151: Good calculation

It was no wonder Secluded Moon had disregarded her Sect's situation, severing the Holy Son of Tianji Pavilion's life with a single kick on the Arena Stage before a massive audience, leaving the gathered Cultivators as silent as cicadas in winter.

It turned out she was deliberately drawing disaster to Profound Moon Palace! Using the Holy Son's death as a catalyst, she ignited the conflict between the two Sects.

This way, with Heavenly Secret Pavilion tying down Profound Moon Holy Land, the Sect would first have to free up its hands to deal with this mess. By the time the Sect discovered her deception, she would likely have already departed for the Profound Realm.

As for the real Saintess, Sue, given this person's ruthless methods, she had likely already entered the cycle of Reincarnation long ago.

According to Chen Xuan's guess, if Secluded Moon encountered Cultivators from other Holy Lands again, she would surely kill them all just the same; the more trouble for Profound Moon Palace, the better.

It was truly a fine scheme.

He just didn't know what methods she was using, such that even Qin Tianxing's cultivation base at the Nascent Soul Layer Eight could not see through it.

Unfortunately, however, despite all her calculations, it seemed she had failed to check the omens before leaving home today.

“Qi Yue, it seems that your grievance with Profound Moon Palace can be settled without waiting for the Grand Ceremony to conclude.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yue's long eyelashes trembled slightly. She subconsciously glanced in the direction of Profound Moon Palace, then asked softly, “What does the Sect Master mean by this?”

...As expected!

After a short while, another massive uproar erupted below.

“My God! That Fairy Sue of Profound Moon Holy Land looks as delicate as a willow in the wind, yet her strikes are so ruthless! Even though Chu Ming, the Saint of Blood Shadow Holy Land, chose to admit defeat, she still dealt him a killing blow.”

“Chu Ming deserved to die. I never expected that my Senior Sister, who disappeared years ago, was actually refined into a Puppet by that dog. Not a single person in the Blood Shadow Cult is good.”

“Isn't Profound Moon Holy Land acting a bit too overbearingly?”

“What's the point of competing further? Encountering that bringer of death, even admitting defeat might not save one's life! The Holy Son of Tianji Pavilion had a cultivation base at the Second Layer of Golden Core Stage, yet wasn't he still suppressed and killed by her on the spot? Who would dare gamble with their life?”

“I'm curious to see if the Cultivators from Dao Seeking Sect will also choose to forfeit if they run into her.”

As the matches continued, more and more people were eliminated. Many who encountered this bringer of death from Profound Moon Holy Land chose to forfeit and admit defeat without hesitation.

After all, with the Holy Son of Tianji Pavilion as a cautionary tale, anyone with a bit of self-awareness knew what choice to make.

Of the seventy-odd people who initially participated in the third round of matches, only about thirty remained now.

Of the Ten Great Sacred Lands, only Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Heavenly Fire Holy Land, and Profound Moon Holy Land remained. Such a result caused the spectating Cultivators' hearts to shake, finding it both thrilling to watch and complex to contemplate.

Those ancient families who had set up gambling dens were now looking as ashen as death.

The odds on the betting tables had long been torn to shreds. Countless Spirit Stones had vanished, and a century of savings had been lost entirely in this single round of matches. Even several ancient Treasure Artifacts stored in their Family vaults had to be used to settle their debts.

Arena Stage Four: Mu Wanqing of Dao Seeking Sect vs. Saintess Sue of Profound Moon Holy Land.

As the words fell, the spectating Cultivators turned their gazes toward Arena Stage Four one after another.

Mu Wanqing's expression was somewhat solemn. Just as she was about to walk toward the Arena Stage, Xiao Lingxian grabbed her slender wrist.

“Senior Sister, forfeit this match directly.”

Ye Hao also advised from the side, “Eldest Senior Sister, that woman gives me a feeling that something isn't quite right. Her strength is at least above the Golden Core Fifth Layer. The gap in Realm is too large; there's no need to fight her.”

Mu Wanqing gave a faint smile, two small dimples appearing on her round, oval face.

“Don't worry, Junior Brothers, I planned to do that from the start. With such a huge gap in Realm, only a fool would fight her.”

She remembered her Revered Master once saying that the greatest benefit of diligent cultivation was the ability to suppress others with one's Realm.

Secluded Moon's fingertips toyed with a corner of her silk dress, her pink hem draped over the bluestone of the Arena Stage. She watched the Yellow-Skirts Girl slowly take the stage, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes.

“Dao Seeking Sect, is it?”

“I'm actually quite curious to see what skills this dark horse that suddenly charged in has.”

Before she could speak...

Ripples suddenly appeared above the Arena Stage, and the host, the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, arrived in the center of the stage.

He looked up at Secluded Moon. “Little friend Sue, come with me. You no longer need to participate in this competition.”

Secluded Moon's heart skipped a beat. Had she been exposed?

No, impossible! That page of the ancient book clearly recorded that this Stitching Technique didn't just sew the target's skin and flesh onto oneself; it even locked their Divine Soul within one's body.

Even someone at the Soul Emergence Stage should absolutely not be able to see any flaws.

As for my Realm, I also have a Magic Treasure to conceal my aura. There isn't a single oversight in the entire plan.

Secluded Moon asked with a normal expression, “Senior, may I ask why?”

Fang Wuchang explained calmly, “You have been favored by someone from the Profound Realm. They have specifically sought out an opponent for you. If you can win, you may go directly to the Profound Realm.”

“Go to the Profound Realm?!”

These four words struck Secluded Moon's ears like a clap of thunder. Her eyes, which had been cold just a moment ago, instantly lit up, and her body beneath the pink silk dress trembled slightly.

All her schemes, all her calculations, and all her ruthlessness turned into uncontrollable ecstasy at this moment.

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, her voice carried a hint of a tremor as she bowed. “Thank you, Senior!”

Fang Wuchang nodded slightly, and the two left the Arena Stage amidst the bewildered looks of the crowd.

In the end, Mu Wanqing won without a fight, experiencing what it felt like to win while doing nothing.

Leaving the venue of the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, Fang Wuchang took Secluded Moon to a martial arts field within Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

As soon as Secluded Moon stood firm, she saw a white-clothed figure standing on the martial arts field. That graceful silhouette actually gave her a somewhat familiar feeling.

Before she could speak to ask...

To the side of the martial arts platform, the Sect Master of Profound Moon Palace and several Elders were actually standing together!

Everyone had solemn expressions, and dozens of gazes fell upon her like sharp swords, carrying undisguised killing intent and fury.

Secluded Moon's heart 'thumped,' and an ominous premonition instantly seized her.

An ominous premonition instantly seized her. She subconsciously took half a step back, and just as she was about to use the motion of turning around to find an opportunity to flee, the white-clothed figure in the field slowly turned around.

Fair fingers lightly brushed over her cheek. As a layer of white gauze as thin as a cicada's wing fell, it revealed a face that was elegant yet carried a bone-chilling coldness.

“How... how is this possible?”

Secluded Moon's pupils constricted suddenly, her voice trembling uncontrollably, and even her retreating steps became unsteady. “Weren't you already...”

“Already killed by you, right?” Qi Yue's voice was as cold as ice. The moment she interrupted her, a long sword quietly appeared in her right hand.

“I blame myself for not seeing your true face back then, which is why I had this calamity in my life.”

“Fortunately, Heaven favored me and let me meet the Sect Master, so that I could end this grievance with my own hands.”

Secluded Moon's face turned deathly pale. Since her sister had appeared here, all her schemes had come to naught. Now, her only way to survive was to flee this place and hide with a different face in the future.