A Chaotic World

Chapter 78: One Level Handicap

Nanqing Haowen felt conflicted at the moment, and he wondered whether he should step in to stop this.

In his eyes, Lu Tianzi was just an Advanced Essence Building realm martial artist. By all logical sense, Lu Tianzi should have a problem matching up to Nancheng Wei who was already at the Peak Essence Buliding realm.

On top of that, Nancheng Wei was also more familiar with the Iron Soldiers Combat Array, granting him yet another advantage in this little competition.

However, Lu Tianzi was someone who had gone against the odds and came out strong time and again.

He had slain an Essence Condensation realm Bronzehorn Rhino with a single strike, as well as picked out the mistake of an established Origin Core realm inscription master!

This caused Nanqing Haowen to slightly look forward to seeing how Lu Tianzi would fare in the Iron Soldiers Combat Array as well.

The Iron Soldiers Combat Array was one of the many special training facilities within the Outer Sect Grounds.

Fundamentally, it was an intricate killing formation that utilised a total of thirty six iron puppets, and was meant to hone a martial artist's combat awareness and fighting capability. The killing formation was modified so that it would not take the life of the challenger, but anyone who entered the formation would still have to face the relentless assault of the iron puppets.

Those who did not possess the ability to defend themselves would only end up being beaten into a pitiful state.

Just like any other training facilities in the Nine Suns Sect, the difficulty level of the Iron Soldiers Combat Array could be adjusted so as to cater to sect members of different skill levels.

There were a total of ten different difficulty levels.

The higher the difficulty level, the stronger the iron puppets would get.

At the highest tenth level difficulty, even Nanqing Haowen who was already at the Primary Essence Condensation realm would find it difficult to remain within the Iron Soldiers Combat Array for long!

"I just have to beat your score? So be it then," Lu Tianzi readily agreed. "Let us go to the Iron Soldiers Combat Array."

His confident reply caused everyone to be surprised. After all, this was effectively the same as looking down on the combat capability of Nancheng Wei who possessed a higher cultivation level!

"I will see if you can maintain this arrogant attitude of yours after this!" Nancheng Wei had an ugly expression on his face as he stomped off, leading the way to the Iron Soldiers Combat Array.

Lu Tianzi calmly followed Nancheng Wei's lead, not showing any hints of anxiousness whatsoever.

Nanqing Haowen could not help but to smile when he noticed this, quietly joining the small crowd as they followed the duo to the Iron Soldiers Combat Array.

Along the way, many other sect members revealed looks of interest upon spotting the group. Many of them chose to follow along as well out of curiosity, and this resulted in the size of the crowd getting bigger and bigger.

As Nancheng Wei saw this, he sneered coldly in his heart.

The more people there were, the better!

This way, he could truly deal a strong psychological blow to this impudent young brat who actually believed that he had the right to enjoy special privileges!

He wanted to let this brat know that no matter how capable he was, there were plenty of others who were even better than him in the Nine Suns Sect!

The group arrived at the Iron Soldiers Combat Array before long, and Lu Tianzi could not help but marvel at the intricate formation before him.

The Iron Soldiers Combat Array took up the area of a circle with a diameter of fifty metres, with thirty six iron puppets standing motionless at fixed intervals within the formation.

Of course, this was only because the formation was not activated at the moment.

Once the formation was activated, these iron puppets would immediately spring into motion, turning into fearsome opponents that sought out their target within the circle.

"Such a huge crowd today?" the sect member in charge of operating the Iron Soldiers Combat Array raised an eyebrow when he saw the group of people walking over.

"Isn't that Nancheng Wei? Didn't he just come a week ago? Why is he back again so soon? Wait, who is that behind him?" his partner was just as surprised.

"I have never seen him before either. Could he be the rumoured unaffiliated martial artist whom senior apprentice sister met at the recent Beast Hunt?"

"Oh, now I understand where this is going," the partner let out a sinister smile.

Nancheng Wei stopped in front of the Iron Soldiers Combat Array and turned towards Lu Tianzi once more, "This is your last chance to admit defeat. Rather than lose in a pitiful manner later, you can at least save some of your dignity by pulling out now."

"After you," Lu Tianzi gestured towards the Iron Soldiers Combat Array, completely disregarding Nancheng Wei's offer.

"Hmph! Not knowing what is best for you!" Nancheng Wei harrumphed before turning towards the two sect members who were in charge of operating the formation. "I would like to challenge the Iron Soldiers Combat Array."

"Which difficulty level would Brother Nancheng like to challenge?" the sect member controlling the formation asked with a smile.

"The eighth level!" Nancheng Wei announced loudly.

Nancheng Wei's decision made many people reveal looks of surprise.

"Is Brother Nancheng already able to challenge the eighth level? That is a level that most Peak Essence Building realm martial artists will have trouble handling!"

"No wonder Brother Nancheng is so confident in his victory, so this is why!"

"That new guy is going to lose for sure then!"

Murmurs broke out among the crowd as they discussed fervently.

"I understand," the sect member controlling the formation nodded. "Please enter the centre of the formation."

This was not the first time Nancheng Wei had challenged the Iron Soldiers Combat Array, and he naturally knew how this worked.

After he stepped into the centre of the formation, a faint light started to glow around the perimeters of the circle, proof that the formation was now activated.

Roused from their deep slumber, the thirty six iron puppets immediately whirred into motion, turning simultaneously to face the centre of the formation where Nancheng Wei stood.

Without warning, they charged towards Nancheng Wei and attacked in a rapid but orderly manner, not getting in each other's way as they struck out repeatedly towards him.

Lu Tianzi saw this and was filled with praises in his heart.

As expected of the strongest influence within Bluenight City, the training facility of the Nine Suns Sect was not simple at all.

Even though it should have been difficult for thirty six different individuals to fight together efficiently when facing only a single target, the iron puppets seemed to face no such problem here.

Each puppet weaved in and out, striking out and immediately moving away, allowing others to quickly take their place. The strength exerted by the iron puppets was no joke either, exerting a great pressure on Nancheng Wei who had to fend off the seemingly neverending attacks.

Yet when faced with such a relentless assault, Nancheng Wei still found enough openings to counterattack, slightly disrupting the formation from time to time with his attempts.

Lu Tianzi could not help but acknowledge that this Nancheng Wei was truly quite skilled.

If any of the Peak Essence Building realm martial artists from Ivory Rock City were to be placed in his position, they would only be helplessly beaten up by the iron puppets!

However, even Nancheng Wei did not have the ability to fend off every single attack from the iron puppets.

Occasionally, one of the iron puppets would land a hit on him. As time passed, the damage sustained started to accumulate. Coupled with his growing weariness, Nancheng Wei started to falter, causing more and more of the iron puppets to land their hits on him.

After around fifteen minutes, Nancheng Wei was finally expelled from the Iron Soldiers Combat Array by the iron puppets, and the formation returned to the previous calm state.

In order to last longer within the formation, Nancheng Wei had pushed himself to the limit and even had to pop a pill so as to quickly recover from his slight injuries.

But even so, Nancheng Wei was pleased with his results.

In fact, fifteen minutes was his best record yet!

After all, he did push himself to the limit in order to get a better result this time.

The other sect members watching all nodded in approval. This result should be more than enough to put the new kid in his place!

Even as he was recovering, Nancheng Wei did not forget to shoot a look of confidence towards Lu Tianzi, "Your turn!"

Lu Tianzi did not answer, directly heading towards the centre of the Iron Soldiers Combat Array.

"What difficulty level would you like to challenge?" the sect member controlling the formation asked.

At this time, Nancheng Wei shouted from the side, "Don't complain that I am being unfair. My cultivation level is one boundary higher than yours, so I will give you a one level handicap. As long as you are able to last for the same duration in the seventh level, then I will consider it your win!"

Hearing that, there were some people in the crowd who let out suppressed snickers as they glanced gloatingly at Lu Tianzi.

Even though Nancheng Wei appeared to be acting in a magnanimous manner, everyone here knew that even the seventh level was practically impossible for Advanced Essence Buliding realm martial artists to handle.

In general, Advanced Essence Building realm martial artists were only able to handle the fifth and sixth difficulty levels. For the sixth difficulty level, even the stronger ones would find it a tough challenge.

It was only by breaking through to the Peak Essence Building realm would they finally be able to survive the seventh and eighth difficulty levels.

Nanqing Haowen's gaze fell onto Lu Tianzi as well.

Seeing that the latter still had the same calm look on his face, Nanqing Haowen found himself filled with greater anticipation to see Lu Tianzi in action.

Just as everyone was sure that Lu Tianzi would fall for Nancheng Wei's words and ask for the seventh level, what Lu Tianzi said next completely took them by surprise.

"I will challenge the ninth level!" Lu Tianzi confidently announced.

"What did he say? The ninth level?"

"Is he retarded? He won't stand a chance in the ninth level with his current cultivation level!"

"What if he suffers severe injuries from this?"

"That will be his own fault for overestimating himself!"

Even the sect member controlling the formation felt puzzled as he asked again, "Are you sure you want to challenge the ninth level?"

"That's right! The ninth level!" Lu Tianzi confirmed.

Nancheng Wei felt a burning sensation in his cheeks as he watched from the side.

He had only just mentioned that he would give the other party a one level handicap. Yet instead of choosing a difficulty one level lower, this crazy bastard actually went ahead to choose a difficulty one level higher instead?

Was this bastard trying to embarrass him by turning his words against him?

Since that was the case, then this bastard could go suffer in the ninth difficulty level for all he cared!

Nancheng Wei had no doubt that Lu Tianzi would never be able to last through the ninth level difficulty!

"This" the sect member controlling the formation turned towards Nanqing Haowen hesitantly.

The sect member controlling the formation was ultimately just another Outer Sect member, and was only in that position because he was assigned the job for the week. Out of everyone here, Nanqing Haowen might not be the oldest, but he was the only Inner Sect member, and thus held the greatest authority.

Nanqing Haowen nodded towards the sect member, giving his approval.

It felt like an irrational move, but Nanqing Haowen had a strong feeling that Lu Tianzi would once again be able to accomplish what seemed to be impossible to others.

"All right then" the sect member controlling the formation activated the Iron Soldiers Combat Array as he was told.

Once again, a faint glow lit up the perimeter of the circle and the iron puppets whirred into life, turning towards Lu Tianzi.

Those in the crowds had mixed feelings.

Some were feeling worried for Lu Tianzi, while others were gloating over how his arrogance was going to suffer a major hit soon enough.

Nanqing Haowen, on the other hand, was looking forward to how Lu Tianzi was going to surprise everyone present.

But one thing was the same, they all held their breaths as they watched in anticipation.

After all, for most of the people here, they were about to witness the ninth level difficulty of the Iron Soldiers Combat Array for the first time!

At this moment, the puppets erupted towards the centre of the formation, heading straight towards Lu Tianzi!