215: Within ten swords

Ye Hao looked towards the source of the voice and saw five or six women standing in a circle not far to the left, whispering about something.

The leading woman wore a moon-white edged Shark-silk Dharma Robe, her dark hair loosely tied into a Flowing Cloud Bun, with a hint of aloof pride between her brows.

"Junior Sister, it's best to keep those words to yourself," she reminded softly. "This is, after all, the territory of the Rain God Continent; it naturally cannot be compared to our Sect."

A Junior Sister in a light pink silk dress beside her curled her lip and retorted nonchalantly.

"But it's true, Senior Sister! We've watched so many matches, and among the Cultivators of the Rain God Continent, there isn't even one who stands out."

Several other women immediately chimed in.

"Exactly! The Cultivators here always talk about how many demons they've slain, acting all self-important."

"In my opinion, if our Canglan Continent were the ones guarding it,"

"those Yao Race wouldn't even have the courage to invade! I really don't understand what Revered Master was thinking, insisting we come to this backwater for tempering."

"Where did these little girls come from? Such big talk!"

An old man in a green robe sitting nearby could bear it no longer. He slapped the spectator stand heavily and said in a deep voice:

"The Cultivators of the Rain God Continent have fought to the death with the Yao Race for a thousand years to forcefully defend this world. Is it your place to slander them so recklessly?"

"Slander?"

The Junior Sister in Pink Skirt raised her eyebrows, her tone sharp. "We are just speaking fairly. Are people not allowed to tell the truth?"

The two sides began to argue fiercely over their disagreement. If they hadn't been wary of the experts hidden within the Demon Suppressing Tower, they might have already come to blows.

Ye Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, withdrew his gaze from the women, and whispered the words "Canglan Continent."

He had heard some rumors about this place.

It was the furthest from the Rain God Continent and even further from the Demon Race Continent. One could say that if the Yao Race were to attack the Nine Provinces Continent, the territory of the Canglan Continent would be the safest place.

Many local Cultivators never saw the true face of the Yao Race in their entire lives.

He suddenly remembered that there was an all-female power in the Canglan Continent called the Red Immortal Pavilion.

Rumor had it that this Sect once made an absurd statement, actually hoping the Yao Race would invade the Nine Provinces and slaughter all the male Cultivators in the world.

Such a ridiculous claim had even been heard of in the most impoverished Flame Continent, showing how much of a laughingstock it had become.

"Could these women be from the Red Immortal Pavilion?"

Ye Hao speculated inwardly.

"Junior Brother, shall we also sign up for some tempering?" Li Pingan asked.

"Alright," Ye Hao nodded in agreement.

After making a few inquiries, the two followed the directions to the registration point at the entrance. A Deacon Elder in a gray robe with a steady aura was sitting behind a desk.

After a brief inquiry, they finally understood the complete rules of this demon-slaying trial.

First: Cultivators at the Soul Emergence Stage and below can sign up with no additional restrictions. They only need to pay a registration fee of one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

It wasn't that there were no Soul Emergence Stage Great Yao in the Demon Suppressing Tower.

It was just that such Great Yao were too unpredictable and unsuitable for "toying with."

Second: After killing a member of the Yao Race on the Arena Stage, one can take the Yao core as personal spoils of war. The corpse of the Yao must remain in the Demon Suppressing Tower and is forbidden to be taken away privately.

For the Cultivators of the Rain God Continent, this demon-slaying trial not only honed their killing skills but also offered a chance to be scouted by various powers and soar to success if they weren't careful.

Even if they weren't scouted, as long as their skills were solid, they could still earn back their capital with a Yao core.

Third: Participants can only fight Yao Race members who are one minor Realm lower than themselves or higher; there are no restrictions above that.

(Example: A Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Cultivator can only fight Yao Race members at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer and above.)

Ye Hao understood what this rule meant.

After all, the Yao core of a Golden Core Realm Yao Race member was worth more than a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Without this restriction, a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator fighting a Golden Core Yao would be able to suppress and kill it effortlessly.

After handing over the Spirit Stones and reporting their names, the Elder handed over a registration Jade Slip and slowly asked:

"What are your cultivation Realms? It is best to tell the truth. The Demon Suppressing Tower's verification is strict. If there is any concealment or false reporting, the consequences..."

Before he could finish, Ye Hao said in a deep voice:

"Golden Core Ninth Layer."

"What?"

The Deacon Elder suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes scanning Ye Hao's face repeatedly.

"Did Fellow Daoist not hear what I said earlier?"

Ye Hao smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, have you ever seen someone falsely report their Realm as higher than it actually is?"

The Deacon Elder froze for a moment, then realized, and swallowed hard.

Golden Core Ninth Layer meant the Yao Race member he would fight would be at least at the Golden Core Eighth Layer Realm.

"Do you have a Sect or power?" The Deacon Elder suppressed his shock and began recording again.

"Dao Seeking Sect!"

Dao Seeking Sect?

It seemed they were Cultivators from another continent here for tempering.

He suppressed his shock and picked up a pen to record: "Do you have a Sect or power?"

"Dao Seeking Sect," Ye Hao answered in a deep voice.

Dao Seeking Sect? The Deacon Elder thought to himself, quickly scanning through his knowledge of powers.

He estimated they were Cultivators from another continent here for tempering; no wonder they had such cultivation at such a young age.

Recording complete!

Li Pingan stepped forward, habitually scratched his head, and grinned:

"I follow the path of Martial Arts, and I am currently at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer. If it's hard for you to convert, you can treat me as a Nascent Soul Seventh Layer Cultivator."

With a "shua" sound, the pen in the Deacon Elder's hand dropped directly onto the desk.

He stood up abruptly.

His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Li Pingan.

"Fellow Daoist?" Ye Hao called out.

The Deacon Elder in charge of registration finally realized his loss of composure.

He took several deep breaths, pressed his hands on the desk, and barely managed to steady his mind.

"Sect or power?"

"Dao Seeking Sect!"

Also Dao Seeking Sect?

The Deacon Elder's heart jolted again. He looked back and forth between the two with a serious expression, silently memorizing their appearances and auras.

When Ye Hao and his companion finished registering and returned to the spectator stand, they happened to catch a burst of enthusiastic cheering.

The woman in the moon-white dharma robe from before was stepping lightly onto the Number Three Arena Stage. Her opponent was a Golden Core Third Layer Mantis Demon as tall as a person, its pair of sickle-like forelimbs glinting with a cold light and its aura sharp.

The woman was calm and unhurried. The moment her long sword left its scabbard, pale green spiritual energy wrapped in Sword Qi rushed towards the Mantis Demon.

As the sword light flowed, she stabbed, slashed, and parried, every move precise and ruthless. Within ten swords, she struck the Mantis Demon's vital point.

As the demon corpse crashed to the ground, cheers erupted from below the stage.

The Junior Sister in Pink Skirt immediately raised her chin and said in a clear voice, "See that? This is what true swordsmanship looks like! It's a good chance for those who haven't seen much of the world to broaden their horizons!"

The green-robed old man was so angry his beard fluttered. "It was merely a battle between those in the same Realm."

"If you have the ability, try slaying a few Yao Race members across Realms."

"Same Realm?"

The Junior Sister in Pink Skirt raised her eyebrows and sneered with disdain.

"How many swords did my Senior Sister just use? She completely slaughtered this beast in ten swords. So what if it were one or two Realms higher?"

"It would just be a few more swords."

Although the green-robed old man was unwilling to accept this, he knew in his heart that there was some truth to what she said.

Even many Sect Elders around were inquiring about this woman's information.

They were clearly quite interested.