81: Chapter 81: The first match of the semi-finals officially begins!

The cult leader is close to the Shenyou Realm, with power that reaches the heavens and penetrates the earth; he is not someone ordinary people can compare to.

Moreover, how could such a figure have remained unheard of before?

Bitter cultivation behind closed doors rarely leads to greatness, which is why many Geniuses must travel and experience life and death to achieve a Breakthrough.

Of course, there are exceptions for true peerless prodigies.

But the two of them never believed hearsay and decided to investigate personally before making a decision.

They heard that today was the final day of the Snow Moon City competition.

The champion would be decided today, and the martial arts hall occupied three of the four semi-final spots; the two immediately set off for Snow Moon City.

...

On the way from Northern Li to Snow Moon City.

Wanwan looked at her master, her face full of surprise.

She truly couldn't understand why her master would appear in Northern Li!

"Wanwan, how was your harvest from this competition in Snow Moon City?"

Zhu Yuyan, dressed in light purple gauze, leaned against a luxurious soft couch and asked indifferently.

"Master, the opponents I encountered this time are extraordinary; there's more than one expert!"

Just as Wanwan spoke, intending to ask Zhu Yuyan her reason for coming, the other party beat her to it.

Instantly, Wanwan's pupils contracted slightly, her face filled with shock.

The Demon Gate had actually joined forces with the Heaven Beyond Heaven Demonic Cult from the outer Realms.

Although their specific goal was unknown, they clearly had designs on Northern Li.

Her master appearing near Snow Moon City... could she be planning to unite with Heaven Beyond Heaven to oppose Snow Moon City?

At that moment, she suddenly thought of Su Rui, who was also in the city.

If they provoked this Martial Arts Hall Master, no matter how many people went, it would be in vain.

She knew very well.

Su Rui's cultivation was unfathomable; even with several Elders of the Demon Gate and the leaders of other Demon Gate factions, they would likely struggle to contend with him.

In that case, wouldn't they be seeking their own deaths?

"Master, there is a Martial Arts Hall Master in that city who is extremely powerful, like an Immortal descended to earth. I'm a bit worried..."

Wanwan showed a look of concern.

"What are you worried about? There will be someone to deal with capable experts.

This time, Heaven Beyond Heaven has already set up a Grand Formation in Snow Moon City; we only need to cooperate.

Once it's done, we can obtain the martial arts manuals from the various families in the city. After the Eastern Expedition is over, the rewards will naturally be bountiful!"

Zhu Yuyan had always been shrewd and never acted without seeing results.

She had seen Ye Dingzhi with her own eyes and knew the power of such a person; it was almost impossible to imagine failure.

"Wanwan, this time you will act with Bian Bufu and the Elders. Once the Heaven Beyond Heaven Grand Formation is activated, proceed according to the plan."

As soon as she finished speaking, she waved her hand, signaling Wanwan to withdraw.

The door closed, and the room returned to silence.

"A Martial Arts Hall Master? How interesting."

Zhu Yuyan gently stroked her jet-black hair and murmured softly.

Although she didn't believe that Martial Arts Hall Master was stronger than Ye Dingzhi.

But for Wanwan to give such an evaluation, he must be extraordinary.

If there's a chance, it wouldn't hurt to test him.

It is said that the hall master is also an elegant young man.

Zhu Yuyan lightly tugged the purple gauze on her shoulder and licked her lips slightly.

...

On the other side, Shi Feixuan also received a secret order from the Quiet Temple of Compassion.

Looking at the contents of the letter, she frowned slightly.

What is Master trying to do? It's like she's gone mad.

When she saw the names of the Evil Emperor Xie Tiao, the Heavenly Dao Song Que, and the Evil King Shi Zhixuan at the end of the letter, her brow furrowed even tighter.

Before arriving at Snow Moon City, Shi Feixuan might have simply followed the instructions in the letter, willing to sacrifice herself to the tiger's den if such an act could truly change the beast's heart.

However, during her stay in Snow Moon City, her conversations with Su Rui, Wanwan, and others, as well as several battles with opponents,

especially the scene where her own Concept violently clashed with Ximen Chuixue and was even broken by him, had quietly planted a crack in her heart.

The arrival of this letter was like a fuse, igniting the hesitation deep within her.

She suddenly remembered Su Rui mentioning that if she wished to join the martial arts hall, she would no longer be bound by her Sect.

But at this moment, her thoughts were in a chaotic mess.

Su Rui's figure inadvertently surfaced in her mind, along with his shocking and extraordinary strength.

If he intervened, this catastrophe of the Demonic Cult's eastward advance might not be unstoppable.

In that case, wouldn't a great disaster still be averted?

Thinking of this, Shi Feixuan suddenly crushed the letter in her hand and turned to rush toward Snow Moon City without hesitation.

Of course, she also knew some past stories about the entanglement between the Quiet Temple of Compassion and the Evil Emperor, the Heavenly Saber, and the Evil King.

The Temple had always taken "quelling chaos and saving the people" as its responsibility.

Although she had grown up receiving such teachings since childhood.

But a clever person, after all, will not follow blindly.

...

The sun was high, and sunlight filled the earth, warm but not scorching.

The stands next to the arena were already crowded with people, bustling with noise.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting today's match.

Among them were many who had tried to join the martial arts hall but were rejected; they came today specifically to see just how strong the hall's Disciples were.

Ximen Chuixue stood quietly, holding his long sword, gazing toward the main stands.

He had great confidence in his sword skills, but he also knew he was far from being Li Hanyi's match.

He only hoped for a hearty battle.

And in his heart, Su Rui was also someone who truly understood the Profound Truth of the Dao of the sword.

He recalled the sentence he heard when he visited that hall master at the martial arts hall:

"Why did that hall master advise me to take a wife? And why did he want me to make two close friends?"

A trace of confusion flashed in Ximen Chuixue's eyes.

He lived only for the Dao of the sword; for the Dao of the sword, he was willing to give everything.

But now, what did these things have to do with the Dao of the sword?

Li Hanyi was young, yet she was already walking on the path to the Peak of the Dao of the sword.

This caused waves of bewilderment to rise in Ximen Chuixue's heart.

He truly couldn't fathom Su Rui's deep meaning.

Looking at Su Rui and his group in the distance, Ximen Chuixue pondered for a long time and finally decided to go and ask for clarification in person once today's match was over.

While he watched Su Rui, others were casting their gazes upon him.

In this match, he was the only challenger who did not come from the martial arts hall.

Naturally, he became the focus of everyone's attention.

Not just him, but the previously defeated contestants also received much attention.

Many of them had factions backing them, so it wouldn't be easy to recruit them.

But Ximen Chuixue was an exception.

After investigation, people found that he was actually alone.

Such a figure naturally made various factions eager to move.

Although he had intended to join the martial arts hall and tried many times, he never succeeded.

Since the martial arts hall was unwilling to accept him, they couldn't miss out.

Everyone had a plan in mind: as soon as the match ended, they would immediately send someone to contact him.

On the main stands, Sikong Changfeng saw that the time had come and stood up to announce that the first match of the semi-finals had officially begun.

The two sides—Li Hanyi versus Mu Liangyue.

Everyone was full of anticipation for this battle.

In fact, regardless of whether Li Hanyi was beautiful or not, her sword skills, Sword Intent, and Sword Formulas had already become a peerless grace in everyone's eyes.

Moreover, in everyone's view, as long as she grew up safely, she would surely be among the ranks of Sword Immortals in the future.

To be able to witness her move in this Realm with one's own eyes was a great honor.

And Mu Liangyue was also not to be underestimated.

In yesterday's battle, her exquisite Sword Control Technique and her unexpected final winning move left a deep impression.

At this moment, everyone was curious about what kind of sparks would fly between the two.

On the stands, the duo, Cannot Be Bound, who had just arrived using qinggong, came through the crowd from afar and immediately saw Su Rui and his group on the main stands, as well as Yue Qing standing behind him.

"It seems she's indeed fine... but this situation doesn't look like she's being imprisoned."

A trace of doubt rose in their hearts.

Regarding Yue Qing's true identity and intentions, they couldn't make a judgment for the time being.

Although No Method and No Heaven were conceited about their talents, they weren't exactly stupid.

Acting rashly in broad daylight was simply too risky.

Once noticed by the experts on the main stands, they would be heavily injured at best, and their lives would be at stake at worst.

The two decided to stay their hands for now and wait for an opportunity after the match ended.

At that time, not only could they take down Su Rui, but they could also take Yue Qing back to the cult.

In their view, Yue Qing's unauthorized departure from the cult was already a great act of rebellion; upon their return, they would definitely report it to the cult leader for severe punishment.

The two people, "No Method" and "No Heaven," both cast their gazes on Su Rui, who was surrounded by the women.

Looking at the young man sitting on the stands, both felt a hint of contempt in their hearts.

With his delicate skin and thin frame, what real ability could he have?

Rumors in the Jianghu were always exaggerated.

A little bit of strength, when passed around, becomes the power to lift mountains and split rivers.

If he truly had the heaven-reaching ability of the legends, why would he only open a small martial arts hall in Snow Moon City?

But to their surprise, when they cast their prying gazes, Su Rui actually seemed to sense it and turned his head to look directly at them.

This single look made their hearts tighten suddenly.

This person's perception is actually so sharp!

They didn't believe Su Rui was just glancing randomly.

They could even clearly feel that the gaze was landing right on them.

"It seems he has some real skill!"

The two exchanged a look and then quietly faded into the crowd.

Su Rui had just sensed two prying gazes and knew something was amiss, so he turned to look and indeed met the eyes of the two.

He recognized them at a glance as two Jianghu eccentrics of unknown origin.

Then, he quietly described the appearance of the two to Yue Qing beside him.

Yue Qing, who had been standing behind Su Rui with her head down, was startled upon hearing this and almost shouted their names.

But in the end, she forced herself to swallow it back.

And Su Rui already understood.

He didn't look at Yue Qing again, but simply turned his gaze back indifferently.

But huge waves were surging in Yue Qing's heart.

So those two had already arrived in Snow Moon City; with their usual style, they would probably make a move soon.

She looked at Su Rui, and a few hints of worry unexpectedly grew in her heart.

Was she worried that those two would fall in Snow Moon City, or was she worried that this hall master before her would meet with an accident?

She couldn't tell herself.

With a complex expression and a thousand thoughts turning in her mind, she finally couldn't help but speak.

"Those two people..."

"The Demonic Cult's Cannot Be Bound, I know."

Su Rui didn't turn around, raising his hand to interrupt her.