Someone took the lead in speaking up, and the two thousand people immediately exploded.
"That's right! The third round hasn't even started, why are you eliminating us?"
"Exactly! We finally made it to the third round, why are you eliminating us just like that?"
"That's right! Why?"
"If we lost and were eliminated, we would have nothing to say, but to be eliminated without doing anything, we are not convinced!"
"Right! We are not convinced!"
"We are not convinced!"
"Not convinced!"
"Not convinced!"
"Not convinced!"
"..."
Zi Lingling said sarcastically, "Not convinced? You still have the nerve to say you're not convinced?"
Her voice, amplified by the power of法则 (fǎzé - laws/principles), immediately drowned out the commotion.
"Aren't you asking why you're being eliminated? Then I will explain it to you properly."
"First of all, the spots for this Dan Zun secret realm inherently belong to our Alchemist Guild. It's a favor if we give them up, and our right if we don't."
"Secondly, even with just these ninety-nine spots, our Alchemist Guild members could easily fill them without any waste! The reason I'm willing to give up these spots is because I want to enhance the foundation of the Tianci Continent and cultivate some powerhouses to deal with the impending... disaster!"
"Listen carefully, what I want to cultivate are powerhouses! So, what do you think constitutes a powerhouse?"
Zi Lingling paused here, her sharp gaze sweeping across the two thousand people before her, and she reprimanded, "Speak! What is a powerhouse?"
"Having high cultivation is being a powerhouse!" one of the seventeen people arrogantly replied.
Zi Lingling sneered, "Having high cultivation is being a powerhouse? That's not even how you tell a joke!"
"I'm stating a fact, not telling a joke!" the person insisted stubbornly.
"Fact?"
Zi Lingling scoffed, "If I'm not mistaken, you are at the peak of the Great God realm, aren't you?"
"So what?" the person replied indifferently.
Zi Lingling released her aura and said, "Then perfect. I am currently in the early stage of the Great God realm. Do you dare to accept my challenge?" Su Dan Novel Network
The person sneered, "You? Challenge me? Are you sure?"
Zi Lingling said coldly, "Certainly and absolutely! Do you dare to accept?"
"Why wouldn't I? I won't take advantage of you either. I'll let you have three moves!" the person declared shamelessly.
Zi Lingling was surprised, "Let me have three moves? Are you sure?"
The person patted his chest, "A man of honor keeps his word!"
Zi Lingling was amused, "Since that's the case, then prepare yourself!"
"I'm ready!"
The person stood there casually, proudly.
"Good! Then I can start attacking!" Zi Lingling kindly reminded him.
The person impatiently said, "Hurry up and attack! Stop wasting time!"
Zi Lingling sighed helplessly and casually threw a punch.
This punch had no fluctuation of法则 (fǎzé - laws/principles) power, nor any discernible energy fluctuation.
Zi Lingling's casual demeanor made it seem like child's play, as if she didn't take it seriously at all.
Seeing the punch's weak appearance, the person's lips curled into a sneer, "Guild Master Zi, have you not eaten?"
Zi Lingling smiled faintly, "Is that so?"
As her voice fell, the seemingly weak fist reached the person's chest.
Just as the fist was about to make contact, a terrifying energy fluctuation suddenly appeared on the fist.
The person's face changed. Before he could even react to defend himself, he was sent flying backward.
"Bang!" The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed.
At the edge of the arena, the person coughed up a mouthful of blood. It took him a full five breaths before he could drag himself up from the ground.
He clutched his chest and came before Zi Lingling, angrily saying, "You cheated!"
Zi Lingling retorted sarcastically, "Cheated? You think you're worthy of me cheating?"
"You!"
The person was rendered speechless, his face turning green with anger.
Zi Lingling scolded, "What 'you'! With a great battle imminent, you still dare to underestimate your opponent. Are you out of your mind?"
The person angrily said, "I'm not convinced! Do it again!"
Zi Lingling sneered, "Not convinced? Alright! Then I'll give you another chance! I'll let you attack first!"
"Hmph! Take this!"
The person wasted no time and his fist shot towards Zi Lingling.
Moreover, his attack preceded his words, completely catching her off guard.
The wind from his fist stirred his robes, and in an instant, it reached Zi Lingling's chest.
A surprise attack!
A disdainful smile played on Zi Lingling's lips. She gracefully raised her hand, brought her fingers together, and slowly met the incoming fist.
Strangely, even though she started later than the opponent, she was faster and landed her punch on his fist.
A figure flew out again, but it was not Zi Lingling.
"Bang!"
The person once again fell heavily at the edge of the arena, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
This time, it took him a full two breaths before he could struggle to his feet.
Zi Lingling looked at the more than two thousand people before her and said calmly, "Now, do you still think that having high cultivation makes one a powerhouse?"
The crowd fell silent.
Zi Lingling continued, "Cultivation is not the only standard for a powerhouse. True powerhouses have a heart of strength, which allows them to fear no danger, press forward bravely, and never give up even if death is imminent!"
"Powerhouses never underestimate their opponents, no matter the situation. Even when victory is assured, they give their all. A lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit; underestimating the enemy is a major military taboo."
"Powerhouses do not flaunt themselves before the weak, but rather keep their edge hidden, striking with precision. On the path to becoming a powerhouse, they continuously move forward and temper themselves."
"Powerhouses can reflect on themselves but not be self-deprecating. They can have noble integrity but not arrogance. They can say 'I worked hard,' but not 'I can't do it!'"
"Therefore, possessing a strong heart is the only way to walk the path of a powerhouse, and having the qualities of a powerhouse is what gives one the appearance of a powerhouse! The moment you admit you are weak, you lose the qualification to become a powerhouse. Do you understand why I cannot eliminate you?"
Zi Lingling's words plunged the surroundings into silence, not only the people on the stage but also the onlookers.
"Clap clap clap..."
Unsure who started it, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted from both the stage and the audience.
Many people gained a new understanding, and their state of mind greatly improved.
"Guild Master Zi, we know we were wrong! Please give us another chance, don't eliminate us, okay?"
"Yes, Guild Master Zi! If we were defeated due to inferior skills, we would have nothing to say, but to be eliminated without even fighting, we have no face!"
"Guild Master Zi, we were wrong! We are not weak!"
"That's right! We might still be eliminated, but the significance of fighting and losing is completely different from not fighting and admitting defeat."
"Exactly, Guild Master Zi! If we were to admit defeat today without fighting, our Dao heart would be clouded!"
"..."