelve?"
"Who has Six?"
The crowd called out one after another as they opened their pouches.
"Why? I got One! It’s One!"
Someone shrieked, clutching their head in despair as if their world had just ended.
"Yang, what number did you get?"
Lv Yunsheng turned, looking curiously at the pouch in Shen Daoxing’s hand.
Shen Daoxing slowly opened it, revealing the character for "Eight."
At that moment, Zhao Wufeng raised a hand and shook a pouch he was holding. "Good news, everyone! Since Xue Buhuan, ranked tenth on the Martial Arts Ranking, has not yet arrived, he is considered to have forfeited his qualification. Therefore, the disciple who drew the pouch with the number eight will receive a bye this round and advance directly."
"Damn!"
Lv Yunsheng looked down at the pouch in Shen Daoxing’s hand, green with envy. "Yang, your luck is just too good! You advance to the top sixteen without even fighting. That’s a direct prize of ten Spirit Stones."
Shen Daoxing just smiled faintly, unconcerned.
"Xue Buhuan actually didn’t show up? He just gave up his chance to enter the Celestial Profound Sacred Land?"
"You know, he’s ranked tenth on the Martial Arts Ranking! If he fought hard and made it into the top five, he might have even been chosen as an Inner Sect Disciple!"
The crowd chattered amongst themselves, baffled by Xue Buhuan’s absence. What they didn’t know was...
...at that very moment, Xue Buhuan was buried under the rubble of some remote ruins west of the city.
"Alright, the lots have been drawn and you’ve all found your opponents. You’ve expended a great deal of energy during the three assessments today. Go back and rest for a day. The ranking matches will begin tomorrow."
Zhao Wufeng’s voice rang out again, announcing the end of the day’s assessments.
Not far away, Shen Mo Feng walked over to Shen Daoxing and glanced at the pouch in his hand, then snorted coldly. "You got lucky this time."
With that, Shen Mo Feng turned and left with an air of haughty arrogance.
Shen Daoxing couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to Lv Yunsheng. "Let’s head back, too."
The two of them then descended from the terrace and settled into their respective rooms in the Heroes Tower.
Shen Daoxing sat cross-legged on his bed, and his Divine Soul entered the Venerable Domain.
...
In the East Continent, amidst a vast, boundless Cloud Sea, a lofty mountain peak pierced through the clouds and towered into the sky. Atop it sat a sprawling complex of jade pavilions and marble palaces, appearing like a palace in the heavens amidst the ethereal mist.
Within one of these majestic halls, the Celestial Secret Elder sat at the center, his eyes tightly shut. His ten fingers moved ceaselessly as he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, the Celestial Secret Elder’s mouth flew open, and he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning pale.
"Master, what’s wrong?"
A disciple from outside the hall rushed in, reaching out to support the old man.
The Celestial Secret Elder waved his hand. "I am fine."
But his eyes lit up. "Ziyu, send an order at once! Have Wuchen go to Ancient Moon City in the Daqian Empire. The Celestial Slaughter Star may manifest there. Wuchen must eradicate him, root and stem. We absolutely cannot allow him to grow."
The disciple froze for a moment, then understood. He turned and walked out of the main hall. "Yes, Master."
After the disciple had run out of the hall, the Celestial Secret Elder frowned, a puzzled look on his face. ’Strange... Why can’t I get a clear look at this Celestial Slaughter Star?’
With that, the Celestial Secret Elder sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes again, and rested his hands in his lap. His fingers danced in a blur of calculation as he rapidly performed his divinations.
After a short while, the Celestial Secret Elder vaguely perceived a youth in fluttering white robes, a greatsword strapped to his back.
Just as he was about to get a closer look at the youth’s face...
...a pair of terrifying, blood-red eyes suddenly appeared before him.
"Get out!"
A deep, domineering voice suddenly exploded in the Celestial Secret Elder’s mind.
With a strangled cry, the Celestial Secret Elder once again spat out a large mouthful of blood. His body swayed, on the verge of collapse, and his face grew even paler.
