CHAPTER 516: CHAPTER 516. MAN OUTSIDE

Huang San observed the two. Both were Intermediate Mystic Stage cultivators, just like him. Under normal circumstances, he didn’t mind fighting two opponents with the same cultivation level. As a prince and a former Royal Academy student, he had access to better equipment and more arts. However, he would need time, which he understood he didn’t have. The longer these two were here, the more likely an additional enemy would come.

Huang San couldn’t help but glance slightly at the bamboo-water contraption behind him. The water was still falling slowly into the basin. Gui Cong and Wu Ya caught his glance.

"This thing must be the door to the next stage," Gui Cong said.

"Where is the metal box? You were the one who took it, weren’t you?" Wu Ya asked.

"Wu Ya, look!" Gui Cong pointed. They saw the metal cube resting atop the contraption.

Without needing prompt, Wu Ya flew toward the metal cube.

"Not so fast!" Huang San exclaimed. He zoomed in and intercepted Wu Ya. Uncountable sword lights were produced as his sword danced.

Slashes and thrusts riddled the path before Wu Ya. He had to stop his advance and use the long staff in his hands to stop the sword lights from hitting him.

Gui Cong thought Huang San’s attention was occupied, so he wanted to sneak toward the metal cube. However, a barbed whip lashed at him before he could leave the ground. He had to block the barbed whip using his metal arms. The impact sent him hitting the bamboo fence behind.

Huang San used a combination of his sword and the barbed whip to cover close and long ranges, preventing his two opponents from approaching the contraption.

"You can’t stop us by yourself!" Wu Ya exclaimed. The staff in his hand spun rapidly. Consecutive waves of water rolled out with each spin. These waves crashed toward Huang San.

While Huang San wasn’t too troubled by this assault, he must use both his weapons to neutralize the incoming water waves. As a result, Gui Cong was allowed free rein. Gui Cong was wounded and couldn’t move quickly. He didn’t try to steal a chance to land an attack on Huang San. He flew toward the metal cube, intending to take the cube while Wu Ya kept Huang San busy.

Huang San noticed Gui Cong’s move. While still parrying Wu Ya’s water waves, he executed another arcane art. Countless leaves materialized and swirled with him as the center. These leaves were as sharp as blades. He sent these leaves to both Wu Ya and Gui Cong.

Faced with so many leaf darts, the two retreated. Wu Ya retreated until he was close to the bamboo fence. He sensed hostility from behind. He turned and saw several vines lashing at him from the bamboo fence.

These vines were Huang San’s arcane art. He landed on the ground after his two opponents were forced back. His hand was now on the ground, controlling the vines that crept up the bamboo fence.

"Hiyaa...!!" Gui Cong came to Wu Ya’s rescue. His arms exuded a sharp metal aura. With a swing, he cut the vines that were about to entangle Wu Ya.

"Gui Cong!" Wu Ya called. He saw Gui Cong’s body was full of slash wounds, even more than before. Wu Ya was moved. Gui Cong let the leaf darts hit him to rush over here.

"Let’s use our combination attack," Gui Cong said.

"All right!" Wu Ya exclaimed.

Wu Ya spun his staff again. When the water wave was about to be unleashed, Gui Cong slashed using his metal hand. His metal slash coincided with Wu Ya’s water wave. The elemental support considerably enhanced Wu Ya’s water wave. The resulting water wave was much larger than before.

Huang San slashed his golden sword and barbed whip. However, the power behind the water wave was more than he could handle. The impact threw him down, and he fell on his back.

"Go!" Gui Cong exclaimed. He braced his metal arms, which Wu Ya used as a stepping block. With a push, he threw Wu Ya forward. Wu Ya sped toward the metal cube.

He was about to grab the metal cube but it suddenly vanished. Not only the metal cube, but the entire contraption also vanished into dust. What was left was a basin filled up with water. This basin enlarged into a small pond.

Everyone was startled by this turn of events. They quickly registered what this meant. Unfortunately for Gui Cong and Wu Ya, Huang San was closer to the pond because he was on the ground. Huang San quickly rolled and dove into the pond.

"No!" Wu Ya also charged toward the pond, but he was too late. Once Huang San entered the water, a light engulfed the pond. By the time he arrived, the pond was no more. It was replaced by flat, dry ground.

*

Huang San and everyone on his team reappeared in a different space. The space was a groundless space filled with giant water bubbles.

"Everyone okay?" Amon asked as he observed his teammates and the surroundings.

Xin Wuming was slightly wounded, and those wounds were already rapidly healing. He moved away to avoid people noticing his rapid healing.

Yang Li also had slight wounds on her. She had also encountered an enemy. Out of them, only An Guan was still fine, while the one with the worst condition was Wu Di. His body was full of wounds. He fought the longest.

"Can you move?" Amon asked Wu Di.

Wu Di popped a recovery pill into his mouth and replied, "No problem."

"Stop acting brave," An Guan admonished. "You should stay here and rest. We will deal with this stage."

"What a bad luck to encounter another team," Huang San remarked. "I hope it doesn’t happen again."

"The probability is low. For it to happen consecutively is even lower," Amon said.

"But not impossible," Yang Li said.

"No, it’s not," Amon agreed. "Regardless, we should complete this stage as quickly as possible. Wu Di, once you feel you are strong enough, you can join us."

"I am surprised you let me rest," Wu Di said with a laugh. "Anyway, I was wondering. I know a trial stage has multiple exit points, but normally, it has only one key. We have already used the metal cube in the previous stage. Does that mean Princess Huang Er’s team is now stuck in that stage?"

"No," Huang San answered. "Such an incident happened in the past. From the accounts of the participants, a different key appeared at a random location. The team that was left behind used this new key to complete the stage."

"Oh, too bad," Wu Di said. "That means there is still a chance we will stumble upon them."

---------------

There were fewer people in the courtyard with the trial artifact. The trial had gone on longer than everyone expected. It was nearing the twenty-day record, and none of the teams inside had failed. Most likely, the trial this time would break the record of the past. If King Huang Ti wasn’t worried about his children killing each other during the trial, he would have been beaming with pride.

Because the trial had gone on for too long, most officials had important matters to attend to. Even King Huang Ti took turns with Prime Minister Zhu Yao to be present here. It was the same case as the robed officers manning the artifact platform. They took turns so that one of them could rest.

Currently, only one robed officer monitored the holographic screen. He looked around. King Huang Ti was talking to two civil officials while the others in the courtyard were speaking among themselves. No one was paying attention to him.

While his eyes watched the others, his fingers dexterously input commands on the holographic screen. Some flashes occurred on the screen due to his inputs, but there was no sound. Nobody was aware he had done something.

His eyes returned to the screen to ensure he had done the process correctly. He pressed another spot on the screen, and it returned to normal. He proceeded like nothing was out of the ordinary.

---------------

"Your Highness, you asked me to notify you when the exit points start emitting color. The one I’m watching is now flashing red."

Prince Huang Zhan smiled after receiving the telepathic message. His man outside finally came through.

He was sitting on a large rock. Standing guard beside him was his pet, the Qing Lion. They were in a desolate, rocky world. His underlings were scouring this trial stage, looking for the key and the exit points. He organized their search by sending them commands via telepathic messages.

He stood and broadcast a message to everyone on his team, "Ignore the exit points with red color. Look for the one flashing green color. We will enter that one. Gan Xi, bring the key to me. We will wait for someone to find the green exit point that..."

"Found it," Da Niu cut his message. "I’m looking at one that flashes green."

"Good. Gan Xi, bring the key to Da Niu," Huang Zhan commanded as he climbed onto the Qing Lion. "Everyone, once we cross over to the next stage, ready your weapons. It’s finally time to get rid of our competition."