Chapter 666: There’s Something Important I Forgot to Mention
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The appearance of the Wuyang beast was similar to the Tao Wu beast. It also had the face of a human and body of a tiger. It was extremely ferocious and the size of it was around that of a leopard. It was also agile but fierce. The fur on its body was green and flashed with a golden radiance.
The bunch of Celestial Sect of Wonders’ Successive Disciples observed this type of demonic freak carefully.
Shi Tianhao introduced, "Among the Four Immemorial Fearsome Beasts, the Tao Wu is the most stubborn. Its demonic powers contained an offensive power that is as clingy as a lethal virus, as well as a defensive strength that is indestructible and resistant.
"Along with the tough flesh of this beast, it is also the top among the Four Immemorial Fearsome Beasts. The Wuyang beast is formed from the evil energy on the Tao Wu’s body, thus its body characteristics are similar to that of the Tao Wu. All of you must be wary."
Shi Tianhao described it in detail, and the bunch of Successive Disciples all took notice of what he said. At the same time, they looked at Shi Tianhao with more respect.
Among the Four Immemorial Fearsome Beasts, a Demonic Saint of the Tao Wu fought Shi Tianhao and Shi Tianhao cut off a part of its flesh, bringing it back. Although Shi Tianhao did pay the price too, he was after all, still a cultivator in the Intermediate Stage of the Nascent Soul Stage.
Everyone around Shi Tianhao was also impressed by what he did.
Shi Tianhao’s Immediate Disciple, Huang Zhenting, asked, "Master, do you want us to hunt for this Wuyang beast and see whose strike rate is the highest?"
"Definitely not." Shi Tianhao laughed. "All of you will be divided into groups of two. All of you will draw lots and decide your opponent before carrying on with the sparring."
"But the environment that all of you will be sparring in will be filled with these Wuyang beasts. During the process, not only do all of you have to win your opponents, you will also have to kill at least three Wuyang beasts. That would then be considered victory."
Shi Tianhao said, "Furthermore, the environment simulated by this Dharma Hall is also the habitat of these Wuyang beasts. Under such an environment, the powers of the Wuyang beasts will be boosted. On one hand, all of you will have to resist the attack of the Wuyang beasts. On another hand, all of you must emerge victorious in such an unfamiliar environment."
Inside each of the rooms, the younger talents of the other great powers started to raise their brows to varying extents.
This test of the Celestial Sect of Wonders was not simple. As compared to a normal battle arena, the environment was much more dangerous, which caused the difficulty level to spike.
As they faced their opponents, they had to be wary of the attack of the Wuyang beasts. As what Shi Tianhao said, these Wuyang beasts were much more powerful than most Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in the human cultivation race. They were almost the standards of an Aurous Core Stage cultivator.
Furthermore, while they looked fierce, their intelligence were not low too.
To everyone around, regardless whether they were the disciples of the Celestial Sect of Wonders or the younger talents of the other great powers, they were much more exceptional than other cultivators in their same realms. While it was manageable to defeat one or two of these demonic freaks, it was much more difficult to deal with them when they came in packs. It was even very dangerous.
Defeating the opponent was not considered victory. At least three Wuyang beasts had to be killed for the round to end.
The ground was not a normal battle arena, but an entirely unfamiliar environment where the Wuyang beasts were more adapted to. This round restricted the powers of the cultivators, because no one knew what would happen.
While the difficulty was high, it was this kind of dangerous environment that could train the abilities of the younger disciples. At the same time, it could test their true standards and unearth their potential.
After all, it was very rare for a cultivator to fight someone else in an arena. Most of the time, they would be in an unfamiliar environment with an unfamiliar opponent, along with other hostile third parties lurking around. Anything could happen.
And at this time, Shi Tianhao continued saying, "To be fair, the disciples who take part in this competition can’t use talismans or magic items to help them. They have to rely on their own powers to get through this round."
As he said till here, Shi Tianhao laughed again, "Oh yes, I shall reiterate again. To win, at least three Wuyang beasts must be killed along with defeating the opponent. Also, there will be ten Wuyang beasts in the battle arena."
"After entering the second round, the victor must defeat his opponent and kill four Wuyang beasts minimally. Whereas the number of Wuyang beasts will be fifteen."
"In the third round, the victor must kill at least five Wuyang beasts. There will be twenty of them inside in this round. This pattern will go on so on and so forth."
Shi Tianhao added, "The size of the battle arena will not change throughout."
In other words, the further they went, the number of Wuyang beasts would increase in the same amount of space. The number of the beasts they had to kill increased too.
"Three months ago, there was a smaller-scale competition in the respective factions. It was announced that the victor of each faction will be rewarded with a direct entry into the last 16." Shi Tianhao looked at everyone. "The victors of each faction will enter now."
From the Inferno Precipice, Liu Xiafeng stepped out. Beside him was Xu Yunsheng from the Heavenly Temple.
Li Xingfei was the winner from the Forest Abode. Three months ago, Dao Yuting was preparing to overcome the Tribulation of the Yin Fire, thus she did not participate in the competition.
The remaining three were Zhao Huan, Zhou Yuncong and Zhuge Wanqiu.
Shi Tianhao looked at them while nodding his head, "The six of you will take six spots in the last 16. The rest will contest for the last ten spots."
The bunch of Successive Disciples nodded their heads and no one suggested an alternative. Half a year ago, news of this internal competition had been passed down to them. Three months ago, the smaller scale competition was acknowledged by everyone. Everyone also knew that if they were lousier, there was nothing to complain about.
But during that time, no one expected that this internal competition would be organized along with the third Sect-Opening Ceremony. At the same time, no one thought that the rising talents of the other sects would be invited along to observe the proceedings.
But the disciples from the Celestial Sect of Wonders were still very motivated. As everyone watched them, they became more competitive.
Although six spots were cut from the last 16, no one had anything to complain about it. After all, the six of them lived to their name as the better ones among the Successive Disciples. Even if they fought from the first round, it was likely that these six disciples would reach the last 16. The chance of them failing to do so was pretty low, unless two of them faced each other.
The only flaw to point out was the presence of Zhou Yuncong.
Yang Qing only had one disciple. He was first and last in the smaller scale competition three months ago.
However, Yang Qing’s reputation in the Celestial Sect of Wonders was pretty good. He controlled the medicine valley, was a friendly and gentle person and taught the disciples who came to the medicine valley a lot. That was why when Zhou Yuncong was pushed to the last 16, no one really opposed it.
But there was one person who worried the Successive Disciples.
Dao Yuting.
Shi Tianhao looked at the bunch of Successive Disciples and said, "All of you are in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Although there may be some difference in your realms, it is still the culmination of all your cultivation thus far. Only Dao Yuting is in the Aurous Core Stage. The situation is a little special, thus I will suppress her cultivation till the Advanced Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage and the rest will continue the same."
Dao Yuting nodded her head and did not say anything more. Her expression was as per normal, which showed that she knew about it before.
The rest of the disciples looked at one another and did not have any oppositions to this method. If this was not carried out, Dao Yuting would certainly grab one of the spots in the last 16. At least now they had the chance of beating her, although not many thought that they could.
If one’s cultivation was not far off from one’s own qualities, then even if an Aurous Core Stage cultivator was suppressed till the Foundation Establishment Stage, their powers would still be above those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Through the process of forming the Aurous Core, the cultivator’s understanding of mantras would be completely different.
Liu Xiafeng, Xu Yunsheng, Li Xingfei, Zhao Huan, Zhou Yuncong and Zhuge Wanqiu went into a room together.
Xiao Yan, Yang Qing and the rest left the Dharma Hall and came to the Grand Heavens Pavilion. Lin Feng and the Immortal Soul Stage Elders were all gathered there.
Shi Tianhao was hosting the competition, thus he remained outside. He said to the Successive Disciples, "All go back to your resting area. You will only enter when your name is called."
Everyone listened to him and entered different rooms. Shi Tianhao clasped his palms.
The view of the top level of the Dharma Hall changed. Under the dark skies, several volcanoes started to erupt and lava flowed out of them.
The entire space was covered with a blurry, green light. It carried a thick, ferocious aura. This was the habitat of the Tao Wu demonic tribe.
As Shi Tianhao pointed, space jerked and converted into tens of similar Small Worlds. As there were quite a number of Successive Disciples, Shi Tianhao had to produce more venues for them to compete with one another.
Following that, he placed ten Wuyang beasts in each of the Small Worlds.
As these Wuyang beasts came into contact with the green light of the Small Worlds, they let out a deafening roar and seemed extremely excited. They were like fishes in water.
Their powers also increased by a notch and even their sizes became a little bigger.
"We shall draw lots now." Shi Tianhao clapped his palms lightly. A huge light ball appeared in front. Many words appeared inside the light ball. They were the names of the Successive Disciples.
After a round of lot drawing, tens of names flew out of the light ball. After that, they were divided into groups of two and these names appeared in the sky.
Those whose names were chosen walked out from their resting area. They followed Shi Tianhao’s instructions and entered the competition ground.
Most of the disciples came in with order, but only one guy seemed rowdy. He was Huang Zhenting. He pulled one Successive Disciple away and burst into the venue.
Huang Zhenting came to the venue and started looking around and laughing, "I like this environment. I can’t wait!"
Before he finished speaking, a bunch of Wuyang beasts started to stare at him fiercely. They started to walk towards him, ready to leap at him.
Whereas Huang Zhenting’s opponent stood in his position with a stunned look. The Wuyang beasts did not even bother about him.
Everyone was stunned. Those who had not entered the venue all stopped in their tracks as they looked forward.
Only Shi Tianhao maintained the same expression and coughed, "There’s one more important thing that I forgot to say."
"Those from the Wasteland Valley, please take note. Because I fought with a Tao Wu before, which is their source, they are more sensitive to the powers from the Wasteland Valley."