Chapter 1020: Third Assessment

"This third assessment will decide the top eight. They will receive generous Blood Crystal rewards and earn the right to enter under the Canglong Envoys as direct disciples," Mo Bing said in a clear voice. "You only get this chance once, so use it well."

"Lord Demon King, if we are only deciding the top eight, then how will they be ranked?" one contestant asked with a puzzled look.

"That is simple," Mo Bing replied calmly. "The last eight standing will face each other on one platform. The order in which they are forced off will decide their final rank. The longer you stay on, the higher your rank."

No wonder they called this place the sacred land of the demon race. Ling Feng thought to himself that this method of selecting disciples was ruthless beyond measure.

Blades and fists have no eyes. One careless move in this chaos could cost you your life.

A faint grin appeared at the corner of Ling Feng's mouth. Now he understood why Yin Xue had been so arrogant before, claiming his luck would run out. But if anyone wanted to kill Ling Feng, they had better be prepared to be cut down themselves.

"That is enough talk. All contestants, get to your assigned platforms. The fight starts now," Mo Bing shouted.

At once, everyone leapt up and landed on their platforms. Ling Feng stepped onto Platform One. The stage was large enough that fifty people standing on it did not feel crowded. Still, everyone eyed each other cautiously, ready for someone to strike first.

Ling Feng stood quietly at the edge of the platform. He was in no rush to make a move. If anyone wanted to test him, he did not mind sending them off himself.

As for Ye Xue, that girl had luck on her side. The second platform had no real threats. She had already secured her place among the final eight.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

When everyone was ready, Mo Bing roared out the signal to begin.

A free-for-all was the cruelest way to fight. Each person had to face the other forty-nine alone. No one could be trusted. Even a temporary ally could stab you in the back the next moment.

On Platform One, everyone exploded with power and attacked whoever was closest. Only two people did not move.

Ling Feng and the Silver Wolf Young Master, Yin Xue.

They stood facing each other. Between them stretched an invisible field of killing intent that felt cold and suffocating.

The other contestants kept their distance. None dared step within three feet of the two. The pressure alone was enough to cripple them where they stood.

"I told you your luck was over," Yin Xue said, staring across at Ling Feng. Neither moved to strike first. They were too far above the others in strength. The one who attacked first would only waste an advantage.

Ling Feng ignored him and stood with his arms folded, leaning against the platform's edge with a faint, mocking smile. He looked wild and untamed.

"Keep smiling," Yin Xue growled. "Soon you will not be able to smile at all. I will make sure you die in the ugliest way possible!"

Before long, the number of fighters on Platform One dropped fast. About fifteen minutes later, fewer than ten remained. All of them were high-tier Demon Lords, each bloodied and breathing unevenly.

The other platforms had already decided their single winners. Yet Platform One still held eight fighters. No one dared make the first reckless move.

Other than Ling Feng and Yin Xue, the remaining six all hoped these two would fight and weaken each other. Then they could swoop in and snatch the prize.

"Ten thousand high-grade Blood Crystal for each of you if you join forces and attack Long Fei," Yin Xue said coldly, his eyes sweeping over the six high-tier Demon Lords.

"Ten thousand?" The six swallowed hard. They had struggled this far and barely earned a hundred high-grade Blood Crystals each. Yin Xue offered a hundred times that in a single breath. Greed burned in their eyes.

"Sorry, boy. Demons die for wealth just as birds die for food. Do not blame us," said a Demon Lord in blue robes. He swung a massive axe forward until its edge pointed at Ling Feng's face.

The other five moved at once. They knew they could not defeat Ling Feng alone, but six high-tier Demon Lords could drain him of strength. Yin Xue was counting on it. He did not want to risk another humiliating failure.

"I will give you one chance. Walk off the stage yourselves," Ling Feng said with a lazy smile, tapping his nose as he leaned back against the railing without even drawing his sword.

"Arrogant fool!"

One of the Demon Lords snapped. All six surged forward together.

Demonic qi roared into the sky in six colors of light. Each of them was a genius of the demon race, proud and strong. Being mocked like this only made them burn with fury.

"Get off!"

Ling Feng's voice was cold. His eyes flashed. A wave of terrifying spiritual consciousness erupted. The six Demon Lords flew back as if struck by a hammer, crashing onto the stage with blood spilling from their mouths.

The power of Ling Feng's Terrifying Gaze showed its true might.

"G-Goodness! One look wiped out six high-tier Demon Lords!"

"Who is this Long Fei really? Is he a divine beast's descendant?"

The defeated contestants below stared at Ling Feng, stunned into silence. It was simply unreal.

"Such powerful spiritual consciousness," one of the Canglong Envoys on the high platform muttered, his eyelid twitching.

Though humans and demons cultivated differently, training spiritual consciousness was nearly the same for both. Strip away the physical shell and the soul essence source was the same.

"

Hehe

. Training spiritual consciousness is a crooked path. Our demon sons should temper their flesh first. This Long Fei is an embarrassment to our kind," said a burly red-haired man in a low voice. He was the Red Dragon Envoy, who had close ties with the Silver Wolf Demon Emperor and naturally stood on Yin Xue's side.

"Old Red, your chosen disciple may not even keep his place in the top eight," the Black Dragon Envoy said with a grin.

"The fight is not over yet. We will see who wins," the Red Dragon Envoy shot back, though he cursed silently in his heart. This was turning out to be more trouble than expected.

Back on Platform One, Yin Xue narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing inside them.

"Not bad. I suppose you deserve to see me get serious," he said.

With a sharp

clang

, the heavy silver sword on his back slid from its sheath. As the blade shone, Yin Xue's aura rose to its peak.