217: Reputation

The woman's figure was faster than lightning. As her long sword hummed, she struck out with over a hundred condensed streaks of Sword Qi, merging them into a surging silver wave that crashed toward the demon tiger with the force of a rending wind!

Boom!

An ear-splitting roar tore through the Void Realm as the red Protective Aura around the demon tiger's body surged. It chose to withstand this move head-on with its powerful physique.

This Heaven-rank Divine Ability exhausted the woman's last bit of spiritual energy. As her Meridians became empty and stagnant, her figure suddenly slowed.

In an instant, a black shadow broke through the air like lightning. The demon tiger's steel-like tail swept across with the weight of a thousand tons, striking the woman like a divine whip!

"Pfft!"

The woman crashed onto the Arena Stage like a kite with a broken string. The sound of cracking bones was piercing and terrifying. Her blood surged, and her vision blurred, leaving only a sea of stars before her eyes.

A massive shadow loomed over her again, and the coldness of death seeped into her bones. At this moment, the woman felt regret.

A broken cry for help escaped her throat: "Help... help me!"

"Someone's going to die on Arena Number Three!" The urgent shout startled the Demon Suppressing Tower Elder responsible for maintaining order.

He had just been engrossed in the battle between a Golden Core Cultivator and a Nascent Soul Ghost Python on Arena Number Four, only now realizing he had nearly neglected his duties.

A spiritual light flickered from his fingertips, and a wave of pressure descended from the air. The demon tiger was instantly suppressed to the ground, unable to move.

The Elder glanced at the blood-covered, dying woman and casually tossed a bottle of healing Medicinal Pills to her.

"Ignorant fool! A Golden Core Third Layer dares to challenge a Golden Core Sixth Layer Yao Beast. Do you really think you're a Prodigy who can defy fate and challenge those above you?"

Fortunately, no one died. The Elder left a remark and immediately returned to the stands to continue watching the fight on Arena Number Four.

Gritting her teeth, the woman dragged her blood-soaked, swaying body back to the stands.

As soon as she sat down, the Junior Sister in Pink Skirt approached with a frown, her tone complaining:

"Senior Sister, what on earth are you doing?

You can't even beat a Golden Core Sixth Layer paper tiger. You've completely disgraced our Red Immortal Pavilion!"

Several other Junior Sisters nearby didn't speak, but their expressions already said it all.

The woman's body stiffened. Looking at the familiar yet cold faces, she felt as if she was seeing these fellow disciples clearly for the first time.

The Junior Sister in Pink Skirt looked around. "Luckily, that disgusting old geezer from before isn't here, or I'd be fuming."

In a quiet room outside the Arena Stage, an Old Man in Green Robes sat leisurely waiting.

A moment later, a figure pushed open the door and tossed over a storage ring:

"Good job this time! That fool on Arena Number Three made us a net profit of eighty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"That woman really is stupid, a Golden Core Third Layer trying to take on a Golden Core Sixth Layer demon tiger," the man sneered.

The Old Man in Green Robes stroked his beard and laughed loudly. "Stupid? What if I told you that woman is from the Red Immortal Pavilion of Canglan Continent?"

The man was stunned, then realization dawned on him:

"So that's how it is! Then it's not surprising."

...On Arena Number Four.

Ye Hao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at the Ghost Python that had transformed into human form, his eyes burning with the joy of a fierce battle.

This Demon-Slaying Trial was indeed the right place to come.

The last time he had enjoyed himself like this was during the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony in the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven.

He sheathed his long sword and stored it as the storage ring flashed with spiritual light.

A greyish Chaos Qi suddenly rose around him, vast as the abyss and the sea, carrying the pressure of the world's rise and fall.

His hands formed profound seals, with his thumbs and middle fingers touching and the other three fingers pointing diagonally toward the sky. His voice rolled like thunder:

"Primordial Samsara Curse!"

In an instant.

The Chaos Qi surged and roared, condensing into a circular halo surrounded by patterns of life, death, and illusion. Carrying the mighty power of Reincarnation, it crashed violently into the Ghost Python!

The power of the God-Tier Divine Ability tore through the Void Realm, making the Arena Stage tremble violently. The Ghost Python let out a shrill scream as its body was torn apart by the halo. Its Yin Qi dissipated, its Divine Soul was severely damaged, and its aura instantly withered like a candle in the wind.

"Whoa... what kind of Divine Ability is that? Is he really going to win?"

"That's a Ghost Python at the Nascent Soul Realm. Is this kid really a Golden Core? This is just too unreasonable."

"Dammit... that's my marriage fund! A Golden Core can win against a Nascent Soul? I'm going to lose even with odds of 1 to 1.02?"

"Rigged! It's definitely rigged!"

As Ye Hao's Divine Ability landed, it wasn't just the Ghost Python on the Arena Stage that was severely hit.

The nearby Cultivators let out even more shrill complaints.

Ye Hao did not relax in the slightest before the Chaos Qi dissipated.

His figure was faster than a ghost. The long sword reappeared in his hand, its cold light cutting through the Void Realm as a condensed Sword Qi pierced directly toward the Ghost Python's heart!

"His talent, methods, and Heart-Nature are all top-tier! If this boy can survive his training, he will surely become a great figure who can intimidate a whole region in the future!"

Daoist Yuan Che's eyes were bright as he murmured in praise, his tone full of unmistakable admiration.

"My Lord, this is all of Ye Hao's information."

The subordinate beside him bowed and presented two sheets of Xuan paper with both hands.

Daoist Yuan Che's brow furrowed slightly, and his movement to take the Jade Slip paused:

"Why are there two?"

The subordinate lowered his head and replied, "My Lord, that Ye Hao also has a Senior Brother from the same Sect whose record is equally extraordinary. I thought you would be interested, so I took the liberty of bringing it along for your review."

Daoist Yuan Che unfolded the Xuan paper, his gaze scanning the writing. His expression gradually darkened, becoming more serious as he read.

When his gaze fell upon the cinnabar annotation next to Li Pingan's name, his pupils suddenly constricted.

"Fourth Level of Martial Dao, capable of rivaling the Nascent Soul Seventh Layer!"

"This..." His fingertips trembled slightly, and a storm of shock surged in his heart.

Even the Tower Lord back then didn't have such Heaven-Defying talent!

Taking a deep breath to suppress the shock, Daoist Yun Che's gaze finally settled on the Sect the two belonged to, and he murmured:

"Dao Seeking Sect?"

"When has the Rain God Continent ever had such a Sect?"

The subordinate pondered for a moment before bowing and shaking his head:

"I have checked the directory of Sects within the continent and have never heard of this name. They are likely Cultivators from another continent."

Daoist Yuan Che nodded slowly and put away the Xuan paper, his tone solemn:

"Report to me immediately whenever these two have matches in the future!"

"Yes, My Lord!"

Ye Hao walked down the Arena Stage. As soon as he returned to the stands, several figures immediately surrounded him.

Sect Elders handed out tokens with smiles, and clan managers promised resources, all extending olive branches in hopes of recruiting him.

Ye Hao's expression remained calm as he cupped his hands to the crowd:

"Thank you all for your kindness, but I already have a Revered Master and a Sect. I am only here to temper myself and have no other intentions."

Over the next few days, the Demon-Slaying Trial continued to heat up.

Li Pingan also began to take the stage. In every battle, he used his Martial Dao to clash head-on with Yao Beasts, using the slaughter to temper his physique. His battle record was illustrious, and his fame rose alongside Ye Hao's.

In just a few days, the names of the two spread through Yunxi City like a clap of thunder.

Many Cultivators spent their leisure time in heated discussion and amazement over these two.

As well as curiosity about that "Dao Seeking Sect."