Chapter 256: Zhao Yunlei

Hundreds of azure light swords continuously struck the red light screen, which responded with a series of muffled, crackling sounds.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and numerous blue light specks appeared around him, transforming into white ice needles.

"Go."

At Wang Changsheng's command, a dense volley of white ice needles eagerly struck the red light screen. After a muffled sound like rain on banana leaves, the red light screen flickered wildly and its luminescence faded.

The five giant condor puppets opened their mouths, each spitting out dozens of azure light swords that struck the already dim red light screen. Its glow became even fainter, flickering in and out of view.

The red-robed youth hastily infused spiritual power into a red jade pendant. A red light flashed, and the red light screen returned to normal.

Just then, a dense volley of white ice needles shot forward, and hundreds of azure light swords descended from the sky, all eagerly striking the red light screen.

With a muffled sound like rain hitting a fence, the red light screen's glow dimmed once more.

Seeing this, the red-robed youth's expression changed. He was about to infuse spiritual power into the red jade pendant, but before he could act, a soft sound echoed as the red light screen shattered. Three slender blue flying needles hovered directly in front of him, less than a foot from his glabella.

The red-robed youth broke out in a cold sweat. With a bitter smile, he clasped his fists and said, "I've lost. Fellow Daoist Wang, your techniques are profound; I am truly impressed."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Yang."

Wang Changsheng humbly replied that his easy victory was primarily due to his prior observation of the red-robed youth's combat style. The youth possessed multiple offensive magical artifacts and was skilled in fire-element spells, which were his strengths. However, his weakness was insufficient defense, as he only had one mid-grade defensive artifact. Wang Changsheng swiftly breached his defenses, leading to the red-robed youth's inevitable defeat.

Wang Changsheng put away his magical artifacts and puppet beasts, then stepped off the arena.

In the next round of trials, Wang Ruyan entered the arena. Her opponent was a short, stout youth in yellow robes.

As the match began, Wang Ruyan immediately summoned four second-tier puppet beasts: two spider puppets and two giant condor puppets.

After summoning the four second-tier puppet beasts, she took out an azure short ruler. With a gentle wave, a thick azure light screen materialized, enveloping her entire body.

The yellow-robed youth summoned a yellow shield, holding it before him, and released a giant yellow python and a red giant eagle.

Although he released second-tier spirit beasts and birds, Wang Ruyan subtly gained an advantage due to the numerical superiority of her puppets.

Wang Ruyan took out her Azure Lotus Pipa. Her slender, delicate fingers swiftly swept across the strings, and a rapid melody filled the air. Over a dozen azure wind blades swept forth, striking towards her opponent.

The yellow-robed youth hastily summoned two yellow flying daggers, shattering the incoming azure wind blades.

The pipa music grew increasingly urgent as azure wind blade after wind blade shot forth, continuously striking the yellow-robed youth.

The two spider puppets each spat out a white spider web, binding the yellow giant python before rushing towards the yellow-robed youth.

The two giant condor puppets each spat out dozens of azure light swords, striking the red giant eagle. Spreading their wings, they circled once before diving down from high altitude.

Facing the combined attacks of the four second-tier puppet beasts and Wang Ruyan, the yellow-robed youth became somewhat flustered. Wang Ruyan seized the opening; one spider puppet spat out a white web, enveloping him, and the two giant condor puppets flew towards him. The yellow-robed youth had no choice but to concede defeat.

The Yang family disciples had filtered out most of the participants. After several rounds of matches, fifty-three remained. They would face off in pairs, with winners advancing to the next round, determined by drawing lots.

Wang Ruyan's luck was favorable; she drew the only bye and thus advanced directly to the next round.

Wang Changsheng's opponent was a pretty maiden in a blue skirt, at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

The blue-skirted maiden's attire was embroidered with numerous butterflies; it was said she was a disciple of the Butterfly Valley sect, a native sect of Yue Country.

As the match began, the blue-skirted maiden released two large, multicolored butterflies. Judging by their aura, they were indeed second-tier spirit insects.

Additionally, she formed a hand seal, causing a vast expanse of five-colored light to emanate around her. After a blur, it transformed into numerous large, multicolored butterflies, which then became a sky full of butterfly shadows, surging towards Wang Changsheng.

Before the two second-tier spirit butterflies even got close, they flapped their wings, each releasing dozens of wind blades that struck towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng brought out his Ice Flood Dragon Banner. With a gentle wave, a vast expanse of white cold qi surged forth, forming a white ice wall several zhang high and half a zhang thick, blocking his front.

With a muffled thud, dozens of wind blades struck the white ice wall, leaving only faint white marks on its surface.

"Transform into a Flood Dragon."

Wang Changsheng gave a soft shout, striking a spell seal onto the Ice Flood Dragon Banner.

The Ice Flood Dragon Banner immediately flared with light. After a blur, it transformed into a massive white ice flood dragon with menacing scales and constantly rotating eyeballs.

"Roar!"

The white ice flood dragon let out a loud roar, then lunged menacingly towards the opponent.

The multicolored giant butterflies were utterly no match for the white ice flood dragon and were torn to shreds by it.

The two second-tier spirit butterflies each released dozens of wind blades, slashing towards Wang Changsheng from both sides.

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly. With a lift of his hand, the Hundred Blades Umbrella shot out, rapidly spinning above his head and emitting a sheet of blue light that enveloped him.

Dozens of wind blades struck the blue light, but the blue light remained completely undisturbed.

Seeing the white ice flood dragon charge, the blue-skirted maiden's beautiful face changed drastically. She hastily summoned a second-tier Fire Flood Dragon Talisman, which transformed into a massive red fire flood dragon that confronted the white ice flood dragon.

The red fire flood dragon was merely a spell and not a physical entity, whereas the white ice flood dragon was. Although it could only exert a fraction of its power from when it was alive, it was absolutely not something the red fire flood dragon could withstand.

In less than three breaths, the red fire flood dragon was torn to shreds by the white ice flood dragon.

The blue-skirted maiden quickly summoned five shimmering blue flying swords, which struck the white ice flood dragon's body but only left faint white marks.

"Roar!"

The white ice flood dragon's huge claw struck the azure light screen enveloping the blue-skirted maiden, causing its glow to dim.

The white ice flood dragon opened its mouth and spat out a white light pillar that struck the azure light screen, quickly causing it to freeze.

Several faint, invisible blue lights shot over and struck the ice layer. The ice shattered, the azure light screen vanished, and three blue flying needles stopped directly in front of the blue-skirted maiden, who was clutching a shimmering red orb in her hand.

Seeing the three blue flying needles, the blue-skirted maiden smiled bitterly to herself, sighed, and politely asked, "I've lost. My name is Lan Dieyi, from Butterfly Valley. How should I address you, Fellow Daoist? And to which sect do you belong?"

She formed a hand seal, and the two second-tier spirit butterflies flew back to her.

"I am Wang Yang, a rogue cultivator. It was merely good fortune."

Wang Changsheng won this match due to his magical artifact. The Ice Flood Dragon Banner had the essence of a high-grade second-tier ice flood dragon refined into it, making its power far superior to ordinary high-grade artifacts. Of course, a significant factor was also his profound spiritual power; other fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators would not be able to transform a magical artifact to attack so swiftly.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the white ice flood dragon transformed into a white command banner, flying back into his sleeve and disappearing.

He stepped off the arena to watch the other matches.

The cultivation levels of the other participants were not vastly different, but the spells and magical artifacts they employed varied greatly, significantly broadening Wang Changsheng's knowledge.

Among them, a handsome youth in silver robes stood out. Though only in his twenties, he was at the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment stage. He was skilled in lightning-element spells and, without even using a magical artifact, easily defeated a sixth-level Foundation Establishment opponent with just his lightning techniques.

A middle-aged man sighed, and judging by his words, he seemed to know the silver-robed youth. "Fellow Daoist Huang is truly unlucky to have encountered Zhao Yunlei," he said. "Otherwise, with Fellow Daoist Huang's abilities, entering the top ten would have been no problem."

"Fellow Daoist, who is this Zhao Yunlei?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously. "He's already at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment at such a young age."

"One sect, two families, three factions – have you heard of them, Fellow Daoist? Zhao Yunlei is a disciple of the Zhao family, possessing a lightning spirit root. He is certain to take first place in this Sword Discourse Assembly; whoever faces him will be unlucky."

After this round of matches, twenty-seven participants remained, and they continued to draw lots for their next opponents.

Wang Changsheng's opponent was a tall, thin middle-aged scholar at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

As the match began, Wang Changsheng immediately summoned four second-tier giant condor puppets. The puppets spread their wings and lunged towards his opponent. Immediately after, he brought out his Ice Flood Dragon Banner, furiously infused spiritual power into it, and struck a spell seal onto it.