I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 174 - 172: Unexpected Candidate

The disciples from the other halls stared at each other, dumbfounded, as they watched the triumphant Thunderlight Hall. This was just too ridiculous. It was like the fatty had become a completely different person.

The disciples from Hundred Herbs Hall and Beast Hall knew this feeling all too well. They had also looked down on Thunderlight Hall at first, only for Thunderlight Hall to casually stroll to victory.

Fire Cloud Hall needed to be careful now.

But in truth, this was only the first match. Song Zhong was naturally in a foul mood. He had placed great importance on this match, but a loss was a loss. He had even run into Five Elements Magic; he had no choice but to accept defeat.

All eyes were now on Song Zhong, waiting to see his next move. In this situation, Yang Ying and Mingren naturally stood aside. Frankly, they wanted to see what Wang Meng would do, but their main goal was to observe Fire Cloud Hall. In every Sub-Hall competition, Fire Cloud Hall would unveil some highly practical Magical Artifacts. It seemed the secret weapon they’d been preparing for this major battle was none other than this Array Talisman Bow.

It was certainly astonishing, but the surprise from Thunderlight Hall was even greater.

Qiao Qian and Jia Shidao, however, felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. ’Damn it,’ they thought, ’why should we be the only ones with such bad luck? We’ve had to watch Song Zhong act all smug, but now he finally knows how it feels.’

’Weren’t you gunning for a 3-0 sweep?’

’You’d better watch out!’

Song Zhong could feel the various gazes on him, especially those from his rivals. The pressure was immense.

"Senior, let me take the next match. I refuse to believe anyone else knows the Earth Escape Skill!" Fang Lufei declared.

’Today is the day the Array Talisman Bow makes its name in the Holy Hall! I can’t let some little fatty ruin it. I must fight!’

Song Zhong nodded. Shangguan Wuyue and Guu Chenglin weren’t Technique Cultivators; they were being saved for the match against Hengshan Hall. In today’s setting, if the Array Talisman Bow didn’t dominate, it wouldn’t achieve its maximum impact, and that would reflect poorly on them in the eyes of the Ancestral Masters.

No matter how good your skills are, they’re useless if you can’t win.

"Go!"

"Yes!"

Fang Lufei leaped into the arena. "I am disciple Fang Lufei! Which senior brother or sister from Thunderlight Hall will grace me with a match?"

Fang Lufei had watched the previous match and understood Thunderlight Hall’s situation clearly. As long as Wang Meng didn’t fight, none of the others were a match for him. ’And even if Wang Meng did enter the ring, he isn’t necessarily a match for me either. A battle is decided by comprehensive strength. The Array Talisman Bow combined with the Hanging Talisman Compass is an invincible combination.’

Zhou Qian and Suo Ming were definitely out of commission. Ma Tian’Er and Liuu Mei... in their current state, they would surely lose if they went up.

Wang Meng, however, didn’t hesitate. "Little Jing, did you have any breakthroughs?"

Hu Jing bit her lip. "A tiny one, but it’s still a bit fuzzy."

"Good. Then I’ll take this round. You watch closely. The next match is yours."

Wang Meng smiled.

"But... is that okay?" Hu Jing was a little worried. She might have a slim chance if she went all out against Fang Lufei, but to face Song Zhong...

He gently patted Hu Jing’s shoulder. "If even the fatty could pull it off, what’s there to worry about?"

"Brother Meng, I object! That’s discrimination! Of course, compared to Jingjing, I admit I’m just a tiny bit lacking."

Even though he was with Liuu Mei now, Zhang Xiaojiang still addressed Hu Jing the same way. There was no need to change how he spoke to a friend he’d known since their time in the mortal realm, all the way to this Small Thousand World.

Though a girl, Hu Jing was decisive and resolute. She simply gave a firm nod.

Wang Meng stood up and walked into the center of the arena. The entire Fire Cloud Hall contingent fell silent. Those who had witnessed his domineering power before felt an almost suffocating pressure.

Fang Lufei visibly froze. ’...How could it be him...’

A wave of whispers erupted from the crowd. Wang Meng was without a doubt the strongest member of Thunderlight Hall. Why would he fight Fang Lufei? What would they do about Song Zhong?

’I really don’t know what he’s thinking.’

"Damn it, why aren’t we that lucky!" Jia Shidao and Qiao Qian couldn’t help but curse under their breath. That bastard Song Zhong was really getting off easy.

Mingren and Yang Ying also exchanged a glance, unable to discern Wang Meng’s intentions.

Suddenly, a group of Thunderlight Hall disciples, led by Chen Haiguan and He Ziyuan, tilted their heads back and roared to the heavens:

WANG MENG—UNRIVALED!~~~~~

The roar shook the heavens, an eruption of sheer confidence. As long as Wang Meng stood there, nothing was impossible.

The Thunderlight Hall disciples were now verging on blind faith. If Wang Meng was going up now, he surely had some brilliant strategy in mind.

"Brother Fang, please," Wang Meng said.

Fang Lufei froze for a second before snapping back to reality. He was in the middle of the grand competition; how could he let himself get distracted?

’So what if it’s Wang Meng? You can’t dodge an Array Technique with a mere Body Technique, and besides, I have the Array Talisman Bow!’

His Elemental Power surged forth. Facing Wang Meng, especially after witnessing his incredible power firsthand, Fang Lufei didn’t dare be the slightest bit careless. His Nineteenth-Layer Elemental Power was stable and dense as he instantly threw up a Defense Talisman Formation.

At the same time, he held the Array Talisman Bow in his left hand and the Hanging Talisman Compass in his right. Seeing no reaction from Wang Meng, he immediately activated a Mixed Element Talisman Formation.

The Mixed Element Talisman Formation was a very advanced Talisman Array capable of resisting various crowd control effects. It was a hybrid defensive array, considered the best defense for a Technique Cultivator around the Twentieth Layer. In terms of pure skill as a Technique Cultivator, Fang Lufei was a cut above Yao Yuan.

’But still... my opponent hasn’t even moved. Is it really necessary to be on such high alert?’

Even the Fire Cloud Hall disciples could see Fang Lufei’s tension. ’Is Wang Meng really that terrifying?’

With the Mixed Element Talisman Formation complementing his Defense Talisman Formation, Fang Lufei’s nerves settled slightly. ’I can’t give Wang Meng any opening to use his skills. He’s good against Sword Cultivators because he is one, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have an easy time against a Technique Cultivator.’

’Among all the types of Cultivators, Technique Cultivators may seem to have the weakest attacks, but in reality, they are the most resilient. Sword Cultivators might be the flashiest, but flashy doesn’t always mean long-lasting.’

Fang Lufei kept psyching himself up. ’There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

The Hanging Talisman Compass appeared in his hand, and he released his Elemental Power. Although their levels were similar, the fluctuations of Fang Lufei’s Elemental Power were exceptionally robust—a sign that he had plenty of power in reserve.

Every disciple qualified to participate in the grand competition had an Elemental Power around the Eighteenth or Nineteenth Layer. However, the amount of time one had spent at this level determined the endurance and stability of their Elemental Power. Unless one broke through to the Twenty Layers, a difference of one or two Elemental Levels wasn’t particularly significant. What truly mattered was one’s understanding of Magic and their overall stamina.

Yao Yuan was a newly-emerged genius. His specialty was creation, particularly the research and development of Magical Artifacts. He wasn’t a pure combatant, but his inventions could grant others enormous boosts in power, which was the source of Song Zhong’s confidence.

’In a few more years, I’ll be aiming for the position of Elder myself. But even among Elders, there are huge differences in authority. I don’t need a nominal title like the one Wang Meng has. I want to be a true Elder, one with real power. And all of that comes from Zhao Tianlong. Ancestor Master Zhao appreciates capable disciples, and ability is demonstrated through results. Sweet-talking is useless if you can’t deliver.’

Fire Cloud Hall had its own seniority-based limitations; it was, after all, a Sub-Hall focused primarily on providing resources and conducting research. But if they could advance a step or two in the rankings, it would have a massive impact on his future.

Yao Yuan’s arrival had made all of this possible for him. The newly bandaged Yao Yuan wore a look of guilt; he clearly hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

Song Zhong patted Yao Yuan’s shoulder. "Consider this a valuable experience. We’ll get back what you lost for you!"

Yao Yuan was grateful, and his heart settled a little as he gazed at the battlefield. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)