“He still dares to attack?”

The twenty-seven cultivators widened their eyes.

Those who were under attack immediately reacted, activating their artifacts and using them as a shield in front of their chest. However, following a series of explosions, the artifacts were completely shattered as they had been slashed in half.

“Such a powerful saber!”

The crowd of cultivators was stunned.

The strength of the saber alone had surpassed the strength of ordinary Monarch Weapons.

“The golden lock is here. It belongs to the person who gets it first.”

Qin Nan suddenly uttered a thunderous roar, which echoed throughout the entire mountain range.

He flicked his finger, causing the Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock to turn into a golden beam and fly into the distance.

“This...”

The cultivators held their breaths.

The other cultivators in the mountain range stared with their eyes open wide.

They did not expect Qin Nan to give up on the golden lock at such a crucial time.

However, they soon realized that Qin Nan was only trying to shift their focus by giving away the golden lock, as they would compete against each other for it. He would then make his move when the time had almost run out.

After all, anyone who held onto the golden lock when the time finished would advance to the next round, without worrying about being chased by the others.

Qin Nan was not the only one with the thought, as there were hundreds of cultivators in the mountain range, but only just over twenty of them were involved in the battle. The reason was that many were waiting for the perfect moment to strike, trying to be the sparrow watching the mantis and the cicada.

“It’s mine!”

One of the cultivators yelled as clouds were summoned under his feet, causing his speed to skyrocket as he chased after the golden lock.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

In addition to him, a few other auras exploded in the mountain range. Some turned into giant birds while the others flew on their ancient swords. Some even merged with their Martial Spirits. Countless methods were executed as they went after the golden-lock.

Everyone was well aware of the analogy of the mantis hunting the cicada, as the sparrow waits behind.

However, because there were too many people that wanted to be the sparrow, it would no doubt result in an epic battle in the end.

As such, those with weaker cultivators decided to try the reverse psychology and secure the golden lock first. They would then try their best to protect it so they could proceed to the second round.

Even though the risk was greater and full of uncertainty, they only had a chance if they actually tried.

In just a few breaths’ time, over fifty cultivators were fighting in the air, resulting in shocking explosions and blinding glows of rare phenomena. The Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock was exchanged between the cultivators, as no one was able to hold on to it for too long.

“I thought you would never let it go. We shall see who’s the mantis and the sparrow later.”

Miao Shan’s trio glared at Qin Nan for a while before they flew away.

Qin Nan glimpsed at their backs as they left, before he turned his head toward the deeper region of the mountain range. He could see several powerful auras hiding, waiting for the moment to strike.

The real experts had yet to show themselves.

“How exciting. I wonder what the final battle is going to look like?”

Qin Nan murmured as he thrust the saber into the ground beside him and sat down with his legs crossed, spectating the battle in the sky.

The reason he had done so was not because he was unable to escape from the cultivators with brute force. However, it was unwise for him to waste too much of his energy in the first round, as the Monarch Horoscope Contest had just begun. He would not want to injure himself and consume too much of his energy.

That being said, Qin Nan did not give out the Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock at the very beginning as there was still plenty of time left, thus leading to many possibilities. If someone took the Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock, wouldn’t that make him miss out on the chance to secure it?

...Time gradually passed...

More cultivators had joined the battle in the sky.

Whenever someone tried to secure the golden lock and run away, they were either flanked from all directions or interrupted by the cultivators hiding in the mountain range that ran out of patience.

Finally, when only around three thousand breaths were left until the time ran out, a man with his hair reaching his shoulders sprang into the sky from the mountain range while unleashing his peak Martial Progenitor Realm cultivation.

“Long Soul Hook!”

The man let out a roar as the fifth-grade Tian ranked Martial Spirit floating behind him turned into a long black robe that flew forward in the sky. It weaved past the crowd of cultivators and coiled around the Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock before the man pulled it toward him.

“Crap!”

The cultivators were startled.

“See ya!”

The man let out a charming smile as a monarch talisman in his hand was ignited, causing his figure to be encapsulated by the force of the rift.

He had already rehearsed the same move many times, thus he did not show any hesitation.

“Do you think it’s something that can be taken easily?”

A thunderous voice echoed.

A giant figure rose up from the mountain range. His giant hand fired countless talismans that surrounded the man’s figure, causing his movement to stiffen as the monarch talisman in his hand stopped burning.

“It’s the seventy-ninth ranked rogue cultivator, The Giant!”

“He finally ran out of patience!”

The cultivators floating in the air were astounded. However, they immediately executed their monarch attacks, which swept forward like the tide of a wave.

“Controlling size at my will, the regular visits to the mundane world.”

The Giant had long prepared for this. He let out a roar as he executed a forbidden technique, causing his giant figure to shrink rapidly. He was only half a man’s height in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, an ancient vortex appeared under his feet, trying to pull him into the ground.

“In your dreams!”

“Rift-Slashing Nine Frozen Swords!”

“Three Thousand Magical Dream Strings!”

At that instant, three powerful auras sprang into the sky from the mountain range, which turned out to be an illusionary palace, a magical, icy sword, and three thousand silver strings attacking The Giant.

Qin Nan scanned with his left eye.

Even though he was clueless as to who they were, he could roughly identify their cultivations to be on par with The Giant’s. One of them was even stronger than him.

The Giant was startled and immediately threw the Dragon-Shaped Golden Lock away without hesitation.

He had underestimated the strength of the others. If he continued to hold on to the golden lock, he would be severely injured!”

The three cultivators immediately withdrew their attacks and sprang toward the Dragon-Shape Golden Lock. The Giant and the long-haired man and the rest of the cultivators in the sky were reluctant to give up. Some backed off to wait for the perfect timing, while the others joined the battle and unleashed their moves.

BANG BANG BANG!

An endless series of explosions took place!

Meanwhile, there were only a thousand eight hundred breaths remaining!

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