```
"The fourth rule, the time for the life-and-death battle is limited. If you fail to defeat your opponent before time runs out, it counts as elimination."
The Hall Master of Heavenly Light scanned the crowd and said in a clear voice, "Begin."
A stream of light flew from the depths of the Ancestor Hall.
The newcomer was a scrawny old man, none other than Grandmaster An, who presided over last month’s Outer Hall assessment.
"Greetings to the Hall Master, Prince Cheng, Duke Heng, and Prince An Qing."
Grandmaster An clasped his hands toward the viewing platform above before turning to the crowd. With a wave of his sleeve, a faintly golden bean dropped to the ground.
The bean transformed into a burst of golden light and then condensed into a Heavenly Soldier clad in armor!
A Daoist technique, turning beans into soldiers.
Even the most ordinary Heavenly Soldier had strength equivalent to that of a cultivator who just entered the Four Symbols Heaven Barrier.
Discover exclusive content at freewebnovel
But—
A phantom shadow emerged from Grandmaster An’s body, remarkably resembling himself, and flew into the Heavenly Soldier’s body, possessing it effortlessly.
Many assessors were waiting with heavy expressions.
Although the foundation of the Heavenly Soldier Puppet itself was low, with power and speed only at the threshold of the Four Symbols Heaven Barrier, Grandmaster An’s martial arts realm was unbearably high!
Like Baili Fengzhi, who, at an early Four Symbols stage, barely touched the threshold of the Martial Arts True Self but could still contend with a cultivator at the Four Symbols Peak.
And Grandmaster An’s realm would only be higher, plus he knew far more martial arts secret skills, killing skills, and so on than Baili Fengzhi.
According to the experience from past Inner Hall assessments, this first round would eliminate more than half of the assessors!
Historically, the most incredible genius faced in the Ancestor Hall’s Inner Hall assessment only reached the seventh round of life-and-death battles.
"Begin. Before the sand-glass time ends, each life-and-death battle must conclude, one by one."
The voice of the Hall Master of Heavenly Light echoed across the plaza: "The first assessor, Xiahong Baiye."
The Fifth Young Master of Prince Changping stepped out from the assessors.
Only then did Lin Yue realize that the Fifth Young Master’s name was Xiahong Baiye?
He was also somewhat curious, as he would soon return to being a prince, would he change his surname to Xiahong then?
"Kill!"
Xiahong Baiye drew a long sword and immediately attacked the Heavenly Soldier Puppet, possessed by Grandmaster An’s Martial Arts Soul Split.
Lin Yue observed carefully and quickly concluded that Xiahong Baiye’s strength might surpass that of the Heavenly Born Sect’s Saint Heir by quite a margin.
With his strength a month ago, even if he utilized all his means, he could only suppress the Saint Heir with speed, with no assurance of defeat, and inevitably had to rely on speed to escape.
Whereas Xiahong Baiye, the Fifth Young Master of Prince Changping, was significantly stronger, wielding a sword technique so fierce that a few moves might claim the Saint Heir’s life.
This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.
Truly a prodigious talent.
Breaking through the Four Symbols Heaven Barrier, yet the upper and lower limits varied vastly.
Crossing the Heaven Barrier merely indicated that everyone absorbed essence of a comparable level, yet it bore little relation to actual combat power.
However, even with such combat power as Xiahong Baiye possessed, dealing with the Heavenly Soldier Puppet controlled by Grandmaster An’s soul split was exceedingly challenging.
Despite the swiftness of Xiahong Baiye’s sword or the intricacy of the swordsmanship, before the puppet manipulated by Grandmaster An’s soul split, it seemed inadequate. The puppet’s movement technique and spear technique were exquisite beyond imagination for a Four Symbols practitioner.
No chance due to the excessively high martial arts realm.
If the foundation weren’t so poor, only possessing Four Symbols Heaven Barrier Peak’s power and speed would defeat Xiahong Baiye with a single move.
"Break!"
It appeared Xiahong Baiye fought with desperation. Seizing the moment, he gritted his teeth, his entire body flickered with lightning, merging with the sword’s light like a flash of electricity, instantly piercing through the Heavenly Soldier Puppet’s body.
Once the core of the Heavenly Soldier Puppet was shattered, it dissipated back into a golden bean.
A light murmur of amazement instantly resonated around.
Evidently surprised by Xiahong Baiye’s sudden outburst, he managed to defeat the Heavenly Soldier Puppet at once.
"You’ve won."
Grandmaster An nodded slightly and said, "For the Fifth Young Master to pass the first round of the life-and-death battle at such a young age is commendable."
Xiahong Baiye finally exhaled in relief. Failing the first round would have been too embarrassing for him.
On the elevated viewing platform.
"Qingyu."
The Twelfth Prince smiled affectionately at Prince An Qing, and said, "Baiye does have some martial arts talent, can’t you guide him properly?"
The cold and handsome Prince An Qing replied indifferently, "He can only stop at the first stage of the life-and-death battle. This talent can be considered above average; without a significant opportunity, his ultimate limit will be becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster."
"Even as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, he would surely be among the most powerful," the Twelfth Prince laughed.
The Hall Master of Heavenly Light said softly, "Xiahong Baiye is only twenty this year. Ten years later, he can take the Inner Hall assessment again. By then, he will surely enter the Inner Hall."
The Twelfth Prince suddenly glanced at Duke Heng, smiling gently as he said, "Speaking of which, the little daughter in Duke Heng’s family, with already decent talent, has obtained a Dragon Essence. By then, she will certainly enter the Inner Hall, right?"
Duke Heng sneered inwardly, but outwardly he calmly said, "Prince Cheng, Your Highness, flatters me."
"Dragon Essence?"
The Hall Master of Heavenly Light couldn’t help but glance at Duke Heng.
Dragon Essence originated from a True Dragon.
Within Di Hong City, only the Fifth Prince of Prince Xuan raised True Dragons.
Could it be... given by the Fifth Prince?
"The second, Cheng Xiangchao."
The first round of life-and-death battles continued.
Grandmaster An again displayed the bean soldiers, wielding the puppet through Martial Arts Soul Split.
The Heavenly Soldier itself absorbed the essence of heaven and earth at an amazing speed, had tremendous endurance, and wasn’t afraid of losing limbs. As long as its core remained intact, it could restore completely in no time.
```