Chapter 014: Play a Game

“Brother Yang, what sort of grudge do you have with Duan Langcai that he’d willingly exchange a three-star weapon for your life?” Lv Xiaohu asked with a curious look on his face.

“You’re not thinking of trading my head for a three-star weapon, are you?”

“Of course not, you’ve got it all wrong!” Lv Xiaohu waved his hands hastily, “Although I’m not exactly a saint, I won’t stoop as low as to betray a friend. If anyone wants your life, they’ll have to get past my Heaven’s Hammer first!”

“Heaven’s Hammer?” Yang Zhen was taken aback.

Ordinary weapons on the Nether Continent were divided into nine star levels. Each level represented a significant increase in power.

These star-level weapons were all augmented by certain attributes, and even the least impressive one-star weapon was a powerful tool enhanced by inscribed formation arrays.

It was said that the nine-star weapons could shake the heavens and move the earth, with enough power to shatter a mountain with a single strike.

Yang Zhen had never encountered such fearsome star-level weapons. Anyone who owned such a weapon was an influential force on Nether Continent.

As for weapons that exceeded nine stars, those were the stuff of legends. Yang Zhen had never even heard of a weapon that transcended the nine-star level.

Ordinary knives and swords usually didn’t have names. Once a weapon had a name, it was at the very least a one-star weapon. Lv Xiaohu’s Heaven’s Hammer, for example, was clearly a star-level weapon.

Lv Xiaohu chuckled smugly, holding up a giant hammer that emanated a dark light, “My Heaven’s Hammer is just a one-star weapon, but it’s already very powerful. I might only be at the early stages of Foundation Establishment, but with this hammer, I can take on anyone at the second or third stage of Foundation Establishment!”

“Impressive, impressive!” Yang Zhen looked at Lv Xiaohu’s Heaven’s Hammer with curiosity, “Can I take a closer look?”

After a moment of hesitation, Lv Xiaohu handed the Heaven’s Hammer to Yang Zhen and said, “Be careful with it. Don’t damage its formation array. I spent three years’ worth of saved spirit stones to buy it.”

Yang Zhen raised an eyebrow as he took the Heaven’s Hammer. The moment he touched it, he felt a terrifying wave of power that instantly startled him.

As expected of a star-level weapon. Even though it was just one-star, it still contained power fluctuations that were enough to alarm Yang Zhen.

Returning the Heaven’s Hammer to Lv Xiaohu, Yang Zhen asked, “Are star-level weapons hard to come by?”

“Brother Yang, you’re from the Shangyuan Sect. Haven’t you seen a star-level weapon before?” Lv Xiaohu asked in surprise, “Although star-level weapons are rare, they can still be purchased if you have enough spirit stones. The hardest to find are naturally occurring star-level weapons. They are made from extremely rare materials and already bear a star-level as soon as they are forged, without any formation arrays inscribed on them. If an appropriate formation array is inscribed on such a weapon, it could become something incredible, with a rating of at least three stars.”

Only then did Yang Zhen realize how precious a three-star weapon was. Duan Langcai really was willing to spend big.

“I heard that if you were captured alive, on top of the three-star weapon, there would also be a reward of three thousand spirit stones. Just what did you do to offend Duan Langcai?” Lv Xiaohu’s curiosity was downright burning.

Yang Zhen waved his hand, not answering this question. He was even considering going to Duan Langcai himself and handing him his head in exchange for the three-star weapon and the spirit stones. Without the backing of the Sword Servant Sect, Yang Zhen wouldn’t believe he could afford such a reward.

But since Duan Langcai dared to act so shamelessly, Yang Zhen would not let him bully without fighting back. After parting ways with Lv Xiaohu, he found a secluded forest where he could cultivate in peace.

In just two days, the Nether State Annual Trial would begin. It was to be held in a large mountain range in the northwest of Nether Sun Country, known as the Jiuyou Mountain Range. This wilderness was fraught with danger, its abundance of rare treasures balaced out by countless hidden threats. It was said to contain a Heaven-level legacy, accessible only during the Nether State Annual Trial.

In those two days, Yang Zhen mastered the Three-Element Ghost Shadow Sword to its highest level. As he summoned the combined force of the three elements, the horrifying surge of energy made it seem as though he was surrounded by dense fog. The spooky voices of ghosts wailed unceasingly, disrupting a cultivator’s mental state. Indeed, this was an incredibly strong martial skill.

Yang Zhen found that the cultivation methods and martial skills he got from the Heiyan Sect and the Demon Sect disciples were not exceptional. He didn’t practice them, but kept them in mind.

What surprised Yang Zhen was that the cultivation method given to him by the Little Witch, Zhen Ping’er, complemented the one given by Jie Gang perfectly. This allowed him to create a terrifying boxing technique named Heavenly Demon Gang Fist, divided into nine layers, each more terrifying than the last.

Word about Yang Zhen’s appearance at the Nether State Annual Trial spread like wildfire, exciting many practitioners. After all, a three-star weapon and three thousand spirit stones were a huge reward for them.

More and more people began inquiring about Yang Zhen’s whereabouts. The atmosphere at the Nether State Annual Trial became unusually tense, with everyone eager to capture Yang Zhen and claim their reward.

However, Yang Zhen was like an Epiphyllum flower, only appearing once during registration, and didn’t show up again afterward.

Boom!

Earth and stones shattered, and a terrifying wave of power rippled, dispersing in all directions.

Among the broken rocks, a figure stood, emanating a dreadful aura, shirtless, a horrendous power surging within, eyes like lightning – a sight to behold.

“Is this the power of Foundation Establishment?”

Yang Zhen clenched his fist, a sly smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: “Nether State Convention, here comes Yang Zhen!”

In the Nine Nether Mountain Range, immense trees reached for the sky, bizarre rocks dotted everywhere, everywhere one looked was filled with a savage aura, bone-chilling.

A group of people carefully walked along the mountain road when suddenly, a middle-aged man with a big beard lit up, exclaiming: “Qian Lingzhi, there’s actually Qian Lingzhi here!”

“What?” His short companion’s eyes widened: “The legendary Qian Lingzhi that is equivalent to a day and night’s worth of cultivation if eaten, there’s actually such a large piece here?”

“How… how many crystal stones can we fetch for this!” The big-bearded man’s voice trembled, clearly excited.

The short man sneered, adding: “That’s nothing, if we find Yang Zhen and manage to capture him alive, not only can we get a three-star weapon, we could also get three thousand crystal stones. By then, you and I can strut around in Nether City.”

The group of men cackled, revealing a series of blissful smiles.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the depths of the forest: “I heard that you want to capture Yang Zhen?”

“Who are you?” The big-bearded man vigilantly stared at the shadow, subtly signaling to his companions behind him.

Boom!

The shadow suddenly erupted with a terrifying speed, charging towards the group, hands aglow, throwing punches in every direction. The surrounding area was immediately engulfed in darkness, with dirt and stones flying everywhere.

“No good!” The faces of Big Beard and the others drastically changed, they yelled: “A Foundation Establishment expert!”

Boom!

With an earth-shattering sound, the area where the group stood was smashed into a giant pit by the shadow’s fists. The big-bearded man and his fellows were in a terrible state, falling to the ground in defeat, vomiting blood.

“Who… who are you?”

Yang Zhen emerged from the darkness, efficiently searched the men’s belongings, and tied them all to a tree.

“Tell Duan Langcai, tell him to wash his neck and wait for me!”

“You are…” Big Beard and the Dwarf exchanged glances, and simultaneously exclaimed: “You are Yang Zhen?”

“Correct!” Yang Zhen said while gathering the items: “There’s no reward, but we could play a game. Whoever can tell me their cultivation method, I will untie. Otherwise, you’ll be tied up here for a few days and see whether you get killed by someone else or eaten by beasts.”

“Don’t you dare!” Big Beard spat out, showing determination.

Yang Zhen turned and left: “Okay, okay. Actually, I don’t care about your martial skills at all. It’s just that I’m kind-hearted and wanted to give you a chance. But since you’re unappreciative, we’ll say goodbye then!”