Chapter Eighteen: Only Six Can Survive

Three days later, it was Bear—generally considered the slowest-witted among them—who first noticed something different at the temporary camp.

Previously, aside from the southern district, nearly everyone in the other two had been wiped out by a single stroke of Suning’s sword. Yet now, the entire camp was packed to the brim again, swarming with people arriving from all directions—even outnumbering those who had come with Chen Hongxu’s group.

Bear returned from the southern district carrying food, his expression grave. “If this keeps up, I’m afraid we might see some first-grade old monsters showing up.”

Fan the Good-for-Nothing took the food Bear handed over and nodded. “If we keep dragging things out, it’s entirely possible for some old monsters to make it here.”

Su Xiaoxiao was sitting carelessly on the ground and shook her head. “You don’t understand Su Daji. She’d never do something without absolute certainty. If any first-grade monsters really appeared, she’d likely end up with nothing, not even the dregs of the soup.

“These newcomers are probably those who were nearby and not otherwise entangled. After all, most shops in the southern district have government support. When people at the camp suddenly vanished, of course they’d call in others to check it out.”

“That’s probably what’s going on,” Chen Hongxu agreed. “Don’t forget the last time there was a street brawl, the people who came to collect the bodies. Those were likely personnel from different countries, here to see if the corpses held anything of value.” He stood and gazed into the distance.

He was facing the direction of the northern district, frowning deeply as he raised a hand and pointed at the sky far away. “I think it’s about to begin.”

Su Xiaoxiao shot to her feet and followed his gesture, but saw nothing. Yet she knew Chen Hongxu’s identity—who could say what abilities the legendary strategists might have?

“Let’s go and see.”

The four quickly packed up and headed for the northern district.

At this moment, the northern district was already in an uproar, a vast crowd gathering at the intersection, all staring toward a particular spot within the district.

Chen Hongxu and the others arrived at the outskirts and looked into the distance. In the sky above the blurred outline of a giant temple, a fissure resembling a monstrous eye silently opened and closed.

Around the fissure, black lines spread soundlessly—like strands of hair swirling in the wind, yet far more sinister.

Chen Hongxu glanced indifferently at the supernatural sight, then shifted his gaze elsewhere. On the open ground before the temple stood a female Taoist with her long hair coiled into a bun. Arms raised as if to embrace the sun, she slowly lifted a round sphere between her hands. The higher it rose, the larger it grew.

Watching the sphere ascend and entwine with the black lines extending from the rift, forming a tangled yin-yang pattern, Chen Hongxu motioned for the other three to step back. He whispered, “I think we’ve missed something important.”

Su Xiaoxiao withdrew her gaze from the distance, glanced at the fervent and wary faces around her, and nodded cautiously.

No one knew how much time passed before a sudden chorus of gasps erupted from the front of the crowd, followed by a frantic stampede toward the temple. Humans are imitative creatures—some may have seen what was happening, others merely followed the rush. Whatever the reason, the entire crowd surged forward.

Watching figures occasionally glide through the air, Chen Hongxu warned his group to be careful as he beckoned them to follow. He didn’t fully grasp the situation himself, but he knew something was happening.

All four possessed extraordinary abilities, so they soon reached the temple. Chen Hongxu deliberately kept a little distance from the main crowd, but they could still clearly observe the events unfolding there.

“So impatient—already thinking of sneaking about, or do you just want to bully a weak woman like me?” Su Daji stood atop the temple, gazing coldly down at those who had not even set foot on the steps. Yet her voice was seductively sweet.

“Ten people go in, so why should your group get four spots?” a discordant voice suddenly called from among the crowd below the steps, clearly trying to incite shared outrage.

“Is that so?” Su Daji waved her hand languidly. Behind her, a man with his hair tied back lifted a brush and, with a stroke in the air, conjured a massive bow and arrow.

No one drew the bow; it strung itself, and an arrow, like a stream of energy, flew out. The man’s brush moved ceaselessly, sketching until the invisible current solidified into a tangible arrow that pierced the forehead of a man below the steps.

“Divine Brush Ma Ji…” Su Xiaoxiao swallowed hard in astonishment.

Chen Hongxu frowned as he discerned the man’s legacy atop the temple: the ability to paint whatever he envisioned, condensing the world’s spiritual energy into semi-tangible forms. “He’s formidable.”

Xiaoxiao nodded solemnly. “Fifth rank strength. With him here, sheer numbers mean nothing. See those armed guards by the steps? Ma Ji painted them. His real terror lies in shifting between illusion and reality—he could even draw a black hole to swallow your attacks.”

Seeing the temple’s defenders resort to lethal force, the crowd below dared not charge for revenge. No one knew the dead man, and it was obvious he’d tried to stir up chaos for his own gain.

But not everyone feared Su Daji. Suddenly, a burly, bearded man hefting a giant axe leapt from the crowd, hovering in midair as he addressed her. “The rift in the barrier was opened by your people from Huaxia. Four spots is fair, but let’s not waste time. Looks like that Taoist is about to use her own essence to open the fissure. Hurry up and show us how you’ll allocate the remaining six slots.”

“No one can say what awaits within that world. The ten who enter must complement each other, so let’s see who the strongest six are. One thing—Blind Su won’t be participating, so slaughter each other as you please. Only in life-and-death struggle can the worthy be revealed.” Su Daji’s eyes narrowed to slits as she beckoned Ma Ji. He, expressionless, flicked his brush and conjured a pink canopy bed beneath her.

“Keep an eye on them. If anything happens to the Dao Embryo, wake me. But with Bing Long watching, I’ll probably sleep until the killing’s over.” Su Daji smiled, clutched her pillow, and lay down, utterly indifferent to the coming carnage.

Su Xiaoxiao’s declaration caused an uproar. Faces below the steps turned pale, and people edged away from those beside them. At such a moment of life and death, who could trust their neighbor?

Glancing at the crowd—alert but not yet violent—the burly man in the air swung his massive axe and thundered, “Dark agents, attack!”

At his command, chaos erupted. No one wanted to be a sacrificial lamb; everyone scrambled for an advantage. In an instant, all order vanished from the base of the steps.

Chen Hongxu watched the turmoil coldly, raised his hand to signal a retreat. Now was not the time to wade into such turbulent waters.

Hidden Sage 18 – Hidden Sage Complete Free Read – Chapter Eighteen: Only Six Can Survive – End of Update!