Ye Tian shot Sima Tianquan a quizzical look. For him to speak with such confidence meant he was about to use an incredibly powerful hidden weapon, perhaps even more formidable than the Rainstorm Blossom Needle. He had to dodge it, and fast.
Of course, the best-case scenario would be to kill him before he could unleash the hidden weapon. But Ye Tian knew that chance was gone, for he now saw a golden box appear in Sima Tianquan's hand.
While the golden box merely puzzled Ye Tian, Xiao Wenjie, Guan Tianshui, and the others cried out in horror. It was obvious they recognized the object in Sima Tianquan's hand.
"Ye Tian, get away from there! You can't touch that box!" Xiao Wenjie bellowed.
Ye Tian had already been preparing to retreat the moment Sima Tianquan produced the golden box. His intuition screamed that it was incredibly dangerous and would likely injure him.
With a flash of intent, he rapidly executed Dragon Form Hundred Transformations. But in the exact instant Ye Tian made his move, the golden box in Sima Tianquan's hand shot into the air.
A hexagram materialized in the sky, emitting a dazzling radiance. The golden box then began to spin, growing larger and larger until it was nearly a meter in diameter before it stopped.
The light from the hexagram then shot downward, completely enveloping Ye Tian. He instantly felt an immense pressure descend upon him, just as if he were in a Gravity Chamberâonly this was several times stronger.
Even with his formidable Defense Power, he could barely withstand it. His body buckled involuntarily, and large beads of sweat dripped down his face, his expression contorted in pain.
'Such immense pressure! This can't go on... I can't even move! What in the world is this box? How does it possess such a bizarre power?' Ye Tian wondered.
Everyone was stunned. Most had no idea what the golden box was, but they knew that if someone with Ye Tian's incredible speed couldn't escape, it was terrifying. A wave of worry for his safety washed over the crowd.
Everyone felt that Sima Tianquan was utterly despicable for resorting to such a low-handed trick. Even if he defeated Ye Tian, it would be a victory without honor.
An anxious look crossed Ye Feifei's face. Seeing the agony on Ye Tian's expression felt like a knife twisting in her heart, yet all she could do was stand by and worry, completely helpless.
"What is that thing? It looks like Brother Tian is in agony, and he can't move freely. That Sima Tianquan is utterly shameless!" Ye Feifei raged.
"That should be the legendary Ten Extremes Trapped Dragon Slash! It's an absolutely terrifying hidden weapon. It traps a person within a fixed area, rendering them immobile, while powerful knives emerge from the box to slice the victim to pieces in an instant!" Chu Hongyuan explained, his expression grim.
Chu Hongyuan's explanation thoroughly frightened Ye Feifei and Qin Xiaowan, not to mention Zhou Xiang, Qian Xiaohao, and all the others who had never heard of the Ten Extremes Trapped Dragon Slash. They all stared at Ye Tian on the stage in disbelief, their hearts consumed with worry.
"Then what can we do? Is Brother Tian really going to be taken from me? No! I'm going to kill that Sima Tianquan!" Ye Feifei cried, losing control of her emotions as tears instantly welled in her eyes.
"Feifei, don't be impulsive! I believe Ye Tian can get through this. Have you forgotten what happened in Lisha City? When my brother used a Bursting Fire Talisman on him, he was only at the One Vein Seventh Layer. At that level of strength, there's no way he should have been able to survive it!
But Ye Tian emerged from the flames completely unharmed. That proves there's more to him than meets the eye. I'm sure you know a few of his secrets as well. That's why I believe he'll make it through this time, too," Qin Xiaowan said.
Ye Feifei listened, only half-convinced. "Xiaowan, are you sure? You're not just saying that to make me feel better? Brother Tian... he'll really be all right?"
"You can choose not to believe me, but you can't choose not to believe in him!" Qin Xiaowan insisted. In truth, she was just as worried about Ye Tian; she simply refused to show it in front of others. Her anxiety was every bit as intense as Ye Feifei's.
Xiao Yaoyao and Lin Ling were also sick with anxiety. They never imagined Sima Tianquan would be so despicable as to use such a devastatingly powerful hidden weaponâone that was said to belong only to the Royal Family and was thought to have been lost to time.
Everyone believed Ye Tian was doomed. Dejected looks spread across the faces of Xiao Wenjie and Guan Tianshui. They had believed the academy's reputation would soar with the rise of this peerless genius, only to watch him be cut down in his prime right before their very eyes.
The academy's rules could not be broken. Even if they wanted to save Ye Tian, they were powerless to intervene. The might of the Ten Extremes Trapped Dragon Slash was so immense that even a Five Veins expert would be wounded by it.
High above, the hexagram continued to radiate its dazzling light. Down below, Ye Tian gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand straight. He knew this might be the most dangerous crisis he had ever faced, but he was prepared to meet it head-on.
At that moment, the golden box sprang open. Five small golden knives appeared, hovering in the air. Seeing this, even a fool could understand what was about to happen: these golden knives were meant to end Ye Tian's life.
"Ye Tian, let's see you survive my Ten Extremes Trapped Dragon Slash! For those who oppose me, there is only one endâdeath!" Sima Tianquan roared.
Many in the crowd could no longer bear to watch and squeezed their eyes shut. Xiao Yaoyao and Lin Ling did the same, unwilling to witness the death of this prodigious young man. Their hearts ached with sorrow and regret.
The golden knives instantly shot toward Ye Tian. They moved with incredible speed, causing the very air around them to tremble violently. The immense force they carried was palpable to all.
Ye Tian remained frozen in place. As the golden knives bore down on him, a helpless smile touched his lips. He knew that this time, only the War Dragon Remnant Soul inside him could save him from this calamity.
To be honest, he truly didn't want to rely on the War Dragon Remnant Soul's help, but faced with such overwhelming Attack Power, he had no other choice.
In the nick of time, a faint layer of white light enveloped Ye Tian's body. Most people couldn't see it, as it was masked by the brilliant radiance of the hexagram. Even Xiao Wenjie and Guan Tianshui didn't notice a thing.
But one person did notice. A woman. A woman Ye Tian did not know, but one who found him quite interestingâZhang Xinlan.
The pressure on Ye Tian instantly vanished. Seeing the golden knives rushing to attack, he dodged instinctively while simultaneously executing Dragon Form Hundred Transformations. He shot out from within the beam of light at his top speed, and the instant he was clear, the faint white glow around him disappeared as well...