The buzzing sound faded, and the halo’s light converged as Long Haochen and the other fifteen contestants looked at the light surrounding them.

Inside the halo, the five vice-presidents opened their eyes simultaneously. Except for Ruoshui, the other four vice-presidents showed a hint of schadenfreude. Han Qian’s expression, however, turned extremely ugly.

The facts had proven that even without the supervision of the five vice-presidents, no one would question the fairness of the draw.

The five participants from the Knight Temple had formed two and a half pairs. This meant that regardless of the outcome of this round, the Knight Temple could have a maximum of three contestants in the top eight.

The two fifth-level knights whom Zhou Weiqing didn’t know were paired together. The depth of the golden light on their bodies was identical. The other pair was none other than Long Haochen and Li Xin, the siblings.

Long Haochen’s expression instantly turned astonished as he looked at Li Xin, his face very troubled. He never imagined that he would still have such unfortunate luck. With a one-in-eight chance, he actually drew his sister again.

The Holy Magician Lin Chen cleared his throat, patted Han Qian’s shoulder, and said, “Brother Han, you truly deserve to be called an envoy of light. This draw was fair and just, and the Magic Temple agrees.”

Ying Suifeng, being the most familiar with Han Qian, laughed without restraint. “Old Han, your Knight Temple is indeed strong, but your luck, tsk tsk…”

Han Qian’s face turned green and he glared fiercely at him.

Battle Emperor Ren Wokuang laughed heartily and said, “Shadow, don’t say that. This draw is actually quite beneficial for the Knight Temple. At least they occupy two spots in the top eight. Doesn’t that greatly increase their chances of reaching the top three?”

San Shui, the Spirit Emperor-level summoner, snorted coldly. “What else can you guys do besides gloat? If you’re so capable, put five people into the top sixteen and show them. Old Han, thanks! Our Soul Temple didn’t have any overlaps; our luck is indeed good.”

Besides the Knight Temple, the Soul Temple was the most prominent in this selection competition. Besides Chen Ying’er, who could summon anything with her Gate of Summoning, there were actually three excellent summoners who made it to the top sixteen. And two of them were at the fourth level. This showed how powerful summoners were. In the draw just now, these three summoners would all face opponents from other temples, which was why the Spirit Emperor San Shui, who was cold-faced, was in such a good mood.

Han Qian’s heart was bleeding! The elimination round hadn’t even started, and the Knight Temple was already effectively down two people! However, with so many juniors present, he couldn’t explode. His face turned red and white. “Look at you, all looking so smug. Look at how calm Ruoshui is.”

Ruoshui sighed helplessly and said, “It’s not that I’m calm, it’s that I have no choice! None of the people from our Priest Temple made it into the top sixteen. The outcome of this draw has little to do with me.”

“Uh…”

Han Qian was immediately speechless. He said fiercely, “Go back to the waiting area. Compete based on the lightness to darkness of the golden light on your bodies. The first group, stay in the arena.”

After saying this, he stormed off towards the main stage without looking back. The huge golden halo slowly rose and disappeared into the dome.

“Sister, I…” Long Haochen wanted to say something to Li Xin. Li Xin smiled and shook her head at him, saying, “Silly brother, what’s wrong with you? What’s there to be troubled about? Could I continue to advance if I met someone else? I was able to enter the top sixteen thanks to Cai’er’s help. I’m already very satisfied. I never even thought I could get into the top sixty. Drawing you is actually the best draw for me. Since I’m going to lose anyway, isn’t it the best situation to send you into the top eight?”

“But…” Long Haochen wanted to say something, but Li Xin interrupted him again.

“Silly boy, what’s there to ‘but’? Do you think I, at the fourth level, can win against you at the fifth level? Or do you think my Rose can win against that little monster Haoyue? It has also evolved, you know.”

Most of the other contestants had already headed towards the waiting area. Cai’er was still waiting beside Long Haochen, listening to the conversation between the siblings.

“Uh…, aren’t you two not in the first group’s match?” A somewhat helpless voice sounded from the side.

Long Haochen and Li Xin turned their heads and saw Yang Wenzhao and another female summoner looking at them strangely. The female summoner’s magic robe had a hood. She was slightly lowering her head, making her face unclear.

“Oh, sorry.” Long Haochen nodded to him and quickly returned to the waiting area with Li Xin and Cai’er.

Unbeknownst to them, Yang Wenzhao also breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t drawn Long Haochen or Cai’er. Even without the previous psychological trauma, these two opponents were the most difficult to deal with.

“Cai’er, who is your opponent?” Li Xin asked Cai’er, who was beside Long Haochen.

Cai’er shook her head and said, “I can’t see colors; I don’t know.”

Hearing her words, Long Haochen immediately felt a strong sense of guilt. He was so focused on himself and Li Xin being drawn together that he forgot that Cai’er couldn’t see. He held her small hand apologetically. “Don’t worry, I’ll go ask the staff.”

While Long Haochen was asking the staff, the first match of the round of sixteen had already begun.

Yang Wenzhao still didn’t summon his mount. Holding his two heavy swords apart, he charged towards the summoner opposite him like lightning.

In a match between a knight and a summoner, the two sides had to maintain a distance of fifty meters. The summoner opposite Yang Wenzhao held a green staff and chanted spells quickly. At the same time, she continued to retreat rapidly.

Yang Wenzhao’s charging speed was quite fast, but even so, just as he crossed the twenty-meter mark, the female summoner had already completed her first summon.

A green dot of light fell from the front of the staff, and as it landed, a circle of green light rippled out.

Suddenly, thick vines emerged from the ground and spread instantly. She was actually a plant summoner.

At this time, if Yang Wenzhao wanted to avoid a direct collision with the vines, he would have to detour. Yang Wenzhao naturally wouldn’t choose to do so; he charged forward without hesitation. Brilliant golden light appeared on the two heavy swords. His footwork accelerated again, turning his charge into a raid. He waved the two swords in his hands, and two light-cutting swords flew out simultaneously, skimming close to the ground.

Although the vines were tough, they still seemed fragile in the face of the light-cutting swords. Several vines were quickly cut through.

Yang Wenzhao’s power was undoubtedly revealed at this time. He fearlessly charged into the vine thicket, using no more skills, just swinging his two heavy swords impenetrable. Any vine that entered his sword’s edge would be instantly shredded. Only his speed decreased slightly as he broke through the vine territory like a hot knife through butter.

At this time, the female summoner opposite him had already completed her second summoning magic.

Faced with Yang Wenzhao’s charge, the summoner was not flustered at all. This time, a dark green light rippled out. Suddenly, large patches of thorns emerged from the ground, not only blocking Yang Wenzhao’s path but also hiding his figure within them.

The sound of clanging metal burst out instantly, and Yang Wenzhao’s forward momentum was actually stopped. These dark green thorns, which looked much thinner than the vines, were as hard as iron. Although they still couldn’t compete with Yang Wenzhao’s two heavy swords, they made it impossible for him to advance at a raiding speed. He could only step forward step by step.

At this time, Long Haochen had already asked the staff. He had confirmed that Cai’er’s opponent was another summoner. He was also attracted to the match in the arena.

Long Haochen was the least familiar with summoners. The only summoner battles he had seen were those involving Chen Ying’er’s Gate of Summoning.

The summoner fighting Yang Wenzhao was obviously much more reliable than Chen Ying’er. The speed at which she released her consecutive summoning magic spells was surprisingly fast.

“Clang!”

Just then, suddenly, Yang Wenzhao paused. A violent collision sound rang out, and his body shook as well. He actually stopped.

Long Haochen’s eyesight was quite good. He clearly saw a foot-long red spike bouncing off Yang Wenzhao’s sword. It was obviously an attack that had just been launched stealthily.

Because the waiting area was above, Long Haochen could see that the summoner was still in the thorn thicket, not retreating with the protection of these thorns. Beside her was a strange plant that was as tall as a person and as wide as a hug.

This plant was covered in thorns, and at the top was a large red flower. The crimson spike that had just been fired was launched from it.

Long Haochen knew how strong Yang Wenzhao was. A spike that could knock him back was incredibly powerful.

Long Haochen focused his mind and stared carefully. He could see the strange plant shaking violently, and the dark red spikes on its body quickly gathered together. They then concentrated into a foot-long spike and shot out, targeting Yang Wenzhao.

Good fellow. Plant summons can be used like that? Long Haochen had his eyes opened.

“Clang!”

Another violent collision blocked Yang Wenzhao’s body, and the surrounding iron thorns moved from all directions to surround Yang Wenzhao at an alarming rate. It looked like this summoner had gained the upper hand.

The female summoner’s incantation didn’t stop. In front of her, bean-pod-like plants gradually grew. The bean pods were very large, even larger than the thorny plant from before. It was unknown how they locked onto Yang Wenzhao, but they slowly bent down until they were almost parallel to the ground, then suddenly swung up. Each bean pod launched three green beans the size of human heads, smashing towards Yang Wenzhao like catapults.

(To be continued)

Please bookmark “The Divine Throne” for updates.