I tricked you into thinking you had the makings of an emperor, but you actually did it?

The butterfly looked around and found that the center point was an open area with nowhere to hide.

The visitors spotted them immediately.

A man and a woman; the man was handsome and talented, and the woman was exquisitely beautiful.

Ni Die breathed a sigh of relief, recognizing them as Fang Qingxue and Gu Qing from Tongtian Peak.

Shen Ming and Zhang Haoran are disciples of Tongtian Peak, so they have no reason to make a move.

"I didn't expect him to arrive before us."

Gu Qing still wore a nonchalant smile, but her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw Shen Ming.

"How did you get here? Why are you guarding him?" Fang Qingxue asked more seriously, her face filled with suspicion.

Shen Ming broke through his cultivation, with Ni Die watching over him from the side; it all seemed very strange.

There are only nine spots for true disciples; it's not like you can just be last in line.

One less person means one less competitor.

Ni Die briefly explained that Shen Ming had brought her here.

"I didn't expect our junior brother to be such a chivalrous person, and quite charming at that. You didn't take the opportunity to make a move," Gu Qing teased.

“He can’t break through to the next level anytime soon, why don’t you take him and teleport him to Xuan Tian Square?” Fang Qingxue said.

The implication was that the two should give up.

In her and Gu Qing's opinion, Ni Die was not qualified to compete for the nine spots.

Needless to say, Shen Ming is still in the late stage of a breakthrough, and even last-minute cramming wouldn't be enough to achieve this.

“Senior Brother Zhang Haoran has already gone to find a spiritual item for Senior Brother Shen,” Ni Die said.

Fang Qingxue and Gu Qing exchanged a glance, and the latter clapped.

“This is the funniest joke I’ve heard all year,” Gu Qing said.

It's absurd that someone like Zhang Haoran would go and search for spiritual objects for Shen Ming.

Reverse Butterfly disliked this self-righteous guy who always thought he was smarter than others.

"Don't make excuses. Shen Ming is our junior brother. We won't do anything," Fang Qingxue said.

“However, once everyone else gathers here, things could get complicated,” Gu Qing said.

Time passed second by second, and the dark clouds continued to encroach on the space available for activities on the Heavenly Demon Battlefield.

As more and more disciples gathered at the center, none of them rushed to make a move. Instead, they formed their own spiritual peaks and remained fully alert.

Not counting Shen Ming and Ni Die, there were a total of eighteen people.

"Seven more people."

"Can't you count? There are clearly nine extra people."

"How are we supposed to fight this? A chaotic free-for-all?!"

"We didn't see a single brute from Forging God Peak. Were they completely wiped out?"

Everyone was saying something, creating a chaotic scene like a vegetable market.

Their challenge was determining the final nine players.

Taking direct action would definitely result in a chaotic battle.

"Quiet down! I have something to say!"

A majestic male disciple stepped forward; he was broad-shouldered, burly, and covered in thick hair.

He looks to be in his thirties, but he's actually under twenty.

Xiong Yang, a disciple of Qianjue Peak, is one of the best among the inner disciples.

"Disciples at the ninth level of the Profound Gate, step forward!" Xiong Yang announced.

Immediately, four disciples stepped forward, including Fang Qingxue.

"Including myself, there are five of us. We will each choose one junior brother or sister, and the others will voluntarily give up," Xiong Yang said.

The others looked at their senior brothers and sisters with longing in their eyes.

Without hesitation, Fang Qingxue gave a look, and Gu Qing came to her side with a smile.

The other four each have three or four junior brothers and sisters following them, making it difficult to choose.

They didn't want to be the bad guys, so they let their junior brothers and sisters make their own decisions, or through a duel.

After much effort, eight people were eliminated. They looked at each other, feeling resentful and complaining that the method was unfair.

"Why didn't you waste your breath before the selection process started? Now you're complaining because you weren't selected?" Xiong Yang roared, his voice booming and shaking the entire room.

No matter what they said, the eight people refused to leave.

During the stalemate, another figure flew out from the dark clouds.

At that speed, Fang Qingxue and Gu Qing recognized who it was at a glance.

It was Zhang Haoran, who was on his way to find the spirit object. He ignored everyone else and went straight to Shen Ming's side, holding a red fruit that looked like it was burning.

Fire Element Fruit!

Gu Qing was shocked; Zhang Haoran had actually gone to find a spiritual object for this disciple.

Who exactly is this Shen Ming?!

Zhang Haoran ignored everyone and threw the Fire Element Fruit at Shen Ming.

He learned from Lei Ze's mistake and dared not touch Shen Ming's body casually.

When the Fire Element Fruit was still a few centimeters away from Shen Ming, it was pulled back by an invisible suction force.

The Fire Essence Fruit floated in front of Shen Ming's chest, its essence being absorbed little by little.

Zhang Haoran's appearance also drew everyone's attention to this area.

"There are still three people left?! How are we going to count that?"

The eight people who weren't selected earlier are trying to stir up trouble.

"Shut up! Zhang Haoran is also a disciple of Tongtian Peak."

Xiong Yang wants Fang Qingxue to choose one of Gu Qing, Zhang Haoran, and Shen Ming.

Fang Qingxue didn't hesitate and said, "Zhang Haoran won't follow orders."

Just as she said, Zhang Haoran had no intention of following Xiong Yang's arrangements at all.

“On my way here, I saw a large number of demons approaching, and you still have the mind to play childish games,” Zhang Haoran said coldly.

Demon!

Everyone's expression changed; it seemed only natural that there were Heavenly Demons on the Heavenly Demon Battlefield.

But didn't the sect already clear the area and imprison the Heavenly Demon underground?

Under normal circumstances, the Heavenly Demon Battlefield is used for trials of true disciples who have reached the second level of the Innate Realm!

"This is an open area, where we must fight off the Heavenly Demons from all sides. It must be an arrangement by the sect that the nine who survive the Heavenly Demons' attack will become true disciples," Gu Qing said.

"You didn't tell me earlier!"

Xiong Yang was a little angry, which meant that his previous arrangements were completely invalid.

Just as Zhang Haoran said, the figure of the Heavenly Demon could be seen faintly in the clouds and mist from all directions.

Resembling an upright bull, it is tall and imposing with pointed horns on its head, exuding a powerful aura.

Forgetting their earlier argument, everyone prepared to fight.

At this critical moment, Shen Ming finally opened his eyes.

That Fire Element Fruit successfully helped him break through the seventh level of the Mysterious Gate!

"so many people?"

Shen Ming glanced at it, his expression changing slightly.

There are still more than 20 people left in the final round, do they even know how to play?!

When he learned of the Heavenly Demon's attack, he suddenly realized what was going on.

"Well done!"

Shen Ming was eager to try. He had entered the late stage of the Profound Realm and mastered the Limitless Sword Dao, so he needed a thrilling battle.

If it ends hastily, it would be a disservice to the months of preparation he has spent.

"Zhang Haoran, come over here and help us fight the enemy."

Gu Qing shouted in this direction, "Zhang Haoran is a formidable fighting force."

"Come here."

Zhang Haoran knew that there was strength in numbers, but he felt that his combination with Shen Ming was stronger than Gu Qing and Fang Qingxue, so they should be the ones to come.

“You’re just asking for trouble by bringing two burdens with you,” Gu Qing said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Haoran knew there was no need to say more.

"Fine, then try not to come over later if you dare." Gu Qing also got angry.

Zhang Haoran went to great lengths to find a spiritual object for Shen Ming, yet he spoke coldly and indifferently to me, which was utterly baffling.