The pig demon was killed. Another cage cart was pulled up, containing an even larger wolf demon. The wolf demon was slightly hunched, its head touching the top of the cage, its two paws gripping the iron bars as it stared at the many humans outside.
"Clang." The one-armed man opened the cage and calmly said to the wolf demon, "The rules have been stated before. Win three consecutive matches, and you can go back alive, enjoying good food and wine. Break the rules, and you'll be cut into a thousand pieces!"
"I know," the wolf demon growled hoarsely. It stepped onto the arena and immediately spotted the blood with its thick demonic aura. "It's that foolish pig's!" Although low-ranking demons often fought each other, at this moment, it felt a sense of sorrow for its fallen comrade. It knew it might also die on this very stage.
Yet, the truth was—this wolf demon won three consecutive matches, not only severely injuring one human youth but also tearing off another's arm. The arm was beyond healing.
After the wolf demon retreated, another demon naturally replaced it. One after another, battles continued. Both the human youths and the demons wanted to kill each other.
The disciples from the Eight Great Academies were incredibly serious, and some were even extremely nervous, as each of them had to participate. This was not a usual sparring match among fellow disciples but a genuine life-and-death struggle. The demons would show no mercy.
Liu Qiyue also entered the arena. She shot and killed a cat demon, but when facing a more ferocious leopard demon, she was forced to jump off the stage.
"Twenty-three academy disciples have already fought," Patriarch Meng Yanping murmured, "Dajiang, it's Meng Chuan's turn soon."
"Mhm," Meng Dajiang also looked towards Meng Chuan in the Mirror Lake Academy's formation.
Yes. It was Meng Chuan's turn. As the only Marrow Cleansing Realm disciple from the Eight Great Academies to have comprehended a secret technique, he was naturally scheduled to enter the arena last.
"Senior Brother Meng, be careful," Wan Mang said, his chest wrapped in bandages, still stained with blood. "The demons are very cunning."
"I know," Meng Chuan nodded.
Of the twenty-three academy disciples who had fought earlier, most were very cautious. Only six sustained serious injuries, all of which were treatable. Only one… had his arm torn off by that wolf demon. That disciple, named Bai Fengqi, was from the Bai family, one of the Five Great Godfiend Clans. He had been crying ever since jumping off the stage.
His grandfather was also present today and immediately reprimanded him angrily, "What are you crying for? You knew how powerful that wolf demon was, yet you were so reckless. Who can you blame? This was a one-on-one fight, and the demon even had chains on it. You lost an arm like this; if you were on the battlefield, you'd lose your life. Go back and train hard. Our family has plenty of single-arm sword arts."
Although he was scolding, the grandfather's eyes were slightly red. After all, this was his grandson, his pride and joy.
The academy disciples felt considerable sympathy for Bai Fengqi, who had lost an arm at only sixteen years old.
However, most of the deans, imperial officials, and high-ranking members of the Five Great Clans present remained calm. They had witnessed things a hundred or even a thousand times more brutal. This Demon-Slaying Grand Event was arranged by 'Yuanchu Mountain' to prevent human elites from dying on their first battlefield experience. Thus, young people were made to endure hardship and gain experience in their youth, so they would train harder and be more cautious in future battles.
"Six humans are seriously injured, and one is disabled. Twelve demons have entered the arena, five of them dead!" Meng Chuan was calm, without the slightest hint of nervousness or fear.
Because at the age of six, he had witnessed the horror of demons! On that occasion, over a hundred thousand people were slaughtered! If a Godfiend hadn't arrived, probably few would have survived within dozens of miles, and the human casualties would have doubled. That Godfiend alone made the demons collapse and flee in panic. It also allowed the scattered humans to survive. Meng Chuan's survival, besides his parents' desperate efforts, was also due to that Godfiend who arrived later.
Having experienced that, the current one-on-one battles, where demons were confined to the arena and human youths could escape with their lives by jumping off the stage… this truly felt gentle in comparison.
"Next, Mirror Lake Academy, Meng Chuan!" The imperial official's voice rose slightly.
Immediately, all eyes turned to Meng Chuan.
Meng Chuan had been the focus of discussion in Dongning Prefecture for the past few days. Everyone knew that Dongning Prefecture had produced another genius, a genius with the potential to become a Godfiend.
"Be careful," Dean Ge Yu exhorted.
"Yes, Dean," Meng Chuan stood up and walked towards the arena.
"A'Chuan, it's your turn!" Over at the Blazing Sun Academy, Liu Qiyue waved her fists repeatedly.
"Watch me," Meng Chuan smiled.
In the viewing stands, among the Yun family's contingent, Yun Fucheng watched from afar and chuckled, "Fuan, this Meng Chuan seems to have a good character, but he simply isn't fated with Qingping."
"Indeed, they're not fated," Yun Fuan said with a forced smile, but his gaze towards Meng Chuan was three parts colder.
The more outstanding Meng Chuan was, the more displeased Yun Fuan became.
Conversely, Yun Qingping was watching nervously at this moment. The day's events were quite stimulating for her; it was her first time seeing the legendary demons. The demons were truly so hideous and ferocious.
On the main platform, Palace Lord Yuyang sat, his gaze also fixed on Meng Chuan. He smiled and said to the person beside him, "Yuanzhi, this Meng Chuan also comprehended a secret technique at fifteen. You are currently the foremost talent among the younger generation in Dongning Prefecture, and he is the second. Moreover, being from the Meng family, Aunt Meng will surely cultivate him with all her might. His path might even be smoother than yours."
"The path of cultivation relies more on oneself! I will enter Yuanchu Mountain this year," said the slender young man, Mei Yuanzhi. "And recently, the Palace Lord has also guided me several times."
"Those were merely simple pointers. I must also remind you that you are only considered the foremost genius in Dongning Prefecture. There's only a twenty to thirty percent chance of entering Yuanchu Mountain," Palace Lord Yuyang smiled faintly. "If there are more geniuses this year, your chances of entering Yuanchu Mountain will be even lower. Yuanzhi, you must prepare. What will you do if you fail?"
"No need to think about that now. We'll talk about it if I fail," Mei Yuanzhi replied.
Palace Lord Yuyang said no more, instead watching the arena with interest. He was willing to guide Mei Yuanzhi because he hoped that each additional Godfiend would add to humanity's strength. Clearly, 'Meng Chuan' also held potential in his eyes.
Meng Chuan had already stepped onto the arena.
"Demon," Meng Chuan said, looking at the tall goat demon standing on the stage. The goat demon was large and burly, with thick arms, long, curved, sharp horns, and eyes glowing green as it stared at Meng Chuan.
"Human, if you're scared, get down now," the goat demon rumbled. "My two previous opponents, including that divine archer, were all scared into jumping off the stage."
Among the twelve demons that had already appeared, the goat demon was one of the strongest. It was intentionally scheduled for later, specifically for Meng Chuan to face.
"Scared? Of you?" Meng Chuan looked at it, his eyes changing, filled with intense killing intent.
"Chuan'er's gaze," Meng Dajiang watched from afar, a shock rippling through his heart. His son was usually amiable; he had never shown such strong killing intent before.
"Hahaha, you won't flee? I like brave human youngsters," the goat demon said, immediately charging forward with extreme speed, even creating streaks of afterimages.
Meng Chuan simply watched it, his mind more focused than ever before.
He was filled with endless killing intent towards these demons.
"Die."
As the goat demon closed in, it snarled ferociously and swung its claws, sending streaks of grey claw shadows across the air.
"Now!" Meng Chuan's heart stirred, and in an instant, his body, mind, and technique became one!
The intense killing intent, coupled with the hatred for demons he had harbored since childhood, allowed Meng Chuan's body and mind to synchronize even more perfectly at this moment, mobilizing far greater power than usual.
Ancient Godfiends had said that human potential was immense. At critical moments, astonishing power could be unleashed.
Meng Chuan fought the demon; the power and speed he unleashed were greater and swifter than during his usual training or sparring matches at Mirror Lake Academy.
"Pfft." A flash of saber light appeared, incredibly swift.
A satisfying, unhindered strike! A strike filled with killing intent!
The goat demon's eyes widened. It instinctively felt the approach of death and desperately tried to block with its arms, but it couldn't even touch the saber light. The saber light was not a straight line but an elusive curve, easily bypassing its outstretched arms and slicing across its neck.
Meng Chuan's saber was already back in its sheath, as if it had never moved, except for the fact that his standing position had shifted by five zhang.
"Gurgle." The goat demon stumbled a few steps forward before collapsing onto the ground. Simultaneously, its head rolled off to the side, and blood stained the ground.
Just one strike! The goat demon was dead!
A wave of exclamations erupted. Everyone had witnessed the goat demon's strength before; its combat techniques were remarkably skilled and powerful, even difficult for Body Tempering Realm experts to defeat. That's why it had easily won two consecutive matches earlier. Yet, in front of Meng Chuan, it was killed with a single strike?
Meng Chuan looked at the goat demon's corpse and whispered softly, "You are the first demon I have killed."
[2 minutes ago] Chapter 384: East Domain Six Territories
[5 minutes ago] Chapter 2184: Lo Qiqi's News?
[8 minutes ago] Chapter 1278: Against the Ultimate System,全面开战
[11 minutes ago] Chapter 383: Jade Pot Workshop Market
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