Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Nine People

Among these 89 people, only Li Shuang had fully recovered, and You Lan also used her own methods to return to peak condition fast.

The rest had just reached the third floor not long ago. Even though they raced to recover, most faces were pale and their souls were weak.

But trials wait for no one.

As the voice faded, the third test began.

In this test, Li Shuang’s expression shifted a little. On the Central Pillar, countless Blackiron Warhammers stretched out again.

This round had returned to the Thousand Mechanisms Hammer Array.

Everyone else looked calm, as if they had seen this many times. Clearly, this was the usual rule.

Li Shuang reacted at once. A thought flashed through her mind in an instant: Thousand Mechanisms Hammer Array. Five Elements Source Thread. [Is this a cycle? Do the third to the sixth floors repeat in two loops?]

If that was true, her eyes lit up. [That would be amazing.]

Whether it was the array’s hammering for Spirit Refinement or the Five Elements Crystal from the Five Elements Source Thread, both were of huge use to her right now. One would raise her soul’s strength, the other would deepen her grasp of all things. These were exactly what a Divine Transformation Stage Cultivator needed most.

No wonder the Central Continent’s top talents pulled farther ahead every seven years. If not them, who else?

In front of the Water Screen, a new wager appeared. Many planned to bet on Li without thinking. But when they saw the City Lord’s proposed wager, everyone laughed.

“Who will be the first to fall this round?”

That answer would be random. Aside from the very top few, anyone might be first to drop. People casually chose a name and placed their bets.

The new Thousand Mechanisms Hammer Array started to run. As soon as the Formation activated, Li Shuang’s face changed slightly. In this round, the Blackiron Warhammers were faster, stronger, and more numerous than in the first test. Their paths were also more mysterious.

Even though everyone tried their best to get ready, the unavoidable hammer array soon forced eliminations.

Within the time for one stick of incense, more than twenty people dropped from their golden daises. Only sixty were left. The wager settled at once. Some cheered, some sighed, reactions all different.

After that, people focused on how the top talents would perform. Li Shuang was the center of attention.

Would she still use the method from the first floor?

Her face was serious. These hammers were much harder than before. Could she take them head on? She was not fully sure. But she could not miss this chance to refine her soul.

Luckily, she had completed the first floor’s soul tempering. Her soul was much stronger than when she first stepped onto the dais. She could afford to gamble a bit.

She poured spiritual power into her legs and locked herself to the golden dais. Then she gave up dodging and let the heavy hammer fall.

In an instant, her soul reeled. A cool stream rose from her Thunder Marrow, and she broke free from the haze at once. Another hammer struck. She kept enduring blow after blow to her soul.

While others dodged, they watched her with mixed feelings. This was already the third floor, and she still dared to take the hammers head on.

After a quiet pause, You Lan suddenly met an incoming hammer on purpose. [If Li can do it, why can’t I?] The hammer fell. She clenched her teeth. She could bear the first strike. The second came fast. She held on. After barely enduring three hits, her face turned grim. Each shock rattled her soul. The moment she recovered from one, the next came. If she kept forcing it, she would fall.

She glanced across at Li Shuang. Li was still standing. A Divine Transformation Stage Cultivator, yet her soul strength was greater than You Lan’s. When the fourth hammer swept in, unwillingness flashed in You Lan’s eyes, but at the last moment she dodged.

By the third floor, even Li Shuang could not last from start to finish like on the first floor. When she felt she neared her limit, she would dodge for a time, recover a bit, then continue the hammer-tempered Spirit Refinement. She stuck to her plan, repeating it again and again.

On the first day, thirty people fell.

On the second day, five more fell.

On the third day, ten fell.

On the fourth day, another ten fell.

On the fifth day, twenty five were eliminated.

This time, You Lan followed Li Shuang’s lead. She stayed on the third test the whole time and gritted her teeth to the very end.

Everyone stayed until the final moment before rising to the fourth floor. The golden daises circling the Central Pillar became very sparse.

Only nine people reached the fourth floor.

Li Shuang looked at the other eight. These should be the very top geniuses of the Central Continent. A small thrill rose in her heart. After two years of hard tempering, she was finally qualified to compete with true world class monsters.

“Let’s introduce ourselves,” someone said.

A veiled woman smiled at Li Shuang: “Limitless Sect, Cang Yin.”

Genius Ranking, third place: Cang Yin.

Li Shuang blinked and was about to speak when the others chimed in.

A man in white lifted a brow: “Sunset Glow Sect, Feng Yu. The very Sunset Glow Sect you turned down.”

Genius Ranking, second place: Feng Yu.

A sturdy body cultivator grinned at her: “Nine Nether Gate, Yan Lie.”

Li Shuang’s eyes moved slightly. Among the Central Continent’s Five Super Sects, two belonged to the Devil Path: Devil Heaven Sect and Nine Nether Gate.

A youth holding a compass gave her a gentle smile: “Heavenly Derivation Sect, Mo Li.”

With Sunset Glow Sect, Limitless Sect, and Heavenly Derivation Sect, the three great Righteous Path super sects were all represented.

The rest also announced their sects. Without exception, all were ranked in the top ten, all were Disciples of Super Sects. Aside from You Lan and Yan Lie, everyone else came from Righteous Path sects. The Righteous Path had more people on the list, but with You Lan here, all other lights dimmed.

You Lan glanced at Li Shuang and spoke calmly: “Devil Heaven Sect, You Lan.” Everyone knew her name. She stated it now because she accepted Li Shuang as a true rival.

Li Shuang cupped her fists to the group: “Li.” She did not name a sect, and no one found that strange. After all, the City Lord was unaffiliated too.

The fourth test did not begin at once. Cang Yin looked at Li Shuang with smiling eyes: “We likely cannot pass this round. Little Sister Li, I only hope you reach the fifth and sixth floors, and press that You Lan down hard.”

You Lan’s face stayed blank.

Yan Lie’s voice boomed: “Li is neither Devil Path nor Righteous Path. Even if she wins, what does it have to do with you? You could not deal with You Lan ruling the Genius Ranking for years, so now you want someone else to help?”

Feng Yu snorted coldly: “And You Lan’s first place has what to do with you? Do not forget, you are still behind me and Cang Yin.”