Chapter 1166: Time Wheel Pearl
Under a stunned gaze, Yun Che calmly walked into the profound formation.
Yun Che; Origin: Yin Xue Realm, Lifespan: 27, Cultivation: Divine Tribulation Realm, Level 1.
The final qualification check revealed nothing unusual.
A "shameless villain" and "disgrace of the profound way" from a lower realm with a mere Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 cultivation, who had cheated his way through two consecutive preliminaries, was now ranked above Luo Changsheng and everyone else… How could they possibly believe it? How could they possibly accept it?
In truth, the time Yun Che had taken to reach the three hundredth floor was less than an hour… For the previous twenty-plus hours, he had just been sitting there thinking about life, not moving at all.
If this had been any other occasion, faced with a result more absurd than nonsense, this group of "chosen ones" brimming with both strength and pride would have long since erupted. But, this was Feng Shen Platform, and the result had been personally announced by Quhui Zunzhe. Though their brows were deeply furrowed and their hearts filled with confusion and resentment, they rationally refrained from questioning it openly… However, not everyone did.
Luo Chang'an suddenly stepped forward, bowed first, then pointed directly at Yun Che: "Quhui Zunzhe, I, Luo Chang'an, have a question. How could a lowly and despicable person like Yun Che, with such low cultivation and character, almost a disgrace to the profound way, possibly…"
"Step back!" Quhui Zunzhe suddenly shouted sternly. "He is first. Though he used special means, according to the rules, victory is victory. Not only I, but everyone present has seen it with their own eyes. How dare you question it! If you want to know the reason, you may ask your elders when you return. Step back!"
"...Yes, I was rash." Luo Chang'an dared not say another word and withdrew in shame.
However, Quhui Zunzhe's words "special means" were heard clearly by everyone. Many changed expression slightly, especially those profound practitioners who had been just a hair's breadth away from success. They turned red-faced, some even trembling all over, staring at Yun Che but not daring to act out.
A Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 taking first place… Besides using special means, was there any other possibility!?
"First, I congratulate you. Among the thousand 'chosen ones' personally selected by Zhou Tian Pearl, you have stood out to become the 'Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen,' entering the final Feng Shen Battle of the Xuan Shen Grand Assembly!"
"This is proof of your strength and will be the glory of your lifetimes."
"But among you 'Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen,' only four will ultimately achieve apotheosis!"
"The upcoming Feng Shen Battle may be the fiercest contest of your lives, because your opponents are the most outstanding and powerful profound practitioners of the same generation in the entire Eastern Divine Region! At the same time, it will be the battlefield that best proves your strength and grants you glory!"
"The Feng Shen Battle begins tomorrow!"
"However, there is no need to worry about not having enough time to adjust your condition." Quhui Zunzhe's every word resounded like a bell. He grabbed with his hand, and instantly, thirty-two light stars appeared, each carrying an identical Profound Formation Pearl that flew toward each person.
"This is the [Time Wheel Pearl] unique to our Zhou Tian Realm," said Quhui Zunzhe. "It contains the power of the Zhou Tian Pearl. Infuse it with profound energy, and it can open a special Time Wheel Barrier. The Time Wheel Barrier can be maintained for up to a month, but during that month, only a single hour will pass in the outside world!"
Regarding this Time Wheel Pearl, the other profound practitioners did not show much surprise. It was common knowledge that Zhou Tian Realm could use the power of Zhou Tian Pearl to create special spatial profound formations. However, this Time Wheel Pearl was extremely precious. Though it only lasted "a month," it was something that could not be obtained even for ten thousand gold.
Yun Che picked up the Time Wheel Pearl, marveling inwardly. Opening a time barrier within it, where a month inside corresponded to only an hour outside—surely, only the Zhou Tian Pearl in all the world could create such a miraculous profound formation.
In the Feng Shen Battle, every opponent would be extremely powerful. It was highly likely that each battle would require all-out effort, and injuries would be inevitable, possibly even severe wounds, making it difficult to recover profound energy and injuries in a short time, severely impacting the next battle. But with the "Time Wheel Pearl," no matter how dense the competition schedule, all of this would be no problem.
"After every two rounds of matches, a new Time Wheel Pearl will be distributed. Those eliminated are not included!"
"Additionally, as a special reward, until the end of the Xuan Shen Grand Assembly, you have the greatest freedom of movement within Zhou Tian Realm. You may enter any place except the forbidden areas of Zhou Tian Realm, speak directly with the Arbiters, and freely enter and leave Zhou Tian Realm without restriction."
Yun Che: "..."
Zheng!
As Quhui Zunzhe spoke, the Arbiter Profound Formation flickered slightly, and a blue light entered the bodies of the thirty-two. At the same time, a small light blue insignia appeared on their shoulders.
The insignia symbolizing their identity as the "Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen."
"Next, you will be arranged to stay in specialized quarters. Alternatively, if you wish to return to your sect's lodgings, you are completely free to do so. In other words, all you need to do from now on is keep yourself at your peak condition at all times. Everything else can be accommodated. Do you understand!"
No one responded, but the eyes of these "Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen," filled with both strength and pride, already blazed with fierce fighting spirit.
The Feng Shen Battle—this was the pinnacle of the younger generation in the Eastern Divine Region, the stage most worthy and sufficient to prove themselves!
Quhui Zunzhe turned and nodded slightly toward Zhou Tian Shen Di.
Zhou Tian Shen Di slowly rose to his feet, as if drawn by some invisible force. At the same moment, everyone's gaze focused on Zhou Tian Shen Di.
"Once again, I thank all of you for traveling far to discuss matters of great importance," Zhou Tian Shen Di said with a smile, his voice vast and echoing through the air. "Now that the Feng Shen Battle is imminent, may I suggest we set aside the weight of 'great matters' and together enjoy the surely spectacular Feng Shen Battle."
"Because they are not only remarkable young people; three years from now, their heights may be no less than yours… and may even far surpass you…"
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With Zhou Tian Shen Di's emphatic declaration, the three rounds of preliminaries for the Xuan Shen Grand Assembly came to an end. The stars and powerhouses of Feng Shen Platform each departed, preparing for or anticipating the Feng Shen Battle that would commence the next day.
If one were to name the most conspicuous figure of these three preliminaries, it would not be Luo Changsheng, but Yun Che!
Even as the various Realm Kings flew away, they would involuntarily glance in Yun Che's direction, whether in shock at his astonishingly peerless "Shadow Concealment" or still unable to accept that he had actually made it into the Feng Shen Battle.
As for the other profound practitioners who had entered the Feng Shen Battle, there was no need to say more. Without a doubt, someone like Yun Che, with a mere Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 cultivation—which in their eyes was nothing but trash—being listed alongside them among the Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen was an utter disgrace to them.
The only thing they could do, after casting cold glances, was to completely ignore and forget Yun Che's existence, as if there were only Thirty-One Sons of Feng Shen.
Yun Che approached the group from Yin Xue Realm. Before he could speak, Mu Huanzhi was already speaking excitedly: "Yun Che, you… you… this… how should I put it… Anyway, you were too reckless. And this Feng Shen Battle, this, this, this…"
Cheating… Chosen One… Offending Zhou Tian Realm… Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick… Feng Shen Battle… Mu Huanzhi's mind was truly in chaos, and he stammered incoherently for a long time.
"Grand Elder, let's not ask any more questions. We'll talk when we get back," said Mu Bingyun. She gave Yun Che a deep look and asked, "Will you return with us, or…"
"Of course I will follow the Palace Masters and Elders," Yun Che replied.
After bidding farewell to the ecstatic Huo Rulie and the others, Yun Che left with Mu Bingyun and the rest.
The courtyard where the Yin Xue Realm delegation stayed was not large, but it was exceptionally quiet, and each star realm was soundproofed from the others. Yun Che awaited Mu Bingyun's reprimand, but after a long while, all he heard was her sigh: "Yun Che, do you know… from the moment you forced your way through the first preliminary, every single thing you did afterward would surely anger your master once she learns of it."
"...I know." Yun Che lowered his head.
"Did you do all this just to see her?" Mu Bingyun turned her gaze.
Yun Che nodded and said softly, "I thought that if I entered Zhou Tian Realm by any means necessary, I could see her. But she didn't come. So I had to come up with a way to make her hear my name."
"Have you considered a possibility?" Mu Bingyun said. "She knows you've come to the God Realm, but she doesn't want to see you."
Yun Che was startled, then shook his head without hesitation: "No, absolutely not. The way I long to see her, she longs to see me just as much!"
"...It seems I have always underestimated your obsession with her." Mu Bingyun sighed softly. "Since things have come to this, reprimanding you is pointless. You've come this far with great difficulty; I doubt you'll heed my words or anyone's advice. Now, all I can do is hope you get your wish. But remember… always be careful. Before doing anything, think of the possible consequences. Never be reckless again."
"I'm sorry, Ice Cloud Palace Master, for always making you worry about me," Yun Che said apologetically. "After I fulfill my wish and return to the sect, I will confess my faults to my master and accept whatever punishment she deems fit."
"Will you participate in tomorrow's Feng Shen Battle?" Mu Bingyun suddenly asked.
Yun Che didn't think twice and shook his head directly: "Of course not. With my strength, no matter who my opponent is, I am bound to lose. Why humiliate myself? But I will go to watch."
"Waiting for her to come?"
"Mm."
Yun Che's goal was only to make a name for himself. He had absolutely no interest in the Feng Shen Battle. And even if he did… it simply wasn't a stage meant for him.
And his goal had indeed been achieved—perhaps even more explosively than he had anticipated.
The Feng Shen Battle, as the final battle of the Xuan Shen Grand Assembly, would undoubtedly attract the attention of the entire Eastern Divine Region. And the news that a profound practitioner of merely Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 had broken into the Feng Shen Battle, becoming one of the "Thirty-Two Sons of Feng Shen," was more than explosive—it had stunned over eighty percent of profound practitioners.
And the name "Yun Che" spread like wildfire.
After all, "anomalies" were the best at stimulating people's curiosity and gossip.
A quiet night.
The next day, the day the Feng Shen Battle was to begin, Zhou Tian Realm was completely silent, while the Eastern Divine Region was bustling with noise. People from various star realms gathered around the Star Monuments, waiting for the Feng Shen Battle to commence.
Every match of the Feng Shen Battle would be projected in real time by the Star Monuments, so even those not present at Zhou Tian Realm could clearly see the full battle.
Yun Che spent the night in silence. When he opened his eyes, the sky was already bright. The time for the Feng Shen Battle was very near. At this hour, all other participants and spectators must have already entered Feng Shen Platform.
The people from Yin Xue Realm were also like this. Only Mu Bingyun had been quietly waiting for him.
"Let's go."
A light mist of ice floated, and a wisp of profound energy lifted Yun Che, flying toward the direction of the central Feng Shen Platform.
Yun Che would not participate in the Feng Shen Battle… He had already decided in his heart. When he arrived at the scene, he would directly forfeit the match. After all, whether forfeiting or suffering a crushing defeat, both would invite ridicule. His only reason for going to Feng Shen Platform was to wait for Mo Li's appearance… After all, if Mo Li came, she would inevitably go to Feng Shen Platform.
However…
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【The Feng Shen Battle is about to begin. The Feng Shen Battle uses a double-elimination format. The double-elimination format is a fairly common tournament structure. Compared to the single-elimination format used in the Cang Feng Ranking Battles, it greatly reduces randomness and is fairer, but it also increases the number of matches. Simply put, in a single-elimination format, once you lose, you're eliminated. In a double-elimination format, the first loss allows you to survive (falling into the losers' bracket), and the second loss eliminates you. For those not familiar with this format, you can look it up on the internet first… Additionally, I will hand-draw a detailed bracket diagram for the Feng Shen Battle and post it on Weibo.】