NOVEL WEB Chapter 146 Am I Second to Last?
After returning to the Ice Frost River from the Black Dragon Dojo, Hong Yuan's mood was not as light as when he had left. He was genuinely afraid that the soul he revealed was a human soul, not a Python Soul. However, when he saw the proficiency panel, his heart suddenly grew much more peaceful.
Even the Black Dragon Demon Saint didn't notice anything unusual. I'm just worrying too much. I should focus on how to deal with the Heart-Questioning Trial instead.
At this moment, in the Ice Armor Python's cave, the Demon Beast Hong Yuan sat on the icy throne, deep in thought.
The Heart-Questioning Trial would be held at the Dragon Star Building in the Bright Day Sea Area, with the descendants of the Demon Saints as participants. In this sea area, the Heart-Questioning Trial was a major event. It would attract many Demon Cultivators, great and small, to watch, becoming fodder for gossip. After all, the rankings of the Demon Saints' descendants during the Heart-Questioning Trial also, to some extent, represented the power rankings of the major Demon Saints.
Each Demon Saint was a hegemon who controlled a sea area and governed the lives of countless Demon Cultivators. These lesser Demon Cultivators rarely had the chance to meet a legendary Demon Saint in person.
Zhang Fan, Li Jianqiu… Hong Yuan silently recited the names of these two Demon Cultivators.
They were the most formidable competitors in this Heart-Questioning Trial and were essentially guaranteed a place to enter the Dragon God Sacred Land.
Zhang Fan, whose Original Body was a Nine Poison Octopus, was a Fourth-Rank Poison Tao big shot. His strength was extremely formidable, but his ugly appearance garnered much criticism. Especially after a mysterious female Demon Cultivator rejected his advances, he developed a particular hatred for handsome male Demon Cultivators, wishing he could devour them alive.
Li Jianqiu, whose Original Body was a Red Dragon Carp, was a Fourth-Rank Luck Tao big shot. Luck Tao methods were insidious, making him an opponent no one wished to face.
I shouldn't be considered handsome, right…? Hong Yuan glanced into the Ice Mirror. Instantly, the image of a dashing, high-spirited young man appeared.
After observing for a moment, Hong Yuan silently put away the Ice Mirror and began preparing countermeasures for Poison Tao techniques. After all, if he could challenge those above his rank, others could too. As for the Luck Tao techniques of the Red Dragon Carp, Li Jianqiu, he could only wait for the Black Dragon Demon Saint's assistance.
Speaking of which, Hong Yuan's Original Body also possessed a Luck Tao Variant Seed Red Dragon Carp. However, he had left it in the White Frost Stone House to grow alongside Yue'er.
The Heart-Questioning Trial arrived as scheduled, about to begin.
Ten days before the trial, Demon Beast Hong Yuan entered the Black Dragon Demon Saint's Black Earth Demon Territory. Aided by the Demon Saint's Great Power, he traversed several sea areas and an immeasurable distance to reach the Dragon Star Building in the Bright Day Sea Area. The Black Dragon Demon Saint facilitated Hong Yuan's transport; the Demon Saint himself flew to the Bright Day Sea Area.
Unlike the Ten Thousand Beast Cave Heaven that Hong Yuan's Original Body had previously visited, the Black Dragon Demon Saint's Black Earth Demon Territory was entirely a world of water. Its upper layer was blue, the lower layer black. Looking around, Hong Yuan observed various aquatic Demon Clans living and working, constructing the Black Earth Demon Territory for the Black Dragon Demon Saint.
Good heavens, isn't this a minor world? Hong Yuan marveled. Given the work efficiency of these aquatic Demon Clans, it's no wonder the Black Dragon Demon Saint doesn't seem to value the resources of the Zero Desolate Sea Area so highly.
At that moment, Hong Yuan felt a pang of envy.
To possess one's own minor world and be able to harness Immortal Nuance to alter the flow of time—this was surely the hallmark of a big shot who had achieved Tao Achievement.
No wonder it is said that those up to the Fifth Rank are mere mortals, while those of the Sixth Rank can be deemed saints.
Such immense power!
「The Bright Day Sea Area, Dragon Star Archipelago.」
Recently, the Dragon Star Archipelago had become extraordinarily bustling due to the Dragon Star Building, as numerous Demon Cultivators arrived to witness the Heart-Questioning Trial.
At this moment, five Demon Cultivators were feasting and drinking in a private room on the second floor of the Starry Tavern, conversing jovially.
"Hey, have you seen the latest Dragon Rising List?" the skinny young man asked with a smile.
"The Dragon Rising List is out already? So quickly?" the man in black asked, swallowing a chunk of meat.
"Yes, it is rather fast," the bald man chimed in.
"Stop keeping us in suspense! Show it to us so we can discuss it," the woman in red urged.
"Exactly! I bet the Red Dragon Carp, Li Jianqiu, is ranked first!" the girl in green exclaimed. Li Jianqiu was her idol; she dreamed of following him.
The skinny young man, pleased to have piqued his friends' curiosity, calmly retrieved a brand-new ranking list. He had barely taken it out when the woman in red deftly snatched it away.
"No need to rush," the skinny young man smiled helplessly.
The other four Demon Cultivators ignored him, their attention collectively focused on the latest Dragon Rising List.
[Li Jianqiu, Original Body: Red Dragon Carp, Fourth-Rank Demon, Class A Aptitude]
[Zhang Daoliu, Original Body: Gale Qilin, Fourth-Rank Demon, Class A Aptitude]
[Zhang Fan, Original Body: Nine Poison Octopus, Fourth-Rank Demon, Class A Aptitude]
[...]
[Xuan Guangqiao, Original Body: Ice Armor Python, Third-Rank Demon, Class A Aptitude]
[Ji Qingxue, Original Body: Yin Snow Rabbit, Third-Rank Demon, Class A Aptitude]
The list contained fourteen names in total, each accompanied by a portrait.
The four Demon Cultivators gazed at the list, exclaiming in surprise from time to time.
"Fantastic! Li Jianqiu really is first!" the girl in green jumped for joy.
"I think Zhang Daoliu has a chance to go all the way," the bald man responded.
"Are Xuan Guangqiao and Ji Qingxue here for comic relief? Competing with only Third-Rank Demon cultivation? This isn't a beauty pageant," the woman in red said, quite perplexed.
Among the fourteen descendants of Demon Saints, only Xuan Guangqiao and Ji Qingxue seemed to be there merely to make up the numbers.
Soon, the five Demon Cultivators dismissed Xuan Guangqiao from their thoughts and continued discussing which five might secure a spot on the Dragon God Sacred Land's Disciple roster.
I'm second to last? That can't be right.
Hong Yuan, also holding a copy of the Dragon Rising List, was slightly surprised. Honestly, given the expectations the Black Dragon Demon Saint had previously conveyed, Hong Yuan had thought he would have a decent chance, at worst placing in the middle ranks. But Hong Yuan hadn't expected the gap to be so large.
It seems the Black Dragon Demon Saint wants me to use this attempt to build a strong foundation, and then truly contend for the top spots next time.
This time, it's highly probable he intends for me to solidify my Soul Tao foundation and try again later.
That's right. The Black Dragon Demon Saint is still in his prime; he's not in a rush.
Realizing this, Hong Yuan felt much more at ease. He would do his utmost to reach the top five. If he couldn't, he would focus on consolidating his Soul Tao foundation, striving to refine the Thousand Python Soul, and aim for first place in the next trial.
"Guangqiao, prepare yourself. I'm taking you to meet the envoy," the Black Dragon Demon Saint transmitted at that moment.
The Black Dragon Demon Saint was one of the six previous Great Power Tao Species from the Dragon God Sacred Land. He had extensive connections and a wide network. There were certainly other paths to becoming a Disciple of the Dragon God Sacred Land besides the Heart-Questioning Trial. However, the trial was undoubtedly the best route, and he hoped Hong Yuan would seize this opportunity.
"Understood, Godfather," Hong Yuan responded promptly.