Against the Gods - Volume 09 - Realm of the Gods

by Mars Gravity

  Aside from the pressure Yun Che felt when he first faced the Winterfrost Direwolves, after he observed the way they attacked and their weaknesses, the ten waves that followed were all relatively easy for him and didn’t consume much of his energy… And he completely believed that if he used the Heaven Smiting Sword, not to mention getting wounded, even if the Winterfrost Direwolves all attacked him at once, they wouldn’t be able to get within ten steps of him.

  The people taking this final examination with him all had the power of the divine way. Facing those Winterfrost Direwolves that had great strength and speed but had relatively fragile bodies, even if they faced multiple direwolves at the same time, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

  Just to be safe, should I…

  Just as Yun Che was thinking and hesitating, a blue light flashed around him… the twelfth wave of Winterfrost Direwolves appeared in the blue light.

  The twelve of them appeared at the same time at the twelfth wave!

  Twelve violent auras instantly locked onto Yun Che but he still didn’t react immediately, because he was still hesitating on whether to end it now or continue a wave or two more… In the end, he chose the latter.

  That Mu Sushan was someone who seemed to have integrity and dignity and we are strangers, so there was no reason to lie to me intentionally. The reason I am able to handle this with ease is probably connected to my tolerance to cold and my Star God’s Broken Shadow. It is also possible that I still underestimated my current level of strength.

  Thinking of this, Yun Che stood still without moving and let the twelve Winterfrost Direwolves charge towards him.

  Aoooo!! Sss… hah!! Bang…

  The twelve Winterfrost Direwolves all attacked crazily and an incredibly horrifying disastrous wind storm appeared in the space of the Ice Profound Realm. Several bloody wounds and dozens of claw marks appeared instantly on Yun Che’s body.

  But, that was all.

  If it was some other profound practitioners, they would’ve been directly torn apart, frozen or turned into bloody pieces under this type of condition.

  Yun Che’s body was extremely tough with the existence of the Dragon God marrow. Even in his sleep, his Dragon God’s bloodline was becoming thicker by the second. As of now, not even he knew how strong his Dragon God’s bloodline had become.

  Back then when he was battling fiercely with Xuanyuan Wentian, he was able to take Xuanyuan Wentian’s strongest “Absolute Sword of No Return” directly without getting pierced through while his body was under restraint, not to mention the attack of these Winterfrost Direwolves!

  The twelve Winterfrost Direwolves clawed and bit him, wounded everywhere on his body but it wasn’t enough to kill Yun Che. Instead, it made him grit his teeth in pain and roar, “You all should just go die!!”

  “Yellow Springs Ashes!!”

  BOOM!!!

  In a howl, the most extreme Golden Crow flames exploded mercilessly and instantly turned the freezing cold Ice Profound Realm into a golden burning hell of flames. In the horrifying destructive flames, the Winterfrost Direwolves had nowhere to escape didn’t even have a chance to howl and they were all burned to ashes.

  After the flames dispersed, the Ice Profound Realm was no longer freezing. Instead, every corner was scorching with a terrifying heat. As for the Winterfrost Direwolves, all of them disappeared without a trace; not even a hair was left.

  “That should be it. Sss… took all of this for nothing,” Looking at his bloody arms, Yun Che gritted his teeth in pain. Then he lifted his head and yelled, “I give up.”

  Ji Hanfeng said that if one didn’t dare to face death during the examination, one could yell out “I give up” to end the examination directly.

  Except he didn’t do it because he was afraid of death.

  A white light fell from the void sky and cast on him as he said those words. As the white light flickered, he disappeared from the Ice Profound Realm and the Ice Profound Realm that he was just in collapsed, vanishing into nothingness.

  The Ice Profound Realm was not an independent space built by the Freezing Snow Hall, it was only a temporary space created by the power of the profound formation one by one.

  Bang!

  A light flashed from the examination profound examination with everyone waiting and a silhouette finally flew out and landed on the ground in a white light.

  “It’s Li Mingcheng… Li Mingcheng finally came out!!”

  “Impressive… Li Mingcheng is indeed impressive. He actually stayed alive for a hundred breaths of time longer than the second place, so… so amazing.”

  “That is of course! He grew up in the Ice Phoenix Realm and he is the nephew of the Main Hall Master of Freezing Snow Hall. We cannot compare to him at all.”

  “If we were in another group, we could probably still try to compete for the Jadefallen Ice Soul Pellet but we were in the same group as Li Mingcheng… that’s so unlucky,” One of the profound practitioners who ranked at the top of the list sighed and said.

  The white light on Li Mingcheng disappeared, he was sitting on the ground with his face pale while catching big breaths. It was very normal after experiencing being sieged by the Winterfrost Direwolves but he recovered and stood back up very quickly. At this moment, Ji Hanfeng walked towards him while laughing loudly, “Hahahaha, Junior Brother Mingcheng, you are indeed the one who was given high expectations by the Main Hall Master. You actually remained in the Ice Profound Realm for such a long period of time, that is very impressive.”

  Ji Hanfeng’s voice close to Li Mingcheng’s ears quickly turned his face red. The envy, admiration, amazement, and shame around him made him feel like he was floating. He promptly answered in a “humble” tone, “Not at all, compared to Senior Brother, I am still miles behind.”

  “Junior Brother Mingcheng, I cannot live up to those words,” Ji Hanfeng smiled and said, “I only made it past the eighth wave of Winterfrost Direwolves in the Ice Profound Realm back then and I already thought that was impressive. Based on Junior Brother’s time, you should have made it past at least ten waves. I am far from having your qualifications. From this, within ten years, Junior Brother Mingcheng’s cultivation will surpass mine. When the time comes, I will have to rely on Junior Brother Mingcheng in Freezing Snow Hall.”

  Before this, Ji Hanfeng was just discreetly fawning over him. But now that he witnessed how shockingly well Li Mingcheng did, he was already praising him in front of everyone without hiding it. Even though Li Mingcheng was still not strong enough compared to him, with his qualification and identity, he would definitely be an enormous tree in the Freezing Snow Hall. As a intelligent person, of course Ji Hanfeng would choose to pick the most suitable moment to grab on tight.

  “Ahhaha, what is Senior Brother Hanfeng talking about, you are flattering me,” Li Mingcheng acted as if he was afraid but he couldn’t hide the pride and arrogance that were deep within his eyes. He then couldn’t wait and said softly, “Senior Brother Hanfeng, the Jadefallen Ice Soul Pellet…”

  “Hehe, is there someone else who could have taken it?” Ji Hanfeng shot him a look in response and then turned around to sweep his eyes across the profound practitioners that passed the final examination, already standing in a tidy formation. He said loudly announced, “Very good, the examinations for our group are all completed at this point. First let’s congratulate all the junior brothers and sisters. After going through three rounds of examination, you have all qualified to become disciples of Freezing Snow Hall. After receiving the Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade that will belong to you later, you will all officially be our Freezing Snow Hall’s disciples. I wish you all to achieve great things from now on, make our ancestors proud!”

  “And, as the first place of the examination this time, as well as the most talented new disciple among our group,” Ji Hanfeng raised his palms and slowly picked up the “Jadefallen Ice Soul Pellet.” Everyone’s eyes were attracted beneath the dreamy blue light and stuck on it like a magnet. All of their eyes reve
aled a deep desire and envy, especially Li Mingcheng; his limbs shook and his eyes brightened up in excitement. He was itching to go up there and hold the sacred pill to his chest immediately.

  Ji Hanfeng’s eyes focused on Li Mingcheng at this moment, “This Jadefallen Ice Soul Pellet naturally belongs to…”

  “Wait.”

  Before Ji Hanfeng finished speaking, he was interrupted by a calm voice. Ji Hanfeng’s face darkened immediately but he immediately realized that the voice that interrupted him came from Mu Sushan who had been observing at the side this whole time. His face calmed down right away as he turned around and lowered his head. He said respectfully, “General Manager Sushan, is there something that you would like to… enlighten this disciple on?”

  Mu Sushan reached out his hand and pointed at the examination’s profound formation, “Did you not notice that the profound light from the profound formation has yet to disappear?”

  Ji Hanfeng looked at the examination profound formation with confusion. He was slightly stunned and then he suddenly reacted. The expression in his face changed abruptly as he stuttered, “What… what is going on?”

  All of the profound practitioners were all still looking at the profound formation which had bright white light shooting toward the sky with confusion. Li Mingcheng was also stunned in place.

  “Ji Hanfeng, this is not the first time you’ve hosted an examination. You should know very well that this profound formation exists for the examination. After the examination is completed, the profound light will naturally disappear. However, it is still here operating, proving that the examination has not truly ended. There is still one more examinee in the Ice Profound Realm.”

  “This disciple of course understand this. But… but this shouldn’t have happened. This disciple has counted already, those nine hundred people who were eliminated had already all left. After Li Mingcheng completed the examination, all of the ninety-nine people who passed the examination are all here. Not one more and not one less. And with Yun Che, who escaped before the examination even started…”

  Ji Hanfeng suddenly choked on his words and his pupils expanded slightly, “Could it be…”

  Chapter 955: “Crisis”

  Before Ji Hanfeng had even finished his sentence, the profound formation suddenly flashed with a profound light. A ball of white light separated itself from the profound formation and slowly fell. After it touched the ground, the white light disappeared, before Yun Che’s silhouette emerged.

  The other profound practitioners had either been ejected from the profound formation or ruthlessly thrown out, battered and miserable looking. However, Yun Che had been gently sent out and landed smoothly.

  This was because the others had been ejected by the profound formation after “dying” and Yun Che had given up while still alive.

  The first thing Yun Che sensed was that his body didn’t seem to hurt or have sustained any injuries. In fact, he didn’t feel like he had used up any profound energy at all. However, he immediately sensed that the surrounding atmosphere didn’t seem quite right and quickly opened his eyes to survey the area.

  Mu Xiaolan still remained a distance in front of him yet her mouth was wide open. Mu Sushan, who stood beside her, had an extremely odd look in his eyes. Beside him, a group of profound practitioners were neatly arranged in order with Ji Hanfeng standing before them. At the same time he saw Ji Hanfeng, he also immediately saw Li Mingcheng, who stood at the very front of the group.

  And among these people, each and every one of them were wide-eyed stupefied, as though they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

  Yun Che had not “died” out of the Ice Profound Realm so his mental state was not in disorder. After his instant of being stunned, the surrounding situation, the atmosphere, as well as the expression on everyone’s faces immediately caused him to realize that something had happened.

  What happened… was there a problem with the exam?

  There shouldn’t be! Then the only thing possible is…

  I’m the last f*cking person that came out!?

  Clang!!

  Ripples of profound energy were produced as an immense sound rang from the back. The light of the profound formation instantly retracted and in just a short moment, the entire profound formation disappeared. The space within the boundary of the profound formation was completely empty, without a single trace of a human figure.

  The final exam of Freezing Snow Hall had truly ended at this very moment.

  And the number one of this final exam, in other words, the last person who left the Ice Profound Realm, was actually Yun Che!

  Looking at Yun Che who appeared from within the white light and the disappearance of the profound formation, everyone present felt as if their brains had crashed. Even after staring for a long while, they were still unable to believe their own eyes at all.

  Li Mingcheng’s result was extremely extraordinary. If he had obtained number one, no one would have felt it was unexpected. However, Yun Che’s profound strength was clearly just at the fifth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm. Putting aside entering the divine way, even if he was in the Sovereign Profound Realm, he was only at the middle stage of it. Furthermore, he was even a profound practitioner who came from the lower realm and was far weaker than profound practitioners of God Realm of the same level. With his profound strength and birth, forget about Freezing Snow Hall, entering the Snowfall Palace would be extremely difficult as well.

  Him being able to participate in the exams of Freezing Snow Hall, was just a “special permission” given by the Main Hall Master as a form of ridicule and even a little embarrassment. Him accepting her proposal was just a joke in everyone’s eyes. And it was exactly this “joke”, who had actually surpassed Li Mingcheng in the final exam and had surpassed every single one of them!!

  “Yun Che, Y… Y-Y-Y-Y-You… “ Mu Xiaolan was unable to adjust her state of mind from this huge sense of disparity. “You’re… actually… number one… Ah…”

  Yun Che looked at Mu Sushan. From the present situation, how could he fail to understand that he was actually tricked by this general manager of Freezing Snow Hall!? Furthermore, that rather meaningful look carried by Mu Sushan was clearly a huge confession.

  In the Ice Profound Realm, he had suspected if “fifteen minutes” was a little short.

  But never did he expect that, it was actually… too long!!

  It seemed like Mu Sushan had realized something from Yun Che’s various behaviors and the results of the Snowstorm Realm exam and thus “tricked” him a little. Not to mention, it was done without a trace. Even with Yun Che’s shrewdness, he was unable to sense anything strange.

  As someone who could hold a high status even in God Realm, how could he possibly be an ordinary person?

  However, looking from another perspective, this result made Yun Che realize that he had severely underestimated his present level of strength. When he first stepped into the Sovereign Profound Realm, he was able to kill Xuanyuan Wentian whose profound strength had already reached the level of gods. Presently, his profound strength had reached the middle stage of Sovereign Profound Realm. Most likely, the level of strength of the divine profound practitioners whom he could go toe-to-toe with, had far surpassed his initial predictions!

  Looking at things now, it seemed like it was no longer possible for him to remain low key even if he wanted to.

  “Haah,” Yun Che sighed, as he silently muttered to himself in his mind. “Someone like me is like the sun hanging in a night sky. No matter how much effort is put in, it’s impossible to cover this overly brilliant light.”

  Turning around, Yun Che faced the dazed crowd and spoke to Ji Hanfeng. “Now, I should have the qualifications to become a disciple of Freezing Snow Hall, right?”

  “Not only that.” Before Ji Hanfeng could reply, Mu Sushan was already chuckling as he spoke. “You were the last person to leave the Ice Profound Realm and have without a doubt become the most excellent newcomer among the di
sciples. Not only will you have the qualifications to become an official disciple of Freezing Snow Hall, you will also receive a Jadefallen Ice Snow Pellet as a reward. With your present cultivation level, if someone were to aid you in completely refining this Jadefallen Ice Snow Pellet, your entire being will be reborn and you will experience immense growth from then on. Hohoho.”

  “Wait a minute!!”

  An anxious voice suddenly rang out. Li Mingcheng stepped out of the group, his face was solemn as he loudly exclaimed. “He can’t receive the Jadefallen Ice Snow Pellet! Anyone will be able to see that the result of this exam is unusual! This Yun Che brat… has clearly cheated!”

  Under the instructions of Mu Fengshu, he had delayed his entry into the Freezing Snow Hall for so many years in order to obtain the “Jadefallen Ice Snow Pellet” that was especially being bestowed in the exams this year. For today, he had endured for many years and had prepared for many years. The “Jadefallen Ice Snow Pellet” was already within his reach, how could he allow it to land in the hands of someone else…? Not to mention it was being awarded to trash that did not know his place.

  “I cheated? Where’s the evidence?” Yun Che helplessly said. With how the situation had developed, it was no longer possible for him to remain low key. He had no choice but to follow through with this outcome.

  “Evidence? Heh!” Li Mingcheng coldly laughed, as he walked towards Yun Che, one step at a time. “Is there even a need for evidence for this? As long as it’s someone who isn’t blind, it’s plain to see that you have definitely cheated! Every single one of the Winterfrost Direwolves in the Ice Profound Realm is a profound beast at the first level of the Divine Origin Realm and they possess extremely powerful offensive abilities. Even I had to be especially careful when dealing with them. You, however, are just trash at the middle stage of the Sovereign Profound Realm. Your only possible outcome is to be killed instantly in the face of a Winterfrost Direwolf, so how could you possibly stay in the Ice Profound Realm for such a long period of time!?”