Chapter 256: Chapter 251: An Alternative Use of Godhood

In this place, a Sect’s influence wasn’t determined by its standing in its own Small Thousand Realm, but by its status within the Star Alliance.

Just as Moo WuZheng had said: one hundred and eighty-sixth place.

The end of the month was still a long way off, and Moo WuZheng had no desire to wait around. He only needed to check in every ten days or so, like a farmer tending his crops. For now, the harvest looked promising. With a flicker, his body hovered in mid-air. He then shot off at high speed, seemingly without the aid of any Magical Artifact. From start to finish, it appeared he had only used a little more than ten percent of his Elemental Power.

Holy Hall, Thunderlight Hall.

Hu Jing and the others already knew Wang Meng had left. Zhang Xiaojiang was bawling his eyes out, insisting that he had to go find Wang Meng.

He only quieted down after Hu Jing gave him a kick. Zhang Xiaojiang couldn’t help it. Ever since they were children, he and Wang Meng had fought and played together. All the way from entering the Holy Hall as a nobody to reaching his current position, Wang Meng had been there. With Wang Meng around, he felt like he had an unshakable backer, a pillar of support. He wasn’t afraid of anything. Now that Wang Meng was gone, it felt as if the sky was falling.

In truth, it wasn’t just Zhang Xiaojiang; Suo Ming and the others felt the same way. It was Wang Meng who had single-handedly brought Thunderlight Hall to its current position, creating a miracle and giving them all confidence. With him gone, it seemed like everything was threatening to revert to the way it was before.

"What is wrong with everyone? Zhang Xiaojiang, get a grip! You’re just holding him back, don’t you see? Didn’t Elder Zhou say that once we reach a certain level, we’ll have a chance to go over there too? Besides, it’s not like Wang Meng is gone for good! He entrusted Thunderlight Hall to us out of trust! What’s he going to think if he comes back and finds Thunderlight Hall has turned back into a dilapidated wreck? Can we even face ourselves after all our hard work? Or do you all just want to go back to the way things were, living like trash!"

Hu Jing’s words were as sharp and final as hammered nails, and the crowd instantly fell silent.

Zhang Xiaojiang wiped his runny nose. "Jingjing, don’t try to scare me. It’s not that bad, is it?"

"The reality is even worse than you imagine. The least we can do is give it our absolute best!"

"Hu Jing’s right. In any case, there’s no way I’m going back to being treated like trash," Zhou Qian said with a helpless shrug.

"Me neither!"

"Fuck, I finally see a glimmer of hope after all this time. I’d rather die than go back to those dazed and confused days!"

Everyone shook their heads in agreement. Wang Meng had brought them hope; keeping it alive would depend on their own efforts.

"Then let’s prove it with our actions! Let’s give Wang Meng a huge surprise when he gets back!"

Hu Jing pumped her fist. She forced herself to be more passionate, more inspiring. She had to shoulder the responsibility Wang Meng had left behind. She didn’t know how much she could achieve, but she would give it her all.

Zhou Feng didn’t participate. A master can only lead you to the door; your cultivation is your own to master. Their future was entirely in their own hands.

The same was true for the fate of the Holy Hall. Zhou Feng didn’t know if Wang Meng and the others could create a breakthrough, but as a member of the Holy Hall, everyone had to contribute their own efforts.

He was no exception.

These kids had all awakened. Even he had stopped numbing himself by fiddling with those useless Pill Formulas all day. Wang Meng had lit a fire in the Holy Hall, allowing everyone to rediscover their confidence and their sense of self. ’I wonder how he’s doing now?’ he thought.

PTHOOEY, PTHOOEY, PTHOOEY~~~

Wang Meng spat frantically, trying to get a mouthful of mud out of his mouth. He had just slaughtered a dozen or so of those Fire Beasts, along with several other types of unknown Demon Beasts. He had zero interest in fighting them and had only engaged after accidentally exposing his position.

After finishing off the Fire Beasts, he immediately found a spot and buried himself, his Heart Spirit sinking into the Spirit Lock Array.

Waiting for him inside was "Wangtian."

Wang Meng had actually figured out a use for his Godhood. He wasn’t sure how, but the Godhood construct had ended up looking somewhat like Wangtian. The first time Wang Meng saw this incredible figure who had once dominated the Grand Thousand World, a boundless, heroic ambition had surged within him. ’How amazing would it be if I could defeat him?’

Wang Meng had the thought, and his Godhood actually made it happen. And so, Wang Meng got to experience the "Demon God Wangtian’s" Timeless Sword firsthand... In reality, it was just a simple strike. And then Wang Meng was instantly obliterated.

His body’s reaction was too violent, and the Elemental Power he failed to control was immediately detected by the Fire Beasts, forcing him into a fight. Afterward, feeling he had lost a great deal of face, Master Wang challenged his opponent again.

"Control! What the hell is control?! You can’t use more Elemental Power than me when we fight! It has to be the same, balanced, you get it? Otherwise, what’s the fucking point of this training?!"

When facing the image of Moo Shan, Wang Meng always maintained a respectful attitude. Wangtian, however, didn’t receive such courteous treatment.

The Wangtian born of Godhood nodded. Wang Meng focused his full attention. ’With equal Elemental Power, plus my Five Elements Physique... Damn it!’

Before Wang Meng could even draw his sword, he was instantly obliterated again.

Fortunately, he had learned to control his body and Heart Spirit this time and didn’t expose his position again.

Returning to his Sea of Heart, Wang Meng glared death at "Wangtian." "This time, wait for me to draw my sword before you make a move!"

"Wangtian" nodded.

Wang Meng unleashed his most powerful move, One Sword Cuts the Edge of Heaven and Earth. This was the ultimate strike he had comprehended from the Hinayana Five Elements Technique—a simple, direct, and brutal Sword Technique.

He who strikes first gains the upper hand.

And then... Master Wang was once again instantly obliterated.

His Heart Spirit was depleted, and he would need to recover before he could enter the Sea of Heart again. Oh, that stubborn temper of his!

’How can this be???’

Wang Meng wracked his brain but couldn’t understand it. ’Could the gap really be this massive even when we’re using the same level of Elemental Power?’

Li Tianyi’s situation, on the other hand, was entirely different. Not only was his Life Mark foundation solid, his foundation in Sword Technique was as firm as it could possibly be. The Li Family’s standards were already incredibly strict, but spurred on by Wang Meng, Li Tianyi had become even more demanding of himself. During the great competition, for instance, he had used only nineteen percent of his Elemental Power to execute the Second Layer of the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword. Upon arriving in the Great Yuan Realm, he was like a fierce tiger unleashed from its cage, finally cutting loose completely.

The longer he spent there, the better he performed. The pure Elemental Power of the realm acted as a greater stimulus for his complex Sword Formulas. Li Tianyi was in his element, like a fish in water; he was the type who thought through combat.

Mingren was looking a bit battered but was managing to hold on. Tang Wei, however, was beyond battered—he was in a miserable, truly wretched state. Li Tianyi’s battles were strategic; he would fence off a number of opponents that suited his needs—a common trait among Sword Cultivators. But for a Body Cultivator, disengaging from a fight was not so easy. Tang Wei was waging a bloody war. He simply refused to retreat, and besides, there was no road back. For him, coming here meant one of two things: entering the Cultivation Academy or dying.

Zhou Feng had not told them the way home.

Ma Tian’Er... stroked her cheek. "Little Cutie, I’m going to get fat if this keeps up. Why isn’t the month over yet?"

Red Roar brandished its club, silencing a group of clamoring Demon Beasts. ’So annoying,’ it thought. ’Coming here to bother Master every single day.’

WHIMPER WHIMPER WHIMPER~~~

"Oh, it’s almost over? That’s good. Looks like the Cultivation Academy isn’t so scary after all. Their trial is so weird, though. It’s just... taking care of Demon Beasts."

Red Roar nodded in vigorous agreement. Taking care of this pack of morons was a real hassle. It had been exhausting work these past days.

Moo WuZheng truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The members of this Holy Hall group weren’t particularly strong, but each had their own peculiar traits. ’Li Tianyi and Ma Tian’Er could be considered talented; they should be able to survive for a few years. That Mingren has a bit of petty cleverness, but that sort of thing is useless inside the Cultivation Academy. As for Tang Wei, he’s just trash struggling against fate. Even if someone like that manages to get in, so what? The outcome will be the same.’