Chapter 2569: Chapter 2572: Bringing Humiliation Upon Oneself
"Alright, the first round of battles is over, now proceeding to the second round!"
Before long, the battles on all the arenas had concluded, leaving only eleven people on the twelve arenas. Ming Yang was defeated, and Jiang Chen had completed his second round ahead of time.
"Except for our friend Jiang Chen, everyone else should choose an opponent for their battles!"
Jin Tianqiong glanced at Jiang Chen and added another clause to the rules reluctantly. This was the only time during the assessment in the Gold-devouring Rat Clan’s ancestral land that someone finished the second round before everyone else had completed the first!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As soon as Jin Tianqiong finished speaking, the selection of opponents for battle concluded. As expected, Su Qingpeng, Huo Qiong, and Zuo Qiqi all chose opponents from the Gold-devouring Rat Clan.
This wasn’t because they thought the members of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan were weak, but everyone knew well that out of the six slots in the ancestral land, five were offered to outsiders. Basically, these five were assured entry into the ancestral land.
This was also a method used by the Gold-devouring Rat Clan for external relations. The invited forces were generally those who had dealings with the clan.
After the slots were awarded, the elders accompanying the younger generation would take the opportunity to make transactions with the Gold-devouring Rat Clan while the juniors entered the ancestral land.
However, this time things went a little astray. Firstly, Jin Ming gave a slot to Jiang Chen, and secondly, Jiang Chen eliminated Ming Yang directly!
As he wasn’t involved in the second round, Jiang Chen enjoyed his leisure time and watched the others’ battles with his hands behind his back.
After watching the battles of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan members for a while, he lost interest. The peak Divine Infant Realm Gold-devouring Rat Clan primarily relied on energy devouring, and their other battle methods failed to catch Jiang Chen’s attention.
Jiang Chen mainly focused on the battles of Huo Qiong and the other two.
Huo Qiong’s battle method involved the use of the Fire Path. From Huo Qiong’s battles, Jiang Chen saw the technique of fire control, using the fire derived from the Great Dao of the Fire Path to battle with alchemy control. This required a relatively high level of mastery over fire.
"This Huo Qiong should be able to refine fifth-grade Elixirs!"
After observing Huo Qiong’s battles for a while, Jiang Chen gained some understanding of his alchemy technique.
Su Qingpeng and Zuo Qiqi’s battles mainly relied on Spirit Arrays. Su Qingpeng’s combat experience was evidently stronger than Zuo Qiqi’s.
Zuo Qiqi maintained a stationary fighting style, using a Defensive Light Barrier to block attacks, then setting up a Spirit Array. In contrast, Su Qingpeng set up Spirit Arrays amidst dodging and maneuvering.
Unsurprisingly, all three won, leaving four outsiders and two Gold-devouring Rat Clan members among the six victors.
"Everyone rest for a quarter of an hour, then we’ll proceed to the third round of assessment. The third round is conducted by the ancestral land. The rules are that there are no rules; you can use any means to reach the Spiritual Fire!"
As the battles concluded, Jin Tianqiong mentioned the matters of the third-round assessment before disappearing into thin air.
Whoosh!
Jiang Chen flashed over to the side of the arena, walking up to Jin Ming and curiously asked, "Grandpa Jin, what does it mean for the ancestral land to conduct the assessment?"
"It means withstanding the pressure within the ancestral land!"
A cold voice sounded as Su Qingpeng approached.
"Yes, there’s the pressure of Spiritual Fire and the slight remnants of pressure from the ancestral powerhouses buried there. The two pressures conflict, making it impossible for cultivators above the Divine Infant Realm to enter the ancestral land; only those of the Divine Infant Realm can enter.
Moreover, these two pressures unintentionally form a rather formidable formation, making it exceedingly rare for anyone to reach the Spiritual Fire amidst the double barriers of pressure and formation. It’s been nearly a hundred years since anyone has managed to reach the Spiritual Fire, let alone attempt to subdue it!"
Jin Ming gave a detailed explanation.
"Nearly a hundred years?"
Jiang Chen was taken aback, realizing the obstacles within the ancestral land weren’t easy to overcome.
"That’s because those who entered over the past century were all incompetent. This time, I will surely claim the Spiritual Fire!"
An arrogant voice sounded as Zuo Qiqi walked over and gave Jiang Chen and Yan Hu beside him a fierce glare.
Jiang Chen glanced at Zuo Qiqi without acknowledging her.
"It seems Miss Zuo is well-prepared this time. If I’m not mistaken, Miss Zuo has brought the Array Plate of the Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array from the clan?"
Huo Qiong also joined the group and, upon hearing the conversation, gave Zuo Qiqi a deep look.
"Humph!"
Zuo Qiqi snorted disdainfully without responding, but her confident demeanor suggested otherwise.
"The Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array."
Hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared in Jiang Chen’s eyes.
"Indeed, the Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array is reputed to break all formations below the Integration Path. With this array, it’s much easier to pass the ancestral land’s assessment!"
Huo Qiong explained softly, glancing at Zuo Qiqi: "Not long ago, an elder of the Zuo Clan discovered an Array Plate of the Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array in the ruins of a formation grandmaster. Presumably, Zuo Qiqi brought it along."
"Array Plate, is it the kind of formation compass used in ancient times to record Formation Diagrams, serving as a consumable for formations?"
Jiang Chen inquired softly.
"Yes!"
Huo Qiong nodded affirmatively.
"Jiang Chen, just wait. You offended Ming Yang and the Canglan Army. Without gaining the Spiritual Fire and winning the friendship of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan, you’ll have no place to die!"
Zuo Qiqi sneered: "If you kneel and beg, maybe I’ll lend you the Array Plate. But you’ll have to swear a Heavenly Dao Blood Oath to serve me as a guardian for a hundred years!"
As she spoke, Zuo Qiqi glanced at Yan Hu, seemingly taking revenge for Yan Hu’s earlier remark that she wasn’t fit to be Jiang Chen’s guardian.
"The Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array isn’t omnipotent, and there are many ancient formations it can’t break."
Jiang Chen spoke nonchalantly, with a teasing look: "Besides, an Array Plate is an external thing, not as convenient as what one truly controls."
"Humph! You speak as if you know how to set up the Heavenly Origin Big Dipper Array!"
Zuo Qiqi disdained and snorted.
Jiang Chen simply smiled and no longer paid attention to Zuo Qiqi. Turning to Su Qingpeng, he said: "Brother Su, arrays are for supplementary cultivation; personal strength is fundamental. I noticed you rely too much on the Array Path in battles, which might be somewhat putting the cart before the horse."
Su Qingpeng was slightly stunned, then nodded gently: "The Ancestral Elder says the same, but for now, the Array Path is my strongest technique."
"Humph! Don’t pretend to be an expert here; arrays are profound, far beyond your comprehension!"
Zuo Qiqi mocked Jiang Chen: "If you have the ability, let me set up an array for you to try breaking through!"
Jiang Chen turned to Zuo Qiqi and said indifferently: "Bringing shame upon yourself!"
