Scram if you can’t do it

Scram if you can't do it...

Yan Tie couldn't help but falter slightly when he noticed the complete absence of fear in Qin Wentian's eyes as they locked in a gaze. Absurdly, this kid was actually contemplating his own demise, rather than desperately trying to save himself?

With a malevolent chuckle, Yan Tie initiated his Inscription work.

Not just him—simultaneously, the Li Clan's three siblings, Ghaus, and the youth from the Demon Cult all began their tasks.

The three brothers occupied separate but adjoining spaces for their Inscriptions. Nevertheless, an aura of cohesion enveloped them, as if the three distinct Divine Inscriptions yearned to intertwine. This spectacle left many spectators awestruck. The siblings seemed to share a mental connection, and their final product promised cataclysmic power.

Ghaus executed his movements with grandeur, his runic patterns holding the gravitas of a true Grandmaster. The Divine Inscription he was crafting undoubtedly stood at the peak of third-ranked prowess.

After all, Grandmaster Fenrir had generously allotted them two hours, enabling them to maximize their potential.

The youth from the Demon Cult, in contrast, etched an Inscription exuding a vast, ominous demonic Qi. No one dared underestimate him due to his relative youth.

"This time, they're truly testing each participant's mettle. I wonder whose attack-oriented Divine Inscription will prove the mightiest."

The audience below the platform engaged in spirited discussions as they observed the Grandmasters at work on their Inscriptions.

From the conjectures circulating, the three Li Clan siblings seemed the likeliest to secure the first rank in the third test.

Representing the White Deer Institute, Ghaus had to settle for second place.

As for the third slot, many leaned toward Yan Tie, since despite the Demon Cult's youth's potency, the other three factions possessed superior strength.

It should be noted that prior to the revelation that the Li Clan's three siblings and Ghaus were participating, Yan Tie had been the prime contender for the first place in this challenge. Many were convinced that the Yan Clan would certainly secure the reward of ten additional slots, enabling them to bring more individuals into the secret realm of Divine Inscriptions.

Presently, those from the Yan Clan were riddled with nerves. Standing alongside them, the Leng Clan members shared the sentiment. Although Qin Wentian's performance had taken them by surprise, it wasn't the primary cause for the current distress etched on their faces. The Leng Clan had paid a hefty price for those extra slots, a price that left them uneasy. Naturally, they hoped that Yan Tie would clinch the top spot in this contest.

"Leng Jian, how did your conversation with Yan Tie go earlier?" The Leng Clan's elder, Leng Mao, directed his gaze toward Leng Jian.

Leng Jian's expression was a picture of displeasure. He walked to Leng Mao's side and responded in hushed tones, "Yan Tie stated that if we want a slot, we must offer a young female from the Leng Clan's direct lineage in exchange. One girl, one slot."

"Outrageous!" Leng Mao's features contorted further in anger. "Is the hefty price we paid not sufficient for the Yan Clan?"

Leng Jian had no retort. He could only bow his head in submission. After a pause, he added, "This is all due to the trouble caused by Qin Wentian and that disobedient child, Leng Ning. If Yan Tie's son hadn't died, matters wouldn't have escalated to this point. Leng Ning alone would have secured us a place in the secret realm."

"Hmph." Leng Mao let out a disdainful snort. "We shall observe how events unfold and respond accordingly."

Leng Jian nodded, shifting his focus back to the platform.

"Qin Wentian." His eyes locked onto Qin Wentian, his stare infused with a glare. Presently, Qin Wentian was diligently etching his Inscriptions, yet there was something peculiar about them. They appeared disjointed, lacking the elegance in their runic formations, lacking coherence or semblance of imagery. His Inscriptions didn't resemble anything familiar, leaving everyone baffled.

"What the heck?" Leng Jian sneered. Although Qin Wentian was a third-ranked Divine Inscriptionist, his skill in Inscription was shockingly subpar.

On the opposite side where the White Deer Institute members were stationed, the elder with the large eyes turned to Bailu Yan and inquired, "Among the Inscriptions on the platform, which do you find to be the most profound?"

Bailu Yan was the Divine Inscriptionist who had previously been surpassed by Qin Wentian at the White Deer Institute. After surveying the various Inscriptions being etched by the Grandmasters, he responded in a hushed tone, "In my view, the most profound Inscriptions are those created by the three brothers and Grandmaster Ghaus. Their Inscriptions resonate most harmoniously with the Qi of Heaven and Earth. As for Yan Tie, his Inscription carries a trace of cunning and malice, making it incredibly tricky to handle. And the youth from the Demon Cult, his Inscription exudes a dense demonic aura and is brimming with murderous intent. He should not be underestimated either."

The elder with the large eyes nodded. "Then, among the three brothers and Grandmaster Ghaus, who do you believe will emerge victorious?"

"I cannot predict that," Bailu Yan replied, shaking his head.

"This time, if the Watermoon Mountain Valley secures the top rank, they will undoubtedly assert dominance over us when we enter the secret realm of Divine Inscriptions," the elder with the large eyes muttered, his brows furrowing. He continued, "Now, what about Qin Wentian?"

"I'm at a loss as to what he's doing. There's no trace of energy fluctuations or resonance with the Qi of Heaven and Earth," Bailu Yan said, his expression puzzled. In their previous sparring, Qin Wentian had already showcased the ability to inscribe Divine Inscriptions without the aid of any medium, creating Inscriptions with every movement. His talent in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions was astonishing, even bordering on the extraordinary. So, what was he currently attempting? Logically, the third-ranked Inscriptions he was inscribing might not be at the peak level, but they shouldn't be far off either.

At this moment, Bailu Yan had absolutely no insight into what Qin Wentian was working on.

On the platform, another middle-aged elder bowed to Fenrir and inquired, "Grandmaster Fenrir, what are your impressions of this group of participants?"

After the competition concludes, the Star-Seizing Manor would need to join forces with the top three Divine Inscriptionists and their entourage to enter the secret realm. The more potent the Inscriptionist they bring along, the smoother their journey within the secret realm would be.

"Remarkable, indeed," Fenrir commented with a smile, nodding approvingly. Not only were the participants impressive, but there were also two exceptionally promising young talents among them.

The middle-aged elder nodded in agreement. If Grandmaster Fenrir was giving such a positive evaluation, it indicated that the quality of Divine Inscriptionists in this competition was indeed quite high.

As the deadline approached, time continued to flow. Although there were four teams on the platform, there were actually five Inscriptions being crafted. This was due to the fact that both Qin Wentian and Ghaus from the White Deer Institute were working on separate Inscriptions. Unlike the three brothers, whose Inscriptions were intended to be combined into one, the three brothers' creations were inscribed individually.

Naturally, Ghaus took on the main role while Qin Wentian provided support. Despite Qin Wentian's formidable perception, his current Inscription lacked the finesse and skill compared to Ghaus's work.

In the next moment, the crowd could sense a surge of immense energy. The runic outlines of the inscribed Divine Inscriptions began to manifest faint but tangible forms, growing more solid with each passing moment.

Over where the three brothers were stationed, a powerful three-headed flood dragon materialized, crossing the boundary between the ethereal and the real. This manifestation was the combined result of the three Inscriptions inscribed by the brothers.

Similarly, Ghaus had chosen to inscribe a beast-type Divine Inscription. An azure dragon appeared in the air before him, coiling protectively around his figure.

For attack-oriented Divine Inscriptions, beast-type creations were undeniably the most fitting.

Yan Tie's Inscription revealed the imposing visage of a sinister specter, emanating a chilling and ominous aura.

The youth from the Demon Sect brought forth the form of a Purgatory Serpent through his Inscription, its eyes gleaming with malevolent and murderous intent as it surveyed the other Divine Inscriptions.

"How potent! Each of these Inscriptions is at the peak-tier third-ranked level. Their combat prowess is enough to subdue cultivators at the pinnacle of Yuanfu stage."

The Divine Inscriptionists expertly controlled and manipulated the manifested forms of their crafted Inscriptions, using them to execute various actions.

Amidst this, Qin Wentian's Inscription was the sole one without a manifested form. He stood calmly, surrounded by a peculiar swirling Qi that gathered into a vortex. Yet, no one present could decipher the nature of the Divine Inscription he was currently working on.

"Time's up," Fenrir's voice resonated gently.

"Let the spectacle commence," Yan Tie chortled, a malicious glint dancing in his eyes.

"NOW!" The three brothers thrust their fingers forward, commanding the three-headed flood dragon to surge toward Ghaus with explosive speed.

The awe-inspiring form of the three-headed flood dragon darkened the skies. Ghaus's retort was a cold snort as the azure dragon coiled around him lunged forward to intercept the attack. Their draconic roars reverberated through the air, shaking the earth and the heavens alike. As the two mighty creatures locked claws, their titanic struggle sent shockwaves rippling across the platform.

"This level of power..." The crowd's hearts trembled. Astral energy surged from Ghaus's Yuanfu, merging with the azure dragon's body as his spiritual consciousness took on the form of an astral projection, fusing with the dragon. He became the dragon.

"Hmph, spiritual reinforcement?" The three brothers mimicked Ghaus's actions, their own astral projections melding with the three heads of the flood dragon, enhancing its might for the impending clash.

Yan Tie and the youth from the Demon Cult watched with amusement. With the Li Clan's three brothers and Ghaus engaging each other so fiercely, they had a front-row seat to the spectacle.

Yan Tie's eyes glinted coldly. Seizing the opportunity while everyone's attention was consumed by the battle between the brothers and Ghaus, he channeled his Astral Energy. Summoning the malevolent face of the specter, he directed it forward with malevolent intent.

The ghastly face rushed toward the azure dragon, its maw opening wide to take a formidable bite. The attack struck the dragon, marring its runic outlines.

Ghaus's expression soured significantly. Meanwhile, the Li Clan's brothers, seizing upon the weakness Yan Tie had created, intensified their assault precisely on the area that had been damaged. A pained grunt escaped Ghaus's lips as he spat out a mouthful of blood, and the azure dragon's runic outlines disintegrated, leaving nothingness in its wake.

Taking several steps back to steady himself, Ghaus clutched his chest, shooting Fenrir a glance. He knew his Inscription wasn't weak; he had just fallen victim to a joint attack from two opponents.

"I shall judge for myself," Fenrir replied in a composed tone.

Ghaus nodded, his pride wounded by the ambush from Yan Tie. Although he was acutely aware of the circumstances, his shame was hard to swallow. Now that it had come to this, becoming the champion was a distant dream.

To make matters worse, even securing second place was in jeopardy. He had been the first to be eliminated in the third test, a fact that rankled with impotent frustration.

"Ghaus, it appears your performance was merely mediocre," Old First of the three brothers taunted with a sneer. Ghaus hadn't managed to outshine them in any of the three tests.

"Hmph," Ghaus snorted coldly. "Fighting one against three hardly seems a reason for your pride. I can only lament the lack of capable assistants by my side."

"Grandmaster Ghaus, your words..." Bailu Yi interjected, "In the first test, Qin Wentian reminded you out of goodwill, yet you dismissed his advice due to your disdain for help from a junior – all out of pride. In the second test, we proposed joining forces, but you preferred the personal glory of breaking through the formation alone, allowing the Li Clan's brothers to exit first. Are you oblivious to your own shortcomings? Can you not see that we would have secured first place if we had cooperated?"

Ghaus's brows knitted deeply, his irritation evident. If not for Bailu Yi's standing within the White Deer Institute, he might have been inclined to retaliate with more than just words.

"I understand that your dissatisfaction stems from our Institute's loss," Ghaus responded, his tone implying that Bailu Yi was hysterical rather than himself at fault. He continued, "In this third test, this young man had the option to aid me, yet he chose to inscribe his own separate Divine Inscription. My defeat is not his responsibility. If you seek a scapegoat, look no further than him."

"Grandmaster Ghaus, rest assured, regardless of the outcome, the promised reward for your participation remains unchanged," the large-eyed Elder calmly assured, understanding the underlying message in Ghaus's words.

Ghaus nodded slightly. However, before he departed, he shot a cold glance at the seemingly nonsensical Divine Inscription crafted by Qin Wentian. "Dead weight. What purpose could you possibly serve?"

With those words hanging in the air, Ghaus swept his sleeves imperiously and walked away.

"The White Deer Institute has not yet lost," Qin Wentian casually remarked, causing Ghaus to hesitate. Turning back, Ghaus met Qin Wentian's determined gaze head-on. "Your defeat doesn't equate to the White Deer Institute's defeat."

"Since your abilities can't even measure up, you're better off leaving," Qin Wentian added in a dismissive tone.