Boom!
Meng Chuan instantly rushed out of the tunnel.
The goateed man was constantly paying attention to the Leaking Copper Kettle Clepsydra. When he saw him exit, he immediately shouted, “7 droplets!”
The geniuses were all dumbfounded. Although they were all proud and confident people, they still felt pressured when they saw his terrifying speed.
He’s that fast? Chu Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had a powerful Godfiend foundation, but it took him 12 droplets to pass through the entire tunnel. Meng Chuan only spent 7 droplets of time. He’s 70% faster than me?
It was still okay if he was just 10% faster. But 70%? If they really fought, his opponent would have the upper hand.
This is Meng Chuan’s speed. I cultivate the Yin-Yang Icefire Sword Technique, and dual wield, but I’m still completely suppressed by Meng Chuan. Yan Jin was very calm. He was the most familiar with Meng Chuan amongst the geniuses present. During their half-year stay at Wu State Guild Hall, they had often sparred with each other. He knew how terrifying Meng Chuan’s speed was.
If Meng Chuan could completely suppress him, he could obviously suppress the other geniuses.
As long as I hit him with a hammer, he will definitely be defeated. However, this speed is a little too fast. Ji Yuantong frowned slightly as well. Meng Chuan had pressured him.
…
“Brother Meng, congratulations. Your son is truly impressive. His speed is invincible among mortals, right?”
“Brother Meng, with such speed, I believe he will definitely enter Archean Mountain.” Many people around Meng Dajiang congratulated him. When Meng Dajiang was with the large group of people, he had been proud to show off his son with shouts like “take a look, that’s my son.” However, no one paid much attention to him in the past. But Meng Chuan’s performance in the second segment of the entrance examination had completely shocked everyone.
Speed was very important. As long as one was fast enough, an attack wouldn’t be too weak. But to ensure that his saber moved at peak speed, his saber couldn’t be too heavy. His saber was in the shape of a cross blade, and the blade was extremely narrow. His saber weighed only 2.6 kilograms. For someone who cultivated the swift saber or fast sword, their weapons had to be fairly light. It was impossible to attain the advantages of the swift saber style with a thick, broad saber.
The saber he carried was light, and he could push himself to faster speeds.
“Haha, it’s still the preliminaries. It’s hard to say if he will be admitted into Archean Mountain or what ranking he will get.” Meng Dajiang laughed.
“I heard that the top three in the final ranking will be heavily rewarded by Archean Mountain. Meng Chuan might be able to enter the top three in the assessment.” Everybody began speaking to him, attempting to build connections with him. The vast majority of the crowd knew that the chances of their child being admitted were very low, but it already seemed like it was certain for Meng Chuan to be admitted. Naturally, many of them were willing to befriend Meng Chuan’s father, Meng Dajiang.
This was how relationships between Godfiend families were forged. The more powerful a family was, the more connections they had.
“What amazing speed.”
“His speed is comparable to an ordinary Indestructible realm Godfiend’s speed.”
“For a mortal to actually have the speed of an Indestructible Godfiend. How astonishing.”
Many of the Godfiends were astounded as well. Their eyes lit up. They had discovered a good sapling, Ji Yuantong, during the first segment. Now, they had discovered Meng Chuan during the second segment.
A Core Cloud Godfiend was a newly-advanced Godfiend. Indestructible Godfiends were second Firmament Godfiends, on par with second Firmament demon monarchs.
“If I remember correctly, the fastest person at last year’s Archean Mountain entrance examination managed to traverse the tunnel within nine droplets,” said a black-robed Godfiend with a laugh. “He was also a genius who cultivated the Lightning Divine Body. From the looks of it, Meng Chuan’s speed is thirty percent faster than his. Despite being the same Lightning Divine Body, he’s 30% faster!”
“I was here last year,” said Marquis Southcloud with a smile. “The kid last year had a Godfiend body foundation in no way inferior to Meng Chuan’s. However, his Lightning Divine Body is somewhat different from Meng Chuan’s. Meng Chuan is more suited for bursts of speed. Meng Chuan clearly goes through more arduous cultivation that is more effective.”
“Yes.” Many of the other Godfiends agreed.
“Furthermore, the eruption of his Quintessential Essence is extremely ferocious, much more ferocious than most geniuses, but his meridians are able to withstand it,” Marquis Southcloud continued. As a Marquis Godfiend, he could see the power unleashed by Meng Chuan. “He managed to excavate a fair amount of his potential. In addition, his realm is also higher; He has already reached the peak of Saber Force, only one step away from Saber Intent. All these factors contribute to him being 30% faster than last year’s fastest.”
“Southcloud, are you flattering him because he’s from Wu State?” Marquis West Sea quipped.
“Am I exaggerating in the slightest?” Marquis Southcloud glanced at the nearby Godfiends. “I am speaking the truth.”
“Hahaha…” The other Godfiends laughed.
Chapter 79 - Icy-Cold Snow
The Godfiends chatted and laughed as they watched geniuses charge through the tunnel one after another.
Soon, it was Yan Jin’s turn.
In the end, Yan Jin took 12 droplets to pass through the entire tunnel. His speed was comparable to Chu Yong’s—an excellent result. In truth, Yan Jin cultivated the Icefire Divine Body, and his Godfiend foundation was robust. His speed far exceeded ordinary Core Condensation experts. It was only because he had sparred with Meng Chuan many times that he had been suppressed so badly.
“I’m still a lot slower,” said Yan Jin via voice transmission to Meng Chuan when he returned to the group. “If I’m not wrong, I won’t be able to enter the top ten.” Although Yan Jin was a solitary person, he often talked to Meng Chuan.
“You should enter the top ten,” said Meng Chuan.
“Many people who cultivate the Lightning Divine Body and Wind Divine Body excel when it comes to speed. Many haven’t had their turns yet,” said Yan Jin.
“Most of them have lacking Godfiend foundations. They can’t compare to you,” consoled Meng Chuan.
For example, a genius who cultivated a Lightning Divine Body but had an average Godfiend foundation might take 15 droplets to cross the entire tunnel. This showed how important a Godfiend’s foundation was! Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Ji Yuantong, and Zong Sha had Godfiend foundations that were three times more robust than the average. This was roughly the limit. Even if they used ten times the amount of natural treasures, their Godfiend foundation would only increase from three times the average to four times the average. It was not worth it.
It was already rare for Meng Chuan—who came from an ordinary Godfiend family clan—to have a Godfiend foundation that was comparable to a top Godfiend family clan genius.
…
Time passed.
The geniuses took their turns. It was finally time for the two sharpshooters who caught everyone’s attention.
The number one archer in the imperial capital’s younger generation—the imperial princess, Li Ying, and the most outstanding archer during the first assessment, Zong Sha.
“19 droplets. Next, Imperial Capital’s Li Ying,” said the goateed man loudly.
The princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Li Ying, took her place. She was dressed in purple and carried a natural air of nobility. In terms of family background, she stood a little higher than the typical scions of Regis Godfiends.
At least within the Great Zhou Dynasty, the imperial Li family was still the number one Godfiend family clan.
Swoosh!
Princess Li Ying carried her
bow and arrows as she transformed into a gust of wind. She passed through the tunnel with tremendous speed. Although she couldn’t catch up to the monstrous Meng Chuan, she surpassed the geniuses that had gone earlier.
Soon, she traversed the entire tunnel.
“10 droplets!” The goateed man’s announcement of the final result made many geniuses sigh in amazement. It was likewise for their relatives and friends. “Sharpshooters are going to shine. Sharpshooters tend to be faster.”
After the imperial princess, it was Zong Sha’s turn after a few people in between.
“17 droplets. Next, Desolate State’s Zong Sha.”
Zong Sha was an ordinary-looking youth. With a bow and arrow quiver on his back, he also transformed into a gust of wind. However, his speed seemed to be faster than Princess Li Ying.
“He’s like me. He cultivates a Wind Divine Body and has a very deep Godfiend foundation.” Princess Li Ying watched and frowned. “However, his realm is higher than mine. He has already reached the peak of Force! He was slightly better than me in the first assessment, and his speed is greater than mine.”
“Nine droplets!” The goateed man’s voice rose a few decibels. Over 120 geniuses had had their turns. He was the only one who managed to go below ten droplets other than Meng Chuan.
Zong Sha returned to the group calmly.
…
It was very difficult to pass through the entire tunnel within ten droplets. After Zong Sha’s 9 droplets, Jiang State’s genius—Ning Yibo—transformed into a stream of light and passed through the entire tunnel. He took 9 droplets and matched Zong Sha.
After more than two hundred people had their turns, another stunning genius appeared.
“So fast.”
“This speed!”
This was a black-robed youth carrying a short spear. He had completely transformed into a bolt of lightning. He, too, cultivated the Lightning Divine Body and had also reached the pinnacle of the Force realm. His speed left everyone speechless.
Swoosh.
When he finally exited, the goateed man finally shouted the result. “8 droplets!”
Oh? The black-robed youth frowned when he heard that. I cultivate the Lightning Divine Body, and I arduously cultivate my movement technique and flying saber techniques daily. I’ve also reached the peak of Force. My family also spent five precious treasures on me. My greatest speed… is actually slower than Meng Chuan’s?
Cloud State’s Jin Huan? Meng Chuan memorized the black-robed youth’s name. Amongst the younger generation, his speed is actually close to mine.
He was faster than him by only ten percent.
…
“Cloud State’s Jin Huan has pretty good speed. If this were last year’s entrance examination, he would’ve been the fastest.” A Godfiend sighed.
“His eruption of Quintessential Essence is inferior to Meng Chuan’s!” The sloppy man smiled. “For a split second, Meng Chuan erupts with twice Jin Huan’s erupted Quintessential Essence. Meng Chuan must have trained his meridians for a long time to release so much Quintessential Essence. In addition, Meng Chuan’s control over his body and Quintessential Essence is more refined. Only by combining these factors can his speed be much higher than Jin Huan’s!”
“Meng Chuan’s Quintessential Essence circulation method is indeed exquisite. It’s not inferior to some of the Godfiend legacies in our Archean Mountain.”
“He might have obtained some incomplete legacy.”
The vast majority of those present were Marquis Godfiends; there was also a Regis Godfiend! They could discern the profundity behind Meng Chuan’s Quintessential Essence circulation method.
It was a part of the Lightning Devastator Saber’s Five Lightning Descent. It only had this effect when fifteen times the normal amount of Quintessential Essence was unleashed. He was only ten percent faster than Jin Huan. Of course, the speed advantage was already huge!
…
After Cloud State’s Jin Huan, no one managed to traverse the tunnel within ten droplets.
“Lastly, Ji Yuantong of Archean City,” said the goateed man loudly.
Everyone turned to look.
Meng Dajiang also carefully stared at the thin youth. Ji Yuantong had been too dazzling during the first segment. He had far exceeded his peers.
Boom!
Ji Yuantong carried the two heavy hammers on his back and transformed into a black beam of light as he moved. The ground trembled slightly when he moved. Every step he took was very domineering. He quickly rushed out from the exit.
“10 droplets!” shouted the goateed man loudly. This time, he was much calmer. Although passing through the tunnel within ten droplets was outstanding, even the imperial princess had taken ten droplets to pass. However, considering Ji Yuantong’s halo, it was an expected result.
Meng Chuan nodded slightly as well. Those two hammers are probably a few hundred kilograms. If he discards the hammers, his speed will be greater. He will probably finish within nine droplets! However, an expert can’t discard their weapons easily. Ji Yuantong’s strength would halve without his two heavy hammers.
Therefore, Archean Mountain decided on a rule—one had to carry their weapons as they traversed the tunnel.
As Ji Yuantong returned to the group, the second segment was over. There were only four people who managed a result of fewer than 10 droplets.
Jiang State’s Ning Yibo and Desolate State’s Zong Sha managed 9 droplets. Cloud State’s Jin Huan managed 8 droplets, and Wu State’s Meng Chuan managed 7 droplets. Meng Chuan’s speed placed him in the top three fastest in Archean Mountain’s last 20 entrance examinations. The might of Ji Yuantong’s hammer placed him in the top three in the past twenty years as well. This year was definitely a standout year for Archean Mountain’s entrance examinations.
The higher the standards, the more difficult it would be to obtain the admission spots.
Whoosh. The cyan-clothed woman stood there. With a wave of her hand, the massive tunnel dissipated. She coldly swept her gaze across the group of geniuses and said, “The 19 people who took over twenty droplets of time are eliminated. You can go to the side to spectate.”
The cold wind continued to blow as snow fell on every person.
The 19 eliminated geniuses found the wind bone-piercing. The snow was cold, but their hearts were even colder. If they couldn’t enter Archean Mountain, they would have to head to the battlefield to serve in the military. They had to work hard to accumulate credit so they could enter the Godfiend Blood Pool. Most of them would perish while accumulating credit. They wouldn’t even have the chance to enter the Godfiend Blood Pool.
Fairy Meng was the only person among her peers who had managed to enter the Godfiend Blood Pool. She was the only one who had become a Godfiend in her group of geniuses.
The geniuses silently walked towards their friends and family—who sighed as they watched.
Chapter 80 - Third Assessment
Meng Chuan and the others calmly watched this scene. After all, there were still a total of 275 people in the examination! Ultimately, there were only 20 spots up for grabs. The truly brutal fight had yet to begin.
According to the books, to become a Godfiend, one needs to enter the Godfiend Blood Pool and undergo the Life-and-Death juncture. Every Godfiend requires a lot of the Godfiend Blood Pool’s powers. Archean Mountain disciples have to be 100% certain before they are allowed to undergo the Life-and-Death juncture. Those who fail to enter Archean Mountain have to accumulate credits and exchange them for a chance to enter the Godfiend Blood Pool. Meng Chuan sighed.
The Godfiend Blood Pool was too precious. Only Archean Mountain, Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, and Two World Island had control of it. The three supreme sects recruited very few disciples every year.
…
The cyan-clothed woman turned her head and walked towards the Godfiends. She sat down and whispered to King East River, “Elder, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Alright.” King East Riv
er nodded slightly before standing up. The moment he stood up, the entire world rumbled, and the sky darkened.
“Don’t look.”
Meng Chuan, the geniuses, and the spectators didn’t dare look at King East River. It was just like how mortals found it difficult to look straight at the sun! Even the newly-advanced Godfiends among the spectators couldn’t look straight at King East River. King East River no longer restrained his aura, instead, it began to emanate from him in waves. His aura caused one’s lifeblood to turn chaotic. It was normal to meet a violent death if they were exposed to the aura for too long.
This was a Regis Godfiend that stood at the pinnacle of the human world! The mere mention of them could change the expressions of demon monarchs.
King East River and King Calm Sea were both at the same level.
Meng Chuan and the others didn’t dare to look at him directly, but they could hear his voice.
“We’ll now begin the third segment. I’ll preside over it.” King East River’s voice was calm but had an invisible and oppressive weight to it. “In a life-and-death battle, every move can spell the difference between life and death. If you act a little slower, you might die a violent death. Therefore, your reaction speed must be fast.
“The third assessment tests your reaction speed. The faster, the better,” said King East River.
Meng Chuan agreed when he heard that. He had heard from his grandaunt that Jadesun Palace Lord didn’t give the three demon monarchs a chance to attack when he faced them. This was what experts were like. They didn’t give their opponents chances to attack them.
Just like how he cultivated the Saber Drawing Stance. Speed was one aspect to the Saber Drawing Stance. Another aspect was to use psychological tactics. The opponent would be caught off guard when facing this strike! If the opponent was caught off guard, one’s reaction speed would mean the difference between life and death. It wasn’t easy for Archean Mountain to nurture Godfiends; therefore, they had extremely strict requirements concerning Godfiend reaction speeds.
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