Chapter 647

Chapter 647

I Can See Through Everything

“That great figure intends to take on a registered disciple, is it true?”

Someone immediately asked in haste.

“It is but a rumor. None can say for certain whether it’s true or false.”

Yet even so, the dozen or so mysterious figures present were all inwardly shaken, disbelief written on their faces.

They understood well that, for that great figure, if he did not wish such a rumor to spread, it would never have escaped in the first place.

“But why? With his status, if he wished to accept a registered disciple, as long as word leaked out ever so slightly, countless Nascent Soul cultivators would beg to become his disciple. Why then would he show such interest in a mere Golden Core cultivator?”

One of them could not understand.

“The mind of that personage is not for the likes of us to fathom. If he acts thus, he must have his reasons. We need only do our duty. And besides, this is still only a rumor. As to the real reason, that none can say.”

The group fell silent.

Toàn cảnh đế chế nghìn tỷ Mailisa sụp đổ và bị bắt

Brainberries

Hình dáng lỗ rốn nói điều gì về bạn?

Herbeauty

Their gazes shifted to the trialists within the light screen, eyes burning with envy.

Those young ones had no idea what opportunity awaited them.

Should this news spread, not only would the entire Tianyuan Great World boil with frenzy, even the whole Great Yuan Immortal Domain and several nearby immortal domains would be shaken to their core.

“This trial has drawn quite a few outstanding youths from Tianyuan. Who do you think will seize first place?”

After a pause, another spoke.

“That is hard to say. Among the trialists, many have already reached the ninth transformation of the Golden Core Realm. Some have even condensed flawless Precelestial Superior-Grade Golden Cores, or flawless Demon Cores.

At that level, their foundation is already equally profound. The contest lies in techniques, Daoist spells, and artifacts.

If so, I place my bet on Cang Jue.

After all, his father is the Demon Lord of Annihilation. As a Nascent Soul cultivator at the seventh tribulation, his heritage runs deep.

And Cang Jue, being his most beloved youngest son, is certain to have received many life-saving trump cards.”

The beast-mask figure analyzed.

“I, however, favor the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace,” said the fox-masked woman. “Do not forget—her master has an ambiguous tie with one of our Netherworld Palace’s high elders.

That she suddenly chose to participate in this trial surely came at her master’s—and perhaps that elder’s—guidance.

If so, she will have been well-prepared. Winning first place is not impossible.”

“You two favor those with deep backgrounds. I disagree. I favor the youth of the Overlord Clan,” another voice said.

“The suppression he showed earlier clearly stemmed from awakening the bloodline of the Ancient Divine Elephant—and the concentration was no small matter.

Should he awaken its innate divine ability, his strength could well break past the limits of the Golden Core Realm and brush against Nascent Soul power.

Strength tramples all arts. Even if others wield powerful artifacts, they may not match him.”

Others nodded. Their analyses all seemed sound.

Of course, they knew these were only the obvious candidates. There might still be hidden talents yet to reveal themselves.

Until the very end, the victor could not be determined.

“What of this youth here?”

Someone pointed at Lu Qing’s figure within the light screen.

“His sword intent appears extraordinary. The sword cultivator’s path is famed for terrifying battle prowess. Perhaps he too has a chance.”

All eyes turned to the ghost-mask man. They knew Lu Qing was among those he had recruited.

The ghost-mask man pondered before saying, “According to Old Chen, the boy’s sword intent carries the flavor of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect, but it’s not pure. More like something he grasped himself—a stray inheritor who by luck obtained one of their lost legacies.”

“Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect!”

At that name, the group trembled.

That sect of sword fanatics was too renowned—no weaker than their own Netherworld Palace.

“It must be mere chance. Were he truly a disciple of Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect, he would not be joining our trial.”

“A pity. As a stray inheritor, he likely cannot match Cang Jue or the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace.”

“Not necessarily. He may not take first, but top ten is well within his reach.”

After weighing Lu Qing’s situation, they judged he was unlikely to win but could very well secure a top-ten placement.

“Look! Cang Jue is about to clash with the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace and Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple!”

Someone suddenly cried.

Spirits rose, and all eyes fixed on the light screen.

“And that supposed Heaven-Shattering inheritor, that boy—he’s about to meet a Golden Core Eighth Transformation cultivator!”

Indeed, Lu Qing was closing in on another formidable opponent.

The mysterious figures stared hard, eager to see the outcome of these first collisions.

…

Lu Qing, unaware of being observed, flew swiftly according to the guidance of his Trial Jade Token.

A cluster of white points—thirty or forty—moved not far away. Clearly another trialist had already collected many tokens.

As Lu Qing approached, the cluster accelerated toward him.

“So he’s noticed me? Perfect.”

With calm eyes, Lu Qing sped forward as well.

On the jade screen, the two clusters of white lights rushed toward collision.

Soon, Lu Qing sensed the other’s aura.

“A human cultivator?”

The aura was clearly Golden Core. Not demon, not fiend—another human.

The other was indeed powerful. The instant Lu Qing sensed him, he also sensed Lu Qing.

A youth in white robes, hair snow-white, aura cold, carrying an ethereal air.

He saw Lu Qing but spoke no word. His hands formed seals, and in a heartbeat, a thunderous dragon’s roar split the air.

A shuttle-shaped artifact flew out, transforming into a massive ice dragon that lunged at Lu Qing.

Where it passed, countless ice crystals sprang from nothing, freezing even the space itself. Its might was terrifying.

“A Spiritual Artifact?”

Lu Qing instantly discerned it. The youth’s cultivation was only Golden Core Eighth Transformation, short of the ninth.

Yet his Spiritual Artifact matched his physique and cultivation so well, its power rivaled a full-strength strike of a Ninth Transformation cultivator.

“No wonder he dared come straight at me.”

Lu Qing’s lips curved in faint amusement.

He did not evade. Calmly, he lifted a hand and swung downward.

A sword qi, vast and world-severing, surged forth.

In an instant, the roaring ice dragon froze mid-air—then shattered into endless shards. Its artifact body was flung away, its spirit wailing in pain.

“What?!”

The white-robed youth’s eyes bulged. His all-out attack, destroyed by a casual sword qi from someone who hadn’t even used a weapon.

Before he could recover, another sword qi flashed past him, cleaving a distant mountain in half.

A calm voice followed. “You are not my match. Hand over your Trial Jade Tokens.”

The youth stiffened, staring at the bisected mountain. When that sword qi brushed him, he had felt death itself envelop him. His body had been locked, unable even to twitch.

Only after long moments did he regain some control.

Silently, he drew out his tokens and tossed them over.

“Fellow Daoist’s cultivation runs deep. Your swordsmanship is awe-inspiring. I concede.”

In just two strikes, he knew—had that sword qi landed on him, he would already be dead. To hand over the tokens was to yield with respect.

“Accepted.”

Lu Qing checked the tokens, then nodded, transforming into flowing light as he sped toward his next target.

The youth stood there, emotions conflicted.

He had entered the trial almost as a whim. With his own strength, passing seemed trivial. Even upon hearing demons and fiends would join, he remained unfazed. He had easily seized the tokens of dozens of peers.

Never had he expected a figure like Lu Qing to appear here.

Recalling that sword qi, his heart still quivered. Even his soul shuddered.

When at last he recalled his artifact, he saw upon it a deep sword scar. Pain twisted his heart. Yet awe for Lu Qing’s strength only grew.

“To wound my Spiritual Artifact with mere sword qi… What monster is that ghost-masked youth?”

…

“So quickly ended?”

“I retract my words. His sword dao has reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Realm—equal to Cang Jue and that youth of the Overlord Clan.”

“And that is what you call impure sword intent? Not pure, yet with such power?”

“He’s truly a stray inheritor, not a direct disciple of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect?”

The mysterious figures were shocked. With mere sword qi, Lu Qing had crushed the white-robed youth—whose ice dragon was already of Ninth Transformation level.

Even across the light screen, when Lu Qing’s sword qi erupted, they had felt the world-severing force of it. Some even felt their hearts quail.

How could they not be shaken?

“It seems we misjudged. This boy is also a contender for first place!” one admitted.

The rest gave no objection. That sword qi was too fearsome.

Some even wondered—back in their own Golden Core days, could they have done the same?

Then another voice rang. “Eh? The Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple and the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace—they are losing?!”

All eyes turned.

On the light screen, Cang Jue alone drove both into retreat. They could only join forces to cut down nearby demon and fiend spectators before fleeing.

“What? How so? How could they be losing already?”

“Cang Jue’s strength is this terrifying?”

“What happened in those few breaths?”

None had expected it. Just moments ago, they had favored the Holy Maiden and the Dao Heir. Now, both fled together before one foe.

“It’s the artifact,” one said grimly. “Cang Jue wields a powerful demonic artifact of high grade. At least middle grade—perhaps even a superior-grade demonic artifact!”

“Superior-grade demonic artifact?!”

The others were stunned.

Even among them, few possessed such a treasure.

“It seems the Demon Lord of Annihilation truly dotes on his son—he even entrusted him with such a weapon. Is he not afraid others will slay him for it?”

“They say the Demon Lord forbade his son from leaving his territory. Likely it was because of this artifact.”

“If it truly is a superior-grade demonic artifact, then the Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple and the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace are in grave danger.”

On the screen, Cang Jue, now a streak of black light, pursued the two fleeing figures.

The mysterious watchers knew—their peril was dire.