Chapter 142: Victory Once Again

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Before stepping onto the stage, the disciples of the Nether Spring Sect grasped the artifact, Hundred Ghosts Banner, in their hands, trying to gain an advantage as much as possible.

On the other hand, Zhang Chen remained motionless, seemingly giving up the struggle.

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment stage, contestants number five and six, please step onto the stage for the match.”

Almost no one had high expectations for Zhang Chen in this battle.

Previously, Zhang Chen had relied on exhaustion to win, but the disciples of the Nether Spring Sect excelled in spiritual spells. If one’s spiritual power was weak, they wouldn’t be able to withstand it at all.

For ordinary cultivators, their spiritual power was at most one level higher than their own cultivation realm.

Zhang Chen had only displayed a cultivation realm of the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, so it was naturally assumed by everyone that his spiritual power realm would not surpass the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment.

The disciples of the Nether Spring Sect, on the other hand, had cultivated techniques to strengthen their souls in order to control ghost creatures, often possessing a spiritual power realm higher than their cultivation realm.

With a cultivation realm of the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, their spiritual power realm would be at least the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment!

As soon as the disciple of the Nether Spring Sect ascended the stage, they shook the Hundred Ghosts Banner.

In an instant, black mists billowed, and eerie and terrifying figures surged out from the black mists, pouncing towards Zhang Chen.

These black mists were condensed Yin energy, also known as ghost mist, mainly used to enhance the strength of ghost spirits and unaffected by the sunlight during the day.

Blood Demon Technique!

A large amount of blood demon qi surged around Zhang Chen, counteracting the ghost mist.

The ghost spirits of the Qi Refinement stage that entered the blood demon qi were like falling into a hot oil pan, emitting painful and miserable screams, making people’s hair stand on end.

Several Foundation Establishment ghosts were unaffected and continued to attack.

Blood Spirit Technique!

Several blood snakes emerged from within Zhang Chen’s body, resembling whips as they lashed out at these Foundation Establishment stage ghost spirits.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

With each lash of the blood snakes, a large amount of Yin energy would dissipate from the ghost spirits, causing them to scream in agony, making it difficult for them to approach.

However, the disciples of the Nether Spring Sect did not expect these ghosts to defeat Zhang Chen. Instead, they wanted to temporarily delay him with these ghosts, creating time for themselves to cast spells.

“Soul-shattering Roar!”

A huge ghostly face appeared out of thin air, opening its mouth and roaring towards Zhang Chen.

However, no one heard any sound because this roar was a sound of the soul, only audible to the soul.

The blood snakes suddenly paused in their movements, one by one falling to the ground as if they had fallen asleep.

Zhang Chen’s body also stiffened, and his eyes were empty, as if he had also

lost consciousness.

Seeing this scene, the disciple of the Nether Spring Sect smiled. “That’s all you’ve got? Go!”

The numerous ghost creatures received the command and rushed towards Zhang Chen.

Below the arena, many people shook their heads and concluded, “The disciple of the Blood God Sect has lost.

Just as the ghost creatures were about to touch Zhang Chen, the previously limp blood snakes moved and moved extremely quickly.

Like real venomous snakes lurking in the grass, they seized the opportunity to launch a deadly surprise attack on their prey.

Violent Snake Dance!

The blood snakes left behind numerous afterimages in the air, dazzling the eyes and overwhelming the senses, dispersing and repelling the many ghost creatures.

“So, the Blood Ignition Technique was applied to the blood snakes?” Some disciples of the Blood God Sect realized the reason behind the blood snakes’ agility.

With the boost of the Blood Ignition Technique, the speed of the blood snakes was increased tenfold, hence their formidable power.

However, this method would damage the spiritual nature of the blood snakes, so it was rarely used within the Blood God Sect.

After all, the power of the Blood Spirit Technique was closely related to the spiritual nature of the blood snakes. Damaging their spiritual nature was akin to reducing their cultivation level unless they reached a dead end.

But for Zhang Chen, the Blood Spirit Technique was not important. It was optional.

“Surprisingly, he regained consciousness so quickly!” The disciple of the Nether Spring Sect’s face darkened, and he cast his spell again.

“Soul Annihilation Thrust!”

A phantom black cone condensed in front of the disciple of the Nether Spring Sect disciple’s forehead, then shot towards Zhang Chen at an incredibly fast speed, making it impossible to dodge.

The disciples of the Nether Spring Sect often encountered ghost creatures, whose souls existed between reality and illusion. They were immune to many physical attacks and difficult to deal with. Only spells that directly targeted the soul could cause fatal damage, making their souls scatter.

The Soul Annihilation Thrust was precisely such a spell that directly attacked and obliterated the soul.

However, the premise was that the opponent’s spiritual power realm couldn’t be much higher than one’s own. Otherwise, one would suffer a backlash and one’s spiritual power would be greatly damaged.

In milder cases, one’s spiritual power would be damaged, causing severe headaches. In severe cases, one would fall into a coma and become a vegetable.

Because the Soul Annihilation Thrust was formed by condensing one’s own spiritual power, only spiritual power could attack spiritual power.

“Boom!”

The cone was enormous, and its appearance shook his consciousness incessantly.

Facing this soul cone that resembled a world-destroying meteor, Zhang Chen remained calm and activated the Soul Refining Technique.

His spiritual power transformed into an even larger and more solid hammer, smashing towards the black cone.

“Boom!”

First came the thunderous collision, followed by a crisp sound.

The black cone shattered!

The hammer formed by Zhang Chen’s transformed spiritual power shattered it!

Zhang Chen had practiced the Divine Forging Technique and devoured many souls with the Soul Devouring Technique. His spiritual power realm was already comparable to the half-step Golden Core stage.

Meanwhile, the spiritual power realm of this disciple from the Nether Spring Sect was only at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.

He never expected that the spiritual power realm he was proud of would turn out to be his weakness.

“Spurt-”

The disciple of the Nether Spring Sect spurted a mouthful of blood, eyes wide with disbelief, and then fell straight to the ground, fainting.

“How is this possible!”

“The disciple of the Nether Spring Sect actually lost!”

“Zhang Chen’s spiritual power realm is even higher than that of the Nether Spring Sect disciple?”

Everyone was equally incredulous, unable to help but exclaim in surprise.

On the high platform, Elder Blood River also looked surprised, but he did not take it to heart.

With his late-stage Golden Core cultivation and the secret techniques to control his blood body, even if Zhang Chen was at the Golden Core realm, he could easily destroy him, let alone someone who had yet to reach the Golden Core realm.

“The Blood God Sect wins this round!”

As the announcement was made by the master of the Blood God Sect Master, Zhang Chen pretended to be extremely weak and walked down the stage with great difficulty.

The unconscious disciple of the Nether Spring Sect was carried down by his fellow sect members.

After examining the injuries, the members of the Nether Spring Sect had grave expressions. “His spiritual power suffered severe damage and it will take at least ten years for him to wake up.”

If the Soul Annihilation Thrust hadn’t been used, the Nether Spring Sect disciple wouldn’t have lost so quickly and severely.

Zhang Chen didn’t pay attention to all this and closed his eyes to recover his mana.

Zhang Chen didn’t appear to have made any preparations before the battle or launched a surprise attack to gain an advantage.

But he had witnessed the battles of other Nether Spring Sect disciples and knew they would use spiritual power attacks.

By deliberately showing signs of being affected when the opponent used the Soul-shattering Roar, he made the other party think that his spiritual power realm wasn’t too high.

The duel continued, and with Zhang Chen included, there were only two Blood God Sect disciples who advanced to the mid Foundation Establishment stage, with four more matches to follow.

Zhang Chen also watched the battle of the other mid Foundation

Establishment stage disciple from the Blood God Sect. His strength was indeed decent but still a bit lacking.

Without him, the chances of the Blood God Sect disciple in the mid Foundation Establishment stage obtaining the first place were slim.

Ten days later, the third round began with ten participants competing for the final five spots.

In this match, Zhang Chen’s opponent was a disciple from the White Bone Hall..