“What, mind control? She’s a spiritual controller?”
“No wonder she made it into the top ten in the first round. So she’s a spiritual controller.”
“Controlling a Ninth Martial Venerable, could she be a fifth-tier high-level spiritual controller?”
“Probably. Otherwise, she couldn’t control a Ninth Martial Venerable. A sixth-tier beginner spiritual controller at her age would be nearly impossible.”
“At twenty-two or twenty-three, reaching fifth-tier high-level spiritual controller status is already prodigious. To think the Southeast Region Youth Summit has a fifth-tier high-level spiritual controller, this is getting exciting.”
“But even as a fifth-tier high-level spiritual controller, she’s likely no match for Wen Mo Han, who’s a powerful First Martial Lord.”
“That’s hard to say. Spiritual controllers have extraordinary methods. Fighting one or two levels above shouldn’t be a big issue.”
A wave of discussions about Zi Ling arose. Her spiritual power was usually restrained, and few knew she was a spiritual controller. Only now did the crowd take notice of her identity.
Even the referee, who hadn’t paid much attention before, came to his senses.
“Indeed, it’s mind control. But mind control is a skill too. Are you saying you’d only admit defeat if you stabbed yourself with your sword?” Zi Ling responded to Li Fangxing with a hint of irritation.
“You!” Li Fangxing was speechless.
But she was right. Mind control was a skill, a manifestation of a spiritual controller’s combat strength. Making him concede didn’t break any rules.
Moreover, as she said, if she had controlled him and made him take his own life, he might have done it. Even though killing wasn’t allowed in this round, chopping off a hand or foot would be fine.
He could only blame himself for being careless, not staying alert, and letting her control him so easily.
In the end, Li Fangxing had to swallow his anger.
Meanwhile, the other youths in the group became wary of Zi Ling.
At this point, battles had begun in the other fields.
Booming sounds echoed, brilliant lights flared, and powerful forces surged within each field. Intense clashes erupted one after another, and the square resounded with lively cheers.
Some defeated their opponents in moments or with a few strikes.
Others battled for an hour without a clear winner, the fights nothing short of spectacular.
Lin Xiao’s attention was on Zi Yi and Liu Yiran. In their first matches, Zi Yi won, while Liu Yiran lost.
Half an hour later, Ling Hu took the stage in Group One.
His opponent was a Ninth Martial Venerable youth. Ling Hu defeated him with a single move, silencing those who doubted his strength.
The battles continued. Before long, Qu Yuan and Xing Feng clashed in Group Two.
Their powerful techniques and trump cards were revealed one by one, dazzling the crowd and pushing the second round to a climax.
After a full hour of fighting, Qu Yuan finally defeated Xing Feng.
As time passed amid the crowd’s cheers, other fields saw strong contenders emerge.
Wu Shiyuan in Group Three, Yin Hao in Group Four, Luo Fan in Group Five, Li He in Group Six, and Cui Sheng in Group Seven became hot topics for taking their group’s top spots.
Of course, Zi Ling and Wen Mo Han were also among them, both having defeated several opponents.
“Zi Ling versus Jin Wucheng!” the referee’s voice rang out from Group Eight’s field.
Lin Xiao’s gaze turned to Group Eight.
Jin Wucheng, a First Martial Lord genius from the Jin family, had once defeated Zi Huan. He had passed the first round and was now drawn into Zi Ling’s group.
Though Zi Huang and Jin Zhi, the top figures of the Zi and Jin families, had reconciled and shared some camaraderie, the Jin family youths, despite not showing it outwardly, likely harbored deep resentment since the Jin Emperor’s fall.
Hearing Jin Wucheng’s name, Zi Huan’s eyes narrowed.
After losing to Jin Wucheng previously, he had trained diligently, hoping to face him at the Southeast Region Youth Summit and defeat him.
Yet, he was eliminated in the first round…
Now, he pinned his hopes on Zi Ling.
The Jin family youths also fixed their gazes on Zi Ling and Jin Wucheng.
“Finally, our battle has come!”
On the field, Jin Wucheng stared at Zi Ling, his tone icy.
“Then let’s fight!” Zi Ling didn’t waste words with a Jin family member. She drew a purple sword, unleashing a powerful spiritual technique.
Instantly, the purple sword radiated dazzling light, purple brilliance shining brightly. Terrifying spiritual fluctuations spread from the sword, surging in all directions.
With one move, she unleashed her strongest trump card.
After all, with a formidable opponent like Wen Mo Han still ahead, exhausting too much energy against Jin Wucheng would be disadvantageous later.
Of course, Jin Wucheng, a First Martial Lord with many victories, was no weakling, and Zi Ling didn’t underestimate him.
Feeling the surging spiritual fluctuations from the purple sword, Jin Wucheng frowned and unleashed his most powerful martial technique.
“Let’s fight! Sword Pierces the Cosmos!” Jin Wucheng roared, brilliant golden light bursting from his longsword. He charged forward, stirring fierce gusts of wind.
“Kill!” Zi Ling whispered inwardly, her spiritual power surging. The radiant purple sword slashed toward Jin Wucheng.
At the same time, Jin Wucheng, rushing forward, swung his sword with terrifying force, striking the purple sword heavily.
Clang! Boom!
A deafening metallic clash rang out as their powerful forces collided, unleashing a massive shockwave that ravaged the surroundings.
Everyone saw Jin Wucheng’s body hurled far out of the field.
The crowd was stunned. They hadn’t expected Zi Ling’s direct combat strength to be so formidable.
“Zi Ling wins!” the referee’s voice rang out again.
Zi Huan’s heart leaped with joy. Zi Ling’s victory over Jin Wucheng had avenged him.
The Jin family youths, however, were crestfallen, with Jin Yuxuan’s eyes flashing coldly.
“Next match, Ling Hu versus Xiang Wuhen!” The referee’s voice soon came from another field, drawing the crowd’s attention to Group One.
Ling Hu’s combat prowess had reshaped everyone’s perception. With a Seventh Martial Venerable cultivation, he had swept through opponents and was considered a contender for the top spot.
The other contender in Group One was Xiang Wuhen.
Now, the two were finally clashing.
“I heard in the illusion array, you tried to attack Lin Xiao?” Ling Hu questioned Xiang Wuhen as soon as he stepped onto the field.
Yesterday, during their exchange at the Tianjiao Tavern, Lin Xiao had mentioned Xiang Wuhen and Xing Feng.
Xiang Wuhen was slightly taken aback, then said with disdain, “So what if I did?”
“If that’s the case, I’ll defeat you in one move!” Ling Hu declared coldly.
“What? He wants to defeat Xiang Wuhen in one move?”
“That’s too arrogant. Sure, his first-round ranking was above Xiang Wuhen, but Xiang Wuhen’s strength is formidable, with a First Martial Lord cultivation. He’s defeated opponents in three moves or less in previous matches. Ling Hu’s only a Seventh Martial Venerable; how could he possibly defeat Xiang Wuhen in one move?”
“He might be planning to use his strongest strike, but even that probably won’t match Xiang Wuhen. Defeating him in one move is wishful thinking.”
“I thought Ling Hu could rival Xiang Wuhen, but he’s so arrogant. It seems Group One’s top spot will go to Xiang Wuhen.”
Ling Hu’s words sparked a wave of heated discussion, with many skeptical of his chances.
