Nobody could guess.
However, the truth revealed itself.
Fang Zhengzhi channeled all his energy into this plunge. In addition to the fact that Mountain Waterfall Cascade was a technique with very high penetrating power, all the power was concentrated at the tip of the spear, which happened to be at the same spot at which the True Blood of the Blazing Qilin Spear was located.
This jab seemed very ordinary. However, its true power was extraordinary.
However, Ying Shan defended against it with a fake. Then, the results of what happened next could be predicted.
In an instant, the illusion was pierced through, turning into bits of black light. After which, the posture of the Blazing Qilin Spear remained the same, plunging directly towards Ying Shan while bringing along a spot of golden light.
"Boom!"
The spear contacted with the blade.
The blazing Qilin Spear's bizzare technique at this moment was executed brilliantly. Upon contact, Ying Shan instantly felt trouble. Because, Fang Zhengzhi's strange technique, which he thought was a fake, was a real one.
A intensely sharp and oppressive air channeled itself from the tip of the Blazing Qilin Spear into the blade in Ying Shan's hand.
Leaving a hole with the size of a speartip in the jet-black blade.
This wasn't over yet. Because, at this moment, Yan Xiu's cut had arrived. Asura embodied killing. Even though it was a righteous Dao, the air of killing definitely inspired reverence.
After Ying Shan's blade was penetrated by the Blazing Qilin Spear, it was already a little futile to block off Yan Xiu's Asura Cut.
As the saying went, a single slip may cause everlasting sorrow. During a battle, a single mistake and the loss of a key moment would cause one to be defeated. That was the meaning behind this.
However, Ying San was still Ying Shan.
The Vice Domain Chief of the Ten Devilish Domains. His vast combat experience and decisiveness at key moments were definitely not something any average person could compare to.
After losing a move, he changed from advancement to retreat. At the same time, the blade in his hand slashed upwards. That was one of the hardest techniques to master for the blade, with the intent of the technique Water Cutting Blade.
Water Cutting Blade. Even water could be cut. The speed, agility and deadliness of the blade was evident.
"Boom!"
The second clash rang out once again.
Right at the moment this sound rang out, Ying Shan vanished.
His body had completely immersed into the shadow territory.
Not only could the blade be shadowless. Ying Shan himself could turn shadowless as well.
However, immersing into the shadow territory during a battle meant that the injury suffered by Ying Shan during the clash caused him to have no choice but to hide.
This outcome undoubtedly caused great shock to the surrounding examinees.
They really couldn't understand how did this nonsensical technique injure Ying Shan once again?
Then, they thought of something which Fang Zhengzhi had previously said.
"When you meet with a problem, you must face it head-on!"
At that moment, almost everybody believed that Fang Zhengzhi had said this grudgingly. It was only a form of reassuring himself after falling into impasse.
However, the facts were that once Fang Zhengzhi faced it head-on, Ying Shan was defeated.
A very strange defeat.
Fang Zhengzhi actually had the advantage in a head-on combat?
The examinees couldn't understand the meaning behind this. Ying Shan himself couldn't understand it as well. He really couldn't understand, why was Fang Zhengzhi's technique not a fake?
Don't tell me he really doesn't know spear technique?!
Impossible!
Ying Shan really didn't want to admit this. This was due to his experience, as well as his self-respect and self-confidence. He didn't believe that his judgement would be incorrect. At the very least, he wouldn't go against the judgement of his many years of experience due to one failure alone.
However, his blade had already been damaged. Even though it wasn't broken, the initially advantageous situation he used to have had now suffered a sudden, devastating decline.
Another combat?
That was something only an idiot would do.
Moreover, on the rock, NAngong Mu's sword had already landed once again.
The third chain had been sliced into two by the Green and Blue Dual Blade.
"Buzz!"
The cry of the sword was like that of a dragon. The golden glow expanded greatly and the rock seemed to be on the verge of exploding. It was as if the sword was struggling to release itself from the rock by itself.
The surrounding examinees looked at the scene unfolding before them.
Each of them revealed a delighted expression. It was as if they had seen a tiny glow of light in the pitch-black darkness. That, was the hope of life. How could it not bring delight?
Yan Xiu held the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hand with a calm expression. He stood under the rock and guarded it tightly.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi felt somewhat flabbergasted.
He was astonished as to why would Ying Shan's power be so weak? What happened to Supernatural?
Before engaging with Ying Shan, he had even prepared to suffer injuries. However, why did Ying Shan escape so quickly after just one contact?
Or, could it be said that I am really a talent? The technique I created at the last minute had actually brought out three hundred percent of the power of the Blazing Qilin Spear?
Fang Zhengzhi was a little confused. However, all along, he wasn't someone who advanced prematurely.
After winning a move, it was better to stand guard below the rock.
As long as Nangong Mu broke off the four chains, the World of the Sage would return to the control of the Imperial Academy once again. When a few imperial messengers or similar people arrive, the rest of this wouldn't be much of his problem anymore.
Safety!
Was always the utmost priority.
That was similar to the value that Fang Zhengzhi scrupulously abided by all along. He had always despised things such as challenging higher levels, leveling up during times of great danger and enlightenment while at the doors of death.
Not too long ago, he had just gained enlightenment about the territory of the Heavenly Reflection State. As to the feeling of pacing around the doors of death in the Supernatural State, he didn't even have the slightest bit of knowledge. Charging in to fight just like that?
That was undoubtedly an act of suicide.
Within the shadow territory, Ying Shan's figure danced around. However, no matter how he danced, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu continued to remain unmoving under the rock.
Without the slightest bit of hurry and worry.
This way, Ying Shan became worried.
Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu could afford to wait slowly. However, he couldn't.
He needed to prevent Nangong Mu from pulling out the sword as fast as possible. However, under current circumstances, the probability of charging up the rock before Nangong Mu broke off the fourth chain wasn't too great.
Hence, he had to change his strategy.
Ying Shan's eyes narrowed slightly. In an instant, he spotted Ping Yang.
Ping Yang was standing by the side, pouting her mouth. She was bored stiff and was in a bad mood. Her clear eyes were fixated on Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu, and even seemed to be saying something with her mouth.
Ying Shan's eyes lit up.
However, they quickly darkened again. Because, he saw the Red Flame Flower Armor on Ping Yang's body.
Hence, he could only shift his gaze away with great difficulty onto those heavily injured examinees that lay on the ground.
In an instant, his eyes lit up with the brightest possible glow.
The examinees on the ground might not match up to Nangong Mu of the Heavenly Reflection Peak State, nor could they match up to the crafty and shameless Fang Zhengzhi, nor the heavily gifted Yan Xiu.
However, to be able to enter the third round of the Imperial Combat Examination, which of them wasn't the creme of the human race?
Most importantly, all of these people were heavily injured. Any blow could take their life easy. This way, what was the point of giving up something so easy to attain for something much harder?
When he thought of this, the edges of Ying Shan's mouth curved into a slight smile.
Hence, the shadow territory slowly expanded. His body had also gradually broken out from the shadow territory. This was something very natural. A condensed territory could concentrate its powers, causing it to become as dense as ink. As it widened, it naturally couldn't maintain its shadowless state.
In an instant, everybody's gaze was fixated on Ying Shan.
They were all guessing that this would be the Ten Devilish Domains vice domain chief's last struggle. Hence, it would be impossible for Fang Zhengzhi to become as lucky as before.
Would Fang Zhengzhi die?
This thought flashed across their mind, bringing along a few dilemmas.
In the end, they all reached one conclusion.
If Fang Zhengzhi's death could exchange for the reopening of the World of the Sage, saving them from the abyss of suffering, then, that was worth the death.
For an ordinary mountain villager.
Wasn't this the greatest honour and glory one could attain? His name would be forever recorded in the books of the Imperial Academy, and remembered by future participants of the Imperial Examination.
How great was that!
Among them, the majority were descendents of nobles. Ever since birth, they were treated highly and with nobility. The death of an ordinary villager could exchange for their lives. How great was that?
As they thought, their faces were filled with calm. Or, it could be said, it was peacefulness.
However...
This peaceful expression didn't last for very long. Because, they all felt as if there was something very hard, and somewhat cold, near their necks.
As such, all the examinees instinctively lowered their heads.
As they looked down, the peaceful looks on the faces of the examinees finally couldn't be maintained anymore. Instead, it turned into absolute horror.
Sword!
Dozens of swords floating in mid-air.
This was a horrifying scene. Even more horrifying was that these swords floated frightfully close to their necks. The slightest movement was sufficient for blood to be drawn.
These swords were naturally the swords on the ground. However, these swords were controlled by black shadows that reached out from beneath the ground.
Around the hilt of each sword wrapped a black shadow.
They were just like hands.
"Ah!" A blood-curdling cry rang out. An examinee grabbed his neck with both hands as his eyes widened and rolled about. His mouth was wide open. He wanted to breathe, but that felt like something that was absolutely impossible.
"Plop!"
The examinee's head tilted to one side, and crashed to the ground. Bright red blood flowed out from the chink between his fingers, dripping on and staining the rock-filled ground.
Very powerless, and very helpless.
When the examinees each witnessed this scene, they had no way of concealing the terror in their eyes anymore.
"Ah!"
"Don't kill me!"
"I still have a great future ahead, Vice … Vice Domain Chief Ying Shan, please don't kill me!"
Even though begging to be spared in front of the demon race wasn't a very glorifying thing for humans, there were still many among them who had never entered the battlefield.
They hadn't yet passed the imperial examination, and hadn't yet served their country.
Hence, in the true face of death, the human attribute of horror naturally greatly surpassed their rationality.
"Why are you all making noise! Ying Shan's actions are naturally meant to threaten them with our lives. Don't tell me you want to be a burden to them?" A voice rang out among the clamorous and horrified shouts.
It was Xing Qingsui.
The "them" Xing Qingsui referred to was naturally Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu.
There was also a sword that pressed against his neck. He was powerless to defend against this.
However, he didn't cry out. Ever since that sword pressed against his neck, he didn't make a single sound. Only until cries of horror sounded out from around him was he finally enraged enough to speak.
The gazes of the examinees instantly focused onto Xing Qingsui.
They really wanted to say something. However, when they had clearly seen the sword at Xing Qingsui's neck, they forcefully swallowed back the words that reached their mouths.
As the direct descendant of the Stablisation Constabulary, he grew up in the battlefield ever since young. What he saw was blood, what he drank was rain. As they charged and broke through enemy lines, since when was there even a single time they didn't discard their notion of life and death?
This was the Stabilisation Constabulary. The head of the thirteen constabularies, the Stabilisation Constabulary!
"Well said! Today, I will meet death together with Young Master Xing!" Another voice sounded out at this moment.
"I am willing to die as well!" A third voice closely followed.
Very unfortunately, there wasn't a fourth. Because, not everybody was able to see past life and death like Xing Qingsui did. Even though at a certain moment, one or two certain people burned with righteousness, it was always impossible for everybody to be the same.
"I don't want to die!"
"I don't want to die either…"
"Ah!"
A third cry sounded out. The person who fell was the exact same examinee who shouted "I don't want to die". This caused his eyes to be filled with disbelief.
He was clearly begging for forgiveness, yet, Xing Qingsui and the rest were begging to die.
Why was he the second person to die?
He couldn't understand, and didn't have time to try and understand. Because, his mind had already blurred, and his body and turned powerless...
This sudden turn in events instantly caused the rest of the examinees who were preparing to beg for mercy to close their mouths shut.
Each of them stared with their eyes wide open at Ying Shan.
"Clang!"
A clear sound rang out in the quiet space. Nangon Mu's sword had finally landed on the fourth chain. This time, he had used every bit of energy he had. Blood spurted out wildly from his chest.
However, the chain broke with one slash.
"Boom boom boom!"
An immensely powerful tremor spread out from the rock as lines of cracks began to form on the rock, covering the entire rock like a huge spider web.
Nangong Mu's looked at the rock beneath his feet with a calm expression in his eyes.
The entire time, he only focused on doing what he was tasked to do. No matter what happened below, no matter whether Fang Zhengzhi won or lost.
Even if blood-curdling cries rang out, even if he could clearly hear cries of mercy.
He only focused on what he was supposed to do.
There wasn't the slightest bit of hesitation, nor the slightest bit of pause.
It was somewhat apathetic.
However, it embodied a determined perseverance.
The cracks of the rock widened even greater. There was even a faint glow that seemed to be about to explode from within the rock. If it was not too long ago, this scene.
Was undoubtedly a moment filled with hope and survival.
However, after a sword placed itself beside the neck, the mood and attitude of one looking at this scene would evidently change.
The World of the Sage was out of control.
There was still some value to their existence.
However, once the World of the Sage was reopened, the imperial messengers of the Imperial Academy would charge into the world. When that time came, nobody knew whether Ying Shan, forced into an impasse, would take a risk out of desperation and kill them all in one move.
"Boom!"
Finally, the rock completely shattered. A beam of golden light rushed out from the rock towards the sky, turning into a golden light pillar that connected with the sky.