Chapter 464 - 461: Conflict

Chapter 464: Chapter 461: Conflict

TAP TAP—

Following the sound of footsteps, twelve figures in moon-white robes slowly walked toward the newly revealed passage.

Bai Yan still led the way.

The moment he stepped into the passage, the four puppets moved simultaneously.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet lunged for his face, the Giant Bear Puppet swiped with both paws from the left, the Giant Python Puppet shot out from the right, and the Giant Ape Puppet leaped from behind, smashing its fists downward.

The four puppets attacked from four directions at once, sealing off all room to evade.

Bai Yan’s expression remained unchanged. With a slight sway of his body, he slipped through the gaps between the four puppets at the last possible moment.

His speed was astonishing, his form ethereal, like a wisp of invisible wind.

The four puppets’ attacks all missed. He had passed through the passage and reached the other side without even making a move.

From entry to exit, it took only a few breaths’ time.

The second Celestial Essence Sect disciple, Xu Qing, stepped into the passage.

She unsheathed her sword, its light a brilliant streak as she engaged the four puppets.

Seizing an opening, she shot forward and passed through the passage.

The third, the fourth, the fifth...

One by one, the Celestial Essence Sect disciples entered the passage.

In the end, all twelve made it through.

But for the last few, it was clearly not easy.

The very last disciple, in particular, had more than ten new wounds on his body by the time he made it through.

Blood seeped through his moon-white robes, and his face was slightly pale.

’All twelve from the Celestial Essence Sect made it through again. Good. The last few clearly struggled; they must have reached their limit!’

A young man spoke in a low voice, a mix of awe and relief in his tone.

Awe that all twelve from the Celestial Essence Sect had actually passed the third trial.

And relief that even the disciples of the Celestial Essence Sect weren’t limitlessly powerful. After passing the third trial, a few had clearly reached their breaking point.

Amid the discussions, the prodigies from the other counties began their attempts one after another.

A disciple from a Songquan County faction stepped into the passage, but after only a few exchanges, he was blindsided by the Giant Bear Puppet and sent flying with a single slap.

A golden barrier appeared, enveloping him and transporting him out of the Ancient Ruins.

Three Jade Bottles containing Celestial Essence Pills appeared in his hands.

This was the reward for passing two trials and failing the third.

The second, the third, the fourth...

Figure after figure stepped into the passage. Some made it through, some did not.

Even those who passed were mostly heavily injured and in a sorry state.

Fang Han stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the four puppets in the passage.

Late Stage of Fourth Grade Metal Puppets with flawless coordination. For most of the prodigies on the Celestial Pride List, they were a difficult challenge.

But to him, they were nothing.

"Let’s go."

He withdrew his gaze and walked toward the passage.

Luo Yuntian, Yun Muyao, Kuang Tu, and Chen Wuhen followed close behind.

The moment he stepped into the passage, the four puppets moved simultaneously.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet lunged for Fang Han’s face, the Giant Bear Puppet swiped with both paws from the left, the Giant Python Puppet shot out from the right, and the Giant Ape Puppet leaped from behind, smashing its fists downward.

Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as his right hand rested on his sword hilt.

CLANG—

The Cloud Splitting Sword was unsheathed.

A flash of sword light.

Before anyone could even see how he drew his sword, four loud clangs echoed out. DANG DANG DANG DANG.

The four puppets, in mid-lunge, were sent flying backward as if struck by giant hammers, slamming heavily against the passage walls.

Four Metal Puppets, comparable to Late-Fourth Grade Martial Artists, were knocked away like scrap metal.

SNAP—

Fang Han sheathed his sword, his steps never faltering as he passed through the passage.

Luo Yuntian was the second to enter the passage.

He unsheathed his sword, its light steady and firm as he engaged the four puppets.

Having broken through to the Third Grade, his strength was far above that of ordinary prodigies. Though not as effortless as Fang Han, it wasn’t too difficult for him either.

After dozens of exchanges, he found an opening, forced back the Fierce Tiger Puppet with his sword, and darted through the passage.

Yun Muyao was the third to enter the passage.

A biting coldness emanated from her sword light as she fought the four puppets.

However, as her Cultivation was at the Late-Stage Fourth Grade Limit, the cold energy she released was far less effective against the Late Stage of Fourth Grade puppets.

The four puppets forced her back repeatedly, inflicting several wounds.

But she gritted her teeth and persevered, using all her strength to slash back the Giant Python Puppet and dash through the passage.

She passed, but with great difficulty.

Kuang Tu was the fourth to enter the passage.

His great blade was unsheathed, its light a brilliant streak as he engaged the four puppets.

After little more than ten exchanges, the Fierce Tiger Puppet’s claw struck his shoulder, leaving several deep, bloody gashes.

The Giant Bear Puppet slammed a paw into his back, making him cough up blood.

The Giant Python Puppet’s tail swept his waist, causing him to stagger.

He used all his strength to cleave back the Giant Ape Puppet and charged for the other side of the passage.

However, just as he was about to reach it, the Fierce Tiger Puppet’s claws swiped at him again.

BANG—!

He was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily at the entrance of the passage.

He coughed up blood, his face deathly pale.

A golden barrier appeared and enveloped him.

Three Jade Bottles appeared in his hands.

Inside them were Celestial Essence Pills.

Chen Wuhen was the fifth to enter the passage.

With his folding fan closed, he moved elusively as he fought the four puppets.

His strength was comparable to Kuang Tu’s, and he too failed to pass.

The Giant Python Puppet’s tail swept his waist, making him stagger.

The Giant Bear Puppet’s huge paw slammed into his back, causing him to cough up blood.

The Fierce Tiger Puppet’s claws raked across his shoulder, leaving several deep, bloody gashes.

He tried with all his might to break through, but the Giant Ape Puppet punched him in the chest.

BANG—!

He was sent flying backward, crashing heavily at the entrance of the passage.

A golden barrier appeared, enveloping him, and three Jade Bottles containing Celestial Essence Pills appeared in his hands.

His figure also disappeared within the golden barrier.

’Only three of us made it through!’

Standing at the other end of the passage, Fang Han gazed at the spot where Kuang Tu and Chen Wuhen had disappeared, falling silent for a moment.

Of the five from the Qingxuan Sect who attempted the third trial, only three passed.

After more than an hour, the last challenger was sent out for failing the trial.

In the main hall, there were now fewer than a hundred young people who had passed the third trial.

All twelve from the Celestial Essence Sect stood to one side, not one of them missing.

The rest were all top-ranking figures from the Celestial Pride Lists of the surrounding counties.

There were people from Qingyang County, Donglu County, and also from the three counties of Songquan, Bailu, and Taishun.

At this moment, the prodigies from each county gathered together, their gazes sweeping over one another, scrutinizing and sizing each other up.

Everyone here was a prodigy among prodigies, people worthy of attention.

Mad Saber of the Overlord Blade Sect shouldered his door-panel-like greatblade, his gaze fixed on a spot within the Donglu County crowd.

There, Xue Wu of Thunderlight Pavilion was whispering something to two of his fellow disciples.

Thunderlight Pavilion had come with eight people, but only Xue Wu and two others had passed the third trial.

The other five had already been eliminated in the first three trials.

A mocking sneer curled Mad Saber’s lips, completely unconcealed.

Shouldering his greatblade, he took a few steps forward. His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present.

"Thunderlight Pavilion? You talk big, but your strength is pathetic."

He paused, his eyes landing on Xue Wu as he grinned.

"You came with eight people. How come there are only three left?"

As soon as he said this, the hall fell silent.

Many gazes turned in unison toward the three from Thunderlight Pavilion.

Xue Wu’s face instantly became extremely ugly.

He raised his head, his gaze falling on Mad Saber’s rugged face, an irrepressible anger flashing in his eyes.

"What did you say?"

His voice was deep and a little hoarse.

"What did I say? Can’t you hear?"

Mad Saber sneered and took another step forward.

"Two days ago, who was it that said Qingyang County’s younger generation was in decline? Who said that letting a twenty-year-old top the Celestial Pride List meant everyone else was trash?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two Thunderlight Pavilion disciples beside Xue Wu, whose faces had also darkened.

"Looking at things now, it’s hard to say who the real trash is."

Xue Wu’s chest heaved violently, the fury in his eyes practically about to erupt.

The two Thunderlight Pavilion disciples beside him were also ashen-faced, their hands already on the hilts of their weapons.

"You’re courting death!"

Xue Wu shouted, his figure suddenly erupting into motion.

His right hand slammed onto his sword hilt. The longsword was unsheathed, its light a brilliant streak as it slashed directly at Mad Saber.

The strike was fast and vicious, its Sword Momentum sharp and filled with undisguised killing intent.

A glint of Essence flashed in Mad Saber’s eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced.

The greatblade slid from his shoulder. He gripped it with both hands and met the attack with a slash of his own.

CLANG—!

The explosive sound of metal on metal rang out, sending sparks flying.

Xue Wu felt an irresistible force travel up his sword. His entire arm went numb instantly, and he couldn’t stop himself from stumbling back several steps.

He steadied himself and looked up at Mad Saber, a trace of horror in his eyes.

Mad Saber, however, only swayed slightly before steadying himself.

He grinned, a smile devoid of any warmth.

"With just this much skill, you dare to run your mouth?"

Before his words had faded, he moved again.

The greatblade transformed into a streak of black light, cleaving straight at Xue Wu.

This slash was even faster and more vicious than the last.

Xue Wu’s expression changed drastically. He swung his sword with all his might to block.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG—!

After a hundred exchanges, a final, powerful slash sent Xue Wu’s longsword flying from his grasp.

It spun through the air and embedded itself in the ground several dozen feet away, the blade still humming and vibrating.

He staggered backward, blood trickling from his mouth. His right arm trembled slightly, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger already torn open.

Pressing his advantage, Mad Saber advanced again, raising his greatblade high, ready to strike once more.

"Stop!"

Several voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Several figures shot out from the Donglu County crowd, positioning themselves in front of Xue Wu.

The one in the lead was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a tall, straight posture and a handsome face. An innate arrogance was etched between his brows.

He wore a set of dark red martial attire with flame patterns embroidered in gold thread on the collar and cuffs. A sheathed longsword hung at his waist. The Sword Scabbard was forged from some kind of dark red metal that seemed to faintly shimmer.

This was the number one on the Donglu County Celestial Pride List, the head disciple of the Red Flame Sect—Lie Yunting.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on Mad Saber. His expression was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"Friend from Qingyang County, this is just a spar. Why the need for such a heavy hand?"

His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present.

Mad Saber’s advance halted, his greatblade stopping in mid-air.

His gaze swept over the people standing in front of Xue Wu, and he grinned.

"A spar? This was no spar. Besides, he attacked first. I was just defending myself."

"Defending yourself?"

Beside Lie Yunting, a young man in green martial attire sneered.

"You beat him into this state and call it self-defense?"

"What, he’s allowed to attack, but I’m not allowed to fight back?"

Mad Saber shouldered his greatblade, his contemptuous gaze falling on the young man.

The young man’s face darkened, and he was about to retort.

Lie Yunting raised a hand, stopping him.

His gaze went past Mad Saber, landing on the group from Qingyang County.

"The rules in Donglu County are certainly... novel."

As the voice sounded, the younger generation from Qingyang County walked forward together. They looked toward the younger generation of Donglu County with unfriendly expressions.

Even Liu Bai of the Lingyun Sword Sect, who was at odds with Mad Saber’s Overlord Blade Sect, stepped forward at this moment.

What Xue Wu had said two days ago had offended not just Mad Saber, but the entire younger generation of Qingyang County.