The golden pillar that reached the sky a moment ago was something everybody had seen with their own eyes.
The sealed stone had also completely exploded and shattered on the ground. On top of that, the material of the four chains that sealed the sword was definitely not ordinary as well.
If it was said that the sword was fake, there was simply nobody that would believe.
Furthermore, this was said by Fang Zhengzhi. Hence, the more reason why people wouldn't believe it.
"Don't tell me Fang Zhengzhi is really going to use that sword to exchange for our lives?"
"Can he be so good?"
"No matter how hard I try, I still can't understand. I feel that the probability of this is rather low!"
One by one, doubts rose within the hearts of the people.
Some of them were still filled with hatred from things Fang Zhengzhi had said previously. Another portion of the people were filled with astonishment from the words he was saying at this moment.
However, these thoughts didn't persist for very long. The joy of freedom made them forget all the misgivings they had.
Was there anything that could be more important than escaping with their lives from the blade on the neck?
The situation entered a stalemate once again.
Because, there was still one person left beside the sword. Ying Shan's hand similarly still held the lives of the last five people.
No matter what kind of exchange it was, only at the last moment would one be able to tell whether it was successful. For example, at this moment, Fang Zhengzhi stood beside the sword, while Ying Shan still controlled the life and death of the five examinees.
Xing Qingsui was naturally among these five examinees.
At this moment, Nangong Mu gripped the Green and Blue Dual Blade tightly in his hand, as if preparing to do something.
There was a saying that went, the onlooker sees more of the game. Nangong Mu believed greatly in this saying. As such, all along, he had used the perspective of an onlooker to view this exchange.
That was the reason he was willing to listen to Fang Zhengzhi and leave the sword.
Of course, he didn't believe that the sword was fake.
However, he had to leave.
Because, only by leaving could he then rescue the lives of the next five examinees.
The person involved in the situation would have to guess whether the sword was real or fake. However, an onlooker wouldn't have to. All he had to do was to take one look to know that the situation was obvious at a glance.
Ying Shan had spared the lives of ten examinees.
However, Fang Zhengzhi continued to stand beside the sword.
It seemed like a fair exchange. However, it actually wasn't fair. Because, only one person was needed to pull out the sword!
This was a very cruel reality. Fang Zhengzhi had made the wisest possible choice. Exchanging for the lives of ten examinees by asking two people to leave.
As for the lives of the last five examinees, they naturally couldn't be saved anymore.
Then next…
Fang Zhengzhi should be pulling out the sword.
Nangong Mu had thought of this a long time ago. At this moment, Xing Qingsui had also suddenly thought of this. After the state of the situation had advanced until this step, it actually wasn't too difficult to understand it now.
When he understood this, he bit his lips tightly and prepared himself mentally.
A gust of wind lightly blew past. Fang Zhengzhi's blue robe billowed in the wind. The situation had suddenly turned somewhat quiet. Everybody was waiting, waiting for Fang Zhengzhi to pull out the sword.
Fang Zhengzhi stood beside the sword and gazed towards Ying Shan.
Ying Shan was also looking at Fang Zhengzhi.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Previously, he had been confused by Fang Zhengzhi's words, hence didn't manage to guess this immediately. However, at this moment, he understood.
So that is the reason!
Ying Shan was somewhat regretful. However, if he had another chance to choose, he would still make the same choice. It was a very worthwhile exchange to use the lives of ten ordinary examinees to bet for a chance. Most importantly, he still held the most important person in his hands - Xing Qingsui.
"Are you going to pull out the sword?" The edges of Ying Shan's mouth curved into a smile.
"This sword is fake, why will I pull it out?" Fang Zhengzhi lightly shook his head.
"Are you going to say this even now?"
"I am just speaking the truth."
"Then, what are you going to do next? If you want me to let go of the people first, I can tell you immediately. That is impossible." Ying Shan's face carried a firm expression.
"No, I only need you to make an oath to the Demon God. After I leave, you will let go of the people!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head once again.
"You are going to leave?" A glimmer of shock flashed across Ying Shan's eyes.
"Since you said that it was impossible for you to let go of the people first, then, it would definitely have to be me who leaves." Fang Zhengzhi said this as if it was somewhat obvious.
"Alright!" Ying Shan nodded.
If the exchange was really smoothly completed, then, the person with the advantage would naturally be him. Because, as long as the exchange was completed, the sword would return back under his control. He would also regain active control the situation. Then, there was no purpose in any further trickery.
The remaining examinees were somewhat confused. What was the point of making such a request? Because, they all believed that Fang Zhengzhi would definitely pull out the sword.
Don't tell me it is to enrage Ying Shan again?
If that was really the case, they could only conclude that Fang Zhengzhi really had nothing better to do.
Nangong Mu's expression also seemed somewhat shocked.
He felt that his judgement couldn't be wrong. Then, what was the point of Fang Zhengzhi doing such a thing? For the first time, he felt as if he couldn't really understand what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't speak further. Instead, he quietly stood on the spot, waiting for Ying Shan to make the oath.
"I, Ying Shan, swear to the Demon God that as long as Fang Zhengzhi abides by the agreement and leaves, I will also abide by the agreement and temporarily free the remaining five examinees!" Ying shan used the word, "temporarily". The meaning behind it was even more obvious.
Yet, Fang Zhengzhi nodded. He didn't voice out any objections.
Ever since Ying Shan's voice landed, he had begun to leave slowly. It was as if he was doing something that was only to be expected. He walked very indifferently, and very calmly.
However, this movement caused the rest of the people to stare with their eyes wide with shock.
Ying Shan indeed used the lives of the ten examinees to bet for this chance.
However since when did he believe that this chance would be fulfilled? However, now it seemed like he had won the bet. Fang Zhengzhi had really left. He left that sword.
Each of the examinees looked at Fang Zhengzhi with their faces filled with disbelief. All of them felt that Fang Zhengzhi should have pulled out the sword. However, the reality was that Fang Zhengzhi didn't do so. Instead, he had really left.
"What is Fang Zhengzhi even doing?"
"Don't tell me he doesn't know that once the sword ends up in Ying Shan's hand, that means that we would all die?"
"I… I can't comprehend this!"
The examinees were completely stunned. They really didn't know what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do.
The swords at the necks of Xing Qingsui and the other four examinees fell to the ground.
Ying Shan had fulfilled his part of the oath.
Fang Zhengzhi had also fulfilled his promise.
Hence, the two of them, just like two righteous men who valued trust very highly, exchanged places. Ying Shan stood beside the sword, while Fang Zhengzhi returned back to Yan Xiu's side.
This seemed to be an extremely peaceful and harmonious exchange.
However, when it was a human and a demon who were in such harmony, it seemed more or less somewhat strange.
Most importantly, this wasn't an exchange everybody wished to see. At least, among the examinees who were still alive, none of them were willing to witness such a conclusion.
Xing Qingsui had been carried to the crowd by a few examinees whose injuries were relatively lighter. His gaze was fixated upon Fang Zhengzhi. It was filled with a deep sense of dissatisfaction. He really couldn't understand, why Fang Zhengzhi would give up that sword at the last and most critical moment?
"Why didn't you pull out that sword?" Xing Qingsui asked with great difficulty.
"If I said that I gave up my own chance to live so that you can live temporarily, would you believe?" Fang Zhengzhi didn't reply his question directly. Instead, he directed a question back at Xing Qingsui.
"I don't believe!" Xing Qingsui replied without even thinking.
"How about the rest of you?"
"We don't believe either!"
"Then, what do you think is the remaining possibility?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled lightly.
Xing Qingsui grew silent. The rest of the examinees also looked at one another, not knowing what to say.
"The sword is fake?" An examinee asked probingly.
"That's right. Don't tell me you people aren't able to understand such a simple thing?" Fang Zhengzhi seemed to reply this question with great despise.
"..."
"How can that sword be fake?"
The examinees were somewhat speechless. However, an even greater majority of them were in disbelief.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi didn't even bother replying anymore. Instead, he lightly waved his hand and looked at the crowd with a disdainful gaze.
Among the crowd, there was only one person who was calm.
That was Yan Xiu.
Nangong Mu stood beside the crowd, seeming somewhat lonely. However, his gaze had all along been fixated on Fang Zhengzhi's face. He wished to infer something from his expression.
However, what disappointed him was that when Fang Zhengzhi mentioned that sword, his expression was calm the entire time.
Ying Shan stood beside the sword. His gaze slowly began to sharpen. No matter what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking, it was him who had regained the advantage in the current situation.
As long as the sword was in the ground.
Then, the World of the Sage would be sealed.
With the power of the Supernatural State, killing off Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu would only be a matter of time.
At this moment, the situation seemed to have returned back to its starting point.
However, it was more serious than its initial state.
Xing Qingsui and the rest of the examinees had already completely lost their strength. The only people at the scene with energy left to fight were Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu, as well as the injured Nangong Mu.
As for Ping Yang?
She was completely ignored by Fang Zhengzhi.
"How are you so sure that the sword is fake?" Ping Yang looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She didn't really wish to ask Fang Zhengzhi this question. Because, she would definitely be despised by Fang Zhengzhi once she asked this. However, she was really too curious.
"Do you want to try?" Fang Zhengzhi turned towards Ping Yang.
"Try? How?" Ping Yang was somewhat taken aback.
"Try to pull it out of course…" Fang Zhengzhi said in a very straightforward manner.
"Pull…" Just as Ping Yang was prepared to ask how he was going to pull it out, her eyes turned round.
Or, it could be said, not only Ping Yang, but everybody's eyes had turned round.
Ying Shan's expression turned somewhat distorted for the first time. That was a distortion caused by being intensely shaken from deep within his heart. He had thought of countless possibilities, but he had never thought of this.
Nangong Mu's calm was finally broken.
All along, he felt as if he understood Fang Zhengzhi. However, in the end, he suddenly felt as if he couldn't really understand. And now, he had a thought.
He seemed to have been overthinking all along.
He didn't know how Fang Zhengzhi did this. However, if Fang Zhengzhi was really able to achieve this, then, the advantage had all along been with him.
The sword...
Had been pulled out.
Without a single sound.
It floated in mid-air and gave off a faint, golden glow.
That was an extremely mysterious scene.
However, that was reality.
"You… don't tell me you…" Ying Shan would have never even dreamt that Fang Zhengzhi could be able to achieve this. Because, this was his ability. Shadow control.
"You have a problem?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ying Shan with an innocent expression.
In this pocket dimension, there were a few hundred types of Dao. He had conglomerated seven years of stars. Shadow? Shouldn't he at least conglomerate something like that?
The first time he witnessed Ying Shan controlling the shadow on the ground to pull out the sword.
He had already felt that this move didn't seem too bad at all.
Hence, he began to try it. However, thinking and doing ultimately required some trial and error. This trial and error required some time.
Hence, the entire time, he was dragging time. At the same time, he had been trying non-stop to control the swords on the ground with shadow.
Until the moment he held that sword with his hand.
He could finally ascertain that he was already capable of achieving this.
Then, he evidently didn't have to pull out the sword immediately.
Would Ying Shan pull it out?
Of course not.
Hence, Fang Zhengzhi wasn't in a rush at all. At the very least, he wasn't rushed enough to pull out the sword while Ying Shan still controlled the lives of over ten examinees. He had sufficient time to wait.
As for whether that sword was real or fake?
Fang Zhengzhi naturally didn't know.
What he needed to do was to let Ying Shan feel that he wouldn't pull out the sword.
Hence, he kept telling everybody. That sword is fake, it is fake, it is fake…
Furthermore, he had even used his own actions to tell Ying Shan and the rest of the examinees.
He had the opportunity to pull out the sword.
But, he didn't pull it out. The entire time, he didn't pull it out.
Even if he had the sword hilt in his hand, he wouldn't pull it out either.
This way, Ying Shan would definitely not have expected Fang Zhengzhi to attempt pull it out once again.
Even more importantly, even if Ying Shan strongly believed that the sword was real, he would still grow doubts due to Fang Zhengzhi's consistent actions. Was there a possibility that the sword would be fake?
Even though it was only a guess.
Opportunities…
Sometimes grew within the span of just one thought.
Fang Zhengzhi's thinking was very simple. All he wanted to do was to ensure other people wouldn't expect him to pull out the sword. As for how they thought? He didn't know, and didn't have to know.
And now…
At the moment when everybody felt that the sword might really be fake.
He pulled out the sword.
When Ying Shan stood beside the sword with unparalleled self-confidence, he had effortlessly sent a shadow through the ground towards the sword hilt, then, rapidly pulled it out.
Ping Yang wouldn't be able to think of such a turn of events. Hence, her tiny mouth grew wide with shock.
Nangong Mu similarly didn't think of this. Because, he remembered very clearly the people who were able to control shadow.
Hence, the calm on his face was broken, turning into shock.
Ying Shan had even more reason to not have thought of this. Because, this was his technique. Just as Nangong Mu said, the people within the human race who knew how to use this technique were few. Fang Zhengzhi's name wasn't among them.
Yan Xiu, on the other hand, was able to think of this. However, he wasn't sure that Fang Zhengzhi could achieve it.
However, why did that even matter?
No matter whether Fang Zhengzhi was able to achieve this or not, he would definitely have a way to pull out the sword. This, was how Yan Xiu thought in his heart all along.
The situation…
At this moment, entered a short state of calm.
The sword floated in mid-air, glowing with a faint golden light. Everybody's gaze was fixated upon that sword, the sword that Fang Zhengzhi pulled out from the ground.
The trace of a smile appeared on the edges of Fang Zhengzhi's mouth.
"Pull out the sword? What a simple thing to do!"