I Am Overlord c1-962

by Translator: Pokka; Author: 我本纯洁 (I Am Pure); Licensed From: Migu

  For some reason, he had mixed emotions whenever he thought of the Xiang Clan. He felt some sort of closeness toward the clan, but he felt even more loathsome toward it.

  The tiny bit of closeness he felt probably originated from the blood coursing within his veins, or it was some other reason. In any case, he couldn't get rid of this feeling even if he wanted to.

  He threw the matter to the back of his mind and stopped trying to get up as well. Rather, he stayed on the ground. In fact, his rate of exhaustion was much lower sprawled on the ground like that.

  This place was, after all, not the Hall of Gravity. He was subjected to mental suppression, and so long as his soul could withstand it, the pressure on his body would be greatly reduced. Thus, he wasn't feeling much discomfort at all. He only needed to wait until the time was up before standing up and leaving the room.

  Sure, he wouldn't look too impressive, but it did not matter so long as he could pass the trial. If he didn't have the Nether Dragon Soul Headband, he would probably be struggling bitterly like Xiang Zixuan.

  Soon, an hour was over. Xiang Zixuan was once again sprawled on the ground, having exhausted most of his soul foundation's power.

  Now, he was hanging on by sheer willpower. Looking at Xiang Shaoyun, who was sprawled beside him, he muttered, "This kid is already dead. I only need to wait until the time is up, and I will pass the first trial."

  The Holy Hall's young lady was incomparably noble. Obtaining her was equivalent to obtaining the Holy Hall's support. Although Xiang Zixuan was one of his clan's most talented youths, he still had rivals back in the clan. Thus, he definitely didn't want to fail on his very first trial.

  This fellow sure is resilient, Xiang Shaoyun sighed inwardly.

  The hall master's pressure had not reduced with the passage of time. Rather, it grew increasingly strong, gradually reaching the level of a late-stage Sovereign. Even with the Nether Dragon Soul Headband, Xiang Shaoyun could still feel a formidable power surrounding his soul. The pressure on his body was growing as well.

  Although the power assaulting him was incorporeal, it still wasn't something even ordinary Soul Foundation Realm cultivators could easily handle.

  In other words, the lowest requirement of being the Holy Hall's son-in-law was to reach the Soul Foundation Realm and be someone capable enough to withstand the pressure in this room.

  Naturally, there was also the requirement that the candidate must not be too much older than Tuoba Wan'er. Otherwise, one would not be a good match for her. When the time was nearly up, the elders waiting outside were starting to be filled with expectation. Even Tuoba Wan'er was feeling the same.

  Although she was the hall master's granddaughter, she couldn't even control her own marriage. She felt completely helpless, and she hoped that both candidates would fail the trial. That way, her freedom would be extended.

  And if either of the candidates were going to succeed, she was more inclined to see Xiang Shaoyun be the one to pass. She had already discussed this with Old Urchin. If Xiang Shaoyun succeeded, Old Urchin would be putting him under control. They would be able to drag out this affair long enough to wait for her grandfather to leave seclusion.

  It was unfortunate that her grandfather had been in seclusion for more than 10 years. Nobody knew his current status. If her grandfather wasn't in seclusion, she would have a much wider range of options.

  Finally, the two hours were up, and the room's door slowly opened.

  Chapter 797: The Second Trial Begins

  The door opened, and Xiang Zixuan was the first to appear before everyone. He walked unsteadily, looking completely drained of energy. Right after he strode out of the door, he collapsed onto the ground. The Black and White Guardians quickly dashed over and held him up.

  "Splendid. I knew Xiang Zixuan would pass this trial," praised Hu Yanbo.

  "Yes, he's doing very well for someone his age. That is, after all, a trial the hall master had set personally," said Sha Hanbiao with a satisfied look.

  The others also started raining praises on him. They seemed to be in a good mood.

  Hu Yanbo smugly began, "Old Urchin, remember the bet—"

  A second person leisurely strolled out the door before he could finish his sentence.

  "If you can't withstand it, don't force yourself. Youngsters nowadays really care about their reputation more than life," nagged Xiang Shaoyun with the tone of an elder.

  Xiang Zixuan was so infuriated he was shaking. "You..."

  However, he had no words. Although Xiang Shaoyun had remained sprawled on the ground since the very beginning, he had actually stood up right at the end and had easily left the room.

  He even wondered if Xiang Shaoyun was cheating, but he did not dare to voice his concern for fear of offending the Holy Hall.

  "Haha, well said. Well said. If you're not capable, don't force yourself. I think you might as well give up on the second trial," said Old Urchin with delight. He looked at Hu Yanbo and continued, "Come, remember the bet. Pay up."

  Hu Yanbo's mood plummeted, feeling like he had just eaten a housefly.

  He replied unwillingly, "Don't worry. I won't run from the bet."

  "Alright. Let's proceed with the second trial," said the first elder.

  At this time, Sha Hanbiao said, "First elder, should we take a break before that?"

  Obviously, he was trying to give Xiang Zixuan some time to recover.

  "Hehe, you sure are good at giving a certain someone preferential treatment," Old Urchin mocked.

  The first elder replied, "It was not mentioned that breaks would be given in between trials. You two, come with me. We will proceed with the second trial."

  Soon, they arrived before a ring. Both Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan wondered if they would be required to fight here.

  "Kid, you're dead for sure this time," said Xiang Zixuan with a smug grin.

  Although Xiang Zixuan had been squeezed dry during the first trial, he had nevertheless benefited greatly from the trial as well. After consuming some recovery spring water, his condition had improved significantly. If this trial required a battle between him and Xiang Shaoyun, he was confident he could slay Xiang Shaoyun with his sword.

  As a response, Xiang Shaoyun laughed and said, "Wow, my victory is practically set in stone if this is a duel."

  "Ignorant kid," said Black Guardian, who was standing beside Xiang Zixuan.

  Black Guardian had a high cultivation level, and he was able to see through Xiang Shaoyun's strength with one look. He did not believe Xiang Shaoyun would be able to defeat Xiang Zixuan. In fact, Xiang Zixuan should be able to win easily. Thus, he found Xiang Shaoyun's words reeking of ignorance.

  "You will soon see who's the ignorant one," said Xiang Shaoyun nonchalantly, not bothered to argue.

  Standing before the ring, the first elder demanded, "Both of you, step onto the ring."

  Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan stepped onto the ring at the same time.

  On the ring, Xiang Zixuan beckoned at Xiang Shaoyun and said, "Come and die."

  Before Xiang Shaoyun could muster a response, the first elder's voice rang out again, "Formation, activate."

  Abruptly, curtains of energy rose all around the ring and enclosed the ring entirely. A phantom appeared before the two candidates. This was yet another clone.

  "Since you are here, you must have passed the first trial. In this trial, I will personally spar with both of you. I will be restricting my strength to your level, and the one to defeat me will be able to pass the trial," said the clone.

  At this time, the many elders outside knelt down and greeted, "We greet the hall master."

  "Rise. It seems I have not been forgotten. Just watch. These two kids are somewhat acceptable," said the hall master's clone.

  The elders could hear the blame in the hall master's voice, as though rebuking them for selecting poor candidates, or perhaps he was blaming them for presenting him with too few options, limiting his choices. Even the first elde
r broke out in cold sweat at that realization.

  The clone split into two, each facing a candidate as they said, "Come. If you can defeat me, you will pass the second trial."

  The two clones were respectively at the third-stage Dragon Ascension Realm and first-stage Soul Foundation Realm, matching the cultivation levels of Xiang Shaoyun and Xiang Zixuan.

  When Xiang Zixuan noticed that, he immediately voiced his objection, "Lord hall master, this is unfair."

  "How is this unfair?" asked the clone.

  "You should treat us equally, not lowering your strength for him. This is unfair for me," said Xiang Zixuan in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.

  "Hehe, you can earn my approval just by defeating me when we have the same cultivation level. In any case, I hold the sole prerogative to determine what's fair and not," said the clone.

  Xiang Zixuan wanted to offer a retort, but he found that Xiang Shaoyun was already making a move on the other clone. Xiang Shaoyun was surprised to learn the nature of this trial, but it was something good for him.

  The first trial was challenging enough, but the second trial was against an opponent of the same cultivation level. Xiang Shaoyun had never feared any opponent of the same realm, even if his opponent was the mighty Holy Hall's master.

  While Xiang Zixuan was still speaking with the other clone, Xiang Shaoyun did something nobody expected and attacked. He had thought that this would gain him some advantages, but this clone actually reacted speedily. Before his attack could land, the clone had already moved away.

  "Not bad. Come at me harder, or you will suffer an ugly defeat," said the clone.

  "Hehe, I'm afraid you will be defeated the moment I use my full strength," said Xiang Shaoyun confidently.

  The faces of the elders turned unsightly when they heard that. Xiang Shaoyun actually had the galls to look down on their hall master. That was no different than looking down on them, and it strengthened their dislike of him.

  As for Old Urchin, he acted as if he wanted to watch the world burn. Roaring with laughter, he said, "I knew I made the right choice. This is how it should be. Beat him up!"

  Even Tuoba Wan'er also couldn't help speaking up, "Grandpa Urchin, please don't say that."

  The hall master was her grandfather. She would naturally stand on her grandfather's side.

  "Not bad. This is the kind of confidence a youth should have," said the clone. With a smile on his face, he made his move.

  Chapter 798: Battling the Holy Hall Master's Clone

  The Holy Hall's master was himself a genius cultivator, one whose legend started during his childhood. He was also lauded as the closest person to the first generation hall master, someone who in the future might reach a height comparable to the first generation hall master.

  The clone had his cultivation base suppressed to the level of third-stage Dragon Ascension Realm, but in truth, he was capable of unleashing the combat prowess of a peak Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator.

  Instead of trying his best right off the bat, the clone met Xiang Shaoyun with the strength of a late-stage Emperor.

  Major Slab Palm!

  He used a top-tier emperor technique, releasing a palm thick with the power of earth that pressed down on Xiang Shaoyun. The palm was extremely terrifying. It was as if an entire mountain was collapsing upon him. Rather than dodging, Xiang Shaoyun formed his own fist and punched the incoming palm.

  Bang!

  The two attacks collided loudly, signaling the start of the battle. The moment the clone attacked, he stopped holding back. The Major Slab Palm lashed about fiercely, forming numerous energy slabs on the ring. It was as if the ring was turning into a completely enclosed space.

  The palm attacks were fast and violent and extremely hard to guard against, displaying the hall master's might. This was a combat prowess comparable with any genius disciple of the Dragon Phoenix Academy.

  However, Xiang Shaoyun was one of the academy's top freaks. He did not fear taking the hall master's clone head on. Shrouded by the power of lightning, he sent one Lightning Bolt Fist after another, blasting apart the Major Slab Palms around him. His gift of instincts was working at full power, trying to look for an opening.

  To his surprise, his opponent had almost zero openings. He was unable to get a hit in, and it seemed his only option was to overwhelm his opponent with pure strength.

  At that discovery, Xiang Shaoyun increased the intensity of his attacks. He sent his lightning power everywhere, blasting apart the Major Slab Palms surrounding him to seize the initiative.

  While Xiang Shaoyun was using his lightning power, a battle was also ongoing between Xiang Zixuan and the other clone. Similarly, Xiang Zixuan was using his own lightning power. At the sight of that, the elders all had a contemplative look on their faces.

  Both these youngsters had the same surname, and they also used the same power. Were they actually related?

  Xiang Zixuan's battle with the clone seemed extremely intense, and it did not seem like a victor would be decided anytime soon. Fortunately, the massive ring was now separated into two separate zones. Otherwise, the aftershocks of Xiang Zixuan's battle would definitely affect Xiang Shaoyun.

  The longer the battle dragged on, the more ferocious Xiang Shaoyun was. Even the hall master couldn't help praising him, "Excellent. Very strong. I'm going to get serious now."

  As he said that, a boundless surge of earth energy converged onto the clone, greatly increasing the clone's strength.

  Profundity of earth!

  Meteor Fall!

  The clone casually activated the profundity of earth, and as his palms waved about repeatedly, the earth energy converged and formed numerous massive meteors that dropped down at Xiang Shaoyun.

  The meteor attack had definitely reached the level of a peak Emperor. It was obvious how much of a freak the hall master was back when he was still a Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator.

  After all, skipping over five or six stages of power when one was a third-stage Emperor was a feat only achievable by the best of the best, someone with an incredibly bright future.

  "Haha, this is more like it. Now, the fight will get more interesting. Otherwise, it will be boring to defeat you when you're restricted to my cultivation level," Xiang Shaoyun roared with laughter as he fully activated his astral energy and lightning bone. At the same time, he also used the profundity of lightning. A storm started brewing in the sky.

  Rumble! Rumble!

  Like a lightning dragon, Xiang Shaoyun shot toward the clone. His destructive lightning power blasted the numerous meteors apart, opening a free path for him through sheer force. As he neared the clone, he released an overbearing attack.

  The clone raised his brow as he pulled in the power generated by the profundity of earth. Clumps of earth energy rose before him to form layers of powerful defenses that met Xiang Shaoyun's incoming fist, creating a series of rumbling sounds.

  The defenses were nearly fully destroyed, and at this time, he used a technique nobody had seen coming—Phantom Shift! Instantly, the clone shifted to a different position. An afterimage was left at his original position, making it completely unclear that the original clone had already moved.

  Even Xiang Shaoyun had not expected the hall master's clone to suddenly move out of his way. His attack landed on the afterimage, and his back was fully exposed. The clone took the opportunity to release a flurry of attacks toward his back.

  A barrage of attacks bombarded Xiang Shaoyun, putting him in great pain. Even his organs were starting to bleed. Evidently, he had been injured.

  The clone pressed on, not planning to give Xiang Shaoyun any chance to recover. He attacked with powerful techniques again and again, the might behind his attacks growing increasingly scary.

  Fortunately, Xiang Shaoyun's body had amazing toughness. He was able to survive the bombardment without losing consciousness. Otherwise, his defeat would be certain.

  The moment Xiang Shaoyun was struck, he shifted
the element of his power and used the profundity of earth as well. A gravity field formed around him, forcefully slowing down the clone's attacks.

  "Huh? You cultivate the power of earth and have such deep understanding of it as well?" said the clone in astonishment.

  The instant the clone was slowed, Xiang Shaoyun shifted his power again, using the profundity of wind. His body turned into a phantom as he reappeared behind the clone. The powers of lightning and wind erupted from him, engulfing the clone in a storm.

  Wind and Lightning!

  The wind and the lightning were akin to ferocious beasts, shaking the ring with their might.

  The hall master's clone reacted speedily, using his Phantom Shift to avoid the attack. Unfortunately for him, Xiang Shaoyun would not fall for the same trick twice. The storm spread and wreaked havoc on a wide area around him, completely submerging the clone in a storm that was roaring like tigers and dragons.

  The storm was so thick it was hard for the audience to even see what was going on. Even the elders who were watching found themselves shocked.

  "Apart from the power of lightning, this kid also cultivates the powers of wind and earth? And he seems to have great proficiency on all of them as well?"

  "Seems like not even the hall master's clone can fully suppress him. That kid obviously has a strong foundation. He is indeed a Dragon Phoenix Academy disciple."

  "By combining the powers of wind and lightning, he was able to unleash an attack comparable to a peak Emperor. This kid has some skills."

  "Hmph. He will have a bleak future cultivating so many powers. He won't go far in life."

  Chapter 799: Those Refusing the Advice of the Elderly Will Be the Ones to Suffer

  Finally, the storm faded away, revealing the hall master's clone and Xiang Shaoyun once again, both separated from the other.

  Blood was dripping from Xiang Shaoyun's mouth, and his expression was somewhat pale. Evidently, he had sustained rather serious injuries. His vicious counterattack had further exacerbated his condition. As for the clone, he had grown translucent and looked like he couldn't last any longer.