22: A confrontation under the rules!

The first round of energy baptism filtered out a few with weaker foundations.

After a short rest, an even fiercer surge of energy arrived, like floodgates opening, rushing down with a roar!

Its intensity soared, clearly on a completely different level.

This wasn't just energy infusion; it was more like being battered by massive energy waves, a head-on test of everyone's foundation.

“Damn it...”

“Pfft!”

A chorus of suppressed groans immediately rose from the arena, and some unlucky individuals directly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Many young people with slightly weaker strength or insufficient preparation turned pale under this sudden immense pressure.

Their bodies trembled incessantly, and their energy absorption rate slowed to a crawl.

Some gritted their teeth, activating their protective Cultivation Techniques to resist, veins bulging on their foreheads, and large beads of sweat dripping down.

This was the ruthlessness of the second stage! Just a slight increase in intensity eliminated another batch.

In contrast, the Geniuses who occupied good positions showed a completely different performance.

Young Master Zhou Xian, the County Magistrate's son, and the core disciples of the Demon Suppression Division were all seated steadily on the best futons in the center of the altar.

They also felt a significant increase in pressure, but it was clearly much easier for them.

With a turn of their Cultivation Technique, a stable energy vortex naturally formed around them, continuously drawing pure energy into their bodies.

Their faces didn't even show much pain; they actually looked quite comfortable—compared to those around them struggling bitterly, it was truly a world of difference.

The advantage of a good position was most evident at this moment.

A good position meant pure, stable energy that was absorbed quickly with minimal impact.

Li Dong was still in that chaotic energy corner.

He feigned a look of desperate, somewhat strenuous absorption, his brows furrowed tightly, as he strenuously resisted the increasingly fierce energy impact—it was all an act.

But just then, a malicious energy fluctuation stealthily approached from his diagonal rear.

Hmm?

Li Dong's heart stirred, and without even turning his head, he knew it was the guy not far behind him causing trouble.

The person was well-dressed, clearly a disciple of a small Family in Mu Shi County, with a strength around the Body Refinement Fifth Level.

He was deliberately guiding some violent, out-of-control energy towards Li Dong, clearly intending to disrupt him and prevent him from absorbing properly.

His methods weren't great, but constantly bothering him was annoying enough.

This guy, one of Zhao Zhen's people? Or simply disliked him and wanted to cause trouble?

Regardless, Li Dong had no intention of letting him off.

He originally just wanted to quietly reap benefits and get rich in silence.

But there were always those who were blind, insisting on bumping into him.

Alright... Li Dong snorted inwardly, no longer procrastinating.

His face remained calm, but a highly concentrated Mental Energy silently extended, precisely grasping a turbulent energy current nearby that was particularly violent and on the verge of losing control due to its poor position.

Then, he used a particularly clever force, gently “nudging” it.

From the outside, this single nudge would at most be mistaken for him accidentally adjusting his own energy circulation—

That violent energy current, like a mad horse, charged directly towards the Family disciple who tried to scheme against him, carrying a deadly Aura!

“What?!”

That guy was still smugly thinking he was about to succeed, never expecting such a thing to happen.

He only felt a violent energy far exceeding what he could withstand slam into him, and his strenuously maintained protective Cultivation Technique shattered with a crack!

“Pfft—!”

He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his body shook fiercely, and he nearly fell off the futon.

The Qi and blood within his body surged chaotically, his Meridians throbbed with pain, and his hard-won absorption rhythm was completely disrupted, his face as white as paper.

He was terrified and looked at Li Dong, but only saw Li Dong still “struggling” to maintain his absorption, as if what just happened was truly a coincidence.

But he wasn't a fool! How could there be such a convenient coincidence? It must have been Li Dong!

This guy... his control over power was too terrifying! In this environment, he could still so accurately manipulate energy currents to counterattack?

Suddenly, this Family disciple's heart was filled with fear.

He immediately became honest, not daring to make any extra moves, and even subconsciously shifted his butt to the side, moving further away from Li Dong.

Looking at Li Dong's back again, his heart was only filled with dread.

Finally, no one was bothering him.

Li Dong didn't care what that guy thought. Having dealt with this small nuisance, he refocused his attention entirely on his great “hunting” endeavor.

As the baptism energy intensified, the spirituality fragments emerging from the energy torrent also seemed to increase and become more active.

For Li Dong, this was like a pie falling from the sky!

His Mental Energy, like the most agile hunter, weaved through the chaotic energy field around him. Each time it extended, it could precisely lock onto an restless spirituality fragment.

Then, with a thought, he mimicked the vibrating force of the Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal, silently capturing and shattering them!

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Extremely faint cracking sounds continuously echoed around Li Dong, but they were all drowned out by the whooshing sound of the energy wind.

One spirituality fragment after another was precisely “dealt with” by him, transforming into the purest energy and experience points, flowing into his body.

【Ding! Killed Baptism Energy Companion Spirit Body (Fragment) x1, gained Experience +55!】

【Gained: Pure Energy +11 points.】

【Ding! Killed Baptism Energy Companion Spirit Body (Fragment) x1, gained Experience +60!】

【Gained: Pure Energy +12 points.】

The energy grew fiercer and fiercer, and the experience and pure energy Li Dong gained after eliminating the fragments actually increased a bit!

Li Dong's movements became faster and more precise. At first, he was a bit constrained, but now it was like playing a game, his Mental Energy control was utterly effortless.

He even felt that with each fragment he eliminated, his grasp of power improved a fraction—the training effect was simply too good!

System notifications incessantly rang in his mind, dinging and clanging, his experience points soaring! Pure energy accumulated bit by bit, not a large quantity, but of exceptionally high quality.

He used this energy to temper his muscles and bones, making his Body Tempering Realm Great Perfection foundation even more solid, and he even felt—that threshold to Foundation Establishment seemed within reach!

It still had to be things he obtained himself that were substantial! Li Dong couldn't express how delighted he was.

That old scoundrel Zhao Zhen, who painstakingly arranged this terrible position, originally intended to overwhelm him with chaotic energy, preferably crippling him in the first round.

Who would have thought? This actually benefited Li Dong! Things others would avoid at all costs, piling up here, weren't they just serving Li Dong on a platter!

On the surface, the “good” energy Li Dong absorbed from his position was definitely not as good as those in prime spots. But factoring in the benefits he secretly gained from eliminating fragments... with this addition and subtraction, the real advantages he reaped had probably caught up, and might even have surpassed those top students!

He did all these things secretly. In the eyes of others, Li Dong was still the unlucky fellow struggling in the energy storm, enduring with surprisingly good luck.

On the high platform, the old man presiding over the baptism, and Zhang Wu beside him, were both watching Li Dong.

They felt that Li Dong's ability to withstand the increasingly fierce impact in such a terrible spot, and remain quite stable, meant this young man was not simple.

“This young man, his Heart-Nature and foundation are both top-notch,” the old man's eyes showed a hint of appreciation. “To be able to endure for so long in such a chaotic place, and maintain such stable Qi, is not easy.”

Zhang Wu also inwardly praised Li Dong, feeling that this young man was even more formidable than he thought. Although he couldn't clearly see what Li Dong was doing, he felt that despite the chaos of energy around him, Li Dong himself was very stable—indicating he could handle it.

It seemed his previous worries were for nothing. This young man was truly a prodigy!

Only Zhao Zhen, on the other side, had a face so dark it looked like water could be squeezed from it.

He stared intently at Li Dong's area, mumbling to himself, always feeling something was off.

What the hell? According to the plan, Li Dong should have been half-dead from those rotten energies by now, perhaps even injured! But how was he... looking quite relaxed? Although he was also frowning, that look, it must be an act!

Moreover, the energy on his side was the most chaotic, and absorption efficiency should be the lowest, yet how did it feel... this young man's Aura wasn't weakening, but rather getting stronger?

It made no sense!

Zhao Zhen racked his brain but couldn't understand. How could he know about spirituality fragments, let alone that Li Dong had a System? He just instinctively felt that things seemed to have gone awry, out of control.

What tricks was this young man playing?

Zhao Zhen squinted, trying to see more clearly, but the energy on the altar was surging, and light and shadows flickered, making nothing visible.

He could only suppress the anger and bewilderment in his heart, cursing inwardly: “Hmph, even if you manage to pass by luck, what then? The later trials, you'll have your share of suffering!”

He secretly pondered his next move.

“Oh, Senior Brother Zhao, your complexion doesn't look too good. Could it be that you're feeling unwell?” Li Dong's voice suddenly drifted over, carrying a hint of playfulness.

Zhao Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He looked up, meeting Li Dong's half-smiling face.