Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Chapter 375: Chapter 367: Ten Directions Kill Array

"She is...?"

By the time Mu Chen’s gaze shifted back, Jun Wu’s eyes had already moved away from him and were now on Shan Ziyan. But if one were to look closer, they would see that Jun Wu’s expression was also full of confusion. Just now, when her eyes met Mu Chen’s, she had felt a pang of nervousness and had subconsciously looked away.

’What’s wrong with me?’ Jun Wu’s expression turned a little grim. She had never felt this way before, not since she was a child.

Shan Ziyan was very close to Jun Wu, so she naturally didn’t miss the change in her friend’s expression. Blinking a couple of times, Shan Ziyan asked, "Jun Wu, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good."

Jun Wu froze for a moment, then laughed to hide her embarrassment and continued with her previous question. "You still haven’t told me. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that Mu Chen kid, have you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you pay so much attention to a boy before, Ziyan."

"Me, like him?! How is that possible!" Shan Ziyan denied it outright with a huff. "The kind of guy I could like hasn’t been born yet! Unless he can defeat my brother or is someone I truly admire, it’s absolutely impossible. As for Mu Chen! Hmph, hmph, that’s even more impossible!"

Jun Wu just chuckled, her gaze gradually turning toward the arena below. There, the matches presided over by Elder Bai were about to begin.

"Everyone!" Elder Bai raised his right hand again. By now, even Mu Chen, who had arrived late, probably understood that this was his signature gesture. It was seeing this very motion that drew Mu Chen’s focus to the arena stage.

"Today’s matches are guaranteed to be spectacular! So as not to keep you all in suspense, this old man won’t repeat yesterday’s rules. The format is identical to that of the Low-class and Middle-class Empires. Arena One! The Xuanling Empire versus the number nine High-level Empire, the Black Wind Empire!"

"Arena Two..."

"Arena Three..."

As Elder Bai finished speaking, countless referees all shouted the names of the Empires at their respective arenas. The number of High-level Empires was already small, only a little over three hundred. However, there were a full one hundred arenas in the center of the Peak of the Holy Mark. After three rounds of matches, two-thirds of the Empires would be eliminated, leaving just over a hundred High-level Empires. And among these hundred-plus High-level Empires, only the single victor would earn the right to participate in the final showdown.

Speaking of the qualifications for the finals, one had to mention the Four Great Empires of the final showdown: the Flame Dragon Empire of the Flame Dragon Dynasty, the Caesar Empire of the Luowei Dynasty, the Dunhuang Empire of the Sacas Dynasty, and the Celestial Gift Empire of the Ice Emperor Dynasty.

Why were these four Empires mentioned separately? Because they existed outside the rules of the Empire competition. They were the seeded elites sent directly to Holy Tomb Mountain by each Dynasty. Every member of these representative teams was a genius among geniuses, an elite of the elite!

Yet, from these three hundred High-level Empires, only one could emerge to enter Holy Tomb Mountain. After winning the championship of the High-level Empire ranking tournament, this victor would then have to face one of the four seeded Empires in a duel decided by drawing lots—the so-called final showdown!

Only by defeating one of these four Empires could they earn the chance to enter Holy Tomb Mountain! This was Holy Tomb Mountain’s almost cruel selection process. This very process gave rise to a saying: Holy Tomb Mountain only accepts monsters, not mediocrity! Even if it meant not recruiting a single student in a year, they would absolutely not lower their standards to fill the ranks!

...

CLACK!

On Arena One, Mu Chen and the other five members of the Demon Squad stood neatly in a row. Opposite them stood six other imperial contestants, also dressed in black Institute Uniforms. Every one of them wore an extremely solemn expression, because they were facing the one team they least wanted to encounter—the dark horse of the competition, the Xuanling Empire!

"Lower High-level Empire, the Black Wind Empire!"

The opposing side had no intention of giving their names. In a world where the strong were respected, High-level Empires had the right to conceal their identities. This was a privilege of the powerful!

"Lower High-level Empire, the Xuanling Empire!"

Mu Chen took a step forward, his fantastical, demonic Demon Pupils coldly fixed on the Black Wind Empire team before him. As the leader of the Xuanling Empire, he had to set an example. At the very least, he absolutely could not lose to any High-level Empire in terms of presence!

"It’s the Xuanling Empire again. I wonder where this empire’s limit is. What do you think, can they make it to the ranks of the Upper High-level Empires?"

After both sides had taken their positions, many in the audience had already started speculating.

"I think it’s possible. After all, the Xuanling Empire defeated the Cangyue Empire—an empire judged to have the strength of a Middle-level High-level Empire—with the power of just one person."

"No, I actually think it’s unlikely. Setting aside the Cangyue Empire’s true strength, the power gap between a Middle-level and an Upper High-level Empire is just on a completely different level. So, I think the Xuanling Empire will probably stop at the Middle-level High-level Empire tier."

"I see... That does make some sense."

...

Seeing that both sides were ready, Elder Bai spoke directly, "Matches between High-level Empires have a choice. Whether the first match is a team battle or an individual battle is entirely up to the two of you to negotiate and decide."

The captain of the Black Wind Empire’s team was a long-haired man of average build. He first nodded at Mu Chen and said, "We have decided to choose a team battle. By the same token, if we lose the team battle, we will forfeit the individual matches. However, I have one condition: your Xuanling Empire must fight with your entire team. After all, we are a High-level Empire. Even if we lose, we don’t want to lose in a pathetic way."

The man’s words took Mu Chen by surprise, but he found himself inwardly admiring him. Even though the captain had essentially conceded defeat, he was still able to acknowledge his team’s position in front of everyone. That required not only grace, but a firm resolve. It was no wonder such a person could be the captain of a High-level Empire’s team.

Mu Chen returned a polite smile. "I accept your terms. Not only that, but we will fight this battle without holding back!"

The man chuckled. "That’s for the best. Let me see just how powerful you, the dark horse of the empires, truly are!"

With a loud shout from Elder Bai, the match began.

Mu Chen, Little Tiger, and the others instantly fell into formation. Although they hadn’t trained together for two years, Mu Chen’s incredible adaptability not only allowed him to seamlessly integrate into Little Tiger and the others’ formation, but also to take the leading role within it.

Their current positions were as follows: Little Tiger, with his Earth Attribute, stood at the very front. Mu Bingling of the Ice Attribute and Ye Shuangshuang of the Fire Attribute were on his left and right. Mo Qing of the Water Attribute was protected in the very center. The Multi-attribute Mu Chen stood at the rear. As for Qing Lei of the Dark Attribute, he had already vanished into the shadows of the arena, taking up his role as the highly mobile ambusher!

"The Ten Directions Kill Array!"

In the special seating area, a sharp glint flashed in Dilaka’s eyes. "Good lad. At first, they were always fighting one by one, so while this old man knew each of their Attributes, my conventional thinking made me forget that their Attributes could form such a powerful team formation!"

Hearing this, Shan Ziyan, who was sitting near Dilaka, was full of confusion. "Grandpa Dilaka, what’s a Ten Directions Kill Array?"

Hearing Shan Ziyan’s voice, Dilaka smiled. "Ah, it’s little Ziyan. You may have already learned the basics about formations. They are the positioning methods used in team battles to maximize the strength of each Martial Artist. The Ten Directions Kill Array is a team formation with extremely broad applicability in team combat. You see, at the very front of the Xuanling Empire’s formation stands that Earth Attribute Martial Artist with his formidable defense and destructive power, correct?"

Shan Ziyan nodded, and Dilaka continued, "His position has two benefits. First, if the opposing team’s formation is defense-oriented—for example, one with many Earth and Water Attribute Martial Artists—he can use his terrifying strength and destructive power to tear open their defensive posture, becoming a charging spear!"

"Conversely, if the enemy’s formation is attack-oriented—with Gold, Fire, or Thunder Attributes, for instance—he can then use his defensive properties as an Earth Attribute Martial Artist to block and defend, becoming a solid, giant shield. This way, his team’s formation can instantly switch between offense and defense, adapting to any battle."

Shan Ziyan’s gaze never left the stage; she was listening intently. Dilaka was happy to explain further. "And behind him is that female Water Attribute Martial Artist. The characteristics of the Water Attribute, aside from defense, include healing—at the very least, healing external injuries. With her in the center supporting the Earth Attribute Martial Artist in front, the defense and endurance of this Ten Directions Kill Array are maximized."

"Additionally, to the left and right of the Water Attribute Martial Artist are the Ice and Fire Attribute Martial Artists. If these two types of attribute martial artists appear in the same formation, I don’t even need to mention their offensive capabilities. You certainly know what I mean."

Shan Ziyan continued to nod like a chick pecking at rice. Of course she knew. Ice and Fire Burst—it was the Combined Battle Skill with the most terrifying destructive power and Attack Power.

"And then there’s the last person—the kid that even I haven’t been able to see through. Judging from his past few battles, he probably... hasn’t even shown a tenth of his true strength." As Dilaka spoke, an unconcealable delight sparkled in his eyes. "His Pupil Technique is simply the greatest weapon in a team battle. As long as he’s there, I’m afraid they can easily break through any formation! The next battle will be magnificent. You all must watch carefully!"

Dilaka’s words sent a deep shock through Jun Wu, Shan Ziyan, and Shan Qiuhen, who were sitting below. If these words had come from anyone else, they would have dismissed the speaker as a fool. But since they came from Dilaka, they were as good as a prophecy. Jun Wu looked down at Mu Chen with his mesmerizing eyes and thought in astonishment, ’Could it be that Lord Dilaka has already seen through the secrets of his Pupil Technique?’