Chapter 19: The Inner Disciple Test
Damon stood resolutely at the center of the stage, his anticipation palpable as he awaited the impending evaluation. "Attention, everyone," proclaimed the First Supreme Elder, his voice resonating with authority. "The Inner Disciple Test is about to commence. Special jades have been bestowed upon those eligible for this prestigious examination. When the time arrives, you will be duly informed of the next steps."
With a commanding presence, the First Supreme Elder continued, "Today, however, we are graced by the presence of a remarkable genius—an extraordinary candidate who will be assessed before your very eyes." With that, he took his seat among the judges, eager to witness firsthand the talents that had stirred the interest of the Heavenly Demon.
As Damon stood silently on the stage, a massive stone descended from the heavens, capturing his attention. Upon closer inspection, he discerned that it was a striking black boulder, resembling a gem of formidable power. "What are you waiting for? Strike it with all your might; do not hold back!" the First Supreme Elder called out, his voice echoing through the hall.
Damon's gaze shifted upwards to the assembly of Supreme Elders, each radiating an unfathomable strength that coursed through their very bones. "The Devil Palace pales in comparison to these formidable beings,are absolutely nothing" he mused inwardly, acutely aware that should any of these ancient titans choose to end his life, they could do so with ease.
Drawing in a series of deep, steady breaths, Damon fortified his resolve, a thrill coursing through him. The sensation had been absent for far too long, and now his focus narrowed upon the colossal boulder looming before him. Clenching his fist, he activated "Crazed Zoom," prompting gasps of astonishment from those around him. It seemed as if he embodied a force of nature, propelling himself forward with a velocity that defied comprehension. The onlookers were riveted, their eyes glued to his frenetic movements, a mix of excitement and disbelief etched across their faces.
In an instant, Damon transitioned into "Void Fist," and as his strike connected, a resounding "boom!" echoed through the air. All gazes shifted to Damon, who stood resolutely before the boulder, palms pressed against its surface, his face bowed in concentration. An eerie silence enveloped the scene, leaving the Supreme Elders in a state of bewilderment. Suddenly, the Second Elder rose from his seat, disbelief etched into his features. "No, no way!!" he exclaimed, just as the stone erupted, unleashing a colossal beam that soared into the heavens. Fear rippled through the witnesses; this stone was intended to gauge the candidates' potential, yet what they had just witnessed was beyond their wildest expectations.
The Supreme Elders, though exhilarated, tempered their excitement, quickly deciding to proceed with the next test. A palpable fire ignited within each of them, a shared anticipation for what lay ahead. The First Elder ascended into the sky, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. "As expected from the one handpicked by the Heavenly Demon," he remarked, eliciting shock from the gathered crowd; the notoriously fearsome elder was displaying a rare moment of levity. Yet, a tense silence fell over the arena as he continued, the specter of his notorious temper looming large. "Disciples, take the jades and crush them in your hands."
Upon his command, each participant crushed their gemstones, and twenty-four candidates vanished from their seats, reappearing upon the stage. "An all-out battle will commence with six participants in the first round," he declared, a glass orb materializing in his hand, brimming with the names of the contestants. With a decisive strike, he shattered the orb, meticulously separating the twenty-four pieces of parchment into four distinct groups.
"Ultimately, only three winners will emerge from each stage, and those victors will face each other with Damon joining the battle making it ten participants," the First Elder announced, his voice resonating with authority. Excitement surged among the young geniuses, their blood boiling with fervor as a chant erupted within the arena, anticipation crackling in the air.
Without delay, the First Elder summoned the first six participants to the stage. They surged forward with astonishing speed, each a prodigy hailing from remarkable lineages. Among them, the sixth-ranked contender, known as the "Sleepy Swordsman," appeared perpetually fatigued yet possessed a strikingly handsome visage. Beneath that gentle facade lay a ruthless temperament, a lunatic masquerading as a benign figure.
Ranked fourth was "Tang Chen," one of the seven sons of the Poison Masters from the Demon Continent, a boy who inherited his father's nefarious talents. "Ahhh, why do I have to be paired with these imbeciles?" Tang Chen protested, hurling his secret weapon toward the seventh rank. The projectile was effortlessly intercepted by the girl known as "Nero," who was infamous for her sharp tongue and even sharper skills. "Tang Chen, if that's all you've got, perhaps you should consider stepping down," she taunted, her demeanor provoking him further.
Tang Chen seethed at her audacity, determination igniting within him. He charged after her, unleashing four hidden weapons that resembled needles, aimed with lethal precision. Yet, she was no ordinary opponent; with deft agility, she evaded his assault and retaliated with a swift kick aimed at Tang Chen's approach. Unfazed, he seized her leg, twisting it to gain leverage as he produced a needle, stabbing it into her thigh.
Nero, sensing the surge of poison coursing through her, summoned her energy, striving to create distance between them. She recognized Tang Chen's formidable strength but was taken aback by the potency of the venom. Despite her efforts to dispel it, the poison only seemed to proliferate, growing stronger with each passing moment, leaving her in a state of urgent desperation.
She let out a piercing scream as an explosive surge of energy erupted from her being, leaving Damon momentarily stunned. Her demeanor shifted dramatically, transforming into something fierce and primal, reminiscent of an ancient spirit awakening. Damon leaned in, his gaze fixated on her; he recognized that this transformation was rooted in her lineage—the formidable "Crane Bloodline." As Tang Chen leaped away, he was met with a brutal slash that cut through the air, his eyes narrowing with hatred as the attack hurtled toward him. In a swift motion, he activated his own bloodline, "Shadow Hydra," becoming a formless shadow that swiftly reappeared on the ground. Tang Chen, visibly battered with his shirt in tatters, seethed with rage, his emotions boiling over as he confronted the reality of being pushed to such a breaking point.