Chapter 1039: Chapter 365: Sword Array, Intelligence, Lottery (Part 4)

"Welcome, everyone, to the Shadow Sect Outer Disciple selection grounds. The preliminary round will be conducted as actual combat duels."

With those words said.

He simply flicked his sleeve.

Rumble—!

The ground trembled.

Next, sky-piercing stone pillars shot upward one after another, some tall, some short, their surfaces covered in complex runes.

Fu Changsheng carefully counted.

He found there were a total of ninety stone pillars, while the people in yellow masks on the Daoist Field numbered more than four hundred and fifty.

If they were to fight over these pillars—

Wouldn’t that mean nearly eighty percent of them would be eliminated!

Fu Changsheng inconspicuously edged toward a stone pillar at the very rim.

At this moment, the old man’s rasping, eagle-like voice sounded again:

"When one stick of incense has burned, whoever is still standing on a pillar advances. Each pillar can hold only one person."

As expected!

Fu Changsheng’s body swayed, and he leapt up in one motion, landing steady atop the pillar he had chosen.

The other yellow-masked participants saw this and each unleashed their Divine Techniques, moving with extreme speed to seize pillars.

In an instant.

Wind howled across the Daoist Field, figures streaking back and forth.

However.

The ten at Purple Mansion Peak were in no rush; they moved unhurriedly toward the tallest pillars at the center, where the runes shone with even greater brilliance. The Late-Stage Purple Mansion Cultivators who had already occupied those pillars had a flash of dread in their eyes; they gritted their teeth, stamped a foot, and left the pillars.

Among them.

A disciple wearing the robes of a Sect from the Land of the Far West shot straight toward the pillar where Fu Changsheng stood:

"Brat, if you want to live, get off. Now!"

Clearly.

He’d already decided that Fu Changsheng, at the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, couldn’t possibly be his match.

Fu Changsheng let out a cold snort.

He ignited the Treasure Lotus Lamp.

Petals unfurled in layers, wrapping around him one after another.

Since the old man had said this was only the preliminary round—

It meant there would likely be a brutal fight to come, and besides, no one knew what they’d be tested on next. His plan was to keep his Mana as full as possible.

Only defend, not attack!

For the time it took to burn one stick of incense.

The opponent wouldn’t be able to break in at all.

The Joy Sect cultivator saw this, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes:

"Hmph, that doesn’t even qualify as an Artifact. Just a measly Spiritual Artifact, and you think it can block this old man? What a joke!"

With that, the Joy Sect cultivator’s hands flew through a series of Hand Seals as he chanted under his breath. A strange pink radiance abruptly spread from his body. Within the glow, countless seductive phantoms faintly emerged, as if able to hook a person’s soul. Then he bellowed, and a thick pink pillar of Spiritual Power blasted straight at the Treasure Lotus Lamp around Fu Changsheng.

Boom!

The Treasure Lotus Lamp shuddered violently under the strike; its petals flickered uncertainly, as though the defense could collapse at any moment. Fu Changsheng’s brows furrowed tight as the Spiritual Power in his body roared into motion, pouring continuously into the Treasure Lotus Lamp to keep the defense up.

The opponent’s Mana was far richer than his!

The Joy Sect cultivator saw his first strike fail and his face darkened:

"You’ve got a bit of skill, but it’s a pity—you met this old man today."

As his words fell.

His Dharma Seal shifted, and the pink radiance around him grew denser, the surrounding void seemingly twisted by the light. He condensed a massive pink Hand Seal and smashed it down toward the Treasure Lotus Lamp.

Where the Hand Seal passed, the air shrieked sharply.

Boom!

The petals of the Treasure Lotus Lamp were crushed and shattered by the Hand Seal.

Fu Changsheng’s pupils contracted!

He felt a massive pressure slam into him, almost flinging him off the pillar.

"I can’t keep taking hits like this!"

Fu Changsheng steeled himself. He withdrew the Treasure Lotus Lamp, and the three Thunder Shock Swords in his hand flashed from their scabbards, turning into three streaks of lightning that shot toward the Joy Sect cultivator.

The Joy Sect cultivator hadn’t expected Fu Changsheng to counterattack suddenly. He hastily waved a hand, and a pink light curtain appeared in front of him. The Thunder Shock Swords slammed into the light curtain with a fierce roar, cracks spreading across its surface.

Just then, the battles atop the other pillars were also entering a white-hot phase. On some pillars, two cultivators were clashing intensely, Spiritual Power surging as they fought to a standstill; other pillars were already completely occupied, the losers having tumbled off in disgrace.

As for those ten at Purple Mansion Peak, they were now standing firmly upon the highest ten pillars at the center. Their eyes were cold as they swept over everything around them, as if they already held this preliminary round in the palm of their hand.

Among them.

A red-robed Female Cultivator with a graceful figure fixed her gaze on the three Thunder Shock Swords Fu Changsheng had summoned. A hint of hesitation seemed to flicker in her eyes; then her delicate body trembled slightly as she quickly sent a voice transmission:

"Fellow Daoist, I can help you hold this pillar, but those three Thunder Shock Swords in your hand will be mine. What do you say?"

You say nothing!

Fu Changsheng couldn’t be bothered to respond.

The reason he’d summoned the Thunder Shock Swords this time—

Was simply to take the opportunity to get more familiar with them.

How could he bear to hand them over?

Besides.

He still had plenty of trump cards in his grasp; he had no need for outsiders’ help.

At this moment.

Fu Changsheng noticed that quite a few people in the arena were already forming alliances, and his Technique shifted instantly as he prepared to unleash the Star Celestial Thunder Sword Array to cow any riffraff!

"Haha, brat, those three Thunder Shock Swords of yours aren’t bad. They belong to this old man now!"

While clashing with the Thunder Shock Swords, the Joy Sect cultivator had also realized their extraordinary nature. Instead of anger, he laughed:

"Little whelp, you’ve had your fun. Now die!"

With those words!

His body suddenly split into countless pink afterimages, lunging at Fu Changsheng from all directions:

"Good timing!"

Fu Changsheng let out a cold laugh.

He controlled the Thunder Shock Swords to wheel back through the air.

Hum—

A soft chime.

The Star Celestial Thunder Sword Array took shape in an instant!

A dense mesh of swords descended from the heavens.

The pink afterimages crashed into the sword net, crackling loudly as one illusory figure after another was shredded by Sword Qi. In a blink, the Joy Sect cultivator’s true body staggered into view.

At this moment.

Terror flashed in his eyes:

"A Sword Array!"

"You actually formed a Sword Array!!"

"I...I admit defeat, I admit defeat! Fellow Daoist, take it as this old man having eyes but failing to see Mount Tai. Let’s call it off here, how about it?"

Fu Changsheng stared coldly at the Joy Sect cultivator, without the slightest wavering in his gaze. In this Shadow Sect Outer Disciple selection arena, it was kill or be killed. To show mercy now would be no different from planting a fatal hidden danger for himself.

"Saying you concede now—don’t you think it’s a bit too late?" Fu Changsheng’s voice was icy as his Technique shifted rapidly. The Star Celestial Thunder Sword Array blazed with light, and countless thunderous Sword Qi bolts shot toward the Joy Sect cultivator.

The Joy Sect cultivator’s face went deathly pale. He hadn’t expected Fu Changsheng to be so ruthless, leaving not even a sliver of face. Panicking, he hastily raised the Talisman Treasure in his hand, and a massive pink shield appeared in front of him.

The Sword Qi slammed violently into the shield, deafening booms bursting forth. The shield’s light flickered uncontrollably as cracks spread quickly across it. The Joy Sect cultivator clenched his teeth, Spiritual Power surging madly in his body as he struggled to keep the shield intact.

Crack, crack!

Under the barrage of dense Sword Qi, countless fissures opened on the shield!

Fu Changsheng clearly froze for a moment; he hadn’t expected the Star Celestial Thunder Sword Array’s power to actually break through the protection of a Talisman Treasure. The Array was so strong that even he couldn’t help but be a little stunned.

The red-clothed Female Cultivator in the arena saw this scene.

Her gaze on Fu Changsheng grew even more curious.

Even the old man seated cross-legged in the void spared an extra glance for the battle on Fu Changsheng’s side.

Boom!

The pink shield shattered completely!

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