Zhongzhou Means Business Now

Lin Tiechuan threw a punch, and the astral energy shattered a swarm of bugs.

But after the black bugs were smashed, they turned into black mist and condensed again, completely unkillable.

"It's no use," Gui Qi said hoarsely. "These are my weird bugs, immortal and indestructible. They will eat your astral energy, and then eat you."

Lin Tiechuan gritted his teeth, constantly throwing punches, but there were more and more bugs.

The astral energy on his body was being devoured at a visible speed.

Wang Hao frowned, just about to speak, but Lin Tiechuan suddenly smiled.

"Immortal and indestructible? Can they compare to Nightmares?"

He stopped punching and took a deep breath.

"Then I will see, is it you eating me, or me eating you."

He formed hand seals, and the astral energy around him suddenly turned into a layer of gold.

That was the "Vajra Demon Subduing Fist" Wang Hao gave him, a royal collection, specially restraining evil and weird things.

The golden fist astral energy blasted out, the black bugs let out ear-piercing screams, and large swaths of the bug swarm turned into black smoke and dissipated.

Gui Qi's expression changed: "Buddhist cultivation method?"

Lin Tiechuan didn't answer, stepping forward, the golden light illuminating the entire arena.

Boom!

Thousands of black bugs were swept away by the golden light.

A trace of black blood trickled from the corner of Gui Qi's mouth, and his figure swayed.

"I lost."

He turned and went off the stage.

Lin Tiechuan also staggered a bit, his face pale.

Although those black bugs were broken, he had also consumed more than 70% of his astral energy.

In the sixth match, the Eastern Wasteland won narrowly.

Wang Hao looked at Gui Qi's retreating back, his eyes deep.

A Weird Controller had appeared.

And this was just the first one.

After the sixth match, the remaining four matches arranged went on as usual, but Lin Tiechuan was unable to fight anymore, and Su Lie went up for the seventh match.

Su Lie used a good saber and ruler technique, the saber like a storm, the ruler like a city wall, both offensive and defensive.

The genius from the Central State used a spear, his spear technique sharp, but under the combined attack of Su Lie's saber and ruler, he retreated steadily, and in thirty moves his spear was sent flying, and he surrendered in a sorry state.

In the eighth match, Zhao Feng went on stage. He fought a match yesterday, and today his strength only recovered by 70%.

Fortunately, this Central State opponent was of medium strength. Zhao Feng tried his best, fighting until his face was pale, but still lost.

In the ninth match, Wanyan Gu clamored to go up again, but was stopped by Wang Hao.

Gu Han was sent up instead, and ended up meeting a strange sect cultivator who used a whip. It was a very difficult fight, and even though he persevered with an unyielding will until his opponent made a mistake first, he still lost by one move.

In the tenth match, Bai Zhantang went up again. This young man with the most handsome movement technique was already in his second match today, and his figure was still fast as a ghost.

His opponent was a strong man who used a hammer, strong but slow, who was led around in circles by Bai Zhantang, and finally made himself dizzy and fell off the arena.

On the second day, the Great Zhou won eight out of ten matches.

Compared with the complete victory on the first day, they lost two matches today, one lost by Zhao Feng, and the other lost by Gu Han.

But among these eight victories, Lin Tiechuan's match against the Weird Controller was the most thrilling.

And what made the Central State cultivators feel afraid was—

Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Lu Chenzhou, Rong Xiaotian, Wanyan Gu, and Su Lie, these six people all won today, and their condition was obviously a cut above the other four.

Xiao Chen's strange fire, Ye Guyun's sword, Lu Chenzhou's steadiness, Rong Xiaotian's palm technique, Wanyan Gu's unreasonableness, Su Lie's saber technique.

These six people were like six of the sharpest knives, stabbed into the pride of the Central State.

Wang Hao watched from the viewing platform, already having a plan in mind.

"Next, it's time to see who won't be able to sit still."

Inside the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall.

The atmosphere was as heavy as ice.

The Hall Master sat high up, expressionless.

Sitting below were several powerful elders of the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall.

Xuanxiao was also there.

"The Weird Controller also lost," an elder said in a deep voice.

Another shook his head: "The Weird Controller was just a test in the first place. That Gui Qi is just a low-level Weird Controller, it's normal to lose."

"But right now, the ordinary geniuses of the Central State can't win anymore. Those six hard nuts from the Eastern Wasteland, ordinary true disciples are no match for them at all."

After a moment of silence, the Hall Master spoke.

"Send word to all the Holy Lands."

"Just say that the Kunlun Assembly is approaching, and if the Central State doesn't suppress this arrogance of the Eastern Wasteland, how will the four regions view the Central State at the Assembly?"

"Have their Holy Sons and Holy Maidens prepare to enter the arena."

Xuanxiao suddenly looked up: "Hall Master, you want Holy Son level figures to fight a mere arena match?"

The Hall Master said lightly: "It's not a mere arena match. It's the general trend of the world."

"Wang Hao leading eight hundred thousand cavalry into the Central State has already shaken the world. If he lets his geniuses suppress the Central State again, at the Kunlun Assembly, he will have more confidence to speak."

"We must suppress his momentum before the Assembly."

Xuanxiao clenched his fists.

Of course he wanted to suppress Wang Hao.

But the problem was—

If the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens entered the arena, it meant that the Central State admitted that ordinary true disciples could no longer suppress the Eastern Wasteland.

This in itself was a kind of disgrace.

"No need to worry," the Hall Master seemed to see through his thoughts, "As long as we win, the face we lose can be earned back. If we can't win—"

He paused.

"That is the real disgrace."

Outside the Kunlun Reception City, after the arena matches ended on the second day, Wang Hao summoned the ten geniuses back to the camp.

Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Lu Chenzhou, Rong Xiaotian, Wanyan Gu, Su Lie, Lin Tiechuan, Gu Han, Zhao Feng, Bai Zhantang.

The ten people stood in two rows.

Wang Hao looked at them, getting straight to the point.

"Tomorrow in the third round, do you think you can still win completely?"

The ten people were silent.

After a moment, Xiao Chen spoke: "It's difficult. Although the Weird Controller lost today, Lin Tiechuan is almost crippled. If stronger Weird Controllers or Holy Son level figures come tomorrow, Gu Han, Zhao Feng, and Bai Zhantang probably won't be able to hold on."

Lin Tiechuan smiled bitterly, his astral energy was indeed consumed too much, and he still hadn't recovered.

Gu Han, Zhao Feng, and Bai Zhantang also looked ashamed.

They had indeed tried their best.

But their opponents were getting stronger and stronger, and their realm disadvantage was becoming more and more obvious.

Wang Hao nodded: "So tomorrow, I will only send six people."

Six people?

The ten people were stunned at the same time.

Wang Hao raised his hand, pointing to six of them.

"Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Lu Chenzhou, Rong Xiaotian, Wanyan Gu, Su Lie."

"Tomorrow's six matches, I want you six to fight six matches and win six matches."

The six people all looked up.

Wang Hao looked at them, his gaze calm.

"The Central State will definitely not let this go. A Weird Controller came today, and Holy Sons and Holy Maidens might come tomorrow. I saw today that the condition of you six is a cut above the other four."

"In tomorrow's arena, Gu Han and you four don't need to fight, just rest in peace. The four of you all got injured today, and going up again is fraught with grim possibilities, I won't gamble your lives for reputation."

Gu Han and the other three felt warm in their hearts, and also a bit guilty.

"You six," Wang Hao looked at Xiao Chen and the other five, "Tomorrow you might meet real hard nuts. Holy Sons, Holy Maidens, high-level Weird Controllers."

"But I believe in you."

"I have prepared something for each of you."

He raised his hand, and Wei Zhongxian brought out six brocade boxes.

Opened.

In each brocade box, there lay quietly a Barrier Breaking Pill and a bottle of Heaven Rank Low Grade healing pills.

Barrier Breaking Pill!

Heaven Rank High Grade!

The pupils of the six people shrank at the same time.

If this thing was placed in the Central State, it would be enough to tempt Holy Son level figures.

"The Barrier Breaking Pill can break through bottlenecks in battle. But remember, don't use it unless absolutely necessary."

"Heaven-tier healing medicine, enough to ensure you come back alive after fighting a hard battle."

"Win this for me."

"After you win, return to the Eastern Wasteland, and I will have heavy rewards for you."

The six people exchanged glances and knelt on one knee in unison.

"We shall not fail our mission!"

Wang Hao smiled.

"Rise, all of you. Remember, what I want is not for you to fight to the death. It is to win."

"If you can beat them to death, that is best. If you cannot kill them, beating them into severe injury works too."

"If you truly cannot win, just concede. Come back and I will reimburse your medical expenses."

Wanyan Gu scratched his head: "Your Majesty, what does reimbursing medical expenses mean?"

Wang Hao said: "It means if you get beaten half to death, I will pay to heal you."

Wanyan Gu suddenly understood, and then asked: "Then what if I get beaten to death?"

Wang Hao remained expressionless: "If you die, I will pay a pension. But I suggest you do not die; a pension is not as good a deal as spending your military pay yourself."

Wanyan Gu thought about it seriously and felt it made a lot of sense.

The atmosphere in the tent relaxed considerably.

But everyone knew that jokes aside, tomorrow's arena would be the true test.

The battle reports of the two-day arena swept across the entire Central Continent like a violent wind.

This time, it was no longer ordinary geniuses coming forward, but the true core disciples of the major Holy Lands, existences at the level of Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, who began to make their move.

The first to arrive was the Holy Son of the White Deer Academy.

This person was named Mu Changliu, the personal disciple of the White Deer Academy's Dean, at the first level of the Sky Soaring Realm.

At only twenty-seven years old, he had stepped into the Sky Soaring Realm and was hailed as the number one person in the White Deer Academy in a century.

When he arrived at the Reception City, the entire city was caused to stir.

The White Deer Academy was one of the five great academies of the Central Continent. The arrival of a Holy Son commanded a status far beyond that of ordinary true disciples.

Dressed entirely in white and carrying a jade sword on his back, Mu Changliu possessed a gentle and elegant temperament.

He was accompanied by several core disciples of the White Deer Academy, each with an extraordinary aura.

"I heard Xiao Chen of the Eastern Wasteland possesses an Exotic Flame?" Mu Changliu smiled. "Interesting. I also have an Exotic Flame, and I wonder whose fire burns hotter."

He walked directly toward the arena.

The second to arrive was the Holy Daughter of the Chixiao Holy Land, Chi Lian.

Chi Lian wore crimson armor, had a tall figure, and long hair like fire.

First level of the Sky Soaring Realm.

The Chixiao Holy Land was famous for weapon refining, and Chi Lian's weapon was a lower Heaven-tier flaming spear.

When she arrived, flames surged around her, and no one dared to approach within thirty feet.

"The fists of those from the Eastern Wasteland are very hard, are they?"

"My spear is not soft either."

She strode toward the inn, and pedestrians along the way hurriedly made a path for her.

The third to arrive was the Holy Son of the Qingxu Holy Land, Xuan Ming.

This person wore a Daoist robe, held a whisk, and had a face as clear as jade.

First level of the Sky Soaring Realm.

The Qingxu Holy Land was renowned for its soul-type martial arts, and Xuan Ming had cultivated the Qingxu Heart-Asking Mantra to the sixth level. It was said that he once repelled the siege of three peak Astral Qi Realm experts with a single thought of his soul.

When he arrived, he did not alarm anyone. He merely stood quietly at the highest point of the Reception City, looking toward the Great Zhou military camp on the Canglan Plains.

"Wang Hao is there."

He muttered.

The fourth to arrive was not a Holy Son or Holy Daughter.

Rather, it was an existence that made everyone feel uneasy.

He wore a long gray robe and a bamboo hat, obscuring his face.

But when he stepped into the Reception City, the anomaly detectors of all the cultivators began to blare frantically.

A Specter Tamer.

And a high-level Specter Tamer at that.

He was followed by three people, all wearing gray robes and bamboo hats, their auras eerie and unpredictable.

One of them was exactly Gui Qi, who had lost to Lin Tiechuan yesterday.

"Gui Qi, you said that Lin Tiechuan uses a Buddhist cultivation method?" The leading gray-robed man had a deep voice.

Gui Qi lowered his head: "Yes. And it is extremely pure Buddhist Vajra power."

The gray-robed man fell silent for a moment, two faint glimmers of light barely visible under his bamboo hat.

"Interesting. When did the Eastern Wasteland produce a Buddhist heir?"

"But no matter."

"At tomorrow's arena, I will personally test him."

Within the Reception City, heroes gathered.

The appearance of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters made the already boiling atmosphere even more blazing.

The major gambling houses urgently adjusted their odds.

The odds for the Central Continent to win began to drop because Saint-level figures were participating.

But the odds for the Eastern Wasteland to win actually rose.

Because everyone wanted to know—

Could Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Lu Chenzhou, and these other top-tier geniuses of the Eastern Wasteland stop Saint-level figures?

Inside Wang Hao's marching tent.

Wei Zhongxian reported the latest intelligence from the Reception City one by one.

"The Holy Son of the White Deer Academy, Mu Changliu, first level of the Sky Soaring Realm, possesses an Exotic Water variant, skilled with the sword."

"The Holy Daughter of the Chixiao Holy Land, Chi Lian, first level of the Sky Soaring Realm, wields a flaming spear, has a fiery temper."

"The Holy Son of the Qingxu Holy Land, Xuan Ming, first level of the Sky Soaring Realm, cultivates soul-type methods, extremely bizarre."

"There is also a high-level Specter Tamer, identity unknown, realm unknown, but able to command Gui Qi, so he is at least a Profound-tier Specter Tamer."

After hearing this, Wang Hao raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Three at the first level of the Sky Soaring Realm, and one high-level Specter Tamer."

"They came quite fast."

He turned his head to look at Xiao Chen and the other five.

"Are you afraid?"

Xiao Chen said indifferently: "First level of the Sky Soaring Realm. I have never fought one, so I do not know their depth."

Ye Guyun held his sword and remained silent, but the sword intent in his eyes was sharper than yesterday.

Lu Chenzhou said calmly: "Even if I cannot win, I must fight."

Rong Xiaotian cracked his knuckles and said nothing, but the battle intent in his eyes burned like fire.

Wanyan Gu howled with excitement: "Sky Soaring Realm! Your Majesty, do we get a bigger bonus if we cripple them?"

Wang Hao laughed: "Cripple a Sky Soaring Realm expert, and the bounty is doubled."

Wanyan Gu's eyes instantly turned red.

Su Lie was silent for a moment, then cupped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, the Sky Soaring Realm is qualitatively different from the Astral Qi Realm. If we are really going to fight, I am afraid we need some methods."

Wang Hao nodded: "I know."

He raised his hand, and the Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda floated in his palm.

"My Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda can lend each of you a protective lightning phoenix. At a critical moment, it can block a strike from a peak Sky Soaring Realm expert."

The spirits of the six people were lifted.

Wang Hao then looked at the New Emperor Sword.

"You are going tomorrow too."

The New Emperor Sword trembled with excitement: "Is it finally my turn to fight?"

Wang Hao shook his head: "You are going to hold the line. If anyone from the Central Continent breaks the rules and uses underhanded tricks, you will strike."

The New Emperor Sword immediately became dissatisfied: "Does that mean I might not get to fight at all?"

"Then you can pray they do not follow the rules."

The New Emperor Sword immediately began to pray.