The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

As Liu Tianning's voice echoed, a strong wind swept across the Demonstration Square, sending materials flying through the air and piling them into a small mountain in the center of the square.

"These materials shall be the standard," he announced.

"You have one quarter of an hour to craft your straw puppets and send them into the hall. The higher the level and the more puppets you create, the higher your ranking will be."

"Begin."

Whoosh—

The moment Liu Tianning's voice fell, the one hundred people in the square sprang into action.

The fourth trial was a single technique test, with the minimum requirement being at least one puppet of the seventh transformation!

Both quantity and level would determine the ranking.

No one dared waste any time, each person focusing on their Straw Puppet Techniques with the urgency of the ticking clock.

In the third trial, the differences between the competitors weren't obvious yet.

Even the hundredth person and those ranked two or three hundred weren't too far apart.

Sometimes, with a little luck and the right timing, a person could find themselves in the top hundred.

But in this fourth trial, it was entirely about skill. Here, the gap between the truly talented individuals became clear.

"Form!"

Within ten breaths, a group of people had already crafted seventh-transformation puppets.

Lifeng was among the first. He glanced across the square and noticed that Zhao Xing had nothing before him, causing him to smirk slightly. What he didn't know was that Zhao Xing's first puppet was an Invisible Straw Puppet, completely unseen.

Zhao Xing, however, paid no attention to the others. Owing to his habits, his first move was to "study the question." Using Five Elements Observation, he scanned the entire square.

He quickly realized that although there were plenty of materials, certain types were limited.

If he wanted to maximize the effectiveness of his Straw Puppet Techniques, he had to grab the best materials first.

"Form!"

With a flick of Zhao Xing's finger, a golden light shot out. By the time one reached mid-level straw puppet techniques, there was no need to weave puppets by hand. With enough control over the wind, the formation of puppets could be managed entirely through elemental manipulation.

As the spell took effect, several golden lights collided in the air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of clashes erupted.

Zhao Xing's spell wrapped around the materials, knocking away the techniques of others.

In an instant, a pile of high-quality materials flew in front of him, quickly forming a puppet.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Many competitors, having identified these "premium materials," tried to claim them.

But strength varied from person to person. After two rounds of clashes...

Those who knew they couldn't win quietly retreated, opting for lesser materials.

"The gap has immediately appeared," commented Liu Tianning from within the main hall of the Palace of Myriad Techniques, observing the scene outside.

"Through these spells and clashes, the stronger ones have claimed the better resources and space for casting."

"Even though this is only about Straw Puppet Techniques, the opening moves still involve the manipulation of the Five Elements," added Lu Bang, who had appeared beside him. "Those geniuses who were strong before still remain dominant here."

Top-tier talents like Zhao Xing, Zhuang Zhiqing, Shiyong, Cao Shuang, and Feng Qiu all managed to secure the best materials early on.

The others, unable to win the clashes of magic, had to settle for less.

"Divine Strength, Sacred Shield, Explosive Detonation, form!"

After completing his first Invisible Straw Puppet, Zhao Xing identified the best materials.

For the second round, he chose to cast higher-level straw puppet techniques.

Within half a quarter of an hour, he crafted two of each of his Divine Strength, Sacred Shield, and Explosive Detonation puppets, each at the ninth transformation.

By this time, more than half of the materials in the square had been used up.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Golden lights shot into the remaining materials as Zhao Xing cast another round of spells. Before the time was up, he managed to form twelve more puppets.

However, due to the rush and shortage of materials, these last twelve puppets were not perfect. Only half of them reached the ninth transformation, while the rest were at the seventh.

"Time's up!"

Liu Tianning's voice rang out, and with it, all remaining materials and unfinished puppets were swept away by a fierce wind.

"What? Time's already up?"

"No! Just give me ten more breaths, and I'd have finished!"

"Sigh, I only made a sixth-transformation puppet."

"I was so nervous. Normally I can craft seventh-transformation puppets in practice, but I messed up because of the pressure."

"It's over... I won't pass the fourth trial."

Many sighed in disappointment.

The time was just too tight, and they had only been given seven days to study between the third and fourth trials.

Though practicing in the Palace of Myriad Techniques did help them quickly learn the techniques, not everyone's comprehension was equal. Less than half had mastered a seventh-transformation puppet.

But while some were downcast, others rejoiced.

"I hadn't reached the seventh transformation before midnight, but during that clash just now, seeing the others cast their spells made something click, and I broke through! It's true that pressure and competition can push you to succeed!"

"Hmm? I actually crafted a seventh-transformation puppet? I never thought to use those materials before, but it worked out surprisingly well!"

"The materials do affect a puppet's power. Technically, I only know the sixth transformation, but the puppet I crafted was much stronger than that. I wonder if it'll be enough to pass?"

As Liu Tianning called the time, everyone commanded their puppets to head toward the hall.

Ouyang Song controlled his first Invisible Straw Puppet, his heart filled with hope.

But as soon as the puppet stepped onto the first step leading to the main hall, it began to wobble.

By the second step, the previously invisible puppet revealed one of its legs.

Before it could reach the third step, it fully materialized.

Boom!

The puppet was thrown back, disintegrating into scraps of material at Ouyang Song's feet.

"Failed."

His face darkened.

He had only managed to create this one Invisible Straw Puppet during the allotted time.

He had felt its power was on the edge between the sixth and seventh transformations—it could go either way.

Now, it was clear: it hadn't reached the seventh transformation.

"Sigh, looks like I'll be stuck in the fifty-to-one-hundred bracket for rewards."

Being in the fifty-to-one-hundred range would only earn him one thousand points.

Ouyang Song was unwilling but had no choice. He could only step aside and watch.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"No!"

"This has to be a mistake! I clearly mastered the seventh transformation!"

"Ah, my fourth puppet exploded too!"

Many puppets didn't even make it to the hall before being thrown back and exploding.

One by one, puppets burst into pieces in the air, their Five Elements power scattering across the night sky like a firework display.

"Go."

With a flick of Zhao Xing's hand, his nineteen puppets marched toward the steps.

Among the nineteen, there were four Invisible Straw Puppets, three Illusory Straw Puppets, and twelve others divided between Divine Strength, Sacred Shield, and Explosive Detonation.

By Zhao Xing's own estimation, the Invisible and Illusory puppets were all at the seventh transformation, while the other twelve had reached the ninth.

However, the last puppet he made in the final moments was a bit of a gamble—he wasn't entirely sure it had achieved the seventh transformation.

Taptaptap~

Nineteen puppets began climbing the steps.

The Divine Strength and Sacred Shield puppets took on a great deal of pressure from the start.

But the ninth-transformation puppets were completely unaffected, steadily climbing all the way to the top.

The Invisible puppets faced relatively less pressure, as the force primarily sought to undo their invisibility.

The Illusory puppets, similarly, experienced less force but were subjected to a more thorough pressure meant to break their illusionary forms.

Currently, the Illusory Straw Puppets appeared indistinguishable from real people, and if they couldn't withstand the force, they would reveal their true forms.

The ninth-transformation puppets all entered the hall smoothly.

The seventh-transformation puppets, the Invisible and Illusory ones, advanced more slowly.

The first puppet passed, then the fourth...

The final Invisible Straw Puppet had just passed the thirtieth step and was about to enter the hall when one of its fingers became visible.

Boom! The puppet's invisibility failed, marking it as a failure. It was blown into the air and exploded.

"One failure. Just as I expected," Zhao Xing thought. He had anticipated this outcome, as the last puppet had been made hastily.

Even with a ninth-transformation spell, if the casting was rushed or the materials insufficient, failure was always possible, or the puppet's strength would be greatly diminished.

It was only now that Zhao Xing turned his attention to observing the other competitors.

However, it was hard to distinguish whose puppets were whose.

All he could do was wait patiently for Liu Tianning to announce the results.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions continued.

Zhuang Zhiqing, Han Bing, Cao Shuang, and others approached Zhao Xing. "How many puppets did you get inside?" Zhuang Zhiqing asked.

"Eighteen."

"?"

Cao Shuang's eyes widened. "You made eighteen puppets in a quarter of an hour, and all of them reached the seventh transformation?"

Zhuang Zhiqing was also stunned. "You—are you joking?"

Han Bing, expressionless, commented, "He doesn't look like he's joking. If anything, he seems to be saying that the rest of us are too weak."

Zhao Xing glanced at Han Bing. "Brother Han, can you stop trying to make me enemies? How do you interpret my expression like that?"

No one took offense at Han Bing's deadpan joke; that was just his nature. If Zhao Xing had delivered the same line with Han Bing's stoic face, it might have caused more resentment.

"How many did you guys get through?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I got seven," Cao Shuang replied. "I had ten, but three of my Invisible Puppets exploded."

"I managed nine," said Zhuang Zhiqing. "I thought Cai Jin was impressive, but you've completely outdone him."

Zhao Xing glanced toward Cai Jin. "Brother Cai, how many puppets did you get through?"

Cai Jin shook his head. "Fourteen—nowhere near as many as you, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Xing waved his hand. "It's not just about numbers. You're being modest, Brother Cai."

As a student of Taicang Academy and a primary disciple of the Self School, Cai Jin's success with straw puppets was expected.

"Shiyong got nine puppets through as well," Zhuang Zhiqing added. "But I wonder what level his puppet techniques have reached."

"No one seems to have noticed," the others shook their heads. Time had been too tight; no one had been paying attention to anyone else.

"Let's wait for the results," Zhao Xing said. "Most of the puppets have already made it inside, so the rankings for the fourth trial should be announced soon."

…

Another quarter of an hour passed, and the square was now empty of completed puppets.

Those that were successful had made it inside, while the others had exploded.

Not long after, everyone received their rankings for the fourth trial via their ground mirrors.

[First Place: Zhao Xing of the Shenwei Army]

[Second Place: Cai Jin of the Cangjue Army]

[Third Place: Feng Qi of the Lieyang Army]

[Fourth Place: Wei Chen of the Zhenhai Army]

[Fifth Place: Shiyong of the Hujiao Army]

[Sixth Place: Guan Junyang of the Xuanjia Army]

[Seventh Place: Lifeng of the Hujiao Army]

[Eighth Place: Yu Hao of the Qingluan Army]

[Ninth Place: Zhuang Zhiqing of the Hujiao Army]

…

[Thirteenth Place: Cao Shuang of the Hujiao Army]

[Twenty-fifth Place: Han Bing of the Shenwei Army]

[Thirty-seventh Place: Jiang Tianming of the Lieyang Army]

[Fiftieth Place: Fang Yi of the Luman Army]

Liu Tianning only announced the top fifty rankings.

The rest, from fifty-one to one hundred, were not ranked individually, as the rewards for this tier were all the same—one thousand points each.

Only those ranked in the top fifty could move on to the fifth trial.

As soon as the rankings were announced, discussions erupted across the square.

"What? Zhao Xing from the Shenwei Army took first place? Isn't he from Dili Academy? How is he so good at straw puppet techniques?"

"Damn! This is the Taicang Academy's trial, and someone from Dili Academy took first!"

"Cai Jin, Feng Qi, and Wei Chen are all from Taicang Academy, but even they couldn't beat Zhao Xing?"

"Zhao Xing took second in the last trial, so it's not surprising he placed first this time."

"You don't get it. Straw Puppet Techniques are from the Self School. Just because you're good with Heaven or Earth Techniques doesn't mean you'll be good with puppets. Even Shiyong only came in fifth, and Zhuang Zhiqing got ninth."

"Could it be that Zhao Xing had already studied Straw Puppet Techniques? Why didn't he join Taicang Academy, then?"

"Who focuses on the Self School? Zhao Xing could get top-tier resources at Dili Academy, so of course he chose that instead of Taicang."

"Brother Zhao, you're amazing!"

…

The announcement of the rankings caused a stir, especially among the top-tier talents.

Taicang Academy dominated the top ten, with five of its students placing. Several more Taicang students ranked in the top twenty, and some of them weren't even top-tier talents originally, but B-grade.

It made sense that those who specialized in Self School techniques would perform well in this trial, but the fact that Zhao Xing from the Shenwei Army had claimed first place was unexpected.

"He... he took first place?" Lifeng was stunned. "How did he do it? How is he even better at Straw Puppet Techniques?"

Lifeng had placed seventh in the fourth trial. He had been sure that this would be his chance to surpass Zhao Xing and finally vent his frustrations.

But Zhao Xing had leapt to first place!

"Even Shiyong placed fifth, but Zhao Xing is first?" Lifeng fumed internally. When will I ever get my revenge?!

"Being strong in a single technique doesn't mean being strong in combined techniques. I still have a chance to surpass him!" Lifeng tried to console himself, pinning his hopes on the upcoming trials. "I've already mastered three-technique fusion. I placed seventh this time, but I can still catch up."

Many were comparing Zhao Xing, Zhuang Zhiqing, and Shiyong.

In the southeast corner of the square, Shiyong, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but check his ground mirror as well.

"I placed fifth, and Zhuang Zhiqing placed ninth."

"But Zhao Xing... he's first?"

Shiyong stared at the name in first place, a spark of competitive fire flashing in his eyes.

"The essence of Straw Puppet Techniques also involves mastery of the Five Elements. I thought I could breeze through this trial and grab those fifty thousand points, but it seems I'll have to take this more seriously."

Whoosh! Shiyong put away his ground mirror and flew toward Taicang Academy's Original Dao Field.