Chapter 197: Like a Hot Knife Through Butter

A fierce roar echoed as the monster patterns on the stone wall seemed to come alive and emerged from within. Ten low-grade, first-tier monsters, including common types such as demon rats, demon boars, and demon wolves, appeared. The ten monsters lunged at Wang Changsheng from all directions with extreme speed.

Not wanting to expend too much spiritual power, Wang Changsheng immediately released five low-grade, second-tier puppet beasts: three crow puppets and two giant bear puppets. The three crow puppets each spewed out crimson fire blades at the approaching monsters, while the two giant bear puppets wielded their spiked clubs, smashing them towards the creatures.

A series of loud bangs rang out. The ten low-grade, first-tier monsters couldn't even get close to Wang Changsheng, as the five low-grade, second-tier puppet beasts easily dispatched them. After the ten low-grade, first-tier monsters were eliminated, ripples appeared in the void. Wang Changsheng's vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in another hall of the same size, its stone walls also carved with numerous monster patterns.

A roar sounded, and the monster patterns on the stone wall seemed to come alive as five mid-grade, first-tier monsters emerged from within. These five mid-grade, first-tier monsters were naturally no match for Wang Changsheng, who easily passed this stage. The third level featured three high-grade, first-tier monsters, which were also no match for him.

On the fourth level, Wang Changsheng encountered five low-grade, second-tier demon wolves. The demon wolves were two *zhang* long and half a *zhang* tall. Their fur was vibrant, and their bodies were entirely red. With a single wolf howl, five colossal fireballs hurtled towards Wang Changsheng from all directions.

Wang Changsheng did not dare to be careless. He conjured his Profound Ice Flag, and with a gentle wave, a large volley of white ice needles shot out, shattering the five colossal fireballs. The five red demon wolves charged forward, opening their gaping jaws to reveal a row of sharp fangs, and lunged at Wang Changsheng. A white cloud cluster materialized beneath Wang Changsheng's feet, carrying him rapidly upwards.

The five red demon wolves could not fly, so they could only spew crimson fireballs to attack Wang Changsheng. However, Wang Changsheng, controlling the Profound Ice Flag, easily neutralized their assaults. The three crow puppets each spewed crimson fire blades at the red demon wolves and dove down with outstretched wings. The two giant bear puppets wielded their spiked clubs, smashing them towards the five demon wolves.

Wang Changsheng waved the Profound Ice Flag in his hand. A white light shot from its tip, transforming into a massive white cloud from which heavy rain began to fall. Soon after, the ground became soaked. Wang Changsheng then forcefully waved the Profound Ice Flag in his hand, causing a large expanse of white cold air to shoot from its surface, striking the ground. The ground quickly froze, and the ice layer rapidly spread.

Two demon wolves were caught off guard; their limbs were frozen, followed by their entire bodies, turning them into ice sculptures. The other three red demon wolves ran towards the distance, spewing crimson flames to melt the ice layer. The hall's limited area meant they couldn't escape. Coupled with the harassment from the three flying puppet beasts, it wasn't long before they were also frozen. A thick layer of ice appeared on the ground, emitting a bone-chilling coldness. Wang Changsheng conjured his Azure Cloud Crescent Blade and slew the five frozen demon wolves.

He put away his puppet beasts and magical artifacts. His vision blurred again, and he reappeared in a spacious hall. As soon as he appeared, a fierce roar sounded. Four mid-grade, second-tier monsters flew out from the stone wall. Two green giant tigers, about a *zhang* long, and two white giant eagles, about a *zhang* in size, attacked Wang Changsheng from the ground and high in the air, respectively.

"Roar! Roar!" Two angry tiger roars rang out. The two green giant tigers pushed off with their legs, leaped up, and lunged at Wang Changsheng. "Whoosh, whoosh" sounds of air being torn rang out. Before they even got close, each beast spewed out a dozen or so foot-long green wind blades, slashing towards Wang Changsheng.

The two white giant eagles spread their enormous wings and flapped them fiercely, producing loud "whoosh-whoosh" sounds as dense white feathers shot out. Wang Changsheng waved the Profound Ice Flag in his hand, and a large amount of white cold air shot from the flag's surface, forming a white ice wall several *zhang* tall and about two feet thick, blocking in front of him.

"Boom!" With a loud bang, the white ice wall shattered into pieces. Wang Changsheng took out a white short ruler and gently waved it. A dense white light barrier materialized closely around him. Dozens of white feathers struck the white light barrier, producing muffled sounds like rain hitting leaves on a fence.

Wang Changsheng intended to finish the fight quickly. He simultaneously released seven low-grade, second-tier puppet beasts: five flying puppets and two spider puppets. The two white giant eagles released white feathers, which struck the flying puppet beasts, producing muffled thuds. The five flying puppet beasts then engaged the two white giant eagles. Seizing this opportunity, Wang Changsheng manipulated the two spider puppets to attack the two green giant tigers.

Although the green giant tigers were illusions, their physical bodies were as formidable as true monsters. Dense white ice cones struck their bodies but did not cause them much harm. The two spider puppets each spewed a slender spider silk, entangling the limbs of one green giant tiger. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Changsheng waved the Profound Ice Flag in his hand, and a large expanse of white cold air swept out, striking this green giant tiger and freezing it into an ice sculpture. Next, he repeated the trick, freezing the second green giant tiger. He conjured his Azure Cloud Crescent Blade and slashed at the two green giant tigers that had been frozen into ice sculptures. Two loud bangs rang out one after another, and the two ice sculptures were shattered.

With two clear cries, the two white giant eagles circled once and lunged at Wang Changsheng. Before they even landed, each released a large volley of white feathers, striking towards Wang Changsheng. The white feathers continuously struck the white light barrier, producing muffled thuds.

The five flying puppet beasts pursued them. One white giant eagle circled and turned around, opening its mouth to spew a large expanse of white cold air. Two puppet beasts, upon contact with the cold air, quickly froze into ice sculptures and plummeted from the sky. The other white giant eagle dove down from high in the air, quickly reaching the space above Wang Changsheng. It opened its mouth and spewed a large expanse of white cold air, striking the white light barrier. A thick layer of ice rapidly appeared on the surface of the white light barrier. The white giant eagle's massive claw raked across the ice layer. With a muffled thud, the white light barrier shattered, and the white giant eagle's two claws reached for Wang Changsheng's crown.

Wang Changsheng's figure flickered, splitting into seven. The white giant eagle's claw grabbed the crown of one of the Wang Changsheng figures, which then dispersed into specks of blue light. Wang Changsheng broke out in a cold sweat. No wonder most challengers stopped at the fifth level; the monsters there were indeed quite powerful. He was almost killed by the monster.

He fiercely waved the Profound Ice Flag in his hand, and a large expanse of white cold air surged out, striking the white giant eagle. The white giant eagle flapped its wings, and a large volley of white feathers shot out, shattering the white cold air. Two white lights shot over, transforming into two giant spider webs that covered the white giant eagle and rapidly tightened. Seizing this opportunity, the Profound Ice Flag in Wang Changsheng's hand glowed brightly, and a large expanse of white cold air surged from its surface, freezing this white giant eagle. He then immediately struck it with his Azure Cloud Crescent Blade. The other white giant eagle was naturally no match for the seven second-tier puppet beasts and Wang Changsheng; its body was pierced by dense crimson fire blades and green light swords.

Wang Changsheng put away his puppet beasts and magical artifacts. The environment suddenly blurred, and he appeared in an empty hall. This time, his opponents were three high-grade, second-tier monsters: a gigantic silver eagle, a red giant python over ten *zhang* long, and a two-headed, three-legged green giant vulture. As soon as he appeared, the silver eagle opened its mouth and spewed out an arm-thick silver lightning bolt as it dove down from high in the air.