"I don't think that's possible..."
Ricky shook his head sadly when he heard the Dragon Intent Grass' suggestion, "That's their business,
so I can't really intervene. They have no choice but to oppose each other since they are going to
fighting for the same thing.
It doesn't matter who falters, the Eight Diagrams they cultivated with their blood and sweat will be taken
away. Don't you think that is more painful than death?"
"But I still think you should try. Your efforts will undoubtedly count for something. Besides, you don't
want these friends of yours to get hurt, right?" the Dragon Intent Grass advised. It added, "You have the
makings of a leader, and a leader has the charisma to influence people and make them see sense. You
might be able to guide them into a peaceful solution."
"Me, a leader? I've never wanted that!"
Ricky vehemently responded. A boyish grin lit up his face as he added, "I already have my hands full
with my own problems. How am I supposed to lead others? Still, you have a point. I'll try my best to
stop Jasper and Mike from killing each other."
The confrontation between Jasper and Mike lasted only for a moment, for they were aware that this
wasn't the right moment to have a duel. They could wait until the selection started.
The next moment, the First Deputy Chief arrived.
All the warriors and saints participating in the selection immediately greeted him, some respectfully
bowing their heads. After all, the First Deputy Chief was superior to them in terms of status and in
strength.
"Hello, everyone! I believe you all understand the requirements of the selection. Please do not break
the rules. I can't guarantee what will happen to you if you do so,"
the First Deputy Chief announced in all seriousness.
"No one can challenge the rules, or they will pay a heavy price. The martial world may not subscribe to
the conventional justice of society, but in this selection, the Misty South Palace intends to create equity
and order."
As he said this, he glanced at the saints who had come to witness the event.
It was obvious that his words were intended for them.
After all, only those saints had the power to break the rules of the Misty South Palace's selection.
The weight of the First Deputy Chief's glance burdened the guilty saints, and they couldn't help but take
a half-step back as if intimidated by his mere expression.
"Now, the selection starts! You will gather here again in two years. See you then!"
After that, the top masters, such as the First Deputy Chief and Wally, used their Omnipotent Skills to
envelop nearly thirty thousand warriors and transported them to the entrance of the Passage World.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The momentum swelled like the pressure of an incoming storm as thunder roared
in the background. It was like the end of the world. They had arrived into what looked like a massive
dark hole. At this time, a powerful hurricane swept through the hole, forming countless whirlpools that
threatened to tear everything apart.
This was the third passage between the continents and the Devil Land, and it was where the Third
Sheol City was built on.
In fact, every Sheol City was built over a passage like this, as they served as the primary defense
against the devil race.
Once the participating warriors passed through the whirlpools, they finally reached the entrance to the
passage. They would then be able to reach the Devil Land through the whirlpools on the other side of
the Passage World. At that point, every warrior would sense the Passage World's suppressive force
from heaven and earth, which could be as strong as the power of a demi-saint.
As soon as the passage allowed the warriors at the Sage Level to enter, the battle between the Devil
Land and the continents would commence.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Each participant chose their own whirlpools through which they would enter the Passage World.
Ricky and his three teammates also chose their whirlpool and jumped in without any hesitation.
"The boy is going in now,"
Wally remarked with his internal power as he gazed at Ricky's disappearing figure.
"Well, this is the last time that I can help him. The rest is up to him,"
muttered the First Deputy Chief.
The next moment, he activated his power in secret and tampered with the whirlpool that Ricky and his
teammates chose. Those who followed Ricky into the same whirlpool were then transferred to another
whirlpool, subtle enough that they wouldn't notice what had happened.
In doing so, he made sure that Ricky could avoid getting into trouble as soon as the selection started,
giving the boy enough time to get his bearings under him.
'Boy, this is the last time I can help you. The rest is in your hands now. I hope you can stand out in this
selection, so Paul's inheritance won't be wasted on you. Don't let the lord down, '
thought the First Deputy Chief to himself.
He had helped Ricky because the latter had caught his attention from the start, and he had spent much
of his time watching his antics. To say that he was intrigued by the boy was an understatement.
Every time the devil race invaded the continents, a top-ranked warrior rose above his peers. The First
Deputy Chief believed Ricky was this generation's strongest master, and this belief was reinforced by
the knowledge that the boy had once been an incredible demi-spiritual emperor.
As Ricky and his three companions came out of the passage, they came upon a dark and dreary world.
In this place, the evil spirit and the continent's aura were intertwined so tight that nobody could tell
where one began and where the other ended. This was, without a doubt, the passage between the
continents and the Devil Land.
However, the first thing they noticed about the Passage World was the killing power that permeated the
air.
It was so intense.
Of course, that was to be expected, for the battles between the devil race and the creatures of the
continents often took place in this place. Thus, the Passage World naturally held the most intense
killing power compared to anywhere else.
The killing power gave Ricky and his friends a nostalgic feeling. They felt like they could visualize the
countless fights that had happened in that place between the devil race and the continent's creatures.
It was a horrifying vision, one filled with blood and death.
They were reminded of the sacrifices that the elder generations had done, and the sight ignited the
embers of anger in Ricky and his companions' hearts.
"I think those scenes are the will of the elder generations. Perhaps, it's their way of reminding us that
we shouldn't forget the battles our race has had against the devil race,"
Mordechai suggested, his face made serious by the visions they had seen.
"Indeed, I also believe that these convey the elders' will. They must be trying to tell us that the devil
race is our enemy first and foremost." Ricky nodded in agreement.
"Anyway, we shouldn't tarry here. I'm sure that a lot of warriors followed us in here, so we need to get
out as soon as possible. Regardless of how strong we are, we can't stand firm if those warriors
outnumber us,"
he then reminded his companions.
With that said, he immediately revealed his space and used it to lead all of them forward. They moved
as fast as they could and traveled for six hours straight without stopping.
Of course, Ricky's space piqued Ella's curiosity.
But she was hesitant to ask because Ricky might not want to answer her, and that would make the
situation awkward.
Ricky had no idea that the First Deputy Chief had helped him solve this problem already. If he had
known, he would not have done so.
"After this, we need to hunt the devil race. We don't need to engage with them—just strike them as
soon as we see them,"
he declared firmly.
After that, the four of them moved forward carefully, searching for members of the devil race.
The chances that they would find a lone devil here were very low. Thus, they had to be cautious. They
were all one-star middle spiritual emperors, and in this Passage World, their strength was below
average.
If they weren't careful enough, they could die before they realized what was happening.
The group also paid great care to be wary of demi-saints in the devil race.
If they met those guys, Ricky wasn't sure that he could bring Jasper, Mordechai, and Ella into his space
quickly enough.
However, the Misty South Palace had foreseen this problem, and they had also sent out many demi-
saints of their own.
In doing so, the demi-saints in the devil race would naturally be enticed by the demi-saints of the
continents. The weaker warriors would be in less danger.
These demi-saints that the Misty South Palace had deployed could also be counted on for help. They
could assist struggling participants and save them, but that would mean the warrior they saved would
be knocked out of the selection.
In that situation, many participants couldn't help but feel conflicted. Should they ask the demi-saints of
the continents for help, or should they try harder?
Finally, after searching for a long time, Ricky and the other three met a group of devils.
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