Chapter 979: Nie Junxue
Without saying anything further, Chu Yu flew onto the Battle Platform. As soon as he went up, several rays of light appeared on the platform. A total of eight humanoid monsters walked out from the light. They were actually not iron puppets but were more like strange creatures.
They were made of flesh and blood. They breathed and had beating hearts. They were almost no different from living things. As for their appearance, their bodies were like that of humans and were extraordinarily burly and strong. However, their heads were like that of bulls, with a single horn on their foreheads and a pair of fleshy wings on their backs.
These monsters were a bit like the Devil Clan but they had no Devil Qi on them. Instead, they had a surging pure energy.
To be able to create puppets to such a level required expert craftsmanship. It was definitely not something an ordinary person could do.
Mo Wen has also seen these kinds of puppets before. Starting from the fifth floor, the puppets that appeared on the Battle Platform were of this type.
This type of puppet was stronger than the iron puppets in all aspects. They also had minds of their own and were no different from normal living creatures.
If there were still some differences between an iron puppet and a human of the same cultivation, then this type of puppet with flesh and blood would be no different from a human cultivator. They could possibly be even more powerful.
“You little bug. You still aren’t going to give up after challenging 26 times? Last time, you were lucky to return alive. This time, you will not be so lucky.”
One of the bull-headed monsters had actually started talking. It was hard to believe that it was a puppet.
Chu Yu did not say a word and immediately attacked. His silhouette floated around and his clothes fluttered in the wind. It was clear that his physical movements were rather advanced. He did not use any weapons, but the power exploding from his hands was terrifying. It definitely reached the pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm.
The eight bull-headed monsters did not hesitate despite fighting eight-on-one. In fact, they attacked and retreated orderly and logically, just like a single unit.
Chu Yu was without a doubt very powerful. Even when he had yet to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm, he had killed cultivators that were already at the later stage of the Primordial Soul Realm, shocking the Peng Lai Immortal Realm. Now that he had broken through to the Primordial Soul Realm, he was naturally even more powerful. Ordinary pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm cultivators were most likely no match for him. However, against the eight bull-headed monsters, he was at a disadvantage and was suppressed by them from the very beginning.
“The eight bull-headed puppets seem to be telepathic and act as a single unit. Their blood and Qi is also vigorous and their bodies’ defenses are rather tough. Without combat power at the pinnacle of the Primordial Soul realm, one may not be able to defeat them directly.” Mo Wen thought as he observed the battle in the sky.
Such a battle was no longer one that could be won by a cultivator with great attainment in the Primordial Soul Realm. It would only be possible to come out on top by reaching the pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm. The pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm! Those were strong practitioners that could exchange blows with Tide Changing Realm Mighty Immortal Cultivators. Mo Wen doubted that he had reached such a level.
Wise Man Ku Ji was undoubtedly a strong practitioner at the pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm. In reality, there was a long way to go from having great attainment in the Primordial Soul Realm to reaching the pinnacle of the Primordial Soul Realm.
Chu Yu was also incredible. He was only at the beginning stage of the Primordial Soul Realm, but his cultivation had reached the point of great attainment. In addition, there was more to his spiritual power than met the eye. It was different from ordinary spiritual power. From time to time, his spiritual power would emanate a rather heavy aura. The weight of the aura made it seem as though he could suppress his opponent with just by using it.
Obviously, the spiritual power Chu Yu cultivated was different from ordinary spiritual powers. Instead, it was similar to his Yin Yang Qi and was a special kind of energy.
It stood to reason that an expert at his level would be able to deal with eight ordinary cultivators with great attainment in the Primordial Soul Realm. However, the eight bull-headed puppets not only had amazing physical defensive ability and were difficult to injure, but they also functioned as a unit and together unleashed a miraculous stratagem which put Chu Yu under a lot of pressure.
“No wonder he had no choice but to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm. If he had not broken through, he would have no hope at all.”
Mo Wen shook his head. Even though the four geniuses of Huatian Palace were all heaven-defying, they could not cope with the difficulty of the assessment of the Path of Creation.
Rumble!
With a loud noise, Chu Yu was blasted out of the Battle Platform and fell backward onto the ground awkwardly.
“Hmm, you have improved quite a bit since the last time we met. However, you are still lacking if you want to defeat us. You only have three days left before you will be forcefully ejected by the Hundred Battle Test. From the looks of it, there is no hope of you getting past us.”
A low voice came from the Battle Platform. It was a bull-headed monster speaking after having defeated Chu Yu. Mo Wen was speechless. D*mn it! Were they really puppets?
Chu Yu didn’t say anything. He sat down with his eyes closed and did not make a sound for some time.
Mo Wen did not disturb Chu Yu either as he stood at the side with his arms around himself.
After a short while, Chu Yu slowly woke up and stood up again.
“You did not go all out just now,” Mo Wen said with a smile.
“Those puppets aren’t human after all. They wouldn’t be able to tell.” Chu Yu smiled faintly.
As one of the four geniuses of the Huatian Palace, Chu Yu definitely had other tricks up his sleeve. After breaking through to the Primordial Soul Realm, it was even more impossible for Chu Yu to only be at such a level. Just now, Chu Yu was only relying on his own cultivation to battle the eight bull-headed monsters. He had not unleashed any remarkable secret techniques.
Mo Wen was fully aware that as geniuses, their trump cards would never be their cultivation but rather their overall ability. For example, a genius like Chu Yu with his impressive background that did not need to be mentioned and extraordinary comprehension ability would certainly have mastered remarkable secret techniques.
“Those bull-headed monsters are self-aware. Since they are sentient, they will have weaknesses. Brother Chu must feint weakness in order to defeat them in one swoop the next time you face them,” Mo Wen said with a smile.
These bull-headed monsters had self-awareness. This made them more agile and adaptable, but there were two sides to every coin. Their self-awareness would make them develop judgments about things. Just now the bull-headed monsters believed that Chu Yu only had that much ability. The next time he went up onto the Battle Platform, they would lower their guard because they would not take him as seriously as before. This was Chu Yu’s opportunity to claim victory and pass the test.
“I won’t hide this from Brother Mo. Even though I have broken through to the Primordial Soul Realm, I am not confident in passing the seventh stage of the Battle Platform. With only three days left, I have to use some small tricks to fool those puppets.”
Chu Yu shook his head. A man toying with puppets psychologically was not something one would see every day.
“Brother Chu, do you know what the function of the other Battle Platform is?” Mo Wen asked curiously. Two Battle Platforms were floating in the sky. This was the difference between the seventh floor and the sixth floor. Mo Wen had noticed this a while ago, and he was very curious about it.
“Ah, that Battle Platform.”
Chu Yu raised his head and glanced at it. “That Battle Platform can be used to complete the test as well,” he said calmly. “However, ordinary people would not be able to make it through that platform. It is because…”
It turned out that the seventh floor had two Battle Platforms because they represented two different ways to complete the test. One was through fighting while the other was through a test of the arts.
A test of the arts! The title seemed difficult to comprehend, yet it simply referred to an assessment of the Hundred Arts of the Immortals.
The Ancient Age Creation Sect engaged in the Hundred Arts of the Immortals, and they were experts in every aspect. When the sect assessed their disciples, the sect tested not only the disciples’ fighting ability but also their ability in the Hundred Arts of the Immortals.
“That Battle Platform is created specifically for the disciples who are not so good at fighting but are well-versed in the Hundred Arts of the Immortals. The Hundred Arts of the Immortals include alchemy arts, manufacturing techniques, stratagem techniques, talismans techniques, puppet mastery, and others. Among the Hundred Arts of the Immortals, one can simply choose one art to be assessed. If they pass, they will be considered to have achieved the best result as well.”
“However, for ordinary cultivators, it is a thousand times harder to pass through that Battle Platform as compared to the one which assesses their fighting ability.”
As the direct disciple of the Fourth Palace Lord, Chu Yu was knowledgeable in alchemy arts and talismans techniques, which were part of the Hundred Arts of the Immortals. Amongst those in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm, Chu Yu could be considered rather outstanding. However, in this Path of Creation, Chu Yu was weaker than a novice.
“It sounds rather difficult.”
Mo Wen nodded. Testing on the Hundred Arts of the Immortals was another way for the Creation Sect to cultivate talented individuals. Mo Wen was well-versed in alchemy arts. However, he did not think that he was knowledgeable enough to pass the Creation Sect’s assessment. One could speculate about the difficulty of the Hundred Arts of the Immortals test based on the difficulty of the other Battle Platform. Mo Wen had not even comprehended one percent of Ji Wuya’s inheritance and did not feel ready to flaunt his skills on the Battle Platform.
“Of course, it’s difficult. However, Nie Junxue, the exceptional genius, was able to pass the Hundred Arts of the Immortals Battle Platform test with the highest results,” Chu Yu said lamentedly.
“Oh, Nie Junxue!” Mo Wen exclaimed. He knew of Nie Junxue. She was the disciple of the Huatian Palace Second Palace Lord, Nie Wuxin. She was one of the four Huatian Palace geniuses who had entered the Path of Creation.
“Nie Junxue was the same as me. Neither of us got any creation talismans in the first sixth tests. However, during the Hundred Battle Test, she scored the highest score in the Hundred Arts of the Immortals due to her overpowering manufacturing techniques. So, she received a creation talisman.”
There was envy in Chu Yu’s voice. Chu Yu and Nie Junxue were very similar. They were both balanced in all aspects, so neither of them achieved the highest scores in the first sixth tests. However, during the seventh test, Nie Junxue’s overpowering manufacturing techniques finally came in handy.
“Nie Junxue has an unparalleled talent in manufacturing techniques. After she passed the most difficult assessment of the seventh test, surely she would have received a profound manufacturing techniques manuscript of the Creation Sect as her reward. She has yet to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm, so she still has a chance of obtaining the Power of Creation from the Creation Pool. If she can acquire the Power of Creation, she will surely become the greatest weapon refining master in the Huatian Palace.”
Chu Yu’s voice carried a tad of envy. The greatest weapon refining master of the Huatian Palace was a high position. Once one was at that position, surely everyone would want to curry favor with them.
“Have all three of them received the creation talismans?” Mo Wen asked.
“Both Madman Xiao and Wen Jiuhai have received it. I am the only one left without one.”R
Chu Yu’s heart sank. The other three had yet to break through to the Primordial Soul realm too, but they had received the creation talismans. So, all of them had the possibility of receiving the Power of Creation. However, there was no hope left for him.
Even though Chu Yu’s ability was slightly weaker than that of the other two, the difference was not that huge. Chu Yu’s problem was that he was balanced in all aspects and so did not have a niche in a specific skill. Therefore, he was able to achieve great results in the first six tests, but he wasn’t the highest scorer in any of them.
Madman Xiao was a character who couldn’t live without madness. He received the highest score in the first test which aimed to access their will. Besides that, Madman Xiao had mastered the mysterious Primordial Soul secret technique, which enabled him to score the highest in the fifth test as well. Madman Xiao was probably the only person in the history of the Huatian Palace to receive two creation talismans.
As for Wen Jiuhai, he was a renowned sword fanatic. He had mastered the rather terrifying Spiritual Sword power. He had the best performance during the fourth test.