Chapter 806: Driftsnow’s Successor
On the avian beast, the geniuses stared at the Cloudheaven Arena. Duan Hong asked, "How can we considered to have passed the Cloud Prefecture’s selection? What are the rules?"
"The rules are very simple. Can you see the halo of light from those experts on the battle platforms?" The immortal controlling the avian beast pointed to the Cloudheaven Arena. The others nodded, staring at the battle halo radiating around those experts fighting there. There were some weak ones and some strong ones, but the stronger an individual’s combat prowess was, the brighter their battle halos would be.
"Your battle halos will be birthed the instant you set foot on the platform. For victors, they can devour the battle qi halos from their opponents and augment their own. From the weakest 1 meter battle halo to 100 meters, 1000 meters or even stronger." That immortal explained. "This selection test will continue for eighty-one days, after the eighty-one days are over, those with the strongest battle halos would be selected."
"Is it a battle royal regardless of cultivation level?" Someone asked. If this was the case, those with a lower cultivation base would definitely be at an disadvantage.
"No. For lower-level cultivators, they can challenge higher-level ones any time, there are no restrictions. And if they win, not only can they devour the battle qi halo of their opponents, the Cloudheaven Arena would boost their original battle halos on its own accord. But for high-level cultivators, they cannot initiate a challenge to lower-level cultivators." The immortal continued his explanation. "Look at the countless number of silhouettes below you, other than the immortals spectating, all of them could be your opponents. Also, there would still be waves of participants pouring in later. It isn’t going to be so easy if you want to stand out. Go on and good luck."
"Mhm," The people nodded as they descended downwards. The sounds echoing from the spectators below were like a monstrous tidal wave that covered the skies. The crowd was bubbling from intense emotions from watching the combat at the Cloudheaven Arena.
Qin Wentian and his three companions walked side by side. Mu Yan laughed, "The rules of this selection is truly direct, the strong shall plunder the weak and we have to win continuously against our opponents to accumulate enough battle qi to grow our halos. But as long as we suffer even one defeat, everything would be devoured away and we have to start from the beginning. This is a battle where one can only win, no one can afford to lose."
"Mhm, the moment one loses the pressure would be overwhelming." Qin Wentian nodded. After one is defeated, the only way remaining is to plunder the battle qi from strong combatants to make your halo brighter. But for those halos who shone resplendently, that was already a sign indicating their high level of combat prowess. How could it be so easy to plunder from them?
"Luckily, the chances of us being defeated by opponents at the same level is almost non-existent." Jun Mengchen’s eyes shone with immense arrogance. The words spoken by his exquisite-looking self emanated an intense self-confidence. Indeed, to them who originated from the Heavenly Talisman Realm, there were almost none who could defeat them at the same level. Unless, their opponents were the same sort of demon-level talents just like them.
"This fellow is even more arrogant compared to Changfeng." Someone in the surroundings shot a glare at Jun Mengchen. How many geniuses of the Cloud Prefecture were gathered here? Yi Changfeng was someone they all felt for sure he would already be within the top 1,000. But, even he didn’t dare to say there would be no opponents who could defeat him at the same level. After all, the scope of this select was the entire Cloud Prefecture, there was a countless number of geniuses. If you are strong, there would almost always be someone stronger. A mountain beyond mountain, a sky beyond a sky. Without personally experiencing, it was impossible for one to tell how terrifying their opponents might be."
The Cloud Prefecture was simply too vast. Even if one ignored those dazzling geniuses, there was an unknown number regarding those hidden reclusive experts.
"Oh ya Mu Yan, that immortal earlier said this selection test would be going on for eighty-one days. How many days have passed already?" Qin Wentian asked.
"Today is the eighth day, we can be considered one of the earlier batches to arrive." Mu Yan replied. For those who came later, they had no choice but to directly challenge those with stronger battle halos. It would naturally be faster this way, but the difficulty is also way higher."
As they spoke, they already arrived at the public square. Countless experts numbering as many as the clouds were all around them. They were either immortal experts who were spectators or they were participants similar to them.
"For those who come too late, I’m afraid they won’t even have any opportunity." An old man that was an immortal laughed. Qin Wentian and his friends turned their attention to him as they asked, "Senior, why do you say that?"
"Don’t you guys know that the battle qi halo has the effect of strengthening one’s own strength? The stronger your battle halos, the more powerful your combat prowess would be. If you have a battle qi halo of 10,000 meters, your strength would grow by ten times and at the very end, those who didn’t accumulate enough battle qi, how could they possibly defeat you?" That old immortal laughed, giving them a reminder. His words caused Qin Wentian and the others to start, as they spoke, "Thank you senior for your guidance."
"No worries. From your demeanors, I gathered that you guys should be disciples of a major sect. Didn’t your seniors or elders come with you? Look at those heaven chosen from the major powers, so many immortals came together with them. Their sect naturally hopes for them to be victorious so they would qualify to head to the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect located in the Eastern Prefecture." That person smiled. Qin Wentian’s gaze swept across the surroundings and indeed, there were many immortals accompanying the juniors of their sects here.
And just beside them, Yi Changfeng and Duan Hong directly walked away when they arrived. Naturally, they were heading towards the experts from their sects.
"It’s normal for young people to have ambitions that reach as high up as the skies. But the path ahead is filled with pitfalls, how could any ordinary people meet the high up and supreme Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor so easily? And wanting to join him as a disciple? Difficult, too difficult." That old immortal sighed but he didn’t notice the gleam of wild unruliness flashing in Jun Mengchen’s eyes. The reason why he came here to participate in this selection was naturally because of a mission from the Heavenly Talismen Realm. His true purpose wasn’t to join the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as a disciple but rather, to reject him in the face.
To him, this was nothing but a test, a tempering exercise where he pits himself against the other geniuses of the Eastern Sage Thirteen Prefectures.
But of course to Qin Wentian, this selection test contained another layer of meaning. He was filled with anticipation at standing before the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor and rejecting him in the face in front of everyone.
"Senior, precisely because the path ahead is filled with pitfalls, life would be more amazing." Jun Mengchen’s smile was like sunshine.
"Mhm, you are right. It’s truly rare for one so young to have such a disposition. Good luck, I’m looking forward to all of your performances."
"Senior, trust me. You won’t be disappointed." Jun Mengchen replied. After which, the four of them turned their gazes on the battle platforms in the air.
"Haha, I can’t wait." That old immortal laughed. His gaze roamed the surroundings, experts from major powers of the Cloud Prefecture were everywhere. How could their disciples be so easily defeated? It isn’t going to be easy for those four young fellows to climb to the top.
In the airspace above the Prefecture Palace, countless experts gathered. And right in the middle, was none other than the Prefecture Lord himself, the Idlecloud Immortal King.
The Idlecloud Immortal King governed the Cloud Prefecture and had extremely tyrannical combat strength. He sat on the throne his men prepared and the others beside him were all experts from the Prefecture Lord Palace.
On a level below him, there were also many experts from the major powers. These people were all people with prominent statuses within the Cloud Prefecture. Those who had seats prepared for them were all immortal king characters, the masters of their respective sects or clans.
"Big brother Mu Yun is so awesome. He is at the seventh-level of Celestial Phenomenon and has almost no opponents who can defeat him. Right now, his battle qi halo has already reached 100 meters!" Beside the Idlecloud Immortal King, a young woman around twenty was staring at a young man on the Cloudheaven Arena with a look of reverence in her eyes.
"Haha, Mu Yun naturally isn’t bad. He would be able to accumulate a 10,000 meters battle halo at the very least. What I’m hoping for is actually more than that. Instead of a 10,000 meter halo, he can also cause the luster of his battle halo to change." The Idlecloud Immortal King laughed. Evidently, he placed a high value on this Mu Yun.
"Young Master Mu Yun is too awesome, there shouldn’t be any problem for him to jump levels and defeat opponents. He should definitely be able to have a violet-gold battle halo." At the side, the Immortal King from the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor laughed.
"Zhou Zhan, don’t be so modest. Disciples from your Battle Heavens Immortal Manor are always proficient in combat. This time, I can see many of your members as participants and I think they would primarily be the ones strong enough to plunder the battle qi from the halos of the other participants." The Idlecloud Immortal King smiled in response.
Zhou Zhan, as an Immortal King of the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor, there was no need to doubt his strength. Hence, his status within the Cloud Prefecture was naturally also extraordinary.
"My lord, check out the battle platform, Zhou Teng at the third-level of Celestial Phenomenon is none other than the son of the Battle Immortal King, Zhou Zhan. Now, he has already accumulated enough battle qi for his halo to grow to a few hundred meters." Someone at the side spoke, his words caused the Idlecloud Immortal King to smile. "I’ve long heard of nephew Zhou Teng’s talent. Not bad indeed, there are several other third-level ascendants that are clearly dodging him."
"Haha, the major powers all came to a mutual agreement." Someone laughed. Every time a peak-level genius from a major power appeared, the others wouldn’t go challenge him so quickly. Only after some time when the eighty-one days deadline is nearing, would they contend against each other."
"There’s one ascendant who voluntarily gave up. Are there any more geniuses who can go fill the vacancy?" At this moment, the Idlecloud Immortal King stared at an empty battle platform as he commented.
"Wu Yang, go on up." Not far away, one of the immortal kings spoke in a faint tone. This was none other than an expert from the Suppression Immortal Sect, a peak-tier power of the Cloud Prefecture. Wu Yang had a burly figure and was taller than ordinary people, his entire body radiated a feeling of tyrannical strength and he had a cultivation base at the fourth-level of Celestial Phenomenon. He soared into the air and stood on the empty battle platform of the Cloudheaven Arena.
"Wu Yang from the Suppression Immortal Sect!" He roared out, his voice booming through the air.
"What? He’s from the Suppression Immortal Sect? This person must be powerful for sure." Many participants who were preparing to step out instantly hesitated.
"Haha, a disciple from the Suppression Immortal Sect stepped out but nobody dared to accept the challenge." Those major immortal king characters laughed. But at this moment, they saw a figure clad in white soaring up onto the battle platform.
"Interesting, there’s someone who actually dared to accept the challenge." The eyes of the crowd flashed as they stared at the young man in white.
"He’s only courting death." The immortal king from the Suppression Immortal Sect sneered arrogantly. However, he only discovered that many people gasped in exclamation when their eyes landed on the white-robed young man. Given how sharp the senses of the Idlecloud Immortal King was, he instantly felt the change in atmosphere. He discovered that the eyes of many experts gleamed with sharpness when they stared at this young man.
"Driftsnow Master’s successor, Qin Wentian!" A voice rang out. Although it wasn’t loud and booming, the clarity of his tone penetrated into the ears of everyone. In just an instant, the entire space around here fell into silence!