Chapter 141 - 140: Top Five on the Human List

Challenging the fifth-ranked contestant?

The geniuses from the various Wu Mansions shot the brawny man a strange look.

Only twenty people eliminated in the first round had the right to issue a challenge.

Each person had only one chance.

Normally, they would challenge one of the last two or three people on the list to increase their chances of success.

The top ten, let alone the top five, were on a completely different level of power. The odds of victory were minuscule.

Besides, this brawny man only had a Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.

"Haha! A wet-behind-the-ears kid at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening. This is an opportunity too good to pass up!"

The brawny man roared with laughter.

WHOOSH!

The aura of his Cultivation suddenly soared, changing from the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening to the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.

"Half-step Spirit Sea?"

"This guy actually hid his Cultivation."

Everyone stared, wide-eyed with surprise.

During every Wu Mansion tournament, some geniuses familiar with the rules would hide their true strength in the first round.

The advantage was that they could conserve their stamina first.

Then, during the second-round challenges, they could strike while rested and seize a spot.

Of course, most who used this method didn’t have a high chance of making it into the top twenty on their own, but had just enough of a shot to use this strategy to improve their odds.

After revealing his true Cultivation, a smug look appeared on the brawny man’s face.

However, some of the surrounding Wu Mansion geniuses shot him a look of pity. ’This guy is so out of the loop. He probably has no idea what Luo Tian is capable of.’

This wasn’t too strange.

The first round was split into four venues with several hundred students, so a considerable number of them didn’t recognize Luo Tian.

"Challenging me?"

Luo Tian shook his head with a smile and walked down from the platform.

"Kid! I don’t care how you managed to get fifth place. Now that you’re up against me, it’s time for your true colors to show!"

The brawny man was brimming with confidence.

WHOOSH! BOOM!

The pressure of a Half-step Spirit Sea expert surged from the brawny man as he unleashed a dark cyan Fist Force that roared like a tiger and boomed like thunder, carrying with it a sonic impact.

The combat power he displayed was a little surprising to Luo Tian.

’This man’s strength is about on par with the nineteenth and twentieth-ranked contestants.’

If the brawny man had challenged those two, he would have had about a fifty percent chance of winning. Instead, he tried to be clever and targeted Luo Tian, who was at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.

"Let’s end this!"

Too lazy to say more, Luo Tian condensed a thick, crystalline yellow layer over his palm, which transformed into a giant Palm Shadow that rumbled as it emanated a heavy pressure.

BOOM!

The brawny man’s Fist Force was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot—it was crushed instantly.

"No! How is this possible—"

The brawny man cried out in shock as he was sent flying over ten meters, landing on the ground and spitting blood.

He subconsciously looked up.

He found that Luo Tian had already returned to the fifth-ranked position.

After launching that palm strike, Luo Tian hadn’t even bothered to look back, simply returning to his spot.

"He took out a Half-step Spirit Sea expert in one move!"

"It seems the rankings of the Wu Mansion tournament are highly credible."

Those geniuses from the various Wu Mansions who didn’t know Luo Tian couldn’t help but be shocked and impressed.

The brawny man’s face flushed red with endless regret.

If he had challenged the nineteenth or twentieth-ranked contestants, he would have had a fifty percent chance, but now he had lost his only opportunity to challenge anyone.

The challenge against Luo Tian had been nothing more than a farce.

The first stage of off-stage challenges proceeded in an orderly fashion.

「An hour later.」

The off-stage challenges concluded, with only a slight change in the last three rankings.

Liu Ziyan managed to fight her way back into the top twenty through this stage.

And so, the top twenty of the Wu Mansion tournament were all finalized.

The top twenty would be able to enter the Royal Secret Garden, a grand opportunity that only came once every three years.

The Sun Chasing Holy Mansion had six people who made it into the top twenty.

They were: Luo Tian, Jin Fan, Li Yao, Xu Mengxin, Nangong Yu, and Liu Ziyan.

"Excellent!"

Vice Manor Master Yue was overjoyed and extremely surprised.

Such a proud achievement was the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion’s best performance in recent years.

"Next up are the challenge matches for the top twenty."

A Royal Family Elder announced.

"Lower-ranked students may challenge those ranked higher. A successful challenge will allow you to take their place."

As soon as his voice fell, the atmosphere among the top twenty geniuses grew heavy.

The ninth and tenth-ranked geniuses, in particular, looked tense.

Luo Tian also felt the battle-hungry gazes of some of the geniuses ranked below him.

The top ten.

They would receive the Royal Family’s treasured ’Spiritual Pearl Liquid’.

Spiritual Pearl Liquid could strengthen a Spirit Sea Realm expert’s Qi Sea and enhance their Cultivation Foundation.

For those at the Peak of Ninth Layer or Half-step Spirit Sea, taking it would also help them advance to the Spirit Sea Realm.

This liquid held an immense attraction for everyone in the top twenty.

As for the complete Earth Level Cultivation Technique awarded to the first-place winner, not many people were confident enough to challenge Xia Bingyue.

"I challenge the tenth-ranked contestant!"

"I challenge the ninth-ranked contestant!"

Several Spirit Sea Realm geniuses ranked between eleventh and fifteenth launched their challenges.

This time, no one immediately challenged Luo Tian. All the geniuses were now aware of his true capabilities.

After all, Luo Tian had defeated two Sunshine Students, Xu Mengxin and the Seventh Prince, head-on. Even Xia Bingyue, when at the Half-step Spirit Sea level, had lost to him.

Before long, the challenges for the top ten concluded, with not a single challenger succeeding.

Those who could fight their way into the top ten in the first round had all relied on absolute strength and foundation.

After that, it was time for the battles within the top ten and the top five.

Most of the top ten knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so no one would issue a challenge lightly without being confident of victory.

"I challenge the fifth-ranked, Luo Tian."

A tall, dark-skinned man stood up. His skin was like black iron, and he exuded the tyrannical, oppressive aura of a powerful physique.

The challenger was Hong Peng, ranked fifth on the Human List.

Luo Tian’s sudden rise to fifth place in the tournament had stolen what Hong Peng felt was his rightful rank, and he was furious about it.

"Luo Tian versus Hong Peng?"

The geniuses present were greatly looking forward to this battle.

Previously, Luo Tian had displayed combat power on par with the top five of the Human List.

And Hong Peng was ranked fifth on the Human List, as well as being the second-best genius of the Martial Kun Holy Mansion, second only to Wang Tian.

WHOOSH! SWISH!

Luo Tian and Hong Peng both landed below the platform, facing each other from a distance.

"Fairy Xia! If I, Hong Peng, defeat this man, can that promise of marriage be transferred to me?"

Hong Peng said casually, a derisive smile on his face.

He gazed at Xia Bingyue in the first-place position, a hint of greedy obsession in his eyes.

Xia Bingyue’s star-like eyes were distant and calm. She remained unperturbed and ignored him completely.

"Good, good, good!"

Hong Peng was overjoyed. ’Fairy Xia didn’t agree, but she didn’t deny it either. Does that mean she tacitly agrees?’

At this thought, Hong Peng’s heart soared. If he could defeat Luo Tian, not only would he vent his anger, but he might also have a chance to marry the icily beautiful, fairy-like Xia Bingyue.

"Gorilla! Shut your mouth!"

Luo Tian said impatiently.

Although he had no intention of accepting Xia Bingyue’s marriage proposal, the woman was practically his semi-fiancée.

This big, dark brute’s shameless behavior annoyed him.

"You’re courting death—"

Hong Peng flew into a rage.

Because of the special Body Refining Technique he practiced, his skin had turned black. He hated it when people called him dark, but he especially hated being called a gorilla.

Once, a young girl had laughingly called him a gorilla, and he had overheard her.

Infuriated, Hong Peng had snuck into the girl’s room that night, where he tortured and violated her for a full day and night until she was barely recognizable as human, before finally killing her.

"Hundred Tempered Iron Body!"

Hong Peng’s Spirit Sea Realm Cultivation erupted. Black Iron Qi Patterns flowed across his body as his torso and limbs swelled, turning him into a black iron giant.

WHOOSH-BOOM!

Hong Peng threw a punch that was like a giant iron hammer, kicking up a black whirlwind.

Luo Tian immediately felt a wave of pressure. The power of this punch was already enough to crush the Seventh Prince, Li Yao.

Instantly, Luo Tian channeled seventy percent of his Divine Vein Power and struck out with a thick, brilliantly yellow Palm Shadow. A cold chill howled as he met the punch head-on.

BOOM!

The two forces collided, creating a muffled, soul-shaking explosion.

Luo Tian felt a savage, mountain-like force and drifted back several meters.

A chill ran through Hong Peng’s arm, but he was completely unfazed and lunged toward Luo Tian for close-quarters combat.

BANG! BANG! BOOM!

With a few consecutive moves, Hong Peng used his tyrannical physical strength to suppress Luo Tian.

’This gorilla really is tough-skinned and unbelievably strong.’

Luo Tian’s arms grew numb. He continuously used the Wandering Body Step to deflect and borrow force, maneuvering around his opponent.

And this was him, whose Divine Vein Body was far superior to his peers.

An idea couldn’t help but form in Luo Tian’s mind: he should get his hands on a Body Refining Technique sometime to make his physical Defense incredibly powerful.

"Junior Luo! He’s boosted by a Body Refining Technique! Don’t clash with him head-on!"

On the platform, Senior Jin couldn’t help but call out a reminder.

On the viewing platform, Vice Manor Master Yue’s brow furrowed slightly.

Luo Tian clashing head-on with Hong Peng was a thankless and strenuous effort.

Even the third and fourth-ranked cultivators on the Human List wouldn’t gain any advantage by clashing directly with Hong Peng.

But, Luo Tian paid no heed. Even while being suppressed, he continued to clash with Hong Peng relentlessly.

「One hundred moves later.」

Luo Tian had not been defeated. He felt as if his physical body, blood, and True Qi were like a block of iron that had been struck a thousand times by a hammer, becoming even more solid and condensed.

It turned out, Luo Tian was using the confrontation with Hong Peng to further consolidate his own Cultivation Foundation.

「Two hundred moves later.」

A few beads of sweat appeared on Luo Tian’s forehead; his consumption of energy was not small.

Yet, he felt his muscles and bones were completely relaxed, as if he’d just had a deep-tissue massage.

Hong Peng, on the other hand, was punching with increasing stiffness, his power far less than before.

A layer of frost had condensed on his arms that he couldn’t dispel.

"Damn it!"

Hong Peng was drenched in sweat, each punch more difficult than the last. A chilling cold was constantly eroding his life force, even seeping into his internal organs.

Luo Tian’s Divine Vein excelled at wars of attrition.

In battle, the Divine Vein Cold Power would continuously erode life force and weaken the target’s condition.

"Gorilla! Are you trying to scratch an itch? Put some more muscle into it and make this master comfortable."

Luo Tian said with dissatisfaction.

At this point in the battle, Luo Tian was now suppressing Hong Peng, whose combat power had been reduced by thirty to forty percent.

"ROAR! AGH..."

Hong Peng was so angry he could feel smoke coming out of his ears. This Luo Tian was actually treating him like a masseur. It was utterly humiliating!

The spectators were all stunned.

This Luo Tian was truly a monster, using Hong Peng, the strongest Body Refinement cultivator on the Human List, as a whetstone—and looking like he was enjoying it.

"Still not conceding?! What a disgrace!"

Wang Tian snorted coldly, his eyes dark and icy.

"I concede!"

Hong Peng’s heart trembled. He didn’t dare to question Wang Tian, the number one genius of the Martial Kun Holy Mansion, in the slightest.

Wang Tian’s combat power was approaching that of Xia Bingyue.

Hong Peng had always been used as a punching bag by Wang Tian for practice, which had left him with psychological scars.

After this battle, no other prodigy on the platform dared to challenge Luo Tian.

Luo Tian had also cemented his formidable strength as one of the top five on the Human List, and no one doubted him in the slightest anymore.

PTUI!

Just as Hong Peng returned to the platform, the Cold Power in his body flared up. He spat out a mouthful of blood, quickly sat cross-legged, took a Healing Pill, and circulated his True Qi to dissolve the cold energy.

Seeing this, the other members of the Human List’s top five, Yuwen Xuan and Wang Tian, showed strange expressions on their faces, a hint of apprehension in their eyes.

’It seems that one should not get into a battle of attrition with Luo Tian in the future.’