Chapter 597 384: Ancient Battlefield 2
"It is said that there is an ancient inheritance among them?"
"There are even some ancient treasures."
"Previously, in Dragon Abyss Martial Temple, some people entered the ancient battlefield of Martial Arts Heaven and Earth. It is said that they even witnessed the projection of a Saint from three thousand years ago, receiving guidance."
"A Saint?! A being of Fifteen Realms!"
"It is said to be only a projection; although it doesn't have the strength of a Saint. After all, for a realm like Martial Arts Heaven and Earth, the martial arts destiny required to reflect the presence of a being of Fifteen Realms would be immense, almost enough to drain the martial arts fortune of the entire Dragon Abyss Province. So it is merely a projection of will, but that projection possesses the Saint's knowledge and wisdom, intentionally placed within the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth as a living inheritance in another sense."
Chen Ku listened with continuous fluctuations in his heart.
"Lacking the strength of a Saint, yet possessing the wisdom and thoughts of a Saint. If I could find a way to subdue it, wouldn't it mean... I could obtain an incarnation of Saintly insight, gaining precious information and knowledge?"
He admitted that this subconscious method was somewhat astonishing.
However, upon careful consideration, if conditions permit, it is not entirely unfeasible.
While the group of students were discussing fervently.
Zu Dengfeng slowly said:
"Now I will announce the trial grounds for the disciples of the Three Institutes: one hundred disciples from the Immortal Institute will enter the Ninth Realm area of the ancient battlefield; Upper Academy disciples will enter the Eighth Realm area; Lower Academy disciples will enter the Seventh Realm area. Behind the wall of the General Hall, the passage to Martial Arts Heaven and Earth has been opened, step inside and you can enter. Fellow disciples face the same test content, once inside, you will learn what the actual challenges are."
After Zu Dengfeng finished speaking.
An instructor next to him shouted to the hundred disciples of the Immortal Institute:
"Now, Immortal Institute disciples fall out, proceed into the ancient battlefield according to the ranking of the entry-level assessment."
According to the ranking of the entry-level assessment.
Xue Bailiu was the first place.
He stepped forward first, curious of the mural in front of him, and stepped inside.
Next was Chen Ku.
Stepping forward.
The wall in front of him radiated a colorful glow, making Chen Ku's body seem to merge into the water surface, entering Martial Arts Heaven and Earth.
Whoosh~~~
When his vision cleared again, he found himself in a vibrant forest, the grand sound of Martial Arts Heaven suddenly resonated in his mind:
[Welcome students to the ancient battlefield]
Immediately, Chen Ku looked up and saw many beams of light streaming down from the sky. There were no sun or moon, yet it appeared to be daytime.
The Martial Arts Heavenly Sound continued in his mind:
[Students entering the Martial Arts Battlefield for the first time will receive the following reminders]
[Please note, the ancient battlefield you are entering was a battle among the 'Tao, Demon, and Immortal' countries in the Qiu Dragon Mansion of Dragon Abyss Province 3600 years ago, where the highest combat power did not exceed the Tenth Realm.]
[Combat power reminders for students:
Tao Country: Three thousand Tao Army troops of Tao Country's Five Elements Dao Sect stationed in Qiu Dragon Mansion, led by 'Wu Xinglie', the Inner Sect senior disciple of Five Elements Dao Sect, known as 'Tian Lie Daoist', holding ten realm Tao cultivation, supported by eighteen Ninth Realm Tao Sect protectors.
Demon Country: Two thousand Demon Soldiers from the Seven Killings Demon Sect of Demon Country stationed in Qiu Dragon Mansion, led by the elder 'Mo Qianqian' of Seven Killings Demon Sect, known as 'Heartless Demoness', holding ten realm Demon Skill, supported by four Demon Sect protectors.
Immortal Country: Three thousand Qi Cultivators from the Fire Virtue Sect of the Immortal Country stationed in Qiu Dragon Mansion, led by 'Zhong Liyang', Inner Sect senior disciple of the Divine Fire Sect, named 'Fire De True Monarch'.]
[Reminder: Due to the different cultivation systems among the three countries, mutual restraint occurs, manifesting as:
Taoist Skill restrains Immortal Technique, Immortal Technique restrains Demon Skill, Demon Skill restrains Taoist Skill]
[Students may choose any major camp, then, within three days, you must eliminate all beings from the opposing camp to gain 'Martial Destiny'. After three days, the camp with the highest total Martial Destiny on the leaderboard in this 'ancient battlefield' will be declared victorious.
The victorious camp will receive 'Three Kingdoms Spoils', randomly manifested as rewards such as the Seven Killings Pill, Seed Magic, Tao Heart Fruit, Enlightenment Tea, Immortal Weapon, Immortal Artifact experienced in the ancient battlefield.]
After the Martial Arts Heavenly Sound finished speaking.
Three light spheres appeared in front of Chen Ku, each inscribed with ancient texts from three thousand years ago, barely recognizable to Chen Ku as the words 'Tao, Demon, Immortal'.
His attention was caught by the name of the leading figure mentioned in the Immortal Country camp by the Martial Arts Heavenly Sound.
"The leader of the Immortal Country camp is an Inner Sect senior disciple of the Immortal Country Divine Fire Sect named Zhong Liyang, titled 'Fire De True Monarch'?"
This highly coincidental information made Chen Ku unconsciously look toward the Fire Beak Pot hidden within the Hero King Realm:
"Is it the same person?"
The Fire Beak Pot was a Magical Treasure from two thousand years ago, used by the Fire De True Monarch to seal one eye of Master Changrong, from the Heavenly Realm Changrong Sky, at the cost of sacrificing a Fourteen Realms Magical Treasure.
However, this ancient battlefield projection goes back three thousand years...
A thousand-year gap.
Yet the timeline seems to match up.
Three thousand years ago, the Fire De True Monarch was a Ten Realms Great Ability, and after one thousand more years, he became a Fifteen Realms emperor-level being, a Saint-level powerhouse.
Chen Ku pondered.
"Which camp did Xue Bailiu choose?"
Before entering, the instructor said that all fellow disciples face the same exam content, meaning this historical projection of the Three Sects War has been replicated a hundred times, allowing a hundred Immortal Institute disciples to enter a hundred identical projections.
Then they calculate the Martial Destiny gained from choosing camps...
Obviously.
Xue Bailiu, the top combatant among the current students, inherently has an advantage with the camp he chooses.
Chen Ku hesitated.
The spoils rewarded to the victorious students from the ancient battlefield were enticing, especially the Enlightenment Tea and Tao Heart Fruit, which were undeniably beneficial for enlightenment.
They would certainly aid him in comprehending the Tao Rhythm contained in the Iron Tree of the Destruction Hall.
But, these rewards are exclusive to the victorious party.
The defeated, choosing the wrong camp, receive nothing.
After some time.
Under Chen Ku's scrutiny, he found no indication of others' choices displayed on the three light spheres, evidently the Martial Temple is avoiding this factor, making students randomly select camps without alliances, ensuring some fairness, and better testing students' abilities.
Chen Ku couldn't make a choice immediately.
His mind began contemplating other ideas.
"Instead of relying on others, hitching a ride on someone else's success, how about taking control and having some deciding factor for victory? Who said... war only depends on hard strength, intelligence and information are equally the most crucial sharp weapon on the battlefield."
So, without making a choice, he consumed a Top-grade Spirit Medicine and utilized the Six-Eared Macaque's transformation to conduct an intelligence gathering prior to selecting.
...
As disciples from the Immortal Institute, Upper Academy, and Lower Academy began entering the ancient battlefields of varying difficulty.
Similar to the Immortal Institute disciples, Upper and Lower Academy students faced the same battlefield projection with similar rules, requiring them to choose camps to ultimately decide victory through Martial Destiny quantity.
All students hesitated, struggled... and gradually made their choices.
Some speculated Xue Bailiu's choice, like Chen Ku.
A portion estimated Xue Bailiu might choose 'Tao Country', leading over fifty Immortal Institute disciples to choose the Tao Country camp.
Another portion believed Xue Bailiu might select Immortal Country. After all, Immortal Country is the former incarnation of Yuan Country, joining Immortal Country would familiarize one with the enemy's camp and cultivation methods ahead of time.
A small group chose Demon Country.
After all, Demon Country sounds like an evil path, not exactly a righteous nation.
It is said, historically, the Demon Country's cultivators of demon inheritance were nearly eradicated by the alliance of large countries several thousand years ago.
However.
Following a round of intelligence gathering, Chen Ku ultimately chose... the Demon Country camp!