Deities: Starting From Goblins

Chapter 820: Chapter 485: [The Loom of Fate]_2

Snow Wood didn’t understand at all. The battle had already reached this point; why weren’t these two going all out? But she couldn’t figure out the reason for a moment. Regardless, she counterattacked immediately, with her combat power amplified a hundredfold. A casual strike from Snow Wood was astonishingly destructive.

When they were only a meter apart, the two spoke in a low voice, “We concede, but could you do us a favor and pretend to exchange six or seven moves first? Otherwise, it’s too embarrassing. Of course, if you disagree, we will have to fight with all our might, and even if you win, you will surely be injured, which is not good for the final.”

Snow Wood was taken aback, then agreed. After all, it was only to her advantage, as long as she could win, it didn’t matter if they sparred a few more moves. It also allowed her to conceal her strength; otherwise, if her capabilities had already been analyzed, she would definitely be at a disadvantage in the final.

Moreover, facing two opponents like this, if they were determined to fight to the bitter end, even if she was more powerful, the victory would only be a pyrrhic one at best. This was certainly not the scenario Snow Wood wanted to see. She was not only thinking about the final, but she also wanted to secure a top-three finish, or even the first place for the chance at the Saint Emperor opportunity.

Thus, both parties tacitly exchanged six or seven moves, feigning an evenly matched battle. The two opponents kept their word and then pretended to be defeated and conceded. Snow Wood obtained a ticket to the final, and the audience naturally sighed, feeling that the match was not as intense as they had imagined.

The other semifinals continued afterward. After many battles, the strongest ten were selected. These ten would compete for the top three positions and first place tomorrow. Regardless, the ten who made it to the final were undoubtedly among the very best of the younger generation in the Southern Desolation.

Logan also noticed something; among the remaining nine, he only knew Snow Wood. The rest had been unremarkable in previous matches but made it to the final, making him realize that many powerhouses were hiding their strengths.

Later in the evening, Snow Wood approached Logan, “It’s already dark. How about we find a place to grab a quick meal, then discuss tomorrow’s final?”

“Sure,” Logan nodded. He wasn’t familiar with the younger generation from those Sects, and since Snow Wood was willing, he was indeed all ears.

After their meal, Snow Wood cautioned, “I don’t know much about the other eight competitors, but there’s one you should be cautious of—Fire Cloud Wicked. He’s always been a mystery, hailing from one of the three Great Sects, the Flame Sect, which is considered the number one Sect in the Southern Desolation.”

“There have even been rumors that Fire Cloud Wicked isn’t really part of the younger generation. His age is already over five hundred years, but because he’s kept such a low profile, it was only a few decades ago that some of his deeds surfaced, leading to his categorization among the young. In reality, the whole Southern Desolation doesn’t know his exact age; they’ve only estimated it to be over five hundred, but it could be over a thousand.”

“Moreover, according to legends, Fire Cloud Wicked’s Talent isn’t poor at all. If he really is over a thousand years old, his Cultivation Level might have reached that of a Half-step Saint Emperor. Who among these ten can withstand him? Even if the other nine joined forces, it wouldn’t be enough, making Fire Cloud Wicked the likeliest candidate to take first place.”

“Most who made it to the top ten come from the Great Sects, so each has a strong foundation. I have a Divine Skill that amplifies combat power, and others naturally have their own. Hence, the gap in Divine Skills and divine weapons shouldn’t be too significant. It will depend on an individual’s combat experience and their own Cultivation Level and prowess.”

“Interesting!” Logan perked up and asked, “According to the competition’s rules, only the younger generation can participate. If Fire Cloud Wicked really is that old, then he doesn’t meet the criteria. Why hasn’t the City Lord stopped him, even letting him get to the final?”

“Huoyun E’s age has always been the subject of rumors, unconfirmed by anyone else. Besides Huoyun E himself, only the Flame Sect would know, but would they admit that Huoyun E is of great age, for the sake of a chance at the Saint Emperor? Even in this competition, many of the contestants are already of the older generation, yet everyone turns a blind eye,”

Snow Wood gave a bitter smile and continued to explain, “Stepping back ten thousand paces, what defines the younger generation? Is it based on one’s age, or when they made a name for themselves? Isn’t it true that many young people are tempered for a hundred years within their Family Clans, and only then presented to the world? Wouldn’t they be considered the older generation by then?”

Logan thought about it and realized that was indeed the case. After all, in the Outer Domain where the Heavenly and Earthly Laws were perfected, many people meditated in seclusion for a hundred years. If age was the criterion, a significant number of contestants would need to be disqualified this time, and the City Lord’s side was quite helpless about it. Generally, as long as the contestants’ ages were not too awkward, they would not be stopped.

“Apart from age, Huoyun E is extremely cunning. In fact, the entire Flame Sect is the same; they are one of the three great Sects of the Southern Desolation and spare no effort in their actions, even comparable to the Demon Cult Sects, making them a force not to be trifounded with. It would be devastating to offend them unless necessary.”@@novelbin@@

“I remember, decades ago, Huoyun E wanted to buy a divine weapon from a Sect with ten thousand top-grade Spirit Stones during a trial. Naturally, he was refused since even the most common divine weapon is worth millions, and ten thousand top-grade Spirit Stones were considered an insult. Huoyun E had already crossed the line, and upon being refused, he obliterated the entire Sect in a fit of rage.”

“At that time, all the Sects in the Southern Desolation were enraged, but given the Flame Sect’s dominance and the dispatch of over twenty Quasi-Saint Emperors, including a Saint Emperor, Huoyun E naturally got away with no repercussions. It’s imaginable how despotic they are, and this was merely a minor incident; when counting the number of Sects that have suffered because of Huoyun E, there’s easily dozens.”

“The cultivation method Huoyun E practices is said to come from a Demon Cult Sect and was even refined by a Saint Emperor Strong One. In fact, it has been confirmed by many that Huoyun E needs to kill at least a thousand people every month; otherwise, he would succumb to demonic madness. Considering Huoyun E’s age of over a thousand years, just thinking about it sends chills down one’s spine.”

“Such a person? Let’s hope we don’t run into him tomorrow!” Logan sighed. Although he knew Huoyun E was malevolent, after all, his own stature in the Outer Domain was not that of a Powerhouse, and his cultivation level was merely at the Saint Seat Second Level. There were some things beyond his power, and he didn’t want to invite trouble for himself.

So tomorrow, in his battle against Huoyun E, he would try as much as possible to avoid confrontation. But if it came to fighting for first place, Logan wouldn’t show any mercy. In any case, he would go with the flow, acknowledging that tomorrow’s top ten were bound to engage in a horrific struggle, since each contestant was no ordinary individual, with strengths comparable to Huoyun E’s.

Snow Wood glanced at Logan and added, “By the way, there is another person you should be cautious of, Luke Skyward from the Demon Cult Sect. Like Huoyun E, he is not someone to be taken lightly, shrouded in a murderous aura, backed by the Demon Path, and posing the threat of retaliation if offended.”

“I am not afraid, being from one of the three Great Sects, Snow Sky Sect. But it’s different for you. Although you hold the esteemed title of Grandmaster Formation Master, it is but a nominal distinction and not combat power. You have a good relationship with the City Lord, but that only works as long as you remain in Heavenly Moon City.”

“Is he from the Sky Demon Sect?” Logan immediately asked. If the individual was from the Sky Demon Sect, he did not want to draw attention to himself, but if it came to a fight, Logan’s first instinct would be to kill. After all, he already had grievances with the Sky Demons and was bound to be hunted down sooner or later.

“Yes,” Snow Wood nodded and continued, “In the whole Southern Desolation, the Demon Path stems from the Sky Demon Sect, and they are rampantly powerful. Although there are three Saint Emperors in the Southern Desolation, each from a different Sect, the single Saint Emperor of the Sky Demon Sect is enough to deter everyone.”