Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

In such extreme silence, Zhao Yang could clearly hear his own heartbeat.

He could see that one-eyed ghost cultivator who had just made wild boasts with him, eyes now bulging wide, face flushed red as if someone had slapped him across the face.

He could also see the “proctors” from the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower on the high platform lifting their heads in surprise, faces full of disbelief.

He could naturally also see the shock on countless faces around him…

But as the cultivator who had just said Jian Chou might very well pass the Ding Struggle, Zhao Yang now felt inexplicably guilty, even harboring a roaring impulse in his heart—

Too much!

Damn it, wasn’t this cheating going too far!

He had judged that Jian Chou could pass the Ding Struggle only because she was a very conspicuous “gimmick” of this tournament. If the Eight Direction Yama Hall had any brains, how could they let such a good gimmick die in the second round?

To better empty the pockets of all ghost cultivators in the Extreme Domain, the Eight Direction Yama Hall had reason to use any means necessary.

This included using the second round to build momentum.

But…

Zhao Yang truly never expected!

This Jian Chou had actually used only one quarter hour to pass the second round—it was simply…

Simply absurd!

Did they really think all cultivators in the Extreme Domain had no brains?

Cui Jue was already a dragon among men, having almost reached the absolute limit of the Extreme Domain’s second round written test. Over all these years, so many heaven-blessed geniuses had never surpassed the record Cui Jue set.

You, a newcomer with minimal cultivation who got in through connections, actually dare to surpass Cui Jue?!

Even if you had all the test answers in hand, you couldn’t do it so exaggerated, so excessive!

When things reach extremes, they reverse!

Going too far is as bad as not going far enough!

Zhao Yang considered himself knowledgeable about the Extreme Domain’s Ding Struggle, and could be said to understand the Eight Direction Yama Hall’s various “despicable and shameless” methods quite well.

Now looking at the virtual image on the nebula scroll overhead, after boundless surprise and anger, he actually felt a strange sensation of—

Satisfaction.

Yes, satisfaction.

The Eight Direction Yama Hall had organized the Ding Struggle for so many years, ruining his cultivation time and draining the dark jade from his money pouch…

Now they had actually hired such an unreliable “gimmick” and made such a despicable blunder!

Weren’t they going to fail spectacularly?

Any ghost cultivator in the Extreme Domain with brains knew how terrifying the second round written test was. Even Cui Jue’s two quarters had been controversial, let alone the one quarter produced now!

Doing it so exaggerated this time, everyone would oppose it!

Almost the instant Zhao Yang thought this, the people around who had been shocked earlier finally reacted.

The fastest was the one-eyed cultivator who had been shouting before.

“Never mind surpassing Cui Jue—if she can just pass, I’ll dare to call Brother Lihan grandfather to his face! Hahahaha…”

The wild boast he had made earlier echoed in his mind, giving him the illusion of his soul leaving his body.

Brother Lihan was no good person.

This guy killed without batting an eye. If a small fry like him really dared to run up to someone like that and call him “grandfather,” it would literally be asking for his life!

No way, he absolutely didn’t dare call Brother Lihan “grandfather”!

So…

This one-eyed ghost cultivator looked left and right, saw no one speaking, and simply went all out.

He took a deep breath, chest full of air, and stretched his voice to howl like a pig being slaughtered: “Cheating! Cheating! Absolutely cheating—”

In the quiet plaza, this was like dropping a thunderbolt.

The delayed commotion finally swept across the entire plaza.

“Cheating! Cheating!”

“How is this possible?!”

“Does the Eight Direction Yama Hall have any shame left?!”

“Cheating, cheating!”

“Hahaha, there’s excitement to watch—the Eight Direction Yama Hall truly knows how to do big things!”

“This year’s Ding Struggle is going to explode!”

…

For a moment, various voices rose like dust kicked up by galloping hooves, instantly drowning out all other sounds.

The entire plaza was a mass of black heads, with almost everyone talking, chaotic beyond measure.

On the high platform, there was an isolation array.

No sounds from outside could penetrate, so it seemed quite peaceful.

But Jian Chou could clearly see their gaping mouths, angry expressions, and could vaguely make out what they were shouting.

Thus, the corners of her eyes and brows suddenly took on a hint of amusement.

Jian Chou’s lips slowly curved upward, eyes slightly narrowed, as she raised her head again, satisfied to see her own virtual image forged on the nebula scroll overhead.

A line of golden small seal script slowly appeared beside the virtual image after it fully condensed—

Lord Qin Guang’s Palace, Jian Chou.

At the top floor of the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower.

Hearing the terrible waves of sound from below and seeing Jian Chou’s smile, Cui Jue began to doubt his own eyes.

That female cultivator…

Was she actually satisfied with everything she had done?

As if she wasn’t worried at all that her actions would bring trouble to the Eight Direction Yama Hall, and wasn’t worried at all that the mess she left behind would bring trouble to herself…

One quarter hour…

Using only one quarter hour—was she insane?

Even with Cui Jue’s seasoned experience in Eight Direction Yama Hall affairs, he now felt waves of confusion and headaches.

He didn’t even need to think to guess what expressions the eight Yama Kings would show when they learned of this.

Needless to say, the trouble was enormous.

“What is she doing…”

Raising his fingers, uncontrollably pressing his temples, Cui Jue slightly clenched his teeth as he looked down.

But in his heart, a sudden surge of “the waves behind in the great river push forward the waves before” melancholy arose.

Standing not far beside him, Jiang Chang, upon seeing Jian Chou’s relaxed and even pleased expression, also revealed a slight smile: “I actually think… this is quite an interesting person… What’s wrong? Feeling complicated about being surpassed?”

“…A little.”

Of course, more than anything, he felt it was very troublesome.

But after hearing Jiang Chang’s voice that was so soft it seemed to touch the depths of one’s heart, Cui Jue was too lazy to explain.

Among the eight Yama Kings, Capital King Jiang Chang was undoubtedly the most comfortable to be around. Even just standing and talking with her like this seemed to bring the deepest tranquility to one’s heart.

Perhaps because she possessed a trace of benevolent thought?

Cui Jue turned to look at her, but what flashed through his mind were the events that occurred when he first came to the City of Wrongful Death and caught Lord Qin Guang’s attention.

Jiang Chang didn’t turn around, still standing there, eyes holding misty clouds, like an ancient and graceful statue.

“I’m very curious—were your two quarters back then real?”

“…”

For a moment, Cui Jue said nothing.

Listening to those tide-like sounds of opposition and doubt, he only said: “If Your Highness thinks it was fake, then it was fake.”

Thus, Jiang Chang sighed softly, asking no more, only saying: “Right now, the other seventy-one cities must also be in uproar…”

Because the nebula scrolls of the seventy-two cities were one entity.

When someone passed the written test, their virtual image and name would appear on all nebula scrolls in the seventy-two cities, to be seen by all who looked up.

If in the third round of the Ding Struggle, this person was eliminated or killed, their virtual image and name would disappear from the scroll, ultimately leaving only those cultivators who were alive and hadn’t been eliminated.

Therefore, the nebula scroll was also called the “Living Scroll”!

Pan Hexun was a genius given high hopes by Fengdu City this year.

He already possessed peak Jade Nirvana cultivation, just one step away from completing this realm’s cultivation and reaching the Golden Body realm.

In this Ding Struggle tournament, he had also lived up to expectations by gaining the Wheel-Turning King’s appreciation and being recommended to participate.

At this moment, he had been sitting cross-legged in concentration on the plaza’s high platform for over two quarters of an hour.

The ink-green Ding Ring emitted thread-like light, connecting with his consciousness, transmitting the Ding Struggle written test questions to him bit by bit.

He rapidly operated his brain, answering at extreme speed.

One question, two questions, three questions…

Faster and faster!

Pan Hexun himself hadn’t expected his condition today would be this good, his performance completely exceeding his usual standards.

Even the Ding Ring clearly told him that only two and a half quarters had passed since the written test began!

He was actually so close to the time record Cui Jue had set!

His consciousness uncontrollably tensed up like a vibrating string.

A tremendous excitement and joy quickly enveloped him, plunging him into wonderful fantasies—

Perhaps he could not only kill everyone in the final third round to claim the Ding Yuan, but also achieve excellent first place in the second round written test!

When that time came, who would dare question him?

Even if the Ghost King clan had produced that mysterious Zhong Lanling, there was no way to stop him!

As for Zhang Tang and Brother Lihan from the City of Wrongful Death, they were even less worth mentioning.

Only he, this peak Jade Nirvana cultivator, would be the final big winner!

Last question!

Finished!

Pan Hexun almost immediately opened his eyes, but he didn’t look at the nebula scroll overhead. Instead, he first looked to his right side.

When going up on the platform earlier, he remembered very clearly: Ghost King clan’s Zhong Lanling was sitting right beside him!

He looked over with almost contemptuous eyes.

Because he had spent only two and a half quarters finishing all the questions, so close to Cui Jue’s “two quarters”!

He believed he should be the fastest person in this Ding Struggle, even surpassing the second-fastest written test completion time in history.

However…

The moment his gaze fell, Pan Hexun froze.

It was a man carrying a seven-string qin, barefoot, wearing old hemp clothes white as snow. Even sitting, one could see he was tall with broad shoulders.

Several strands of black hair mixed with white hung from the sides of his face, giving a sense of unrestrained wandering.

The hair behind his head was tied with a deep purple-black silk ribbon.

He looked like a down-and-out qin player from the martial world, his eyes holding the drifting of long wandering, but now he was looking up at the nebula scroll overhead…

With open eyes!

This person had actually answered faster than himself!

Pan Hexun almost couldn’t believe his eyes. What rose next was boundless anger and unwillingness. However, when he instinctively followed the man’s gaze, even greater shock…

Appeared.

On the magnificent scroll, not only was Zhong Lanling’s virtual image condensed…

There was also a female cultivator.

The virtual image showed her with beautiful features, her brows and eyes revealing a natural indifference.

But…

Pan Hexun clearly saw that beside this virtual image was engraved a line of text: Lord Qin Guang’s Palace, Jian Chou!

It was her!

Pan Hexun still remembered when the Eight Direction Yama Hall initially approached him with their request.

They needed him to protect a female cultivator in the third round of the Ding Struggle, hoping he would cooperate.

This kind of thing was beneficial without harm and could draw him closer to the Eight Direction Yama Hall while gaining some benefits.

He naturally wouldn’t refuse and almost immediately agreed.

Moreover, that female cultivator was really pitifully weak, only at Soul Pearl realm, and she was the smallest Soul Pearl in Extreme Domain history. He could kill her anytime, completely not worth worrying about.

But Pan Hexun never expected to see her name here!

Jian Chou!

Absolutely this name—there was no mistake!

At that instant, Pan Hexun’s eyes reddened, almost immediately rising from his seat.

He swept his gaze downward—the entire plaza was still mostly chaotic, with everyone seemingly speaking about something, appearing collectively indignant.

Through their lip movements, Pan Hexun vaguely made out their words—

Jian Chou had used only one quarter hour, faster than Zhong Lanling!

“Young Master Pan, is something wrong?”

The tower master of Fengdu City’s Eighteen Floors Underground Tower, who was also hosting this Ding Struggle, naturally noticed the latest reaction from the Ding Struggle Golden Order and discovered Pan Hexun who had just passed the written test.

He smiled and turned around, but found Pan Hexun’s slightly reddened eyes, couldn’t help but frown slightly and ask.

Pan Hexun’s hands at his sides clenched tight. He glanced at the tower master, then forced himself to bite his teeth: “Nothing.”

Not knowing how much strength it took, he barely forced himself to sit down.

He only felt all the soul power in his body flowing backward and surging chaotically, making it difficult for him to think…

A mass of confused thoughts swept through his mind.

Originally, he was the person most likely to claim the Ding Yuan, but the Ghost King clan had somehow found Zhong Lanling from nowhere—someone whose cultivation wasn’t quite sufficient but was extremely intimidating, immediately shaking his confidence.

Even though Pan Hexun was strong enough, he had to admit: Zhong Lanling wasn’t weak.

In this situation, he had regarded the other as his strongest enemy, which was why he immediately looked at him after finishing the written test.

However, Zhong Lanling was actually faster than him.

If it were just this, it would be fine.

But when he followed the other’s gaze to look at the scroll, he discovered someone was actually ahead of Zhong Lanling, and he happened to know this person!

A female cultivator with only pitiful Soul Pearl realm cultivation;

A female cultivator who had become this tournament’s biggest gimmick;

A female cultivator who had been protected by the Eight Direction Yama Hall through backdoor dealings;

A female cultivator he was supposed to protect after entering the third round!

Everything accumulated together.

Pan Hexun sat in his position, fingers pinching that ink-green Ding Ring, wearing a white robe embroidered with sky-blue crane patterns, the hem dragging on the ground.

His narrow phoenix triangular eyes slowly narrowed.

A Soul Pearl realm female cultivator actually dared to make such a show…

Take care?

He would naturally “take good care” of this female cultivator.

At his lips, a cold smile slowly curved up.

To his right, the down-and-out qin-carrying man seemed completely unaware of all this.

He continued gazing at the virtual images above, his eyes falling on the virtual image engraved with “Jian Chou,” but his gaze gradually revealed indescribable doubt that finally evolved into interest.

Zhong Lanling was also quite curious about this female cultivator who was even faster than him.

In this world, there were always only one or two top geniuses, but many above-average people could be found.

So after Pan Hexun passed, the golden light on the Ding Struggle Golden Order began lighting up frequently.

First, Lord Qin Guang’s Palace, Jian Chou;

Second, Fengdu City Ghost King Clan, Zhong Lanling;

Third, Eighth Wheel-Turning King Palace, Pan Hexun;

Fourth, City of Wrongful Death Day Wandering Clan, Chen Tingyan;

Fifth, City of Wrongful Death Wuchang Clan, Xing Zhan;

Sixth, City of Wrongful Death Ghost King Clan, Brother Lihan;

Seventh, Fengdu City Ghost King Clan, Fan Lin;

Eighth, Fengdu City Bull Head Clan, Niu Dongliang;

Ninth, Wangliangcheng Night Wandering Clan, Xin Baishou;

…

Only Zhang Tang was still missing.

City of Wrongful Death, on the plaza’s high platform.

Cultivators who hadn’t passed the written test hung their heads in dejection, automatically ejected from the platform by its array, completely losing qualification to participate in the Ding Struggle.

Cultivators who had passed the written test were either lingering with fear or high-spirited, but regardless of their expressions, they couldn’t help but frequently look at Jian Chou—

This female cultivator who had surpassed Cui Jue in one quarter hour.

A female cultivator…

Questioned by everyone.

But unlike what everyone guessed, Jian Chou’s face showed neither shame nor panic, not even excess emotion could be seen—only composed tranquility, as if she had done nothing, yet as if she was very satisfied with everything she had done.

She only looked up in contemplation, watching the virtual images and names continuously appearing on the nebula scroll.

Soon, she had confirmed that mysterious Zhong Lanling, Pan Hexun and Niu Dongliang who were supposed to take care of her in the Ding Struggle, and even saw names like Xing Wu.

But…

Still no Zhang Tang.

She couldn’t help but direct her gaze toward her diagonal front.

Zhang Tang’s position.

The other still wore that simple official robe and black boots, seeming completely unaware of everything around him. Only the faint glow of the Ding Ring could remind everyone that he hadn’t finished answering.

And to Zhang Tang’s left, Ghost King clan’s Brother Lihan had long been standing.

Not to mention Chen Tingyan on Jian Chou’s right.

Originally, the test answer sheet had been handed to her by Zhang Tang on behalf of the Eight Direction Yama Hall.

Jian Chou didn’t believe that this sinister and cunning power-holding cruel official would be gentlemanly enough not to look at a single word. She naturally also didn’t believe that the Court Commandant Zhang who had nearly destroyed half the court’s important officials would be ignorant enough to take so long to finish answering these test questions.

“What a cunning fellow…”

At this moment, the second round of the Ding Struggle was almost over, and Chen Tingyan had successfully answered, so he wasn’t sitting in his position anymore but had walked to Jian Chou’s side.

Seeing Jian Chou glance at Zhang Tang, he immediately made a sour, sarcastic remark and added: “Do you believe it?”

No need to specify what exactly to believe or not—Jian Chou knew anyway.

Jian Chou did indeed turn to look at him, but didn’t give any answer. Instead, she revealed an easygoing smile and ambiguously said: “Perhaps our Lord Zhang is actually an ignorant fellow inside?”

“Tch…”

Chen Tingyan immediately gave a scoffing laugh, clearly hearing that Jian Chou was playing dumb.

The plaza below was still boiling.

The platform above remained quiet.

They waited for quite a while longer. When it was almost over, the golden light representing Zhang Tang finally slowly bloomed among the frequently lighting mass of golden lights around.

Zhang Tang’s deadpan face was also finally forged by the nebulae on the scroll.

“Lord Qin Guang’s Palace, Zhang Tang.”

Eight seal characters fell.

Zhang Tang finally finished answering, taking three and a half quarters.

Definitely not near the front, but not last either—right in the middle, generally very difficult to attract attention.

The light on the Ding Ring dimmed.

He slowly opened his eyes. As if sensing the burning gazes from behind, Zhang Tang turned to look. His bland, tasteless eyes met Jian Chou’s appraising gaze, then touched Chen Tingyan’s eyes full of mockery.

Then, as if he had seen nothing, he put both hands in his sleeves and turned his head back like nothing had happened.

At this moment, Jian Chou suddenly felt an extremely indescribable sense of being blocked.

In the same written test, with someone who surpassed Cui Jue appearing with one quarter hour answers, who would pay attention to a Zhang Tang who was just stuck in the middle, neither up nor down?

She had originally thought this person’s methods were fierce and would be someone who acted without leaving room for others, sharp and exposed.

Who would have thought he was actually an old fox who knew how to hide his talents and bide his time!

She was indeed the tournament’s gimmick, from Lord Qin Guang’s Palace.

But Lord Qin Guang’s Palace hadn’t only promoted her this year—there was also Zhang Tang who had previously received much attention.

With her as such a gimmick, as long as Zhang Tang didn’t stick his head out, the attention he received would naturally be relatively reduced…

Thinking of this, Jian Chou couldn’t help but sigh in her heart: Why did she have a strange feeling, as if she had been schemed against?

“Clang!”

Another sound like a bronze bell rang out.

Cloud-like colored light flew from the Ding Struggle Golden Order, and upon reaching the platform, it instantly shattered the array. Thus, the terrible waves of sound from outside instantly engulfed everyone on the platform, including Zhou Qingyu, the tower master of the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower.

“Cheating! Cheating!”

“The Eight Direction Yama Hall is shameless! Actually cheating!”

“But this year’s Ding Struggle is too scary, right? That Zhong Lanling also only took two quarters—aren’t they all cheating?”

“Two quarters might not be, but one quarter is definitely cheating!”

“I bet on Zhong Lanling claiming the Ding Yuan. That female cultivator called Jian Chou is definitely cheating!”

“Cheating!”

“Cheating!”

…

If the previous array isolation made everyone’s feelings less intense, then now that the second round written test had been declared over and the surrounding voices crashed in like madness, the impact on everyone could be imagined.

Chen Tingyan beside Jian Chou immediately changed expression.

Even Zhou Qingyu, who was hosting the written test in front, couldn’t help but gasp at this massive questioning and be horrified. He knew about the matter between Jian Chou and the Eight Direction Yama Hall, as he was also a link in the interest chain.

But he hadn’t expected this “gimmick” would be done so exaggerated.

How could the Eight Direction Yama Hall do something so stupid?

A slight cold light flashed in Zhou Qingyu’s eyes. He turned to look at Jian Chou and saw her face completely composed, couldn’t help but doubt himself.

Seeing her not panicked at all, it didn’t seem like her own unauthorized decision.

“Quiet! All quiet!”

Couldn’t figure it out—better to communicate directly with the Eight Direction Yama Hall later.

For now, stabilizing the situation was best.

Zhou Qingyu directly projected his voice, the words “quiet” rolling like thunder, spreading outward from him as the center.

The pressure of a great cultivator instantly enveloped the entire scene!

Which cultivator in the plaza could withstand such intimidation?

In almost a blink of an eye, the previously terrible waves of sound disappeared completely. Everyone in the field was pale-faced, some even trembling, nearly scared into kneeling.

Only now did they hazily remember: who exactly they were questioning, and what kind of existence the Eight Direction Yama Hall was in the Extreme Domain…

Instantly quiet.

Zhou Qingyu’s heart finally calmed slightly. He swept around in a circle and declared loudly: “The Extreme Domain Ding Struggle has always been fair and strict, witnessed by all. The Eight Direction Yama Hall absolutely shows no favoritism. If you have doubts, you might as well wait and see.”

No one dared speak.

Zhou Qingyu satisfiedly waved his sleeves and announced: “This tournament’s Ding Struggle written test ends here! A total of eighty-six people from the seventy-two cities have entered the third round, of which our City of Wrongful Death accounts for eighteen!”

“Now, please move to the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower to observe the third round rules and rest briefly.”

“The third round, Eighteen Floors of Hell, will open at midnight tonight!”

“Rumble…”

“Clap clap clap…”

Around them, loud applause immediately erupted.

The previously subdued people immediately became jubilant again: because regardless of whether Jian Chou cheated or not, the third round of the Ding Struggle would open as scheduled! This time, the unprecedented Eighteen Floors of Hell would open as the battlefield!

In the midst of boiling excitement, Jian Chou could no longer hear other sounds.

She only saw the three gray-robed elders who had previously verified the Ding Rings walking up to lead the way, parting the crowd and leading them straight into the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower.

When turning and looking up at that tall building, she immediately saw two figures at the heights.

One was Cui Jue whom she recognized, the other…

Was a woman wearing deep white gold-woven ceremonial robes.

She was gazing down at her from the heights, her face and features like dispersing white clouds, impossible to discern clearly.

Even Jian Chou could barely sense the other’s presence…

This was definitely a great cultivator, at least several realms higher than Cui Jue.

She felt an inexplicable sense of palpitation.

Someone like Immortal Wuzhong could easily see through her secrets.

At this moment about to enter the final round of the Ding Struggle, she didn’t want to be seen through and fall short of success.

Her gaze revealed some doubt, but quickly returned to composure.

Jian Chou naturally lowered her eyes and followed Chen Tingyan beside her into the spacious doors of the Eighteen Floors Underground Tower—

Tonight at midnight, a feast of slaughter.