Chapter 2 The Next Round

The next day, outside the Tianyu Hall, many royal descendants were already waiting impatiently. Today would begin the second round, and only the top nine would receive rewards, so it was bound to be a bloody battle.

"The second round begins. First battle in the Zifu realm: Jiang Yi of the Yun King lineage versus Jiang Fu of the Mo King lineage."

Soon after, Fallen Feather Celestial appeared and announced the start of the battle without any extra words. The two prodigies immediately flew into the sealed battle array and began a life-or-death duel.

The royal competition was a great opportunity, and those confident in their abilities came with the mindset of fighting to the death.

They weren't worried about dying either. Which royal lineage didn't have a Celestial backing them? Those who made it to the top eighteen were the most outstanding talents of their respective lineages and eras.

Even if they really died in the battle, their Celestial ancestor would have means to reincarnate them back into their lineage, and at a certain age, they could awaken their past life memories.

Of course, there was another similar existence: reincarnated immortals. However, reincarnated immortals had to have reached at least the Returning Void Earth Immortal level in their previous life to be able to rely on their own power to reincarnate in the Netherworld, and awaken their memories after rebirth.

Jiang Xuan remembered that among the remaining eighteen people, there was one reincarnated immortal, who was also the greatest threat to him.

"Fifth battle: Jiang Xuan of the Zhan King lineage versus Jiang Lian of the Jing King lineage."

Several hours later, it was Jiang Xuan's turn. These prodigy battles were usually difficult to determine a winner, and were often decided in a single exchange.

That was why Jiang Xuan had to wait for several hours.

Inside the sealed battle array, Jiang Xuan and Jiang Lian faced off from a distance. Jiang Lian cultivated the body like a demon, and like Jiang Xuan, had chosen the number one body refining technique below the Heavenly Gods, *Crimson Firmament Nine Heavens Chart*. Moreover, he had reached the ninth level of perfection long before Jiang Xuan.

If he wasn't trying to compete for the opportunities of this royal competition, he could have broken through to the myriad phenomena realm with his body refining accomplishments.

"Young Master Jiang Xuan, although you've managed to get this far by luck, you're destined to lose this battle!" Jiang Lian was a very tall man, over two meters in height, and powerfully built, with a strong sense of oppression. His voice was also deep and resonant.

"???"

However, upon hearing his words, Jiang Xuan could only look confused. Who gave him this confidence? Some woman named Liang?

As if sensing Jiang Xuan's confusion, Jiang Lian suddenly waved his hand, and the void faintly trembled, with the sound of air being torn apart booming.

"You previously used your divine sense to avoid us, and luckily passed the first stage, then used strange pills to drive away the demons, and won against Jiang Miao with despicable means."

Jiang Lian's eyes were like torches as he stared intently at Jiang Xuan and continued, "But in this sealed battle array, you can't hide, I don't cultivate the beast-controlling path, and my achievements in demon body refinement far surpass yours. Even if you grasp a complete Dao, you will still lose this battle!"

"Jiang Lian's words are reasonable. Without those pills, how can Young Master Jiang Xuan win?"

"That's right. Although Young Master Jiang Xuan has comprehended a complete Dao, Jiang Lian isn't bad either. He has mastered three Dao domains. Young Master Jiang Xuan doesn't have any advantage."

"Yes, and Jiang Lian's demon body refinement realm is higher than Young Master Jiang Xuan's. When the two fight, Jiang Lian will definitely be the one standing in the end!"

Some spectators also began to analyze the situation. Jiang Xuan and Jiang Lian both cultivated the *Crimson Firmament Nine Heavens Chart*, which made it easy for them to see the difference in their progress.

Don't be fooled by the fact that they were both at the ninth level. Jiang Xuan had only just entered this realm, while Jiang Lian had already perfected it, and had even deciphered the mysteries of the tenth level, ready to break through at any time. The difference between them was enormous.

However, Jiang Xuan was still confused. This guy had been talking to himself the whole time, as if he knew him very well. But from the start of the competition until now, he seemed to, appeared to, and definitely hadn't actually made a single move, right?

*I don't even know my own limits, where did you get your information? Are you also a Celestial ancestor?*

Jiang Xuan couldn't help but complain. This guy had probably refined his brain into mush with his demon body cultivation. His confident demeanor was so similar to Jiang Miao's from before.

"Actually... I think you should all be grateful to me for being able to advance," Jiang Xuan thought for a moment before slowly speaking, deciding to disgust Jiang Lian and also warn the others not to fixate on him.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

...

Not only Jiang Lian, but countless spectators in the royal capital, the many prodigies outside the Tianyu Hall, and even the Celestial ancestors inside the hall, were momentarily stunned. What did Jiang Xuan mean by that?

"Hmph! Arrogant! Do you think you can suppress us all with your own strength?!"

In an instant, Jiang Lian roared. He misunderstood Jiang Xuan's meaning, but his response was approved by countless prodigies, who glared angrily at Jiang Xuan. Some spectators even began to mock Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan rolled his eyes. Couldn't he finish what he was saying? He just paused to take a breath, and this guy had already imagined so much?

"It is indeed a bit difficult to suppress you all, but I have a lot of pills."

Jiang Xuan gave a nonsensical answer, which once again baffled countless people.

"Hahaha, this kid is quite interesting."

Inside the Tianyu Hall, some Celestials had already understood Jiang Xuan's meaning and couldn't help but laugh heartily, occasionally looking at the Zhan King, as if saying: *You've taught your grandson well. I thought you were a rough fellow, but I didn't expect you to have such thoughts in secret.*

If the Zhan King knew, he would definitely deny it three times. He had never taught Jiang Xuan any of this stuff! It was all Jiang Xuan's own comprehension!

"A lot of pills can't get you through the first stage. The first stage is a chaotic battle, in a small world. There are... demons in the small world?!"

Outside, someone also reacted. After clarifying the meaning of Jiang Xuan's words, he was stunned.

"He wanted to drug the demons in the small world?!"

Someone exclaimed, his face frozen.

"Hiss, is he... a demon?"

"It's chilling. If he really did that, the Zifu battle probably couldn't continue."

"Terrifying, terrifying. In the future, if I meet him, can't I just avoid him?"

"Wuwuwu, what about me, a beast-controlling cultivator? My demons are all cowering in their portable beast nests and dare not come out."

...

A single statement was enough to shock everyone. When people understood the meaning of Jiang Xuan's words, they were all terrified.

How many demons were there in the small world? Jiang Xuan had previously used his divine sense to investigate, and there were dozens of myriad phenomena great demons within a thousand miles, and more than a hundred Zifu great demons. The total number in the small world was simply terrifying.

If they were all drugged, and considering the effects of those pills, those prodigies wouldn't even be enough to fill the demons' teeth if they were divided into ten parts. Just thinking about that scene sent shivers down their spines, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of fear when they looked at Jiang Xuan.

"This person is a peerless demon!"

Inside the sealed battle array, Jiang Lian finally understood what Jiang Xuan was saying, and subconsciously took a step back, asking guardedly, "How many of those... pills did you bring?"

Jiang Xuan looked at Jiang Lian and nodded appreciatively. Not easy, it seemed his brain wasn't completely useless, he could still think, and he even knew to ask him back. To satisfy his thirst for knowledge, Jiang Xuan spoke again:

"Not many, right? After all, it's a competition, I couldn't bring too many, it wouldn't be convenient. Probably... just a few hundred bottles?"

Hearing the first half of his sentence, Jiang Lian was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, but the second half almost made him collapse. Even those prodigies who had already been eliminated couldn't help but tremble at this moment.

Whether they were male or female, Jiang Xuan's words were a heavy blow to their fragile hearts. Just thinking about the scene with Jiang Miao before, they felt a chill run through their bodies.

"A few hundred bottles is still few? How much do you want to bring to consider it as many?!"

"A few hundred bottles is indeed few!"

"Young Master Jiang Xuan, how could you become like this, wuwu!"

"This is an evil path, he must be a reincarnated evil demon!"

Countless people's minds exploded. Even if one bottle of pills contained ten pills, according to Jiang Xuan, he brought thousands of pills! At least enough to drug thousands of demons!

In addition, he had divine sense. Unless they saw him with their own eyes, the prodigies present would not be able to detect him at all. Using the previous form of medicinal powder, it wouldn't be difficult to drug these prodigies...

Thinking of this, their fear of Jiang Xuan grew even greater. If he had really made a move before, the Zifu realm competition would have been completely ruined, and he might have even destroyed the entire small world!