Chapter 392 - 364: Death Trial

Chapter 392: Chapter 364: Death Trial

"Manor Master..."

"The Manor Master was actually forced to his knees by the Restriction’s backlash! How could it be so powerful?"

Seeing the scene before them, Mu Shang and the others were scared half to death.

No wonder they couldn’t break through the Restriction. If even someone with the Manor Master’s strength couldn’t do it, how could they possibly stand up?

"Manor Master..."

The Attendant was also startled and quickly stepped forward, intending to help the Manor Master up. But after just two steps, he felt a sudden force press down on him. His own knees buckled, and he knelt opposite the Manor Master.

For a moment, all five people in the room were kneeling on the floor. They stared at each other, creating an indescribably bizarre scene.

"Manor Master, what in the world is going on? Could that Ultimate Venerable be even stronger than you? That’s impossible!" The Attendant felt the pressure on his body and was completely unable to resist, his face filled with terror.

The Manor Master was at the Peak of the Second Layer Primordial Saint Realm. His strength ranked among the very top even in the Ancient City. To be forced to kneel just from trying to break a Restriction... just how powerful was his opponent?

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

The Manor Master didn’t answer the Attendant’s question. His face alternated between red and white, and steam rolled off his head as he seemed to be striking the Restriction with all his might, trying to stand up.

PFFT!

After struggling for a while, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Not only had he failed to break free, but the pressure from the Restriction grew even stronger, forcing him to kneel ramrod straight on the ground, unable to move a muscle!

’Heh,’ Nie Yun thought with a faint smile, having watched the entire scene unfold with his Celestial Eye.

In truth, the Restriction suppressing Mu Shang and the others wasn’t nearly this powerful. This situation had only occurred because he had secretly made another move just now!

With his Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul, he had only used his Soul Power, not his True Qi. Even the Manor Master hadn’t noticed and had fallen right into the trap!

Upon reaching the Secret Realm, Soul Power became exceptionally important. A person with powerful Soul Power could annihilate an opponent’s Spirit and kill them instantly with just a Soul Storm, as long as they didn’t let the enemy get close.

Of course, if these people had Soul Defense Spiritual Soldiers, they could block such a Soul Attack. If Nie Yun had used this move then, his cleverness would have backfired, and he would have been discovered.

Right now, only his soul was powerful. His combat strength was far inferior to a Primordial Saint Realm expert. If he were actually discovered, he wouldn’t even be able to escape.

’In other words, if my opponents don’t have Soul Defense Spiritual Soldiers, my powerful soul makes me almost invincible. But if they do have them, then it’s useless. In the end, true strength is the only real capital!’

If Nie Yun currently had the strength of the Second Layer of the Secret Realm, combined with his Soul Power, he could probably sweep through this entire Muaixia Manor in an instant. He wouldn’t need to resort to these tricks and deceptions.

’I can’t break the seal in front of the Lingxi Celestial Palace, so stealing the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water is just a dream for now. I should head back first. It’ll be trouble if I’m discovered!’

With that thought, Nie Yun was about to leave. Before he could move, however, he felt several powerful auras rush straight toward him. With a WHOOSH, they landed in the courtyard directly in front.

’Is that the Manor Master of Dieyi Manor? Who are the others? Their strength is on par with his. The one in the lead is even stronger... I’m afraid his soul has reached Mid-Stage Spirit Level, just like mine...’

Recognizing the newcomers, Nie Yun’s expression changed. With a slight shimmer, his body vanished into an inconspicuous corner of the courtyard, becoming completely still, as if he had disappeared from thin air.

The newcomers’ strength was comparable to the Manor Masters of Dieyi Manor and Muaixia Manor, and one was even stronger. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they must be the other Manor Masters and the so-called City Lord!

The strongest person in the Ancient City was the City Lord, an expert at the Secret Realm Third Layer with a Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul. Even without Soul Defense Spiritual Soldiers, he could kill Nie Yun with a casual wave of his hand if he found him!

"Mu Qi, the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition is in three days. I’ve gathered the other Four Great Manor Masters to discuss it... What’s wrong with you? What are you doing kneeling on the floor?"

The City Lord boomed out before he even entered the room, but he stopped halfway through his sentence when he saw the Manor Master of Muaixia Manor and his men kneeling neatly on the ground. The sight was indescribably strange.

"Haha, I see Manor Master Mu Qi must have obtained some new Cultivation Technique and is teaching everyone to practice it together! Manor Master Mu Qi, that’s where you’re wrong. To have such a fine technique and still be so secretive about it..." The Manor Master of Dieyi Manor burst out laughing at the sight, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"A Cultivation Technique for kneeling? How wonderful. But I wouldn’t learn it even if you gave it to me for free. I think Manor Master Mu Qi should keep it for himself. Once you reach Great Success in your Cultivation, everyone in your manor will kneel the moment they step outside. How magnificent that would be..." another Manor Master said sarcastically.

Although the Five Great Manors weren’t enemies, their relationship was poor due to competition. Now that they had a perfect opportunity to kick a man while he was down, how could they possibly let it pass?

"I don’t know about magnificent, but I think if Manor Master Mu Qi leads his subordinates in this Cultivation, it’ll be a very simple matter for Muaixia Manor to become the number one manor in the Ancient City—and the wealthiest!" another Manor Master chimed in.

"The wealthiest manor? How so?" one of the Manor Masters asked, looking puzzled.

"Isn’t it obvious? Kneeling before everyone they meet, who wouldn’t give them some money? With every little bit adding up, how could Muaixia Manor not become rich? Alright, Manor Master Mu Qi, you’ve got me scared. I have two Low-Grade Spirit Stones here. Just take them and get up already. A great and powerful Manor Master like yourself kneeling before me... it’s truly embarrassing..." As he spoke, the same Manor Master took out two Spirit Stones, his words dripping with vicious mockery.

"You..." Hearing their taunts, Manor Master Mu Qi of Muaixia Manor was so furious his Three Corpse Gods were raging and his lungs were about to explode. But there was nothing he could do while kneeling on the floor, so he could only turn his head to the City Lord. "City Lord, we’ve been ambushed. Are you just going to stand there and watch the show?"

"Er... about that... Rise!"

The City Lord had also wanted to enjoy the show a little longer, but being put on the spot by Manor Master Mu Qi, he blushed slightly and had no choice but to wave his hand.

CRACKLE!

The Restriction binding Mu Qi and his men dissipated in an instant, and they all felt the pressure lift.

The City Lord’s Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul was on par with Nie Yun’s. With a single move, he had invisibly broken the Restriction.

"Manor Master Mu Qi, what happened here? Why were you all... kneeling on the floor? Who did this?" the City Lord asked after freeing them from the Restriction.

"Let’s not talk about it. I will avenge this myself. Since you are all here for the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition, please, take a seat. Let’s discuss that first!"

After standing up, the ugly expression on Mu Qi’s face shifted several times before he quickly suppressed his fury. He sat down in his own seat and gestured for the others to do the same.

Forced to kneel by a trap left behind by an Ultimate Venerable... even someone as thick-skinned as Mu Qi was unwilling to mention it in front of everyone. Otherwise, Muaixia Manor would likely become a permanent laughingstock!

Besides, an Ultimate Venerable with such incredible methods must have possessed some extremely powerful treasures. Revealing what happened would be tantamount to handing those good things over to others. How could he be willing to do that?

"In that case, let’s all be seated!"

Seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, the City Lord didn’t press the matter. After his brief remark, the other Four Great Manor Masters also sat down.

"Mu Qi, your Muaixia Manor has occupied the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring for thirty years now. This year, we have unanimously decided that the competition rules must be changed. Otherwise, with your disciples nourished by the spring water, their strength will only continue to grow. In the future, will there be any place left for our other manors?" one of the Manor Masters said, taking the lead.

"That’s right. Everyone knows the benefits of the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring. It’s not right for one manor to monopolize it!" another Manor Master sneered.

The Five Great Manors were Dieyi, Muaixia, Jinghe, Xuyang, and Mingxia. Muaixia Manor had won the championship in the last three competitions, allowing them to control the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring for thirty consecutive years. Thirty years wasn’t a long time for a Cultivator, but it created a significant problem for the growth of the younger generation.

Ten years marked a generation, meaning thirty years was equivalent to three generations. The difference between three generations controlling the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring and not controlling it was as vast as the heavens and the earth!

If Muaixia Manor was allowed to continue developing like this, the other four manors would likely lose any power to contend with it!

"Muaixia Manor’s control over the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring was won according to the rules, through strength. If you have a problem with it, tell your own disciples to work harder instead of just paving the way for others!"

Hearing the hostility in their tone, Mu Qi’s reply was just as merciless.

"Alright, there’s no need to argue. Since everyone wants control of the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring, I have a proposal. For this year’s Holy Spirit Disciple Competition, let’s conduct a ’Death Trial’!" Suddenly, the Manor Master of Dieyi Manor interrupted the squabbling and turned to the City Lord. "City Lord, what do you think of my suggestion?"

"A Death Trial? No, absolutely not!"

"Those who can participate in the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition are the future of our Ancient City! The mortality rate of a Death Trial is too high; we would lose too many of them!"

Before the City Lord could even speak, two of the Manor Masters cried out, clearly disagreeing with this method.

"We should listen to the City Lord. What’s the use of you two arguing?" someone interjected, also turning to look at the City Lord.

"A Death Trial... is acceptable. It could concentrate the potential of all the disciples onto a select few! How about this? I have five enchanted jade tablets here, each infused with my Spiritual Power. I’m sure all five of your manors have disciples you value most. As long as you place this tablet on that disciple, they will be in no danger and will not die! This way, you don’t have to worry about the deaths!"

The City Lord flipped his palm, revealing five small jade tablets.

"An excellent method, City Lord! This way, we can let the peripheral disciples and the weaker ones be sent to their deaths to empower the disciples we value most. Each manor will benefit, so there’s no need to fight over it!"

The Manor Master of Dieyi Manor seemed to have known the City Lord would say this. He smiled faintly and immediately accepted a jade tablet.

"Sacrifice the peripheral and weaker disciples to empower the most valued ones? I agree as well!" one Manor Master nodded.

"I agree!" another Manor Master added in approval.

’Hmph, you all planned this beforehand, didn’t you? Coming here now is just a way to force my hand... You’re all ruthless!’ Seeing how quickly everyone agreed, Mu Qi instantly knew something was fishy, and his expression turned extremely ugly.

However, he was only the master of one manor. With the Four Great Manor Masters and the City Lord all in agreement, he had no way to refuse. He could only nod. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)