Chapter 452 - 450: Melee

Chapter 452: Chapter 450: Melee

Ten years,

It’s just too short!

Even by Shen Changchuan’s most optimistic estimate,

the highest he could possibly raise his Cultivation Realm in ten years was to around the Middle to Late Stage of the Ninth Layer.

This also meant that,

in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition ten years from now, there would be an inevitable gap in Realm between him and the participants qualified to compete for the top ten!

Not to mention anyone else,

just take Jian Wuheng right here,

in ten years, he would very likely step into the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer Peak Realm!

Meanwhile, among the competitors at that time, and that’s not even counting the older generation of Cultivators who had spent decades honing their skills at the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer Peak, some of whom were even qualified to attempt a breakthrough to the Divine Travel Realm but chose to keep refining their foundation instead,

prodigies of the younger generation like Jian Wuheng would not be a rare sight in the entire Southern Great Domain!

Although Shen Changchuan was arguably the most outstanding prodigy of the youngest generation,

his age was ultimately a critical weakness.

He had dozens, or even hundreds, fewer years of Cultivation than others!

The gap was too vast!

What’s more,

due to some unknown change, the Yuqing Immortal Sect’s Grand Competition this time was being held jointly with top-tier factions from other great domains.

The participants wouldn’t just be from the Southern Great Domain.

They would come from several surrounding great domains as well.

The number of prodigies and geniuses gathered at the competition would probably be far greater than he imagined!

’Jian Wuheng isn’t even considered an unparalleled prodigy who dominated his era, yet he’s already this powerful.’

’When the centennial Immortal Sect Grand Competition begins, won’t those who have been honing their skills at the Ninth Layer Peak Realm for years be even stronger? They might each have mastered one or two Tier Two Top Level Skills to Perfection!’

’No wonder Master was so disappointed back then. Perhaps from his perspective, cultivating some Tier Two Top Level Skill now is a complete waste of time. It would be better to focus on raising my Cultivation, to raise my Realm by a layer or two before the competition... ’

A faint understanding dawned in Shen Changchuan’s mind.

It was only at this moment,

that he vaguely sensed the true difficulty of the centennial Immortal Sect Grand Competition.

However,

despite the immense pressure,

Shen Changchuan’s heart didn’t waver in the slightest!

Instead, his fighting spirit soared!

’A Tier Two Top Level Skill at Perfection might not be a major advantage in the fight for the top ten. It might even just be a basic requirement.’

’But I never planned to pin my hopes of getting into the top ten on that anyway!’

’When the competition starts, it’s inevitable that my Realm will be a layer lower than others.’

’To get into the top ten, to defeat the countless geniuses from both the older and younger generations from all over, I must take an unconventional path and attain ultimate power!’

At this moment, Shen Changchuan’s gaze became exceptionally determined.

If he wanted to win,

playing by the book wouldn’t work!

He had to complete his plan: refine the Void Escape Gu, and then, relying on his foundation of over a thousand Skills cultivated to Perfection, develop a Slash imbued with the Power of Space. This would allow him to possess a sliver of the might of the Profound Pill Realm even while at the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer.

Only then would he have the strength and confidence to compete for a spot in the top ten of the centennial Grand Competition!

He would leapfrog the competition,

using power that transcended his own Realm,

to overcome the hundreds of years of accumulation others possessed!

Just as these thoughts flashed through Shen Changchuan’s mind,

Jian Wuheng transformed into a streak of sword light and shot into the sky, plunging straight into the thick fog above the valley.

Immediately, a violent roar erupted as waves of divine might surged and swept out.

He had clearly engaged the Demon Cultivator hidden in the fog.

At the same time,

countless Demon Cultivators flew out from the valley, swarming toward the disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect like a tide.

"It seems they were prepared. No wonder they had the guts to defend this place to the death."

"But... Hmph! Disciples, hear my command! Kill!"

Gu Xuanqing snorted coldly,

and gave the loud command.

The disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect reacted swiftly. They formed groups of three and five, cooperating closely in the formations they had practiced, and charged the emerging Demon Cultivators, their Long Sword Magical Artifacts shimmering with spiritual light!

The great battle erupted in an instant.

Battle cries echoed from all directions.

Led by Gu Xuanqing, the Soul Emergence Level Cultivators of the Ancient Sword Sect transformed into streaks of light and flew up,

clashing in the sky with the Soul Emergence Level Demon Cultivators who emerged from the valley.

Down on the ground, a large number of Qi Introduction Realm Cultivators battled with Demon Cultivators of the same Realm.

The continuous roars of collisions sounded all around,

and flares of Magical Power and spiritual light flew in every direction.

Seeing the battlefield descend into large-scale chaos in an instant,

Shen Changchuan decided not to stand by and watch.

He transformed into a streak of escaping light and flew back toward the melee in the sky.

But at that very moment,

"Die!"

a black figure suddenly appeared behind Shen Changchuan.

In its hand was a pitch-black spike that glinted with a dark light. It instantly pierced through the air like lightning, plunging toward Shen Changchuan’s head!

The figure’s appearance was so abrupt that no one else on the battlefield noticed!

And this surprise attack,

was executed flawlessly, without a sound, leaving no trace for anyone to follow.

This was undoubtedly a Soul Emergence Realm Demon Cultivator who specialized in assassination!

Against such a sneak attack,

even a Soul Emergence Eighth Layer Realm Cultivator would likely be killed instantly, with no chance to resist!

’Ha! An easy kill, just like that!’

A smug smile spread across the dark figure’s face.

He had been eyeing Shen Changchuan, who was standing on the flying ship, from the very beginning.

Who told him to just stand there on the ship in a daze,

spacing out right before a massive battle was about to break out?

A young man with no vigilance or caution for combat,

was simply the sweetest, most delicious fruit to him!

It was a free point for his kill count!

It would be a crime not to take what heaven provides,

and one would surely suffer the consequences!

And so,

without any hesitation,

the black figure struck!

’Judging by this young man’s aura, he’s only around the Soul Emergence Seventh Layer.’

’There’s no way I can miss.’

Just as he was fantasizing about all the benefits he would reap from this free kill,

the black spike in his hand fell like lightning, pierced the void, and instantly impaled Shen Changchuan’s figure!

However,

at that very instant,

his expression changed to one of utter horror!

The feeling was wrong.

’Not good!’

The figure of Shen Changchuan in front of him had already vanished.

His sudden attack had only pierced an afterimage!

Before he could react,

the next moment,

a terrifying, formless impact suddenly descended, like a Meteor crashing violently into his mind. The terrifying force tore his consciousness to shreds in an instant!

It was an attack on the level of Divine Sense!

This sudden attack against his Divine Soul left him momentarily stunned!

Then,

SHHHLICK!

With a crisp sound, like silk being torn, space itself seemed to split open.

A jade-green sword gleam flashed through the void, and without any resistance, it sliced his head and body in two!