Talisman Emperor

When he heard this voice, Chen Xi's tightly knit brows eased up while his expression became calm once more, and he didn't hesitate to turn around and leave the Dao Engraved Battlefield.

He'd already come to a complete understanding that it was the Dao Institute's Dean that had rescued Xue Xiao'zi.

In Chen Xi's opinion, perhaps the voice of the Dao Institute's Dean had answered a question in his heart, but to the cultivators of the outside world, it was like a thunderclap that caused them to instantly erupt into an uproar.

They were filled with shock, wonder, surprise, fear, and disbelief.

These various emotions were like a storm that had been suppressed for a long time, and it swiftly swept through the hearts of every single cultivator, causing them to be unable to refrain from exclaiming with surprise any longer.

This expanse of the heavens and the earth was deathly silent no more. It seethed with excitement while all sorts of discussions rose and fell like waves that covered the heavens and the earth.

"He lost!"

"Xue Xiao'zi was actually defeated with a single move!"

"What exactly happened just now? Why would such a strange scene appear?"

"My God! This battle actually made the Dao Institute's Dean step forward personally! It's simply inconceivable!

"A single move? Xue Xiao'zi wasn't even able to resist a single move. If I'm not wrong, then if the Dao Institute's Dean hadn't rescued him earlier, Xue Xiao'zi would have perished a long time ago. How could he have possibly resisted it?"

At this moment, even the entire Ten Direction City had fallen into an unprecedented and mighty uproar.

This battle was too shocking and astonishing.

Earlier, most cultivators felt that Chen Xi was simply making irresponsible remarks when he spoke about defeating Xue Xiao'zi with a single move. They felt it was extremely absurd.

Coupled with the terrifying imposing aura that Xue Xiao'zi had revealed as soon as the battle began and the Voidslaughter Cross that was filled with the might to slaughter the world, it caused all of them to be even more confident that Chen Xi would be utterly unable to defeat Xue Xiao'zi with a single move.

But who would've imagined that Chen Xi had actually accomplished it!

It was even to the extent that Xue Xiao'zi wasn't even able to resist a single move of his before being eliminated!

Thus, the spectators in the surroundings seethed with excitement and had burst into a mighty uproar. Moreover, it was so shocking that it far surpassed the previous battles.

…

At this moment, the hearts of Leng Xinghun, Donghuang Yinxuan, Kong Youran, Yea Chen, and the others couldn't calm down.

Xue Xiao'zi had lost, this was a fact now.

Compared to that, they paid more attention to how Chen Xi had defeated Xue Xiao'zi instead!

The 3rd level of the Sword Emperor Realm is probably unable to bring forth such might. Perhaps the key to everything is the inheritance in the Sword Dao that he utilized? Leng Xinghun pondered silently. He didn't have the time to feel pity for Xue Xiao'zi because the sword strike Chen Xi executed earlier had caused him to feel a form of extremely heavy pressure.

If I were to be the one facing that sword strike from Chen Xi. Even though I would be able to block it, it's impossible to be certain that he doesn't possess any other sword moves…. At the same time, Donghuang Yinxuan and the others were contemplating the same problem. They seemed to have taken Chen Xi to be their imaginary enemy, and they were comparing and analyzing their respective strengths and weaknesses.

The more they thought about it, the more solemn and serious their expressions became, and they didn't dare continue underestimating Chen Xi at all. On the contrary, they'd unconsciously taken Chen Xi to be a formidable enemy that they had to approach with care!

…

Convergence Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Lei Fu was right just now. This battle really is a pity. That little fellow from your Sovereign Sect wasn't even able to resist a single move. How surprising." Wen Ting spoke indifferently. Even if her expression was calm to the extreme at this moment, but it was impossible to conceal the happiness in her heart.

Even she'd been extremely shocked by Chen Xi's display from before.

Lei Fu's expression instantly turned gloomy to the extreme when he heard this, and he puckered his lips and kept silent. Xue Xiao'zi's defeat had caused him to be surprised and bewildered as well. Now, when he heard Wen Ting's ridicule, how could he possibly have the mood to enter into a verbal argument with her?

…

"He won! Chen Xi won!" Shentu Yanran, Le Wuhen, Yuqiu Jing, Zhuanyu Shui, and the others spoke with delight, and they were unable to restrain the excitement in their hearts.

At the spectating area, Imperial Monarch Zhen Wu muttered. "The Banisher's reputation isn't sullied in his hand!"

At this moment, Chen Xi seemed to have become the center of attention, and it caused his power and influence to grow stronger and shine brilliantly like the sun in the midday sky!

On the other hand, Xue Xiao'zi who'd been defeated still had a ghastly pale countenance as he stood there by himself with a frustrated and dejected expression.

At this moment, the surroundings were extremely bustling, yet it seemed like the world had forgotten about him.

…

Huai Kong'zi shook his head and recovered from his slightly shocked thoughts.

He was extremely shocked by Chen Xi's display as well. However, he was even more surprised that the Dean himself had acted during the battle just now!

Obviously, the Dean had discerned that Xue Xiao'zi was unable to resist that attack. But as the person in charge of the Dao Discussion, he, Huai Kong'zi, was unable to accomplish that in time. So, it caused him to be unable to help but feel slightly ashamed and uneasy.

However, this clearly showed how extraordinary Chen Xi's attack was. Because it even caused an Imperial Monarch like Huai Kong'zi to be unable to react in time.

Huff~

Huai Kong'zi let out a long breath of air, and then he recovered his calm.

The seven battles during the 2nd level had come to an end at this moment, and the names of the seven disciples that were victorious during this round was respectively Leng Xinghun, Donghuang Yinxuan, Kong Youran, Yea Chen, Wang Zhong, Yu Jiuhui, and Chen Xi.

The Dao Institute had two disciples amongst them, and it clearly occupied a great advantage to become the winner of the 3rd level.

Of course, the Oracle Mountain occupied a slight advantage as well. Because besides Chen Xi, Gu Yan was in possession of that spot which allowed him to smoothly advance to the 3rd level.

However, this was merely the 2nd level. So, such an advantage was nothing because the true battles would only be carried in the next few levels of the Dao Discussion's second round.

The names of the disciples who'd been eliminated during the 2nd level was respectively Qin Xinhui, Shi Yu, Zhu Qianyu, Fang Chongfeng, Jia Nan, Feng Zhongze, and Xue Xiao'zi.

Amongst them, the disciples that the spectators felt the most pity towards were Shi Yu, Zhu Qianyu, and Jia Nan. Because according to the combat strengths they revealed, their strengths clearly surpassed Qin Xinhui, Fang Chongfeng, Feng Zhongze, and the others.

However, it couldn't be helped because their opponents were too formidable.

On the other hand, the disciple that lost the most miserably in this round of battles was definitely Xue Xiao'zi. He hadn't even been able to resist a single strike before he was eliminated, and this had exceeded the expectations of everyone.

It was also this battle that allowed Chen Xi to cut a striking figure that far surpassed the others, causing him to become the most striking person amongst them all.

But no matter what, all of this had come to an end now, and the next round of battles was about to begin. So, it was undoubtedly like a completely new beginning for Chen Xi and the others who'd smoothly advanced into the 3rd level.

…

"Now, allow me to announce the start of the 3rd level!

"The battles in this round will be unlike the previous battles, and it'll be done in an enclosed battlefield. The outside world will be able to watch the battles, but the participants of the Dao Discussion would be unable to observe the battles of the others.

"Just like before, your opponents will be decided by way of drawing lots. In the end, four will advance from amongst the eight of you and will participate in the next round of battles."

Huai Kong'zi spoke in a deep voice and announced everything related to the 3rd level. His voice reverberated through the heavens and the earth, and it drew the attention of all.

Merely based on the rules alone, it really did seem unusual because the battles were actually being carried out in enclosed battlefields.

To put it in simpler terms, after Chen Xi and the others had chosen their respective opponents, all those that weren't involved in the battle being held at that moment would be unable to watch it.

Of course, the cultivators in the outside world were able to watch it clearly.

"Doing this is slightly strange. Could it be that they're worried the other participating disciples would notice something?"

"That's definitely the case. Every single one of them would probably utilize all their abilities and trump cards during these battles. If the other participants witnessed these battles, then it would be equivalent to losing a deterrent force during the following battles."

"Exactly. If the others think of a method to deal with their trump cards, then it wouldn't be a trump card anymore."

"I don't think it's that simple."

The spectators discussed animatedly.

Chen Xi and the other participants couldn't help but arouse a wisp of bewilderment in their hearts when they heard these rules.

However, when they thought about it carefully, if they fought according to these rules, then it would clearly be beneficial to all of them, so they could accept it.

The reason was extremely simple. Because all of them weren't willing to expose their trump cards to anyone else besides their respective enemies.

Just like the battle between Chen Xi and Xue Xiao'zi just now. The might of his sword strike had shocked everyone, and Leng Xinghun and the others had witnessed it clearly. Thus, they'd naturally made some comparisons in their hearts and thought of some strategies to deal with it, so as to avoid being taken by surprise when they encountered Chen Xi.

"Now, begin drawing lots!" Huai Kong'zi withdrew the ancient bronze lantern once more, and the flames within the lantern glistened and emanated a pure and divine aura.

Chen Xi, Leng Xinghun, Donghuang Yinxuan, Kong Youran, Yea Chen, Wang Zhong, Yu Jiuhui, and Gu Yan moved forward and selected a strand of divine flames from within the lantern, and then they swallowed it.

In next to no time, strands of divine radiance that possessed various different colors surged out from within them.

There was a total of four colors. Every pair of two disciples had the same color, and it perfectly divided them into four groups.

Chen Xi's opponent was Wang Zhong.

Leng Xinghun's opponent was Gu Yan.

Kong Youran's opponent was Yu Jiuhui.

Donghuang Yinxuan's opponent was Yea Chen!

A mighty uproar instantly erupted when the list of battles for the 3rd level was revealed, and the sounds of discussion filled the surroundings.

"That dark horse, Wang Zhong, has actually encountered Chen Xi. Do all of you think he'll be able to create another miracle and smoothly advance into the top four?"

"I never expected that the Dao Institute's number one disciple, Yea Chen, would actually encounter the Divine Institute's number one disciple, Donghuang Yinxuan. The outcome is truly difficult to foresee.

"Comparatively speaking, I feel even more anticipation towards the battle between Leng Xinghun and Gu Yan!"

"Alas, what a pity. I was originally looking forward to watching a genius like Kong Youran go against Leng Xinghun. Who would have imagined that her opponent would be Yu Jiuhui instead."

"Don't underestimate Yu Jiuhui! All those capable of ascending into the top eight are peerless figures that are capable of leading a generation!"

All the spectators were excited and filled with anticipation. Only Shi Yu was slightly depressed because he'd placed two Natural Spirit Treasures on Chen Xi, but Chen Xi's opponent wasn't be Donghuang Yinxuan….

"The first battle, Donghuang Yinxuan against Yea Chen!" In next to no time, Huai Kong'zi announced the beginning of the first battle. "As for the other six participants, they'll head to the Ancient Springtime Realm to rest and recuperate!"

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and a mysterious door opened up in space for Chen Xi and the other five participants to enter.