Chapter 520: The Challenge
Chapter 520: The Challenge
Time flew by, and it had been several years since the events at the Starfield Training Ground.
In the resting area, Fang Wu sat on a sofa, holding a beverage in his hand. Across from him was Mu Qing, a fellow member of the Star Civilization.
"Any news from the 'Crazy Martial Bird'?" Fang Wu asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Mu Qing nodded, "According to the battle reports, a Lawmaster-level Crazy Martial Bird has been spotted among the Insectoid Civilization. Wherever there's a battle, there are bound to be spoils of war..."
"I'll keep an eye out for you," Mu Qing assured him.
Fang Wu thanked him and took a sip from his drink. Over the years, through various encounters, he had managed to befriend several members of the Star Civilization, gaining access to a few of their circles. However, the local powerhouses remained rather exclusive, and the circles he had access to were of lower ranks.
This was an inevitable situation, and Fang Wu could only bide his time, slowly grinding away or forging life-and-death bonds during critical moments.
He glanced at his attribute panel:
[True Self (Grandmaster), Phantom (Master), Spacetime (Master), Temporal (Master)... Annihilation (Beginner)...]
'Finally, I've reached the Master level in Temporal Law comprehension. I've caught up to my understanding of Spacetime Law.'
'My affinity for Annihilation Law is rather average, but as all Laws are interconnected, there's still the effect of comprehending one Law aiding in the understanding of others after reaching the Lawmaster Realm...'
Fang Wu was well aware of the hidden dangers in comprehending Laws through Law Tablets. It was best to use them sparingly, only at crucial moments, and to allow for intervals between each comprehension session.
Even Marquis Gray Cloak, a Black Hole-ranked powerhouse, had a Fire God Pillar in his domain to aid in Law comprehension. Similarly, various Law Tablets were available within the Star Civilization.
The key was to be aware of the potential pitfalls and to use them wisely.
"Don't worry about the items I'll provide," Fang Wu said with a slight smile. "They'll be competitive enough."
In the Lawmaster Realm, his Essence Coins and Essence Liquid were meager possessions, but he could exchange them for Treasured Artifacts!
Furthermore, he could continue his role as a middleman between the True Immortal Realm and the Daxia Universe, profiting from both worlds.
'It's rather amusing,' Fang Wu thought. 'The True Immortal Realm and the Void are both 'real,' so items can still be shared between them... A void-to-void, real-to-real exchange...'
Fang Wu's face lit up with joy, "My challenge request has been approved!"
"Then it's time to prepare. Good luck," Mu Qing wished him well.
"After this challenge, you'll be facing the 99th-ranked powerhouse. If you can maintain this ranking, there's a reward to be had. Hehe, I'll have a powerful friend too," Mu Qing added, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
His strength might be average, but his ability to forge connections was a strength in itself!
...
Against the backdrop of the starry sky, Fang Wu faced his opponent, the 99th-ranked Emperor Meng Xi.
"Emperor Meng, I appreciate you accepting my challenge," Fang Wu said politely.
Emperor Meng shook his head, "Those of us in the top 100 must accept random challenges. I've watched your challenge videos, and you're definitely a Third Stage Lawmaster. You'll be a worthy opponent, so let's begin..."
Emperor Meng waved his crimson banner, and a sea of blood appeared, from which emerged a nine-headed blood serpent, each head bearing a different emotion.
The nine emotions formed a chaotic field, enveloping Fang Wu.
Fang Wu's blood-red robe shimmered, and his soul defense, strengthened by the Blood Pool, withstood the emotional assault.
"Impossible... My 'Nine Serpents Devouring Gods' would even affect a Fourth Stage Lawmaster," Emperor Meng said, a hint of shock in his voice.
"Your soul defense is likely on par with the strongest Fourth Stage Lawmasters," Emperor Meng acknowledged.
In his heart, he secretly lamented his own misfortune.
His specialty was soul attacks, but when he encountered Fang Xing, who had incredibly strong soul defense, he instantly felt like he had hit a brick wall.
"But I won't give up."
In Emperor Meng's hand, a crimson banner unfurled, and the flagpole transformed into a long spear.
Boom!
He thrust the spear forward, and the void within a radius of ten thousand li shattered, accompanied by an intense sense of chaos and disharmony.
"Haha... Emperor Meng, you're too modest."
Fang Xing pressed his blood-red robe, and one by one, Blood Patterned Golden Beasts appeared.
Nine Blood Patterned Golden Beasts roared in unison, suddenly merging into one Blood Patterned Golden Beast King.
Its size was several times larger than the other Blood Patterned Golden Beasts, and nine blood-red horns adorned its head, exuding a pressure comparable to a second-stage Lawmaster.
Then, it was pierced through by Emperor Meng's spear!
Even though Emperor Meng considered his specialty to be soul attacks, his physical attack was equally formidable, reaching the level of a third-stage Lawmaster!
To reach the realm of the top one thousand Lawmasters, there would be no obvious weakness!
Fang Xing clapped his hands, and the heavens seemed to overturn, unleashing the 'Heaven-Shielding Palm'!
A crimson glow enveloped his palm, causing him to press down on the spearhead.
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Subsequently, behind Emperor Meng, spatial fluctuations flashed, and the Blood Patterned Golden Beast King reappeared.
It let out a roar, and the nine blood-red horns on its head detached, instantly unleashing their power, piercing Emperor Meng's back.
Puff!
Several golden spikes instantly dissolved, and a few more fell into chaos, missing their target.
But the last golden horn, a golden spike, pierced Emperor Meng's back, inflicting a severe blow to his Law-based body!
"How can the attack power of your Blood Patterned Golden Beast break through the third stage? And before, I had already killed it..."
Emperor Meng's mouth corners bled, and he suddenly realized, "That's right... It's the Phantom Beast Law. Before, what I hit was a Phantom Beast Law-simulated Beast King? The real Beast King had already teleported away, preparing for a sneak attack?"
"Yes, and I temporarily empowered it with the True Self Law, making the Beast King incredibly real and greatly increasing its strength!"
Fang Xing began to explain.
After all, they weren't mortal enemies, and their battle was still relatively polite.
"So that's the case. I lost. When you countered my soul attack, I felt that my chances were slim..."
Emperor Meng shook his head, conceding gracefully, "Fang Xing, your strength has earned my recognition. Let's add each other as private friends."
"Okay."
Fang Xing responded in kind.
Many times, friendships are built this way.
Of course, more often, they receive hostility and harvest a wave of enmity.
...
When they were about to leave the battle arena, Fang Xing, as usual, received a prompt from the Starfield Trial Ground:
[Ding! Respected Citizen Fang Xing, you defeated Emperor Meng Xi Fan, gaining his ranking, and now you're ranked 999th on the Starfield Chart!]
[You've obtained the 'Defense Battle' qualification. Please maintain this title, and every ten years, you'll receive a 'Essence Liquid' reward.]
[Note! After entering the Defense Battle, you must complete a certain number of challenge matches every ten years, or it will be considered a forfeit...]
...
After reading through all the rules, Fang Xing nodded, "No wonder it's the Apex Civilization. These rewards are indeed generous."
"If I maintain it for a hundred years, that's ten 'Essence Liquids', much more than the original guarantee of one 'Essence Liquid' every hundred years."
"Moreover, this is just the last rank in the top one thousand. The rewards will skyrocket for the top five hundred, one hundred, top ten, and top three!"
"But since I'm new, I'll stay low-key within the top one thousand for now."
Fang Xing nodded, turning his gaze to the 'Starfield Chart'.
At this moment, the ancient and vast Starfield Chart began to tremble.
Countless stars moved, forming beautiful constellations and star maps.
And the originally ranked 999th, Emperor Meng, suddenly flashed and transformed into 'Fang Xing'!
"Huh?"
"Look!"
"The Starfield Chart is experiencing unusual changes, and it's not just a simple rank change within the top one thousand."
"It's the 999th rank, from Emperor Meng to Fang Xing!"
"Fang Xing, you're so strong. If I had such strength, I could have saved more of our Insectoid Civilization's army from the hands of the enemy..."
Kun Wu looked up at the Starfield Chart, his expression also filled with shock, "It's true... he's broken into the top one thousand."
In another part of the Starfield Trial Ground, a young man with white hair, looking quite young but exuding an aura that kept others at bay, also witnessed this scene, "Fang Xing... so powerful. If I had such strength, I could have saved at least a few more of our clan from the hands of the enemy. I'm still too weak."
He tightly clenched his fists and entered the battle arena of the Starfield Trial Ground.
"Xiao, last time you defeated my brother in a humiliating manner, causing him to lose face. Now, I'll let you taste the bitterness of defeat..."
Across from him, a big man wearing a bull-horned helmet roared.
"Less talk, let's fight!"
Xiao raised his hand, and in the universe, the cry of a fierce bird resounded, as if carrying the wails of countless vengeful spirits.
(End of Chapter)
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