"The third stage begins!"
The mighty voice rang through the clouds.
For once, that voice actually carried a trace of excitement!
Everyone fell silent in an instant, countless gazes surging toward the ten Demonstration Platforms like a tide.
At the perimeter.
Those seated cross-legged on the ten foremost stone platforms raised their heads, powerful spiritual energy fluctuations pressing and colliding against one another, faintly giving rise to thunder, fire, and lightning.
Here it comes!
Without hesitation, Zhang Jing stepped straight forward.
At that moment.
The sixteen people who had long been waiting moved with remarkable uniformity. Their expressions were inscrutable, excited, or expectant, but not one showed fear or unease.
Only heavy footsteps remained in the silent air.
As he approached the Demonstration Platforms step by step.
Zhang Jing's spirits began to surge little by little.
And just then.
Two shrill rushes of wind rang out, and Zhang Jing felt as though two dark figures had darted past his eyes.
Those were-
He stopped and looked toward the sound.
By now, a man and a woman stood on the eastern and western sides of the First Law-Performance Platform, spiritual light flickering around them.
"Chen Xiandao, Shen Qingqing."
Zhang Jing murmured those two familiar yet unfamiliar names, his gaze all but fixed on them.
The other thirteen also chose to stop where they were. They wanted to see just how strong these two were.
Senior Brother Liu watched the scene from above without prompting them, merely observing quietly.
Boom-
As though they had already fought before.
The two on the platform attacked each other without a word.
In an instant, Chen Xiandao closed in on Shen Qingqing, crimson Dao patterns coiling around his body, every movement carrying tremendous force and scorching spiritual light.
But then Shen Qingqing swiftly formed a Method Formula with her hands.
A gleam flashed, and she had already vanished from the spot.
The next moment, an eerie green wind suddenly swept across the Demonstration Platform. It swiftly condensed into blades and slashed toward Chen Xiandao with the speed of thunder before one could cover one's ears.
The two traded blows.
The commotion grew increasingly terrifying.
Finally.
After a muffled grunt, Chen Xiandao left the First Law-Performance Platform with a calm expression. He then walked straight to the center of the second Demonstration Platform, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes as though no one else were there.
He seemed certain no one would dare challenge him.
And that was indeed the case.
Once the battle on the First Law-Performance Platform ended, the remaining people headed toward the other Demonstration Platforms. Those who could not wait had already mounted them.
But-
The Third Demonstration Platform stood empty.
At that moment, a smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Jing's face, and his back slowly straightened.
He looked toward the Third Demonstration Platform.
Zhang Jing had not forgotten that, besides securing a place in the top ten and earning a Dao Merit reward, he also wanted to use this opportunity to see whether he could join one of the top ten Mission Teams.
What were those people looking at? What was the Dao Academy looking at?
Naturally, their performance in the assessment.
At that thought,
Zhang Jing strode straight toward the empty Third Demonstration Platform.
Since no one else dares, I won't stand on ceremony.
Footsteps rang out.
As Zhang Jing moved, the others' gazes froze. Whether they were fighting on the platforms or watching below, the same thought arose in their minds at that moment:
Who is this?
Below the platforms.
Watching Zhang Jing, Ji Bochang could not help rubbing his eyes.
He seemed to be checking whether today's Brother Zhang and the Brother Zhang he had known before were actually the same person.
Before long.
Zhang Jing stood at the center of the Demonstration Platform, waiting quietly.
Gazes filled with surprise and doubt threatened to drown him from every direction.
Naturally, Zhang Jing understood why.
Although the Third Demonstration Platform ranked third, the presence of the two First Grade prodigies meant that it actually represented first place among the many Grade B talents this time.
No one had come up earlier because everyone had their eyes on this position, and no one wanted to upset the balance.
Not far away.
Five pairs of eyes watched Zhang Jing.
A woman stepped out from among the five, her face brimming with confidence. She slowly mounted the Third Demonstration Platform and walked over to face Zhang Jing.
Zhang Jing raised his head.
The woman opposite him looked at him with a bright smile, cupped her hands with spirited poise, and said:
"I am Xu Wan."
"I am Zhang Jing."
Zhang Jing responded with a smile as well.
"Your courage is certainly remarkable, Brother Zhang, daring to be the first to step up here. I wonder how your strength measures up. This magic sword of mine is incomparably sharp, so take care."
As she spoke.
An exquisite magic sword abruptly appeared in her hand. An exceptionally concentrated sharp gleam flickered along its edge, chilling the heart merely to look at it.
A dazzling light flashed.
The magic sword vanished from the woman's hand. When it appeared again, it was already before Zhang Jing's eyes, its sharp aura almost stabbing straight into his throat.
Zhang Jing's gaze sharpened, and his illusory Mind's Eye opened.
He immediately caught the Flying Sword's trajectory.
Hum-
The spiritual energy within his Dantian surged, then poured into the Water Cloud Shield in great quantities.
The Water Cloud Shield flickered and appeared directly in front of the magic sword.
Clang!
The woman's Flying Sword was blocked by the Water Cloud Shield.
But the terrifying sharpness of the sword nearly shattered the pitch-black spiritual light on the shield as well.
Her first strike had failed.
The woman controlled her magic sword, sending it weaving ceaselessly above Zhang Jing like a swimming snake, constantly searching for an opening.
The sharp gleam extending and retracting from the blade nearly made every hair on Zhang Jing's body stand on end.
"Qi Refining Second Layer! What a sharp Flying Sword."
A trace of admiration flashed through Zhang Jing's eyes.
He had known that none who dared compete for the top ten would be simple.
With a thought.
Zhang Jing deployed the battered Flying Sword from his Storage Bag, black spiritual energy coiling around it. The sword became a streak of black light, darting to the side of the woman's Flying Sword in an instant and slashing hard at its blade.
"What?"
Seeing Zhang Jing produce a Flying Sword while also controlling a shield, the woman's eyes widened, and she froze slightly.
An opening!
Zhang Jing controlled his Law Artifact Flying Sword to block the woman's magic sword while pouring spiritual energy into the Water Cloud Shield once more.
The Water Cloud Shield instantly became a streak of black light, slamming straight toward the woman's delicate face like a heavy hammer.
A vicious wind sprang up!
The woman jolted in fright, fumbling out a talisman and activating it immediately.
A white protective spiritual light instantly appeared around her.
Bang!
The Water Cloud Shield smashed into her protective spiritual light, but only made it shudder.
So the talisman is your trump card? Unfortunately, it's useless against me.
The Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique, with its added sharpness trait, excelled at dealing with this.
A hint of a smile touched the corners of Zhang Jing's eyes.
Within the Five-Law Spirit River, a wandering Law Technique Fish suddenly leaped out of the water, transforming into an exceptionally concentrated sharp gleam that coiled around Zhang Jing's right index finger.
He lightly pointed his fingertip.
The Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique arrived in the blink of an eye and, beneath the woman's horrified gaze, easily tore apart her protective spiritual light.
The next moment.
The Water Cloud Shield grew larger and larger in her vision.
Duang-
With an exceptionally crisp sound, the woman flew backward, her body rigid. A lump half the size of a fist instantly swelled on her fair forehead, and her eyes rolled back. The sight was too miserable to bear.
Her Flying Sword immediately went out of control and fell onto the Demonstration Platform.
Hiss-
At the sight, continuous sharp intakes of breath rose both on and below the platforms.
Whether it was because of his Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique or not, Zhang Jing felt that the surrounding temperature had dropped considerably.
One complicated gaze after another fell upon Zhang Jing.
On the First Law-Performance Platform, Shen Qingqing's little mouth opened unconsciously at the sight of Zhang Jing's brutal actions, a trace of shock flashing in her eyes.
Meanwhile, on the second Demonstration Platform.
Chen Xiandao could no longer maintain his previously calm expression.
His face twisted as he forcibly held back his laughter and gave Zhang Jing a thumbs-up.
Below the platform, Ji Bochang could not help heaving a long sigh at the sight. He felt that his brother's cultivation and fighting strength were indeed outrageously formidable, but... he really seemed beyond saving.
"Zhang Jing, would you like to rest?" Senior Brother Liu's voice sounded beside his ear, struggling to suppress laughter.
"No need, Senior Brother."
Feeling that the fight had not consumed much spiritual energy, Zhang Jing simply chose not to rest.
But just then.
Footsteps rang out.
Zhang Jing looked toward the sound and discovered that it was the slender man who had nodded to him at the very beginning.
The man looked at Zhang Jing with an indifferent gaze and said coldly:
"My name is Xia Fangming. You should have heard of me, Brother Zhang."
"Xia Fangming?"
Understanding immediately appeared on Zhang Jing's face.
This fellow was the first Grade B talent to reach the introductory level in the Visualization Method, his aptitude second only to those two First Grade prodigies. Zhang Jing had also heard that he had already joined one of the Outer Court's top ten Mission Teams ahead of time.
No wonder his expression had been so calm when he learned the rules earlier.
So he considers himself strong enough.
And could that Xu Wan have challenged me just now because I took the position he had reserved?
"Your illustrious name, Brother Xia? I imagine none of this year's newcomers to the Dao Academy would be unfamiliar with it."
The smile on Zhang Jing's face did not diminish in the slightest.
"Brother Zhang, whatever else you did, you should never have dealt Xu Wan such a vicious blow. If I don't step forward, what am I supposed to say when she wakes up? I hope you'll forgive me."
Xia Fangming spoke expressionlessly.
"Please instruct me."
Zhang Jing spoke with a serious expression.
The instant his words fell.
His illusory Mind's Eye opened once more, encompassing the entire Demonstration Platform within its perception.
This Xia Fangming might be the strongest opponent he had encountered in this assessment. Naturally, Zhang Jing did not dare relax his vigilance in the slightest.
"Good!"
Xia Fangming bellowed.
Law Power approaching the limit of the Qi Refining Second Layer instantly seethed.
A bronze mirror slowly floated up before him, producing layer upon layer of spiritual light that enveloped Xia Fangming.
Then Xia Fangming threw out a golden hammer, spiritual light suffusing its body, its aura as heavy as a mountain.
The moment the golden hammer appeared, it smashed straight toward Zhang Jing.
It was not very fast, but the heavy aura radiating from it constantly hindered Zhang Jing's movements, making it difficult for him to dodge.
Bang!
The golden hammer smashed down hard, and the entire Demonstration Platform seemed to tremble.
Not far away, Zhang Jing, who had barely managed to run clear, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Getting hit by that thing probably wouldn't feel good.
The flying sword Law Artifact was sent aloft once more. Under Zhang Jing's control, it became a dark gleam almost impossible to track with the naked eye, abruptly appeared right before Xia Fangming, and slashed down hard.
It struck.
Xia Fangming's protective spiritual light began to distort, while the flying sword seemed to sink into a mire, unable to advance another inch.
Seeing this, Xia Fangming could not help letting out a soft breath of relief.
He watched Zhang Jing across from him doggedly entangle his golden hammer with a magical shield without letting the hammer so much as touch it, all while controlling a flying sword that had nearly sliced through the protective spiritual light produced by his bronze mirror. A trace of admiration could not help rising within him.
Isn't this fellow a little too formidable at controlling Law Artifacts?
And there was that powerful Law Technique that sliced straight through Xu Wan's protective spiritual light just now.
No wonder he dared step onto the Third Demonstration Platform!
Unfortunately-
Xia Fangming's spiritual sense began tracing the Dao patterns of a Law Technique. Three to five breaths later, three mud-and-stone puppets appeared at his feet and charged straight at Zhang Jing with ferocious momentum.
Meanwhile.
Seeing that even a full-force strike from his flying sword Law Artifact could not cut through his opponent's protective spiritual light, while his Water Cloud Shield was already beginning to falter after tangling with the great golden hammer for so long-
Zhang Jing could not help sighing.
Law Artifacts like these were of little use against formidable enemies.
In the end, I still have to rely on my various skills.
The Five-Law Spirit River surged at tremendous speed. Five Ice-Light Incantation Law Technique Fish instantly leaped out of the river, transforming into streaks of icy-blue spiritual light that enveloped Zhang Jing.
Boom!
The great golden hammer smashed directly into Zhang Jing's protective spiritual light.
But in the next instant, to Xia Fangming's utter astonishment, Zhang Jing's protective spiritual light did not so much as flicker. The golden hammer's attack was like a mere tickle.
But-how was that possible!
At the same time.
The two remaining Law Technique Fish in the Five-Law Spirit River both landed in Zhang Jing's hands, transforming into two Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Techniques imbued with [Sharpness], then shooting out like roaming dragons.
This time, Zhang Jing had not prepared doubly enhanced Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Techniques, chiefly because he feared it would be difficult to explain if those Inner Academy disciples noticed.
However, after he advanced to the Qi Refining Second Layer, an Ice Condensation Edge-Forming Technique imbued with just the [Sharpness] trait already possessed power on par with the Qi Refining Third Layer.
That was enough!
Wherever the sharp edges passed, the earth-and-stone puppets were sliced in half at the waist.
Then, without the slightest pause, both Law Techniques slashed toward the layers of protective spiritual light surrounding Xia Fangming.
Crack-
A crisp sound rang out.
All the protective spiritual light dissipated.
Looking at the terrifying sharp edges roaming before him, Xia Fangming could not help showing a trace of fear on his frost-covered face as he shouted:
"I concede!"
The instant his voice rang out, silence fell all around.
Still shaken, Xia Fangming cradled his extremely dim bronze mirror Law Artifact and slowly walked down from the Third Demonstration Platform.
At that moment.
Everyone first looked at Xia Fangming's miserable, bedraggled state, then fixed their eyes on Zhang Jing, shrouded in icy-blue protective spiritual light, and lamented inwardly.
Why hadn't there been any word of this man before?
Being good at controlling Law Artifacts was one thing, but how could his Law Techniques reach such an absurd level too?
Now we're done for!
The eight places were already fiercely contested, and now there was one fewer outright.
With Xia Fangming's fate serving as a warning, everyone present turned their attention to the other seven Demonstration Platforms.
After all, they only had three chances to challenge.
Going up despite knowing they would lose would be either foolish or stupid.
"Does anyone else wish to challenge the Third Demonstration Platform?"
Senior Brother Liu's voice rang out.
But no one answered for a long time.