Divine King of Honour Chapter 1870: Passing the Assessment

The departure of Xu Nian was met with jeers from the formidable individuals gathered.

An Nether Emperor shamelessly choosing to go last – wasn't this an obvious invitation for disgrace?

It is generally understood that those who appear last are often the main attractions.

Xu Nian paid no mind to the murmurs and gestures directed at him.

His gaze fixed upon the stele ahead, his eyes beginning to gather the Wind Attribute Dao True Intent.

Wind Extreme!

This represents the pinnacle of wind, rendering the wind's Dao Rhythm truly formidable.

As Xu Nian invoked the Wind Extreme Great Dao True Intent,

a potent elemental force commenced forming into a vortex, drawing itself towards him.

Simultaneously, as this force converged, the energetic fluctuations surrounding Xu Nian also began a gradual ascent.

"Hm? Great Dao True Intent? An Nether Emperor has actually comprehended the Great Dao True Intent? How is that even plausible?" The nearby Shadowless Sword God expressed his astonishment.

The Divine-level Experts, who had been radiating disdain moments before, now seemed as if they had stumbled upon a new world, their faces continuously contorting into expressions of utter amazement.

"How can an Nether Emperor possibly grasp the Great Dao True Intent? Is this some kind of deception?"

"How could it be fake? Did you not witness the elemental force vortex he conjured? Without comprehending the Great Dao True Intent, how could he possibly gather such a vortex? And is the Dao Rhythm emanating from him merely an illusion?"

"But if the Nether Emperor has not yet attained the Divine Level, how could he have comprehended the Great Dao True Intent?"

"It does indeed seem utterly unbelievable; the quality of this fellow's soul origin appears to have reached the Divine Level."

...

A chorus of surprise and skepticism continuously rose from the assembled throng.

At this juncture, the trio from Futu Mountain also cast astonished glances at Xu Nian, particularly the younger man identified as Tan Long.

"To possess the ability to comprehend the Great Dao True Intent while still at the Nether Emperor level is truly a first in my experience. It appears this individual is no ordinary Nether Emperor," the young man clad in white remarked with surprise.

"Hmph, even if he can comprehend the Great Dao True Intent, what of it? It is merely the First Level of True Intent. An Nether Emperor remains just that, an Nether Emperor, posing absolutely no threat whatsoever," Li Tianxue stated with clear disdain.

"I hold the belief that this individual possesses extraordinary potential. Should he be afforded the opportunity to mature, he might very well develop into a profoundly formidable figure," the young man in white commented nonchalantly.

"Hmph, numerous prodigies have met their end; how many truly achieve growth comparable to Senior Brother Tan Long? Furthermore, what significant power can he truly wield with the Great Dao True Intent at the Nether Emperor stage?" Li Tianxue continued to express her contempt.

Throughout this exchange, Tan Long remained conspicuously silent.

However, his gaze remained fixed upon Xu Nian, intently scrutinizing him as if seeking to penetrate his very essence.

"This person is not simple. Tianxue, if he makes it into the final trial, ensure he is eliminated," Tan Long finally commanded.

His voice, though not raised, carried an unnerving chill that coursed down one's spine.

"Very well, have no concern, he is merely an ant; there is no question he will meet his demise," Li Tianxue replied dismissively.

Upon hearing this, the young man in white offered no comment but was nevertheless struck by a faint sense of foreboding.

He could not articulate exactly what felt amiss.

He failed to comprehend the reason behind Tan Long's directive to eliminate this particular Nether Emperor.

Unbeknownst to Xu Nian, Tan Long had already harbored a lethal intent towards him.

At this precise moment, he had already approached the stele, drawing forth his God Sword.

Xu Nian channeled the power residing within him, striving to achieve a fusion with the elemental force.

"Wind Extreme, Wind Fluff!"

With a swift motion, Xu Nian unleashed his sword.

Instantly, the sword's luminescence transformed into a dazzling Sword Radiance, striking the stele with immense force.

This sword light possessed such an acute sharpness that many observers present experienced an unsettling prickling sensation at the base of their spines.

"Such potent Sword Qi, for a fleeting instant, I felt a profound sense of suffocation."

"You know, I experienced the very same sensation."

...

For a considerable period, the assembled powerful figures engaged in animated discussion.

The manner in which they regarded Xu Nian subsequently shifted, imbued with a newfound respect.

Huo Qiu and Luo Zhengge also displayed expressions tinged with surprise.

The singular sword strike from Xu Nian had unequivocally surpassed their own capabilities.

When juxtaposed with Xu Nian's prowess, the disparity in strength was not merely marginal but substantial.

"Twenty-two thousand?"

Huo Qiu read aloud the number displayed on the stele.

The moment these words left his lips, an eruption of exclamations swept through the entire venue, followed by a sudden, profound silence.

Absolutely no one had anticipated that this Nether Emperor would unleash an attack power measuring twenty-two thousand.

The Shadowless Sword God, standing nearby, also registered an expression of sheer amazement.

Twenty-two thousand – this figure signified that Xu Nian's attack power exceeded that of an average Low Grade Divine Level expert, placing him on par with a Mid-grade Divine-level expert.

"Well, I certainly never imagined that Xu Nian was withholding such a considerable amount of strength. I had erroneously assumed he was merely going through the motions during our prior engagement," Huo Qiu commented with a touch of disbelief.

Many of the Divine-level experts present exhibited palpable signs of self-reproach.

For a Nether Emperor to demonstrate such a formidable level of attack power was, by all accounts, truly astonishing.

Xu Nian scrutinized the score etched upon the stele, a visage of contentment gracing his features. Indeed, the outcome aligned perfectly with his pre-existing expectations.

A resonant hum vibrated through the air as the Divine Pattern emblazoned on the stele flared to life, subsequently projecting an imprint directly into Xu Nian’s forehead. Instantly, a profound connection between Xu Nian and the stele was established, a silent affirmation of his worthiness and a gateway to the ultimate trial.

Whispers rippled through the assembled crowd. "He actually managed to clear the Basic test? Unbelievable, a cultivator of the Nether Emperor level has conquered the first stage. If he succeeds in the ultimate test, will he truly be inducted into the Netherworld God Temple?"

Another chimed in, "To have an envoy of the Nether Emperor's caliber within the Netherworld God Temple—such an occurrence is likely a rarity throughout the annals of its history. While he has passed the inaugural stage, the ultimate test remains an uncertain hurdle." Many present nodded in agreement.

The initial stage, they acknowledged, merely evaluated an individual’s raw power and presented no inherent peril. The subsequent stage, however, presented a far more formidable challenge, one that would scrutinize not only a participant’s strength but also their capriciousness of fate. A misfortunate assignment to confront a significantly more powerful adversary would, without question, spell certain failure.

"Excellent," declared the Shadowless Sword God, a flicker of satisfaction in his voice. "This trial has concluded with commendable results; this initial test has certainly yielded numerous gratifying surprises." His gaze then drifted, inevitably, towards Tan Long and Xu Nian.

A subtle furrowing of Tan Long’s brow betrayed a hint of his growing displeasure. The onlookers collectively gasped, stunned by the prospect of the Shadowless Sword God himself showing favor to this Nether Emperor. Yet, upon deeper reflection, a Nether Emperor successfully navigating the first stage undeniably signaled immense latent potential.

"Now, without further ado, we shall commence the ultimate trial directly," the Shadowless Sword God announced with an engaging smile. "This final trial will unfold within a specially designated space. The allocation of participants is entirely at the stele’s discretion, meaning your success or failure hinges solely upon your individual fortune."

A special space? Where would this ultimate test be held? Could it possibly be within the secluded, independent dimension of the Netherworld God Temple itself? Such questions would soon be answered.

With another resounding hum, the stele glowed anew. In the subsequent moment, the enigmatic imprints adorning the foreheads of all who had passed the initial test simultaneously illuminated. Following this, a line of text materialized before each individual.

Upon deciphering this inscribed message, Xu Nian’s expression underwent a dramatic shift, becoming a kaleidoscope of emotions. "Is this… is this my task for the Mid-level test? This is simply too…" Xu Nian gazed upon the task laid out before him, a look of utter speechlessness descending upon his features. It was becoming increasingly apparent that this ultimate test would prove to be anything but straightforward.

Glancing around, he noticed that Li Tianxue, too, had been assigned the very same task. At that precise moment, Li Tianxue’s countenance mirrored Xu Nian's own, reflecting a distinctly unpleasant sentiment.