Chapter 104: Chapter 104 - 79: Speedrun Assessment, Reluctant Showoff [5K, Subscription Requested!]

If one cannot even surpass a mindless Iron Puppet, there is no point in investing resources to cultivate them.

However, Chen Daoqing’s expression slightly changed upon seeing Wen Jiu facing a Body Refining Third Iron Puppet.

Because Wen Jiu hadn’t been training for long.

It’s said that he can only perform a simple Magic Power Flick up until now.

Moreover, dealing with a Body Refining First Iron Puppet at the Qi Cultivation First Layer is significantly different from facing a Body Refining Third Iron Puppet at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

The limit for a Body Refining First Layer is handling a Qi Cultivation First Layer.

But as one progresses, the advantages of Body Refining become more pronounced, especially in a confined space like this.

In such limited space, a Body Refining Third Layer can even contend with Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer cultivators. Because once a Qi Refining Cultivator releases too strong a spell at close range, they themselves suffer the repercussions, not just the Iron Puppet.

If a strong spell is unleashed up close, a Body Refining Cultivator might not be killed, but for a Qi Refining Cultivator caught in the powerful spell’s impact, if not killed, they would be gravely injured. After all, you don’t even have the first layer of Body Refining.

"Brother Wen."

Chen Daoqing was quite worried.

Wen Jiu did not respond, merely watching the battle ahead between people and the Iron Puppet with calm eyes.

Some Qi Cultivation Second Layer cultivators were defeated.

Others managed to defeat the Iron Puppet.

Within the same realm, abilities vary completely; evidently, the main peak seeks the outstanding ones among equals.

This also means that the higher the cultivation, the greater the difficulty, and those at Qi Cultivation Third Layer may instead become a burden.

"Fellow Daoist Du, you understand what Senior Brother Li told you a few days ago now?" A disciple with a top-grade single-attribute spirit root patted Du Feng’s shoulder, glancing at Wen Jiu at Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

Du Feng nodded, "I understand. If the Heterodox Dao uses the cost of sacrificing one’s foundation to increase power, they will fall at this sixth pass instead."

Saying that.

Du Feng also glanced at Wen Jiu.

But he only gave a fleeting glance, having long stopped considering Wen Jiu as being in the same world with him.

After entering the Black Spirit Tower, this thought deepened further.

Now it seemed, perhaps Elder Ye summoning Wen Jiu alone was not out of favor but for some other reason.

The fact that no one went to recruit Wen Jiu those days might also be because of this.

Thinking this, Du Feng put away his musings.

Now he has only one thought, and that is to fiercely crush the Iron Puppet, rushing to the sixth layer in the most perfect state, and entering the seventh pass.

As long as he breaks into the tenth pass.

He can become a disciple of the Main Peak Elder of the Demon Suppression Department.

The future awaits!

...

Meanwhile.

In the ruins of the Cloud Sect.

Upon seeing this scene, Ye Chen and Xiang Wenlong’s expressions both subtly changed, exchanging glances that carried a trace of seriousness.

"Why did the Great Elder suddenly alter the test on the fifth floor?" Xiang Wenlong felt a bad premonition when looking at Ye Chen.

He knew that Wen Jiu had only been cultivating for three months, and reaching Qi Cultivation Third Layer was already the limit for him, with no time to train various spells to a high level.

"That kid won’t be eliminated in this round, will he?" When Xun Jiangxing looked over, Xiang Wenlong quickly used Divine Sense Communication to speak to Ye Chen, suddenly realizing something, "Then he will be mine!"

Ye Chen maintained a composed expression, nodding and using Divine Sense Communication to reply: "If he can’t overcome this round, you can take him away directly."

"Thank you, Brother Ye!"

Xiang Wenlong was elated.

For him, though Wen Jiu falling at the sixth pass might mean the sect would lose interest in prioritizing his cultivation, which is a pity, he didn’t care. He could use his own resources and those of the Spirit Suppression Department to nurture Wen Jiu.

Moreover, he could also make Xun Jiangxing give up competing for him, since Xun Jiangxing didn’t know Wen Jiu had reached Qi Cultivation Third Layer in three months.

...

In the Black Spirit Tower.

Wen Jiu quietly watched as some fell and others reached the sixth layer.

To Wen Jiu’s surprise, Chen Daoqing actually defeated the Iron Puppet within ten moves.

His strength was evident.

His foundation appeared solid as well.

Thus, helping him through the fourth layer wasn’t in vain.

Seeing that Chen Daoqing had passed, Wen Jiu also stepped onto the stage, and the next moment a Body Refining Third Iron Puppet came forth, its powerful presence causing everyone present to tense up.

Many expressed amazement.

"Body Refining Third Layer!"

"Besides the acknowledged number one, Wang Xianzhi, there is indeed someone else quietly reaching Qi Cultivation Third Layer!"

"Why haven’t we heard of him before?"

"Yeah, why haven’t we heard of such an individual before? At his age, reaching Qi Cultivation Third Layer would mean his Spirit Root is certainly extraordinary, and he’d be recruited by various departments. Why haven’t we heard of him at all?"

"Hold on, this aura... it’s a Heterodox Cultivator."

"Heterodox Dao!"

"So, it seems he reached Qi Cultivation Third Layer by sacrificing his life and foundation, which is why no one recruited him."

"Hilarious, is he not just shooting himself in the foot?"

Voices of discussion arose all around.

Wen Jiu sighed helplessly.

If not to perform and hold onto Ye Chen’s favor, he truly wouldn’t want to play the show-off and face-slapping game with these people.

In the next moment.

Wen Jiu drew the Corpse Nurturing Coffin from his storage bag.

As the coffin filled with cold corpse aura opened, a frigid corpse chi swept across instantly.

Causing the entire atmosphere of the fifth layer to drop considerably.

Before everyone’s eyes, the Three Evil Corpses mimicked the previous Black Corpse’s actions and leaped out of the Corpse Nurturing Coffin.

Bang—

The Three Evil Corpses landed, causing everyone’s faces to tighten.

Corpse Nurturer!

Upper Realm Black Corpse!

"This guy is actually a Corpse Nurturer."

"With a Qi Cultivation Third Layer level and an Upper Realm Black Corpse, did he really achieve this by sacrificing his foundation and life?"

"Yeah, why do I find that hard to believe?"

Cries of shock erupted.

Wen Jiu sighed in resignation.

Sigh.

He had already urged the Three Evil Corpses to mimic a Black Corpse’s jump.

Yet, in the end, he had no choice but to put on a show.

Luckily, the higher he goes, the fewer people there are; once he’s alone, he won’t need to show off anymore.

[Early update.

Request a round of monthly votes, can I?

Hehe.

The second update should be up around 9 PM unless something unexpected comes up.]