Boom!
The Phoenix Lord Spirit was pierced by a ghostly light, its entire body transforming into a surge of spiritual energy and waves, carried by the ghostly light as it swept towards Zi Ling.
That weakened ghostly light still contained formidable power as it struck towards Zi Ling.
In an instant, Zi Ling used spiritual energy to control her body, shifting sideways.
However, the ghostly light was too swift, striking Zi Ling’s side. The rolling waves surged and affected her; Zi Ling spat out a mouthful of blood, her entire body sent flying.
At the same time, Xing Tian rushed forward, preparing to unleash another attack.
“I surrender!” Zi Ling declared in that fleeting moment.
Xing Tian, about to strike, halted immediately, a look of disappointment crossing his face.
Once Zi Ling surrendered, he had no chance to continue. If he attacked, the referee at the Ninth Martial Lord realm would intervene, and he would face punishment.
A sixth-rank junior spiritual controller genius; he failed to eliminate her, unable to fulfil Emperor Xing’s command.
Meanwhile, Zi Ling’s body, while being repelled, flew backwards, retreating from the stone platform towards where Lin Xiao and Ling Hu stood.
“Are you alright?” Lin Xiao stepped forward to support her, frowning as he spoke.
“I’m fine, no serious injuries!” Zi Ling shook her head, swallowing a pill and beginning to channel elemental force to heal.
“That guy actually tried to kill Zi Ling!” Ling Hu stared at Xing Tian, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
“I’ll make him pay for this!” Lin Xiao said coldly.
“Hmph!” Xing Tian glanced disdainfully at the trio before leaping off the stone platform.
At this moment, the crowd was in an uproar. Xing Tian, with his earth-rank junior Bi’an phenomenon, had fought Zi Ling, who possessed the Phoenix Lord Spirit, and still held a clear advantage. If Zi Ling hadn’t surrendered, her life might have been in danger.
Xing Tian’s strength was formidable!
“Hahaha, I said it, the top spot belongs to Xing Tian! Even a sixth-rank junior spiritual controller with the Phoenix Lord Spirit is no match for him!”
“Exactly, the first place in the preliminary ranking is undoubtedly Xing Tian!”
“Don’t celebrate too soon; Xing Tian might not definitely beat Sheng Li!”
“Who’s stronger will be clear at a glance. Compared to Sheng Li, Xing Tian is a cut above!”
Excited and contentious voices rose and fell, the scene nearly boiling over. Countless people seemed to envision Xing Tian claiming first place, winning their bets.
The head of Jin Xuan Hall, who partnered with the Xing family, was also thrilled. Indeed, their choice of the Xing family was correct. With Zi Ling defeated, no one from the Zi family could likely challenge Xing Tian.
Even a dual-cultivator genius of elemental and spiritual power would surely be no match.
The Li family, partnered with Yun Wu Tower, couldn’t compete with the Xing family either. Even in the next round, the young talents brought by the other three major guilds might struggle to rival Xing Tian.
Jin Xuan Hall and the Xing family had a strong chance of victory, with the exclusive trade rights to a thousand cities likely falling into their hands.
“Xing Tian wins. The second round ends; the third round begins. Hawkins!” the referee announced.
The crowd’s eyes lit up again. Sheng Li was about to draw lots. This time, they wondered if another clash of titans would occur.
Of course, the clash they anticipated was Sheng Li drawing Xing Tian.
A battle between the two would essentially determine the first and second places in the preliminary ranking.
“Sheng Li versus Li Ren Chou!” the referee announced loudly.
The crowd sighed in disappointment. It wasn’t Xing Tian; there was no spectacle to see.
Among the others present, Sheng Li could almost sweep through, and Li Ren Chou was only at the Ninth Martial Venerable realm.
It was obvious that Li Ren Chou would likely surrender immediately.
However, just when everyone thought Li Ren Chou would concede, he leapt onto the stone platform, standing in the centre, courteously gesturing to Sheng Li with a smile. “Brother Sheng Li, please!”
The crowd was stunned. Li Ren Chou, merely at the Ninth Martial Venerable realm, dared to challenge Sheng Li? Was he asking for trouble? Was something wrong with him?
Li Luo was also taken aback, not because her cousin was challenging Sheng Li.
Rather, her cousin was usually cold and reserved, his smiles never feeling genuine, let alone displaying such courteous behaviour.
She even wondered if, since emerging from the illusion array, something was wrong with her cousin’s mind.
“Still, this is better than his usual cold and distant demeanour!” Li Luo thought to herself.
Even Sheng Li was slightly taken aback, not expecting Li Ren Chou to dare challenge him.
He then leapt onto the platform, standing a dozen yards from Li Ren Chou.
Apart from the Li family, only Lin Xiao differed from the crowd’s thoughts.
Lin Xiao didn’t see this as a mere mismatch in strength but as one of the fiercest battles in the preliminary ranking.
“This Li Ren Chou has the strength to fight Sheng Li?” Ling Hu, standing beside Lin Xiao, said sceptically.
“Just watch. He might not only fight but even defeat Sheng Li,” Lin Xiao replied.
“That strong?” Ling Hu said doubtfully.
“Have you noticed that, from start to finish, Li Ren Chou has maintained a calm and composed expression?” Lin Xiao countered.
“It seems so. Could he really have the confidence to defeat Sheng Li?” Ling Hu wondered.
On the platform, facing the serene Li Ren Chou, Sheng Li, equally puzzled, spoke. “Are you sure you want to fight me?”
“Certain!” Li Ren Chou nodded with a smile.
“Very well, then I won’t hold back!” Sheng Li said. “I’ll defeat you in one move!”
Though not as ruthless as Yin Mu, Sheng Li wasn’t someone to be underestimated.
“Please!” Li Ren Chou repeated the word.
At this point, the crowd outside erupted into heated discussions.
“Is this Li Ren Chou mad, still smiling?”
“He’s not nervous at all. Does he enjoy being crushed?”
“If Li Ren Chou can last one move against Sheng Li, I’ll slap myself!”
“If Sheng Li has killing intent, one move could end him.”
“Who doesn’t have a temper? Sheng Li might strike lethally. A strong man’s dignity isn’t for just anyone to challenge!”
“What’s going on? Why aren’t they moving?”
Someone noticed the situation on the platform. After Sheng Li declared he’d defeat Li Ren Chou in one move, he stood still, no aura emanating from him.
Li Ren Chou, meanwhile, smiled at Sheng Li, showing no intent to act.
Many were puzzled. Some time had passed, yet neither had moved. That wasn’t right.
As time slowly ticked by, more people noticed the issue. After dozens of breaths, both still hadn’t acted.
The entire scene fell completely silent.
“What’s happening?” Even Sheng Qian Yu was stunned, her face full of confusion. Even Emperor Li and the Li family were equally bewildered.
