The Young Man with the Golden Eyes

The Young Man with the Golden Eyes...

In the area where the royal clan was seated, cultivators from the major powers rose one after another. Their anger was palpable, and their combined aura created an overwhelming pressure that surged toward the stage.

The arrival of the nine great sects was a momentous occasion, drawing not only the royal clan but also representatives from Xuan King City's major powers, including the Golden Fire Aristocrat Clan, Wind Roc Aristocrat Clan, and the Yin Clan. Now, they were witnessing the brutal slaughter of their own chosen by Qin Wentian.

Xie Yu and Jin Yan had already perished, and now Yin Ting and Jian Jingtian had fallen as well. These four were all demon-level geniuses of Xuan King City, yet they had met their end at the hands of a single man. The geniuses from Xuan King City who had participated in the event, hoping to join one of the nine great sects, were left infuriated and disheartened.

As Jian Jingtian's lifeless body plummeted from the sky, he received a haunting message in his mind, "You are number four." The axe that claimed his life had wielded sword principles, taking him completely by surprise and ending his existence before he could react.

Initially intent on pressing the attack, Feng Yunhe abruptly halted as he witnessed Jian Jingtian's demise. In the next moment, he transformed into a wind roc, a shadow blotting out the sun, as he desperately sought to escape the battle stage. Fear had gripped him to the core, and he was willing to forfeit his pride and the opportunity to join the nine great sects if only he could flee.

Qin Wentian's figure spun in a spiraling motion, his great axe arcing through the air with unstoppable force. A brilliant gleam tore through space as the wind roc's shadow instantly dispersed. Witnessing Feng Yunhe's desperate flight, Qin Wentian's gaze grew even colder.

A violent gust of wind roared as Qin Wentian's speed became like a bolt of lightning. He hurled the great axe toward Feng Yunhe and simultaneously thrust his palms forward into the air.

His palm strike sent shockwaves through the air, as if the entire world moved in concert with it. The vibrations of his attack combined, forming a terrifying surge of invisible energy that swept outward, crashing into Feng Yunhe's body.

Feng Yunhe roared in fury, summoning a suit of armor to surround him. Despite his defensive measures, the shockwaves penetrated his defenses, causing him to spew blood. The vibrational force bore into his body, shattering his meridians and arteries, threatening to obliterate his internal organs.

"Bzz!" Undeterred, Feng Yunhe pressed forward, his mad rush toward the edge of the stage continuing. Just as he was about to step off, Qin Wentian seized the great axe he had previously thrown and brought it down with overwhelming force.

"BE CAREFUL!" Shouts rang out from the Wind Roc Aristocrat Clan spectators. Qin Wentian's strike resembled a god cleaving the heavens, and even those watching felt a bone-chilling coldness wash over them as involuntary shivers coursed through their bodies.

Feng Yunhe could sense the specter of death closing in. He howled in madness, releasing all the astral energy within him to protect himself. His wings unfurled frantically, wrapping around him for defense.

The black-clad young man swung down mercilessly, the great axe crashing into Feng Yunhe's body. A thunderous explosion resounded as Feng Yunhe was hammered into the ground, his impact creating a massive crater on the splendid stage. Those near the point of impact hastily retreated, unable to maintain their balance against the powerful shockwave.

"Yunhe!" A swarm of cultivators rushed to Feng Yunhe's side. However, upon prying open his protective wings, they found Feng Yunhe standing motionless. Underneath his wings, his armor had disintegrated. Blood flowed from all seven of his facial orifices, his internal organs utterly destroyed. He had ceased breathing, lifeless and beyond revival.

Qin Wentian had mastered the Mandate of Force. His second-level insight, Void Vibration, channeled into his opponent's body, morphing into pulsating shockwaves that annihilated everything they touched. Despite Feng Yunhe's defensive efforts, survival was an impossibility.

A deep shock reverberated through the spectators as their gazes converged on the black-clad young man. His weapon, a simple greataxe, yet his stance exuded the presence of a war god—invincible and impervious.

The Wind Roc Aristocrat Clan's experts turned to glare at Qin Wentian. One of them radiated killing intent as he coldly declared, "You must be seeking death."

As his voice resonated, a dreadful aura filled the space. However, Qin Wentian didn't appear concerned in the slightest. He tilted his head back and roared, "DO YOU CONSIDER THE WORDS OF THE ROYAL CLAN AND THE NINE GREAT SECTS AS MERE FLATULENCE?!"

As he finished speaking, the surging aura abruptly froze. The enraged expert could only glare at the black-robed young man in silence.

"Those who can't withstand a single blow dare to call themselves Heaven's Chosen? I am merely cleansing Xuan King City of these fools who tarnish their reputation. You should be grateful," Qin Wentian declared coldly. His figure flickered as he returned to the center of the stage. The eyes of the major power experts seethed with intense hatred as they gazed at him, their hearts filled with a desire to kill him and tear his heart out.

The ones who perished were their clan's most promising Chosen, the ones with the highest chances of entering the nine great sects. Yet, they were now gone, just like that...

Currently, the nine great sects and the Grand Shang royal clan were all present. When Qin Wentian had asked whether killing was allowed, a Grand Shang royal clan expert had explicitly stated that the life and death of all participants on the stage depended on their own fate, and no one could intervene, even if they were killed. Consequently, the major power experts had no choice but to suppress their anger for the time being. The moment Qin Wentian stepped off the stage would mark the beginning of his death.

However, this young man's strength was undeniably exceptional. If he truly managed to join one of the nine great sects, did that mean they wouldn't have any opportunity for revenge?

As this thought crossed their minds, anxiety welled up within them. With the power displayed by the black-robed young man, it was almost certain that he could pass a sect's test and become one of its disciples.

The representatives from the nine great sects had naturally taken notice of Qin Wentian. Now, an expert from Qinghua Mountain smiled and asked, "Are you interested in joining Qinghua Mountain?"

As the voice of the Qinghua Mountain's expert faded, several individuals in the crowd gasped in astonishment, their breaths drawn in sharply.

In this selection event, those who passed the initial entrance test were eligible to proceed to the second, more challenging test designed by the nine great sects to determine their suitability for joining. The stage also served as a platform for applicants to showcase their prowess. The black-robed young man had not only slain five Xuan King City Chosen in a remarkably dominant fashion but had also fought against opponents with higher cultivation levels, consistently defeating them. Even in his final battle, where he faced three opponents at once, he emerged victorious while airborne. His combat skills and talent left the spectators in awe. It was clear that his understanding of the Mandates surpassed that of the various Chosen. In Xuan King City, there were likely no cultivators in his generation who could match his abilities. Hence, Qinghua Mountain extended an invitation.

This black-robed young man became the first applicant to receive an invitation from the nine great sects to join them.

The experts from other major powers in Xuan King City couldn't help but worry. If this young man accepted Qinghua Mountain's invitation, how could they even attempt to harm him?

Among the representatives of the royal clan, an elderly man dressed in opulent robes led the way. His presence exuded majesty, imposing a tremendous sense of pressure with just a single glance. However, the old man currently leaned forward, consulting with a young man seated in front of him. "What do you think of this black-robed young man's abilities?"

The young man wore luxurious golden robes and, despite not having handsome features, radiated a heroic aura. His eyes were particularly striking, gleaming with a golden light. His pupils, pure gold in color, emanated sharpness, as if they could penetrate anything, even the void.

"This young man is employing a disguise technique to conceal his true appearance," the young man with golden eyes remarked as he continued to gaze in Qin Wentian's direction. "It seems his primary intention here was to challenge Xuan King City's Chosen, not to participate in the nine great sects' disciple recruitment event. In essence, he came here to kill."

The old man's eyes flickered strangely upon hearing this. There was no reason to doubt the young man's judgment; nothing could escape his perceptive gaze. If he stated that the black-robed man was hiding his features, it was undoubtedly true.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian looked at the Qinghua Mountain's expert and replied, "I've already killed five of Xuan King City's Chosen. The major powers will surely seek revenge."

The Qinghua Mountain's expert merely smiled and said, "No need to worry. If you join Qinghua Mountain, you will become a core disciple of our sect. We can guarantee your safety."

"Thank you; I'll need some time to consider your offer," Qin Wentian replied, a response that left many astonished. How could this man be so prideful? Even when one of the nine great sects had extended an invitation, he chose to contemplate it instead of accepting immediately.

"Of course," the expert responded with a chuckle, understanding that he shouldn't force a junior against their will. Qin Wentian was entitled to make his own decision.

"Indeed, he doesn't seem interested in joining the nine great sects. So, who's the next person he intends to eliminate?" The old man from the royal clan wore an intrigued expression, eager to discover who Qin Wentian's next target might be.

"If he doesn't act soon, he might miss his chance. The experts from the major powers have already taken note of him. Look at them gathering by the Violet Thunder Sword-Drum Formation pathway; they're plotting his demise," remarked the young man with golden eyes. Currently, the other experts from the major powers in Xuan King City were preparing to step onto the stage by passing through the formation. These individuals had reached the highest allowed cultivation level on the stage, at the sixth level of the Heavenly Dipper.

Qin Wentian had slain five Chosen from major powers: Xie Yu from the Ecliptic Sect, Yin Ting from the Yin Clan, Feng Yunhe from the Wind Roc Aristocrat Clan, Jin Yan from the Golden Fire Aristocrat Clan, and Jian Jingtian from the Heaven Shocking Sword Sect. How could these five major powers possibly let Qin Wentian off the hook? Therefore, they decided to gather their sixth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns to the stage. This way, they could legitimately confront Qin Wentian while respecting the authority of the royal clan and the nine great sects.

The young man's golden eyes radiated a gleaming corona at the center of his brow, and he, too, observed Qin Wentian with keen interest.

Qin Wentian relinquished the great axe and once again wielded the ordinary spear. His eyes, sharp as swords, scanned the crowd before fixing onto Shang Qi.

"I've heard plenty about Shang Qi from the King's Manor, the leader of Xuan King City's six Chosen. I'm curious if you'll live up to the hype or disappoint like the other five," Qin Wentian declared, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he advanced. His words cut through the air like a blade.

Shang Qi's brows knitted in response. He knew he was weaker than this black-robed young man. Even he wouldn't have been able to consecutively defeat the five Chosen or take on three of them at once.

As the black-robed figure drew closer, Shang Qi contemplated fleeing. But then, an odd gleam appeared in the golden-eyed young man's eyes. He realized that the black-robed man intended to kill Shang Qi.

Despite everything, Shang Qi was still a descendant of the royal clan of Grand Shang. Instantly, the golden-eyed youth called out, "Shang Qi, this man has concealed his true identity. His real purpose here is to eliminate all of you."

As his words settled, the crowd was struck dumb with shock. The experts from the five major powers bristled with anger. This person had hidden his true self from the very beginning, and his ultimate goal was to massacre the five Chosen.

Shang Qi's mind raced, and an image of a young man in white, surrounded and attacked by experts from the six major powers, flashed before him.

"BOOM!" Shang Qi stomped the ground and sprinted frantically toward the royal clan. Simultaneously, he bellowed, "HE'S THE ONE WHO STOLE THE SEVEN CONSTELLATION FRUITS!"