"A whole group in a brawl? What's the highest realm?" Li Tianming asked.
Throughout the entire Heaven-Opening Gate assessment, all disciples usually concealed their strength. But once they started fighting, they would definitely return to the Real Universe—otherwise, they would suffer for it.
That also made it easier for Li Tianming to judge their strength when they fought.
"There is one, a ghostly god, quite strong, at the ninth level," Silver Dust said.
"A ninth-level Myriad-Origin Eonic God. Worth a try!"
With so many people present, and with the Lesser Heaven-Stealing Clan in the mix, Li Tianming decided to prioritize caution. That made it less convenient to use the Heaven-Piercing Finger.
"This first trial of the Heaven-Opening Gate requires winning sincere followers. It sounds easy, but it's easier said than done. Whether their loyalty is genuine will only be revealed during the recommendation after the assessment ends. This truly tests a Heavenly Emperor Sect disciple's ability to handle people."
So-called skill at handling people came in many forms. Threats and intimidation, for instance, were also methods of subjugation.
"No matter what method I use, I have to keep followers. Therefore, it's not convenient for me to use the Heaven-Piercing Finger in front of them."
Otherwise, if someone secretly resented him and spread word that he could kill with a single finger, it might very well trigger an unforeseeable outcome.
Thus, Li Tianming's conventional combat strength was extremely important.
"Let's go."
He and An Ning moved swiftly, heading forward.
The sky of this desolate star system was not pitch-black, but a suffocating gray, as though all life had been completely drained from it.
They had not gone far when the roar of colliding energies came from ahead, mixed with baleful shouts and several desperate cries of resistance.
"Imperial tokens and followers—I