"Eldest Brother Taiping, the Test the Blade Assemblies held at past Dragon-Slaying Assemblies were indeed always contests between Dragon Catchers. Their sole purpose was to weed out some of the Dragon Catchers whose cultivation was too weak, lest they and the Dragon-Slaying Persons on their teams die needlessly at the Demon Dragon's hands."
Inside the Earth Vein Cave Abode, Dongfang Yuejian was likewise deeply puzzled when she learned from Xu Taiping that this Test the Blade Assembly actually included challenges between Dragon Catchers.
After hearing this, Xu Taiping immediately frowned and said:
"Could the Dragon-Slaying Assembly have changed its rules?"
Dongfang Yuejian shook her head and said:
"The rules of the Dragon-Slaying Assembly were established jointly by the Five Emperors. No one can arbitrarily change rules they laid down through a Heavenly Dao Edict."
Xuanzhi nodded at this point as well and said:
"This humble monk has never heard of the Dragon-Slaying Assembly changing its rules either."
After hearing their words, Xu Taiping drew a deep breath and murmured:
"Is there truly no one who can change the rules laid down by the Five Emperors?"
Dongfang Yuejian said with absolute certainty:
"Absolutely no one."
Xu Taiping gave Dongfang Yuejian a long, searching look, then asked:
"What if it were the Demon Mother?"
Dongfang Yuejian's expression changed dramatically at once as she said:
"The... Demon Mother?!"
Xu Taiping nodded and said:
"Just as the Dragon-Slaying Ranking can favor us, the Demon Mother, who once fought a great battle against the Five Emperors, would naturally have ways to alter the Dragon-Slaying Assembly's rules a little."
Hearing this, both Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi grew solemn.
Dongfang Yuejian nodded and said:
"That is indeed possible."
Just then, the Battle Merit Ledger floating between the three of them suddenly gave another faint tremor.
Immediately