As the second round of the assessment progressed, it finally came to an end after another four days, and the top 16 were officially decided.
Because Li Chengfeng, Huangfu Song, Li Xuanming and Ouyang Xiu were in the top four, according to the rules of the second round, they would not meet each other before reaching the top four. Hence, they all entered the third round without any exceptions, and their rankings remained the same as the first round. Huangfu Song was still in first place, Li Xuanming was still in second place, but this time, his ranking was very close. Because of his intense battle with Han Tianxing, he almost lost to Li Chengfeng in terms of time.
At this moment, Li Chengfeng finally understood why the strong cultivators would fight so hard to get a high score in the first round. Because the higher one's rank was, the lower the chances of encountering a strong opponent. The chances of encountering an opponent of the same level in the second round was almost zero, and the higher one's rank was, the weaker the opponent would be.
Huangfu Song's Heavenly Fire Sacred Sword was already very strong. Against the weak, it would crush them unreasonably. Among the younger generation, only Li Xuanming, Ouyang Xiu and Li Chengfeng could give him a certain amount of pressure. He did not even care about the others.
Xiaobao also managed to sneak his way into the top 16, while Zuo Fei was eliminated when he entered the top 32. At this point, the match-ups and the strength of the four courts were clear at a glance.
Hidden Brocade Court had the most people, occupying seven spots. Hidden Beauty Court was close behind, occupying four spots. Hidden Modesty Court occupied three spots. Hidden Sword Court had Li Chengfeng and Xiaobao stubbornly supporting Hidden Sword Court's last pride and stubbornness.
Between the second and third round, there were two days of rest, entering the second short but precious rest period.
This recuperation period was even crazier than before. Although the number of people had decreased by a lot, the remaining top 16 were all people with both strength and wealth. Even the poor Hidden Modesty Court and the three strong cultivators that entered were disciples that did not need to worry about resources, because the entire Hidden Modesty Court's resources would be tilted towards them.
Li Chengfeng and Xiaobao were much more miserable. They had no backing, nor did they have resources from the Heavenly Court. They could only silently prepare for battle, because they knew the third round would be the real battle.
None of the remaining Spiritual Mountain Sect disciples were easy to deal with!
Even if they were able to win a match, it meant that their chances of encountering Li Xuanming, Ouyang Xiu, and Huangfu Song were infinitely higher. For Xiaobao, encountering any one of these three meant that his examination journey had come to an end. As of now, he had no chance of winning against any of them.
But Xiaobao was already satisfied. He would be happy if he won the next match, even if he lost, he would not be sad.
But to Li Chengfeng, he had no other way out. Now that he had entered the top 16 with complete victories, he had become the target of public criticism. Everyone saw him as a thorn in their side.
While Han Tianxing's battle had shocked everyone, everyone would rather fight Han Tianxing than Li Chengfeng.
The reason was simple. Although Han Tianxing's fighting style was bloody and brutal, most of them could come up with a solution if they calmed down and thought about it. But against Li Chengfeng … they felt chills down their spines.
The reason was simple. Although Han Tianxing's fighting style was bloody and brutal, most of them could think of a way to deal with him if they calmed down. But against Li Chengfeng … they felt chills down their spines.
It was not because Li Chengfeng was unbeatable, but because everyone thought he had a bunch of weaknesses. Every time they thought they had a chance to defeat him, he would always win!
In Zhang Jinbao's bet, Li Chengfeng's odds were the lowest. This meant that many people had high hopes for him, or at least hoped that he would win until the very end and become first in the assessment!
The reason was simple. The Hidden Modesty Court disciples knew that while Li Xuanming was powerful, he was heavily injured in his battle with Han Tianxing. He would not be able to fully recover in two days.
However, Li Chengfeng knew that if he fought Li Xuanming, it would be a tough battle. Even if he could win, it would be a pyrrhic victory and he would be exhausted. He had also observed Li Xuanming's personality and fighting style. This person was calm yet passionate, stubborn yet flexible. He had his own pride and stubbornness, but he wasn't someone who didn't know how to adapt.
This was Li Chengfeng's most troublesome opponent. He really did not want to meet someone like this.
However, compared to Li Xuanming, Li Chengfeng was most wary of someone else.
This person was not Huangfu Song!
Li Chengfeng knew very well that out of these three opponents, the one he had the highest chance of winning was Huangfu Song.
If he could make it to the finals, as long as he faced Huangfu Song, he would have a high chance of winning!
The reason for this … was indescribable!
Hence, the only opponent that gave Li Chengfeng a headache was Ouyang Xiu!
This was what Li Chengfeng realized after witnessing Li Xuanming's true strength: Li Xuanming's trump card was his Immortal Slaying Sword, which made him one of the four strongest disciples below the Golden Body realm among the younger generation. He could even threaten Shanxue.
Yet Ouyang Xiu was on par with Li Xuanming. What did this mean?
This meant that Ouyang Xiu still had a trump card like the Immortal Decapitation Sword!
However, Ouyang Xiu had not revealed this trump card even once throughout the entire journey!
If he did not know what this trump card was, Li Chengfeng felt that if he fought Ouyang Xiu … there was a ninety-nine percent chance that he would lose!
Because Ouyang Xiu's current strength was already very troublesome to deal with. However, if she really revealed a trump card like the Immortal Decapitation Sword, it would definitely be a disaster.
Just as the Spiritual Mountain Sect fell into a short period of rest, in the distant Nine Hells' Blood Pool, a fierce battle finally came to an end.
…
Zhou Ling's body was riddled with wounds. Almost all of her scales had been blown off and there were deep holes all over her body. Her most serious injury was in her abdomen, where there was a large gaping hole. Blue blood flowed out of it, and her squirming organs could be seen. Zhou Ling's body was covered in blood. Zhou Ling's body was covered in blood.
However, although Zhou Ling was covered in blood, she held a head in her hand and stepped on a corpse. It was Xi Mengcai's head and his corpse!
Zhou Ling stood on a rock in the middle of the blood pool, holding Xi Mengcai's head high in the air. She let out a shrill howl that caused the blood pool to churn violently. The demons and monsters in the depths of the Nine Hells crawled on the ground in fear, trembling.
Zhou Ling raised the head and shouted, "Now, I am the King of Demons!"
As she spoke, the blue blood that had flowed out of Xi Mengcai's body turned into a scarlet mist, flowing endlessly into Zhou Ling's body. Her body began to rapidly grow and repair itself. The scales that had formed around her body looked even more solid and lustrous than before, giving off a powerful demonic aura just by looking at it with the naked eye.
After Zhou Ling absorbed Xi Mengcai's demon energy, a low voice rang out, "No, you are not the King of Demon Kings yet!"
Zhou Ling was stunned, then asked, "Why?"
The King of the Underworld's voice rang out, "Only by killing and eating her will you be the true King of Demon Kings!"