Chapter 126: The Tenth Match

“What!”

“He won the ninth match too?”

In a small city of the Longshan Empire, a disheveled old man was drinking alone. He was a peak Saint-level practitioner undergoing ascetic training. With his lifespan nearing its end and still unable to breakthrough to the Half-God stage, he felt a rising sense of panic. He knew too well that this anxiety wouldn’t help him ascend.

Thus, he chose the path of asceticism, refining his mindset.

When Dongbo Xueying’s Life-and-Death Battle for immortality was held, he hadn’t planned to participate. After all, every newly emerged human Transcendent would have such Life-and-Death Battle. It was too common.

But now, he regretted!

“The ninth match against an Abyss Demon… I couldn’t see it! And the upcoming tenth match, it’s against a Divine Realm War Machine!” The old man’s heart ached with longing and impatience. “I’m as foolish as a pig! Dongbo Xueying is the youngest Transcendent within a millennium, he should naturally be extraordinary. If I had gone to watch earlier, I could have seen not only the Abyss Demon, but also the even rarer and more precious ‘Divine Realm War Machine’!”

“In an hour it will begin, but I can’t make it in time,” the old man sighed helplessly.

He couldn’t teleport instantly.

He could only fly slowly! Just flying to the world gate leading to the Xia Capital of the Ember World would take about three hours!

“Divine Realm War Machine! The legendary Divine Realm War Machine!” The old man regretted bitterly.

…

At this moment, upon hearing the news, Transcendents who hadn’t gone to watch rushed desperately if they were nearby. Those too far away could only regret!

Inside the Hall of Life and Death in the Xia Capital.

“It’s about to begin, the tenth match! That’s against a Divine Realm War Machine!” Chi Qiu Bai, Peng Shan, Ziche Gu Feng, Cheng Lingshu, Dong Yu, and others were all excited beyond control.

Life-and-Death Battle for immortality was also a traditional custom of the Xia Clan.

The later the match, the more precious and rare the opponent.

The ninth match was against an Abyss Demon, the tenth even more mysterious, the eleventh even more formidable! As for the secrets involved in the twelfth match, even many Half-Gods hadn’t seen them.

Of course, the most powerful talent in Xia Clan history, the ‘Infernal Knight’ Jie Li, won eleven matches. When he challenged the twelfth match… that was the time when the clan’s treasure was brought out as an opponent! Of course, the clan’s treasure was restricted in power.

Leaving aside the even more incredible eleventh and twelfth matches.

For many Transcendents, the opponent of the tenth match, the ‘Divine Realm War Machine’, was already a legend.

“I heard the Divine Realm War Machines were passed down from the Divine Realm,” Ziche Gu Feng’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Each Divine Realm War Machine is incredibly wondrous. Our Xia Clan ancestors studied Divine Realm War Machines, drawing upon their relatively simple mysteries to gradually create methods for crafting ‘Alchemical Creatures,’ ‘Flesh War Machines,’ and so on.”

“I’ve always dreamed of seeing a Divine Realm War Machine,” Cheng Lingshu’s voice trembled with excitement. “Finally, I’ll get to see one.”

“Divine Realm War Machine,” Hai Ruzhen stroked his white beard. “Never did I imagine that before my death, I’d still have the chance to see a Divine Realm War Machine.”

These three were all Transcendent sorcerers.

Each Transcendent sorcerer was a true scholar! Scholars studying the natural world! They also studied physical bodies and souls, using this knowledge to create ‘ Transcendent Alchemical Creatures,’ ‘Flesh War Machines,’ ‘Guardians,’ and many other terrifying things. The source of all these was the ‘Divine Realm War Machine.’ The Xia Clan had only a handful of Divine Realm War Machines.

…

More Transcendent The Strong One gradually arrived to watch the match. Even Overlord-level existences like Half-Gods sent their Aura of Rivalry avatars to attend! The Aura of Rivalry avatars of Half-Gods were vastly different from those of Saint-level. One could still see glowing streams under the skin of Saint-level Aura of Rivalry avatars, while Half-God Aura of Rivalry avatars looked completely ordinary to the naked eye.

…

In the side garden of the Life and Death Hall, Dongbo Xueying was practicing his spear techniques. His strength had long been restored using ‘Yuan Stones’!

“No more time left.”

Dongbo Xueying suddenly stopped.

“There’s no hope of advancing my Water Essence to the second level of the Myriad Realm within an hour,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head lightly. His Water and Fire Essences complemented each other and were nearly equal. The Fire Essence had advanced to the second level of the Myriad Realm first. Dongbo Xueying already vaguely felt the Water Essence advancing, but clearly, one hour was too short.

“I barely won the ninth match. The tenth one might be hopeless,” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

Enough.

He should be satisfied!

Within the past ten thousand years, that ‘Qingyan Dan’ only won nine matches. Qingyan Dan’s ancient bloodline talent was far more incredible than his! Her strength, speed, and many other aspects surged dramatically, and she was nearly immortal. Yet he had still won the ninth match despite his disadvantage in ancient bloodline. That was already something to be proud of.

“For the tenth match, I’ll give it my all, fully enjoy this battle! After all, that’s a Divine Realm War Machine. Even Half-Gods would find it difficult to have the opportunity to fight one,” Dongbo Xueying felt anticipation.

Not out of lack of confidence.

Just that he knew his own limits. His last battle was extremely perilous. In the end, it was only because Demon Lafuda’s life force had been exhausted that he managed to win!

“Whoosh!”

The side door in the corner of the side hall opened.

Dongbo Xueying turned around, walked barefoot toward it, and entered through the side door.

As soon as he entered… he was in a vast battlefield. The cheers from countless mortals beside him echoed like waves throughout the Life and Death Hall. The Transcendent The Strong One were also discussing excitedly, filled with anticipation for this battle.

Standing by a stream, Dongbo Xueying waited for his upcoming opponent.

…

“Haha, you old fellows came too.”

“Great Uncle Palace Master, you actually came. Rare indeed.”

He Shan Zhu, Sikong Yang, Bu Cheng Zhu, and others gathered in a lively scene. One Half-God after another arrived. Although many Half-Gods needed to guard their strongholds, they still sent Aura of Rivalry avatars! Not only human Half-Gods, but even native Transcendents of this world had some coming.

Although the native Transcendents were suppressed by humans, some had defected to the human side! They could receive some resource support from humans, and among these defectors, several Half-Gods had emerged. They normally had no qualifications to see ‘Divine Realm War Machines,’ so they also rushed over to watch!

Half-Gods were usually scattered everywhere, guarding various locations as local overlords. Only the rare Life-and-Death Battle tenth match could attract so many of them.

…

“Boom!” A drumbeat echoed through the Life and Death Hall.

Silence fell.

Everyone watched tensely as the tenth Life-and-Death Battle began! Even the eldest Chao Qing and Grandma Ye had never seen the tenth match of Life-and-Death Battle before.

“The tenth Life-and-Death Battle, Dongbo Xueying’s opponent is a Divine Realm War Machine. You all have the fortune to witness it. Divine Realm War Machines are extremely precious. The Ember Palace would never normally bring one out,” the envoy of the Ember Palace Master’s voice rang out across the Life and Death Hall. “Look closely, I’ve already sent the Divine Realm War Machine into the battlefield.”

“Where?”

“Where is it?”

Countless mortals stared intently, searching everywhere. Some Transcendents couldn’t even spot it at first and were also watching carefully, searching.

Inside the battlefield.

Using the power of heaven and earth to sense every corner, Dongbo Xueying was the first to notice.

Plop! A water droplet appeared out of nowhere, falling from high above. As it neared the ground, this tiny droplet suddenly transformed, forming into a man about 1.8 meters tall, entirely composed of flowing water.