59: Soul Reaper

Everyone looked at Fang Hanyu on the arena, their eyes flashing with shock.

This person looked around fifteen years old, yet he could defeat a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator. Was there any justice left?

"I'm already over twenty, and I'm only at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment Realm. It's truly infuriating to compare yourself to others."

But doubts also arose.

One Disciple said, "In my opinion, he's just relying on the power of his weapon! What if he tried with an ordinary iron sword? It would be good if he could even withstand Senior Brother Liu's three moves!"

Although these words were harsh, many people secretly nodded in agreement.

In their view, Fang Hanyu's victory was mainly due to his weapon's enhancement. If he hadn't sliced through his opponent's longsword, no one knew what the outcome would have been.

No one was willing to believe that a fifteen-year-old could truly crush a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator with his own skill.

Only the several Peak Revered Masters on the high platform saw clearly.

Ye Guying's gaze fell on Fang Hanyu's hand gripping the sword.

"It wasn't the weapon that cut through the profound iron sword; it was Sword Intent. Look at how steady his hand is when he sheathes his sword? That's a sign of ultimate control over power."

Xuan Yangzi stroked his beard and chuckled softly, casting a glance at Gu Changge.

This second Disciple of his, not only was he deeply hidden, but even when he revealed his brilliance, it carried an unnoticeable ruthlessness.

The protagonist of the discussion, however, simply walked off the arena calmly, as if the recent victory had nothing to do with him.

Just as everyone was discussing, a crisp sword chime came from another arena.

Shen Jinghong's soft sword retracted into its sheath like a nimble snake, and the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Disciple opposite her, clutching his bleeding shoulder, conceded with a pale face.

This scene caused the Disciples in the stands to erupt in excitement again.

"Junior Sister Shen is too amazing! That was a Senior Brother in the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm, and he couldn't even last twenty moves!"

"After all, she has the Jinghong Sword Body with Heaven-Grade High Grade Aptitude. It's not surprising that she can challenge those of a higher realm!"

"As expected of the Genius of Qingyun Peak, the Sect Master's personal Disciple..."

As rounds of matches concluded, the list of those who advanced gradually became clear.

Li Xuanfeng, Shi Jingxian, Mu Chenyu, and other seeded contestants all successfully passed.

However, many Disciples who had originally been highly anticipated had already fallen, causing the various Peak Revered Masters to sigh inwardly.

Soon, the list of thirty-two winners was finally confirmed.

The two new Disciples from Zizhu Peak this year, along with Shen Jinghong from Qingyun Peak, were among them, becoming the focus of attention for the entire venue.

Some lamented that Gu Changge, with only Core Formation Realm cultivation, had taken in two excellent apprentices.

Others thought more deeply: that seemingly lazy Peak Revered Master—to be able to teach such talented Disciples, he didn't seem as simple as he appeared on the surface.

At this moment, no one dared to underestimate the cloud-shrouded Zizhu Peak.

Just as everyone was intently watching the arena, Gu Changge suddenly paused, his brows slightly furrowed.

Two faint spiritual energy fluctuations had just emanated from the southeast corner of the training grounds, and his Divine Sense immediately locked onto them.

These were transmissions sent using a special encryption method, undetectable by ordinary Cultivators.

"It's earlier than expected."

A cold smirk played on his lips, and his Divine Sense, like a fine net, instantly deciphered the message.

One message was sent to the Myriad Law Pavilion, detailing the combat specifics of Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, and Shen Jinghong, specifically emphasizing that all three were newly admitted this year.

Another message was also sent to the Myriad Law Pavilion, clearly recording today's Grand Competition situation.

Gu Changge looked up at the viewing stands, only to see Xuan Yangzi holding a spiritual heart-measuring jade, pretending to patrol, approaching Disciples one by one.

Whenever the jade surface glowed grey, he would subtly note down the person's appearance, his movements as cautious as if disarming a bomb.

"Too slow."

Gu Changge gently shook his head.

Although the spiritual heart-measuring jade could detect those with ill intentions, it required close proximity, making its efficiency somewhat low.

A faint golden halo quietly appeared between his brows, and the Eye of Illusory Breaking suddenly activated.

In an instant, the clamor of voices seemed to be muted, and the Auras of all the Disciples were completely exposed to his eyes.

Immediately, seven more people appeared in his Divine Sense.

With a thought, he fully perceived the inner thoughts and past lives of each person.

Gu Changge's eyes narrowed slightly. He took out a blank Jade Slip and recorded the appearance, Aura, location, and affiliated forces of the nine individuals one by one.

Two were from the Myriad Law Pavilion, three from the Burning Heaven Palace, one from the Po Zhen Sect, and the remaining three were from the Tianyan Sect and the Jade Clarity Sect.

"Senior Brother, come back. This is the list of spies."

Gu Changge's voice directly resonated in Xuan Yangzi's Sea of Consciousness.

He flicked his finger, and the Jade Slip transformed into an almost imperceptible streak of light, weaving through the gaps in the crowd and accurately landing in Xuan Yangzi's hand.

Gu Changge's Eye of Illusory Breaking swept over those few individuals again. Seeing them still systematically transmitting messages, a cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

They were unaware that all their transmissions had already been intercepted by Gu Changge.

These clowns, let them jump around for a while. Once the Grand Competition concludes, they will all be dealt with.

Xuan Yangzi quickly returned to the viewing platform, his Divine Sense sweeping over the Jade Slip, and his face instantly darkened.

"Good heavens, Burning Heaven Palace, Myriad Law Pavilion, Po Zhen Sect! They've planted so many informants in my Azure Profound Sect!"

He clenched the Jade Slip, his knuckles white.

"Especially the Po Zhen Sect, how dare they extend their reach into the Enforcement Hall!"

"I want to flay them alive right now, a bunch of ungrateful traitors."

Gu Changge said indifferently, "No rush. I have a secret method that can instantly control their minds, making them completely loyal. Do you want to learn it?"

"Or should we just dispose of them directly?"

"Really? You have such a Cultivation Technique?"

Xuan Yangzi instantly became excited, even his voice trembling slightly as he transmitted his thoughts.

"Calm down, these are just minor tricks, very simple."

With that, Gu Changge transmitted the Soul-Seizing Technique to Xuan Yangzi, along with a large amount of cultivation experience.

This allowed Xuan Yangzi to quickly Revered Master the Cultivation Technique.

Xuan Yangzi carefully felt the Cultivation Technique, and the more he understood, the more shocked he became.

Cultivating this Cultivation Technique could greatly enhance one's Divine Sense power.

It could not only control an opponent, making them completely loyal, but also peek into others' memories without being detected.

It could even copy an opponent's Cultivation Technique and experience.

If utilized well, this was no less powerful than an Emperor-level Cultivation Method.

"Changge, oh Changge, what kind of existence did Daoist Zizhu pick up and bring back?"

Xuan Yangzi secretly glanced at Gu Changge, sighing inwardly.

He tucked the Jade Slip into his sleeve, his eyes as cold as ice.

"After the Grand Competition ends, these rats will get a taste of Azure Profound Sect's methods."

Having said that, he reverted to his gentle demeanor, as if his earlier fury had never appeared.

Only his tightly pursed lips betrayed his true emotions—these hidden worms, not a single one would escape this time.

Gu Changge saw the sharpness in his eyes and said no more.

Soon, the second round of matches began.

Shen Jinghong faced a Core Formation Realm Early Stage Disciple from Zhenyue Peak.

Her Jinghong Sword Body flowed within the sword light, her sword moves agile and swift.

But as she fought, she suddenly remembered her Revered Master Xuan Yangzi's instruction to "stop at the second round." Her eyes flickered, and she intentionally revealed a flaw.

Her opponent seized the opportunity to counterattack, and Shen Jinghong, playing along, "lost" and conceded, retracting her sword.

Although there was regret among the spectators, they also found it reasonable. After all, her opponent was already in the Core Formation Realm, and Shen Jinghong's ability to fight to this extent had already exceeded everyone's imagination.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, meanwhile, continued to advance steadily.

In the second round of matches, Xiao Ruobai encountered an opponent in the Late Stage Foundation Establishment Realm.

His opponent wielded a heavy hammer with a fierce Aura, but he concealed ninety percent of his strength, deliberately engaging in a back-and-forth struggle with his opponent.

The halberd's attacks were sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and his footwork occasionally revealed flaws. Even beads of sweat, seemingly from "anxiety," seeped from his forehead.

He played the part of "struggling to hold on" perfectly.

It wasn't until the fifth round that he, seemingly by chance, used the moment his opponent paused for breath to knock away his weapon and push him off the arena.

"He won?"