Volume One: The Demon God's Young Master Chapter 16: Shattering the War Automaton
Elder Six’s face instantly turned ashen as he stared in disbelief at Qi Yu in the arena. “How is this possible?”
Elder Five was equally shocked and said, “Just a year ago, he was a complete waste with no cultivation at all. How could he have reached the Entry Profound Realm in such a short time?”
After all, Su Moxuan, hailed as the genius of the Outer Sect, took more than three years to advance from the Initial Profound Realm to the Entry Profound Realm.
Even the extraordinarily gifted Saintess Liu Rouxue required a year and a half.
Elder Five looked coldly at the flustered Elder Six and sneered, “Hmph, even if he has reached the Entry Profound Realm, passing the assessment is no easy feat!”
Reaching the Entry Profound Realm was merely the baseline. To pass, one had to endure under the assault of a war automaton for twenty breaths.
Just like the disciple earlier, although he had attained the Entry Profound Realm, he only withstood for ten breaths and failed the test.
“Steward, may I begin the assessment?” Qi Yu raised his voice again, seeing that the steward was still unresponsive.
The steward was dumbfounded. He had never believed Qi Yu could reach the Entry Profound Realm. To please the two elders, he had deliberately intended to embarrass Qi Yu publicly, but unexpectedly, Qi Yu actually achieved it.
The steward glanced back at Elder Five, who narrowed his eyes and sneered coldly. The steward immediately caught the hint.
“You may proceed with the assessment.”
Qi Yu nodded slightly and slowly walked to the center of the martial arena.
The steward stood before Qi Yu and explained, “The war automaton just now was damaged and must be replaced immediately. Please wait a moment.”
Qi Yu said nothing, fully aware that Elders Five and Six were scheming against him again.
After a short while, a brand-new humanoid war automaton entered the arena. It was clearly much larger than the previous one, towering over four meters tall and wielding a massive battle axe.
“That war automaton is not just Entry Profound Realm Fifth Layer, is it?”
“From what I see, it’s at least Eighth Layer.”
“Qi Yu has offended the elders; there’s no way he’ll pass.”
The disciples below whispered among themselves.
Qi Yu stood silently, and in truth, this was fine by him. A war automaton at the Entry Profound Realm Fifth Layer posed no real challenge.
The steward grinned wickedly. “Qi Yu, if you can withstand the attacks of this war automaton for twenty breaths, you will pass the assessment!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the steward leapt down from the arena and shouted, “Begin!”
The moment the word was out, the humanoid automaton sprang into action, raising its giant axe and sweeping it horizontally toward Qi Yu!
The automaton’s movements were straightforward and brutal, the battle axe slicing through the air with thunderous force.
Qi Yu’s expression remained calm. He drew his sword and thrust forward, releasing a blade aura from the tip.
Boom!
With a tremendous sound, the sword aura was instantly shattered by the giant axe, failing to impede its advance. Qi Yu was forced to retreat several steps.
Witnessing this, the disciples below all displayed expressions that said, “Just as expected.”
Elders Five and Six even lifted the corners of their mouths in satisfaction.
Qi Yu’s sword arm tingled from the shock. The war automaton’s strength had indeed reached the Entry Profound Realm Eighth Layer, far beyond the Fifth Layer.
The automaton’s speed suddenly surged as it instantly appeared before Qi Yu, swinging its battle axe down toward his head with a sharp “swish”!
Qi Yu stood directly beneath the descending axe.
Female disciples in the audience covered their eyes in fear, seemingly already expecting Qi Yu to be bloodied on the spot.
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Eldars Five and Six were ecstatic beyond measure.
This war automaton was no mere trial automaton but a genuine weapon of war!
Unlike the previous trial automaton, which would hold back, this one would relentlessly pursue its target until death!
In other words, even if Qi Yu admitted defeat and failed the test, the automaton would not stop until it killed him!
No one present would risk their life for Qi Yu, so today, he was surely doomed!
Yet, the anticipated scene of bloodshed never came. At the very moment the axe descended, Qi Yu’s figure mysteriously vanished from where he stood!
Some disciples rubbed their eyes in disbelief, thinking they must have been mistaken.
Elder Six pounded the table in astonishment, eyes wide open. “Impossible! How can he have such agility!”
Qi Yu instantly appeared behind the automaton, the aura of the Cold Cicada Sword flaring as he slashed.
Hiss!
A silver sword aura struck the automaton’s back with overwhelming momentum, producing a tremendous sound.
Crack!
The automaton was unfazed and swiftly turned, swinging its battle axe again.
Qi Yu used his agility, leaping aside to dodge the blow and stabbed his sword into the automaton’s head.
But in the next moment, a rushing sound came as the axe swung again. Qi Yu dodged once more using his agility, causing the axe to strike the automaton’s own head.
Qi Yu’s movements were too nimble. After several exchanges, except for the initial collision, the automaton couldn’t even touch the hem of his clothes.
Twenty breaths passed quickly, but the automaton grew fiercer, showing no sign of stopping.
Even the disciples below sensed something was wrong.
“That can’t be right. It’s been over thirty breaths! Why hasn’t the automaton stopped?”
“And it looks like it intends to kill Qi Yu!”
“Alas, too bad. He offended the two elders publicly after all.”
The sound of thunderous axe strikes shook the entire arena. The solid ground was already badly damaged.
Qi Yu dodged to the side, realizing this automaton was not designed for trials; it would only cease once completely destroyed.
Though devoid of a cultivator’s mind, the automaton was tireless. Qi Yu did not want to reveal his full strength in this test. Using his agility, he continuously evaded attacks, waiting for an opening.
But during one evasion, he was cornered. The automaton swung its axe down. With no escape, Qi Yu gritted his teeth and braced for impact.
The Cold Cicada Sword, infused with dense spiritual energy, blazed with snowy white light at its tip as it stabbed against the axe.
Boom!
Golden light shattered; the automaton’s battle axe cracked like a spider’s web!
This automaton was made entirely of refined steel, harder than the training swords of ordinary disciples!
Recoiling several steps, the automaton faltered. Qi Yu ceased dodging and advanced, swinging his sword.
Hiss!
His sword tip once again gathered snowy white sword light as he slashed multiple sword auras into the automaton’s chest.
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of explosions echoed through the arena. A massive gash was torn open in the automaton’s chest, forcing it to stagger back several yards.
Crack.
Its movements slowed, yet it still raised the battle axe, swinging at Qi Yu.
Qi Yu showed no fear. Even though the automaton’s realm surpassed his by five layers, he no longer retreated.
At this moment, only one word filled his heart:
Fight!
Relentlessly forward, without fear!
Reciting the Godslayer Sword Technique silently, Qi Yu faced the automaton and unleashed a slash.
Clang!
The Cold Cicada Sword sang mournfully. Golden light flickered at its tip as it completely severed one of the automaton’s legs.
Crash!
The automaton, unable to stand, collapsed to the ground.
Clang!
The Godslayer Sword Technique’s second strike!
Swish!
A flash of cold light.
The automaton’s head flew high into the air!
Third strike!
Rattle!
The entire automaton shattered completely, scattering refined steel fragments across the ground. A fist-sized, crystal-clear spirit stone rolled to Qi Yu’s feet.
Qi Yu exhaled deeply. The golden glow atop the Cold Cicada Sword’s tip gradually faded. He seemed to have found his true sword stance.
He immediately sat cross-legged, concealing the spirit stone on his person, and slowly closed his eyes.
Soon, his entire body was enveloped in a golden light.
The disciples below were dumbfounded. Before all eyes, he had actually stolen the spirit stone...
No, more importantly, Qi Yu had shattered the war automaton!
Was this still the same so-called waste they had once looked down upon?
Elder Five slammed his wooden table, rising to his feet, his pupils trembling uncontrollably.
No one else knew, but he was the most aware: this automaton’s true strength was not Entry Profound Realm Eighth Layer but the Ninth Layer—nearly perfect Ninth Layer!
Elder Six’s face darkened. Even Su Moxuan would never be able to defeat such a war automaton. So this meant Qi Yu’s strength surpassed Su Moxuan’s!
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