Chapter 64

Just then, several chief examiners entered the great hall, each of them at the 10th Stage of Physical Body, Divine Power Realm of Transformation, and the clothes they wore seemed to be powerful magic artifacts—even spiritual artifacts—giving off an immense pressure.

The moment these examiners stepped in, a single sweep of their gaze made everyone feel a pressure.

All the sons and daughters of marquals and lords, the imperial princes and princesses of the royal house, felt that the strength of these examiners before them was on par with their own fathers' generation, or even the Emperor himself—simply not opponents they could resist.

"Since you have come to my Yuhua Sect to take the examination for outer disciples, you must already know what the outer-sect examination entails: you need only defeat one Divine Power Puppet."

One examiner said lightly. "The original form of the Divine Power Puppet is an underground demon—bloodthirsty, brutal, immensely strong. But after our Yuhua Sect captured it, we erased its consciousness and left only its combat instinct, turning it into a Divine Power Puppet. Facing three cultivators of the same Divine Power Realm, it can still defeat them."

"One against three—can this Divine Power Puppet really be that terrifying?"

"My cultivation base has just broken through to the Divine Power Realm. I am the most outstanding disciple in my clan. But now it seems I may not necessarily pass the examination. Damn it—no, I must pass."

"My realm is the Realm of Aura. I wonder if I can defeat it."

One by one, the sons and daughters of marquals and lords began to discuss among themselves, and some even wore solemn expressions on their faces.

"Cultivating immortality has never been a matter of drifting clouds and a light breeze, sitting back to watch the tides rise and fall, paying visits to immortal friends, and enjoying boundless ease and freedom."

Another examiner spoke coldly. "What is cultivating immortality? It is to struggle against Heaven, to struggle against Earth, to struggle against man! You must overcome yourself, overcome outer demons—where is there any peace or ease? Remember this: once you set foot upon the path of cultivating immortality, that is to struggle for your fate against Heaven, to struggle for your fate against Heaven, and it has never been free. Now, this is the first step in your slaying of outer demons and setting foot upon the path of cultivating immortality."

"First—the Great Virtue Dynasty, Prince of the Blood Meng Yu."

One examiner picked up the roster and began to read.

"Good."

At once, a young cultivator dressed in bright imperial robes strode into the arena, a sovereign's majesty radiating from his body.

"Open the gate!"

Seeing the Great Virtue Dynasty's Prince of the Blood Meng Yu take his place at the center, the examiners exchanged glances, then waved their hands together. A beam of light shot from each of their palms—crack! —and the mist sealing the pitch-black portal instantly dispersed.

A demonic shadow, fully one and a half times a man's height, immediately leapt out and landed on the ground, incomparably vicious and violent, overawing the entire arena; especially its eyes, an extreme blood-red—anyone it looked upon could not help but feel dread rise within them.

This was the Divine Power Puppet.

Ooooooooh!

The moment this Divine Power Puppet leapt out, it fixed its gaze on Prince of the Blood Meng Yu. The black shadow sprang forward, swift as a hunting leopard, and in an instant was above Prince of the Blood Meng Yu's head, clawing down viciously.

Puchi.

Prince of the Blood Meng Yu seemed not to have expected the Divine Power Puppet to be so fast. In a moment of carelessness, the clothes on his shoulder were immediately torn open, and five long bloody gashes appeared. Had he not dodged slightly, he would have died on the spot.

"Ah!"

Seeing such danger, many of the noble clan disciples present turned pale with trembling faces. If they had been the ones in the arena, they felt they too could not have reacted in time—would their own heads have been torn off by that strike?

More than a few young masters of great aristocratic houses wanted to leave, to retreat far away.

They had received their clans' nurturing and cultivated to the Divine Power Realm, but in all their years they had basically never fought fellow cultivators of the same level—when they did spar, it was only to the point of stopping, never such a fierce, bloody battle.

Now, seeing the Divine Power Puppet attack with such bloodthirst, they knew that a single slip would mean instant death.

Even being of the same realm was of no use whatsoever.

In the arena, the Divine Power Puppet kept pursuing Prince of the Blood Meng Yu in relentless combat. If he slowed even slightly, Prince of the Blood Meng Yu would be dead.

Boom!

After man and Divine Power Puppet tangled for a while, Prince of the Blood Meng Yu finally unleashed his full strength, slashing his sword down onto the top of the Divine Power Puppet's head. At the same moment, the Divine Power Puppet also slapped its palm onto Prince of the Blood Meng Yu's shoulder, sending him flying.

Prince of the Blood Meng Yu fell to the ground; the Divine Power Puppet also fell to the ground.

"Good. Passed."

An examining Elder nodded.

"Next—the Great Li Dynasty, son of the Fang clan—Fang Yu."