Chapter 160 - 83: Jiang Xuan: You Mistook My Basic Attack for Me Going All Out?

Chapter 160: Chapter 83: Jiang Xuan: You Mistook My Basic Attack for Me Going All Out?

"Huh?!"

This stark contrast instantly made some of the Cultivators realize something.

’So, there was never any shortcut. The peace and quiet surrounding Dong Hao and Su Linyin, both before and now, was all... it was all carved out by that man’s power and profound Techniques alone!’

Some had already figured it out, but others still hadn’t grasped the situation.

"How are the three of you fine?! Tell me, what kind of Demon Technique did you use!"

This accusation made Jiang Xuan raise an eyebrow.

But he quickly realized he didn’t need to retaliate or even act at all.

"Shut up!"

"You idiot! We are Cultivators, so of course we use Spirit Arts. What Demon Techniques are you talking about!"

"Exactly! There are countless Cultivation Techniques with infinite uses. The fact that Lord Jiang Xuan can create a sanctuary in this Scorched Earth Purgatory is due to his profound Magical Power and mysterious Techniques! You bunch of morons, you see a True Master and feel no gratitude, instead you insult and curse him. You’re utterly brainless! Get out of here!"

The ones shouting and cursing were not Dong Hao or Jiang Xuan, but the quick-witted Cultivators who had been the first to see the truth.

They were now doing their utmost to flatter Jiang Xuan, all while scolding and cursing those who had offended him.

After their tirade, these people turned to Jiang Xuan in the center of the crowd, bowing with their hands clasped respectfully.

These clever individuals did this, of course, because they knew that if Jiang Xuan could create a sanctuary, he could just as easily kill them without a sound—and he could also save them with a flick of his wrist.

In order to survive longer in the trial, they naturally didn’t hold back on the flattery.

These Cultivators, who had reacted first, were even secretly grateful to those with poor judgment.

’Without you as a comparison, how could our loyalty be made apparent?’

"Huh?!"

The sudden betrayal and harsh words from his ’companions’ left the Cultivator who had just berated Jiang Xuan completely stunned.

He wasn’t naturally stupid. It was just that the Purgatory’s calamities weighing down on him and the life-threatening Demon Beasts circling around had put him under immense pressure, scorching his Heart Spirit and throwing his mind into chaos. He had no time to think through the details.

Now, seeing his companions’ completely different attitude, his pupils constricted as he instantly understood.

’The tranquility around that person isn’t because he found a shortcut, but because he’s creating it with a Technique... Did I just offend a chosen one?!’

Unfortunately, by the time he understood, it was already too late.

Without any need for Jiang Xuan to intentionally guide it, he was burned to a crisp by a Demon Beast’s flames.

WHOOSH...

Having died in the trial, his consciousness reawakened in the outside world. He was quickly moved away from the trial-takers by the instructor, Song Zhou.

The three people standing guard by the Trial Gate had two duties: to watch over the entrance to the Secret Realm, and to supervise the trial, promptly removing any students who fell and were eliminated. This was to prevent those who were out from interfering with the chosen ones still undergoing the assessment.

The Cultivator who had been sent outside now wore a look of regret and terror. He wasn’t just worried about failing the assessment.

More importantly, having offended a chosen one like Jiang Xuan, his future life in the Daoist School would be difficult. Jiang Xuan wouldn’t even need to act himself; those who wanted something from Jiang Xuan, who were looking to curry favor with him, would punish the offender on his behalf.

And that was exactly what was happening. Many people from the Chen Daoist School had already been eliminated, including some of his former friends. But after he came out, they all averted their gazes, and not a single one dared to approach him.

...

The man’s death didn’t attract much of Jiang Xuan’s attention.

After two or three idiots who couldn’t read the situation were cleared out, the rest were all clever people who were quick-witted and knew how to adapt. Every one of them was respectful and humble toward Jiang Xuan, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

This prompted him to act a few more times.

He didn’t do this because he enjoyed the flattery or craved others’ sycophancy.

Rather, on this path of escape, too large a group was not a good thing. Too many weaker members would only slow down the party’s overall speed.

But too small a group was also troublesome, as it would require Jiang Xuan to face all the dangers by himself.

The current size of the group was just right for Jiang Xuan—the most comfortable arrangement.

As long as he intervened slightly to look after those around him, within the limits of his abilities, he could gain a group of Guards. Not only were these Guards free, but because they were a temporary party, Jiang Xuan would feel no psychological burden if he had to abandon them as decoys when faced with a fatal threat.

Since they were so useful, he was naturally willing to offer some protection. Besides:

The Traits of the Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique at the Third Realm allowed Magical Power to circulate throughout Jiang Xuan’s entire body. The Fourth Realm, however, allowed his Magical Power to interact with the outside world.

Under these circumstances, as long as he didn’t continuously cast high-consumption Techniques, his own condition wouldn’t be affected, nor would his Magical Power be depleted.

And as Jiang Xuan put in a bit more effort, the Cultivators following him instantly experienced just how wonderful it was to be protected and led by a top-tier expert.

Although Jiang Xuan had no intention of fully protecting them, his Celestial Heart Mirror, combined with his Nether Abyss Dharma Eye, was simply too powerful.

The former made it so that the meteorites constantly falling from the sky and the torrents of fire suddenly erupting from beneath the ground could no longer threaten Jiang Xuan in the slightest.

The Cultivators who followed Jiang Xuan naturally avoided these threats as well.

This point alone reduced the pressure on their survival by more than half.

The Nether Abyss Dharma Eye was even more formidable. Jiang Xuan wouldn’t actively help the surrounding Cultivators kill Demon Beasts. Instead, while those students were fighting and clashing with Demon Fiends, he would subtly move his fingertips, silently pulling at a Demon Beast’s body to disrupt its balance. Or, just as a Demon Beast was gathering power to spew deadly flames, he would suddenly immobilize its mouth and seal off its attack.