Chapter 694: Too Confident Too Soon

Screams of agony, furious roars of defiance, and sighs of elimination echoed across the training ground of the Xuanxian Dao Palace.

As the Xuanxin Tongtian Array continued to operate, protective starlight shields shattered like illusions, then were casually flicked out of the array by nearby Star Juniors, marking their elimination.

Those eliminated at this stage would receive only the lowest Eighth-Rank Disciple benefits.

Not even compared to First- or Second-Rank Disciples—the difference in treatment was multiples greater even for Fifth- or Sixth-Rank disciples.

More crucially, every disciple eliminated beyond the top thousand understood that what seemed merely a gap in benefits now.

In the future, it could become an unbridgeable chasm!

One step behind, and you fall further behind with every step.

Xu Jin was also struck by the starlight impact of the Xuanxin Tongtian Array, but at this level, the starlight had absolutely no effect on him.

Even his Cold Ice Wood Lei Jia showed not the slightest ripple.

The power of the starlight impact surged rapidly.

It climbed continuously by percentage.

After twenty breaths, even Xu Jin's Cold Ice Wood Lei Jia began to ripple faintly, causing him to feel a slight shock.

He was, after all, directly drawing upon the reinforcement of his innate star.

The next instant, the starlight impact above them vanished abruptly.

Looking up, he saw the thirty-six array flags return behind Liu Tianyang Xingjun, signaling the end of elimination.

Those remaining on the field—no more, no less—were exactly one thousand disciples.

"First round elimination complete. All eliminated disciples receive Eighth-Rank Disciple benefits! Once final rankings are settled, those with confidence may freely challenge." Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun's voice rang out again.

"Second round: draw lots for ranking matches. Those with starlight appearing above their heads must throw their Emperor Dongxuan Tokens into the sky, allowing another group of disciples to freely select them. The loser will rank between five hundred and one thousand, receiving Seventh-Rank benefits."

The winner advances to the next round.

As before, those dissatisfied may challenge higher-ranked disciples after rankings are finalized.

For this draw-and-rank match, no single-use explosive treasures are permitted—beyond that, no restrictions." Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun declared.

Xu Jin was stunned—hearing this, the ranking match was indeed simple and brutal.

Didn't they fear accidental eliminations?

If Yuan Yuan Chengfa and Su Chu Xuan had drawn each other this round, wouldn't that bury a genius?

Just as Xu Jin pondered this, five hundred disciples who advanced to the second round had starlight rise above their heads.

A single glance told Xu Jin the truth at once.

The absolute geniuses—especially those who excelled in both rounds of the Disciple Selection—had no starlight rising above them.

This was another form of protection.

The next instant, as five hundred Emperor Dongxuan Tokens shot into the sky, they were wrapped in starlight impervious to divine perception. At that same moment, Liu Tianyang Xingjun's voice rang out: "Those without starlight above your heads, each select one Emperor Dongxuan Token, then choose any empty void arena to duel. Winner advances; loser retains Seventh-Rank benefits."

No sooner had he finished than Xu Jin noticed Yuan Yuan Chengfa immediately used star force to pull down one Emperor Dongxuan Token, then stepped upon starlight and ascended straight to Arena One!

"Whose turn? Come up!"

"Lucky me!"

A Peak Eighth-Rank disciple scowled in frustration but still stepped upon starlight and rushed onto Arena One.

Xu Jin had been about to take a token and enter the match, but seeing Yuan Yuan Chengfa strike first, he decided to observe first.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa was his primary obstacle to securing a top-ten or top-three finish.

Knowing yourself and your enemy was still necessary.

Twin beams of starlight descended, enveloping Yuan Yuan Chengfa and the Peak Eighth-Rank disciple in a thin veil—Liu Tianyang Xingjun had immediately issued replacement life tokens.

This was to let the disciples fight without restraint.

"After you!"

At the very first moment of battle, a purple-black lotus erupted beneath the Peak Eighth-Rank disciple's feet, instantly burning through his protective starlight.

The purple-black lotus bloomed to its peak in an instant, engulfing the entire arena in flames as it closed—just as the replacement life token on the disciple's body suddenly shattered.

He vanished from the arena!

Instant kill!

Yuan Yuan Chengfa won his first victory with clean efficiency.

Xu Jin's expression grew grim.

The power fluctuation just now—Yuan Yuan Chengfa's fire star pattern had definitely reached Peak Ninth-Rank.

Possibly even touched upon the Dao-interpretation stage!

This purple flame black lotus was clearly a counter-attack star technique, yet Yuan Yuan Chengfa had twisted it into an instant-kill method.

Xu Jin silently simulated it in his mind.

With the power just now unleashed, even he would struggle to withstand it head-on.

The Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower could probably endure it—but he'd still be injured.

But he possessed space star techniques—why would he need to endure it head-on?

Even so, Yuan Yuan Chengfa's strength was evident.

And this was merely a casual strike—not his full, explosive power.

Next, battles on the eight void arenas continued without pause.

Some arenas ended in two or three breaths; others fought for a full half-hour.

As for Xu Jin, he was no longer in a hurry.

Though Zhu Zhu Shizhen had given him all the data on the absolute geniuses.

Paper records still differed vastly from the actual sensory perception of Mingji star patterns.

Xu Jin carefully observed and sensed the star patterns of those absolute geniuses in late to mid-Ninth-Rank, one by one.

Su Chu Xuan's strength was also formidable—dual cultivation of wind and fire, his star techniques even more ruthless and bizarre.

Shen Hui, Yuan Luzhen, Liu Shu—all were strong rivals to Xu Jin.

Li Li Qingchen, who also mastered space star techniques, was interesting—but posed little threat to Xu Jin.

The greatest threat remained Yuan Yuan Chengfa.

"Brother-in-law, it's your turn!"

Zhu Zhu Shizhen's voice suddenly rang out. Xu Jin realized that in barely half an hour, only one Emperor Dongxuan Token remained floating above the training ground.

The only disciple yet to be chosen was Xu Jin himself.

The other was a Ninth-Rank Early-stage disciple, who now stared at Xu Jin with excitement and anticipation.

Mostly because Xu Jin's cultivation level was so deceptive.

Eighth-Rank Early-stage.

Whoever faced such an opponent felt they'd struck gold. No matter how astonishing their talent had been, the cultivation gap was an abyss.

Xu Jin reached for his token, stepped upon starlight, and shot straight into an empty arena.

The Ninth-Rank Early-stage disciple also grinned and rushed onto the arena.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa, Su Chu Xuan, Yuan Luzhen, Shen Hui, and others who had been chatting nearby all turned their gazes toward Xu Jin's arena at once.

In an instant, all eyes turned to him!

Xu Jin, who had ranked first in both rounds of the Disciple Selection—just how strong was his actual combat power? The answer was about to be revealed.

For geniuses like Yuan Yuan Chengfa and Su Chu Xuan, who aimed for the top ten or even top three, this was a critical moment of assessment.

They watched to identify disciples who threatened them.

Then they'd focus their observation, pre-plan tactics.

If Xu Jin's performance fell short of their expectations, he wouldn't be a threat.

They could then ignore him in later rounds.

After all, talent didn't guarantee combat strength.

Especially when cultivation was so low.

But Yuan Luzhen's expression was different—his gaze toward Xu Jin brimmed with hatred.

His father, Black Chu Xuan Starjun, had been reduced to bloody pulp. Even with the Heavenly Spirit Medicines of the Bi Chu Xuan Tianyang Zhenjun Mansion, such grievous wounds would require months of recovery.

His father had suffered humiliation for him—this son would reclaim that honor!

"Ruan Zhen, please instruct me!"

"Xu Jin!"

As they bowed to each other, the starlight from the replacement life token settled upon both, and the invisible star force barrier between them vanished instantly.

Vast waves of star force erupted simultaneously from both men.

BOOM!

The thunderous crack had barely sounded when the blinding lightning flash made their eyes flicker.

At that same instant, Ruan Zhen on the arena vanished.

On the other side, Ruan Zhen stared in utter shock at the arena—and Xu Jin—suddenly appearing in the sky.

He instinctively thought he'd fallen into a hallucination.

He immediately unleashed torrents of divine soul power, trying to shatter the illusion.

"Fool! You've already been eliminated!" Liu Tianyang Xingjun couldn't help but snap.

Ruan Zhen froze in place.

His face flushed crimson.

Utterly humiliated.

Gasps of shock rang out from all around.

Instant kill!

It was an instant kill!

Lei Guang-star art, instantly lethal.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa, Su Chu Xuan, Shen Hui, and others all frowned.

Xu Jin's mastery of lightning-star art was formidable—this was no surprise to them.

It had already been revealed during the Candidate Daozi selection.

But no one expected Xu Jin's lightning-star art to be this powerful.

Blazing speed, overwhelming strength!

He caught Ruan Zhen, a ninth-rank beginner, completely off guard.

Ruan Zhen had barely raised his protective starlight, let alone summoned his natal star.

But then again, Xu Jin hadn't summoned his either!

"Your courtesy!"

With a slight bow, Xu Jin floated instantly to the ground. Zhu Zhu Shizhen, the Zhu Yutang Prince, watched him return from the instant kill—overjoyed!

The stronger his brother-in-law performed today, the greater the benefit to the Zhu Yutang True Person's mansion!

Simply instant-killing Ruan Zhen, a ninth-rank beginner, proved he possessed strength comparable to Yuan Yuan Chengfa's.

Su Chu Xuan frowned deeply—he now understood Xu Jin was a formidable rival.

But Yuan Yuan Chengfa beamed with delight—he had a worthy opponent!

Awesome!

On the other side, Yuan Luzhen's brow was tightly furrowed. If he faced such swift, violent lightning-star art, how could he devise a battle strategy to avenge his father?

Xu Jin won this match with absolute clarity and precision—not just among the Candidate Daozi.

Even the Star Juniors overseeing the matches cast sidelong glances.

They could also instantly kill Ruan Zhen, but probably not with Xu Jin's flawless efficiency.

High above, Song Ju, the former Vanguard Champion from ten years ago, fixed his gaze and spiritual sense on Xu Jin: "Is this another rival?"

"Round Three!"

Under the crisp command of Commander Tian Zhang True Person, as before, two hundred and fifty of the top five hundred Candidate Daozi who had advanced now had starlight floating above their heads.

Yet above Xu Jin, Yuan Yuan Chengfa, Su Chu Xuan, and others, no starlight appeared.

But Xu Jin keenly noticed that among those without starlight above their heads were new faces—those who had performed well in the second-round matches.

Zhu Zhu Shizhen was among them.

After all, with ninth-rank mid-level cultivation, numerous spiritual treasures, and a natal spiritual treasure, his combat power was still formidable.

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Jin was still the last to step onto the arena.

This time, his opponent was a ninth-rank mid-level Candidate Daozi.

"I am Wen Chu Xuan!"

"Xu Jin!"

The moment the substitute token fell, Wen Chu Xuan's body erupted in an eight-star spiritual armor, followed by thick, heavy earth-starlight. Golden starlight rose behind him like a serpentine coil, pulsing, ready to strike or defend.

He had stacked his defenses to the extreme from the very first moment of battle!

BOOM!

Lei Guang surged forth, effortlessly shattering Wen Chu Xuan's golden serpent.

At the same instant, starlight descended from the heavens—both men immediately drew upon their natal stars to empower themselves and unleashed their full strength.

Having blocked Xu Jin's first strike, Wen Chu Xuan's anxiety gave way to confidence.

He was now greatly calmed.

So far, he still had hope of defeating Xu Jin.

BOOM!

As the starlight descended, the origin star of the Can-Dou Arena amplified the attack—lightning flashed from the Nine Heavens Thunder Lord Seal with blinding speed.

Wen Chu Xuan saw only blinding flashes of lightning; his protective starlight shattered instantly, and his own starlight trembled faintly.

Then he saw Xu Jin above the arena.

A trace of bitterness spread across his lips.

He had been too confident!

Around him, the Candidate Daozi's gazes toward Xu Jin changed once more.

(End of Chapter)