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With the release of the news, the atmosphere of the entire branch sect instantly became heavy, and all the Disciples immediately felt unprecedented pressure.

At this moment, Long Chen gathered the five Core Disciples of the Heaven and Earth Alliance to hold a meeting together.

For the Core Disciples, the mere thought of participating in such a battle made their blood boil.

However, not everyone had such courage, even though most people were rubbing their hands and sharpening their blades.

But there were still some who were filled with fear in their hearts, because the shadow of the final assessment had not yet dissipated; the scenes of those who failed the assessment and died miserably were still replaying in their minds.

"Long Chen, what should we do now?" Song Mingyuan asked.

Although Long Chen was not a Core Disciple, everyone looked to him for leadership. As long as it was something Long Chen decided, they would support it as always.

"The branch sect is suddenly handing out such great benefits to improve everyone's strength.

According to the branch sect's plan, in three months, the Disciples will go deep into the border of the Evil Path to hunt and kill Evil Path Disciples, earning a large amount of points.

This is a trial, a true life-and-death trial. It is no longer a game; there are no rules, and the only thing to do is to ensure you stay alive.

Because the experts of the Evil Path are sinister and ruthless, with endless methods; for them, killing is just a daily routine."

Compared to them, we are all flowers in a greenhouse, and we are at a great disadvantage!" Long Chen said with some worry.

Last time, in order to trick Guisha out of his Cultivation Technique, Long Chen learned about many Evil Path combat skills; those combat skills were so ruthless that they were shocking.

Almost all of these combat skills required killing to execute, using the lives of their own kind to lay their foundation, which was chilling.

Compared to these Disciples of the branch sect, they were better at fighting, showing off, and engaging in small conspiracies and petty tricks.

But if they encountered those Evil Path Disciples and were hit by their fierce blood Aura, I suspect many would be scared to the point of wetting themselves.

However, this is not because these Disciples are truly incompetent, but because their Family raised them to this point. This is what those Families call a "Genius".

To put it bluntly, they are products of test-oriented education. In martial arts competitions or arena fights, they can score full marks, but when it comes to a life-and-death battle, they are finished.

Whether one is talented or not depends on whether they are useful or useless, which is why Cang Ming shouted that sentence: The Disciples of the branch sect are just there to sharpen the blades of the Evil Path Disciples.

Although it sounded harsh, it was the truth. Otherwise, for so many years, the Righteous Path would not have been suppressed by the Evil Path. Whenever a war between the Righteous Path and Evil Path broke out, it was always initiated by them, while the Righteous Path was always in passive defense.

It seems that Cang Ming's words this time deeply shook Ling Yunzi's heart, and he is prepared to change his past conservative strategy and give it a go.

"That is indeed a fact. When the news was just received, many people's expressions changed; they hadn't walked out of the shadow of the final assessment yet," Ye Zhiqiu nodded and said.

At that time, many people mocked those who were timid, but they were severely reprimanded by Ye Zhiqiu. Although she knew they were joking, such jokes could not be made casually.

Whether a person's confidence is strong often determines their life or death on the battlefield. Long Chen's fierce battle with Wu Qi was a very vivid example.

Wu Qi's strength was unquestionable, but under Long Chen's powerful Aura and life-for-life attacks, he had a powerful cultivation base but was completely unable to unleash it.

He was killed by Long Chen before he could even release his ultimate move. How frustrating was that death? Yet, it was so logical.

According to normal logic, Wu Qi, as a Middle Stage Peak of the Tendon Tempering realm, might not even be killed if he were surrounded by ten experts of the Middle Stage of the Tendon Tempering realm.

Wu Qi's strength was far higher than Long Chen's, yet such a powerful person was killed as easily as chopping melons and vegetables. This makes one think deeply.

It was precisely because Ling Yunzi was inspired by Long Chen and had the reminder from Cang Ming that he finally gritted his teeth and made this decision.

One must know that this violated the rules of the branch sect. If the higher-ups found out, I'm afraid his position as Sect Leader would not be secure.

However, just as Cang Ming said, Ling Yunzi had been upright and obedient his whole life, with no faults, but also no achievements. Now, he wanted to place a bet on Long Chen.

Long Chen also faintly sensed Ling Yunzi's thoughts, which invisibly put a lot of pressure on him. This strategy was proposed by him; if it failed, it would implicate many people.

"I gathered everyone today for two reasons. One is to hope that everyone will try their best to soothe the emotions of the brothers; don't make things so tense, just work hard on your cultivation.

As for confidence, that is not their business; this heavy burden must fall on your shoulders," Long Chen looked at everyone and said.

"On our shoulders?" Everyone was puzzled.

"Yes, on your shoulders. As Core Disciples, you are the Soul of the entire force. Your performance relates to the life and death of everyone.

I need you to become stronger and more confident during this period. When the trial begins, set a good example and win a few beautiful battles.

Use your actions to tell everyone that the experts of the Evil Path are not terrifying. As long as you cut off their heads, they will die just the same," Long Chen smiled.

Everyone nodded. Long Chen's words indeed made sense, but the few of them immediately felt immense pressure.

Li Qi smiled bitterly: "When you put it that way, I feel like I have no confidence. What if I don't set a good example? Wouldn't the lives of hundreds of brothers be buried in my hands?"

The others couldn't help but smile bitterly as well. Tang Waner didn't feel much pressure, because she knew that the Heaven and Earth Alliance had Long Chen, and no one could shake the morale of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

"You have no confidence because you haven't gone through a real life-and-death test. How can you cultivate invincible confidence without it? Therefore, I will now begin a life-and-death trial for you," Long Chen said very seriously.

"A life-and-death trial? You're not joking, are you?" Everyone was shocked.

"It seems you still don't understand me. When you think I am serious, I am often joking, and when you think I am joking, I am basically always serious.

In a moment, the three of you will attack me together. Remember, this is not a sparring match, but slaughter. I want to force you into a desperate situation of death to stimulate your Ancestral Runes," Long Chen said.

"But will this work? You can't possibly really use lethal force," Luo Cang said with some doubt.

Their Family had already tested this countless times, trying to force them to the edge of death to activate their Ancestral Runes, but they all failed.

Moreover, at that time, it was always done without their knowledge, with the Family sending people to "assassinate" them.

Now that Long Chen has stated the outcome, this no longer has any meaning. Without fear, how can the Ancestral Runes be activated?

"You are wrong. If you cannot block my attacks, I will really kill you," Long Chen looked at the three coldly and said:

"I would rather you die at my hands than die at the hands of the Evil Path Disciples. At the very least, under my hands, you can keep your corpses intact."

The three's hearts beat wildly. Long Chen was actually serious, and at this moment, there was not a trace of emotion in Long Chen's eyes, just like when he was battling Wu Qi, filled with the desire for slaughter.

The three immediately felt the hair on their necks stand on end. At this moment, Long Chen was simply like a Devil King; he flipped his face as soon as he spoke.

They finally felt that Long Chen was serious. If they could not block Long Chen's attacks, they would undoubtedly die.

"Let's go."

Long Chen stood up, and the five followed silently behind him. They left the branch sect and came to a valley, where Long Chen stood alone facing Song Mingyuan, Li Qi, and Luo Cang.

"Now, imagine that the people beside you are your closest relatives. They could be your parents, they could be your lovers; they are the most important existences in your hearts.

And I am that cold-blooded, ruthless Evil Path demon. When someone wants to ruthlessly slaughter your closest relatives, how do you feel? Alright, begin!"

"Hum."

The bone blade in Long Chen's hand stabbed straight towards the still-dazed Song Mingyuan. The speed was as fast as lightning, aiming straight for Song Mingyuan's throat; his strike was a fatal blow.

Song Mingyuan was terrified. By the time he reacted, Long Chen's bone blade had almost touched his throat; there was simply no time to dodge.

Long Chen's bone blade carried an overwhelming force. Song Mingyuan almost saw the scene of his throat being pierced.

"Boom."

Just as the bone blade was about to touch Song Mingyuan's throat, Luo Cang was the first to react. He blocked with the large staff in his hand, colliding heavily with Long Chen's bone blade, emitting an explosive sound.

Although he parried Long Chen's bone blade, the mountain-destroying power from the bone blade was transmitted, and both of them were immediately sent flying.

Tang Waner and Ye Zhiqiu almost screamed. Long Chen had not held back at all in that move. If not for Luo Cang, Song Mingyuan would already be a corpse.

"Is Long Chen really going to kill someone?"

"On the first strike, I was intentionally half a beat slow. The next strike will definitely be merciless. Perhaps if I change my appearance, you will be better off."

After speaking, a hideous mask appeared in Long Chen's hand, like a life-taking ghost. He put it on his face, and the bone blade in his hand slashed out again, heading straight for Li Qi.

Li Qi shouted and collided his weapon with Long Chen's bone blade, but Long Chen's power was too terrifying. He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward.

Just as he was flying backward, Long Chen followed closely like a shadow, the bone blade slashing down towards Li Qi's neck.

"Li Qi!"

Luo Cang and Song Mingyuan were furious. Li Qi was completely unable to withstand this blow; if he were hit by the bone blade, Li Qi would undoubtedly die.

The two roared, disregarding their own injuries. It was already too late to rescue Li Qi, so the weapons in their hands stabbed straight towards Long Chen's vital points.

Long Chen snorted coldly, and with a shake of the bone blade in his hand, their weapons were immediately sent flying. Both of their bodies shook violently, and they spat out another mouthful of blood.

Long Chen's bone blade was like the blade of the Grim Reaper, slashing towards their necks. The speed was so fast that they could no longer dodge.

"Go to hell!"

Li Qi roared, pouncing on Long Chen. Without his weapon, he hugged Long Chen's arm and bit down.

Long Chen did not continue the attack. He slowly took off the mask and looked at Li Qi, who was biting his arm tightly and tearing wildly like a mad dog. A smile appeared on his face.

"Congratulations on successfully activating your Ancestral Runes."