Chapter 592
Suddenly
Jiang Xuan seemed oblivious to the changing gazes around him. He stood quietly in place, but his mind was still pondering the details of the battle that had just taken place.
"If I use the 'Star Gathering Style,' I can defeat Yue Zhongtian, but it will probably take more effort and it will easily expose my trump card."
This [Nine Shaking Heavens Collapse Dao] is indeed domineering. It has such an effect even though I have only just begun to understand it and have not even been able to unleash one-tenth of its power.
Moreover, its method of application and the characteristics of its power are quite different from the mainstream martial arts of the time, making it difficult for others to discern its origins and true power, thus making it a suitable and powerful conventional method.
He considered his options and did not choose to leave immediately. According to the procedure, the third round of assessment and lottery would follow immediately.
Soon, information about the third round of assessments was released.
The third round is called "Six Jia Contest"!
The rules are as follows.
All cultivators advancing to the next level will be grouped into teams of six and will engage in a free-for-all battle on the same arena! Only the sole survivor on the arena will advance! There is no time limit; the battle will continue until only one person remains on the arena. Temporary teamwork is permitted, but only one person can ultimately emerge victorious.
These rules, seemingly simple, are actually extremely cruel! This means that you not only have to face attacks from the other five opponents, but also have to be wary of being betrayed by your so-called "allies" at crucial moments! It is foreseeable how fierce and unpredictable the battle will be for that one and only qualifying spot.
Jiang Xuan could almost foresee that, given his current "notorious reputation," once he was grouped up, he would most likely be targeted by the other five people working together!
……
As night gradually enveloped the earth, the second round of assessments, which had lasted for a full day, finally came to a complete end.
Of the 5,436 contestants, only 1,200 have successfully advanced after two rounds of brutal elimination! A total of more than 4,200 have been eliminated!
Although those eliminated cultivators lost the qualification to continue, they were young and possessed cultivation levels above the Human Realm, making them highly sought after by many forces in the Southwest Province.
The winners who advance are even more closely watched.
A careful observation of the advancement list reveals that the number of cultivators in the Earthly and Heavenly Realms has not changed significantly compared to the first round; they have steadily advanced based on their absolute strength.
The number of cultivators at the Human Gang Realm has sharply decreased. Someone like Yue Zhongtian, a formidable Earth Gang Realm cultivator, would have easily advanced to the next level had he not been unlucky enough to encounter Jiang Xuan earlier.
Among the people Jiang Xuan knew, Qi Yunxiao, Yuan Shu, and others were ultimately slightly weaker and were eliminated in the second round. However, Lian Fei, who had crossed paths with him in Donglin City and later married Yao Tuohai's daughter, surprisingly advanced to the third round!
This surprised Jiang Xuan somewhat.
He remembered that Lian Fei's initial aptitude was only considered above average, but he hadn't expected him to improve so quickly. After a little inquiry, he learned that Lian Fei was now the son-in-law of the great cultivator Yao Tuohai, and had been deeply cultivated by him. Not only had his cultivation improved rapidly, but he had also condensed a rather impressive second-grade spiritual energy pool. It was no wonder that he had achieved such success.
However, when the name "Yao Tuohai" resurfaced in his mind, Jiang Xuan's eyes suddenly turned icy cold, and an intense, almost uncontrollable killing intent, like the north wind of winter, howled in his heart!
He would never forget that when he participated in the prefectural examination in Donglin City, this high and mighty cultivator almost killed him and Xia Zhi on the spot because of a trivial conflict! That indifferent look as if looking at ants, that unreasonable and domineering behavior, had long been deeply engraved in his heart!
"Yao Tuohai..."
Jiang Xuan silently recited the name in his heart, his eyes growing increasingly deep and cold.
"I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!"
"Yao Tuohai..."
Jiang Xuan silently recited the name in his heart, his eyes growing increasingly deep and cold, a chilling killing intent swirling within his chest.
"I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!"
He forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions and glanced at the remaining 1,200 cultivators in the assessment area.
These were all elites who had survived two rounds of brutal selection, and their auras were generally much stronger than before. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a familiar figure—Lian Fei.
Lian Fei was standing not far away, looking in his direction with an extremely complicated expression on his face.
In his eyes, there was a mixture of deep-seated hatred, profound fear, and an almost overflowing resentment. Lian Fei had long regarded Jiang Xuan as his irreconcilable enemy who killed his father. Although he had failed to take revenge many times before, and dared not act rashly again due to the strict prohibition of his father-in-law Yao Tuohai and his wife, the flame of hatred had never been extinguished. On the contrary, it burned brighter and brighter in his heart.
He secretly vowed that he would kill Jiang Xuan with his own hands sooner or later to comfort his father's spirit in heaven.
Jiang Xuan sensed Lian Fei's undisguised malice, but instead of avoiding it, he curled his lips into a cold smile and casually waved his hand in Lian Fei's direction, his gesture flippant and carrying an undisguised provocation.
Upon seeing this, Lian Fei's face instantly darkened to the point of being dripping with water, his chest heaved violently, and the hatred in his eyes almost burst forth in a tangible form.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, but in the end he could only turn his head away angrily, no longer looking at Jiang Xuan's face that made him furious.
Jiang Xuan sneered inwardly, his killing intent intensifying. "This fiend is deeply vengeful; keeping him alive will only cause future trouble. If a suitable opportunity arises, I must not hesitate to kill him!"
……
As the night deepened, Qingyun Square did not become quieter with the passage of time; on the contrary, it became even more bustling with people.
The nearly 100,000 spectators in the surrounding stands mostly remained seated, eagerly awaiting the third round of assessments. The enormous spirit lanterns surrounding the plaza and suspended high in the sky emitted a dazzling light, illuminating the vast martial arts arena as if it were daytime, forcefully dispelling the deep darkness of night.
"clang--!"
Amidst this atmosphere of hustle and bustle and anticipation, the iconic clear bell rang once again, its melodious sound resounding throughout the entire venue, officially opening the curtain on the third round of assessments—the "Six Top Contests"!
As the bell rang, the detailed rules for the third round quickly appeared on the huge light screen.
All 1,200 cultivators who advanced will be divided into 200 groups of six people each by drawing lots.
These six individuals will simultaneously enter a single ring for a free-for-all! The rules are simple yet brutal—only the last one remaining in the ring advances to the next round! There is no time limit; the fight continues until only one person remains standing. Temporary teamwork is allowed, but there can only be one ultimate victor!
This rule immediately caused quite a stir among the remaining cultivators.
Everyone understands that this is no longer just a contest of strength, but also a battle of wits, endurance, and even the ability to read people's hearts! You can team up with others to eliminate the strongest opponent first, but you must always be wary of so-called "allies" turning against you at crucial moments! It is foreseeable that the battles to come for that one spot to advance will be incredibly fierce, unpredictable, and ever-changing!
Jiang Xuan looked at the rules on the light screen, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.
He could almost foresee that, given his current "notorious reputation," once he was grouped, he would most likely become the first target of the other five!
The lottery began quickly, and people proceeded in an orderly fashion to their respective lottery points.
Jiang Xuan placed the assessment token on the jade plate, and a line of information appeared as it flashed.
“Group 9, Arena 9.” His gaze swept over the other five names in the same group. When he saw those names clearly, even with his composure, his eyes couldn’t help but twitch slightly. The ominous premonition in his heart had become a reality.
The group of five included four cultivators at the Earthly Rank Realm: Liu Kesheng, Wu Cen, Zhai Xiuyuan, and Chen Cheng! These four were not unknown figures among the younger generation in the Southwest Province; they were considered top-tier individuals, each with remarkable achievements and reputations.
What put the most pressure on Jiang Xuan was the fifth name – Le Zhiyou!
One of the top students at Yanxia Academy, on par with Xue Shaolin, Yu Wenjing, Yun Zitong, and others, she is not yet eighteen years old, but already possesses the formidable cultivation of the Heavenly Gang Realm! She is one of the strongest contenders for the provincial examination championship!
"Four Earthly Realm experts and one Heavenly Realm expert... They really think highly of me, Jiang Xuan."
Jiang Xuan sighed inwardly, a helpless expression on his face. His cultivation level was only at the Human Gang Realm, making him appear particularly "outnumbered and weak" in the face of such a lineup.
He was almost certain that he would become the first target of the others' joint attack. As for whether Yue Zhiyou, the Heavenly Gang Realm cultivator, would lower himself to join the attack, that remained to be seen. But even if he didn't, the combined might of the four Earthly Gang Realm cultivators was enough to send chills down one's spine!
"This time, I'm afraid we'll really have to risk our lives..."
Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, his eyes gradually sharpening, the slight helplessness he had felt earlier replaced by a soaring fighting spirit. The more adversity he faced, the more it fueled his fighting will!
The atmosphere in the assessment area was varied. The draw results naturally brought joy to some and sorrow to others.
Some people drew relatively weaker groups and couldn't help but show their joy, feeling that advancement was in sight; others, like Jiang Xuan, were trapped in the group of death, their faces grim, sighing and lamenting; still others had begun to look around with shifty eyes, considering whether to form a temporary alliance.
……
When the third round group list was fully announced, especially when the list of the ninth group and the ninth arena appeared on the screen, the entire Qingyun Square fell silent for a moment, and then erupted into an uproar that was more enthusiastic than ever before!
"The ninth group! My goodness! Jiang Xuan, Le Zhiyou! And Liu Kesheng, Wu Cen, Zhai Xiuyuan, and Chen Cheng—four experts at the Earthly Rank!"
"The group of death! This is the real group of death!"
"Le Zhiyou is at the Heavenly Gang Realm! The other four Earthly Gang Realm cultivators are no pushovers either! Although Jiang Xuan performed amazingly in the first two rounds, he is only at the Human Gang Realm after all. This is a huge problem!"
"Is that even a question? I bet the other five will definitely team up to get Jiang Xuanqing out first! Who told him to be the most popular, and also the one who's 'outnumbered and outmatched'?"
"Surely Lezhiyou wouldn't stoop so low as to participate in an attack, would he?"
"That's hard to say! The Six-Fold Tournament is a free-for-all, so it's perfectly normal to join forces to eliminate the most threatening opponents in order to ensure advancement! No matter how strong Le Zhiyou is, if he's entangled with four Earthly Realm experts, plus the unfathomable Jiang Xuan, he might not be able to win for sure!"
"It's over, it's over! Jiang Xuan is probably really going to be eliminated in the third round this time! His luck is just too bad!"
"Heh heh, the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind! He deserved to be so arrogant before!"
The discussions spread like a tsunami, with almost 99% of people believing that Jiang Xuan was doomed and likely wouldn't survive this ordeal.
His journey as a dark horse seems to be coming to an abrupt end at this moment.
In the assessment area, Qi Yunxiao, Yuan Shu, and others who were eliminated did not leave immediately but remained on the sidelines to watch the game. Upon seeing this grouping, they all revealed undisguised schadenfreude on their faces.
Qi Yunxiao smiled sinisterly.
"This is truly a stroke of luck! Jiang Xuan, your good fortune has finally run out! Let's see how arrogant you are this time!"
He could almost see Jiang Xuan being surrounded and defeated by a group of people, and his heart was filled with pleasure.
Yuan Shu also sneered.
"Faced with the combined forces of Le Zhiyou and four Earthly Realm experts, unless he possesses extraordinary abilities, he is destined to lose! It's fortunate that he was able to stop in the third round; at least he won't have to lie in bed for months!"
Even on the white jade platform suspended in mid-air, the expressions of the important figures changed upon seeing this grouping.
Dean Wei Lingzhen of Yanxia Academy frowned slightly and said softly.
"This group... has a significant difference in strength, it can be described as a clash of titans, but it is a bit too harsh on Jiang Xuan."
Du Dongtu crossed his arms, his rugged face expressionless, and said calmly.
"Luck is sometimes a part of strength. There are many hardships and tribulations on the path of cultivation. If you can't even withstand these setbacks, you will hardly achieve great things."
Grand Commander Liu Wujun, seated in the center, glanced intently at the direction of the ninth arena, his tone calm and unwavering.
"Provincial examinations are inherently full of variables."
Even if he's eliminated this time, given his age and talent, he can try again next year. For him, it might not be a bad thing.
Despite this, everyone could tell that even Liu Wujun didn't seem to think Jiang Xuan could break through with such a lineup.
The several powerful cultivators exchanged glances and remained silent, their gazes all turning towards the arena, clearly showing their keen interest in this particular match.
……
In the assessment area, the top geniuses who were the focus of attention naturally noticed this brutal grouping.
Dressed in white, Xue Shaolin, with a composed demeanor, let out a soft "Eh," his gaze sweeping across the light screen, a hint of emotion appearing on his face.
"Lezhiyou was actually grouped with Jiang Xuan... This is interesting. I originally wanted to have a chance to personally experience Jiang Xuan's methods and see what his real killing move that he didn't use in the first two rounds was. Now it seems that I may not have that chance."
There was a hint of regret in his voice.
Beside her, Yu Wenjing, with her aloof and snow-like demeanor, chimed in, her voice like ice beads falling onto a jade plate.
"Senior Brother Xue, why be regretful? As far as I know, Liu Kesheng, Wu Cen, and the other three secretly discussed their options after the draw results came out. They decided that once they went on stage, they would temporarily join forces with Senior Brother Le Zhiyou to eliminate Jiang Xuan from the competition first." (End of Chapter)