***
Because he had witnessed that shocking scene, the next in turn, Cheon Mong-han, entered the competition grounds with a stiff expression.
Cheon Mong-han’s opponent was a fairly high-skilled miscellaneous labor disciple who used a round, ball-shaped mass of water—the Water Orb technique.
From the start, he manifested the Water Orb technique and attacked Cheon Mong-han.
Splash— Pop—
Since he had heard that Cheon Mong-han’s Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman was stolen by Lee An-jeong, he seemed to think that the other would not be able to block his Water Orb technique.
However, Cheon Mong-han ended up blocking the Water Orb technique all too easily.
Surprisingly, it was because Cheon Mong-han possessed yet another dharma talisman.
"Hmph! This is called the Flying Scale Talisman! A mere Water Orb technique can never pierce the Flying Scale Talisman!"
Vrrr— Flash—
On Cheon Mong-han’s body, which had been struck by the Water Orb, armor with the pattern of dragon scales suddenly shimmered.
It seemed to be armor produced from that talisman called the Flying Scale Talisman, and its power was so great that it remained without a single scratch.
"To think... he has another dharma talisman!"
Because Cheon Mong-han, who possessed the Flying Scale Talisman, was also higher in realm at the 2nd star, the miscellaneous labor disciple using the Water Orb technique could not match him.
They clashed several more times afterward, but after being continuously pushed back, the disciple eventually admitted defeat.
"Phew... I lost."
"Cheon Mong-han wins!"
The battle came to an end with Beom Gon’s shout.
However, despite that, Cheon Mong-han’s stiff expression showed no signs of loosening.
It was because of the thought that he might meet that terrifying Lee An-jeong in the next match.
'If I meet that monster-like fellow again, even the Flying Scale Talisman will be useless. What should I do...'
It was the same for the other miscellaneous labor disciples who had reached the semifinals.
Everyone seemed to be trembling in their boots already at the thought of facing Lee An-jeong.
'This is... Cheon Mong-han and all the others are completely intimidated. It seems the victory will belong to Lee An-jeong! Who would have known that beggar fellow would change like that in only three months? Well, I'll be...!'
Beom Gon thought that to himself, shook his head, and turned toward Gun Ga-rim, who was standing beside him.
"Sahyeong, it seems the victory of this retreat will likely belong to Lee An-jeong. Sa...hyeong?"
As he turned his gaze to the side, he discovered that Gun Ga-rim was nodding his head and listening to something as if he were having a conversation with someone.
At Gun Ga-rim’s fingertips, a single Yellow-grade talisman with the word 'Transmission' engraved on it was held.
'A Transmission Talisman? Just who on earth is Sahyeong talking to?'
Beom Gon was puzzled and quickly looked around.
Just then, he discovered someone wearing black training robes standing far off in the Outer Court of the main mountain.
Beom Gon, having enhanced his vision, soon discovered who that person was and was startled.
'Th-that person is?'
At that moment, Gun Ga-rim suddenly looked around the grounds and raised his voice to shout loudly.
"Stop! From now on, I will begin the semifinals. The semifinals consist of..."
Gun Ga-rim continued to speak with a cruel smile.
"Striking down Lee An-jeong, who has cowardly used evil arts! The one who strikes down Lee An-jeong will take the victory!"
"W-what? You’re telling u-us to fight Lee An-jeong...?"
"Wh-what does that mean...?"
At Gun Ga-rim’s declaration, the 2nd star Qi Condensation children, including Cheon Mong-han who had reached the semifinals, took on bewildered expressions.
They locked eyes and rolled their pupils, but they didn't seem to be coming up with an answer.
It was even more so after they had seen him defeat Mak So-hyang, who held the Purple Flame Talisman, all too easily and even cruelly just a moment ago.
His was a body that even extinguished those hot flames with his hands, so how on earth were they supposed to win?
However, the person who found it most absurd on the grounds was, of course, Lee An-jeong.
"What, damn it! What the hell is going on?"
He could not help but huff while standing there out of anger.
Jin Wi-dong’s Nascent Soul, seemingly excited for some reason, took on a cruel expression and burst into a loud laugh within Lee An-jeong’s head.
- Uhahaha—As I thought, those fellows who claim to be of the neutral or righteous paths are truly sinister ones! Look! At that cowardly act! We of the demonic path do not pull such tricks behind someone's back! If we were to kill, we would rather kill them before their very eyes! Hehe—
At those unexpected words, Lee An-jeong asked inwardly.
'Tricks behind my back, what does that mean?'
- It is a deed ordered through a Transmission Talisman to that old third-generation disciple fellow by that mid-Foundation Establishment stage punk over at the main mountain. Targeting you, that is! Hehe. Just when did you earn the resentment of such a fellow?
At those words, Lee An-jeong subtly looked toward the main mountain beyond the mountain gate.
However, because clouds and mist were present and it was too far away, he could not see well.
'What? Mid-Foundation Establishment stage? Did I earn his resentment? How could that be? I don't know even a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.'
No matter how much he thought about it, no one came to mind.
Just then, Gun Ga-rim, angered by the sight of the hesitating children, looked around the grounds and shouted loudly.
"You cowardly brats! Fine! In that case, I will change the rules starting now. Any miscellaneous labor disciple here who strikes down Lee An-jeong will be recognized as the winner, and I will specially give them 2 Spirit Qi Elixirs!"
At those words, the children on the grounds were shocked and began to stir.
"W-what? Then are you saying all the thousand people gathered here should attack Lee An-jeong?"
"Does that make sense? Just what kind of great mistake did Lee An-jeong commit?"
"What does it matter! He said 2 Spirit Qi Elixirs! Why is a reason needed when he says he'll give such precious things! Let's attack quickly!"
"Yeah! No matter if it's Lee An-jeong, can he really help it? Let's attack quickly!"
At that moment, a single streak of spiritual power flew toward Lee An-jeong.
Whoosh—
Seeing that, several people who had been hesitating followed suit and shot out their spiritual power.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Once the floodgates were opened, the children no longer hesitated and shot out their spiritual power without exception.
In an instant, dozens and hundreds of streaks of spiritual power flew toward Lee An-jeong in a corner.
"Damn it! Are you really going to do this?"
Step! Swish—
Lee An-jeong moved his body rapidly and dodged those streaks of spiritual power.
And as for the ones he could not dodge, he struck them with his fists and broke them.
To Lee An-jeong, who had already reached the 6th star of the Qi Condensation stage, the spiritual power of mere 1st and 2nd star children was like the bite of a mosquito.
As Lee An-jeong moved between the hundreds of streaks of spiritual power, dodging and breaking them, the children were shocked and could not close their mouths.
"H-heavens! No matter if he's a body-strengthening practitioner, how can he be like that?"
"N-no way! Is he really using some kind of evil art?"
It was at that moment.
Roar—
A bizarre sound like a dragon's cry was heard, and spiritual power in the shape of a large dragon flew in.
"Huh? Is that the Flying Scale Talisman from earlier? It wasn't just for defense?"
It was a surprisingly spiritual power in the shape of a dragon that Cheon Mong-han had sent flying using the Flying Scale Talisman.
"Lee An-jeong! Since things have turned out this way anyway, I will pay back the humiliation I suffered from you last time! Take this!"
The level of that spiritual power in the shape of a dragon contained power roughly equivalent to a flying sword at the 3rd star of the Qi Condensation stage.
However, that was not the end.
"Take mine as well! Lee An-jeong!"
"This too!"
The remaining 2nd star children who had been observing the mood until now attacked simultaneously.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
The spiritual power they launched was not as much as Cheon Mong-han’s Flying Scale Talisman, but it contained considerable energy, making it burdensome even for Lee An-jeong to take with his bare fists.
"Damn it! These bastards? So this is how you're going to act?"
When Lee An-jeong was unable to contain his anger like that, Jin Wi-dong suddenly made a suggestion within his head.
- Hehe. How about it? Should I just kill everyone for you? Including the fellows here and the fellow who pulled that trick over there. Hehe—Just say the word! I will kill them for you in an instant!
'Aish, do you call that a suggestion? Then I'd have to flee from here immediately, and I wouldn't be able to use the energy of that spirit vein underground either, right?'
- That’s something to think about when that time comes! You brat! If you have been insulted, a true cultivator pays it back with death, whether the opponent is one person, two people, or a thousand people! Thinking about it afterward is fine as well!
Lee An-jeong was momentarily speechless and found those words absurd.
It was a statement for which the word "reckless" was perfectly suited.
'Phew... I shouldn't even talk. Forget it! Are you trying to turn me into a demon head like yourself?'
Lee An-jeong completely ignored Jin Wi-dong’s words and devised a plan inwardly.
If he were to pull out his ink-colored longsword and manifest the flying sword technique, he would be able to strike down those fellows in an instant.
However, if he did that, he could not know what other tricks they would pull, claiming he had hidden the fact that he rose to the 3rd star of the Qi Condensation.
'Aish, isn't there some way?
It was right then.
The two Yellow-grade talismans in his storage pouch, the Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman and the Purple Flame Talisman, suddenly occurred to him.
If he were to use these two talismans simultaneously to face them, wouldn't he be able to sufficiently deal with them without revealing his realm?
'This is it!'
The moment that thought occurred, Lee An-jeong quickly pulled the Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman out of his storage pouch.
He recited the incantation written on the back of the Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman.
Then, a large round mirror floated above the talisman.
Rumble— Thump—
"Bounce them all back!"
At that moment, countless streaks of spiritual power were shot out from the Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Subsequently, it struck the spiritual powers that had flown toward Lee An-jeong.
Pop— Boom boom boom—
Along with a massive sound of explosion, a wind of dust whipped around.
A moment later, the spiritual powers were all broken, and the only thing remaining was the dragon-shaped spiritual power that had surged from the Flying Scale Talisman.
Roar—
That dragon qi writhed about like a living spiritual beast.
As if to flaunt its own survival.
"Oh? It's quite sturdy, isn't it? Then how about this?"
This time, Lee An-jeong pulled out the Purple Flame Talisman.
And through the talisman, he raised purple flames just as Mak So-hyang had done earlier.
Whoosh—
Simultaneously with the rising of the purple flames, he immediately sent them flying toward the dragon qi.
"Haat! Destroy it!"
Whoosh—
The purple flames flew toward the dragon qi while spewing hot fire.
The next moment!
Boom—
The dragon qi struck by the purple flames exploded completely and scattered into pieces.
"Now then, shall I play for real for once?"
Lee An-jeong attacked the miscellaneous labor disciples while holding the Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman in one hand and the Purple Flame Talisman in the other.
Vrrr— Pew pew pew!
As the large Spiritual Reflection Mirror Talisman shot out spiritual power, the ground near the miscellaneous labor disciples was gouged out deeply.
Furthermore, the purple flames emitted from the Purple Flame Talisman were shot in all directions, making the grounds sweltering.
If Lee An-jeong had not used it only for intimidation and controlled it so that it would not hit their bodies, many among them would have already become cold corpses.
As this happened, the miscellaneous labor disciples on the grounds became utterly terrified and could not help but flee in all directions in a panic.
"Aaaargh—S-save me! I-I won't attack ever again!"
"P-please stop! I-I'll apologize!"
"Aaaargh—"
Screams were heard from here and there, and the grounds became a scene of absolute chaos.
Watching that sight from a corner, Mak Cheong-un continuously muttered with an expression of admiration.
"Amazing! Lee An-jeong! I told you he was definitely the Soft-Root Bloodline!"
On the other hand, Gun Ga-rim could not help but take on a bewildered expression.
"Th-this... useless things!"
While saying that, he subtly observed the mood of the main mountain side.
Even if he were the one in charge of the training of the miscellaneous labor disciples, the truth was that further intervention was uncomfortable.
'It would be good if that person would step forward directly...'
Just then, he saw that human figure who had given him instructions from the main mountain moving his body.
Only then did Gun Ga-rim feel relieved and thought that now it was also over for that Lee An-jeong.
'Hehe. Foolish fellow! Why did you have to touch the Mak family's precious pearl...!'
Jin Wi-dong also immediately sensed the movement of that human figure.
- Hehe. That fellow is finally stepping forward! If it is a fellow who pulls such base tricks, you will eventually end up in a situation where you beg me to kill him for you!
At Jin Wi-dong’s words, Lee An-jeong, who was clearing the grounds with no one to stop him, was also startled and looked toward the main mountain.
There, he saw someone dressed in black clothes descending from amidst the clouds and mist far away.
'Dammit! It can't be helped! If such a situation really comes, I have no choice but to ask Jin-dae-hyung!'
Lee An-jeong, feeling tense, prepared to pull out the ink-colored flying sword from his storage pouch.
It was to respond immediately in case that person used a killing move.
It was when the disciple dressed in black clothes had approached nearly halfway.
Suddenly, a resonant shout was heard from the void.
"Just what are you doing?"
At that loud voice that sounded like thunder, Lee An-jeong, as well as all the disciples on the grounds, had to cover their ears.
"Ugh! Just what is that sound?"
Then, someone was seen descending while riding on a cloud.
It was an old man dressed in purple clothes with the air of an immortal.
Seeing him, Gun Ga-rim and Beom Gon all prostrated themselves on the ground, offered a bow, and shouted.
"W-we greet the Sovereign."
"We greet the Sovereign."
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