Chapter 242
One stick of incense?
Dai Mubai felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and the hairs on his body stood on end!
Looking at Zhao Wuji's unquestionable gaze, then at Lin Xia's calm and deep-eyed face, and Zhu Zhuqing's cold yet mocking eyes, a huge sense of absurdity and fear instantly overwhelmed him!
Let him test Lin Xia?!
What a joke about the mainland!
Yesterday at the Rose Hotel, he didn't even see how Lin Xia made her move. Three deadly beams of dark light were easily blocked by her. He was also suppressed by her aura and methods, like a stray dog, and signed a humiliating annulment agreement!
Now you want him to face a twelve-year-old Soul King?
Or is it the city lord of Gengjin City who possesses that strange martial spirit and terrifying strength?
This isn't a test, this is suicide!
It was a public execution!
Dai Mubai's once handsome face instantly fell, his expression a jumble of emotions—fear, humiliation, pleading, and despair all mixed together.
Dai Mubai's lips trembled, and he almost cried as he spoke:
"Teacher Zhao... Teacher Zhao! I... I... this... this isn't appropriate, is it? Lord Lin... Lord Lin..."
He was so anxious that he was incoherent, only wanting to extricate himself from the situation as quickly as possible.
Seeing Dai Mubai's cowardly appearance, as if he was about to cry at any moment, Zhao Wuji's forced composure crumbled.
His lips twitched slightly, and he knew in his heart that he had gone a bit too far with his joke.
Should we have Dai Mubai test Lin Xia?
That's a perfect example of bringing shame upon oneself.
"Tsk!"
Zhao Wuji impatiently waved his large, fan-like hand, interrupting Dai Mubai's words as if shooing away a fly, and his tone became much more casual.
"Alright, alright! Look at you, so pathetic! I was just joking with you, look how scared you are! Go away and stay somewhere else!"
Dai Mubai felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He let out a long, silent sigh of relief, feeling completely exhausted. He quickly lowered his head and slunk away to the edge of the field, wishing he could shrink into the shadows of the corner and never look at Lin Xia again.
Zhao Wuji's gaze returned to Lin Xia and the other four. This time, he toned down his frivolousness and scrutinized them more seriously, especially lingering on Lin Xia the longest.
He sat back down in the broken wooden chair and said in a gruff voice:
"My name is Zhao Wuji! Since all five of you skipped the test and went straight to the fourth level, then stop with the fancy stuff!"
Zhao Wuji pointed to Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong.
"The test is very simple! I'll personally play with you guys!"
As he spoke, Zhao Wuji miraculously pulled out a thick incense stick from some corner of his body. His calloused thumb and forefinger casually pinched the tip of the incense, and with a soft "hiss," a small red glow appeared out of thin air.
With a flick of his finger, the incense stick was held firmly as if by an invisible hand, and precisely planted in the ground in the center of the arena, with the tip pointing upwards and wisps of smoke rising.
"The time it takes for an incense stick to burn!"
Zhao Wuji's voice echoed like a drumbeat in the silent open space.
"You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to get to know each other and discuss tactics! After that, the assessment will begin!"
Zhao Wuji glanced around at the five people, his gaze finally landing on Lin Xia with a sense of pressure, and emphasized.
"The test is for the five of you to work together to withstand my attack for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn! As long as even one of you can stand on this ground for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will all pass! Do you understand?"
Zhao Wuji seemed worried that these proud geniuses might develop some "unrealistic" fantasies, and added a warning:
"Listen up, all of you! Don't even think about using tricks, and don't even think about escaping by speed!" "Within this area, I can tell you definitively that no one can outrun my lock-on!"
"Anyone who thinks they can withstand my attack by themselves is dreaming!"
"Your only chance is to cooperate and coordinate your defense! Do you understand?!"
Zhao Wuji's words were filled with the powerful confidence of a Soul Saint and absolute condescension to the Soul King realm. Even when facing Lin Xia, a Soul King who defied common sense, his inherent pride as an "Immovable King" still made him not believe that he would be truly threatened by an opponent at the Soul King level; at most, it would just be a little troublesome.
However, the moment he finished speaking—
"Oh."
A very faint yet incredibly clear laugh rang out, like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate, instantly shattering the heavy, oppressive feeling created by Zhao Wuji's words.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhu Zhuqing's exquisitely beautiful face, as pure as an iceberg and snow lotus, with a stunningly beautiful smile that was undisguised and full of irony.
Her eyes were clear and bright, as if she had seen through all the illusions. Her gaze swept over Zhao Wuji and finally landed on Lin Xia's tall and straight back. There was not a trace of worry in her eyes.
There was only a kind of mocking, indulgent, and proud look, as if watching a clown overestimating his own abilities.
How dare you look down on Brother Lin Xia like that?
How long has it been?!
How long has it been since I've seen someone so arrogant and presumptuous, trying to judge Brother Lin Xia by his Soul Saint status?
Zhu Zhuqing sneered inwardly.
Zhu Zhuqing's light laugh and gaze were like an invisible thorn, causing Zhao Wuji to furrow his brow and his anger to rise again. He was about to speak when Dai Mubai could no longer restrain himself. He knew Lin Xia was terrifying, far more than just a Soul King on the surface! Suppressing his fear, he practically scrambled to Zhao Wuji's side again, his voice urgent and trembling as he whispered a warning:
"Teacher Zhao! Be careful what you say! Lin Xia... Lord Lin is the city lord of Gengjin City! His strength is absolutely unfathomable! Yesterday at the Rose Hotel, he... he..."
As Dai Mubai recalled Lin Xia's composure in defusing fatal attacks and her command of the entire scene, as well as her martial spirit, which had never been revealed but was undoubtedly terrifying, his voice trembled with tears.
"His martial soul is extremely special! It cannot be measured by the standards of an ordinary Soul King! You...you'd better be careful!"
Dai Mubai's words sent a chill down the spines of Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji's fleshy face twitched, and his thick eyebrows twitched.
He looked at Lin Xia again, a deeper scrutiny flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly overwhelmed by an even stronger aura.
Zhao Wuji slapped his thigh hard, making a muffled "smack" sound, as loud as a bell, carrying an air of arrogant confidence.
"Unfathomable? Special martial soul? Hmph! So what if he's the Lord of Gengjin City?"
"No matter how powerful he is, he's just a Soul King! I'm a dignified level 76 Soul Saint, with the Martial Soul Mighty Vajra Bear! The title 'Immovable King' was earned through battle! Do you think I'm afraid of some mere brat?!"
"Mu Bai, get out of here! Stop undermining morale and boosting the enemy's spirits!"
Zhao Wuji's tone was full of absolute confidence in his own strength and arrogance regarding his Soul Saint rank.
In his view, the gap between ranks was insurmountable; no matter how special a martial spirit was, it was all in vain before absolute power and rank suppression! (End of Chapter)