Chapter 15
The remaining candidates waiting for the tests sucked in a mouthful of cold air! No wonder he could be named as one of the powerful figures. Just one gaze and he was able to destroy these juniors, which was shocking!
As expected, some people in the crowded started to retreat quietly. Among them was a short man who suddenly dashed out of the light screen, but was bounced back once he touched the surface of the light screen. He landed on the ground and was motionless. The rest who had intended to leave began trembling with fear. Some even knelt down and started imploring, saying, "Have mercy on us, Senior Powerful figure!"
"You ignorant juniors! I had clearly given you the chance to withdraw on your own! Don’t blame me for being merciless since you have given up that chance!" the tall skinny immortal said, paused for a moment and continued, "I’m giving you one last chance! Those of you who wish to withdraw now, please move to the back. I will spare your life! If there’s anyone who is trying to be funny, you may not even be given the chance to be incarnated!"
Thereafter, there was a commotion and around a thousand people stepped out and retreated to the back, while making sure they did not come into contact with the light screen lest they would be injured like that short man.
"Alright, is that all?" the tall skinny immortal said as he glanced at the remaining crowd. The onlookers at the back were suddenly struck by some invisible force and they were thrown out of the light screen to fall onto the ground. After the taken for two breaths, some of them got up on their feet unsteadily and struggled to escape from there. The rest remained motionless on the ground, appearing dead. A man in blue robe emerged from the crowd and pointed at the people on the ground. Immediately, there was a bright flash of light and these people disappeared from the ground in an instant.
Silence! Absolute silence, please! The remaining cultivators within the light screen instinctively looked around to take stock of who among the first 50 had left the group and they quickly rearranged themselves into new groups of fifty. It only took a few minutes before they were arranged in order. By now, the eyes of these remaining candidates were filled with excitement and awe.
"Next fifty!" the test for Spiritual Root continued and the next 50 candidates eventually past the test. Among them, there was even one man who possessed both double Spiritual Roots of Soil and Water. He was immediately escorted to the right of the town square to await the second item of test.
Gradually, the test proceeded in an orderly manner until the reached the group of 50 before Lyu Liang’s group. All this while, there was no one being disqualified. Soon, it was Lyu Liang’s group’s turn.
It was impossible not to feel anxious when faced with so many powerful figures as well as the Tiankui beast, which many had seen for the first time. Lyu Liang could feel the anxiety in him even if with Blackie’s assurance.
"Are you Third Brother’s ally, lad? Look at how weak you are! However, since Third Brother recommended you and you indeed look trustworthy, I’ll give you a hand this time." A voice sounding like a child’s sounded in Lyu Liang’s mind.
"Many thanks to Senior Tiankui’s mercy and grace!" Lyu Liang lifted his head as he saw the Tiankui beast nodded at him with a smile. He was filled with gratitude beyond words. Indeed, he passed this test, but what Lyu Liang had missed was the glance from that girl in red, standing on the platform. She had stolen a glance at him when he walked up to be assessed.
For the rest of the test, there was no one else who was disqualified. The first item of the test had finally come to an end after 8 hours. From the test on Spiritual Roots, it was determined that there were altogether five candidates who possessed special body constitution. They were made up of four males and one female candidate, who were allowed to enter Sword Character Immortal Palace immediately. They were actually the young man in green, the petite young lady and the dark burly man who were not deceived by the Xuan Nyu Fairy’s illusion at the start. The remaining 400 over candidates all possessed either multiple Spiritual Roots or Varied Spiritual Root, and may proceed to the second item of the test. The rest, who made up of over 70 thousand candidates were eliminated.
At this moment, the tall skinny immortal had taken out a squarish chess board and tossed it toward the crowd below. Strangely, the chess board hovered over the town square and began to expand quickly until it was huge. Within a few seconds, it had overshadowed the entire town square. A strong suction force emerged from it and in an instant, the candidates awaiting competition vanished
Simultaneously, a ball of light appeared above the chess board. Lyu Liang had felt a fainting spell the moment the suction force came upon him, and in the next moment, he was already on the high platform. Standing in front of him was a burly man whose token read "1346", who also was looking dazed.
All of a sudden, a wooden statue appeared in between the two and the tall skinny immortal said with a loud voice, "You are now on the ‘Zhenlong Chess Board", an independent space within the magic treasure of space. This is where you will have your duals with your opponents. Whoever is standing in front of you is your first opponent. Given there are many candidates participating this time round, each of you will have to go through two duals. The wooden puppet in the middle will be the judge between you. The rules of the duals are very simple. You will fight each other until one of you falls unconscious or admit defeat. However, it is strictly forbidden for you to kill your opponent. Anyone who breaks this rule will have his cultivated nullified immediately. The competition begins now!"
Lyu Liang and the burly man in front of him began sizing up each other. Lyu Liang was definitely not his match in terms of bodily size. In terms of the level of cultivation however, they were clearly both at the Peak of Qi Refining level.
"Lad, I have not revealed a magic treasure of Foundation Establishment grade. If you don’t wish to be paralyzed, just admit defeat quickly, otherwise don’t regret and claim that I’m taking advantage of you!" Obviously the burly man did not take Lyu Liang to heart so he continued, "Not only are you smaller in size than me, your treasure definitely can’t be compared to mine. What do you have to fight with me?"
At the gates of the Immortal Palace at this moment, its disciples and the powerful figures of the Fairy Immortals were looking very excited, pointing at and discussing the dual happening on the chess board.
The girl in red already fixed her gaze on Lyu Liang the moment the ball of light appeared above the chess board. Although she had been telling herself that he could not be the one the Tao of Heaven had intended for her, she could not but be concerned about the outcome of this dual.
"Isn’t that the dark young man with that silly, childlike smile?" A gentle voice sounded in the Divine Soul of the girl in red.
"Huh? Ma-master, I, I don’t think so!"
"Why are you so panicky? No one had said that whoever the Tao of Heaven recommends would be the absolute choice. There once was a man who did not heed the recommendations of the Tao of Heaven because he could usually surpass them by his own talent and wits."
"Erm… I was thinking that too, but, but…"
"So what if he were the one? The two of you have not even come into contact with each other. Why don’t you just calm your nerves and observe for now?"
"Thank you, Master, I get what you mean!" The girl in red regained her composure and lifted her gaze to watch the dual in the ball of light.
The exceptional beauty of the girl in red had long attracted the attention of the male disciples from Sword Character Immortal Palace. They were only keeping their mouth shut because the powerful figures, the immortal masters were present. When they saw that the girl was concentrating on the ball of light, their eyes were also automatically drawn to it.
Lyu Liang was not aware that this high platform had become the center of attention for all the spectators at this moment. He was just contemplating how many talismans he would need to defeat his opponent.
While he pondered, the burly man struck out. A long silver rod suddenly appeared in his hands and with a bellow, the rod came down on Lyu Liang.
Lyu Liang pretended to be taken by surprise and quickly rolled to the side to dodge the attack, reciting the Kun Peng Skill simultaneously. He put on a stunned look and said, "Wait, brother, wait! I am not prepared. Please let me take out the talisman."
The burly man thought this was going to be an easy fight, looking at Lyu Liang’s embarrassing state, and he started letting down his guard.
Outside, the girl in red thought in surprise, "So this is his capability? There must be a mistake! He can’t be the one! Yes, it’s alright if he’s defeated. I will then be at ease. Unless he is able to win this dual.. but is that even possible?"
The disciples who were spectators were all shaking their heads, but they continued to watch the match since they saw that the girl in red was still watching attentively.
Only Xuan Nyu Fairy’s eyes flashed with a spark at this juncture as she looked at Lyu Liang and pondered.
"Alright, do it! You may take out as many talismans as you wish! Just don’t say that I haven’t given a chance to do so!" the burly man said, sticking out his chin, looking confident.
"Thanks!" Lyu Liang laughed heartily as he drew out many talismans. Before the burly could react, Lyu Liang tossed all the talisman towards him.
"You…" was the last word the burly man could utter, and immediately he was swallowed up by a ball of fire. He lay motionless on the ground, his body badly burnt.
"Number 1346 had fainted, so he had lost. Number 666 proceeds to the next match!" The wooden puppet announced with an emotionless voice. Lyu Liang immediately vanished from where he was and appeared in another wide platform after a moment.
"Did you see those 200 over talismans? Where did this young man come from? Must be some rich man’s kid to have wasted over a thousand lower grade Primordial Stones!" the disciples remarked as they despised Lyu Liang even more.
"This… what’s this?" The girl in red was speechless as she thought, "He did win, but should I continue giving my attention to him? Well, let me just see what other tricks he has up his sleeves!"
Just as the girl in red was wrestling with her thoughts, Lyu Liang’s second opponent emerged. He was a well-dressed short and plump cultivator, who appeared to have come from a rich background. The first statement he made when he came to up sounded outrageous to Lyu Liang and all the spectators.
"Name your price. I used 500 mid grade Primordial Stones in my first match. How about I give you a thousand now if you admit defeat? No? Alright, at most 3,000!"
Everyone was rendered speechless!
"Items of ultimate grade!" was Lyu Liang’s first reaction.
"What a pair of matching opponents!" The spectators reacted. Their first thought was that one rich spoilt young man had met with another richer, more spoilt young man!
Lyu Liang could not be bothered with his nonsense. Smiling, he took the remaining 300 over talismans he had and dropped them in front of his opponent, the plump young man.
"Forget it. What am I faced with such a stubborn opponent? Why don’t I go join the third largest power, Blood Divine Sect instead? Wooden puppet, I shall admit…" Before he could say the word "defeat", Lyu Liang’s eyes turned severe and the 300 talismans rushed towards the plump man.
Panicked, the plump man rolled into a ball as a devouring flame and smoke filled the ball of light. By the time the fire was quenched and the smoke dissipated, the plump man was lying motionless on the ground and Lyu Liang was covered with black soot.
"Number 762 had fainted. Number 666 wins and may proceed to the next test!" Emotionless voice of the wooden puppet sounded once again. Lyu Liang vanished and appeared on the open field on the right of the town square. The open field was currently crowded with the cultivators who had emerged victorious from the second test.
"You were too impulsive, Liang. You have to be more cautious. What you did was very dangerous! You could have completely blown him to pieces if he had not taken out a defensive magic treasure at the last minute!" Blackie’s stern voice sounded in his sea of consciousness.
"Indeed I have been too reckless. Initially, I thought I was able to hold it down. However, I lost my cool when I heard the name ‘Blood Divine Sect’. It was my fault. It was fortunate that I had maintained my Qi refining to the Peak stage. I will be more careful!" Lyu Liang regretted being so impulsive as he reflected upon what happened a moment ago. He had to be very vigilant from now on.
While he cautioned himself, he also thought in his heart, "Little plump, don’t you ever join Blood Divine Sect, otherwise the next time we meet, I am going to toss you more than 300 talismans…"