That person was none other than Liao Bencang, the master of the Nine Nether Hall. He had actually appeared above the Thunder Pool.
With Liao Bencang's appearance, Long Chen's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't Liao Bencang been at the Jiuyou Hall at the headquarters of Tianluo Mountain? How did he end up here?
Back then, from the soul memories of the Nine Nether Rakshasa, he learned that Liao Bencang had always been in the Nine Nether Hall on Tianluo Mountain, which was the core of the Nine Nether Hall.
The endless faith power of the Nine Nether Hall's followers was also concentrated in the Nine Nether Hall on Tianluo Mountain, where he gathered faith power and cultivated. He would not leave this place easily.
This guy actually descended upon Jiuyou Island, which instantly filled Long Chen's heart with unease. Although he had once slain Liao Bencang's avatar, that was only a cross-heaven avatar. Most of the avatar's power was spent resisting the Heavenly Dao, and the gap between the avatar's power and the true body's strength was impossible to calculate by logic.
"Reporting to the Hall Master, these are the first batch of disciples from our cohort to pass the Slaughter Trial." An elderly man said respectfully to Liao Benchang.
Liao Bencang's gaze swept over everyone. When his divine soul swept over Long Chen's body, he was slightly stunned and was about to speak.
"Buzz!"
At that moment, the gate beside the Thunder Pool opened, and thousands of disciples entered. Leading them was a Realm King powerhouse, who bowed to Liao Bencang and said,
"Hall Master, all disciples who passed the assessment have been captured—thirty million disciples, A total of 8,972 people passed the assessment. Please take a look. "
Of the thirty million disciples, only 8,972 have survived." Long Chen gasped, thinking the Nine Nether Hall's assessment was too bloody.
Jiuyou Island is just a branch of the Jiuyou Hall, yet a single branch has so many people, which shows just how powerful the Jiuyou Hall is.
These 8,972 people have only qualified for the Thunder Pool baptism. After the baptism, they will enter the ultimate trial. Of these 8,972, who knows how many will ultimately survive.
It can be said that the selection process at Jiuyou Hall was extremely ruthless, but Liao Bencang had many followers. If it were anyone else, if they kept going like this, they would have been in vain long ago.
"Greetings, Hall Master!"
At that man's words, all the disciples knelt down. The person before them was the deity they worshipped. These usually numb disciples were all filled with excitement, their eyes filled with awe and fanaticism.
In their hearts, Liao Bencang was supreme, omnipotent, their faith, and the spiritual refuge for them. They feared no death because they knew that after death, they would return to God's embrace, which was their best home.
Liao Bencang nodded, looked at the disciples, and a look of relief appeared on his face as he said,
"That's right. This batch of disciples' essence, energy, and spirit are clearly the best, especially in their physical bodies. There have been tremendous breakthroughs. It seems you've put a lot of effort into it, Chen Ming."
There are two people in the pool whose blood and energy are especially strong. One already carries the aura of a Supreme and is very likely to awaken the Supreme Bone soon. After the trial, bring both of them to see me. If they can enter my eye, I will personally accept them as disciples." Liao
Bencang pointed at Guo Ran and Long Chen floating in the pool. Clearly, as soon as he arrived, he noticed the difference between the two.
Long Chen lay motionless in the Thunder Pool, but his heart was secretly tense. He had already instructed Lei Ling'er to fully merge the auras of himself, Guo Ran, and Xia Chen into the Thunder Pool, just to prevent others from noticing anything.
Unexpectedly, he still couldn't hide it from Liao Bencang. Liao Bencang immediately noticed something unusual about Guo Ran's aura. If it weren't for Lei Ling'er's cover, Guo Ran's identity would have been seen through at a glance.
When they heard that Liao Bencang was going to personally take on disciples, all the disciples present showed expressions of envy and jealousy.
"If these two can become disciples of the Hall Master, that would be a tremendous blessing. Rest assured, Chen Ming will take good care of you." The Realm King expert named Chen Ming hurriedly said.
At this moment, the other disciples also stepped down from the Thunder Pool and began to receive their baptism. Seeing that everything was normal, Chen Ming said to Liao Bencang, "
Hall Master, why have you come in person?"
Clearly, he was also puzzled by Liao Bencang's arrival.
Liao Bencang said, "The Star-Peering Sky Mirror has shown abnormal fluctuations, and a large amount of death energy has appeared within the Star-Peering Space. I came specifically to take a look." "
Death aura?" How could this be? I just checked half a month ago. It was a disciple who came to inspect. I ask the Hall Master to punish me." Chen Mingcheng said nervously.
This matter is serious. He controls Jiuyou Island, and after such a major incident, he didn't even know about it. This is a serious crime.
You have to understand, the Star-Peering Sky Mirror is the biggest secret of Jiuyou Island; any mistake means his life is at risk.
"It has nothing to do with you. The Star-Peering Sky Mirror just had a problem. I've already cleared away the death energy." Liao Bencang waved his hand in acknowledgment.
Seeing that Liao Bencang did not blame him, Chen Ming finally relaxed, but with a puzzled look on his face as he said, "
How can the Star-Peering Heavenly Mirror contain the aura of death?" Could it be that the puppet it sealed had a problem? "
I checked the puppet, and it was fine. That deathly aura, it seems... Originates from the Star-Viewing Sky Mirror itself. Liao Bencang said gravely.
"The Star-Peering Sky Mirror itself, could it be... Has its lifespan been up? That's impossible? Chen Ming was shocked.
The Star-Peering Heavenly Mirror was a divine artifact personally crafted by Luo Tianye, used to peer into the Nine Stars descendants of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. It was not a spiritual artifact, nor did it have a spirit artifact. Logically, it should have been a divine artifact with infinite lifespan.
Because only spirit-summoning artifacts have a lifespan, because damage to the artifact spirit, failure to break through, or changes in the Heavenly Dao can lead to the death of the artifact spirit.
Before the artifact spirit dies, the artifact emits a large amount of death energy, just like old people develop age spots after aging—this is a sign of impending destruction.
But since the Star-Gazing Mirror lacks a spirit artifact, how could it produce so much death energy? No matter how Chen Ming thought about it, he couldn't figure it out.
"I can't determine the reason either, but you don't need to worry. It's just that death energy has just appeared, and for thousands of years, there won't be much change.
After this assessment ends, I will notify Lord Luo Tianye's disciples to come and inspect. You should complete this assessment first. Liao Bencang said.
"Yes,"
Chen Ming replied immediately.
"By the way, what's going on with that fat guy?" Liao Bencang said. The 'fat man' he mentioned was a term for Empuda.
"Just received news that Ji Wuming has awakened the Two-Hand Supreme." Chen Ming said.
"Hmph, I knew it. Ji Wuming's idiot brother will sooner or later be schemed against by that fat guy." Liao Bencang sneered.
"Another piece of news has arrived: Ji Wuming's disciple died at Long Chen's hands." Chen Ming said.
"What?" Long Chen has already arrived in Ziyan Heaven? Liao
Bencang immediately jumped up.