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Chapter 94: Chapter 94: True Disciple, Trial Ends!
Luo Cheng darted swiftly down the mountain.
Along the mountain path, traces of fierce battles could occasionally be seen.
Luo Cheng even discovered two corpses.
One of them was even one of the top ten contenders for the championship, killed with a single cut to the throat.
Luo Cheng speculated that this person was likely slain by Gu Lingfeng.
"Looks like they managed to escape,"
Luo Cheng sighed in relief.
With the combined strength of Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan, as long as they weren’t surrounded from the start, escaping down the mountain would be like fish returning to the sea!
Others trying to block them again would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
Luo Cheng didn’t hold back, directly devouring the Martial Souls of the corpses.
The two had been dead for a while, and much of their Essence Qi had dissipated, but it was better than nothing.
Soon, Luo Cheng reached the base of the mountain. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Aside from some corpses, the area was devoid of a single figure, not even a shadow.
Almost time for the hour of the dragon; aside from those chasing Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan, the others should have already made their way to the boarding location.
As Luo Cheng was about to retrace his steps, he suddenly halted.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures suddenly burst out of the woods—it was Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan.
"Luo Cheng!"
Seeing Luo Cheng, the two were equally surprised. Yuan Zhilan’s beautiful eyes revealed a hint of astonishment. "Where’s the Black-scaled Python?"
"I managed to shake it off,"
Luo Cheng replied perfunctorily, looking at the two while gripping the hilt of his sword lightly with his right hand, his tone wary:
"Why are you two here? Didn’t we agree to meet at the boarding point?"
After his fight with the Black-scaled Python, Luo Cheng was severely depleted. Although devouring Martial Souls had restored some of his strength, his combat abilities were only at thirty or forty percent of their peak.
If Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan joined forces, they would undoubtedly pose a significant threat right now.
Yuan Zhilan, quick in wit, smiled faintly upon noticing this: "It was Gu Lingfeng’s idea. He said the most dangerous place is often the safest. That’s why we came back to see if we could help you. Don’t overthink it."
Luo Cheng shook his head and said indifferently, "Whether I’m overthinking it or not doesn’t matter. What matters is what you intend to do."
Once bitten, twice shy!
The incident with Zhou Jinchuan and Huang Shang remained fresh in Luo Cheng’s memory!
Not to mention, Yuan Zhilan and Gu Lingfeng did currently possess the strength to be a threat.
"Heh, who would’ve thought you, someone younger than us, could be so cautious? Even those old hands wouldn’t measure up to your vigilance. Anyone who underestimates you will pay dearly."
Yuan Zhilan let out a gentle laugh.
She had always been a beauty, her curvaceous figure accentuated by a blue satin dress, exuding grace in every movement. Her delicate features and radiant smile possessed the vibrant charm of the girl next door, making her seem approachable and inviting.
Yuan Zhilan didn’t seem to mind Luo Cheng’s wariness. She approached him alone, taking out a small bundle and handing it to him.
"Here, this is yours."
When the bundle was opened, it revealed seven fruits, each about the size of a baby’s palm, brimming with Spiritual Energy.
Luo Cheng was a bit surprised, "All mine? This many?"
Yuan Zhilan laughed and said, "There were eleven Primordial Spirit Fruits in total. Gu Lingfeng and I discussed it and agreed that in this plan, you were the one who held off the Black-scaled Python. We barely exerted ourselves, so splitting them evenly wouldn’t be fair. We each took two, and these seven are yours."
Gu Lingfeng nodded in agreement.
This time, Luo Cheng had almost paid with his life to hold off the Black-scaled Python. The seven Primordial Spirit Fruits were well deserved, so he accepted them without hesitation.
"Let’s go. Time is running short."
Taking the bundle, Luo Cheng spoke.
The three of them immediately set off in the direction of the boarding point.
"Luo Cheng, are you really at just the Fifth Layer of the Transcendence Realm?" Gu Lingfeng couldn’t help but ask along the way.
Luo Cheng replied, "Why?"
"That Black-scaled Python is the overlord of Two-star Top Level Demon Beasts, its strength comparable to a Three-star Demon Beast. Even a casual strike from it would be too much for me to handle, but you were able to fight it evenly."
Gu Lingfeng gave a bitter smile. This time, he was genuinely shaken.
"I really admire you for the first time. Your cultivation is clearly about the same as ours..."
Yuan Zhilan’s eyes sparkled as she openly conveyed her admiration and respect.
"I was merely stalling. Let’s hurry up; we’re running out of time."
Luo Cheng deflected the question and changed the topic.
After a night of slaughter, the number of Demon Beasts in the forest had significantly diminished, making their journey smooth.
Half an hour later, the three reached the easternmost part of Qingyun Island, where five enormous floating warships were towering in mid-air, spaced miles apart from each other.
Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan were assigned to ships one and three, respectively, and bid their farewells.
With a light step, Luo Cheng darted toward ship number five.
At that moment, another group emerged from the forest.
"Huh, that’s Luo Cheng!"
"He’s still alive?!"
Someone recognized Luo Cheng.
Immediately, looks filled with malice and killing intent fixed upon him.
Since the hour of the dragon had yet to arrive and the Green Cloud Trial wasn’t officially over yet, killing Luo Cheng would mean earning a promotion to the Outer Sect!
"Scram!"
Luo Cheng cast a sharp gaze at the onlookers, his eyes like swords, exuding a piercing, oppressive aura.
Hiss!
The group halted abruptly, faces pale, with one coward almost soiling himself.
"Such pressure without anger! Transcendence Realm, Fifth Layer!"
"Impossible! Didn’t they say he was just a Transcendence Realm Third Layer martial artist?!"
"Damn it, who gave that false information?! I could’ve gotten myself killed!"
It wasn’t until Luo Cheng had walked far away that they exhaled, their backs saturated with sweat, as though they had passed through the gates of hell.
On the deck of warship number five, two elders stood at the prow, silently observing everything.
"Who would’ve thought he managed to make it back alive,"
remarked a stern-faced middle-aged man, his expression showing a hint of emotion as he looked at Luo Cheng.
The woman in a green dress beside him was surprised, "I heard that during the entrance exam, Luo Cheng was only at the Third Layer of the Transcendence Realm. How did he manage to break through to the Fifth Layer in just a few days?!"
"Impossible!"
The middle-aged man sneered, "Don’t forget, his awakened Martial Soul is a Wasted Martial Soul. It’s probably just rumors; he must’ve already reached the Fifth Layer of the Transcendence Realm long ago."
The green-dressed woman seemed to agree and nodded slightly, murmuring,
"With Yun Mengli recently ascending to a True Disciple, and considering that this boy was personally vouched for by Yun Mengli to enter the sect, if He Guangze found out that this boy is still alive, he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at night."
Last night, word of Yun Mengli’s clash with Yuan Qingying had finally spread to the Xuanyuan Sect.
Yun Mengli defeated Yuan Qingying and became the youngest True Disciple in the Xuanyuan Sect, her name resounding throughout the Great Yue Dynasty!
The middle-aged man shook his head slightly, "Not necessarily. This boy is no prodigy; on the contrary, he awakened a Wasted Martial Soul. Compared to Yun Mengli, it’s like heaven and earth. Why would Yun Mengli care whether he lives or dies? She may have already forgotten all about him."
"Besides, I’ve heard that He Guangze’s high-profile pursuit of Luo Cheng’s life this time has Jin Min supporting him from the shadows. Yun Mengli wouldn’t risk offending Jin Min over someone as insignificant as Luo Cheng."
The green-dressed woman muttered softly, "Perhaps... one way or another, we’d better stay out of it and not get burned by the flames."
"Naturally,"
The middle-aged man nodded.
As time passed, fewer and fewer people boarded the warships.
Soon, the hour of the dragon arrived.
Whoosh!
The five warships reeled in their iron chains, their wings flapping powerfully. Instantly, they soared like sharp arrows into the sky, heading toward the Xuanyuan Sect.
