The Three Trials (Part Three)
Those who dare to enter the world of paintings naturally have confidence in themselves. However, in the world of mortals, confidence alone is not enough. Under the endless slaughter of Demon Wolf, one by one, the disciples who participated in the assessment were torn apart and killed by the wolf pack. They then turned into streaks of light and fell out of the world of paintings, their faces still showing lingering fear.
The world of the painting is filled with endless Demon Wolf. Although it looks very similar to the Asura Purgatory Diagram, it is fundamentally very different.
The Asura Purgatory Diagram was created by using great Divine Ability to capture a portion of the Asura Sect and seal it within the painting. The world inside is the real world, while the endless painting of the Demon Wolf is merely a mirage, an illusion.
Some of those who fell from the painting were still shaken, clearly feeling the experience of walking on the edge of death; others were resentful, believing that they had only made a momentary lapse in judgment, which was why they were torn apart by the wolves. But regardless of their feelings, the fact remained that they had fallen from the painting, which meant they had lost their qualification to continue the assessment.
With a wave of his Azure Nether Blade, Zhuge Xiang unleashed a domineering Blade Qi that shot in all directions. He possessed several Treasure Artifact -level equipment, and even without using the Devourer's Treasure technique, his strength was comparable to that of an ordinary Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator. One after another, the Demon Wolf that dared to charge forward were reduced to minced meat under Zhuge Xiang's blade light.
The notifications of gaining experience points kept ringing in his ears. Gradually, Zhuge Xiang became dissatisfied with these meager experiences. He spread his Phoenix Feather Wings and looked down from his vantage point, searching for powerful Demon Wolf, or even Demon Wolf at the Fairy level...
With a flap of his wings, he streaked through the air at high speed, unleashing Zhuge Xiang's Blade Intent. His Azure Nether Blade flashed, leaving almost no one in his path. Even a wolf with the cultivation of Six-Star superior-grade Monster Beast would be instantly killed by Zhuge Xiang's Blood Thunder Slash.
Perhaps, in the entire world of the painting, only Demon Wolf at the Fairy level could stop his killing spree? This was the thought of all the disciples watching from the summit of Sword Peak.
Although the Endless Demon Wolf were only the first test in this picture world, a glance revealed the entire scene of the picture world, making it easy to see who possessed the most outstanding strength.
Most disciples could only struggle to withstand the relentless attacks of the Demon Wolf, while those who could handle them with ease were extremely rare. As for those who could wreak havoc on all sides, there were only a handful.
Zhuge Xiang, the God of Slaughter, is undeniably one of them. With the Azure Nether Blade in hand, he slays melons and vegetables with clean, decisive strokes.
The Sarira Skeleton Yin Wugu ranked fourth in the previous Dragon Phoenix Ranking. Ten years later, he will definitely be one of the most promising Cultivator to win the championship this time.
Blood Rakshasa Lin Haiyan, was ranked second only to Yin Wugu in the previous competition and Genius Disciple of the Asura Sect.
Although the White Bone Asura Gu Siqi was defeated by Zhuge Xiang had to use almost all his trump cards to barely win, which shows his strength.
There were also Zhang Kuang, Meteor Blade Huo Siling, Blood Palm Butcher Qian Xiong, Wu Zhao with Overlord Spear Wu Zhao, Blood Heart Sword Pei Yingxiao, Tian Lingshan from the Tiandao Sect, and others. These people were outstanding. They were able to handle the wolf pack's siege with ease and easily kill countless Demon Wolves.
"It seems that these are the most outstanding disciples of this generation..." The battle in the painting continued, but outside the painting, people were already discussing it. Their attention kept sweeping over Zhuge Xiang and the others. The strength they showed had far surpassed Cultivator of their peers.
Yin Wugu, Lin Haiyan, Gu Siqi, Huo Siling Tu Qianxiong, Huo Siling, Wu Zhao, Zhang Kuang, Tian Lingshan, Pei Yingxiao, and finally Zhuge Xiang.
All ten individuals were exceptionally talented. Even those who were not Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator possessed cultivation levels comparable to Deity Transformation stage experts. In the world of the painting, these people earned everyone's recognition through their strength.
The time it takes to One Incense Stick, though not short, is certainly not long either. After One Incense Stick time, Purgatory Elder promptly pulled everyone out of the picture world. These Cultivator, more or less, all wore expressions of joy on their faces.
However, when these Cultivators had passed through saw the remaining number of people, their faces all turned grim.
Upon arriving at the summit of Sword Peak, there were at least six or seven thousand Cultivator participating in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking, if not ten thousand. Although many dared not enter due to the intimidation of the endless Demon Wolf, in the end, about five thousand Cultivator still made it in.
However, this was only the first stage. Of the approximately 5,000 disciples, only about 3,000 actually passed, a near 50% elimination rate. Three Trials was truly like sifting gold from a great wave, eliminating the vast majority of participants.
"Not bad, there are actually about three thousand Cultivator. This year's batch is indeed quite good." Looking at the three thousand Cultivator passed the test, Purgatory Elder nodded lightly and said. Although he said it was good, judging from his expression, which was like a cat playing with a mouse, no Human Heart felt happy at all.
"Alright, I won't waste any more time. Let's begin the second round. In this round, at least half of the participants will be eliminated," Purgatory Elder said with a smile. His calm tone was like a bolt from the blue, causing everyone's expressions to change drastically.
"Is there a need for such a rush? We just escaped from the Demon Wolf's attack, and our Qi Energy hasn't even recovered yet. Give me some time to Qi Energy!"
Many disciples, having already exerted their full strength to endure the time it takes to drink One Incense Stick, were now panting heavily. Upon hearing Purgatory Elder's words that the second trial was about to begin immediately, and that more than half of the participants would be eliminated, they were greatly alarmed and cried out.
"That's right, this kind of assessment is completely unreasonable."
"Who could pass such a test? We should at least wait until we've recovered our Qi Energy."
The panting crowd began to shout and grumble. Seeing that more and more people were shouting and grumbling, these people became even bolder. They had barely managed to resist the wolf pack's attack in the picture world with all their might, and they hadn't even recovered yet, but now they were going to have to start the second level. These people were absolutely unwilling to accept this.
Snort...
A cold snort came from the Purgatory Elder, like a heavy iron hammer striking their hearts, leaving them speechless like ducks with their necks being choked.
They had been shouting so loudly that they almost forgot that the person presiding over the Dragon Phoenix Ranking was Void Realm Great Expert, and from the Asura Sect no less. How dare they refute or question such an existence? These Human Heart.
With a cold snort, Purgatory Elder's gaze, like a sharp knife, swept over everyone present. His piercing eyes, like Sword Qi's aura, were so intimidating that no one dared to meet his gaze, and they all lowered their heads.
"In the battles within the Hundred Emperors Tomb, do you think the Cultivator from other prefectures will give you time to recover your Qi Energy?" Purgatory Elder said calmly, leaving those who were making a fuss speechless. "Do you think the Evil Ghost and Zombie in the Hundred Emperors Tomb will give you time to recover your Qi Energy? Since others can participate in the assessment, why can't you? Because you are inferior to others! Weaker than others!"
The Purgatory Elder's words caused these people's faces to turn pale and then red, but they were speechless. If others could do it, why couldn't they? Was it really because they were weaker than others?
"Alright, whether you participate or not, I now announce that the Three Trials has begun." As he spoke, Purgatory Elder waved his hand, his palm forming a blade, and with a slash in the Void, he cut through the three thousand disciples.
"Disciples on the left, you are all wearing black arm sleeves. You cannot remove them for three days." He waved his hand at the disciples on the left side, and an extremely Profound Mysteries power flashed. An arm sleeve appeared on the arms of all the disciples, and they could not remove it no matter what they did.
"The disciple on the right is wearing a white arm sleeve." Similarly, Purgatory Elder had an arm sleeve tied to the arms of all his disciples. He continued, "This trial, within my Asura Purgatory Diagram, is a game of hunter and prey. The mission will end in three days. Those who collect both the Black-and-White Armbands by then will have passed the second trial. Now, the second trial begins."
Before anyone could speak, Purgatory Elder unfurled another picture— the Asura Purgatory Diagram. Immediately, all three thousand disciples, powerless to resist, were thrown into the Asura Purgatory Diagram.
"The methods of Void Realm Great Expert are truly unfathomable." In a flash, Zhuge Xiang reappeared in the Asura Purgatory Diagram. Looking at the familiar scenery in the Asura Purgatory Diagram, Zhuge Xiang recalled being casually thrown in and released by the Purgatory Elder, like a puppet in the other party's hands. He couldn't help but marvel at the methods of Void Realm Great Expert.
The Asura Purgatory Diagram a place Zhuge Xiang had entered once before when he participated in the Inner Sect assessment. It was here that he obtained the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda. Today, revisiting this place, Zhuge Xiang couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Time really flies. Back then, his cultivation was only at the Meridian Opening Realm, but now, he was very close to the Deity Transformation Realm.
Qi Cultivation Realm, Body Tempering Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, Void Splitting Realm, Innate Realm, Return to Simplicity Realm —before Zhuge Xiang even realized he had crossed so many realms.
Deity Transformation stage, one can harness the power of Heaven and Earth, summon wind and rain, and command wind, fire, thunder, Lightning. Only then can one be considered to have entered the true hall of cultivation and truly Proficient Level it. Otherwise, Qi Refining Stage Cultivator is merely a martial artist.
"The Deity Transformation stage?" Zhuge Xiang, whose cultivation had now reached the Eighth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm, occasionally felt a sense of unease, as if some inexplicable danger was about to approach. This feeling was mysterious and profound. Zhuge Xiang knew that this was the sensation of the Heavenly Tribulation.
Most Cultivator, when they reach the Tenth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm and are about to break through to the Deity Transformation stage, will have this feeling. Otherwise, if they cannot feel the threat brought by the Heavenly Tribulation, they will never be able to break through to the final step. (To be continued...)