by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
“Idiot, do you think you’re their savior? They’re just trash, or why would we toss them aside? What you’re doing is absolutely futile!” sneered Han Yunshan from behind Hu Guishan.
“If you keep talking, I’ll slap you again.” Long Chen glanced at him.
“You…!”
“Long Chen, pay attention to your tone. Han Yunshan is now one of my people.” Hu Guishan’s sword continuously danced in the air, sweeping out Sword Qi that easily cut down his opponents.
“You mean if I want to beat a dog, I first have to check with its owner?” asked Long Chen.
“Youngster, this character of yours will make it easy for you to suffer losses,” said Hu Guishan coldly, his expression sinking. Long Chen was ignoring his threat.
“Thank you for your praise. It’s been a long time since someone has called me a youngster. But there’s one thing you’re wrong about: I don’t suffer losses. Everyone has their own way of living, and you can refuse to acknowledge other people’s conduct and even spout your nonsense. But remember, it will be painful when you get slapped by others, so don’t complain at that time,” said Long Chen lightly.
“Long Chen…” Tang Wan-er looked at him.
“Go ahead.” Long Chen nodded.
Only then did Tang Wan-er appear at the forefront of the battle, wind blades whirling around her. They rapidly spread, covering all the people behind the Dragonblood warriors. Within the wind blades, those people were temporarily safe.
“Fool.”
Seeing Tang Wan-er not hesitate to unleash such a powerful magical art to protect these disciples, Hu Guishan sneered.
The other experts also sneered disdainfully, thinking Long Chen and the others were fools for wasting their precious energy on these hopeless people. That wasted energy might be the factor that caused them to lose their own lives.
Whether it was Hu Guishan, Fan Cong, or Que Xinyan, they all had a disdainful look on their faces. Wang Zhen’s expression was icy like usual as he ignored them and focused on controlling his insects.
On the contrary, Hua Shiyu’s expression softened slightly. She wondered whether Long Chen was just trying to show off or whether he really wanted to help these people.
“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen…”
Seeing the Dragonblood warriors spreading out their formation as wide as possible and Tang Wan-er spend her precious spiritual yuan to protect them, quite a few disciples were touched and even wept tears.
Long Chen sent out Huo Long to attack while he turned back to face those disciples. “You don’t need to feel emotional. The reason I’m helping is because I was moved by you.”
“Us?”
“Yes. Despite knowing there was no hope on the Xuantian Staircase, you still bitterly endured and refused to give up all the way to the end. That made me very emotional. To not give up under those circumstances doesn’t just require willpower or courage. I see the determination in your eyes, the kind of determination to burn all the bridges behind you if have to. I trust that few of you have any status or background, so you came to the Central Plains with the will to change your fates. Looking at you, I think of myself when I was young. Each day I was powerless, mired in despair. At that time, I wished so much that someone would help me.
“I swore that if someone gave me that chance, I would definitely cherish it a thousand times over and put in ten thousand times the work of others. Looking at you, I see that same resolve, and so I came to help you.
“But you have to be clear about one thing: on the cultivation path, a person can only help you once. If you can grasp that opportunity, then grasp it. If you can’t, it will be very unlikely for a second chance to come. Right now, the trial has only just started and will become even more difficult toward the end. So listen closely.”
Long Chen’s voice reverberated through the air. All the disciples behind the Dragonblood Legion listened with rapt attention.
However, the others had long since begun looking down on this conduct of Long Chen’s. Someone sneered, “Who wants to listen to your farts? Even if you have to fart, make it quieter-”
That person’s head suddenly exploded as a golden arrow struck him. Guo Ran had killed him in an instant.
“Long Chen, you’re asking for it!” roared Que Xinyan. That person was one of the experts from his faction.
“Idiot, you really are fucking stupid. If you keep talking, then let’s stop the trial and I’ll play around with you properly.” Now Long Chen was also angry, and he glared at Que Xinyan.
“Since you want to die, I’ll accompany you!” raged Que Xinyan. He hated it the most when people called him stupid like that. It was an insult to his name.
“Que Xinyan, if you want to fight, don’t disturb my faction, or don’t blame me for the consequences,” warned Hua Shiyu.
That was because their six factions were charging forward side by side. Hua Shiyu was between the Dragonblood Legion and Que Xinyan, so if he were to attack, he would have to go through her faction.
“Long Chen, just wait!” snorted Que Xinyan. But he continued forward.
Long Chen narrowed his eyes. Que Xinyan’s fury was fake, and he was just using it to conceal his greed. This little scheme of his wasn’t able to escape Long Chen’s eyes.
Que Xinyan targeted him not because he wanted to seek revenge for his people, but because he coveted Long Chen’s Earth Flame. Once he devoured it, his power would rapidly rise.
Long Chen sneered. He dared to place his sights on him? Good, very good.
Long Chen continued speaking to the disciples, “You’ve also seen that the so-called experts are only at that level. As long as you are given an opportunity, you can also reach that height. In fact, you can reach even greater heights than them.
“I can only protect you for a moment, so listen closely. If you want to become an expert, it depends on your talent, the resources you’re given, your origins, your master, etc. Of course, if you have a rich daddy, everything will go smoothly.
“However, you don’t have such things, or you wouldn’t be in your current straits. So if you want to become an expert, there’s only one thing left to you: to put your lives on the line! Right now, that’s the only trump card left for you. If you keep hesitating, that trump card will be lost as well.
“Think about those people beside you that were torn apart by the Bone Spur Devil Apes. They wanted to put their lives on the line, but they didn’t have the power to even do so. If you continue to hesitate, you’ll be thrown into the dust. Look at those idiots sneering at you. They’re looking down on all of you. Are you willing to die just like this? If death is on your left and right, why not put everything on the line for once?
“Only if you are ready to lose everything can you one day trample those people who are looking down on you. Only by going all-out, only by being willing to lose your lives, can you bring forth a glorious future for yourselves. Only then can you return to your hometowns decked in glory.
“Whether it’s for yourself, your family, your friends, or whether it’s for those idiots who are looking down on you, what reason do you have to not put everything on the line right now? What are you still hesitating for? Your opportunity is right in front of you. Each slain Bone Spur Devil Ape brings you one step further! Raise your weapons, release your power! Shed your hot blood to show that you’re alive, that your fate is in your hands! Kill!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
Under Long Chen’s emotional and impassioned speech, the cowardice and misgivings in those disciples’ hearts were instantly stripped away. He was absolutely right: there was no way back any longer. If they still didn’t put everything on the line, they would only die under other people’s sneers.
If they went all-out, at least they would have more dignity. And they might even win a slight chance at survival. Why not go all-out? Why not kill?
Their roars rang out in waves, each higher than the last. Only now di
d Tang Wan-er slowly withdraw her sea of wind blades. The originally fearful and timid disciples raised their weapons with scarlet eyes, charging at the Bone Spur Devil Apes.
Chapter 1019 Core Disciple Spots
Those disciples finally saw the reality around them and made their determination to put everything on the line. In this instant, they forgot their terror. They only had one thought: to go all-out killing.
Long Chen’s words were very clear: others could help you for a moment, but they couldn’t help you for a lifetime. If you wanted to get stronger, you had to rely on yourself. He could only give them a chance to take a breath.
But this chance was exceptionally precious. He had helped them escape from the bindings of their terror and make their resolve.
“Yes, just like this. Go all-out and show those bastards who looked down on us just whose talent isn’t high enough. What are geniuses there for? To be trampled upon! Use the weapons in your hands to give them vicious slaps in the face. Make sure those slaps are fierce enough to show your mettle!” encouraged Guo Ran.
He finally had an opening to raise these disciples’ fighting spirit. By saying ‘us’, he drew them closer to the Dragonblood Legion.
Seeing this group of disciples, Guo Ran and the others thought of themselves. Their talent had also been lacking, and the resources they had were mediocre. It was Long Chen who had pulled them to their current height.
It aroused their sympathy to see these people being looked down upon and tossed aside. The entire Dragonblood Legion had been thinking about helping them from the start.
Experts needed a chance to become experts. In the same way, if they hadn’t encountered Long Chen back then, then let alone coming to the Central Plains, they would probably still be mediocre existences in the Eastern Wasteland.
So Long Chen’s conduct inspired them as well. Even after all this time, he hadn’t forgotten his original heart. This boss of theirs was still the same boss who made decisions according to his original heart.
Once thirty thousand disciples went all-out, it was an extremely powerful sight. Once a person chose to put their life on the line, they would be able to unleash several times their normal combat power.
Long Chen charged with the Dragonblood warriors, and the Bone Spur Devil Apes were slaughtered easily. Huo Long was especially powerful. With each fire breath, it killed a wave of them. There was no need for Long Chen to do anything.
Behind him, Gu Yang and the others were slaughtering them as well. These Bone Spur Devil Apes were actually only at the level of ordinary Sea Expansion experts. The reason they had managed to kill so many people at the beginning was because those people had been too terrified to fight properly. They had never seen such terrifying beasts, nor had they ever seen a person by their side get torn apart.
Even the ordinary disciples behind the Dragonblood Legion were dominating them now that they had shed their shackles of terror and were releasing their true power. Working together, there wasn’t much threat to them. They started to get in a rhythm.
By the time Tang Wan-er stopped offering them any further support with her wind blades, they were able to hold their own. Their original panic was gone, and within this slaughter, they gradually came to understand the feeling of a life and death battle.
Seeing this, Long Chen nodded. He was a human, not a god. He could only do this much. As for how many of them could survive, that would be up to how hardy their lives were.
Qian Duoduo was following Guo Ran. He suddenly realized that every single person in the Dragonblood Legion was incredibly powerful. They never needed a second move to kill a Bone Spur Devil Ape.
Compared to the experts from the other factions, they were completely different. Their moves weren’t flashy and grand; instead, they were sharp and ruthless. Each of their moves were unleashed with the intent to kill the Bone Spur Devil Apes in the fastest, most effortless manner.
The valley was a thousand miles wide, and Bone Spur Devil Apes crashed down upon them from every direction. They had no choice but to quicken their steps, because if they slowed down, it would become even more difficult. Each faction had sent their top experts to the front to open a path.
Those elite disciples were all powerful. This was the only way for the whole faction to continue at the same speed.
…
Within the Elder Hall, the hall master praised, “This Long Chen truly is incredible. With just a few words, he dispelled their terror and roused their courage. Just what level of charisma does that require? Once the trial is over, the disciples that live will definitely become his loyal followers. It’s unknown if Long Chen has some plan for them or if he really is so gallant. If it’s the former, then his scheming ability really runs deep. He’s already so powerful, and he has such a group of loyal followers. If he uses them for good, it could benefit the whole world, but if he uses them for evil…”
“He won’t. Based on what I know about him, although he doesn’t show any arrogance on the surface, he is actually extremely prideful and unyielding. He would disdain doing such things. Furthermore, he cares deeply about relationships and treats his people very well. In terms of moral quality, there is definitely no problem,” said Li Changfeng.
“Since you’re so sure, I’m at ease.” The hall master smiled.
“No, no, I don’t dare to say anything for sure. Although there’s no problem with his moral quality, he’s too stubborn. Once he decides something, he won’t change his mind even in death. He’s a master at causing trouble. With my frail old bones, I don’t dare to guarantee anything about him!” said Li Changfeng with a bitter smile.
“We aren’t lacking geniuses, but we are lacking good leaders. The five heavenly geniuses from the Central Plains have great talent and strength, and the Dao Sect places high hopes on them. But now that Long Chen has arrived, the original plan has to be changed. The four regions’ disciples used to just be green leaves led by the Central Plains’ disciples. But now a few new variables have entered the equation,” said the hall master.
In truth, the inner sect trial was the playing field for the Central Plains’ disciples. The four regions’ disciples were nothing more than extras.
“Then the amount of core disciple spots this time…?”
“There originally shouldn’t have been a spot for Long Chen, but our competition must be fair. If Long Chen really can keep up with the other five until the end, bring out an extra one for him,” said the hall master.
“But the number of the core disciple spots has already been set. And the Law Enforcement Hall…” Li Changfeng hesitated.
“It’s fine. Since we’ve chosen not to endure any longer, we have to be unyielding as well. We’ve restrained ourselves for so long that they think we’re easy to bully. But still, it’s too early to say anything. Long Chen’s charisma might be strong and he has high leadership abilities, but in terms of power, he probably can’t compare to the Central Plains’ heavenly geniuses. After all, their foundations are too far apart. Those heavenly geniuses are monsters, and the power they’ve displayed is just the tip of the iceberg,” said the hall master.
Thinking about it, the other Elders agreed. Although Long Chen might be at the peak of the four regions’ disciples, in front of the Central Plains’ heavenly geniuses, he was at too much of a disadvantage.
But the hall master, Li Changfeng, and a few others thought of something else. Although right now, Long Chen hadn’t shown enough power to stand on the same level as the Central Plains’ monsters, the patriarch had been disturbed because of his existence. In other words, things definitely weren’t as simple as they thought.
In truth, both the hall master and Li Changfeng hoped for Long Chen to put on a powerful enough display for the Elder Hall to fight for an extra core disciple spot for him.
Helping Long Chen was helping themselves. The Elder Hall couldn’t directly clash against the Law Enforcement Hall, but they could use Long Chen to display their tough position and establish their
own prestige.
The Elder Hall had no choice but to be tough. Otherwise, the Law Enforcement Hall would become even more arrogant and suppress them even more fiercely. Long Chen was their best weapon against them.
…
Long Chen didn’t know there were so many people discussing him. Right now, he was leading the Dragonblood Legion forward. The Bone Spur Devil Apes were growing stronger and stronger.
After two hours, the disciples had advanced two hundred miles. Now the Bone Spur Devil Apes were so strong that people died with each passing moment. There were too many of them, and they were unafraid of death. No matter how many of them died, they continued charging.
It was like the only thought in their heads was to kill. They had no sense of terror. They were natural slaughter weapons, merciless and brutal.
The six factions continued to rush forward. But what startled people was the fact that Long Chen’s faction had the lowest mortality rate!
After two hours, only less than eight hundred of them had died. As for the other factions, at least ten thousand disciples had lost their lives in total.
“The Bone Spur Devil Apes are getting stronger and stronger,” said Gu Yang darkly.
Even after all this time, the Bone Spur Devil Apes didn’t drop in number. Instead, their bodies were growing larger and stronger. Even the Dragonblood warriors couldn’t be careless any longer.
Suddenly, countless huge figures covered the sky. Huge leopards with a pair of wings on their backs swooped down. They were incredibly fast, so fast that they seemed like phantoms.
“AHH!”
A rank four Celestial’s sword was shattered with a single claw from these devil leopards. Along with his sword, half his body exploded as well.
Everyone was taken by surprise. These devil leopards weren’t just fast; they were incredibly powerful. Caught off-guard, quite a few people were cut down in an instant, and panic struck the disciples.
Several of them came toward Long Chen, quick as lightning. Long Chen smiled slightly and extended his hand.
