Battle Through the Heavens: Purple Heaven Thunder Emperor

Chapter 282 How can a bunch of cowards who are afraid of this and that make progress!

Halfway up Tianmu Mountain is an extremely wide platform.

Built from neatly arranged rocks, the platform has a stone staircase leading directly to the mountaintop on the side closest to the mountain.

At this moment, about a dozen figures were scattered on it, their eyes constantly looking down towards the foot of the mountain.

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the platform like a ghost, causing everyone's expression to change and them to hurriedly take several steps back.

They were all losers from the previous final challenge. Before they could leave, the black-robed youth stormed into the Tianmu Mountains. Their gazes changed from mockery to suspicion, and then to shock at what they had just witnessed.

The platform was completely silent, and all eyes were fixed on the figure in the black robe.

Xiao Bai glanced at the steep steps, ignored the crowd, and stepped up the stone steps.

"How long do you think it will take him to get through the Gold-Eating Rat Clan's sonic array?" A young man glanced at Xiao Bai's back and whispered to his companions.

"Judging from his performance just now, it definitely took him less time than that woman!" His companion on the left said slowly after a moment of contemplation.

"Wait a minute. Look, he's almost halfway there, why isn't the sonic array activated yet?" A cry of surprise from the platform immediately drew everyone's attention.

At this moment, on the mountaintop.

Someone looked at Xiao Bai, who was almost at the top of the mountain, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in their eyes, and gritted their teeth, saying:

"Senior Jinshi, isn't this against the rules? We went through all our strength to pass the test, why should he—"

"rule?"

Jin Shi sneered, his cloudy eyes suddenly sharpening, and a faint pressure belonging to a seventh-order magical beast emanated from him.

"Here, my word is law!"

He glanced coldly at the man who spoke, a look of displeasure appearing on his aged face, before slowly scanning the eight people on the stone platform.

"According to the agreement between my race and your human race, I have the right to decide who goes to Tianmu Mountain, as long as they are human!"

Upon hearing this, the other young powerhouses who had passed the test all showed expressions of confusion.

They had been tormented by the terrifying sonic array when they climbed the stone steps, so why was the array not activating when it came to this black-robed youth?

"Could it be... that Chief Jinshi is intentionally letting them win?" someone whispered, speculating.

"impossible!"

Another person shook their head, "As magical beasts, the Gold-Eating Rat Clan would never favor any human. That's why many forces have always trusted them to manage the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. That person seems to be meeting Senior Jinshi for the first time as well, so it's unlikely he'd go easy on them!"

Ignoring the whispers behind him, Jin Shi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the black-robed figure steadily ascending the stone steps, his eyes twitching slightly.

The Gold-Eating Rats that formed the sonic array were all second- or third-tier juniors of the clan, and he didn't want to take any risks.

Given the soul power this young man just displayed, if he were to use excessive force during the process, wouldn't it be his Gold-Eating Rat Clan that suffers the loss?

Since these are human slots anyway, let them compete for them themselves. Why make our men take this risk?

"Heh heh. Ice Swamp, are you ready? If you lose later, you won't even be able to enter the Blood Pool. In front of everyone, your Ice River Valley will be utterly disgraced!"

On the stone platform, a woman in red stood gracefully, a dark red whip wrapped around her slender waist, outlining her beautiful curves. She had a striking appearance, and her brows revealed a hint of heroism.

Wearing a fiery red outfit, she looks dashing and has a unique charm.

She chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes as she looked at the young man in white who had been coldly shouting at her earlier.

Speaking of the others on the mountaintop, they all have to thank this guy for speaking up earlier, which attracted the attention of the mysterious black-robed youth.

Otherwise, we won't know who will be challenged later!

"snort!"

Not far away, a young man in a blue robe snorted coldly, a shadow flashing in his eyes.

"Whom do you look down on? That kid might have some skill, but my senior brother is no less impressive. The Valley Master said that my senior brother's strength is unmatched below the Dou Zong level, and he can even put up a fight against a Dou Zong expert. It's too early to say whether he'll win or lose!"

Upon hearing this, the woman in red parted her red lips slightly, her jade-like hand lightly stroking the long whip at her waist, and said with a half-smile,

"Little ice bump, you're itching for a beating again. Looks like your old wound has healed and you've forgotten the pain!"

"you!"

The blue-robed man's face darkened, and he was about to lash out when Bingze beside him raised his hand to stop him.

"Junior brother, there's no need to argue with her."

Bingze remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on the black-robed figure on the stone steps, a hint of seriousness flashing deep in his eyes.

Although he was confident, he was not blindly optimistic. The fact that he could make the Gold-Eating Rat Clan voluntarily withdraw the sonic array meant that he was probably no ordinary person.

"Senior brother."

The man in blue robes was somewhat unwilling, but seeing Bingze's cold expression, he dared not say anything more and could only glare fiercely at the woman in red.

The woman in red snorted, pursed her lips, and ignored them, turning instead to look at Xiao Bai with interest.

"Just who is this guy?"

A moment later, Xiao Bai stepped onto the last stone step and stood steadily on the mountaintop.

"Whoosh—"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

There was curiosity, apprehension, indifference, and scrutiny.

Xiao Bai's gaze was calm as he slowly scanned the crowd on the stone platform, pausing slightly on a woman in red.

I saw a hint of eagerness in the woman's eyes.

His gaze lingered for only a moment before shifting away, finally settling on Bingze, and he said calmly:

"Who was shouting just now?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere on the mountaintop instantly froze.

The others on the stone platform looked at Bingze with amusement. If he hadn't stepped forward earlier, they might have been nervous at this moment, but now they could only say that they had met a good person!

"It's me!"

Bingze sneered, staring directly at Xiao Bai without flinching, his gaze icy cold:

"What? You actually dare to make a move on me? Let me give you a piece of advice: you've gone to all this trouble to get up here, so you'd better keep your eyes open and not pick the wrong opponent!"

Xiao Bai grinned, revealing his white teeth with a chilling glint. He clenched his fist slightly, lightning crackled beneath his feet, and with one step, his figure transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished from the spot.

The fist emitted a piercing shriek, and the surrounding air seemed to expand as if it were solid.

Seeing the punch coming straight at him, the white-clad man's expression changed slightly, and his body was instantly covered with a thick layer of ice armor.

Just as he was about to make a move, he looked up and met a pair of cold, sharp eyes. He felt a sharp pain in his soul, as if a thousand needles were piercing his brain.

"boom!"

In the moment of hesitation, his fist had already slammed into the white-clad man's chest, shattering the ice armor and sending it flying everywhere.

"puff!"

His face suddenly turned pale, and the man in white spat out a mouthful of blood. He was sent flying backward and crashed heavily into the boulder behind him, sending shards of rock flying.

"Senior brother!"

The blue-robed youth was shocked, never expecting his senior brother to be defeated so quickly and without any resistance.

"Ice attribute. Fellow disciples?"

Xiao Bai's eyes immediately turned cold as he looked at the blue-robed youth who had rushed to help him. He lightly tapped his brow with his finger, and his soul power erupted instantly—

A terrifying pressure from the soul suddenly descended, like an invisible giant mountain, pressing down on him fiercely.

"Bang!"

The young man in the blue robe knelt down, instantly shattering the bluestone floor.

The entire room fell silent!

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene, a chill running through them.

Looking at the figure in the black robe in the center of the arena, one could see that he exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

It makes one feel as if the person in front of them is not a human, but an ancient demon beast poised to unleash its power, ready to tear everything apart at any moment.

They were extremely grateful that they hadn't said anything reckless before, otherwise their fate wouldn't have been much better than those two!

Those were two nine-star Dou Huangs, one of whom was even hailed as a genius capable of fighting against a Dou Zong. Yet, in front of this black-robed youth, they were treated like playthings, unable to withstand even a single move?!

The eagerness in the woman's eyes vanished instantly. She shrank back, not wanting to be punched in the chest by this violent guy.

She knew Bingze's strength; neither side could gain the upper hand. Now that he was beaten to such a state, she would likely not fare well if she went up against him.

"What are you doing? We are disciples of Ice River Valley!"

The young man in blue robes knelt on the ground, his face pale. He looked at Xiao Bai slowly approaching, each step seeming to pound on his heart. Fear welled up in his eyes, and his voice trembled.

Glacier Valley

Upon confirming the two individuals' origins, Xiao Bai's eyes suddenly sharpened, his face turned icy cold, and his black robe billowed without wind, exuding a boiling killing intent.

"Wait a minute!"

Jin Shi's voice came from behind. As soon as he finished speaking, he appeared in front of Xiao Bai, blocking his way.

"Boy, now that you've obtained it..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jin Shi's voice abruptly stopped, his nose twitched slightly, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Then he licked his lips, chuckled, and his attitude underwent a complete 180-degree turn, becoming incredibly friendly and enthusiastic:

"Young friend, may I have a chat with you here?"

"Can!"

Xiao Bai nodded calmly, and just as a joyful smile appeared on Jin Shi's face, he changed his tone and said in a low voice:

"But that'll have to wait until I deal with those two!"

Jin Shi's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He rubbed his hands together, his lips barely moving as he transmitted his voice:

"Young friend, these two are from Ice River Valley after all, and Ice Swamp is even a disciple of Ice Venerable. If we really kill them here, it might cause some trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai frowned slightly and glanced at the white-clad youth named Bing Ze who had fallen to the ground. Bing Ze was coughing violently, clutching his throat, with a trickle of blood sliding from the corner of his mouth. His gaze was filled with fear and resentment.

Ice Valley Master. Ice River's disciple?

He narrowed his eyes, stared at the metal and stone for a moment, and then suddenly chuckled softly:

"Since Chief Jinshi has intervened, I will naturally abide by the rules of the Gold-Eating Rat Clan!"

Hearing this, the two from Ice Valley breathed a sigh of relief.

The blue-robed youth and Bingze exchanged a glance, and before their eyes met, they secretly communicated telepathically.

"Senior brother, I'll give you my spot." A cold glint flashed in the blue-robed youth's eyes.

"Once you break through to the Dou Zong realm, call Elder Bing Yuan who's waiting outside, and we'll make this bastard wish he were dead—"

"rest assured."

Bingze conjured ice crystals from his sleeve with his fingertips, his eyes lowered, a deep, sinister look surfacing:

"I'll freeze him into an ice sculpture, then smash him inch by inch until he regrets offending Ice River Valley!"

While the two were secretly exchanging messages, unbeknownst to them, someone had already observed their expressions.

Xiao Bai's soul was incredibly powerful, and he keenly caught the fleeting killing intent. Although he couldn't hear the specific details, a dangerous smile appeared on his lips.

He needs time to break through, and in order to avoid trouble, he really doesn't want to cause any unnecessary complications, so he readily agreed to Jinshi's suggestion.

But that doesn't mean the two of them can enter the Blood Pool!

"Clan Chief Jinshi, since two spots are now vacant, I'll decide the remaining one, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, the two from Ice River Valley froze. They hadn't expected that the black-robed youth would take their other spot as well.

The remaining people on the stone platform looked at each other strangely. This year, Ice River Valley had secured two of the eight spots in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool competition, and now they were all gone.

Jin Shi was also taken aback. Good heavens, this kid is really going to offend Ice River Valley to death!

"Sure, but you seem to be alone. How can you take up two spots? Let's be clear about the Blood Pool's long-standing rule: there must be eight human spots!"

Jin Shi glanced at Xiao Bai meaningfully and said indifferently.

He had said everything he needed to say. He didn't know where this person got his confidence from, but as long as eight humans entered the Blood Pool, everything would be irrelevant to his Gold-Eating Rat Clan.

Xiao Bai didn't say much. He turned his gaze to the platform on the mountainside. The young experts who had failed the final test all lowered their heads when they saw this, and some even took a half step back.

This spot is tempting, but accepting it now would mean completely offending the two from Ice Valley, which is different from the previous competition.

Whoever snatched the spot before got it; it was fair competition, and even Glacier Valley had no complaints.

But getting involved now is a public declaration that they don't take Glacier Valley seriously.

As one of the three valleys among the four major temples, one tower, two sects, three valleys, and four pavilions in the Central Plains, Ice River Valley is a place that anyone would have to think twice before offending.

"How can a bunch of cowards who are afraid of this and that make progress!"

Xiao Bai was slightly speechless. He thought this spot was a hot commodity, and with him leading the way, it would be easy to pull in anyone. He didn't expect that these people were all intimidated by the reputation of Ice River Valley.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, a clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out:

"Hey, you in the black robe!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman in red with her hands on her hips, a sly smile on her pretty face:

"I have a friend down there, how about I give her this spot? You don't have anyone else to choose from anyway."

Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow and lingered his gaze on the woman in red for a moment.

"People from Burning Flame Valley?"

The girl exuded a fiery aura, and her opening of her mouth clearly indicated that she was not afraid of Ice River Valley. Moreover, her attire resembled that of the young lady of Burning Flame Valley in the original work.

"That's right, my name is Tang Huo'er, and I come from Burning Flame Valley. I'm not afraid of those ice lumps from Ice River Valley!"

Tang Huo'er's eyes were bright and her face was full of confidence. She patted her rather large chest, which trembled and attracted several cautious glances from those around her.

"Can!"

After learning that she was the daughter of Tang Zhen, the master of Burning Flame Valley, Xiao Bai nodded indifferently. In any case, he didn't have a better candidate for this spot, so doing her a favor would actually be a win for him.

Upon hearing this, Tang Huo'er was overjoyed and immediately called down the mountain, "Qing'er, come up quickly!"

Before long, a young girl dressed in blue ran up the mountain, panting.

She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features, bright and lively eyes, and an aura that left Xiao Bai speechless.

He was indeed a Dou Huang, but his aura fluctuated, clearly indicating that he had only recently broken through to Dou Huang.

"Sister Huo'er"

The girl stood timidly beside Tang Huo'er, clearly at a loss for what to do in the situation.

"You silly girl. I asked you to come before, but you wouldn't come no matter what. Now you've run into the mountains again. If I hadn't been sharp-eyed, I wouldn't have noticed you!"

Looking at her slightly flushed cheeks, Tang Huo'er rolled her eyes, exasperated by her lack of self-control.

(End of this chapter)