Wang Xiao of the War Continent

Wang Xiao of the War Continent...

At this moment, no one dared to venture into the raging windstorm. They had learned that constant circulation of Astral Energy was necessary to resist the tempest, and once their energy reserves ran dry, there would be no escape.

Even those who wanted to test the wind's might didn't dare to step directly into the tempest. They cautiously approached its edge, but their thoughts were all focused on obtaining the Stellar Fruits. They knew it was the key to overcoming this obstacle.

However, the remaining Swallow Swordsman had no thoughts of obtaining the Stellar Fruits. He was solely concerned with preserving his own life. As he watched Qin Wentian steadily approaching, fear gripped him like never before.

Facing Qin Wentian alone, he felt an overwhelming sense of pressure. Even when he had joined forces with the others earlier, they couldn't gain the upper hand against Qin Wentian. Now, he was on his own.

With a swift movement, Qin Wentian closed the distance between them, executing his movement technique. His Divine Yuan Energy surged, and he unleashed a blood-colored Kuji Imprint that exuded a suffocating aura of desolation. The Swallow Swordsman's face turned pale as he tried to defend himself with his sword. His sword beams, however, appeared feeble and lifeless compared to the bloody Kuji Imprint. Their clash forced the Swallow Swordsman to retreat several steps, struggling to maintain his balance.

Then, a sword beam flashed, followed by a chilling gust of wind. The Swallow Swordsman felt a coldness around his throat, followed by a sharp pain. His sword dropped to the ground as he clutched his bleeding throat, his eyes filled with despair. His legs gave way, and his life seeped away as his body slumped to the ground, his eyes closing forever.

The spectators looked on with a mix of wariness and fascination. Having Stellar Fruits was one thing, but obtaining them in this perilous situation was another.

Wang Xiao, from the War Continent, displayed a formidable innate technique as he charged toward Mu Baifei. His entire body seemed like a weapon, and a barrage of flying daggers transformed into silver streaks of light, homing in on Mu Baifei.

Mu Baifei used his sword to fend off the flying daggers, but he trembled under the assault. Suddenly, even more dazzling divine weapons appeared. Golden chakrams sliced through Mu Baifei's defense, while a long chain adorned with sharp blades whizzed through the air. Mu Baifei found himself forced into constant retreat.

With a thunderous crash, Wang Xiao appeared right in front of Mu Baifei. His arms were encased in silvery armor, effortlessly brushing aside Mu Baifei's sword. He delivered a bone-shattering punch, causing Mu Baifei to vomit torrents of blood.

"Wait, I'll give you the Stellar Fruits," Mu Baifei pleaded with Wang Xiao, his face drained of color.

Only then did Wang Xiao halt. He approached Mu Baifei, a cold and indifferent expression on his face, reaching out his hand. Mu Baifei reluctantly placed a Stellar Fruit in Wang Xiao's palm. But Wang Xiao's frown deepened as he said, "Give me all the fruits. I won't ask again."

Mu Baifei had no choice but to comply, surrendering all his Stellar Fruits to Wang Xiao. He could never have imagined that he, once the pride of the Swallow Swordsmen, would find himself in such a humbling state today.

Wang Xiao pivoted, his companions gathering around him as he divided the Stellar Fruits equally among them. It was evident that he intended to share the celestial lake's rewards with his comrades, not keeping them all for himself.

If Qin Wentian had turned his attention to them, he would have recognized one of Wang Xiao's followers as his earlier assailant—the wielder of the massive axe.

"We need more," Wang Xiao murmured with a furrowed brow, eyeing Qin Wentian and Ouyang Kuangsheng.

Ouyang Kuangsheng had allied himself with the members of the Mystic Moon Hall, forming a defensive front against the threats posed by the Skydemon Sect and Beast King Hall.

As for Qin Wentian, although he had killed one of the Swallow Swordsmen, the crowd seemed hesitant to make a move against him.

With many cultivators already defeated, only around forty remained. Wang Xiao surveyed the group, a cold glint in his eyes. He pointed towards the gap in the Mountain Rampart and issued a chilling command, as if he were making a routine announcement. "Those who wish to avoid death, go over there now."

Some cultivators stiffened in shock at his words, while others displayed surprise. As they scrutinized the situation, they noticed six figures standing behind Wang Xiao, bringing the total number of cultivators from the War Continent to seven.

Coincidentally, there were only seven spots available for those who qualified to immerse themselves in the celestial lake. Wang Xiao's intentions were crystal clear even without spoken words.

His arrogance and ambitions were palpable to everyone. He intended for those who accompanied him to monopolize the seven available spots.

Despite knowing their chances were slim, some among the crowd still clung to hope. They couldn't bear to give up this opportunity. One cultivator, who had a full reservoir of energy, made a decisive choice and stepped into the tempest, driven by a desire to test his luck.

"Clear the field!" Wang Xiao's voice cut through the air like an icy blade. His six followers assembled in a line, emanating a potent aura of death. They were akin to emotionless weapons of destruction, forged for the sole purpose of ending lives. With fierce determination, they advanced towards the crowd, the light of their divine weapons illuminating the surroundings.

"SLAUGHTER!" A chorus of anger erupted, accompanied by a surge of killing intent that seemed to pierce the heavens. The members of the Wang Clan transformed into ruthless reapers, obliterating their adversaries as per Wang Xiao's directive. Their onslaught began, cleansing the battlefield of opposition.

The Wang Clan, which had long maintained a discreet presence, now bared its fangs upon glimpsing the celestial lake. Their ferocious intent swept through the air, and within moments, four cultivators fell beneath their onslaught.

Qian Mengyu and her companions quivered in terror as they watched the Wang Clan's approach. The Clan's imposing presence brought forth a mix of emotions within Qian Mengyu. Her once unassailable self-esteem had been shattered; she lacked the qualifications to partake in the ultimate confrontation.

The truth was harsh, yet she had no choice but to confront it. The reality before her eyes painted a clear picture. Among the younger generation of transcendent powers, she lacked the capacity to stand on even footing. Moreover, today's event was only a glimpse of the potential of the Nine Continents' transcendent powers. If she couldn't measure up to her peers now, how could she hope to leave a mark on the expansive stage of the Nine Continents?

In the years to come, should a similar scenario arise, she would undoubtedly be sidelined by the tides of time, becoming an inconspicuous figure in the annals of history.

Throughout the countless ages since the inception of the Nine Continents, every prodigious talent had to ascend the ranks of their generation through relentless struggle against their peers. It was only after proving their exceptional talents to the world that they could leave their indelible mark.

Sighing inwardly, Qian Mengyu lowered her head and walked towards the gap, without casting a backward glance.

Today marked her first defeat at the hands of Mu Baifei. While Qin Wentian stood up against the three Swallow Swordsmen, Wang Xiao triumphed overwhelmingly over Mu Baifei.

The taste of failure weighed heavily on her heart.

As Qian Mengyu led her comrades from the Greencloud Pavilion away, many in the crowd also relinquished their resistance, choosing to abstain from the conflict.

Their initial motivation for participating in the trials was to secure an opportunity to immerse themselves in the celestial lake. While for many, this experience served to enhance their training, survival was of paramount importance. Regrettable as it was to withdraw, this journey had already yielded invaluable lessons. By intensifying their cultivation, they hoped to eventually stand on equal ground with these luminous figures and determine true strength.

Wang Xiao, Ouyang Kuangsheng, Mu Baifei, and the unnamed contender—all these names etched themselves into the collective memory. In the days to come, these individuals were destined to etch their names into the history of the Grand Xia Empire.

The cultivator who had ventured into the tempest earlier found himself unable to progress any further. Regret gnawed at him, but he wisely chose to retreat. Just as he was about to escape the tempest's clutches, his energy reserves depleted, and the relentless windstorm tore his body asunder. A chilling realization settled over the onlookers; without Stellar Fruits, no one should have the audacity to challenge this ferocious gale.

Wang Xiao surveyed his surroundings, noting the scarcity of onlookers. Only those still locked in combat remained: the Skydemon Sect, Beast King Hall, Mystic Moon Hall, and Ouyang Kuangsheng.

Ouyang Kuangsheng's prowess was undeniable. He stood alone, facing the half-mad Shiki and the maniacal Yao Sheng. Yet, he showed no signs of weakness, unwavering as the tempest raged around him. His attacks were as relentless as ever. Despite his reputation for frivolity, Ouyang Kuangsheng displayed unmatched skill in battle. His foundations were rock-solid, and his innate techniques had reached a peak of proficiency.

Excluding those currently engaged in combat, only Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng remained. Even Mu Baifei had conceded defeat.

Wang Xiao advanced towards Qin Wentian, trailed by his followers. Their collective aura hinted at their intent to systematically eliminate all competitors, leaving the seven spots exclusively for the Wang Clan.

With a wave of his hand, Wang Xiao ordered his followers to halt, proceeding to approach Qin Wentian alone. Initially, he believed that only Ouyang Kuangsheng was worthy of his attention in this trial. However, upon encountering Qin Wentian, he yearned to test his strength against this enigmatic stranger who could hold his own against Mu Baifei and his companions. He was eager to discern the true extent of Qin Wentian's power.

"I'll handle her then," a figure behind Wang Xiao declared. They understood his intentions but were unwilling to let Mo Qingcheng interfere in Wang Xiao and Qin Wentian's duel.

With these words, the figure marched towards Mo Qingcheng, none other than the axe-wielding assailant who had previously attempted to ambush Qin Wentian.

A surge of chilling killing intent radiated from Wang Xiao, propelling him forward with almost reckless speed, sending yellow sand swirling in his wake. Qin Wentian's stance shifted slightly as he vanished from view, mirroring Wang Xiao's swift approach. The fiery determination to battle burned brightly in their eyes, the only distinction being their auras. Wang Xiao exuded an emotionless, razor-sharp aura reminiscent of a divine weapon, while Qin Wentian's presence was fiendish and intensely demonic, as if he were the unrivaled monarch of all demons in the world.