Hell Messenger

Two days passed in a flash.

As the most powerful force in the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect had been passed down uninterrupted through generations. Having weathered several dynastic changes, this behemoth had long since sunk its roots deep into the soil of the Jia Ma Empire.

Even the Jia Ma Empire's Royal Family was deeply wary of it.

With its reputation spreading far and wide, the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Competition naturally drew the attention of countless factions.

The enormous plaza, paved entirely with massive stone slabs, looked ancient and grand. At its center stood a towering stone monument.

The stone steps built around the plaza could accommodate nearly a thousand people, yet only a few dozen occupied them now.

These people were all representatives of various factions who had received invitations to come watch.

At the upper end of the plaza stood several lofty stone seats arranged along rising steps. More than a dozen White-robed Elders sat in order according to their status and cultivation.

On the stone seat atop the highest step, a beautiful woman in a light green dress slowly rose to her feet. She swept her gaze across the surroundings, and her cool voice, wrapped in Dou Qi, echoed throughout the entire plaza.

"The competition begins."

As her voice fell, a White-robed Elder seated one step below her stood and said, "All disciples, enter the arena."

As the old man's words ended, the vast plaza trembled slightly.

From the gaps between the surrounding stone steps, countless Misty Cloud Sect disciples surged in. They wore white robes embroidered at the cuffs with clouds and longswords.

After passing through the Bone-Testing Gate, only disciples under the age of twenty were qualified to participate in this Sect Competition. Those over twenty could only watch.

In less than half an hour, the more than nine hundred Misty Cloud Sect disciples had completed their tests and filled all the empty stone steps.

"Now, I will announce the competition rules. All disciples participating in this competition, listen carefully." It was still the White-robed Elder Yun Leng speaking.

"First is the Outer Sect disciple selection. Due to the large number of participants, and for the sake of time, it will be conducted in a free-for-all format. All Outer Sect disciples will enter the arena. No teaming up is allowed. After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the fifty remaining on the field will be selected.

"The fifty who advance will draw lots to determine their opponents. All advancing disciples, come forward and draw a number. Those who draw matching numbers will face each other. The Top Ten in this competition will advance directly into the Inner Sect."

"The Inner Sect selection will likewise use a draw to determine opponents. The rewards for the Top Ten are exceedingly generous. First place will additionally receive a Fifth-Grade Pill personally refined by Pill King Gu He."

"Remember, this competition is intended for sparring. Stop at the right point, and do not take lives."

After Yun Leng finished speaking, a middle-aged man in luxurious robes waved at everyone.

Whoosh!

The entire venue was stunned. Even the leaders of various factions, dressed in noble robes and standing suspended in the air at the top of the steps, turned their eyes slightly.

A Fifth-Grade Pill personally refined by Pill King Gu He.

The pill's name had not been announced. It was highly likely that the winner could choose it himself.

"As expected of the Misty Cloud Sect." Fa Ma could not help but sigh in admiration.

"This time, first place will definitely go to Senior Sister Nalan. Do you think the reward for first place has something to do with Senior Sister Nalan?"

"Very likely. Senior Sister Nalan is the Sect Master's Direct Disciple, and there are rumors about the relationship between the Sect Master and Pill King Gu He..."

Several disciples whispered among the crowd.

The Outer Sect disciples' matches were nothing worth watching. To be precise, so many people had not come here today to watch the Outer Sect competition.

Other than the Top Ten, who drew some attention, no one cared much even if those below tenth place performed exceptionally well.

By noon, after a brief rest, the Inner Sect Competition officially began.

There were only sixty-seven Inner Sect disciples under the age of twenty. (Chen Mo was an exception.)

To display the might of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Great Elder called out names one by one. Those called would step forward, announce their cultivation, and then briefly display a few moves.

To Chen Mo, this was a Personal Show.

The first to take the stage was Yun Hai, the Great Elder's grandson.

The moment he stepped onstage, he was showered in praise, with every kind of flattery flying around. Then came the disciples' various explanations.

For example, whenever he used a technique, someone would first cry out in surprise, then explain how difficult the technique was, how it could be countered, and how powerful it was.

Good grief, not even the World Cup was explained this thoroughly.

Yun Hai's performance was also quite commendable, and Yun Leng's face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.

He drew number 32. After giving a slight salute, he stepped down.

Chen Mo, who had deliberately sat in a corner, felt like his head was about to explode. All sorts of frantic notification sounds rang without stopping.

"Ding ding ding, ding your sister! Why are you dinging, you extra?"

The key was that Chen Mo could not turn on Do Not Disturb like on WeChat. His head had been buzzing nonstop until now.

As a result, when Yun Leng called Chen Mo's name for number 29, no one came onstage at first.

The plaza, which had just quieted down somewhat, became chaotic once more.

"Chen Mo? Isn't that the Sect Master's newly accepted Direct Disciple?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Not yet. He has to make the Top Ten first."

"He still isn't coming out. Could he be afraid to fight?"

"No way. The Sect Master would lose too much face then."

"Chen Mo! Where is Chen Mo? Get onstage at once!" Yun Leng raised his voice and urged him.

The Misty Cloud Sect's upper echelon also began to discuss among themselves, their gazes coincidentally turning toward the high platform behind them.

However, Yun Yun merely gave a cold snort, and they immediately withdrew their gazes.

Yun Yun frowned.

At that moment, a lean yet upright youth with a vigorous masculine air about him walked to the center of the plaza.

A trace of irritation showed on the youth's face. He had originally wanted to keep a low profile while getting through the Personal Show, but his delayed appearance had made Sister Yun Yun lose face.

For this Personal Show, Chen Mo had to win that face back.

"Chen Mo, sixteen years old, Two-star Dou Master." Chen Mo's calm voice somehow carried clearly to everyone in the plaza.

"So he's Chen Mo?"

"He's quite handsome."

"Damn, he was sitting right beside me earlier."

"Good heavens, a Two-star Dou Master at sixteen? Is that real? With that talent, even Senior Sister Nalan can't compare, can she?"

"Did anyone see how old he was when his bone age was tested?"

"A Two-star Dou Master? When the Council of Elders met two days ago, didn't the Sect Master say he was a One-star Dou Master? It's only been a few days, and he's already Two-star?"

The Elder Council and the various factions all remained skeptical.

Under the gaze of more than a thousand people, Chen Mo glanced at Yun Yun and began his Personal Show.

A sudden gale rose, making Chen Mo's white robes flap loudly. Imitating a character from some anime, Chen Mo struck a pretentious pose while performing the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force.

It was as if even the heavens were cooperating with Chen Mo's showing off. The sky abruptly darkened, and the gale grew fiercer.

When every detail had become perfect—

Hooooo!

The roar of a colossal elephant erupted from within Chen Mo's body. The phantom of a gigantic elephant, covered in tiny Thunder Snakes, with Purple Fire coiling around its long trunk, suddenly appeared above Chen Mo's head.

He stomped his foot. Cracks spread from beneath his sole across the hard stone slabs, extending more than ten meters. Surging black Dou Qi, mixed with traces of lightning and Purple Fire, burst from the surface of Chen Mo's body.

At that moment, Chen Mo became a Hell Messenger.