by Dragon King
Zhao Kuo was only a Dui-level cultivator who had eaten an ancient godly elixir, but he had successfully pushed a Kun-level cultivator to the brink of defeat.
“What if the Kun-level cultivator or even a Qian-level cultivator ate the Empowerment Elixir Pill? They could probably get halfway to the Heavenly Dragon Realm!” They thought.
“Great! Third Uncle should win for sure now!” Zhao Yanzi who was standing next to Premier Xia let out the breath that she was holding and said.
“Third Lord is strong and fierce. He’s going to win,” Premier Xia said as he went along with Zhao Yanzi and nodded his head.
However, Hao Ren thought of other problems. He turned to Zhao Guang and asked, “Where did the Empowerment Elixir Pill come from?”
Hao Ren had gone through the burden of retrieving a few bottles of godly elixir pills from the Nine Dragon Palace. However, at that time, Zhao Kuo had left the East Ocean Dragon Palace. Therefore, there were only two ways that he could have gotten the elixir pill. The first possibility was that Zhao Kuo sneaked back to the East Ocean Dragon Palace and took them, and the second possibility was that Zhao Kuo sneaked into the Nine Dragon Palace and got his own elixir pills!
“I stored the godly elixir pill secretly; we shouldn’t lose them,” Zhao Guang responded. As he thought for a moment, he said, “But I put five godly elixir pills in Kuo’s palace.”
“So, Zhao Kuo did come back, but he just didn’t want to see us,” Zhao Hongyu said.
“Sighs… If only he had the godly elixir bills back then. He might be able to become a Heavenly Dragon with their help,” Zhao Guang said lightly.
Premier Xia suddenly came over and said, “Dragon King, although there are still godly elixir pills in storage, the power of these elixir pills is so strong that if one ate one pill, he or she wouldn’t be able to eat the same type within 100 years… The Third Lord has eaten the Empowerment Elixir Pill now, that means…”
Zhao Guang thought for a few seconds and was worried.
Although Zhao Kuo ate an Empowerment Elixir Pill in battle, there were still more at the East Ocean Dragon Palace, so they weren’t anxious about the waste of treasures. However, Zhao Kuo now could no longer eat another Empowerment Elixir Pill within 100 years. If Zhao Kuo returned to peak Qian-level, he no longer could rely on the Empowerment Elixir Pill to surpass the Heavenly Tribulation!
In reality, Zhao Kuo reached peak Qian-level in just 200 years. If he were to retrain, he shouldn’t take too long. Maybe in 100 years, he would be able to return to peak Qian-level and perhaps even charge at the Heavenly Dragon Realm.
Hao Ren stood next to Premier Xia and Zhao Guang, listening to their conversations and thought how strange the situation was.
If Zhao Kuo only wanted to increase his realm through battle, he didn’t need to waste a godly elixir pill, especially if it meant that he would lose the ability to use another Empowerment Elixir Pill within 100 years.
In the arena, the wood-elemental cultivator rapidly stepped five steps back. In his hand, a light had appeared once again, and the wooden stick was once again reborn. It turned into vines and covered the whole battlefield.
“F*ck off!” Zhao Kuo shouted. He was in the center of his sword energies as they spread out in all four directions
The 720 sword energies rapidly expanded like blazing fire, burning every bit of the vine!
Zhao Kuo opened his eyes widely, and his brown robe puffed up with the impact of the explosion. It seemed as if his body couldn’t withhold such strong and wild nature essence!
Although the realm of Dui-level wasn’t low, it also wasn’t high. Zhao Kuo eating the godly elixir pill at the Dui-level was risky!
His body could explode at any moment!
After seeing how Zhao Kuo was willing to risk his life for the battle, Hao Ren suddenly realized why Zhao Kuo entered the Dragon God Shrine’s general exam; He was probably aiming for the Seven-Core Five-Color Lotus!
The last time Zhao Kuo failed in the Heavenly Tribulation, his dragon core exploded, and his realm was destroyed. Although Zhen Congming saved his life with elixirs made from snow lotuses, his dragon core was barely repaired, and his mystic crystal had been completely destroyed!
Now that he cultivated the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll which required all five elements to be absorbed together, he would want the best mystic crystal, which was located right in the Dragon God Shrine!
Pa, pa, pa, pa!
In the arena, the sword energies were like a raging storm, destroying everything in its way!
The wood-elemental Kun-level cultivator didn’t get the chance to use his powers to recover, and he was already under Zhao Kuo’s sword energies’ attack!
Hua, hua, hua…” The 720 sword energies merged and became one enormous sword!
The sword was over 40 meters long!
Zhao Kuo accumulated sufficient nature essence while his eyes opened widely.
As he pointed ahead, an enormous sword dashed forward with a piercing light. All the cultivators had to close their eyes!
Hao Ren who was standing near the arena had to use his nature essence to keep his eyes open to witness what was going to happen.
Bam!
The sword energy slashed down.
The grand arena that was 300 meters wide, 300 meters long, and one meter thick got cut into two.
A hole that was 200 meters long and 50 meters wide appeared in the arena, and one could see the bottom of the ground. Black dirt was visible!
Zhao Kuo’s strike completely destroyed the grand arena!
Little White was standing in front of Zhao Yanzi, blocking the little rocks that blew over from the explosion. It was protecting its Little Zhumu.
When the audience started to open their eyes, they saw the chubby wood-elemental cultivator slowly climbing out of the hole and waving his hand.
He was admitting defeat.
“Humph.” Qin Shaoyang raised his arm and pulled over the identity token from the Kun-level cultivator’s waist, and it turned black immediately.
“Third Uncle! Third Uncle!” Zhao Yanzi shouted out while waving her hands at Zhao Kuo.
Zhao Kuo had defeated two Kun-level cultivators in a row.
In her mind, her third uncle was the best!
Zhao Kuo stepped out of the collapsing arena and went outside.
“Third Lord!” Premier Xia rushed to greet him.
“I don’t want to see anyone before the general exams are over!” Zhao Kuo waved, and a sword energy was released, pushing Premier Xia five steps back.
“The cultivators that have made it to the final round are Yi Mao, Ding Yin, Wu Mao, Ji Yin, Geng Yin, Ren Yin. You shall fight again tomorrow at seven in the morning!” Qin Shaoyang and the other examiners announced together. Then, they followed the silent main examiner, Qin Shaoyang, out toward the Dragon God Shrine.
Anyone could see that the main examiner Qin Shaoyang was in a terrible mood!
At the same time, the six level 2 inspectors walked to the six finalists respectively. They led them to their rooms to rest.
The cultivators who were beside Hao Ren’s room during the written exam were now in the crowd, staring at Hao Ren in amazement.
Who would have thought that a Gen-level cultivator would be able to get himself into the top six in the east exam area out of tens of thousands of cultivators!
The difference between cultivators was so large!
“Please follow me.” A level 2 inspector who wore a long silver robe walked in front of Hao Ren and led them to a room in the outskirts of the Dragon God Shrine.
Zhao Kuo was led toward his room by another Inspector.
The top six cultivators, along with their support teams, were going to live in the same building!
418 10,000 Swords Are Equal to 10,000 Minds
The temporary residence was a wooden building with three floors. The first floor was a dining area, and the second and third floors were bedrooms.
Zhao Kuo, who walked i
n front of Hao Ren and was led by an inspector, went straight to a second-floor room. It seemed like he didn’t plan to eat on the first floor.
Zhao Yanzi looked at Zhao Kuo’s back with a sad gaze, but she also knew her third uncle well. If Zhao Kuo was not going to see anyone, it was no use even if she went up to him.
Hao Ren’s group’ rooms were on the third floor, the ones with the best views. Lu Linlin and Lu Lili, Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu, Zhao Yanzi and Xie Yujia, Zhen Congming and Little White, and Elder Lu and Elder Sun; each pair got a room.
The remaining Hao Ren and Premier Xia were put into one room.
They had a total of six rooms, and they occupied most of the rooms on the third floor.
Since Hao Ren entered the top six in the east exam area, the Dragon God Shrine must arrange accommodations for everyone who came with Hao Ren.
Otherwise, even if the Dragon God Shrine wanted to be friendly toward the East Ocean Dragon Palace, at most they could get were rooms on the second floor.
Only the cultivators who were going to participate in tomorrow’s battle and their support groups could get good rooms on the third floor.
Hao Ren entered his room, went to the window, and pushed it open.
At night, the platform the Dragon God Shrine was on looked like a small town immersed in the darkness. The small rooms and buildings around were like chess pieces, and the Dragon God Shrine that was in the center of the platform was hidden in the darkness.
Su Han returned to the Dragon God Shrine to rest. Of course, she wouldn’t be living in a temporary residence. This kind of inn-style buildings were used on a large scale only during the Dragon God Shrine’s general exam on the date of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The three-story building was surrounded by several small two-story buildings and one-story bungalows. Therefore, the three-story buildings seemed very tall among the shorter houses.
The cultivators who made it into the top 12 in the east exam area but failed to enter the top 6, together with their support teams, were placed on the two-story buildings. Once the Dragon God Shrine’s general exams were over, they would all become new assisting inspectors.
The cultivators who made it out of their groups but failed to become the top 12 in the east exam area were placed in the one-story bungalows made with mud tiles. These cultivators were just one step away from entering the top 48 and becoming assisting inspectors. Therefore, these people would be participating in next year’s general exams for sure, and they might be future assisting inspectors and even official inspectors.
For the other cultivators who lost early, if they didn’t want to leave the Dragon God Shrine and wanted to watch the combat exams tomorrow, they could only sleep outside.
This kind of differential treatment was an indication of the attitude of the Dragon God Shrine; this organization respected power. No matter which forces or clans cultivators came from, if they were strong enough, they could join the Dragon God Shrine and stand far above the ordinary cultivators!
At this time, Hao Ren was standing at the window. Of course, some cultivators who were standing outside looked up at him.
Hao Ren’s waist was still shining with the yellow identity token flashing, and these cultivators were looking at Hao Ren with respect.
To be able to live on the third floor of the third-story building, powerful strength was a must!
This seemingly ordinary three-story wooden building was in the dreams and fantasies of many cultivators. It was a place where they couldn’t get close even if they gave their best try!
Seeing the envious eyes on the ground, Hao Ren gently closed the window and sat down by the bed.
The current situation was that he was one of the top six in the east exam area and one of the top 24 overall. To become one of the ten official inspectors, Hao Ren had to gain at least one more victory. If he wanted to be in the top 3, he must win two more!
“Hu…” Hao Ren took a long exhale. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
“Gongzi Hao, you may practice with ease. Your humble servant will guard the surroundings for you,” Premier Xia said as he lifted a chair and sat down behind the door, guarding the room for Hao Ren tightly.
“Thank you, Premier Xia.” Hao Ren smiled. He was indeed worried that Zhao Yanzi might come to him.
The room was small, but it was exceptionally quiet. When Hao Ren closed the window, he could not hear the sounds outside the building. Obviously, this three-story wooden structure was equipped with a soundproof array formation, allowing the cultivators who would be competing tomorrow to cultivate or sleep in peace.
Sword energies swam around Hao Ren, and they were like Hao Ren’s eyes. Through them, he was able to feel the situation in the room vaguely.
Every sword energy held a bit of Hao Ren’s spiritual sense, and he spread the sword energies to the corners of the room and felt that his mind was continually expanding.
Sitting in front of the door, Premier Xia bent over and held onto his chair with both hands, gradually showing signs of falling asleep. Hao Ren’s sword energies were like flickering starlight, scattered in the room but was completely silent.
Having no idea which room Zhao Kuo was in, Hao Ren suddenly moved his sword energy and tried his luck.
A faint sword energy, only the size of a fingernail, slipped out of the door and ran down the wooden corridor to the second floor.
Hao Ren’s spiritual sense controlled the sword energy, and it slipped into the first room.
“Who is it!” A Xun-level cultivator, who was cultivating, immediately felt strange and shouted.
Hao Ren’s sword energy rushed out through the crack in the door and then ran along the hallway to the room next door.
The sword energy bumped into something when it was traveling through the crack in the door and bounced off immediately. The cultivator in that room was obviously more cautious and set up an array formation. Fortunately, such a weak sword energy didn’t trigger the array formation, and Hao Ren hurriedly pulled back the sword energy and moved it to the next room.
This time, the weak sword energy entered the crack in the door smoothly, and Hao Ren felt that the person in the room was Zhao Kuo!
At this moment, Zhao Kuo was sweating intensely, and his body glowed in a five-colored light.
Tempering the body with the five-elemental nature essences! It turned out that he was practicing the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll this way!
Hao Ren’s mind moved a little, and this little movement of the sword energy immediately alerted Zhao Kuo. The latter felt that there was a spiritual sense exploring his room, and four sharp sword energies immediately pierced toward the faint light at the door!
“Who’s this coward that dares to spy on me!” Zhao Kuo shouted fiercely.
Hao Ren’s glimmer of light was surrounded by Zhao Kuo’s sword energies, and it didn’t even have a chance to escape and perished immediately.
Hao Ren, who was in the room on the third floor, felt a sting in his head. He felt like a needle stabbed into his forehead, and his spiritual sense was slightly damaged. It was very unpleasant.
When one’s realm was not high enough, it was offensive and somewhat dangerous to spy on other cultivators using spiritual sense.
Hao Ren hurriedly pulled back the other two sword energies that were moving around in the building and summoned them back into his room through the cracks in the wooden board.
Anyways, using sword energies as vehicles for the spiritual sense was safer than using the spiritual sense alone.
Hao Ren understood spiritual sense more and was able to control his mid-tier Gen-level strength better.
As the two sword energies slowly moved back toward Hao Ren’s room cautiously, he suddenly detected a series of laughter.
“Haha, haha!”
It sounded like Lu Linlin and Lu Lili were having fun.
“What are they doing?” Hao Ren’s thoughts changed, and the sword energies which were connected with Hao Ren’s m
ind automatically entered Lu Linlin and Lu Lili’s room!
“Damn!” Hao Ren felt awkward. He was just thinking about it, and his sword energies actually went into the sisters’ rooms unexpectedly!
The sword energies that entered Lu Linlin and Lu Lili’s room were like Hao Ren’s eyes. Immediately, he opened his eyes and saw Lu Linlin and Lu Lili in their undergarments. They already took off their ancient dresses, and they were tickling each other on the bed!
The porcelain-like smooth skin, beautiful curves, and youthful bodies…… Even enough the Gen-level sword energies could only return a very blurry image, Hao Ren couldn’t help but get a nosebleed!
“What was that!”
Being tickled by Lu Lili, the panting Lu Linlin was suddenly alert.
Blushing, Lu Lili caught Lu Linlin’s arm and gasped at the tiny glimmer of light near the door as well.
The white bracelet on Lu Lili’s wrist quickly shot toward the fleeing sword energy and locked it down. Lu Lili waved back casually, and the white bracelet returned to Lu Lili’s wrist. That tiny sword energy fell right into Lu Lili’s palm.
“Spiritual sense dharma treasure!” Lu Linlin’s eyes widened as she nipped the light in her palm.
When she heard her sister say this, Lu Lili widened her lovely eyes and said, “Could this be Gongzi’s sword energy?”
“Would Gongzi do such a thing?” Lu Linlin squinted her eyes and looked at Lu Lili.
Lu Lili shook her head and replied, “Gongzi wouldn’t do such a thing!”
Sitting cross-legged on the third floor, Hao Ren had cold sweat coming out of his body layer by layer. He was connected with his sword energies tightly, and this sword energy was being held by Lu Linlin as if he was pinched by Lu Linlin’s fingertips.
“It must be a coward, thinking that we are weak and wants to peek at us! Shameless!” Lu Linlin nipped the light and said fiercely.
“If it is really Gongzi, we can let him see it,” Lu Lili blinked and said next to her.
“Pu…” Hao Ren nosebleed again.
“Our Gongzi is not such a shameless person! Humph, we need to give this shameless person a warning!” Lu Linlin’s fingers jerked hard, and a streak of nature essence flashed past her fingertips.