On the arena for the final assessment, under the Earth Dragon Lizard's complete suppression, everyone believed Chen Xing's team had absolutely no hope of a comeback. After all, under the Earth Dragon Lizard's Star Energy field suppression, they couldn't find any chance to fight back. When the assessment would end, and how it would end, was entirely up to the Earth Dragon Lizard. The decision-making power was completely out of Chen Xing and the others' hands.
In fact, if the Earth Dragon Lizard had used this method when Tendo and his group fought it earlier, then even if Tendo's team was strong and worked well together, they would still have found it difficult to injure the Earth Dragon Lizard in the face of such absolute power.
But what no one noticed was that just as the Earth Dragon Lizard raised its claw, preparing to end this boring farce, a figure had unknowingly appeared behind it. And this scene, let alone the Earth Dragon Lizard in the arena, even the other spectators outside the arena hadn't seen.
Swish—
Chen Kong gripped the Bloodflame Demonic Blade in his hand and slashed forcefully at the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's left knee. Although the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's left knee had already healed and scabbed over, the newly formed rock scales were far less tough than its other scales, and the hidden injury in its flesh had been aggravated again by Tendo's strike. This made Chen Kong's sudden attack achieve an unexpected effect.
"Roar—"
The sudden sharp pain made the Earth Dragon Lizard instinctively swipe a claw.
Thwack!
Chen Kong was sent flying by the blow, spitting out a large amount of blood as he flew backward, and the Bloodflame Demonic Blade in his hand clattered to the ground.
Silence, a deathly silence.
Everyone stared in shock at Chen Kong, who had successfully ambushed the creature. Their minds felt completely blank. They simply hadn't noticed when Chen Kong had gotten close to the Earth Dragon Lizard.
Equally stunned was the Earth Dragon Lizard in the arena. It lowered its head in disbelief, staring in shock at the bleeding wound on its knee.
But just as the Earth Dragon Lizard's attention was diverted by Chen Kong, the Star Energy field that had been suppressing Chen Xing and the others instantly dissipated. Seizing this precious opportunity, Chen Xing violently erupted. She picked up the Bloodflame Demonic Blade lying on the ground. A large amount of blood flowed from the palm gripping the hilt, quickly staining the entire blade. And after consuming this blood, the blade of the demonic saber became covered in a layer of scorching flames.
Chen Xing held the blade with both hands, taking advantage of the Earth Dragon Lizard's attention being on Chen Kong, and abruptly closed in. Feeling the movement from below, the Earth Dragon Lizard instinctively swiped another claw. But almost at the moment its right claw lifted, Lin, who was sprawled on the ground, painfully raised her arm.
"Shadow Bind... Dark Thorns..."
Lin, already at her limit, used all her remaining Star Energy at this critical moment. That Star Energy transformed into numerous shadow-like ropes, wrapping around the Earth Dragon Lizard's newly raised right claw. Although these dark thorns couldn't completely restrict the Earth Dragon Lizard's movements, they did delay its claw for a moment. And it was this less-than-half-second delay that created a perfect opportunity for Chen Xing.
It allowed her to unleash the strike she had been wanting to make since the start of the assessment.
Bang!
Chen Xing's figure transformed into a crimson meteor, the Bloodflame Demonic Blade carrying overwhelming fury, once again slashing at the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's body!
"Roar—"
Amidst the dazzling red lotus formed by entwined flames and blood, the Earth Dragon Lizard let out an unprecedented shriek of agony. And at this moment, its massive body staggered backward for the first time.
However, after steadying itself and feeling the intense pain in its foot, the Earth Dragon Lizard completely lost its rationality. Disregarding the injury on its left knee, it abruptly raised its claw and swiped. Chen Xing, being so close, simply couldn't dodge this attack. She immediately followed in Chen Kong's footsteps, being violently slammed away. After crashing into the barrier behind the arena, she slid down onto the arena floor, completely soaked in blood.
Though her appearance was wretched and countless bones in her body were likely broken, there was no pain on her face. Instead, she wore a morbid joy. She stared intently at the Earth Dragon Lizard's bleeding wound, her eyes filled with exhilaration.
Do you see, Tendo... I'm not inferior to you...
Thinking this, Chen Xing contentedly closed her eyes and completely lost consciousness.
Soon after, only the Earth Dragon Lizard and Yun Meng remained on the vast arena. However, unlike the somber atmosphere at the beginning of the assessment, after the demonstrations by Tendo's and Chen Xing's teams, most of the Children of the Stars had overcome their fear of the Earth Dragon Lizard. They fantasized about being able to, like them, achieve the feat of injuring a Second-Tier Star Beast with a half-star body.
But they soon realized that their thoughts were too naive. Because the subsequent assessments completely became a one-sided crushing defeat by the Earth Dragon Lizard. None of the remaining ten teams could replicate the miracle of Tendo's and Chen Xing's teams. One of the longest-lasting ones only held out for 23 seconds, less than half a minute, before being blasted out of the arena by the Earth Dragon Lizard.
When the last trainee miserably lost, the Earth Dragon Lizard roared, letting out a long howl as if venting its previous humiliation.
At the same time, Tendo, resting in the dormitory area, suddenly opened his eyes.
[Notification: 'Prequel of the Stars: Embers' has been broadcast in the real world. Dimensional Playback function has now been enabled for you, along with visible bullet comments and real-time popularity rankings.]
Tendo looked at the sudden system notification, his brows filled with excitement.
'Is it finally time to check the results...'
With this thought, Tendo decisively opened the Dimensional Playback. He would watch the 'popular series' he personally starred in from a completely new audience perspective. And to enhance his sense of participation, Tendo even became the first person to send a bullet comment.
He adjusted his sunglasses, his fingertips rapidly tapping in the void. Soon, a bullet comment with a golden special effect instantly appeared on the screen, becoming the first bullet comment for the entire series...
[FIRST!]