266: One genuinely believes he has skillful manipulation, the other genuinely believes he has numerical superiority.

"Sorry, I really didn't mean to."

Zhou Yan quickly used a spell to remove all the tea from the other person, then took out a handkerchief and handed it over for them to wipe it off.

Fortunately, Bai Ling's personality was indeed gentle, so he did not get angry; he took the handkerchief and started wiping himself.

"Brother Zhou is, after all, already a Nascent Soul Cultivator; you shouldn't be unable to control your own body."

"Just now, I observed changes in your eyes and pupils, and there was a slight fluctuation in your Spiritual Qi flow and temperament. If my analysis is correct, in that instant, you revealed emotions of confusion, shock, and surprise."

"There are only the three of us here, so I suspect your shock must have stemmed from us."

"I just can't figure out what about us could have made you suddenly feel shocked."

After Bai Ling's analysis, Zhou Yan was even more confused.

He spoke so logically and used terminology that Zhou Yan didn't quite understand; it was nothing like his self-proclaimed "simple-minded, brawny" description.

On the contrary, the emotionless girl next to him looked like the type who didn't use her brain much.

"I just suddenly recalled some old matters. Back when I faced Core Formation Cultivators, I also had to rely on the support of various powerful Cultivation Techniques to barely win."

"And both of your deeds have their own merits. Comparing them, I suddenly felt a bit dazed."

"So I lost my composure for a moment; please forgive me."

"I refuse to accept this!"

Before Zhou Yan could finish, a voice came from above, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere.

The three of them looked up simultaneously at the portal in the sky.

They saw the Fifth Elder striking a dashing pose, with a Nascent Soul Cultivator standing opposite him; judging by his attire, he was likely an outside guest.

"You must be Zhou Yan, right? I've long heard that you have immense talent, entering the Nascent Soul stage in just one year."

"But I just don't accept it! I admit you are handsome, suave, have a strong Sect background, and abundant resources."

"Qingxu Grotto-Heaven is indeed a super Sect with a beautiful environment, strong teaching staff, and an open atmosphere... top-tier in every aspect."

"Being able to Cultivate here naturally puts you far ahead of ordinary Cultivators like us."

"But today, I insist on testing your depth!"

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a salute and took a stance.

"Pardon the offense!"

"Great Heaven Cloud-Dispelling Palm!"

"What! It's actually the Great Heaven Cloud-Dispelling Palm! Could he be the successor of the Wujin Sect's Wujin Ancestral Master?"

Someone below seemed to recognize it and took the opportunity to explain to those around them.

"This person has exceptional talent, achieving the Nascent Soul stage in just over two hundred years. Now, not yet four hundred years old, he has reached the Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul. He has even mastered a pair of divine palms; when both palms are used, he is hard to find a match among his peers!"

Many Loose Cultivators and ordinary guests, hearing this analysis, also felt the palm technique was exquisite and exclaimed in wonder, while also inevitably breaking into a cold sweat for "Zhou Yan."

"Hmph."

"Zhou Yan" saw this and just gave a cold snort, still standing with his hands behind his back.

"Your demeanor is not bad, but your strength is a bit weak."

Then he raised a finger, and a massive wind pressure swept toward the opponent.

Before the person even touched the wind pressure, he was sent flying backward, falling to the ground and vomiting blood.

"As expected of the Qingxu Grotto-Heaven Saint, True Person Yunshu, Zhou Yan!"

"I submit!"

Then his head tilted to the side, he fainted, and was quickly carried away by two Disciple attendants.

[Divine Sense Transmission: What's the situation? I haven't even hit you yet, why did you go flying?]

[Divine Sense Transmission: Doesn't this make your Daoist attainment seem profound?]

[Divine Sense Transmission: What kind of acting is this! Who acts like that!]

[Divine Sense Transmission: You still haven't settled the bill from last time, old man.]

[Divine Sense Transmission: Well acted.]

The challenges the Elders had anticipated did not happen, so they had to let the pre-arranged shills enter the stage early.

Who knew that after the shill finished acting, the scene remained calm; everyone went back to eating and chatting, leaving the Fifth Elder alone on the stage striking a pose, feeling a bit at a loss.

He had never taken a job like this before?

Didn't previous ceremonies always involve a dozen or twenty fights? Why isn't there a single one today? Did I come here today to be a security guard?

That's not right... Could the poison I was afflicted with still not be cured, and I am still in an illusion?

In reality, ever since the news of Zhou Yan's "Nascent Soul in one year" was confirmed, except for some large Sects with broad knowledge and inside information, other Cultivators acted as if they had seen a ghost when they saw him.

This caused his original battle record of "killing Foundation Establishment while in Qi Refining, and killing Core Formation while in Foundation Establishment" to be infinitely magnified, and the originally slightly exaggerated rumors were mentally filled in with countless details.

Some even suspected whether Zhou Yan had defied Heaven and killed a Soul Transformation Cultivator while in the Core Formation Stage back in Great Yu; otherwise, why would he be so highly valued and directly appointed as an "Imperial Preceptor" who holds no real post but enjoys a share of the national destiny?

And now that he has entered the Nascent Soul stage, who would have a brain cramp and go challenge him?

Even those who had the heart to try, seeing no one else step forward, were even less willing to be the first.

Thus, the whole scene was calm and unusually harmonious.

"I originally wanted to spar with Brother Zhou, but since it is an Elder of your Sect on stage, it would be inconvenient to disturb him."

"I heard from my Revered Master that Brother Zhou will definitely go to the Eastern Extreme Secret Realm. My suggestion from just now is still valid; if you need to form a team, please consider me first."

"Me too."

Old Yao finally wiped the grease off her hands and cupped her hands in a salute, although her face still had no expression, and it was hard to see much sincerity.

Seeing the two of them about to leave, Zhou Yan recalled that strange gap in stats and decided to ask for clarification before they left.

After all, neither of these two looked like they were on the same level.

Bai Ling goes without saying; if he were in the Core Formation Stage, Zhou Yan might have thought more highly of him.

But for him to be in the Late Nascent Soul Stage with such stats... those who didn't know might think his parents had abandoned the child back then, and the placenta had Cultivated instead.

As for Xuanyuan Qingyao, she was even more Heaven-Defying.

Such outrageous stats, Zhou Yan had only seen on Wang Yao.

If Wang Yao successfully condensed a Nascent Soul, perhaps his blood and Qi would be even better, but in terms of magical power and Divine Soul, he would certainly not be as good as Xuanyuan Qingyao.

With her being such a total stat monster, how could she have the nerve to say she "relies on technique"?

This Bai Ling next to her is the same; where did he get his stats? The blood Xuanyuan Qingyao loses from a hangnail would be enough for him to die twice.

So Zhou Yan suspected that their words just now might be false. So next, he would have to use some Soul Transformation means.

"Brother Bai, may I ask a presumptuous question: how did you kill that Late Nascent Soul Stage expert back then? I'm just curious, as I have never seen a Nascent Soul Domain."

Bai Ling, who had turned to leave, was called back and sat right back down, starting to recount his glorious battle record.

"This matter is simple."

"Since you want to hear it, brother, I'll tell you."

"The Nascent Soul Domain is originally the newest of the new methods; it has now developed to be nearly perfect, but it still has its own flaws."

"Ultimately, it only borrows the power of Heaven and Earth, rather than controlling or even modifying the power of Heaven and Earth like the Soul Transformation stage."

"So, you just need to... then... and then it was easily resolved."

Zhou Yan listened, dumbfounded.

The other party had actually utilized a whole bunch of means, including formation Dao, artifact Dao, Puppet Dao, poison Dao, Five Elements spells, Five Elements derivative spells, Talismans, and more, taking thirteen days to finally kill the opponent.

According to his description, that Late Nascent Soul Stage expert had only managed to injure him twice during those thirteen days—once due to his own mistake, and the other time was a deliberate opening he revealed to finish the opponent off.

Zhou Yan swallowed his saliva and turned to ask Xuanyuan Qingyao how she usually dealt with enemies.

Xuanyuan Qingyao also honestly recounted her various detailed analyses.

Things like muscle density, punch speed, force control, hit locations, and most crucially, if the opponent isn't injured after being punched, how to run away.

She said even more than Bai Ling, but Zhou Yan actually understood it.

The meaning was: throw a punch, if they die, good; if they don't die, run.

He was just about to make a snarky comment, but saw Bai Ling looking at Xuanyuan Qingyao with an envious face.

"I really envy you people with innate gifts."

"Like me, I can only rely on my own strength. When will I be able to be like you all, where the Dao is simple?"

Xuanyuan Qingyao even shamelessly patted his shoulder.

"Study hard. In terms of technique, you will never be able to reach my level."

"We are not the same kind of people, after all."

You sure aren't the same kind of people!

The blood you lose from a piece of dead skin is enough for him to lose his head.

"Hmph, don't get cocky just because you have some talent. I will surpass you sooner or later."

If we have this kind of talent, let's stop stubbornly playing with stats!

You really can't surpass her!

"Brother Zhou, today's conversation was very pleasant. We shall meet again another day in the Eastern Extreme Secret Realm."

Seeing Bai Ling leave, Xuanyuan Qingyao also took out a token and exchanged contact information with Zhou Yan.

"Brother Zhou, when you go down the mountain for training in the future, remember to call me. I absolutely won't scam you. Hmm... I can't explain the specific reason, but believe me, you are different."

Subsequently, Xuanyuan Qingyao also left.

Sending off these two "Divine Beings," Zhou Yan only felt his worldview had been impacted.

With the assistance of the Law of the Heart, he could clearly feel that the super-technique guy, Bai Ling, thought he relied on stats, and the super-stat sister, Xuanyuan Qingyao, thought she relied on technique.

Both of them were deeply convinced, without any sense of dissonance.

Mahayana decree! Yes, it must be the work of the Mahayana decree!

That's not strange then, that's not strange then.