Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 585: Kill 3 with 1!

Huo Ziyang led the team from Dengtian Academy, standing on the north side of the battlefield. The blue-clothed youth led Qitian Academy’s team on the south side, while Ye Qingchen stood on the west, opposite the people from Pingtian Academy. The disciples from all three major academies turned their gazes toward Ye Qingchen.

Huo Ziyang spoke to the blue-clothed youth, "Congratulations, Brother Shui, on breaking through to the fifth layer of the Martial Emperor realm. My thinking is, since this is an assessment for the four major academies, a free-for-all would be too dull. How about this? Our four academies will each send out one disciple to fight a round first. What do you say?"

The blue-clothed youth, Shui Changkun, nodded in agreement. "Brother Huo, your proposal is exactly what I was thinking. Allow me to also congratulate you on your breakthrough to the fifth layer of the Martial Emperor realm. Friends from Pingtian Academy, what are your thoughts?"

In reality, all three major academies had received Li Rui’s transmission simultaneously. Their current posturing was nothing more than a performance for others to see. Pingtian Academy naturally had no objections, though its members understood they would likely finish third this time. However, compared to the rewards from the Saint Heir, the final ranking was no longer important.

After the three academies conferred, they did not even bother to ask for Ye Qingchen’s opinion before directly sending a disciple into the center of the arena.

Ye Qingchen sighed, having already grasped their intentions. They simply wanted to make him hold on longer so he could more deeply experience the feeling of despair. It was said that each of the four academies would send out one disciple, but Ye Qingchen knew it would ultimately be him against three. Not to mention, he was the only one on his team to begin with. Even if he defeated these first three, he would surely face three even stronger opponents next.

This kind of gauntlet was the most demoralizing of all. But things had already come to this. The assessment was tied to his chance to travel to the ten great Ancient Clans to find and rescue Qin Yue, so Ye Qingchen would not give up easily. For now, he could only adapt and overcome whatever they threw at him. With this in mind, Ye Qingchen also stepped into the center of the arena, standing opposite the three disciples.

Just as he had expected, the three of them attacked in unison from the very start, launching a combined assault on him without holding anything back. The simultaneous attack from three experts at the Martial Emperor Realm Fourth Layer was astonishingly powerful. Even though the ground here was a hundred times harder than in the outside world, it began to crack under their joint offensive!

Ye Qingchen utilized the Fire Spirit Charm Shadow to constantly evade while the Mingyuan Refining Heart Array inside his body activated instantly. Facing the pincer attack from all three, Ye Qingchen remained fearless. While continuously dodging, he also sought opportunities to counterattack with his Double Pupil Sword.

Long before the competition began, Ye Qingchen had adjusted his state to its absolute peak. He had not only fused with the Willow Wood Martial Soul but had also unleashed Willow Soul’s Brilliance, coating his Double Pupil Sword with its power. For a moment, despite facing the combined assault of three experts at the Martial Emperor Realm Fourth Layer, Ye Qingchen did not fall behind in the slightest.

"He’s actually this strong!"

The disciples from Central Celestial Academy had originally thought that even if Ye Qingchen did not flee or surrender, he would be instantly defeated with a single move. They never expected him to be so formidable, capable of holding his own against three experts at the Martial Emperor Realm Fourth Layer with only the strength of the eighth layer of the Martial King Realm.

Wang Meng found it even more incredible. Not long ago, when he stood up for Wang Teng, he had just recently reached the Martial Emperor Realm Fourth Layer. Back then, Ye Qingchen had been completely powerless against him! Yet now, each of the three fourth-layer Martial Emperors attacking in the Secret Realm was no weaker than Wang Meng had been at that time. But Ye Qingchen could now fight one against three. How much time had passed? This kid had grown to such an extent!

Wang Meng could not help but think of Ye Qingchen’s senior sister, Li Nian’er, and a sense of despair rose in his heart. The people of Divine Wood Academy truly could not be judged by common sense.

Watching Ye Qingchen on the battlefield, Mu Changfeng could not help but nod slightly. He turned to Elder Yang and said, "Elder Yang, your teaching methods are truly remarkable. Only a disciple of yours could possess such combat power while still in the Martial King Realm. Moreover, I feel that young Ye Qingchen’s combat power has already surpassed Zhu Liang’s at the same stage!"

Elder Yang pursed his lips, unmoved by Mu Changfeng’s flattery. Instead, he sighed, "It seems that the Saint Heir of the Jiang family is determined to oppose me!"

Hearing Elder Yang’s words, Mu Changfeng did not dare to inquire further. The affairs of the ten great Ancient Clans were not something he could meddle in.

At this moment, Ye Qingchen had gained a clear understanding of his current combat power. After breaking through to the eighth layer of the Martial King Realm, his attack power, even without using Wood Attribute Energy, was no weaker than that of a fourth-layer Martial Emperor. With his defensive power enhanced by the Mingyuan Refining Heart Array, even taking a direct hit from a fourth-layer Martial Emperor would only result in minor injuries.

Beyond that, his control over nature’s spiritual energy far surpassed that of a fourth-layer Martial Emperor, which was a huge advantage. Combined with his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, Ye Qingchen felt no pressure at all when facing these three opponents.

However, seeing the disciples from the three major academies eyeing him like predators, Ye Qingchen also understood his predicament.

The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for me!

Ye Qingchen thought to himself as his feet moved with the steps of the Fire Spirit Charm Shadow, instantly leaving an afterimage on the ground. Thanks to his mastery over nature’s spiritual energy, his afterimage was almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

The three fourth-layer Martial Emperors did not notice the deception and continued to attack the afterimage. But by then, Ye Qingchen had already appeared behind one of them. The Double Pupil Sword shot out, piercing directly through the fourth-layer Martial Emperor’s chest!

BOOM!

With a loud explosion, the afterimage Ye Qingchen had left behind was shattered by the trio’s attacks. But what was truly unbelievable was that not only was Ye Qingchen standing unharmed a short distance away, but the fourth-layer Martial Emperor expert from Qitian Academy was now dead!

The other two fourth-layer Martial Emperors stared in shock at the body on the ground, completely baffled as to what had just happened. Ye Qingchen naturally would not let this opportunity pass. He once again used nature’s spiritual energy to quietly approach one of the remaining two, and the Wind Blade Sword Technique flashed into existence.

BOOM!

A flash of sword light, a spray of blood! With another thunderous sound, a second fourth-layer Martial Emperor fell!

Ye Qingchen’s movements did not pause for an instant. Even as he executed the Wind Blade Sword Technique, the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique had already been quietly unleashed. Two hidden streams of Sword Qi appeared right beside the last remaining fourth-layer Martial Emperor.

BOOM! BOOM!

Without any suspense, the final fourth-layer Martial Emperor failed to dodge the attack from the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique and met an untimely end.

After killing the three of them, Ye Qingchen was panting heavily. It was clear that the exchange had consumed a massive amount of his energy.