Soul Emperor Martial God

"Xiao Yi, Hu Feng, Liuo Kuoda, Ji Bufan, Wu Ji... and other ten people, get ready. In ten minutes, you are to go up on stage to stake your claims."

Suddenly, the referee in charge of the lottery ended the draw and spoke out loud.

The second round of assessments, the individual ranking battle.

Out of five hundred people, the first ten were chosen to stake their claims and accept challenges.

If victorious, they would continue to fight; if defeated, they would be replaced by the winner.

In the end, the ten individuals who no one dares to challenge will be the top ten for this round.

The rankings from eleventh to five hundred would be scored by the Deacons watching the battles and given a ranking.

If there were objections, one could challenge a higher-ranked Martial Artist. If victorious, take their place; if defeated, maintain the original ranking.

The top three hundred would pass the assessment.

That is to say, two hundred people would fail and lose the opportunity to enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

And among the five hundred who stood out from over ten thousand to make it to the second round, each one was a Cultivation talent of local renown, each person with exceptional strength.

This round of assessment would be a strategical and combative game among talents, destined to be filled with intensity and heart-stopping moments.

This round of assessment can only depend on one's own skills and strength, with no shortcuts available.

Strength and the power of one's fist is the only standard for passing the assessment.

"Xiao Yi, you really have bad luck, to have been drawn to go up and stake your claim," Liu Yanran said with a trace of worry.

Being the first to stake a claim, the naturally weaker need not be mentioned; a loss means defeat.

But for those with stronger strength, they must face challenges from many others, one after the other, until they lose.

Even though one could still challenge others after a loss, having faced a series of battles beforehand would lead to fatigue, slightly disadvantaging them in later fights.

And in terms of momentum, they would be already suppressed by others, which could likely affect their performance in later battles.

But since he was selected, there was nothing that could be done.

"It doesn't matter," Xiao Yi shrugged carelessly, "Whether it's one battle or ten, early or late, I'd have to fight them all eventually."

"True," Liu Yanran nodded, laughing lightly, "With enough strength, it doesn't matter if you go early."

"No," Lin Jin suddenly changed his expression and exclaimed.

"Huh?" Everyone was slightly startled.

"Brother Xiao Yi, you're in a lot of trouble," Lin Jin said with a serious tone.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Yi appeared puzzled.

"Have you forgotten about Lei Zhan?" Lin Jin said, "I can guarantee that the moment you take the stage to stake your claim, that guy will challenge you first."

"Oh? I don't remember having any disputes with him," Xiao Yi said, confused.

Lin Jin shook his head gravely, "I once trained in the Eighteen Cities of Eastern Desolate and know his character well."

"This man is also considered upright, but true to his name, his eyes are set on one thing 'battle'."

"His temper is extremely volatile, and he's very belligerent."

"You snatched the top spot from him in the previous round, winning by a mere five points; with his combative nature, he will definitely be the first to seek you out."

"Whatever," Qin Feiyang said dismissively, "like Xiao Yi just said, we're bound to clash sooner or later, so it makes no difference if it's sooner."

"No," Lin Jin immediately countered, "I told you, Lei Zhan has a very volatile character. Those who fight him end up either dead or injured, and if not dead, then maimed."

"If Xiao Yi loses and gets seriously injured in the first fight, how can he continue on to later battles?"

"If he can't make the top three hundred, then the round is over."

"What?" All their faces changed dramatically. Publication courtesy of M|V|LE-MPYR.

"What shall we do?" Liu Yanran asked anxiously, "If this round fails, Xiao Yi will lose his opportunity to join the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"Don't panic yet," Lin Jin pondered, then said, "When the challenge starts, I will try to beat Lei Zhan by making the first move and challenge Xiao Yi."

"Xiao Yi, you pretend to be defeated, step down for now, and come back later to challenge the others who are staking claims."

Qin Feiyang also said, "In the meantime, I'll go chat with Lei Zhan and hold him off, Lin Jin, you challenge Xiao Yi as quickly as possible."

"Alright," Lin Jin nodded, "With your level of annoying people, Lei Zhan definitely won't get to the stage before me."

"Hey, hey," Xiao Yi waved his hands dismissively, "You all have so little faith in me? Who knows, maybe I'll be the one to defeat Lei Zhan."

"Cut it out," Lin Jin said gravely, "As far as I know, Lei Zhan is already of the Innate Ninth Layer, and he has broken through to the Half-step Cave Profound in the Cold Ice Pool. How can you match him?"

Xiao Yi just smiled and was about to explain.

Suddenly, Tie Niu, who had been silent until now, said, "Something's not right."

"What's the matter?" Xiao Yi looked at Tie Niu and saw that he was staring intently at the Lottery Tokens being held by the deacon in the distance.

"There's something wrong with those Lottery Tokens," bellowed Tie Niu. "Your numbered Token, Xiao Yi, it carries the scent of Floating Grass."

"Floating Grass?" Xiao Yi was startled.

It was a substance used for marking, colorless, tasteless, shadowless, and traceless.

Often used by Demon Hunters to track demon beasts.

Once it was attached, it was extremely difficult to remove, and it became invisibly concealed, making it hard for others to detect.

Only the releaser could locate and sense its unique presence.

"It seems I've been set up," Xiao Yi's expression grew ugly.

"Those deacons in charge of the lottery are targeting you," Tie Niu bellowed.

"Although the five hundred Tokens were shuffled, the one with Floating Grass on yours was picked out immediately," Lin Jin said with a cold voice.

Just as everyone was wondering who was scheming behind the scenes…

Guu Changfeng walked over, his face full of a sneering smile, looking proudly at Xiao Yi.

"It was you," Xiao Yi said coldly, looking at Guu Changfeng.

Guu Changfeng laughed smugly, "Xiao Yi, the Silver Taels and items of this young master are not so easily taken. Be sensible and return them."

Seven days earlier, he had exchanged 350,000 Silver Taels along with some demon beast cores and essence blood for the Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Wind Singing Sword, from Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi sneered dismissively, not bothering with him.

Seeing this, Guu Changfeng said coldly, "Xiao Yi, since you are courting death, don't blame this young master. I look forward to watching the scene of you being disabled by Lei Zhan; it will certainly be amusing."

"Get lost," Qin Feiyang barked.

Lin Jin and Tie Niu looked ready to make a move.

Guu Changfeng sneered and turned to leave.

Qin Feiyang fumed, "What's with that guy? Although the Guu Family counts as a significant power, it's still the bottom tier, nowhere near the Qin Family."

"I can't even get a deacon of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect to do my bidding, how did Guu Changfeng manage it?"

Xiao Yi gave a faint smile, "He's just a jumping clown, don't mind him."

At this time, the voice of the deacon rang out in the Martial Arts Arena, "The ten contestants on the stakes, come up to the stage immediately."

"Swoosh"

With a flash, Xiao Yi leaped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

The large arena was divided into ten separate sections.

Ten sections meant ten small Martial Arts Arenas, none of which interfered with the others.

"The challenge begins," the deacon announced loudly.

Swoosh, a figure swiftly leaped into Xiao Yi's section; it was Lei Zhan.

"So fast," Lin Jin's pupils contracted, surprised.

"Half-step Cave Profound Cultivation, truly formidable," Qin Feiyang was also startled.

"This will be troublesome for Brother Xiao Yi," Tie Niu said with concern written all over his face.

"If anything happens to Xiao Yi, I won't let Guu Changfeng off," intense killing intent flared in Liu Yanran's beautiful eyes.

In the ten sections, the other nine remained quiet, as the other Martial Artists below silently assessed whether to take action and issue a challenge.

Only Xiao Yi's section had a challenger from the start, and it was Lei Zhan, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

On the Martial Arts Arena, Lei Zhan stared at Xiao Yi with a cold look.

Xiao Yi was also observing Lei Zhan, sizing him up.

Lei Zhan, appearing to be around 18 years old, but his robust muscles and sharp eyes clearly showed he was an extremely strong opponent.

"Xiao Yi, right?" Lei Zhan spoke first, "Do you know why, during that chaotic fight in the forest seven days ago, I didn't show up?"

Xiao Yi shook his head.

Lei Zhan said with a cold voice, "Because on that day, I just happened to have a breakthrough in a Martial Technique, and I entered into a moment of enlightenment."

"You ranked first in the last round of assessment."

"Today, I want to see if you truly deserve to rank higher than me; and whether you have the ability to make me use that Martial Technique."

"Heh," Xiao Yi gave a faint smile, "Lei Zhan, make your move. The one to leave this area will be you."

"Arrogant," Lei Zhan shouted loudly, his hand shimmering with light, "Thunder Light Hammer."

The Thunder Light Hammer, which was his Martial Soul, a peak-stage green tier, had an attack power that was terrifyingly strong.