61: The results of the first round of Chapter 61 are in; the second round begins tomorrow!

But the next moment, her purple clothes fluttered, and Su Ziyi's aura changed abruptly.

A layer of pale blue frost seemed to emerge on her body, and from afar, it looked as if she had draped herself in a layer of light, icy gauze.

A burst of exclamations suddenly erupted from the viewing stands.

"Wind-Snow Sword!!"

Someone blurted out.

Shen Jingzhou, the Wind-Snow Sword, is an expert who has recently risen to fame in the Northern Li Jianghu. When facing enemies, he exudes an oppressive chill, and his green robe becomes wrapped in Internal Energy, turning a deep blue color.

The scene before them was somewhat similar.

When this shout rang out, many people were shocked.

On the Jingwu Platform, patches of pale blue mist suddenly began to permeate the air.

Su Rui shook his head gently.

This move was still a bit of a stretch for Su Ziyi.

However, it was enough to defeat Underworld Marquis.

The crowd on the surrounding stands instantly felt a bone-chilling cold.

On the Jingwu Platform, a layer of frost formed, visible to the naked eye.

Underworld Marquis, who was attacking relentlessly, paused.

The frost quickly spread over his entire body. He circulated his Internal Energy to shake off the cold air and lunged toward Su Ziyi, who was hovering in the air.

The closer he got to Su Ziyi, the faster the frost condensed.

Just as the blade was about to touch the hem of her clothes, Underworld Marquis's figure suddenly froze.

The next instant, a crystal-clear ice sculpture appeared before everyone's eyes.

Underworld Marquis's eyes were wide with rage, and the massive golden blade in his hand was still swinging forward, maintaining his combat stance, but he was completely sealed within the ice sculpture.

This was none other than the Ice Absolute of the Four Absolutes of the Sacred Heart.

However, it was clearly not easy for Su Ziyi to execute this move.

On the viewing stands, Yue Ji's expression changed drastically when she saw Underworld Marquis frozen in ice. She immediately flew out, wanting to go forward to check on his condition.

However, she was stopped by the people of Snow Moon City.

But by this time, everyone knew that the outcome had been decided.

"To be able to change the surrounding environment on such a large scale? To have such power, it's truly unimaginable!"

Qianluo, who still had the red mark from Xing Hun's spear on her head but whose injuries were no longer a problem, spoke up.

This move was already approaching the top-tier Cultivation Technique of the Daoist school.

It also had similarities to some of the secret arts of the Yin-Yang School.

But to be able to freeze an opponent in the very first major Realm—this was something even the Yin-Yang School found difficult to achieve.

"Teacher, I have disappointed you!"

After returning to the arena, Su Ziyi looked somewhat dejected.

"It is fine. The Cultivation Technique I taught you is meant to be used when facing difficulties. However, the consumption for you to execute this move now is too great. Once used, you will likely find it difficult to protect yourself afterward, so you must be careful."

"Yes!"

After Sikong Changfeng announced the result, Yue Ji immediately rushed to Underworld Marquis's side.

At this moment, cracks had already begun to appear on the ice sculpture.

Without Su Ziyi continuing to maintain it, its sturdiness naturally dropped significantly.

Underworld Marquis had not lost consciousness; he circulated the True Qi within his body to shatter the layer of ice on him.

There were already obvious frostbite injuries on his body.

"Underworld Marquis!"

"I'm fine. She didn't go for the kill in this competition; she held back."

After saying this, Underworld Marquis walked off the Jingwu Platform, supported by Yue Ji.

"The results of the first round are out. Please take a short rest, everyone; the second round of the competition will begin tomorrow!"

After Sikong Changfeng shouted this, everyone knew that the day's competition had come to an end.

But recalling the battle just now, everyone still felt a lingering fear.

The several people sent by the martial arts hall had all won.

Out of the eight spots, the martial arts hall occupied five.

Some people, on the contrary, felt that this was normal.

They believed that given the Hall Master's strength, it would be strange if his Disciples didn't advance.

Except for Li Hanyi, the strength of the other four did not seem outstanding to them.

But the power of the Cultivation Technique they mastered far exceeded the same Realm.

Many people harbored covetous intentions in their hearts.

But as soon as they thought of that Hall Master's cultivation, they immediately suppressed this thought.

They couldn't afford to provoke such a figure.

Su Rui was just preparing to take Li Hanyi and the others to leave when a Snow Moon City Disciple ran over.

He arrived in front of Su Rui and bowed respectfully.

"Senior, Lord Baili and Lord Sikong invite you to come over."

Su Rui was slightly stunned and somewhat surprised. He turned his head to look at Yin Luoxia, his gaze carrying an inquiry.

"Teacher, I am also not sure, but it might be about the Demon Cult."

Su Rui nodded gently.

"Then lead the way."

He had no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Demon Cult.

He also knew that even if he didn't intervene, this matter would be resolved sooner or later.

Moreover, this time the Demon Cult's eastern expedition targeted the Northern Li imperial family.

This had nothing much to do with him.

"You all return to the martial arts hall first; I will go take a look."

"Yes!"

Li Hanyi and the others immediately responded.

"Teacher, I will go with you!"

Sikong Qianluo shouted, and carrying the silver moon spear, she hopped over to Su Rui's side.

Thinking that her father was Sikong Changfeng, Su Rui did not refuse.

On the other hand, Yin Luoxia left with the girls, obviously preparing to return to the martial arts hall.

During this period, Yin Luoxia had been interfering less and less in the affairs of Snow Moon City, and was spending more and more time at the martial arts hall.

Did this count as poaching from Snow Moon City?

They got into a carriage, passed through the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, and entered the inner city of Snow Moon City.

The inner city was mostly the encampments of various major powers.

Among them, many were powers that had existed since the founding of Snow Moon City.

The scenery here was better than in the outer city, but it lacked the aura of human life.

The carriage stopped in front of a pavilion.

Just as Su Rui got off the carriage, someone came up to greet him.

Wearing a square cap, with a handsome face and an elegant temperament.

"Xie Xuan greets you, Sir."

The person who had come was none other than the Confucian Sword Immortal.

Su Rui looked at Xie Xuan, who was bowing, and felt slightly surprised.

"Your Excellency, do you have any advice?"

"I truly did not expect that you would come in person today, which surprises me greatly. The elegance of that sword strike earlier was truly mesmerizing!"

Su Rui nodded slightly.

"Please, Sir, come inside."

Xie Xuan smiled and gestured with his hand, his movements humble and gentle.

Su Rui did not say much more and stepped into the pavilion.

This was the legendary Confucian Sword Immortal?

He really looked like a scholar, not someone from the Jianghu.

Sikong Qianluo, who was usually lively and bouncy, was now quietly following behind Su Rui.

Clearly, the atmosphere in this pavilion made her feel a bit uneasy.

In the spacious hall, many people were already sitting quietly, waiting.

Seeing Su Rui step in, everyone was shocked and stood up unconsciously.

This was an instinctive respect for a powerful expert.

"Please, Sir, take a seat."

Xie Xuan seemed familiar with this, personally leading Su Rui to a seat.

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

The Head of the Wen Family smiled and bowed with hands clasped.

"And this is?"

"The current Head of the Wen Family."

After Xie Xuan finished the introduction, he pointed to the old man beside him and said, "This is an Elder of the Lei Clan."

The Head of the Wen Family did not attract much of Su Rui's attention, but the identity of the Lei Clan Elder made him take a few extra looks.

He knew of Li Hanyi's background, so naturally, he also understood her connection with the Lei Clan.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

The Lei Clan Elder's expression was complex, but it did not show on his face.

Su Rui nodded slightly, didn't say much, and sat back in his seat.

Sikong Qianluo stood behind him, her eyes scanning around.

As soon as Su Rui arrived, the low conversations that had been going on instantly disappeared without a trace.

Everyone's attention fell entirely on Su Rui.

When Sikong Qianluo's gaze swept over, everyone hurriedly revealed smiles they thought were friendly.

But she obviously didn't care.

In the past, Dad wouldn't let her come to such occasions.

Now that she had come with Sir, she wanted to see what Dad would say.

"Greetings, everyone."

Then, more than a dozen people arrived one after another, each with an extraordinary aura.

Among them, there were twenty or thirty experts of the Carefree Heaven Realm alone.

The rest were all at the Peak of the Earth Realm.

After Sikong Changfeng and Baili Dongjun arrived, they clasped their hands in greeting.

Everyone returned the gesture.

Seeing that Su Rui had already taken his seat, their eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for coming today."

Sikong Changfeng said with a smile.

"I am just a bit puzzled; why did you invite me here?"

Su Rui's tone was indifferent.

"Does Your Excellency not know about the Demon Cult's upcoming eastern expedition?"

Someone blurted out.

Everyone had gathered here precisely to discuss strategies to deal with the Demon Cult.

"Strange, I am just the owner of a martial arts hall; what does the Demon Cult's eastern expedition have to do with me?"

"..."

Everyone was speechless for a moment.

"This Demon Cult invasion is a major catastrophe for the Northern Li Jianghu, so we naturally need to discuss countermeasures together!"

"I do not count as someone from the Jianghu."

Su Rui still shook his head, his tone unchanged.

He had no desire to get involved in this dispute.

"But it was you, Your Excellency, who first discovered the Demon Cult's actions in Snow Moon City!"

"And so what? The Demon Cult provoked me, so I just dealt with them casually."

Dealt with them casually?

The surrounding crowd looked at each other, their faces full of shock.

The way he said it, it was as if the Demon Cult were nothing but small fries that could be removed with a wave of his hand?

If they didn't know the strength of the Demon Cult so well, they might have believed it.

"Mr. Su, the Demon Cult has always been unscrupulous in its actions; acts of wiping out families and slaughtering villages have never ceased. Ever since their failed eastern expedition a hundred years ago, they have always coveted Northern Li!"

Seeing Su Rui's indifferent tone, Xie Xuan thought he didn't understand the threat of the Demon Cult, so he spoke up to explain.

"Moreover, it is said that the Demon Cult Leader, Ye Dingzhi, has already stepped into the Half-Step Divine Roaming Realm, and his strength is unfathomable. This eastern expedition is highly likely to shake the Foundation of Northern Li!"

Everyone echoed in agreement, their expressions grave.

"And then?"

Su Rui frowned.

"What does this have to do with me?"

"..."

"Your Excellency is in Northern Li; you should naturally contribute to the safety of Northern Li!"

A burly man said with a frown.

Su Rui turned his head to look at that person.

"Who are you?"

"I am from the Famous Sword Villa—"

"Alright, alright, I know."

Before the other party could finish, Su Rui waved his hand to interrupt, then stood up.

"I thought something important had happened. You handle these matters yourselves; if you mess it up, I will naturally step in!"

Before his voice had faded, Su Rui turned and left the pavilion, leaving everyone present looking at each other in dismay.

Sikong Qianluo was just making eye contact with her father, and seeing Su Rui leave, she rolled her eyes at her father and quickly followed.

Seeing Su Rui leave first, many people in the surroundings frowned.

The person from the Famous Sword Villa was so angry that his face turned blue, and his hands were clenched into fists.

"This person is too arrogant; he doesn't take anyone seriously."

He snorted coldly, his tone full of dissatisfaction.

Many people also nodded in agreement.

"Everyone, affairs in the Jianghu ultimately depend on strength; you have all witnessed this person's capabilities."

Sikong Changfeng spoke up to smooth things over.

"Could it be that you are only speaking well of him because your daughter is under his tutelage?"

Sikong Changfeng was stunned, and his expression also turned cold.

"If you are unhappy, you can chase after him now."

When these words came out, the expressions of the people present finally softened a little.

Whoever wants to go can go; in any case, they didn't want to meddle in other people's business.

The person from the Famous Sword Villa's expression changed slightly, and he remained silent.