Chapter 1889 (Raw 1900): Three Laughs
Xiao Chen defeated Zhang Ye in ten punches and obtained the last spot.
In this battle, Xiao Chen did not reveal anything. He did not even have to put in much effort after managing to catch one of Zhang Ye’s lapses.
He had used his Divine Dragon War Body, his physical advantage, to crush the other party.
Zhang Ye did not get any opportunity to retaliate at all. By the time he activated his True Dragon bloodline, the match was practically settled. There was no chance at all to turn things around.
This battle was not like Xiao Jinyu’s, defeating his opponent with one sword strike and chopping off his opponent’s arms, stunning everyone.
It was also not as splendid as the matches of Fang Tianyi, Qin Yan, and the other rich clan disciples.
However, Xiao Chen used his middle-stage Starry Sky Stage cultivation together with his superior physical body to trounce a Holy Venerate. This battle astonished people and made their eyes light up.
The overly low cultivation was both an advantage and a disadvantage.
“Congratulations. You have pa.s.sed the test and become the Heavenly Dragon Palace’s core disciples. Xiao Chen, Xiao Jinyu, step forward!” Elder Tian Yun said indifferently while seated on the throne after he swept his gaze over everyone.
Immediately, everyone’s attention focused on Xiao Chen and Xiao Jinyu.
The atmosphere turned somewhat heavy. Everyone knew what Elder Tian Yun’s words meant. He was going to choose one of the two to be his disciple.
“Whoos.h.!.+ Whoos.h.!.+”
Xiao Chen and Xiao Jinyu moved past the other new core disciples and arrived in front, directly facing Elder Tian Yun.
“How hateful. To think that this Xiao Chen is being considered by Elder Tian Yun. How am I not comparable to this fellow?”
“Although Xiao Chen is not strong now, his potential is great. Elder Tian Yun probably is interested in his potential.”
“However, his weakness is rather clear. Elder Tian Yun is still showing too much regard for Xiao Chen by comparing him with Xiao Jinyu.”
Of the remaining eight people, there were some that felt unhappy, but there were also some that still a.n.a.lyzed the situation objectively.
As for the old core disciples at the side, they showed somewhat complicated expressions. The people before them not only managed to pa.s.s the test and become core disciples but with some luck might also have caught the attention of the heaven-cla.s.s Elders. The latter would make these old core disciples feel even more frustrated.
Xiao Jinyu appeared radiant with happiness, showing a smile on his face. He did not hide his sharpness and confidence at all.
“The two of you, exchange one move with each other!”
Elder Tian Yun did not say anything else. After placing his palms together, he merely ordered the two to exchange a move.
The two first bowed to Elder Tian Yun, then to each other before starting to size each other up.
“Heaven has granted my wish. Earlier, I was a little upset that I was not facing you. Now, I finally have this chance.”
Xiao Jinyu clearly still brooded over the matter of Xiao Chen overtaking him in the second stage.
Now that Xiao Jinyu finally got this opportunity, his eyes shone with excitement.
When facing Xiao Jinyu’s strong aura, Xiao Chen smiled faintly, dealing with it easily. “You are rather confident. Make your move, then. Show me where your confidence comes from.”
“There’s a price to pay for arrogance!”
Xiao Chen’s att.i.tude enraged Xiao Jinyu. With a cold snort, Xiao Jinyu ferociously thrust his sword down.
Its scabbard stabbed into the ground made of divine materials. Shattered rocks flew up, and cracks spread out.
Xiao Jinyu’s sword intent spread out wantonly, and a terrifying sword wind blew from his body.
A gale rose. The sword was in the wind; the wind hid the sword.
“Whoos.h.!.+”
Xiao Jinyu’s figure flashed, stunning everyone. He was even faster than the sword wind.
It was clearly the sword wind that flew out first. However, Xiao Jinyu appeared in front of the sword wind in an instant.
The sword scabbard that was stabbed into the ground was already empty. At some point in time, the sword had appeared in Xiao Jinyu’s hand.
Xiao Jinyu, who was hidden by the sword wind in front of him, arrived before the sword wind. He focused the boundless sword intent and strong wind into this sword strike.
This sword strike was even more profound than the one he showed in the arena earlier.
This profound technique allowed Xiao Jinyu, who did not store up power at all, to infuse all his aura into the sword in his hand within one breath of time.
What was harder to achieve was the uncompromised speed of the attack despite him bringing out such great power.
Using my body as a cauldron to bridge the sky and the earth, merging the universe into one and drawing on the universe’s power.
“Sharp Spirit Finger!”
Xiao Chen remained as calm as he initially was. He drove his Veritable Essence Energy, Vital Qi, and Soul Energy, merging them into one before filling his entire body with it. Then, he forged his body into an unchanging ancient cauldron. He raised his hand and caught Xiao Jinyu’s sword with two fingers.
“Whoos.h.!.+”
The instant Xiao Chen caught the sword, the three vast energies in his body worked with the power of the world and solidified this s.p.a.ce.
No matter how much force Xiao Jinyu used, he could not budge his sword at all.
Vast energy, formed by the fusion of Veritable Essence Energy, Vital Qi, and Soul Energy, filled Xiao Chen’s entire body. His physical body endured a huge pressure and could crumble at any moment. He needed to vent this energy.
“Dang!”
Xiao Chen gently tapped with his finger, and this energy flowed out through the sword. Xiao Jinyu’s figure trembled as blood leaked out of his lips.
Then, Xiao Jinyu’s body got smashed into the air. After he landed, he stumbled three steps back before he could stabilize himself.
As Xiao Jinyu clutched his sword, he felt somewhat at a loss. He was not clear what Martial Technique Xiao Chen executed earlier.
“You are merely so-so,” Xiao Chen said softly with a smile as he looked at Xiao Jinyu, standing upright with his hands behind his back.
Xiao Jinyu’s face flushed red in dissatisfaction. When he prepared to make another move, Elder Tian Yun raised his hand and stopped the two.
Then, Elder Tian Yun said coldly, “I said it before: exchange one move.”
“Junior knows his mistake.” Xiao Jinyu startled awake and sheathed his sword, quickly apologizing.
The entire place fell silent. Everyone focused their gaze on Xiao Chen, still immersed in that earlier miraculous scene.
Who knew, after Elder Tian Yun’s gaze lingered on Xiao Chen for a second, he surprisingly s.h.i.+fted it to Xiao Jinyu.
“Xiao Jinyu, are you willing to take this old man as your master?”
Xiao Jinyu, who startled awake from the blow, was stunned for a moment. Then, he said joyfully, “I will be extremely glad to. Thank you, Master, for granting me this!”
Xiao Jinyu went down on one knee and performed the rite of taking a master.
The others were set abuzz. They were somewhat at a loss as to why Elder Tian Yun made such a choice.
However, after a while, everyone understood.
It was bloodline.
Xiao Chen possessed a mixed-blood dragon bloodline while Xiao Jinyu possessed a Grade 5 True Dragon bloodline. The difference was too great. Elder Tian Yun thought hard about it but still made this decision in the end.
“Everyone, step forward. I will issue you the core disciple ident.i.ty token.”
The ten took turns to go forward and receive their ident.i.ty tokens. At this moment, Xiao Jinyu already calmed his emotions. Then, he stood at Elder Tian Yun’s side.
However, there was still a shadow in Xiao Jinyu’s heart. Clearly, he had not dealt with the preoccupation in his heart from the earlier exchange.
When it was Xiao Chen’s turn, Elder Tian Yun looked at Xiao Chen as his right hand moved continuously, forming hand seals.
“Whoos.h.!.+”
Xiao Chen trembled, caught off guard as a bit of his soul was taken.
However, he did not panic. The people before him also had some of their souls taken by Elder Tian Yun.
The soul was for infusing into the ident.i.ty token to forge a unique mark that belonged to them alone.
Xiao Chen received his ident.i.ty token. He glanced at it and saw the words “Xiao Chen” at the back.
It startled him. Fortunately, the ident.i.ty that Tang Dan obtained for him was that of a Xiao Clan disciple.
Otherwise, if it did not match the information of the soul, he would be immediately exposed.
“Do you know why I did not choose you?” Elder Tian Yun softly asked Xiao Chen, not paying any mind to these details as he sat on the throne.
“I do not. There is no need to know. In any case, Senior will definitely regret this in the future.”
Xiao Chen put away the ident.i.ty token, not saying much to Elder Tian Yun. He merely expressed his opinion in a clear-cut manner.
Xiao Chen also felt somewhat upset in his heart. No matter how anyone looked at it, his performance was better than Xiao Jinyu’s.
Yet, the other party actually chose Xiao Jinyu.
As for the reason, Xiao Chen naturally knew. It was definitely bloodline.
However, how Elder Tian Yun chose was his business. Xiao Chen would not blame him. Time would prove everything.
These words scared everyone present. No one dared to speak.
Elder Tian Yun was stunned for a while. Then, he smiled. “Jinyu, if you do not work hard, I will truly embarra.s.s myself.”
“Xiao Chen, you were disrespectful to my master, but my master will not bicker with you. However, I will settle this account on behalf of my master. Just you wait,” Xiao Jinyu said coldly as he looked at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen looked back at the other party and smiled calmly. “Why wait? If you are willing, I can give you this opportunity now.”
Underneath Xiao Chen’s calm exterior, he hid a startling pride.
Suddenly, everyone discovered that this low-key youth did indeed have a tyrannical air that did not belong to a Star Venerate.
If a regular Star Venerate dared to say these words, he would only make others laugh, his words taken for a joke.
However, when Xiao Chen said these words, no one dared to laugh. Invisibly, Xiao Chen’s air already affected them.
“You…”
Xiao Jinyu felt so angered, he trembled somewhat. However, when he thought about that strange move and saw Xiao Chen’s calm expression, he found the other party unfathomable. He was no longer as confident as he was at the start; he now hesitated.
“Hahaha!”
Seeing Xiao Jinyu being like this, Xiao Chen let out three laughs. Then, he turned back and said, “Elder Tian Yun, do you still feel that you chose the right person?!”
Xiao Chen left amid laughter, presenting everyone with a proud and inhibited back figure.