146: The third competition

"It seems that this time, the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm was even more pathetic than we imagined," Ye Hao remarked as he looked around at the nearby Cultivators.

Xie Xingchen replied, "I wonder what the third match will be. I also wonder how many people will be left by then."

Mu Wanqing gently took Xiao Lingxian's hand. The warmth from her palm significantly relaxed Xiao Lingxian's icy expression. "Junior Sister, don't worry! Once the ceremony is over, we'll tell Revered Master, and Revered Master will handle it properly."

Xiao Lingxian took a deep breath and gave a soft nod of agreement.

"I know, Senior Sister!"

As the words fell, the five of them stopped talking and walked towards the Stone Tower in unison. Along the way, the eyes of the other Cultivators fell upon them—some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and others with a hint of wariness.

The Cultivators who could reach the central Stone Tower alive were all individuals who had experienced great danger, and their eyes held the sharpness of those who had survived many battles.

However, when they saw Mu Wanqing and her group, most only gave them a fleeting glance before looking away.

No one wanted to cause unnecessary trouble at such a critical moment.

Previously, there was a group that specialized in intercepting Cultivators in front of the Stone Tower to collect spirit fate crystals. As luck would have it, they ran into the Saintess of Profound Moon Holy Land.

They were turned into meat paste by a single palm strike from Fairy Sue.

The spirit fate crystals they had accumulated ended up benefiting others instead.

Not far away, a group of Cultivators dressed in grey robes were conversing in low voices. Their cultivation levels were all at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, yet their auras were exceptionally solid.

After hesitating for a moment, they ultimately chose not to take action.

After all, as long as they held a spirit fate crystal in their hands, they could make it to the next round. There was no need to take risks now; if they failed and lost their lives instead, it would be a true case of the losses outweighing the gains.

As the night deepened, the surrounding air suddenly became thick.

The soul-confusing miasma that originally filled the horizon began to slowly shrink toward the Stone Tower. It didn't stop until it was a hundred meters away from the tower.

Just then!

A faint ripple suddenly appeared at the base of the Stone Tower. Countless tiny specks of light emerged out of thin air like fireflies, slowly gathering in mid-air until they finally condensed into a ball of glowing white light.

It was the Realm Light Portal.

Seeing this, the Cultivators who only wanted to survive showed expressions of wild joy and rushed toward the light portal without hesitation.

Mu Wanqing and the others exchanged looks, and she said softly, "Let's go as well and see what this third round will be like."

The scene before their eyes distorted, and when it stabilized again, they had returned to the previous Arena Stage.

Above the Arena Stage, Fang Wuchang, the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, was floating in mid-air.

With a casual wave of his hand, a giant Ice Mirror suddenly appeared in the air.

The Ice Mirror flowed with light, and dense rows of names were arranged like stars. Ye Hao's gaze swept across it, and he saw the three large characters for "Dao Seeking Sect" in the second position, followed by a striking number of spirit fate crystals: 124.

His finger paused slightly as he moved his gaze upward. At the top of the list, he saw the name "Long Lie" written boldly with 86 spirit fate crystals.

"It's him," Ye Hao said in a low voice, the image of the man dressed in luxurious clothing instantly appearing in his mind.

Could this person actually be a Loose Cultivator?

Ye Hao didn't see any Sect name recorded next to it.

Mu Wanqing and her group had 124 crystals between the five of them, which indeed couldn't compare to Long Lie's 86 crystals as a single individual.

"Strange, why isn't Fellow Daoist Li Hu's name there?" Li Pingan scratched his head, his gaze scanning the Ice Mirror repeatedly from top to bottom, but he never saw the name "Li Hu."

Hearing this, Mu Wanqing's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly. Her slender finger lightly traced the air as if checking the Ice Mirror word by word.

"It really isn't there."

Xie Xingchen said softly, "It seems the name Li Hu was just a pseudonym. Given the acting style of that All-Knowing Rat, it's not surprising."

As he spoke, the image of that thin man's fawning smile appeared in the minds of Mu Wanqing and the others... It seemed that was indeed the case.

Outside the Arena Stage.

The chatter of the spectating Cultivators was as noisy as a marketplace, with everyone discussing the results of the ceremony.

"Dao Seeking Sect... This old man has traveled the Central Region for years, but I've never heard the name of this Dao Seeking Sect before. Could it be they aren't a power from the Central Region?"

"To think that the grand Heavenly Secret Pavilion was actually stepped down to third place this time. This is truly interesting."

"Look at the ages of those five from the Dao Seeking Sect. The oldest is only about twenty years old, yet they already have such strength. Truly, comparing goods makes you want to throw them away, and comparing people makes you want to die."

"Hurry up and start the third match. I'm already impatient to see the performance of these Dao Seeking Sect Prodigies."

"Just who is that top-ranked Long Lie? Could he be the one who wiped out the Medicine Pavilion alone?"

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed!

The rankings on the Ice Mirror gradually faded, and the voice of Fang Wuchang, the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, rang out once more: "Next is the third trial. The content of this trial is a one-on-one competition."

"Opponents will be decided by drawing lots. Life and death are not restricted."

Each Prodigy would draw a numbered token; whoever's number was called would take the stage.

Of the 70-odd people who survived the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm, more than 20 surrendered without hesitation after hearing the rules.

What a joke. Even if the Profound Realm was attractive, if one's life was gone, what would be left to fight for?

There were also gaps between different Prodigies.

If they couldn't see the gap between each other in the first match, the cruelty of the second match was enough to make them realize exactly where they stood.

The massive Arena Stage was instantly divided into four areas.

Fang Wuchang had just finished reading the names for three groups when his gaze fell on the fourth group, and he paused with a slight frown.

Written there was: Xiao Lingxian of the Dao Seeking Sect versus Yang Zhou, the Holy Son of Tianji Pavilion.

Remembering the performance of the five from the Dao Seeking Sect in the Myriad Spirit Affinity Realm, Fang Wuchang hesitated. However, with the people from the Mysterious Realm Emissary watching from above, he didn't even dare to tamper with the drawing of lots, let alone the matches.

"Forget it. If his skills are inferior, he'll just have to admit it. That boy Yang Zhou probably isn't a pushover either."

Taking a deep breath, Fang Wuchang finally read out the fourth group's match list.

As soon as he spoke, many Cultivators broke into an uproar, their gazes shifting toward the fourth arena area.

A figure leaped up and stood on the Arena Stage. It was Yang Zhou, one of the three Saints of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, at the Golden Core First Layer Realm.

The people from the Medicine Pavilion and Taixu Holy Land quickly poured a cup of spiritual tea, preparing to watch the show.

As long as the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was also eliminated, the fact that they themselves had no chance in this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony would be much easier to stomach.

Mu Wanqing blinked her almond eyes, turned to Xiao Lingxian beside her, and cautioned, "Junior Sister, if there's a danger to your life, just admit defeat. Revered Master won't blame us."

Xiao Lingxian's cold face broke into a slight smile. "Don't worry, Senior Sister! I know what to do."

The red-clothed girl stepped lightly and appeared on the Arena Stage.

"Tsk tsk... Why isn't that dark-skinned youth fighting? I wanted to see him knock down a Heavenly Secret Pavilion Prodigy with one punch."

"Judging by her aura, this girl seems to only be at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer Realm? A Foundation Establishment fighting a Golden Core—how can she fight? She might as well just surrender."