CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 256: PRELIMINARY ROUND (PART 3)

Group Sixteen, Su Lingyan from Vermilion Bird City, similarly reached the fifth level.

As time passed, the double S-level geniuses from the Five Great Daoist Schools appeared one after another. They all conserved their strength, and after passing the fifth level, they stopped.

However, this was quite normal; after all, this was just a preliminary selection. Revealing too much strength could impact the upcoming competitions.

The time was now three in the afternoon, and over eighty percent of the preliminary selection was complete, with results expected today.

At this moment, the Daoist School’s staff began calling names again, Group Sixty-One, Number Eighteen, Chu Chen of Celestial Star City.

Zhang Yuyan and the others sent their blessings upon hearing this.

Chu Chen expressed his gratitude and headed straight into the Trial Tower.

Chu Chen had watched many images of tower challenges and was exceedingly confident in Lei Yao’s strength; there should be no problem passing the preliminary selection.

After summoning Lei Yao, Chu Chen began observing his surroundings.

He was in a separate room, several hundred square meters in area and about ten meters high, with walls made of Lapis Lazuli, demonstrating their unyielding strength.

At this moment, a Cyan Wood Sheep appeared opposite Lei Yao.

Confronted with such an elite quality Star Beast, Lei Yao showed no interest.

Stepping forward, it rushed straight to the Cyan Wood Sheep, raised its right fist, and struck directly.

Lei Yao’s punch was too fast for the Cyan Wood Sheep to evade, smashing its head and killing it instantly.

Seeing this, Chu Chen remained calm as he proceeded to the second level.

Lei Yao only used two punches on the second level.

Four punches were used on the third level.

Lei Yao had incredible control over his power, and even a casual punch erupted with power comparable to a Great Success Realm’s Thunderbolt Fist.

This kind of might was beyond what ordinary Star Beasts could endure.

When Chu Chen reached the fourth level, Lei Yao became slightly serious.

This time, its opponents were eight Iron-Backed Demon Wolves of perfect quality.

Letting out a low growl, Lei Yao charged into the wolf pack, using Lightning Fist repeatedly, and within a minute, all eight Iron-Backed Demon Wolves were killed.

Outside the Trial Tower, the atmosphere immediately boiled over.

"Who is this kid? Could he be a double S-level prodigy as well?"

"I feel like he’s even stronger than the double S-level prodigies."

"How is that possible? Maybe his opponents are too weak."

"Yeah, I feel the same way. One punch per opponent is too exaggerated."

"The Trial Tower is absolutely fair; it just shows this guy is too strong."

"Hey! This person looks familiar, haven’t we seen him somewhere before?"

"Familiar my foot, he’s the guy who won six hundred million yesterday."

"Damn, how is this fair? It’s bad enough that he’s ridiculously lucky, but his strength is also this overwhelming."

"Yeah, those guys from Black Snake City are truly unlucky to provoke such a formidable person."

Words like these continuously echoed among the crowd.

At this time, the expressions of everyone from Black Snake City turned extremely ugly.

An elder glared viciously at Shen Jialiang, pointing at him, and said coldly, "After this exchange match, leave the Daoist School. Also, for the others, all benefits in your contracts are halved."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jialiang turned pale and his voice trembled as he said, "Master, please be lenient, give me a chance to make amends."

The others dared not plead for him.

The elder glanced coldly at them before saying icily, "Do you think I don’t know about the things you’ve done? Our Daoist School is responsible for nurturing geniuses, but character comes first. I haven’t punished you already out of leniency."

Hearing this, Shen Jialiang’s face turned ashen, and he dared not plead further.

The elder didn’t look at Shen Jialiang but spoke to the others, "Here’s a final piece of advice: it’s best to seek his forgiveness early. With the strength he’s shown, if he doesn’t fall prematurely, his future achievements are beyond your imagination. By then, a single word from him, and you won’t even know how you’ll die."

The others didn’t respond but lowered their heads with a desolate expression.

Seeing this, the elder continued, "Don’t think I’m merely scaremongering; his methods are more terrifying than you imagine. Not long ago, Zhang Kun, the head of the Black Mist City’s Vermilion Bird Branch, a late-stage king-level expert, even such a strong figure fell at his hands, let alone you."

Upon hearing this, they looked at Shen Jialiang with shock, their eyes filled with resentment.

At this moment, Wang Lu and Gangzi were both staring at the projection of Chu Chen with shock.

Although they knew he was strong, they never imagined he would be this ridiculously powerful.

Zhang Yuyan stared at the projection, her fists unconsciously clenched, memories of Chu Chen flooding her mind.

Her real interaction with Chu Chen began after the Elite Class assessment; back then, their strengths weren’t on the same level.

Soon after, she invited Chu Chen for a task, and by then, his strength was already catching up to hers.

Then came the Second-Level Secret Realm in Black Mist City, where Chu Chen’s strength had already surpassed hers.

In just over a month, Chu Chen had left her far behind, making her feel as if she was the A-level talent, while he was the S-level prodigy.

Among the crowd, Lu Hongfei was the happiest. Chu Chen’s growth had surpassed his expectations; originally, his hope was for Chu Chen to make it into the top hundred, but now even the top ten seemed possible.

As everyone discussed, Chu Chen had already led Lei Yao to the fifth level.