Chapter 397: Combat Power Assessment, Easy Crushing

After the first round of the assessment ended, only eight hundred out of more than three thousand participants successfully advanced.

The remaining two thousand plus people were all eliminated.

On the Martial Arts Field, the atmosphere became even more tense.

Those who could pass the first round were all Geniuses whose Divine Sense strength had reached five stars or above.

In the upcoming assessment, the competition would become even more intense.

“Everyone.”

True Person Ziyang stood on the high platform and said loudly, “Congratulations on passing the first round of assessment.”

“Now, I will announce the rules for the second round of assessment.”

“The second round of assessment tests combat power.”

“The eight hundred people will face off in pairs; the winner advances, and the loser is eliminated.”

“In other words, after the second round ends, only four hundred people will remain.”

“Opponents are determined by drawing lots and are completely random.”

“Therefore…”

He paused: “Whether you can advance depends not only on strength but also on some luck.”

“If your luck is bad and you draw an opponent much stronger than yourself, then you can only accept your fate.”

“Now, let the drawing of lots begin.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a huge light screen appeared in the center of the plaza.

On the light screen, the numbers of all those who advanced were displayed.

The numbers kept jumping, forming random combinations.

A moment later, four hundred pairs for the duels were displayed on the light screen.

Zhou Chen looked at the light screen and quickly found his opponent.

[Second Round, Match 123]

Number 237 Zhou Chen (Venerable Realm Sixth Layer) versus Number 412 Zhao Hu (Venerable Realm Seventh Layer).

“Venerable Realm Seventh Layer…”

Zhou Chen thought to himself: “Not too strong, this will be easy.”

He scanned the light screen, looking for Murong Fei's duel.

[Second Round, Match 99] Number 99 Murong Fei (Venerable Realm Ninth Layer) versus Number 531 Li Ming (Venerable Realm Seventh Layer).

“Li Ming, Venerable Realm Seventh Layer…”

Zhou Chen shook his head: “This Li Ming has bad luck.”

“Facing Murong Fei, there is basically no possibility of advancing.”

After the duel list was announced, the second round of assessment officially began.

Dozens of arena stages in the center of the plaza opened simultaneously.

On every arena stage, an intense battle was taking place.

“First match, begin!”

With the referee's command, the two Cultivators on the arena stage instantly erupted.

Boom!

Spiritual energy collided, and Laws surged.

The two went back and forth, fighting inseparably.

The surrounding audience watched with boiling blood, constantly letting out cries of surprise.

One battle after another played out on the arena stages.

Some used superb skills to defeat the strong as the weak.

Some had high cultivation but were defeated because they underestimated their enemy.

There were also those with equal strength who fought for hundreds of rounds before a winner was decided.

Soon, it was time for Murong Fei's duel.

“Match 99, Murong Fei versus Li Ming!”

“Both sides, take the stage!”

Murong Fei's figure flashed as he leaped onto the arena stage.

His opponent, Li Ming, was a thin and small young Cultivator who looked somewhat nervous.

“Please go easy on me.”

Li Ming cupped his hands, his expression cautious.

He knew that Murong Fei was a Genius rarely seen in a hundred years in Qingfeng City, and he was simply no match for him.

But since he had drawn this lot, he could only brace himself and go for it.

Murong Fei sneered: “Go easy?”

“You're not worthy.”

“This young master is in a bad mood today; I'll make you lose very miserably.”

He glanced at Zhou Chen in the spectator seats, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

In the first round of assessment, he had been suppressed by Zhou Chen's ten-star evaluation, and he was holding back a surge of anger.

Now, he would just use Li Ming to vent his frustration.

“Battle, begin!”

The referee gave the command.

Murong Fei instantly erupted, his figure turning into a streak of white light as he charged toward Li Ming.

“Yunxiao Sword Technique — Sky-Rending Slash!”

He drew his sword, and the sword light was like a rainbow, containing terrifying power.

Li Ming's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly activated his defensive Magic Treasure.

A Spirit Shield emerged in front of him, emitting a faint light.

But this Spirit Shield was only a Spirit Rank Low Grade Magic Treasure; it couldn't block Murong Fei's attack at all.

Crack—

The sword light slashed onto the Spirit Shield, and the Spirit Shield shattered instantly.

With undiminished force, it slashed directly onto Li Ming's body.

Puff!

Li Ming spat out blood, his body flying backward and crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena stage.

Defeated in one move!

The whole place was in an uproar.

“So strong!”

“As expected of Murong Fei, he defeated his opponent in one move!”

“That Li Ming is only at the Venerable Realm Seventh Layer, but he shouldn't be this weak…”

“It seems Murong Fei really has killing intent; he didn't show any mercy.”

On the arena stage, Li Ming struggled to stand up, but his injuries were too severe for him to move at all.

The referee quickly stepped forward to check Li Ming's injuries.

A moment later, the referee announced: “Li Ming is heavily injured and cannot continue the battle.”

“The winner, Murong Fei!”

Murong Fei sheathed his sword, gave Li Ming a cold look, and then turned to leave the arena stage.

As he passed the spectator seats, his gaze fell on Zhou Chen, his eyes full of provocation.

It was as if he were saying: “Did you see that? This is my strength. If you dare to step onto the stage, I will make you even more miserable than him.”

Zhou Chen was expressionless and had no reaction.

—

The battles continued.

Soon, it was Zhou Chen's turn.

“Match 123, Zhou Chen versus Zhao Hu!”

“Both sides, take the stage!”

Zhou Chen's figure flashed as he leaped onto the arena stage.

His opponent, Zhao Hu, was a burly man with knotted muscles and a fierce Aura.

“Kid, your luck is bad.”

Zhao Hu sneered: “Facing me, even if you are a ten-star Genius, you'll have to kneel today.”

“I Cultivate a Body Refining Cultivation Technique; my Physical Body strength is comparable to a Spirit Rank Medium Grade Magic Treasure.”

“You, a pretty boy at the Venerable Realm Sixth Layer, what do you have to fight me with?”

Zhou Chen said indifferently: “We'll know after we try.”

A flash of anger appeared in Zhao Hu's eyes: “Arrogant!”

“In that case, I'll let you see what true power is!”

“Battle, begin!”

The referee gave the command.

Zhao Hu instantly erupted, his muscles swelling and his Aura surging.

“Vajra Tyrant Body — Open!”

His skin turned bronze, emitting a metallic luster.

This was a special state of Body Refining Cultivation Techniques that could greatly increase defense and strength.

“Kid, die!”

Zhao Hu threw a punch, and the air exploded.

The punch contained terrifying power, enough to shatter a small mountain.

In the spectator seats, many people broke into a cold sweat for Zhou Chen.

“Oh no, this Zhao Hu's Body Refining Cultivation Technique is very strong!”

“Although Zhou Chen's Divine Sense is strong, his cultivation is only at the Venerable Realm Sixth Layer. Can he block this punch?”

“It's hard to say… Body Cultivators are the most difficult to deal with.”

On the arena stage.

Facing Zhao Hu's attack, Zhou Chen remained unperturbed.

He raised his right hand and gave it a gentle wave.

“Void — Domain.”

Buzz—

An invisible Domain instantly expanded, enveloping the entire arena stage.

Within the Domain, Zhao Hu's movements suddenly became sluggish, as if he had fallen into a quagmire.

“What?!”

Zhao Hu's face changed drastically: “This is… a Domain?”

“You're only at the Venerable Realm Sixth Layer, how could you possibly master a Domain?”

If a Venerable Realm Cultivator wanted to master a Domain, they had to have an extremely deep understanding of the Laws.

And those who could master a Domain in the Venerable Realm were all peerless Geniuses.

“Nothing is impossible.”

Zhou Chen said indifferently: “Your speed is too slow.”