Chapter 2722 - 2723: Challenge

The crowd at the challenge point indeed surprised Feng Yuan, because the place was bustling with people; if not for the tents and temporary buildings, one might think it was a new village.

Even so, Feng Yuan could still see people constantly arriving and expanding the crowd. The official personnel who originally guarded this place had now retreated to Kuocha Village; they needed to ensure that this group of people wouldn’t threaten the safety of Kuocha Village’s property.

As for the order at the challenge point? That was not something they needed to worry about. As the number of people increased, even if the rules board was not maintained by official personnel, everyone would consciously obey.

At this moment, everyone’s goal was to gain Ascension Stones through challenge; the rules set by the officials benefited them, so even if someone was displeased, others would use their strength to make them honestly follow the established order.

Even Feng Yuan was unavoidable; although he had enough power to break these rules, the consequences were too severe. He didn’t want to do that, especially since the challenge only lasted three days. Since these temporary regulations could operate spontaneously, why bother being the villain? Moreover, if the rules are broken, officials would undoubtedly send personnel to maintain order, which would actually be causing them trouble.

There weren’t many rules here. In the camp, the first-come-first-served rule was followed: whoever occupied the spot first was the owner. As for queuing, it goes without saying; rushing to the challenge point in a swarm wastes everyone’s time. As for other rules, they seemed somewhat irrelevant.

Feng Yuan initially considered whether to occupy a spot, regarding the current situation, as the open space would increasingly distance from the challenge point. However, given the challenge could be settled in two or three attempts, Feng Yuan decided to give up.

There was nothing entertaining about this place, and even Kuocha Village wasn’t on Cha Mu Town’s tourist recommendation list. Now it’s lively merely because of the challenge point.

Camping there held no interest for Feng Yuan; these people were merely focused on passing challenges, with no chance of gathering for evening activities to create a bustling scene.

The queue was long. This was Feng Yuan’s immediate thought as he joined the line, although the queue’s progress was not slow, rather spending much time moving slowly forward.

Even when Feng Yuan arrived, there were already many people in line. He didn’t spend much time waiting until reaching the challenge point.

"Are you sure you want to challenge together?"

Gazing at the distant pillar of light, Feng Yuan asked Xiao Ji and the others for confirmation again. Receiving their confident replies, Feng Yuan smiled wryly and didn’t persuade further. From the start of queuing to reaching the end point took less than ten minutes; even if they failed, they could quickly return.

Anyway, after failing once, Feng Yuan believed they wouldn’t be so arrogant. Next time, they should pass through.

Considering each queue only allowed one challenger, Feng Yuan estimated two more queuing attempts should suffice.

While Feng Yuan was considering these matters, the queue reached its end. He glanced at Xiao Ji and the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, who stepped boldly into the light beam. As the weightlessness vanished, Feng Yuan found himself standing under a starry sky, beneath his feet was a large fragment of a small asteroid.

Facing two meteorite-like creatures with different colors, Feng Yuan stroked his chin and said,

"Are you considering using the Qi Realm Stance?"

Although it synchronously changes, the integrated effect of Qi Realm Stance was valuable for Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound’s cooperative combat, much better than individually fighting.

However, Xiao Ji opposed. In Qi Realm Stance, its Divine Beast Technique changes, and at least in its view, the Crimson Judgement was more useful.

Seeing Xiao Ji refuse, Feng Yuan said no more, as the battle started, a transparent barrier formed in front of Feng Yuan, separating him from the battlefield, an expected occurrence.

One big reason those people needed repeated challenges was that the challenge didn’t allow Beastmasters to command the combat. Of course, post-battle summaries to find counter-strategies were unaffected, which was also why Beastmasters needed to enter the battlefield.

Capable of flexible autonomous combat, Beast Tamers were after all in the minority. Most Beast Tamers relied on Beastmasters’ command to exert full strength. However, this challenge restricted that.

While not absolute, most potent potential Beast Tamers had strong flexible autonomous combat abilities, which explains why Feng Yuan didn’t bother instructing them. Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound had strong autonomous combat abilities.

Even ordinarily, Feng Yuan rarely commanded them, at most reminding them of response measures when necessary.

Xiao Ji unhesitatingly unleashed the Crimson Judgement, while beside him, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound resisted loneliness by deploying the Round Moon Forest Domain. Utilizing the Round Moon Forest Domain, Xiao Ji seized the chance for amplification, aiming to enhance the Crimson Judgement’s power to the fullest.

However, the purple-colored meteorite creature merely spun, the nebula swirling; within the nebulous covered area, the descending Crimson Judgement vanished without a trace.

Seeing this, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound immediately attacked, flames erupted but met the chilling air released by the ice-blue meteorite.

"Indeed, it even restrains the Crimson Judgement."

Veronia said curiously. The constantly rotating nebula ultimate move was rarely used, but in specific situations, it was highly targeted.

Mutation Erasure, was the name of that nebula ultimate move. Its effect was single but powerful, capable of reverting all inter-spatial beings within its range back to their original space, disregarding enemy and ally.

Of course, this involved permission levels, normally ineffective against Divine Beast Techniques. Unfortunately, it targeted Xiao Ji itself, directly resulting in this highly restraining ultimate move completely countering the Crimson Judgement.

The entire Crimson Judgement ultimate move was essentially Xiao Ji tearing space to harness the force of the Yin World against opponents. The descending fireball and Stele were not products of the Main World.

Confronting active Mutation Erasure, could only watch helplessly as those attacks were sent back.

"Too reliant on the Crimson Judgement indeed."

Shaking his head helplessly, Feng Yuan was at a loss regarding how to address Xiao Ji. Despite the amazing power sourced from the Yin World, overly relying on one ultimate move wasn’t ideal.

With the Crimson Judgement thoroughly countered, Xiao Ji could only shift its attack methods; however, its opponent was entirely tailored against it, originally there was a chance to seize openings between ultimate move gaps for breakthrough attacks.

Unfortunately, Fluffy Fire Wolfhound also faced severe suppression from its adversary, unable to engage and distract the corresponding enemy. These two meteorite creatures supported one another when a flaw appeared, making it impossible for Xiao Ji or Fluffy Fire Wolfhound to exploit gaps.

As for violent breakthroughs?

Neither Xiao Ji nor Fluffy Fire Wolfhound possessed the ability. Veronia suspected even if she intervened, there likely wouldn’t be a possibility for violent resolution.

Yet if Xiao Ji alone battled its opponent, Veronia believed victory was not unattainable, because although the opponent could counter Xiao Ji’s ultimate move, Divine Beast Techniques weren’t easily negated.

Each time Xiao Ji’s Divine Beast Techniques were cleared, the meteorite creature inevitably fell into a brief freeze. If not for the other meteorite creature intervening, Xiao Ji would have ample opportunity to capitalize on the flaw for a series of attacks to defeat that entity.

"Strange, full defensive stance doesn’t quite align with the challenge rules. This thing should have other means, otherwise grinding out a war of attrition wouldn’t necessarily fall out of Xiao Ji’s favor."

Stroking his chin, Feng Yuan suspiciously observed the meteorite creature consistently employing defensive strategies; this entity wasn’t possibly just a target, otherwise, for some Spirit Beasts, it would hold excessive advantages.

Of course, the same applied to Xiao Ji; in a war of attrition, that entity wasn’t necessarily a match for Xiao Ji.

"You didn’t notice its core surrounded by a circle of gemstones, perhaps it’s charging. "

Veronia gave a slight humph and commented. The meteorite creature had an area encircled by gemstones, and these gemstones were nearly all lit at present. Speculating it wasn’t a countdown of sorts, Veronia didn’t believe.

"Then that’s a hassle indeed."

Just as his words fell, the last gemstone lit, and the meteorite creature suddenly emitted white light. The next second, white radiance filled this space, and Feng Yuan paused, saying,

"This method, without rule enhancement, I really wouldn’t believe any Spirit Beast could operate like this; Divine Beasts are more likely."

"Hmm, even Divine Beasts might not achieve it."

Although surrounded by a blank whiteness, Veronia and Feng Yuan knew exactly what had occurred.

Defensive counterattack, Xiao Ji’s Qi Realm Defensive Stance was of this type, however, that thing absorbed attacks and ultimately released them all simultaneously.

Or rather, duplicated all received attacks during the charging stage, and released them in an instance.

Given Xiao Ji had launched numerous Divine Beast Techniques, now being discharged in one go, Feng Yuan understood the outcome had been decided.