Chapter 76

"Ha ha, Your Highness, a little friendly competition among the descendants of the feudal lords is harmless. Your Highness holds a high position and has many important matters to attend to. Why bother with such trivial matters?" Long Yin Ye smiled faintly and spoke calmly despite the Princess Gou Yu's imposing presence.

"Hmph, do you think I have no eyes or ears and don't know what's happening here? Ever since Jiang Chen appeared, each of you has been mocking and belittling him, all in an attempt to make him lose face. Is this the kind of magnanimity that a First-Rank Feudal Lord of the kingdom should have? Afraid of competition from newcomers? Must you resort to such tactics to suppress your competitors?" Princess Gou Yu seized the opportunity and pressed her advantage.

These words left Hong Tian Tong with a bitter smile.

"Your Highness must have been listening from the shadows. You should have heard clearly that the one who issued the challenge first was Jiang Chen, not anyone else." Long Yin Ye shrugged.

"Yes, I remember, it was Jiang Chen who first proposed the competition, saying it would be a bit of fun for everyone."

With someone backing him up, Hong Tian Tong felt more confident: "Your Highness, it's not me, Hong Tian Tong, who started this. Jiang Chen is a bit arrogant. We were just joking around, and he immediately challenged us, as if the Jiang family is so great."

These so-called nobles, one more shameless than the other. Clearly, they were the ones who provoked first, but in their mouths, their provocation became a joke, while Jiang Chen's counterattack became a provocation!

Princess Gou Yu was speechless and looked at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen touched his nose and smiled: "Your Highness, don't look at me. I don't like to argue. If Hong Tian Tong says I'm arrogant, then let it be. If you want to watch the show, go ahead. If not, you can avoid it."

"Good, I like your straightforwardness!" Long Yin Ye was delighted to see Jiang Chen's stubbornness. He was worried that Jiang Chen would back down.

Seeing Jiang Chen's pride, Long Yin Ye immediately fanned the flames: "Your Highness, both sides are willing. Your Highness wouldn't be so uninteresting, would you?"

Princess Gou Yu looked at Jiang Chen carefully and saw that he always had a lazy smile. She was also annoyed, thinking, "I'm here to help you out, and you're just climbing up the ladder. Don't you know this is a trap?"

"Let's have a match, let's have a match!"

The onlookers on both sides were loudly cheering.

Throughout history, those who watch the show have never feared a big commotion. They didn't care who got hurt in the competition, as it might affect their own chances of passing the assessment.

What does it have to do with them? The bigger the commotion, the more exciting it is for them to watch!

"You few, are you ready? They look down on our four major families' guards. When you go up, don't disgrace my face!"

Hong Tian Tong gave a pep talk, speaking loudly on purpose.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly: "Did you hear that? They're going to try to finish you off! You know what to do, right?"

Having followed Jiang Chen for so long, these guards knew his character well. The calmer his smile, the more likely it was that his anger was burning inside.

Moreover, Hong Tian Tong had just humiliated Guo Jin, which was equivalent to humiliating their team and their master.

When the master is humiliated, the subjects must die. They knew very well what this battle meant!

"Stay calm when you go up. Guo Jin, no matter what they say, you must keep your composure." Xue Tong, who was usually quiet, spoke up.

"Xue Tong, you are the calmest. You will lead the team this time." Ke Mu suggested.

"I agree." Shen Yifan spoke up.

"I also agree." Wen Ziqi said softly.

The Qiao brothers didn't care about being the team leader; they just wanted to go up and fight to vent their frustration.

In their eyes, these people were all scoundrels. The young lord had done them a great favor, and these people dared to provoke the young lord. What else could they be but scoundrels?

"Brothers, let's go, take care of these bastards!" Qiao Shan roared, swinging his huge axe and striding into the battle circle.

Qiao Chuan followed with his bronze staff.

Then came Guo Jin and Wen Ziqi.

The seemingly chaotic order of entry actually contained the secrets of the Eight Desolate Spirit Array. However, to those who didn't understand the array, these eight people looked like a disorganized mob, with no teamwork at all.

Hong Tian Tong laughed. Such a team, and Jiang Chen still dared to challenge. Today, he would use this opportunity to severely dampen Jiang Chen's spirit. The best outcome would be to beat these guys to a pulp, making it impossible for them to pass the next assessment.

If Jiang Chen failed the assessment, it would mean he failed to challenge the First-Rank Feudal Lord.

This would be the best way to strike a blow against the Jiang family.

Such a blow would surely make the Long Teng Marquis Manor look at him, Hong Tian Tong, with new eyes!

The more Hong Tian Tong thought about it, the more excited he became. He gave the eight guards a meaningful look, and they entered the battle circle like wolves, surrounding Jiang Chen's eight guards.

At this moment, Long Jue Xue seemed to be deep in thought. She glanced at Jiang Chen and then walked to Hong Tian Tong's side, whispering, "Don't underestimate them. Jiang Chen is cunning and must be guarded against!"

Hong Tian Tong, receiving the beautiful woman's advice, felt a surge of passion, ready to fight to the death for Long Jue Xue.

In just ten days, they had only grasped about two to three-tenths of the Eight Desolate Spirit Array.

However, in this situation, two to three-tenths of the array's mystic power was enough.

After all, mastering six to seven-tenths would allow them to directly confront several True Qi Masters.

Mastering two to three-tenths, with eight people working together, could勉强应对一个真气大师。而洪天童的这批亲卫加在一起，战斗力与一个真气大师相比，显然还远远不如。

真气大师的最低修为，也是十脉真气。

而他们最高级别的，也不过是八脉真气。

当然，这种群体战斗，也不能一概而论，胜负还需看临场发挥。

江尘这边，有冷静的薛同主持阵法，有乔氏兄弟凶猛打头阵，整个阵法的衔接，虽然有些生硬，但总算没有乱。

对于第一次操作阵法，没有乱，便算成功了。

尤其是在这种大乱战的局面下，你没有乱，又能成功地搅乱对手的节奏，那便是更大的成功了。

诚然，洪天童那边，一个八脉真气境的强者，确实有着出类拔萃的优势。

可是，除此之外，洪天童的队伍，根本就没有任何优势可言。

三个七脉真气境？

不值钱！

江尘的亲卫队伍，清一色是七脉真气境。

这样一来，洪天童那边的亲卫们，越打下去，便越是心虚。那个八脉真气强者，一开始还威风凛凛，攻击力十足，四处撩拨。

可是没过多久，他便悲哀地发现，对方任何两人一沟通，组成一个小团队，便能将他的攻势化解。

而且，对方看起来杂乱无章的队伍，任何两个人，任何三个人，随时都可以组成一个小团队，进可攻，退可守！

八荒摄灵阵，以八荒的方位，集八位一体的力量，可拆可合，变化多端。

原本以为是洪天童团队碾压对手的局面，结果没打几个回合，局面却完全颠倒了。

尤其是那名八脉真气的强者，此刻真是叫苦不迭。

乔氏兄弟，加上郭进，三个攻击力十足的人，组成一个攻击团队，疯狂地朝他一个人招呼。

而其他三个七脉强者，则被温子琪、柯牧以及毕云三个用剑者缠住。

沈一帆一柄长枪，大开大合，与薛同配合，对付另外四名六脉真气的强者，却是轻松之极。

而且，这个阵法最妙之处在于，小团队之间，并不是彼此割裂的，他们的每一步，每一下，都可以互相呼应，互相驰援。

一开始，这阵法的玄奥外人还看不太明白，只觉得这八个人配合不错，随着战局的深入，见识高明的人，隐隐已经看出了点什么。

只是阵法玄奥，繁复之极，岂是这么看几眼就能参悟的？

忽然间，那八脉强者惨叫一声，已经被乔川一棍狠狠砸在背上，口喷鲜血，脊梁骨直接被轰成数断，如断线风筝一般飞了出去。

八脉真气强者一倒，其他人的斗志顿时全无。郭进心头怒火显然没有消除，刀光舞动，又将一名七脉武者的右臂之间卸了下来。

乔山也不甘落后，大斧挥动，拦腰一斩。一名身形微胖，步伐略慢的七脉武者，被大斧拦腰斩成两断，血肉横飞。

电光火石间，洪天童团队土崩瓦解，惨叫声不断。

“停，认输，我认输！”等洪天童反应过来，惨呼声已经响了四五下了。

再看战局内，当场死两人，重伤两人，还有一个断了手臂。剩下三个，也都是个个挂彩，面无血色。

如果洪天童喊得稍微慢一些，此战，必定是全军覆没的结局！

乔山咧嘴大笑，大斧往肩上一扛，大笑：“痛快，痛快！还有哪个不服的，下来一起玩一下。”

郭进长刀一指，对向洪天童：“姓洪的，你羞辱我父亲，哪怕是你四大诸侯，这笔帐，我早晚也要跟你算清楚。”

“你……江尘，比试切磋，你的属下竟然下此狠手！”洪天童手足无措，这种场面，是他万万没有想到的。

江尘语气淡淡：“没记错的话，刚才有人说，比试如果有个三长两短，后果自负吧？”

洪天童面无血色，他内心在滴血，在哭泣。一想到亲卫团被灭了大半，等于说他这个一品任务无法通过考核了。

想到这种可怕的灾难后果，洪天童两眼通红，状若疯虎：“江尘，你坏我大事，我跟你拼了！”

身形刚要动，龙吟野一巴掌扇在他脸上：“输不起的混账，滚一边去吧！”

啪！

大巴掌直接扇在洪天童脸上，直接甩出了十几米远。