Chapter 2005: Testing

The words "Dragon Clan" caused a stir of astonished gasps.

Lie Qianhong's expression flickered. He looked at Ximen Borong. "Alliance Leader Ximen is truly capable to have a Horned Dragon condescend to assist you."

Ximen Borong merely smiled without speaking.

On the battlefield, Lie Zhuoyang and all the other Lie Sha Sect disciples turned ashen. An Eighth-level Divine Lord, and a Horned Dragon at that... just these words alone were enough to suffocate them, leaving no room for any fighting spirit.

"So it's a venerable member of the Dragon Clan. No wonder your Bai Lin Alliance is so confident," Lie Zhuoyang mumbled through clenched teeth, his heart filled with immense resentment. He was well aware that if the Lie Sha Sect lost to the Bai Lin Alliance, they would likely lose their qualification to enter the Lin God Realm... a consequence the Lie Sha Sect absolutely could not bear. Yet, when the proposal for all five parties to enter together was rejected in favor of using rankings to expel the "unworthy," his Lie Sha Sect had not objected in the slightest.

"However," he gritted out, his resentment still boiling over, "since the Lin God Realm is a gift from the Abyss Emperor, only the capable should enter. Inviting external aid... what kind of skill is that?!"

Ximen Hong, the Young Master of Bai Lin, smiled faintly. "If Young Sect Master Lie believes that the Lin God Assembly should prohibit external aid, you can propose it before the next assembly. Isn't it a bit too late to say it now? Furthermore, if inviting external aid doesn't count as skill, then why couldn't your Lie Sha Sect invite even one?"

Lie Zhuoyang's mouth twitched, unable to reply.

"Young Master, what... what should we do?" All the Lie Sha disciples looked to Lie Zhuoyang. After glancing at Lie Qianhong's expression again, Lie Zhuoyang exhaled a long, turbid breath and, in as calm a demeanor as possible, declared, "The Bai Lin Alliance's external aid is a venerable member of the Dragon Clan, and an Eighth-level Divine Lord. We ten do not believe we have any chance of resisting, so to avoid wasting everyone's time, we wish to concede." He emphasized the words "external aid" heavily. And the moment the words "Eighth-level Divine Lord" were uttered, the Qilin Divine Realm erupted once more in a sustained chorus of gasps.

"Heh, a wise choice," Ximen Hong said with a faint smile. From beginning to end, he had not released a single trace of profound energy. He was confident that the moment Long Jiang appeared, even the Pan Xuan Sect would collapse without a fight, let alone the Lie Sha Sect.

"The Lie Sha Sect concedes without a fight! The Bai Lin Alliance wins this battle!" The announcement rang out. Yet, outside the battlefield, there were no jeers, and no one felt shame for the Lie Sha Sect... because it was an Eighth-level Divine Lord Horned Dragon!

Throughout the history of the Lin God Assembly, many exceptionally talented external aids had appeared, changing the tides of battle. The presence of external aids brought various unpredictable variables to the Lin God Assembly and also added much to its allure. However, never before had an external aid in the Lin God Assembly been so outrageously powerful. Previous Lin God Assemblies only involved ranking, but this time, it also involved "elimination." The resentment and indignation in the hearts of the Lie Sha Sect could well be imagined. But, as Ximen Hong had said, it was too late for them to object now.

"The Dragon Clan..." Ku Xuan exclaimed with a sigh. "As the last remaining beast race in the current era, the Dragon Clan is said to have had very little contact with the outside world for a long time. What price did the Bai Lin Alliance pay to invite such a powerful Horned Dragon as an aid?" Ku Xuan's lament echoed the questions in everyone's hearts.

But when Yun Che heard it, his heart was greatly shaken. The last remaining beast race in the current era?! It was this phrase that made Yun Che suddenly realize something strange he had never noticed before. Before he ruled the God Realm, the God Realm's million-year history had always regarded the Western Divine Region as the strongest, with the Dragon God Realm as the most revered. And the Six King Realms that dominated the strongest Western Divine Region—the Dragon God Realm, Qilin Realm, Azure Dragon Realm, Imperial Horned Dragon Realm, Myriad Forms Realm, and Python Dragon Realm—were all beast races. But in the Abyss, the leaders of the Six Great Divine Nations were all human! The Abyss Emperor and the Four Divine Officials, whom he could only vaguely perceive from Mo Beichen's remnant soul, were also human. The Dragon Clan, whose bodies, talents, and lifespans far surpassed humans, were the undisputed supreme beings of all spirits in his original world... yet, in this world of the Abyss, they weren't even among the ruling "Divine Nations"?

Yun Che suddenly remembered that the one residing in the Lin God Realm was the Abyss's "last Qilin." In the God Realm, after the Dragon Clan, the Qilin race was the strongest. Yet, in this Abyss, only one remained? Had all the others perished? But whether dragons or Qilins, their bodies were far superior to humans of the same level. They should have been more resistant to Abyss Dust, so why would they... Thousands of doubts filled his mind, but Yun Che did not try to voice them. This was likely basic knowledge in the Abyss, and asking about it publicly might attract unnecessary suspicion. He glanced at Helian Lingzhu from the corner of his eye... it would be better to inquire from her privately.

The second battle of the Lin God Assembly thus ended without a fight. The third battle was supposed to be a free-for-all among the defeated Pan Xuan, Wan Ren, and Lie Sha Sects to determine the third, fourth, and fifth rankings. According to the rules they had set before the battle, the last-place contender would lose the qualification to enter the Lin God Realm this time. All members of the Lie Sha Sect had gloomy expressions, while the Pan Xuan Sect and Wan Ren Sect disciples looked as if they had swallowed something foul. For several eras, they had consistently held the first and second positions in the Lin God Assembly. But this time, even if they could enter, they would be in the lower ranks, and the number of people allowed to enter would be more than halved. This was a result they had never anticipated and certainly could not accept.

"Yang'er, don't be disheartened," Lie Qianhong whispered. "We are not entirely without a chance." His gaze swept over the locations of the Pan Xuan Sect and Wan Ren Sect... Yun Che had acted extremely ruthlessly. Five of the Wan Ren Sect's nine Divine Lords were still unconscious, and the remaining four had also suffered severe injuries. One of them, in particular... was still kneeling on the ground, unable to get up. The Pan Xuan Sect's strongest, Zhai Liancheng, was heavily injured and unconscious... even if he woke up, he would probably pretend to still be in a coma. The other nine seemed to have lighter injuries, but they were all dispirited.

"I understand," Lie Zhuoyang said, clenching his fists and nodding heavily. Just as the Lie Sha Sect was trying to rekindle its fighting spirit, Wan Wei, the Sect Master of Wan Ren, loudly declared, "Sect Master Pan Xuan, Sect Master Lie Sha, after the first round of battles, both my Wan Ren Sect and the Pan Xuan Sect have many heavily injured disciples. To proceed directly with the second round would undoubtedly be extremely unfair. Therefore, this second round of battles should be postponed by at least twenty-four hours."

These words undoubtedly infuriated Lie Qianhong on the spot, who roared, "Disciples' injuries are only due to their insufficient strength! How can you use that to postpone the Lin God Assembly? Wan Wei, have you lost all sense of shame?!" In the face of matters concerning the sect's future, there was no such thing as "alliance" or friendship.

"Sect Master Lie, don't get agitated," Zhai Kexie said much more calmly. "Sect Master Wan's words are entirely reasonable. However, this matter is not for you or me to decide; it must be left to Sir Knight to judge." The words Lie Qianhong was about to utter were immediately choked back into his throat.

Ximen Boyun spoke indifferently, "The Lin God Realm is for the capable to enter. If fairness is compromised due to temporary injuries, it would betray the true intent of the Abyss Emperor's gift." At these words, Lie Qianhong and all the Lie Sha Sect members instantly lost all hope. The Pan Xuan Sect and Wan Ren Sect, on the other hand, subtly exhaled in relief.

"As many participating profound practitioners are injured, the second round of battles for Pan Xuan, Wan Ren, and Lie Sha will be postponed for twelve hours. How much one can recover within twelve hours depends on their own abilities and fortune; no further delays will be granted." Ximen Boyun's words didn't end there. His gaze and tone shifted simultaneously: "Although the battle between the three sects must be delayed, the profound practitioners participating from the Helian Royal Family and the Bai Lin Alliance are all in prime condition. The battle for the top spot can proceed first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ximen Borong, without hesitation, said, "The Bai Lin Alliance respectfully obeys Sir Knight's will." Helian Lingzhu turned her gaze to Yun Che, and after seeing him nod slightly, she stepped forward and said, "The Helian Royal Family also has no objection."

"Good," Ximen Boyun nodded, a barely perceptible flicker of unusual light in his eyes. "Then we shall commence the battle for the top spot. However... in the battle between the Helian Royal Family and the Bai Lin Alliance, it's not necessary for everyone to fight. One person from each side should suffice. What are your thoughts?"

Everyone understood these words, and everyone agreed. The Lin God Assembly was originally a competition among the ten most outstanding profound practitioners of the younger generation from each faction. When operating at the same level, each person's strength was crucial. But if one of them was too powerful, so much so that they created a chasm, capable of easily overwhelming all others alone... Yun Che, who single-handedly crushed the entire Pan Xuan Sect and Wan Ren Sect. Long Jiang, who shocked the entire audience without even making a move, and caused the Lie Sha Sect to surrender just by standing still. What reason was there for anyone else to step onto the stage... rather, what qualification did anyone else have to be on the same battlefield as them? All eyes in the audience immediately converged on Long Jiang and Yun Che.

"Sir Knight's proposal is reasonable," Ximen Borong naturally had no objection. He looked down at Long Jiang, his voice showing clear respect and politeness. "May I ask what Young Venerable Long thinks?"

Long Jiang remained unmoving and unruffled. Even those closest to her could barely sense her presence.

Ximen Borong smiled faintly. "Young Venerable Long dislikes speaking, but not refusing means agreeing. Now, as for the Helian Royal Family..."

Yun Che directly stood up and strolled out casually. "These eight rotten prawns on our side stink, and I can't even be bothered to clean up those nine assorted fish on their side. This arrangement couldn't be better." With one sentence, he insulted both his own side and the opposing side. The Helian disciples were filled with shame and dared not look up. The nine Bai Lin disciples on the other side all showed anger... but after being angry for a long time, not a single one dared to act out. His figure flickered, and he was already standing on the battlefield, his gaze fixed directly on Long Jiang.

Compared to Yun Che's swift and decisive actions, Long Jiang remained standing far away, still and silent. After a long silence, just as Ximen Borong was about to speak again, she finally moved. Her loose, grey robe fluttered, and a lifeless current of air swirled, carrying her into the battlefield, where she stood in distant opposition to Yun Che.

Mo Cangying's eyebrows twitched slightly. In his eyes, Yun Che had previously been largely indifferent to everything, defeating the Pan Xuan Sect and Wan Ren Sect as if playing with ants. But this time, he seemed to be taking the initiative for the first time. Did he have some kind of interest in this person named Long Jiang?

Ximen Boyun slowly stood up. The curtain for this battle would be drawn by his own hand, that of a noble Abyss Knight. "This second round of the Lin God Assembly will determine the first and second places of this year's assembly. Although it's a single-person battle, the rules remain the same. You two, begin the battle!" His expression was calm, but his spiritual sense was firmly locked onto Yun Che. Long Jiang was an Eighth-level Divine Lord, and a Horned Dragon at that, which surpassed humans at the same cultivation level. As for Yun Che... his previous performance suggested he must possess at least an Eighth-level Divine Lord cultivation. A group of lower-level Divine Lords naturally couldn't probe Yun Che's true depth. But... what about Long Jiang? He was so eager to know Yun Che's true origins!

High in the sky.

"Wow, those two..." Hua Caili's face was alight with uncontrollable excitement and anticipation. This competition, which she had previously thought would be utterly boring, was turning out to be surprisingly captivating. "Auntie, Auntie, who do you think will win between them?" she couldn't help but ask. "What if... a tenth-level Divine Sovereign defeats an Eighth-level Divine Lord Horned Dragon? Would even Father God be surprised to hear that?" She was already imagining her father's expression, first disbelief, then utter astonishment.

Hua Qingying's voice came: "She is neither an Eighth-level Divine Lord nor a Horned Dragon." A touch of surprise entered the girl's eager gaze. "The Scarred Dragoness," Hua Qingying's voice came again. "I have heard of this person."

"Ah!?" The girl turned back, her lips parting in surprise. Someone even her aunt had "heard of"...

On the battlefield, Yun Che made the first move. He charged forward without any fancy moves, red lightning swiftly coiling around his body. Then, using his arm as a sword, he unleashed the simplest and most direct Heavenly Wolf Slash directly at Long Jiang. The sword aura transformed into a wolf, emitting a soul-shaking roar. Long Jiang slowly raised her hand. As her arm extended from beneath her gray robe, a pale dragon claw several yards in size appeared, directly grabbing at the roaring Heavenly Wolf projection that lunged towards her.

*Boom-hiss!*

The Heavenly Wolf bit the dragon claw, and the dragon claw tore at the Heavenly Wolf... In just a brief instant, the wolf projection and the dragon claw mutually annihilated each other, scattering into nothingness. Only traces of devastation remained on the ground. Then, both stood still in place, neither making a move for a long time.

Although it seemed like a casual move, it was, after all, the dragon might of an Eighth-level Divine Lord... When the battlefield suddenly went quiet, everyone's heartbeats seemed to stop with it. They all clamped their mouths shut, eyes wide, not daring to breathe. Because in the next instant, the battlefield could erupt with supreme dragon might as terrifying as a natural disaster or a tidal wave. Helian Lingzhu's fingers were tightly entangled in her sleeves, oblivious even as her delicate fingers contorted. Facing such a powerful Horned Dragon, how could she not be worried?

But no one expected that the suffocating silence between the two was not a build-up of power, but rather... a private message exchange.

"You... are indeed not a Horned Dragon," Yun Che spoke first.

"..." Long Jiang remained silent, but after a few breaths, she replied, "We are strangers with no grievances between us. Why dig up my past?"

"I have no interest in digging up your past, otherwise I wouldn't just be sending a private message," Yun Che said indifferently. "What I'm interested in is... what exactly in this Lin God Realm attracts you so much?"

"And what attracts you?" Long Jiang retorted.

"Don't worry, what I want will absolutely not be the same thing you want," Yun Che's tone conveyed undeniable certainty.

"That would be for the best," Long Jiang's voice was cold and emotionless, and she did not answer Yun Che's question at all.

Yun Che did not press further, continuing, "The Bai Lin Alliance is already among the top two, destined to enter the Lin God Realm, so your objective has been achieved. This Ximen Boyun obviously wants to use you to probe my true strength. A person like you shouldn't be interested in being someone's pawn, right? Furthermore," he curved his lips into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, "you definitely don't want to expose your true strength, do you?"

"...The same goes for you," Long Jiang responded coldly. She seemed naturally devoid of emotion.

Yun Che: "If that's the case, how about a draw?"

Long Jiang: "That would be ideal!"

Both moved their auras simultaneously and made their moves at the same time. The hearts of the long-held-breath crowd suddenly pounded... yet what they saw was the two auras gently colliding in mid-air, then each flying away, as if carried by a gentle breeze. Then, to everyone's bewildered gaze, as if perfectly measured, they landed outside the battlefield at the exact same instant.

"It seems to be a draw," Yun Che said immediately the moment his toes touched the ground. "Then both sides share the top spot, and each can choose three hundred and fifty people to enter the Lin God Realm. Everyone will be happy. Sir Knight, please announce the battle results."

"*!#￥...*" Ximen Boyun choked, unable to catch his breath, his chest aching. His gaze sharply pierced Yun Che, but it failed to elicit any change in the latter's expression, as if he hadn't noticed. As for Long Jiang on the other side... she simply turned around, and her grey figure merged into the crowd behind her, her presence vanishing completely within moments, as if she had disappeared.

"Forget it," Ximen Borong privately transmitted to Ximen Boyun. "It has to be this way. There will be plenty of opportunities to investigate Yun Che's background after we exit the Lin God Realm."

Ximen Boyun frowned slightly and calmly began, "The battle between the Helian Royal Family and the Bai Lin Alliance ended without a clear winner, thus it is ruled a draw, and both are ranked first..."

"Wait!" A sharp cry suddenly rang out. All eyes instantly turned to the source of the voice, only to find that the one who dared to interrupt an Abyss Knight's declaration was none other than Lie Qianhong, the Sect Master of Lie Sha.

Ximen Boyun's brows furrowed, and his voice deepened by several tones. "Sect Master Lie, what do you have to say?" Zhai Kexie, Wan Wei, Ximen Borong... and even all the members of the Lie Sha Sect wore expressions of astonishment and doubt, wondering what he suddenly intended.

Lie Qianhong took a deep breath, and when he raised his head, his face was solemn. "If it weren't an urgent matter, how would I dare interrupt Sir Knight's declaration?" He shifted his gaze to Yun Che. "This Yun Che's origins are unknown, and his cultivation is even more bizarre. The only information I have about him is that he suddenly appeared in the Lin Abyss Realm a month ago and was brought to the Royal Family by Princess Helian. Therefore, I have reason to believe that the Helian Royal Family is also completely unaware of his true background and identity."

"..." Helian Lingzhu's expression changed; she had no words to refute him. She truly knew next to nothing about Yun Che. Even Yun Che himself "knew nothing about himself." How could Helian Lingzhu's expression change escape Lie Qianhong's eyes? A faint smile touched his lips, and his voice deepened slightly. "Then, she probably doesn't know Yun Che's true age either."

"...!!" Helian Lingzhu suddenly realized something, and her face abruptly turned pale.

"..." Yun Che reached up and touched the tip of his nose.

"Furthermore!" Lie Qianhong's confidence surged, and his gaze suddenly shifted towards the direction Long Jiang had gone. "It is universally known that the Dragon Clan's strength lies in their bodies and lifespans, but also limited by their physical forms, their growth is quite slow. With equivalent talent, it takes dragons a much longer time to reach the same realm as humans. An Eighth-level Divine Lord cultivation achieved by a human at the age of sixty is unprecedented in the Lin Abyss Realm throughout history. Even in the Divine Nations, it would be as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns... and this Long Jiang invited by the Bai Lin Alliance is actually a Horned Dragon! Therefore," Lie Qianhong's voice boomed across the entire venue, each word ringing with power, "I suspect that neither of these two is under sixty years of age!"