ASER - Chapter 170
Chapter 170: Blood Devour
A'Diao was nestled in, watching the show. Dantai Ke, currently the main force attacking the Azure Phoenix Demon King, said coldly, "You two in hiding, I know you're here too, hoping to watch me finish off this demon king and then act as the oriole behind. Such a wonderful dream, I'm afraid. That Chen A'Diao is clearly plotting something, who knows what she's up to in there. Her master, Qu Jiangnan, has the ability to kill three Star Realm cultivators with formations. Aren't you afraid that by pretending to be a pig, you'll actually become one?"
"If you don't make a move soon, don't blame me for abandoning everything and leaving. At worst, we'll all just settle for our current scores. I, Dantai Ke, never work for others' benefit!"
"For example, you three from the university, is your leader still out there 'farming mobs'? If you don't show yourselves, I'll kill you first!"
Dantai Ke controlled the Dao Tablet, his sword aura surging. In terms of a powerful expert's demeanor, he indeed fit the bill far more than A'Diao. Moreover, born into a imperial family, he possessed a certain regal air. His words were deafening and thought-provoking.
Nie Yuanyuan raised an eyebrow, knowing his words were also directed at her.
However… Dantai Ke wasn't joking. While attacking the Azure Phoenix, he had also locked onto Yue Xingxi and her two companions.
Evidently, he had targeted one of the two "fish kings."
And he had the audacity to kill Yue Xingxi's group of three. The latter three indeed showed a slight change in expression.
Just then.
Hum.
A long saber, capable of splitting mountains and cleaving seas, fiercely slashed, splitting several of the Azure Phoenix's metallic feathers and drawing blood from its wing.
Star Realm, but with minor mastery in Blade Intent, a single slash could sever mountains and seas.
Everyone looked, all astonished.
This person was nameless, with ordinary features and average height, possessing no particular aura. Placed in a crowd, he was the type of simple, down-to-earth individual who would go to the cafeteria after class to buy a seven or eight yuan dinner.
Such a person looked utterly out of place standing with Yue Xingxi's group, let alone leading them.
And such a person, in A'Diao's words, was just an unremarkable, crude man.
The crude man was a blade cultivator, and also at the Star Realm.
Many from Minghai University recognized him, all shocked!!
"It's Senior Li Che!"
"Holy crap!"
"How could it be him!!!"
At this moment, in the audience stands, Jiang Zhou felt the old lady from Minghai University had the air of a profound expert, on the same level as himself, and asked, "You picked this kid? He's hidden himself quite well. Looks like a third or fourth year, not young... to be this formidable, could he have a natural Blade Physique?"
The old lady, dressed in casual floral clothes with the demeanor of someone who might go square dancing after class, smiled. "Blade Meridian Physique. All his hundred meridians were naturally open from birth. He's played with blades since childhood, so it's a talent that suits his temperament. But he had no choice but to hide it; being older, he lacked confidence facing a group of younger 'brothers and sisters'."
Actually, he was just playing it safe.
This generation of prodigies, compared to the flamboyant, arrogant prodigies of the first generation who aimed to rival the heavens, were far too good at laying low.
The principal of Kyoto University rolled his eyes. Wasn't this 'laying low' culture started by you people from Danzhou? A complete plague.
But with Li Che out, plus Dantai Sheng, four Star Realm cultivators together should be enough to deal with the Azure Phoenix. If the remaining person didn't come out, it would be hard to get a share of the spoils. After all, snatching the fruit under the noses of four Star Realm cultivators was difficult.
If they didn't come out now, they were determined to lay low to the very end.
Only the last "fish" remained?
The Radiant Azure Phoenix also realized its situation was dire and immediately ordered the other azure birds to concentrate their attacks on the four Star Realm cultivators.
Both sides engaged in fierce slaughter, the battle raging like wildfire. The situation still favored the examinees because the four Star Realm cultivators were truly too strong. Dantai Ke's Unity Sword and Li Che's blade attacks had the greatest destructive power, Nie Yuanyuan's support was unparalleled, and Dantai Sheng was no pushover either. The four temporarily set aside their differences and focused all their efforts on besieging the Azure Phoenix Demon King.
"Something's wrong."
"Its aura..."
However, they soon felt something strange about the Radiant Azure Phoenix. It seemed to have become exceptionally berserk, its aura distorted and surging, as if it was about to go into a frenzy.
The pressure on the four instantly became immense. Just as the Radiant Azure Phoenix spread its wings to unleash a powerful move, a peculiar, pure silver energy suddenly struck its stomach like mercury.
It was very strange; without any sign of armor penetration, it seemed to melt directly and softly into its body.
A'Diao, who had been watching the show, was suddenly alarmed when she sensed this terrifying power. She immediately exited '303' and dodged to a corner of the stomach pool. Fortunately, she had mostly recovered by now. But she watched as the spot where she had just been was obliterated by a mass of mercury, and a large amount of stomach acid in the pool evaporated…
My heavens, what kind of power is this?
Toilet: "Bloodline Origin Power, similar to Han Zhuo's Bloodfire. This person's bloodline power manifests as this highly corrosive liquid with immense critical strike damage. It's on a much higher level than Bloodfire. It can even be controlled after leaving the body, its density manipulated to merge into flesh and blood, and then explode in an attack."
A'Diao captured a wisp of the energy aura with her fingertips. "It's a Heterodox Race ability. This silver appearance is because it's split into countless microscopic particles, with spirituality infused within... Damn, this Heterodox Race member is terrifying!"
A'Diao felt a chill in her heart, while Dantai Ke and the others outside were also startled.
"Handan Jidao!!"
"It really is you!"
So, the saying that the most likely person is often the least likely one—this kind of reverse deduction based on unexpectedness isn't always correct.
This person had already stood out in the preliminary exam and been seen, unlike Li Che who was completely low-key. This had already left a small flaw. However, it was precisely because he was someone whose very name sounded high-profile that people's reactions were a mix of suspicion and self-denial.
It couldn't be that easy to guess, could it?
That "fish king" was supposed to be very secretive.
Unexpectedly, truly unexpectedly, it was him, and he was so formidable!
Now both "fish kings" have emerged, right?
At this moment, the Azure Phoenix Demon King, having taken this hit, writhed in pain and decisively unleashed its ultimate move.
Boom!!!
Luminosity tore apart, five rifts of light broke through the air, bypassing obstacles. True to its name, Guangsa (Radiant), its speed naturally matched that of light.
The four couldn't dodge it at all.
They could only receive the attack together.
Bombardment!!
They were almost engulfed by light, but on the other side, Handan Jidao's Star Realm body was surprisingly far more resilient than the previous four. He withstood it, but then spoke to A'Diao.
"Chen A'Diao, I have no enmity with you, but I am very interested in your Dao Tablet. Give me the Dao Tablet, and you and I will join forces to eliminate those four over there. Do you agree?"
Damn it!
Once someone hidden to the core was exposed, their arrogance was extraordinary. Dantai Ke sneered, "Let's see if she dares to come out! If she dares, we will fight alongside you two. Let's see who wins!"
Though he said that, Dantai Ke was actually extremely wary of Handan Jidao. Chen A'Diao, after all, still lacked cultivation and was merely a threat. But this Handan Jidao was a tangible danger. He didn't know which Heterodox Race Handan Jidao came from. Dantai Ke had some understanding of the Heterodox Race system, but he truly had no knowledge of this person or their abilities.
This bloodline power that manipulated density for armor-piercing attacks was comparable to Chen A'Diao's control over thousands of Mental Threads for spirit-imbued attacks.
Both were BUGs.
However, it was estimated that Chen A'Diao was also scared half to death now.
Just as Dantai Ke thought this, he suddenly heard Chen A'Diao's voice from within the Azure Phoenix Demon King: "Brother, you're too kind. Why say such distant things as cooperation and deals? As long as you marry me, I'll bring the Dao Tablet as my dowry, and I don't even want a betrothal gift from you. If you agree, I'll carry my tombstone and marry you tomorrow, how about it?"
While saying this, A'Diao was actually calculating that the time was about right, so she took out a Dragon Tendon and threw it into the stomach pool.
It was the Dragon Tendon of a Thunder Flood Dragon, a good item given to her by the Mountain Head of Lushan.
However, the people outside didn't know and couldn't sense it for the time being, as it was, after all, inside the Azure Phoenix Demon King's body. But the demon king definitely sensed it, so it quieted down in shock. The Fruit of Proliferation in its stomach was almost digested, and after it came into contact with the Dragon Tendon…
It: "!!!"
Meanwhile, Song Ling and others who were fighting monsters in other areas outside the garden were suddenly shocked.
Because they saw a massive demonic wind rolling towards them.
Rolling in from three directions.
Startled by A'Diao's sudden words, the originally dangerous and grim atmosphere suddenly... exploded with a pile of Mental Power.
It exploded both inside and outside the examination venue.
Shen Huajing was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, but…
"Alright! I'll marry you!" Handan Jidao agreed immediately.
Huh? No, A'Diao was dumbfounded.
Are you Heterodox Race members so casual?
However, in that same instant, Handan Jidao suddenly condensed power in his palm.
Yan Fengbai saw it and immediately shouted, "Miss A'Diao, be careful!!"
But it was too late. Handan Jidao had already launched an attack that smashed into the Azure Phoenix Demon King's body.
What he said earlier was just to pinpoint A'Diao's location!
Damn!
A stream of light suddenly flew out from the demon king's mouth—it was Chen A'Diao.
She finally escaped!
In that instant, Yan Fengbai and his companion, Shen Huajing and her companion, all shot over. But Dantai Ke, Dantai Sheng, and the others were a step faster, attacking in unison.
Kill Chen A'Diao, seize the Lesser Spirit King Dao Tablet!
This was a chaotic battle.
It wasn't quite a "dance of demons," but it was indeed a "dazzling array of stars." How dazzling?
Stars, two more appeared.
One came from Shen Huajing. A single mental impact from her shook Dantai Sheng's mind, nullifying his attack.
Evidently, although she had seemed to help A'Diao reluctantly before, she had actually been biased towards her for a while, merely going along with A'Diao's plan to help.
But she alone could only stop one Dantai Sheng.
What truly shocked everyone was when thousands of green silks suddenly entangled Dantai Ke and Handan Jidao.
"Nie Yuanyuan!!" Dantai Ke looked up and saw Nie Yuanyuan smiling. Her smile was just like Chen A'Diao's mischievous grins at times—a perfect expression of "a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean."
And in the instant they were bound.
The other additional star appeared.
Also helping A'Diao? Now they could counter-kill. With Shen Huajing and the helpful Nie Yuanyuan on their side, they could basically counter-KO Dantai Sheng and his group.
And this extra star suddenly was... two people, merged into one.
Yes, they instantly merged into another person. Before anyone could see this person's appearance clearly, he launched a fierce sword attack at someone!
Such a powerful sword, no weaker than Dantai Ke's Unity Sword. In terms of maximum destructive power, only Dantai Ke could compete with him.
Dantai Ke almost thought this sword would strike him.
But the next second, he was stunned.
Because this sword struck Chen A'Diao.
Audience: "???"
Cao Juanzhi, Xiong Chumo, and others: "!!!"
But what made them even more "Spartan" was that after Chen A'Diao was "killed," she turned into a Doppelganger Dao Tablet, a Grandmaster-level one from the first generation.
If it weren't a Dao Tablet and hadn't integrated a part of her spirituality, experts of their level wouldn't have failed to see through the trick; they were too focused on attacking her at the time.
But such a precious Dao Tablet, she just threw it out like that?
Now, the stances of the several Star Realm cultivators were somewhat clear.
Nie Yuanyuan was clearly allied with Yan Fengbai. They had plotted long ago, one in the open and one in the shadows, hidden the deepest.
Shen Huajing leaned towards A'Diao, while Li Che was more observant of the situation. The two princes, Dantai Ke and Dantai Sheng, had to join forces. Handan Jidao was isolated, fighting everyone!
A Doppelganger Dao Tablet, very rare! Everyone immediately began a chaotic battle to seize it. At least Li Che and Handan Jidao intervened. Only Shen Huajing retreated somewhat, coldly watching the six Star Realm cultivators fight.
However, Yan Fengbai was the fastest and snatched the Dao Tablet in one go.
At this moment, A'Diao's voice sounded quite melancholic.
"Brother Yan, that's not very righteous of you, snatching my things? So your dual cultivation is indeed abnormal, you can even be hermaphroditic."
These words were quite witty.
The merged Yan Fengbai's attractiveness had risen by more than one level. Androgynous and bewitchingly beautiful, collecting the Dao Tablet put him in a good mood. Hearing her words, his eyebrows twitched slightly. "You knew all along I had a problem and were wary of me?"
Otherwise, in the excellent situation just now, she would have come out and counter-killed Dantai Ke and the others with them.
Unexpectedly…
A'Diao: "What's there to talk about being wary or not? Aside from your Heterodox Race ability shocking me, you and they are no different in my eyes—all just pawns to be used. Of course, Brother Handan is different. He's a stinky scumbag!"
"Aiya, stinky man! You say you want to marry me, then you turn around and want to kill me. Men in this world are indeed harsh, hypocritical, unfaithful, and fickle! My sincere affection was wasted. Since ancient times, deep love has only led to regret, this regret is endless…"
Handan Jidao: "…"
But he suddenly sensed that the Azure Phoenix Demon King hadn't attacked them at all? And he faintly detected a strange aura coming from within the Azure Phoenix Demon King.
A higher-level, more terrifying aura, almost like a suppressive pressure.
Its appearance caused the Azure Phoenix Demon King to fall silent... Something must have changed!
He realized something and turned to leave, but the Azure Phoenix Demon King suddenly erupted, letting out a sharp cry.
Mental Impact!!!
Everyone, while dazed, prepared to withdraw from the competition or flee directly. Having been tricked too many times, they were truly traumatized by this person's outrageous maneuvers.
Flee!!
As long as I run fast enough, her outrageous maneuvers can't hurt me!
She is Chen A'Diao, the peerless plague!
But they soon discovered that the Azure Phoenix Demon King's mental impact wasn't actually aimed at them, but at other creatures.
Overall, it was the other three demon kings.
The Emerald-Eyed Demon King, the Three-Headed Shaman, and the Azure-Armored Crocodile Man had all arrived, attracted by the Dragon Tendon.
This was an irresistible force, just like Dantai Ke and the others chasing A'Diao like dogs to snatch the Lesser Spirit King Dao Tablet.
Now, these demon kings also wanted the Dragon Tendon, and upon seeing so many humans, they launched a group attack without a second word.
All examinees: "!!!"
And in the eyes of Dantai Ke and the others, this must be a hunting trap set by A'Diao. Damn A'Diao, trying to use four demon kings to wipe them out?
Fuck!!
How could they fight this? Even Dantai Ke was preparing to withdraw from the competition directly.
Better than dying here.
But at this very moment.
A'Diao, who had fully recovered her strength, launched a mental impact from inside the Azure Phoenix Demon King's stomach while hugging the tombstone.
Killing them was definitely impossible, she couldn't even injure them, after all, people like Dantai Ke were too strong. But a collective stun was achievable…
Once stunned, the attacks from several demon kings arrived.
Pfft…
Blood splattered across the sky.
But it was alright, as long as they withstood this blow, they would be fine!
Dantai Sheng, whose stun had ended, grabbed his wristband to withdraw, but before he could press the button…
The underground formation activated.
First layer, Immobilization Formation.
They were immobilized. Anyway, for Star Realm cultivators, it only lasted five seconds?
What use were five seconds? Their armor was already activated... Unless the demon kings attacked them directly, but they were already fighting each other. So, was it just to immobilize them?
Second layer, Spirit Gathering Formation!
One was under the core of the back mountain garden, but each of the other four areas also had one. A total of five Spirit Gathering Formations formed a unified grand composite formation. This was what she had been sneakily setting up underground earlier.
Just the first two formations were no ordinary items; they were all Grade A level, worth tens of billions in value.
They were money-burning contraptions.
Therefore, they could immobilize Star Realm cultivators, preventing them from controlling their wristbands to leave the competition.
As for the spirit gathering effect, it was even more terrifying. The Spiritual Power rolling in from the sky was directly refined into liquid.
Spiritual Power rained down like a torrential storm.
The four great demon kings were within it, and the Azure Phoenix Demon King's body released a strange crimson halo, screeching, emitting the aura of an impending breakthrough.
Yes, under the effects of the Fruit of Proliferation and the Dragon Tendon, it was about to break through, to Level 13!!
The other three great demon kings were greatly alarmed. They were originally at the same level; if a Level 13 suddenly appeared, they would surely die!
Thus, the three demon kings frantically attacked the Azure Phoenix Demon King, driving their demon spirit bloodline powers for this purpose.
The power was berserk!
At this moment, two seconds had passed, three seconds remaining!
The many examinees, shaken by these three seconds, only saw a terrifying red light suddenly appear on the Azure Phoenix Demon King's abdomen.
And a person chanting a spell.
As the spell was chanted, a huge formation disk expanded.
A great killing weapon created with countless top-tier materials.
The demon kings' battle had already shed a lot of blood. It absorbed the demon kings' bloodline power, and with enough bloodline power to activate, it began to expand frantically.
Spanning a thousand meters in diameter, it covered the sky above the core of this garden, rotating, and also entangling the Azure Phoenix Demon King within it.
What kind of formation was this?
No one knew.
Because it was self-created.
But it was very obvious that it was related to bloodlines.
And the Azure Phoenix Demon King's advancement lightning tribulation also arrived.
Thunder rolled, the formation magnificent.
Humans, immobilized on the earth; demon kings, trapped in the sky.
At this time, the screen changed the view. Everyone saw that person, standing within the blood-red abdominal cavity, fingers joined, chanting an ancient spell, and then... Boom!!!
Heavenly lightning descended.
The Azure Phoenix Demon King forcibly endured... Could it endure?
Yes, because it was originally the strongest among the four great demon kings, and it had received the nourishment of the Dragon Tendon.
This was the third second.
Heavenly lightning descended, advancement?!
No, in the fourth second, A'Diao had already simulated all of her main body's Mental Threads into the form of the Azure Phoenix Demon King.
At this moment, she was inside its body, sharing the Azure Phoenix Demon King's mental network with it. Her body controlled the formation disk, binding the Azure Phoenix Demon King, herself, and everything else together.
The lightning tribulation defaulted to them being one entity.
Then, in the fourth second, during the Azure Phoenix Demon King's most critical breakthrough phase, precisely when all of the Azure Phoenix Demon King's main body's power was focused on dealing with the lightning tribulation, she activated all her mental power…
The Dao Tablet protected her as a mental thunderbolt, synchronized with the external lightning, struck the Azure Phoenix Demon King's Mental Body from within, instantly crushing its Mental Body.
Then quickly filled the void, replacing it!
Possession technique! Also known as the legendary demonic possession. But she had already simulated its mental network, and the main body's resistance to her was minimal, so it was basically accomplished in one step without any obstacles.
After all, her Mental Body was Grandmaster-level. Then, she controlled the Azure Phoenix Demon King's power to quickly activate the formation disk into its true functional mode—Blood Devour.
This was how she, step by step, leveraged power to drive this terrifying formation that she could create but lacked sufficient strength to control.
Anyway, in the fifth second, Dantai Ke and the others broke free from the immobilization, but before they could react, they felt the bloodline qi within their bodies being dragged out.
"No!!"
Could they refuse a five hundred billion-cost formation?
Wisps of essence blood containing core bloodline power were drawn out. However, the three great demon kings were formidable and managed to break free from the formation disk, attempting to escape. Behind them, after dense streams of bloodline power were drawn into the Blood Devour formation disk…
A'Diao finally entered the final state.
Creating a bloodline!
If she had no bloodline, she would create one herself. But before that, she needed the help of her "brothers and sisters."
Lend me your bloodline for a use…
Rumble!!
The second heavenly lightning bolt arrived!
Heavenly lightning falls, the demon king seeks advancement, to soar high henceforth, intimidating other demon kings!
Formation disk activates, a mortal seeks to create something from nothing, bloodline awakens, and innate talent is forged, henceforth not inferior to others in the slightest!
Was she not worthy?
A'Diao controlled all the intricate bloodline threads to enter the formation disk. After passing through the dual process already inscribed on the disk, they permeated, were cleansed and transformed, protected by countless runes, and entered the Azure Phoenix Demon King's body one by one.
Bloodlines would clash, would backlash—it didn't matter. Its body would bear it, not harming her main body, though her Mental Body also felt the pain.
Just endure.
Then... the Azure Phoenix Demon King's body began to be tormented and torn apart by countless berserk bloodline powers. But it was a demon king, after all, with a formidable body. It was also enduring the tribulation lightning... The terrifying lightning simultaneously entered its body, indirectly tempering these bloodlines.
How terrifying this process was! The entire space was trembling, and the Spiritual Energy of the entire Myriad Demon Rakshasa Courtyard was being stripped away by it…
Dantai Ke and the others looked up and saw all this, already knowing what Chen A'Diao was doing.
They were stunned.
Withdraw? Could they withdraw now?
But they didn't.
Because they basically believed Chen A'Diao would undoubtedly die.
"In the first generation, how many dared to create a bloodline and succeeded? Every one of that generation was tempered through arduous cultivation, later cultivating totems after reaching Grandmaster. She is so greedy, making such a huge scene, clearly aiming for more than just a small bloodline. Her ambition is too great; she will die sooner or later!"
"Merely at the Transcendent stage, she will undoubtedly die!"
"Once she dies... everything she has will belong to me!"
Greed is human nature. And cultivation itself is an act against the heavens, constantly plundering and contending for resources, requiring risk. In the eyes of Dantai Ke and the others, the three great demon kings had retreated to the periphery and were observing. Since they weren't being attacked, they could naturally observe as well.
Wait for Chen A'Diao to die, then the demon kings would fight for the Azure Phoenix Demon King's corpse, and they would fight for Chen A'Diao's legacy…
Shen Huajing watched coldly from the sidelines.
Would she die?
Why did she feel it would succeed? Because of her sensory talent, she could vaguely sense that only one Mental Body remained within the Azure Phoenix Demon King.
If A'Diao was already dead, the Blood Devour formation would not continue to activate. But if it was still activating, it meant the Azure Phoenix Demon King's Mental Body had been eliminated.
This Chen A'Diao, she was afraid, had directly eliminated the Azure Phoenix Demon King from the inside using the tribulation lightning and the Dao Tablet.
Shen Huajing specifically checked the rankings.
Chen A'Diao's name was hidden—why was it hidden?
Because she didn't want to reveal that she had eliminated the Azure Phoenix Demon King and her points had soared. Only in this way could she keep people like Dantai Ke here, right?
After some calculation, Shen Huajing decided to stay as well. Cooperate, right? She understood.
And incidentally, witness the rise of an era with her own eyes.
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