Chapter 299 - Clan Death Sentence

After the Sword Devil’s instruction, everyone abandoned their reservations about ranks because it was impossible for them to hurt someone as powerful as him. That was why everyone could attack without worry.

“Heh!” Once Song Yuefeng understood this, he was the first to attack. He was the only Fifth River Stage cultivator present, and he held the highest status. His father was watching as well! Recalling what his father had said, he knew that he had to put on his best performance. It would be best if he could get Lord Sword Devil’s praise.

Despite his elegant features, once the violence in his genes was triggered, he was actually the craziest. With a dagger in hand, Song Yuefeng charged the fastest, surpassing the rest of the people as he ran towards the Sword Devil!

Indeed, in the face of immense pressure, everyone was able to unleash their madness. However, the situation was chaotic, and no cooperation was to be seen. Only Long Chen and Zhang Yuanteng stood side by side and locked eyes, preparing to cover for each other.

“Secret Technique, Piercing Tornado!”

Once he was ahead of everyone else, there was a cold flash in Song Yuefeng’s eyes and Qi exploded from his body. He twisted the dagger in his hand, then he spun it like a tornado. Amidst the spinning tornado, there were constant flashes of a sharp blade directed at the Sword Devil!

Long Chen was privately startled when he saw the attack. It was definitely an intermediate Earth-tier combat technique. Paired with Song Yuefeng’s Fifth River Stage cultivation, Long Chen guessed that even if he used his Nine Spinning Fire Shields to the maximum, it would be difficult to withstand this attack.

From this alone, it was clear that there were countless true prodigies in the Imperial Capital.

How will the Sword Devil neutralize this attack?

Long Chen’s eyes were glued to the scene. Song Yuefeng’s Piercing Tornado was about to hit the Sword Devil’s body, but the latter’s expression remained calm. When he was just about to be injured, he casually reached out. It looked casual, but in reality, it was unbelievably fast, and he plunged his arm into the tornado without the utilization of any Qi!

How is that possible?

Long Chen gasped because the Sword Devil had so casually neutralized an attack he never would have been able to withstand. After reaching out into the tornado, he grabbed Song Yuefeng’s wrist and flung him out.

He’s so powerful!

Long Chen’s eyes darkened when he saw the outcome.

If Song Yuefeng had been thrown out, then everyone else would fare no better. Attacks came one after another, but they were all easily thrown out before they could approach the Sword Devil.

The Sword Devil’s brows remained furrowed, as if no one had managed to satisfy him. Not even Song Yuefeng.

After being tossed away, Song Yuefeng panicked. He quickly climbed onto his feet and attacked the Sword Devil again. There had been nothing impressive about his previous performance, so now he had to do better to impress the master.

At this point, six of the nine recruits had been thrown out. While Long Chen was charging ahead, he had already taken out his Azure Dragon Halberd. It was unnecessary to boost his strength with the Dragon Soul Transformation right now.

“Brother Long Chen, shall I cover you while you attack?” Zhang Yuanteng suddenly asked at this crucial moment.

“Alright!” Long Chen agreed decisively and took a step back. They both knew that since the Sword Devil wanted to see cooperation, they should cooperate. With two people working together, they should fare better than the others who had been immediately thrown out.

Zhang Yuanteng took a step forward so he stood in front of Long Chen. At the same time, he leaped and threw a punch, unleashing a pitch-black fist seal at the Sword Devil. Long Chen followed closely behind. When Zhang Yuanteng punched, Long Chen thrust the Azure Dragon Halberd from the side!

“Azure Dragon Combat Technique, Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension!” Long Chen’s attack flew from a direction out of the Sword Devil’s field of vision, upwards at the Sword Devil!

Although this was their first time meeting each other, the duo had decent chemistry together. At least when the Sword Devil had blocked Zhang Yuanteng’s punch and thrown him out, he did not have enough time to block Long Chen’s Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension. There was a flash of approval in his eyes.

“Not bad.” He turned and used a body combat technique, easily dodging Long Chen’s attack. At the same time, he reached out to grab Long Chen at lightning speed! All the other people had already been thrown. Although there was some distance between them after the Sword Devil dodged, he did not intend to let Long Chen escape the fate of being tossed away.

Think you can throw me?

Long Chen laughed internally. While he unleashed Nine Soaring Dragons, he quickly stepped back. Red flames erupted from his body and a fiery figure burst from his body towards the Sword Devil, blocking him!

“Divine Fire Clone!”

Boom!

Only one move from the Sword Devil was needed to break the Divine Fire Clone.

However, Long Chen had successfully escaped before the clone broke. After rolling on the ground a few times, he had escaped the Sword Devil’s attack range. He looked up and saw that the Sword Devil had no intention of attacking again. He gazed at Long Chen approvingly and said, “Kid, it’s been more than a year since someone was able to avoid being thrown by me. You did it at just the Second River Stage. Not bad, not bad.”

Saying “not bad” twice was basically the highest form of praise he would ever utter.

That guy is strong! I lost a fire seed after such a simple attack from him. It takes me half a day to condense a fire seed ...

Long Chen was privately resentful, not really caring about the Sword Devil’s praise.

He did not know what this meant, but everyone else did. All five leaders were looking at this person who had previously not caught their attention. Everyone had great expectations for Song Yuefeng, but to their surprise, Song Yuefeng’s performance was only average, while Long Chen had avoided being tossed out and even received praise from the Sword Devil.

The Sword Devil remained still, implying that the inspection was complete. Long Chen had garnered attention for a brief moment, which was no big deal to Long Chen himself, but one teenager already held a grudge.

Song Yuefeng had previously sworn to put on his best performance in front of the Sword Devil to gain his attention and praise. But all of it had gone to Long Chen, a minor figure no one knew. Song Yuefeng glared venomously at Long Chen, privately memorizing his face.

If I ever get my hands on you in the Immortal Realm, I am going to kill you. How dare you show off when you’re just a measly Second River Stage cultivator?

All of them stood obediently in a row in front of the Sword Devil. Zhang Yuanteng patted Long Chen’s shoulder with a grin. “That was not bad at all.”

“Actually, it’s all because you covered for me,” Long Chen said honestly.

“That’s a small matter; it’s not worth mentioning. Right, when we get out of here, don’t leave just yet. I want to talk to you about something,” Zhang Yuanteng whispered by his ear.

Long Chen nodded.

The Sword Devil’s gaze swept across the room, and he said, “I have observed all of your abilities. In terms of cultivation levels, of course, you all qualify to be Immortal Guards. However, your practical skills are not up to par; go back and work on your cultivation. Now, I will announce the names of those who have not passed the inspection.”

Their chests tightened, listening intently.

Becoming an Immortal Guard was extremely important to Long Chen. Although he knew that he had probably passed, he still felt nervous.

The Sword Devil announced the names, which did not include Long Chen and Zhang Yuanteng. Although Zhang Yuanteng was not considered strong compared to the others, he received the Sword Devil’s approval because he had cooperated with Long Chen. Ultimately, three people were eliminated from the nine. Out of the remaining six, four of them were put in a group, while Long Chen and Zhang Yuanteng were stuck together in another group.

From the Sword Devil’s explanation, Long Chen had learned that the Counter Essence Realm was divided into three large zones, namely the Elementary Zone, the Intermediate Zone, and the Advanced Zone. These zones were divided based on the immortal beasts’ strengths, as well as the rarity of the spiritual herbs and treasures within. Although Song Yuefeng was at the Fifth River Stage, he had to remain in the Elementary Zone and undergo training before entering the Intermediate Zone. Long Chen, being weaker, was obviously allocated to the Elementary Zone as well.

The Elementary Zone was divided into twenty areas. Long Chen and Zhang Yuanteng were assigned to Area Eighteen, same as the Heavenly Wolf Gang. Song Yuefeng and the other three were assigned to Area Seventeen.

“Take your identity jade tokens and go. Areas Seventeen and Eighteen are waiting. They will explain your responsibilities as Immortal Guards to you,” said the Sword Devil, taking his seat once more.

The identity jade tokens were the tokens that Yu Tao and the rest had shown the guards when they first entered Counter Essence City. Every token had a unique mark, so no one else could use them.

Song Yunfeng’s father was holding the tokens, so the six of them lined up to take their tokens from him.

The short and fat Eighth River Stage middle-aged man was one of the five leaders and also the patriarch of the Harmony family; he was named Song Zhongcheng. When it was Long Chen’s turn, he looked up at Long Chen with a flash of hatred in his eyes.

Does this fat bastard hate me?

Long Chen was puzzled.

After receiving their identity jade tokens, they prepared to leave. That was when the Sword Devil suddenly said, “Now that you have taken your identity jade tokens, you belong to the imperial family. You shall be loyal to the imperial family for the rest of your lives! If we find that you have stolen spiritual herbs from the Immortal Realm, you will be killed immediately! If we find that you have betrayed us, your whole clan shall be killed!”

The stern warning made them feel like they were being stabbed. Long Chen felt miserable because he felt a faint stinging pain like there was an actual blade cutting his body.

Killing the whole clan? The Mo family was likely killed due to this harsh punishment. It looks like the members of the imperial family aren’t good people.

With that thought running through his mind, he walked out of the steel tower.