Chapter 579: Zhang Xuan in a Daze

Initially just testing it out, he hadn't expected it to actually work. Eyes bright with excitement, Zhang Xuan opened the book.

"Offspring of an extraterrestrial alien lifeform and a spirit beast, born in the Forgotten Yuan Mountains of the Hongfeng Empire, strength at the Unity Realm of the Mortal Transcending Fifth Layer... Weakness: ..."

"So it's not a pure alien race, but... the offspring of a spirit beast?"

Zhang Xuan blinked.

This creature was so powerful that its mere aura made it difficult for even a Four-Star master teacher to advance... and it was just a hybrid. How formidable would a pureblood be?

Moreover, mating with a spirit beast to produce offspring... the alien race's tastes were too heavy!

Recalling the bloated, obese bodies of spirit beasts and coupling that with this creature... he shuddered involuntarily.

"But, despite the peculiar taste, I have to admit, this creature is indeed formidable!"

According to the book's annotations, this creature was extremely powerful in both physical strength and soul. At the same level of combat strength, it was in no way inferior to a master teacher, and even master teachers without special training couldn't get close to it.

No wonder the Master Teacher Hall was so wary of this thing, not daring to relax even now. Its life level was fundamentally different from that of humans.

"My Heaven's Path true qi isn't afraid of the pressure. In a while, I just need to get within five meters and stay for a bit!"

He had just collapsed the Ghost Domain Illusory City and was in the spotlight. Although the pressure in this level had no effect on him, one should still keep a low profile.

After all, it was just a selection competition. Passing the assessment was enough; there was no ranking, so there was no need to be too ostentatious.

With this thought, he made a decision inwardly and looked up at the people around him.

While reading, he hadn't advanced, so he had fallen to the back. Many people were already approaching the large creature not far away, within five meters.

Although their expressions showed they were struggling, being able to get this close also demonstrated their courage and determination.

No wonder they had been selected by the major powers. These master teachers indeed possessed extraordinary temperament and talent.

"This Luo Xuan is indeed at the front..."

The one at the very front was none other than Luo Xuan of Flowing Cloud Sect. This fellow was touted as the most likely champion of this competition, and it seemed quite possible.

From a distance, one foot had already stepped into the five-meter range, so he had passed.

As for that acquaintance Song Chao, he was only a few steps behind, neither ahead nor behind. Ruohuan Gongzi, however, surprised him by being among the foremost, ranking in the top few.

"Should I go now or wait? Forget it, no rush. Let me finish reading this creature's weaknesses first!"

Seeing that no one had yet entered within five meters, Zhang Xuan wasn't in a hurry. He continued flipping through the book and reading on.

There were many weaknesses about this creature; he hadn't finished reading them. Since he didn't want to be too conspicuous, it was better to wait quietly until most people had reached five meters before going over.

...

Below the stage.

"Ruohuan is impressive! I didn't expect him to make a splash right from the start!" Elder Su stroked his beard.

"Indeed. The alien race is terrifying. Even if I went up, I might not achieve what he has!" Master Ling sighed.

This was their first time seeing an alien race member. Even sitting below the stage, they could feel the fierce killing aura, so the pressure on stage was unimaginable.

"It seems what I said to him was useful!" Hall Master Kang smiled slightly upon hearing his two old friends' praise.

"Oh? What did you say to him that motivated him so much that he rushed to the front ranks?" Master Su and Master Ling were curious.

What words could cause such a big change in a person?

Although Ruohuan Gongzi had improved greatly recently, he was still slightly inferior to the super geniuses of other sects.

"I said, go up and unleash your strength without worry. In this world, is there anything more terrifying than Master Zhang? If you're not afraid of him, what else is there to fear?" Hall Master Kang stroked his beard.

"Ahem..."

Master Su and Master Ling both swayed, utterly speechless.

But upon careful thought, although these words were unpleasant, they were indeed a maxim.

A person who could collapse the Ghost Domain Illusory City in two or three minutes was already beyond abnormal. If one wasn't afraid of him, then there was nothing to fear from other so-called geniuses.

However... using 'not afraid of Master Zhang' to counter the fear of the alien race... didn't that feel a bit odd?

"By the way, why hasn't Master Zhang moved? Could it be that he can't withstand the pressure?"

After being speechless, Master Su couldn't help frowning.

Master Zhang had walked very fast at first, but he had stopped for a few minutes now and hadn't moved. Could it be that he couldn't withstand the pressure?

"Yes, even if he's monstrous in other areas, he's still too young. I'm afraid that seeing the alien race for the first time might be too frightening..." Master Ling also nodded.

"I don't know what's going on either. I've had the same thought as you, but what I'm thinking more is..."

Hall Master Kang shook his head: "Don't cause any... more trouble!"

"Trouble? That shouldn't happen. This alien race is so powerful that neither you nor I are a match for it. He's only at Mortal Transcending Third Layer... And the assessment is just to take a few steps forward. It's hard to cause trouble!"

Master Su shook his head: "You can rest assured!"

"I hope so..."

Hall Master Kang nodded, about to speak, when he suddenly froze and pointed forward: "Oh no, look!"

Master Su, Master Ling, and the others, hearing the urgency in his tone, quickly looked and their pupils involuntarily contracted.

As Luo Xuan and the others stepped within a five-meter range, the alien clansman, who had kept his eyes tightly shut, opened them at some unknown moment. His blood-red eyeballs emitted an eerie light.

"Using me to steel your nerves—you're asking for death!"

With a roar, his tall frame suddenly shook, and then everyone felt a violent gale sweep over them, as if it would crush them completely.

His voice was like thunder, shaking their souls.

"Ah..."

The several renowned masters at the front bore the brunt, crying out in pain as their bodies went limp. They sat down on the ground in terror, faces pale.

Luo Xuan did not escape either; his body stiffened as if his soul had left him.

"Vile lives, daring to capture me, to use me—I'll devour every last one of you!"

He roared again, his scarlet lips parting to reveal rows of sharp teeth, exuding a maddened aura, as if anyone who approached would be instantly torn to shreds.

"Ah... I quit..."

Before the roar had even ended, one renowned master, his face pale, cried out and fled outward.

A foul stench and strange liquid were left on the ground.

Once one fled, a second and third soon followed.

Seeing that dignified four-star renowned masters and super geniuses were so frightened they wet themselves, the audience below fell silent. Though they found it disgraceful, no one thought them cowardly.

Because... if it were them, they surely wouldn't have performed any better.

Even when the alien clansman was silent, everyone was too scared to approach. Now that he was roaring and looked ready to strike at any moment, it would be strange if anyone could hold their ground.

"And such trash lives rule the continent? No wonder they're weak!"

Seeing someone flee, the renowned masters on stage taking the exam were sprawled on the ground. The alien clansman sneered, snorted, and was about to drive them all away in one go when he noticed a young man standing calmly not far away, seemingly...

In a daze!

In a daze?

Weren't you here to steel your nerves? What's with the daze?

And I've been roaring and shouting, unleashing my killing intent to the limit, exerting pressure that even half-step five-star renowned masters find hard to withstand—yet you, a little fellow, don't even care?

His face dark, the alien clansman raised an eyebrow, immediately focused all his aura on the young man, turned his head toward this dazed fellow, and roared.

"Little fellow, you've got some nerve, huh? Believe me, I'll kill you right now..."

Whoosh!

His voice swept through like a gale, startling a four-star renowned master in the audience so much that he fell from his seat, rolled his eyes, and fainted.

The many four-star renowned masters who had already fallen earlier hugged their heads, not daring to breathe.

But...

The young man he had specifically targeted still stood quietly in place, absorbed in... a daze!

As if he hadn't even noticed the targeted attack!

"I'll kill you!"

The proud alien clansman, ignored by a mere renowned master, was thoroughly enraged.

When Master Hong had captured him back then, it had cost a great deal—he had mobilized over seventy renowned masters to succeed.

In that battle, he had personally torn apart at least twenty and severely injured over thirty, his killing intent soaring to the heavens, even making five-star Master Hong wary. Yet this little fellow at early four-star didn't even acknowledge him...

Too much!

Boom!

An even greater surge of aura rushed over. Feeling this aura, even Master Hong, not far away, turned pale, but the young man facing him remained... in a daze.

As if dazing was all he should do, and pressure or killing intent were mere floating clouds.

"This... I knew Master Zhang would stir things up, but I didn't expect... it's true!"

Hall Master Kang, Master Su, and the others forced their pale faces to stay still, trembling incessantly.

This young man was naturally Zhang Xuan.

They had long thought he might cause some trouble, but they hadn't expected he actually would.

The other party was an alien clansman; even they found it hard to withstand his killing intent. Now he was going all out against you... At least give a reaction, as a sign of respect for your opponent. Standing there in a daze, not moving a muscle—what exactly are you trying to do?

"Could it be... Master Zhang was scared unconscious from the start?"

"Scared unconscious? Can you stand while unconscious? I saw him lift his head just now..."

"If not unconscious, then what? Look, that alien clansman is overexerting himself, about to spit blood, yet there's no reaction at all?"

"This... I don't know either!"

Not only did they notice the problem, but many renowned masters in the audience and spectators in the square also saw it, staring wide-eyed at each other, their faces full of expressions as if they'd seen a ghost.

This alien clansman, using special soul intimidation, had suppressed all the participants, leaving them sprawled on the ground, not daring to speak.

And now, he was shouting, roaring, baring his teeth, and clawing at Master Zhang... yet the latter showed no reaction at all...

Bro, are you unafraid, or have you already kicked the bucket?