Chapter 446 - 235: At This Moment, Jiang Che Is Their God!!

’These Illusion Beasts... their realms look intimidating, but they’re really just empty shells. Their actual combat ability is far worse than a Martial Artist of the same layer.’

’Aside from their numbers, there’s nothing special about them.’

’I guess... the others should be able to beat them too, right?’

After all, in his view, everyone who had lasted this long had to be from the top tier of their respective State Mansions. They should have at least this much skill.

’In that case...’

’I’ll hold out a little longer.’

Jiang Che quickly began planning his next move.

’I’m not aiming for first or second place, and I don’t want to be the one who sticks his neck out.’

’But if I get a high enough rank and show sufficient potential, I might be noticed by some big shot from the True Mastery Realm and receive special training. Then I’d be set!’

’Playing the pig to eat the tiger is a tactic for survival.’

’But if I actually end up playing the part of the pig and get slaughtered, that would be a real tragedy!’

In this cruel Martial Arts World, only by showing sufficient value could one obtain the resources and protection to match!

Of course, he had to get the balance just right.

’It won’t do to be too conspicuous, either.’

Jiang Che’s gaze hardened slightly.

’If my performance is too over-the-top, it’ll attract too much jealousy and hostility. If I get targeted by some hostile major power or a narrow-minded expert who wants to eliminate a potential threat, they might send someone from the High-tier of the True Master Realm, or even a big shot from the True Mastery Realm, to assassinate me...’

’...it would be too late to even cry!’

In the past, such instances of nipping a genius in the bud were all too common!

’So...’

Jiang Che settled on his strategy.

’I need to reveal a portion of my strength that’s far beyond ordinary to prove my worth.’

’But I can’t be so outrageously powerful that I attract uncontrollable killing intent!’

’This is the true path to survival!’

Gazing at the churning mist ahead, Jiang Che took a deep breath and adjusted his state.

’A few more rounds... that should be enough!’

...

「In the plaza.」

The crowd’s eyes were glued to the shimmering Teleportation Array, waiting nervously.

"It’s been so long... still no sign of anyone?"

"The next one out has to be Jiang Che, right?"

"Definitely him! No doubt about it! His performance earlier was stunning, but the gap in their realms is undeniable! The Illusion Beasts inside have probably been enhanced to the Fifth Layer of the True Master Realm by now! For someone at the Second Layer of the True Master Realm like him, lasting this long is already the absolute limit!"

"That’s right. No matter how many tricks he has up his sleeve, he should have hit his limit in the face of such an absolute, crushing power!"

Amidst the discussion, the light of the Teleportation Array suddenly flared!

BUZZ—

A figure was suddenly flung out by the great array!

Everyone subconsciously craned their necks, silently chanting one name in their minds.

Jiang Che!

However.

The moment the mist cleared and they saw the figure clearly...

...the entire crowd...

...was stunned once again!

It was a burly man carrying a massive Nine-Ring Saber on his back.

His eyes were defiant and untamed, filled with an air of unparalleled arrogance!

It was actually...

...Lei Kuang, the Young Sect Leader of the Desert Mad Saber Sect!

HUFF... HUFF...

Far from the dejection of a loser, Lei Kuang was filled with the exhilaration and pride that came from pushing his limits!

’Late-stage Fifth Layer of True Master Realm... all of them wiped out!’

’Fifth Layer Peak of True Master Realm... I even cut down more than a dozen of them!’

He roared wildly in his mind.

One had to understand, that was a full forty-six of them!

With two more added each wave, the number had unknowingly stacked up to a terrifying forty-six!

Forty-six Illusion Beasts at the Fifth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm!

Even if the Illusion Beasts lacked intelligence and weren’t as difficult to deal with as human Martial Artists, it was still a genuine realm suppression! It was the brute force of numbers, enough to overwhelm anything!

Faced with such a hopeless beast tide, even a true expert at the Fifth Layer of the True Master Realm would likely have been defeated on the spot!

And yet he, Lei Kuang, with his cultivation at the Fourth Layer of the True Master Realm, had carved a bloody path and held on until now!

’I gave my all in that battle!’

’Looking at all the competitors, besides Xiong Tong with his Barbaric Power and that uncanny Nalan Ruoshui, I refuse to believe anyone is stronger than me!’

’This time... even if I don’t get first place, I, Lei Kuang, am guaranteed a spot in the top three!’

Filled with this powerful confidence, Lei Kuang slowly walked toward the crowd.

He held his head high, ready to receive the cheers befitting a powerful expert, ready to bask in the crowd’s gazes of awe and admiration.

However, as his gaze swept across the crowd, the smile on his face gradually froze.

Something was wrong!

The atmosphere... it was all wrong!

There was no thunderous applause as he had imagined.

None of the fanatical gazes one would expect when looking at a peerless genius.

In its place...

...were faces filled with shock, confusion, and even... disbelief!

Their expressions were as if they had seen something that shouldn’t exist!

"How... how is it him?"

"Why is it Lei Kuang?"

Vaguely, Lei Kuang could hear the whispers coming from the crowd.

’Confusion?’

’No, wait, what’s with the confusion??’

’I fought that ferociously, shouldn’t you all be shocked?’

’Why is everyone giving me that "how did this scrub get eliminated" look?!’

An extremely absurd and ominous premonition instantly surged through him.

Lei Kuang whipped his head around, his eyes locking onto the massive ranking Jade Disc on the other side of the plaza!

The next second, his pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpricks!

[Lei Kuang]

[Rank: Five]

Fifth place?!!

’Ahead of me...’

’...there are still four others?!!’

When he clearly saw the four names that had yet to be eliminated, he froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning!

’Xiong Tong and Nalan Ruoshui were one thing. It was even understandable that Long Yu’er could last a bit longer thanks to her Body Technique.’