The Battle of the Chosen Ones Begins

The seven-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

As the first ray of dawn pierced the gloom over the Southern Region, the eyes of the entire Great Xuanhuang World converged upon this land—once a battlefield, now an enormous arena.

Countless powerful divine senses descended across the void. Geniuses from every region arrived in droves. The appearance of Qin Wuye, Wang Zhan, Lu Chenzhou, and other prodigies from the Dao Treasury Academy instantly drew every gaze.

Geniuses stood in ranks around the arena, shining like a field of stars.

Magnificent flying vessels and ancient war chariots from every faction hovered in the sky, while countless figures stood suspended in the air.

The great sacred lands, imperial dynasties, and ancient aristocratic clans had all dispatched heavyweight representatives to witness the event.

This confrontation, which would decide the fate of the Southern Region and involve the fortunes of both antiquity and the present age, could not be taken lightly in the slightest.

Meanwhile, atop the main peak of the distant Qingxuan Sect—

Xuanyangzi’s gaze rested on the storm gathering over the Southern Region. After a moment of silence, he withdrew it.

“The Second Ancestor, who has already become a Quasi-Emperor, secretly went over as well. He has the puppet Changge gave him, and he’s carrying an Imperial Weapon.

“With Little Black there too, Ruobai and the others should be fine, right?”

He pondered this, then turned his gaze inward toward the sect.

The disciples of the Qingxuan Sect were diligently cultivating, as though the impending, heaven-shaking slaughter in the Southern Region belonged to an entirely different world.

“The present-day demon clans have arrived!”

At the cry, Demon Emperor Yuan Tiangang was the first to stride through the air from the eastern horizon. Behind him, ten figures stood with their auras linked together, their presence pressing down like towering mountains and instantly silencing the clamor.

At their head stood Xiao Ruobai.

Clad in white, his aura was as deep and unfathomable as the sea. In an instant, he drew every eye, making it impossible for anyone to look away.

To his left, Fang Hanyu’s sword qi soared into the heavens, with the faint hum of a sword ringing in the air.

To his right, Ling Xi stood in cool silence. Wherever her gaze swept, even the air seemed to frost over.

Crimson-gold qilin flames wreathed Mo Yu’s body, and the pressure of his bloodline left demon cultivators of the same realm secretly alarmed.

Qin Yuechen, the little fatty who had just entered the Saint Realm, emanated an enigmatic aura of talismanic Dao.

These five stood calm and composed, already the unquestioned core of the present-day demon clans.

The remaining five were likewise among the younger generation’s foremost combatants.

Shi Kuang of the Golden Lion Clan wore golden armor, his mane blazing like the scorching sun.

Jin Lie of the Golden-Eyed Tiger Clan had savage light in his eyes, his baleful aura overwhelming.

Bao Shan of the Giant Bear Clan was built like a mountain, his surging vitality like a blazing furnace.

Cang You of the Azure Eagle Clan radiated a razor-sharp presence, his lightning-like gaze locking onto potential foes.

Wu Xuan of the Mystic Tortoise Clan was enveloped in earthen spiritual radiance, steady and weighty as the land itself.

“The ancient Demon Court has arrived!”

Another cry rose from the opposite side. The Ancient Imperial Prince, his golden robes gleaming, his eyes cold and indifferent, led ten figures forward at an unhurried pace. Terrifying demon qi swept across heaven and earth.

What sent tremors through everyone’s hearts was that neither the Azure Flood Dragon nor Ling Yue could be seen among them. The ancient Demon Court had even stronger figures holding the line—those two did not even qualify to participate!

The nine figures came in all manner of forms, their auras strange and formidable. The final three were shrouded in mist, their presences obscure and seemingly returning to simplicity. Even the foremost experts present felt a warning stir within their hearts.

The ten advanced in unison, making the hairs of nearby prodigies stand on end, as though they had been cast back onto an ancient battlefield of savage desolation.

A bleak horn sounded from afar, suppressing all noise.

The two Great Sages of the present-day demon clans and the ancient Demon Court stepped into the arena. Their auras were like eternal mountains; as the laws of heaven and earth resonated around them, they made their solemn proclamation.

“The Battle of Prodigies begins! Ten matches will decide who controls the Southern Region.

The sides will take turns striking first. The opening order will be determined by a draw, after which the initiative will alternate. All methods are permitted. Each participant is responsible for their own life or death. The side that wins more than half the matches will claim victory!”

As soon as the announcement ended, two streaks of light collided. Runes flashed, proclaiming: “First match—the Ancient Demon Court has the first move!”

The Ancient Imperial Prince did not even raise his eyelids. He spoke indifferently. “Xi Kui, go crush them.”

“Roar—!”

A roar like the beating of an ancient war drum shook the entire arena. Xi Kui of the Ancient Rhinoceros Clan strode forward, his body humanoid but his head that of a bull, his flesh covered in rocky armor.

Ancient runes flowed across his armor, stirring the earth’s veins into a deep rumble. A ghostly light gathered around his single horn, condensing the origin power of earth. An overwhelming sense of strength surged across the arena like a tide, causing the barrier of restrictions to tremble faintly.

“Who’s coming to die?”

His voice boomed like thunder as his contemptuous gaze swept across the ranks of the present-day demon clans.

Yuan Tiangang’s expression turned grave. In a deep voice, he called out, “Bao Shan! Hold the line. You may win, but you must not lose!”

“Don’t worry!”

Bao Shan roared as he charged forward. His foot slammed into the arena, cracking it for a hundred yards. A gigantic bear dharma form manifested with a thunderous boom, towering between heaven and earth. His twin fists carried the weight of primordial divine mountains as he ferociously met his opponent head-on.

Xi Kui threw back his head and roared as well. The dharma form of an ancient dragon rhinoceros shattered the void beneath its feet. The vast power of the earth’s veins transformed into a torrential avalanche of stone, crashing down like primordial divine mountains collapsing from the heavens!

Boom—!!!

The instant the two dharma forms collided, blinding white light erupted, and a shock wave swept in every direction from the arena.

The void collapsed inch by inch. A storm of energy tore at the restrictive barrier, making it groan and creak in protest.

The two figures were trapped at the heart of the storm. There were no flashy techniques—only the most primitive clash of physical strength.

Bao Shan’s fists hammered against Xi Kui’s rocky armor. The bones in his fists cracked, and crimson blood energy stained the armor, yet he still could not break through his opponent’s defenses.

Xi Kui struck back with his fists. Every blow sent tremors through the earth’s veins, forcing Bao Shan backward again and again.

The divine markings on Xi Kui’s rocky armor rendered it impervious to the myriad arts. Bao Shan’s attacks were fierce, but he was unable to break through his defenses despite his relentless assault.

His blood energy, once blazing like the sun, began to fade. His punches slowed by half a beat.

That instant of weakness was a fatal opening!

“It’s over!”

A savage light surged in Xi Kui’s eyes. He actually took Bao Shan’s heavy punch head-on. His rocky armor shattered and flew in all directions, fragments embedding themselves in his flesh, but he paid them no heed. He closed the distance in an instant.

The dark light around the horn between his brows flared violently. An annihilating divine beam condensed into a thin line, ignoring both defenses and distance as it pierced straight through Bao Shan’s chest!

“Pfft—!”

The power of annihilation exploded inside Bao Shan’s body. His massive frame froze, his crimson blood energy receding like a swiftly retreating tide. A gaping hole yawned in his chest, horrifying to behold.

His enormous body crashed onto the arena, and his blood energy withered in an instant.

Using his horn as a support, Xi Kui stood amid a bath of blood. Most of his rocky armor had been destroyed, and cracks split his single horn, yet he still remained standing.

The Great Sage of the Ancient Demon Court announced in a deep voice, “First match—the Ancient Demon Court’s Xi Kui is victorious!”

The Ancient Demon Court’s ranks erupted in thunderous cheers and jeers, while the present-day demon clans fell into oppressive silence.

The devastating defeat at the very start dealt a severe blow to their morale.

“Second match—the present-day demon clans have the first move!”

The Great Sage’s cold voice rang out once more, and the suffocating pressure completely engulfed the ranks of the present-day demon clans.

After such a disastrous opening, their morale was at rock bottom. They could not afford to lose the second match!

Yuan Tiangang’s gaze swept across their side before finally settling on the young lord of the Golden-Eyed Tiger Clan, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent and whose aura bristled with violence.

“Jin Lie! Take this battle steadily—don’t rush!”

“Leave it to me!”

Jin Lie let out a low growl and stepped forward. Killing intent surged skyward around him, while the ferocious light in his golden eyes locked firmly onto the opposing side.

“Jin Lie requests to fight!”

On the side of the Ancient Demon Court, the Ancient Imperial Prince seemed to have anticipated this. The corners of his lips curled upward.

“Huan Li, go. Let him have a pleasant dream.”

Huan Li, with seven-colored butterfly wings upon her back and breathtaking beauty in her features, drifted into the arena as lightly as though she had no weight at all.

Her eyes rippled with alluring light, and she smiled before the battle had even begun. A bewitching melody that could make one’s soul sway quietly spread through the air.

“Second match: Jin Lie of the present-day demon race versus Huan Li of the Ancient Demon Court!”

The battle erupted in an instant!

Knowing full well how strange and unpredictable illusions could be, Jin Lie sought to end the fight as quickly as possible.

With a furious roar, he partially manifested his true form, transforming into a gigantic golden-eyed tiger wreathed in overwhelming killing intent before pouncing forward!

His tiger claws tore through the void, carrying a sharp, metallic killing aura capable of shattering the soul!

Yet Huan Li’s figure was like a reflection in water or a flower in a mirror. The instant Jin Lie lunged toward her, it vanished without a trace.

In the next moment, she appeared at Jin Lie’s side. With a light flutter of her butterfly wings, seven-colored powder scattered like a river of stars. Carrying a fatal allure, it ignored his protective demonic aura and sank directly into his sea of consciousness!

Jin Lie’s vision blurred, and the scene around him changed completely.

The arena was gone. He had returned to the sacred grounds of his clan, where countless clan members were cheering for him. Beneath his feet, meanwhile, was the head of the Ancient Imperial Prince!

An overwhelming sense of power and glory surged into his heart…

“No! It’s an illusion!” Jin Lie’s mind shook violently. Divine light burst from his golden eyes as he attempted to shatter the false reality!

But in that brief instant when his mind faltered, Huan Li’s true body had already drawn close like a ghost. Her slender jade finger, seemingly soft and harmless, lightly touched the center of his brow.

“Surrender to it…”

“Ahhh—!”

Jin Lie let out a miserable tiger’s roar. Blood simultaneously seeped from his seven orifices, and the light in his eyes instantly dimmed.

His enormous tiger body crashed to the ground like a toppled golden mountain. His soul had suffered a grievous injury, plunging into an endless illusion!

From beginning to end, the entire exchange had lasted no more than a few breaths!

Huan Li drifted lightly back to her original position, as though she had merely completed an insignificant task.

“Second match: Huan Li of the Ancient Demon Court wins!”

Two consecutive defeats!