binnovel Chapter 1909 - 1910: Tianshui Secret Realm
Chapter 1909 - 1910: Tianshui Secret Realm
However, such occurrences weren't limited to the Heavenly Sword Pavilion; in other sects, many well-known disciples were also eliminated, some defeated by fellow strong practitioners of the same level, others by dark horses! As the competition progressed, many participants unleashed their hidden potentials. Originally unnoticed, their sudden burst of combat prowess left many in shock.It's actually reasonable to expect this, given the rich rewards of this grand competition. There are always those who quietly train in the dark, waiting to showcase their power during the tournament to emerge as dark horses, and Lin Chen himself is one such dark horse!
Quickly, as the battle on the last platform concluded, the candidates entering the top 25 were revealed.
After tallying up, everyone discovered that each of the five sects had powerful disciples advancing, but the Sunlight Sect had the most, with six reaching the next stage, including two disciples at the ninth level of the Divine Warrior realm, and three at the eighth level, besides Ning Yan.
Next, the Scarlet Flame Sect, the Opening Origin Sect, and the Misty Water Gate were all the same, each with five people advancing.
Within the Scarlet Flame Sect, there were two disciples at the ninth level of the Divine Warrior realm and three at the eighth, but the one attracting the most attention was a red-haired disciple whose strength reached the ninth level of the Divine Warrior realm. Up until now, he has basically solved his opponents with a single move, displaying formidable power.
The Opening Origin Sect had a similar power distribution with successful advancement, featuring two disciples at the ninth level of the Divine Warrior realm and three at the eighth. Opponents faced with those two found little resistance before being defeated.
The Misty Water Gate also had five disciples advancing, all female. Among them, Qin Wan shone brilliantly in her previous battles. Though at the fourth level of the Divine Warrior realm, she consistently used her soul techniques to defeat her opponents almost effortlessly.
As for the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, four people advanced: Qian Jin and Wu Lang, both at the ninth level of the Divine Warrior realm, and Chu Hanrou at the eighth, who also successfully defeated her opponent. The biggest dark horse, though, was Lin Chen at the fourth level of the Divine Warrior realm. His performance turned heads and provoked much discussion, though Lin Chen remained unaware, and even if he was, it wouldn't affect him much.
But if one were to say whose emotions swayed the most within the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, it certainly wouldn't be Lin Chen but rather Qian Jin.
Qian Jin was the most renowned warrior in the Heavenly Sword Pavilion's outer sect, well-known even among people from other sects. Yet now, they saw him with one arm missing, leaving them startled and causing them to sneak extra glances. To Qian Jin, these glances felt like mockery!
Though Qian Jin's demeanor seemed unchanged, with a faintly gloomy expression, inside, he'd cursed the thief who stole the millennium stone heart milk countless times:
"Thief! Pray I never find you! Once I do, I'll make you regret ever being born into this world!"
As everyone stepped off the stage, about an hour later, Sword Bone reappeared. By this time, Lin Chen's terrifying cultivation speed had already restored his exhausted divine essence, returning him to peak fighting condition. Only then did Lin Chen feel at ease, as one's own strength is the most reliable resource.
At this moment, Sword Bone scanned the crowd, lingering on Lin Chen for a brief moment before loudly announcing:
"Good! First, congratulations on successfully advancing into the top 25! By now, I suppose most of you have recovered sufficiently?"
"I know some of you are eager for the competition to resume immediately, but what I want to say is, the upcoming battles might not be as you expect!"
With that, Sword Bone observed the puzzled expressions, wearing an inscrutable smile.
Ning Yan frowned at Lin Chen before focusing on Sword Bone, muttering softly:
"What is this old guy up to?"
Not only Ning Yan but everyone felt similarly perplexed. The competition rules were nearly the same every year, with straightforward battles determining the final ranking by strength. Yet now, judging by Sword Bone's tone, it seemed there would be changes.
Indeed, after a brief pause, Sword Bone declared:
"The upcoming battles will no longer be one-on-one!"
These words left everyone in bewilderment.
Even the other sect masters watching showed curiosity. The Misty Water Gate's Sect Master Xiao Rou looked at Sect Master Li Changfeng, asking in hesitation:
"Sect Master Li, why is the combat rule changed this time?"
Li Changfeng smiled and gestured towards Iron Sword, saying:
"Everyone, please listen to the explanation from Sword Bone, our great elder!"
Hearing this, everyone paid close attention to Sword Bone's words.
Sword Bone continued:
"The upcoming battles will still involve these 25 advancing disciples, but the competition won't be held in this arena. Instead, it will take place in a different location called the Heavenly Water Secret Realm!"
"Heavenly Water Secret Realm?"
Upon hearing this name, everyone furrowed their brows, clearly unfamiliar with it.
However, Sword Bone didn't keep them in suspense. He smiled slightly, gazed into the distant void, and with a wave of his hand, an invisible ripple spread out. Immediately, a spatial rift appeared in mid-air, revealing a vast mountain range through the rift.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the venue for this competition, the Heavenly Water Secret Realm, is right here! It's a secret of our Heavenly Sword Pavilion. Within the realm, there are numerous magical beasts, and the mountains and forests are identical to the outside world!"
"The rules are straightforward. The beasts within the Heavenly Water Secret Realm are all cultivated by our Heavenly Sword Pavilion. The most powerful ones are only at the peak of the Divine Warrior realm. Additionally, inside every beast, we've implanted a jade slip. When you slay a beast, you'll find a jade slip!"
"Once you enter the Heavenly Water Secret Realm, exert yourself to hunt the beasts, but also remember to stay safe. Otherwise, others will benefit at your expense!"