<h4>Chapter 86: First Assessment in the Final Selection</h4>
In the fog-filled canyon.
“Take up formation!”
“Take up formation!”
The geniuses shouted one after another. They had a total of a hundred people, only ten people could match a demonmander! On the other hand, there were 135 demonmanders and over 1000 demon lieutenantmanders. If they didn’t join forces, they would probably be defeated very quickly.
Eleven sharpshooters stood in the middle of the formation while the other geniuses protected them.
Meng Chuan and Ji Yuantong were the only ones that dared to charge into the demon army, but that was only brute courage. Only by cooperating with theirpanions would their efficiency be higher.
He had cultivated in a Dao Academy since he was young; thus he knew the need for cooperation.
“They’reing.” All the geniuses solemnly stared at the charging demons.
“Scram!” Dong Fang—who was one of the strongest—wielded arge shield and arge axe. With a swing of his barbed shield, he sent a wolf demon flying. Its bones were fractured by the impact. Following that, Dong Fang swung his axe and cleaved a tiger demon lieutenantmander to death.
“Block!” Many geniuses used their shields to block.
One de after another stabbed out from the gaps in the wall of shields, killing the demon lieutenantmanders sinisterly.
At the same time, the eleven sharpshooters rapidly shot arrows. The geniuses who could enter the top hundred were the strongest mortal youths. Their arrows bombarded the demons at extreme speeds. The bombardment hit the demons while they were distracted by the other geniuses, reaping their lives. In the blink of an eye, dozens of demon lieutenantmanders died.
In terms of killing efficiency, sharpshooters were the most terrifying.
The human’s circr phnx formation was like a meat grinder.
Growl—
Under the red-robed Godfiend’smand, the demons attacked madly. None of them were afraid of death. They constantly charged towards the shields! Flying demons also swooped down and attacked.
As demon lieutenantmanders were ughtered, demonmanders arrived at the formation.
“The demonmanders are here.”
“Everyone, be careful.”
The geniuses were bing more cautious. They also wished to kill the demons. This was Archean Mountain’s entrance examination—they naturally wanted to perform well.
Demonmanders’ auras were even stronger, and they were all muchrger!
A rhinoceros demonmander—wielding two hammers—took wide strides. When it came close, it let out a furious grunt as the hammers mmed down.
Bam. Chu Yong blocked one hammer head-on with his saber. Following that, his saber changed direction, and he shed at the rhinoceros demon’s knee. As for the other hammer, it mmed into the ground.
Swoosh.
An arrow shed past and pierced the rhinoceros demon’s face. It prated a foot deep, but the rhinoceros demon didn’t care about such injuries.
Pfft. An arrow pierced the rhinoceros demon’s eyes and prated deep into its head. Only then did the rhinoceros demon tremble and copse.
Chu Yong held the demons back while Li Ying and Zong Sha killed a demonmander in quick session with an arrow each.
However, more demonmanders were here!
The first wave of demonmanders caused the circr phnx formation to waver. The geniuses were unable to stop the demonmanders.
“Ah.”
“Not good.”
Suddenly, part of the circr phnx formation began to copse. A cat demonmander— who had transformed into a ck stream of light—was fearless as it attacked. Geniuses fell to the ground. However, when the cat demon was about to tear the humans apart with its ws, an invisible force enveloped the youths and pulled them to the canyon entrance. Archean Mountain Godfiends had rescued the injured geniuses.
When death was imminent, the Godfiends would save them.
We were defeated the moment the demonmanders attacked? The geniuses, who had been rescued, felt mixed emotions. They watched the demons charge at the circr phnx formation as they flew towards the canyon entrance.
Meng Chuan ignored a demonmander and quickly went to block the cat demonmander.
The two had a contest of speed. He used the iplete Five Lightning Descent—his three-hitbo!
The fastest strike of hisbo was Swaying Moonfall. His saber struck the catmander’s abdomen, leaving a gaping wound. Shortly after, an arrow pierced the cat demon’s head. The cat demon was fast, but its body was much weaker than a bear demon, or an ox demon.
Meng Chuan turned his head and saw Zong Sha smile before he continued shooting.
Meng Chuan also realized how easily he suppressed the demonmanderspared to when the demons had invaded Eastcalm Prefecture. In the past half-year, pushing his Saber Force to its limits had increased his strength. However, he would take at least ten strikes to kill a demonmander. Even then, some demonmanders would be unkible for him. Fortunately, he had sharpshooters helping. A sharpshooter’s arrows were much faster than his saber.
...
Time passed.
Many human geniuses struggled to hold on and had to be rescued after the demonmanders had charged into their circr phnx formation.
The trial ended.
“Stop.” The red-robed woman’s voice resounded in the canyon. All the demons stopped fighting and became docile.
“Return to your respective caves,” instructed the woman. The demons either ran, crawled, or flew. They obediently returned to their respective caves on the cliff walls. Affected by an invisible force, the demons were chained.
There were only seven bloodied people left standing in the canyon—Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, Ji Yuantong, Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Sharpshooter Zong Sha, and Sharpshooter Li Ying.
They stood there, breathing haggardly.
“It’s over?” asked Yan Feng hoarsely.
“Five minutes are up.” Chu Yong sat down in exhaustion.
“Those demons were crazy.” Ji Yuantong was also exhausted.
Yan Jin stood silently. His fingers—that were holding the two swords—had turned white.
Meng Chuan heaved a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, everyone,” Zong Sha said. “If it weren’t for you protecting us, we wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”
“If you wish to thank someone, thank Meng Chuan. He did his best to protect the two of you,” said Yan Feng as he held his spear.
“Young Master Meng is indeed impressive.” Princess Li Yingughed.
Meng Chuan only nodded and couldn’t be bothered speaking. He was exhausted. He had been extremely focused for five whole minutes as he frantically tried to put out fires everywhere.
He could easily assess the situation around him with his 100 foot domain. He could deal with any problems that arose. He also relied on his speed to protect the two sharpshooters. Of course, the others were also trying their best to protect the sharpshooters.
Sharpshooters were much more efficient at killing demons. On a battlefield, the sharpshooters needed to be protected.
“The two of you are really powerful. When the three demonmanders used the poisonous fog, the two of you charged into the demon horde and killed the three demonmanders.” Princess Li Ying felt even more poignant. It was a harrowing memory. If they hadn’t killed the three demonmanders, they wouldn’t be able to hold on for long.
“The first trial of the final selection is over. The seven of you, hurry over,” ordered the blue-clothed woman.
Meng Chuan and the others immediately headed towards the canyon.
...
King East River, the sloppy-looking man, and the blue-clothed woman urately evaluated the geniuses’ performances during the trial.
“There are some geniuses who have high realms and strong Godfiend foundations. However, when ites to intense battles, they are shocked. They can only unleash 70% of their full strength. They can even go into killing frenzies on the battlefield, destroying anybat formations set up. They then be counter-productive to what we want.” The cyan-clothed woman shook her head. “These are people with poorbat talent.”
“Talent in cultivation doesn’t mean that one’sbat talent is high,” said the sloppy man with a smile.
Combat talent was very important. A Godfiend with highbat talent could kill about five enemies that were of simr strength.
“Of these hundred geniuses, seven arecking inbat talent. What’s the point of nurturing such fools?” said the cyan-clothed woman. “Most geniuses performed as expected. They know how to cooperate and not burden theirpanions. Only twelve are truly talented inbat.”