All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 184: The Final Battles (2)

For the last battle, most of the audience was still eager for more, but for the two on stage, they were ready to fight with their lives.

Gongsun Taoli made the first move, waving his hand. Peach blossom branches sprang up from the ground, and his contract snake disappeared, waiting to deliver a fatal strike to Liu Zhaoran.

“Kill!” Liu Zhaoran’s eyes were filled with fighting spirit. Holding his long spear, he charged towards Gongsun Taoli. The peach blossom branches and petals along the way surrounded him like soldiers, but he was breaking through these layers of peach wood with an invincible momentum.

“Invincible Realm,” Gongsun Taoli frowned. Liu Zhaoran hadn’t held back from the start, and those peach woods couldn’t stop Liu Zhaoran in the Invincible Realm.

In the shadows, the small snake was poised to strike. Taking advantage of the moment when Liu Zhaoran’s old force was spent and new force hadn’t yet begun, it transformed into a shadow and lunged at Liu Zhaoran’s ankle. However, as if Liu Zhaoran had eyes on his feet, he miraculously dodged this attack.

Gongsun Taoli frowned, “A coincidence?”

The small snake continued to lurk, and soon, the next opportunity to attack came. However, once again, Gongsun Taoli was dumbfounded. No matter how or from where the small snake attacked, Liu Zhaoran could skillfully avoid it, as if he had eyes all over his body.

“Could this kid also have a domain?” Some expert spectators marveled. Even Fan Longyu couldn’t dodge the small snake’s sneak attack earlier, relying on his physical constitution to resist the poison. Liu Zhaoran obviously didn’t have that kind of physique, but the small snake couldn’t bite him at all.

“This is the Ethereal Realm among the Four Battle Realms. I didn’t expect someone so young to have mastered both the Invincible Realm and the Ethereal Realm,” Alchemy Daoist couldn’t help but sigh.

Zhanyue watched the arena, his desire to become stronger intensifying. The unfathomable Tai’e, the unpredictable Yunyao, the untouchable Huang Xueqing, Fan Longyu with ancient dragon bloodline, Feng Bulang who mastered the Wind Domain, Liu Zhaoran who comprehended two martial realms – this was the foundation of humanity, with talented youths emerging in every generation. Even those who were eliminated were not ordinary.

Soon, the battle had a result. Liu Zhaoran held nothing back, simultaneously using both realms, and only after a tough fight did he defeat Gongsun Taoli.

“Brother Gongsun, you’ve been gracious,” With his spear tip at Gongsun Taoli’s neck, Liu Zhaoran said calmly. He had walked out of Tai’e’s shadow. Fortunately, Thunder Lord had stopped him in time earlier, preventing him from harming himself to fight Tai’e, otherwise he wouldn’t have recovered so quickly and wouldn’t have been able to win this match.

Gongsun Taoli’s face was pale as he walked off the arena dejectedly. He, a prodigy of the Moon Reflection Pavilion with two contract objects, had thought securing a spot would be easy, but ended up losing two matches and exiting ingloriously.

“Senior Brother…” Nangong Weilai finally couldn’t eat anymore. She had grown up in the Moon Reflection Pavilion, and Gongsun Taoli had cared for her like an elder brother. His loss naturally made her feel bad.

“Try to see it positively. They’re all outstanding individuals, it would be a loss no matter who lost. It’s just a pity there are only so many spots,” Alchemy Daoist comforted. “So now you know how precious your guaranteed spots are, right? Make sure to cherish this opportunity.”

Everyone nodded.

“Alright, this competition hereby concludes! Yunyao, Tai’e, Huang Xueqing, Fan Longyu, Feng Bulang, and Liu Zhaoran have obtained the qualifications to enter the secret realm,” Thunder Lord announced. They hadn’t revealed much to the public, not mentioning the Heaven Book Trial, only saying it was a mysterious secret realm.

“It’s over? Ah, I haven’t had enough yet,” The crowd below the arena was still eager for more.

“These people are really monsters. I’m also a Profound Realm cultivator, but I’m afraid I couldn’t even beat one of their hands. We should work harder,” Seeing the level of these prodigies, everyone finally had a clear understanding of themselves. Especially some young people who had some lucky encounters and unusual strength, now realized how laughable their past pride was.

“The human race has so many powerful seniors and so many gifted juniors, constantly renewing and passing on. What is there to fear from mere Nightmares?”

This arena, more than anything, made people understand the current strength and foundation of the human race. Mysterious forces like Night City and Ancient Sun-Chasing Kingdom entering the world, Azure Wind Realm opening up, Dragon Clan uniting – a series of good news swept away the gloom hanging over humanity.

In the sky, a giant dragon hovered. The dragon was enormous, blood-red all over, with bright, spirited eyes.

“Dragon Lord, how was it?” The speaker was a bald monk, none other than the Ascetic. This giant dragon was actually the Dragon Lord, who had come to watch the competition in person.

“As expected of humans, the foremost of all creatures, truly producing geniuses in every generation, ah,” Dragon Lord sighed. “It’s a pity we beast cultivators lost the method of transforming into human form, it’s ultimately a great regret.”

The Ascetic said, “Isn’t it our regret too? If you, Dragon Lord, could transform, your strength might advance even further. It’s not impossible that you could touch the Goddess’s level.”

“Let’s not talk about this. I’m going back first. Feel free to visit me when you have time. I thought besides the Goddess, I was the first in the world, but I didn’t expect a prodigy like you to appear,” The two had sparred before, and Dragon Lord knew how formidable the Ascetic was.

“Being first or not, what does it matter? The Goddess’s realm is what we seek for a lifetime, but taking that step is no easy feat,” The Ascetic shook his head. With that moon in the sky, everyone else was just a supporting role. She was too dazzling, single-handedly protecting the human race for thousands of years. She was a true deity.

Soon after, Thunder Lord convened a meeting. Only Thunder Lord, Alchemy Daoist, and the twelve trial participants attended.

In the hall, the twelve greeted each other, discussing the previous matches. Zhanyue knew he could no longer avoid it.

“Divine Son sets quite a high threshold,” Tai’e was the first to approach.

Zhanyue smiled, “I just prefer to be low-key and quiet, no other intentions.”

“It’s a pity. If circumstances allowed, I’d really like to spar with you. I can sense you’re very powerful,” Tai’e said.

Everyone was attracted by Tai’e’s words. If Tai’e said Zhanyue was powerful, it wasn’t mere flattery. Everyone present wanted to know Zhanyue’s strength.

After Tai’e left, Zhanyue proactively approached Feng Bulang.

“Brother Feng, long time no see,” Zhanyue’s greeting left Feng Bulang puzzled. When did he know the Divine Son?

“On Ghost Island, the black-robed person,” Zhanyue said.

Feng Bulang suddenly realized, looking at Zhanyue in shock, “That person was you!”

Everyone was catching up until a loud voice interrupted them. Thunder Lord had arrived.

“Alright, we don’t have much time, I’ll keep it brief,” Thunder Lord said. “Tomorrow, I will gather the necessary people to open the Heaven Book Trial. You have one day to prepare freely. The Heaven Book Trial is a special secret realm, because the Heaven Book Spirit is not only alive but also very… very intelligent. After you enter the Heaven Book world, it will tell you the rules of the trial. Although the Heaven Book Trial won’t be life-threatening, I hope you won’t take it lightly. Missing out on opportunities might lead to lifelong regret. Alright, go back and prepare, say goodbye to your family and friends. The next time you come out, it might be a few months, or three to five years, who knows.”

“Three to five years?” Zhanyue’s eyes widened. A trial lasting so long? He became interested. What kind of place was the Heaven Book world, and what kind of trial awaited them?