Here at the Fulong Immortal Palace, Mo Chenyu’s eyes narrowed into slits as he watched Lin Xueyan’s performance.
"Not bad, truly not bad. Such an outstanding, favored daughter of heaven must be quite a pleasure to conquer!"
In his eyes, the more outstanding a woman, the greater the sense of accomplishment in conquering her. He found those who were too ordinary uninteresting.
However, while he was pleased, the expressions on the faces of those from the Jintao Heavenly Sect and the Zhenwu Heavenly Sect were grim.
The reason was Lin Xueyan’s overwhelmingly powerful display. Han Zimo, who should have had a chance to win the championship, was utterly defeated, and others likely stood no chance.
Even the confident Wu Tiankuang knew he was no match for Lin Xueyan.
"This Four Sects Grand Assembly might even have trouble securing third place..."
Wu Tiankuang frowned, his gaze drifting to Bai Xiaoxiao and Gu Xiaoyue beside Ye Yun in the distance.
"These two, their cultivation can’t be seen through either. Could they both be King-level cultivators?"
If that were the case, the Gudao Heavenly Sect would directly take all three top spots.
A few minutes later, Yu Wenya’s voice echoed again.
"Next, we invite the holder of Jade Token Number Two to enter!"
Seeing herself called, Gu Xiaoyue leaped onto the stage with excitement, eager to finish the fight and claim her reward from Ye Yun!
Following her, the other participant entered the arena. It was none other than Shen Xin, a disciple of the Nine Nether Demon Sect!
However, this time, the focus of everyone’s attention was entirely on Gu Xiaoyue.
"Lin Xueyan was King-level just now. I bet Gu Xiaoyue won't be any worse."
"Highly likely. They’ve been hiding their cultivation together. They must both be the trump cards of the Gudao Heavenly Sect!"
"Wonderful, another exciting battle to witness!"
At this moment, Ye Yun was scrutinizing Shen Xin, who stood opposite Gu Xiaoyue. This black-robed youth who had been with Chen Wuyi seemed off in some way.
But because some power within him seemed to conceal his cultivation level, Ye Yun couldn’t immediately discern his strength. His focus, however, was on something else.
"It's truly strange. I can’t sense much life force from this Shen Xin..."
If it weren’t for his words and actions being largely normal, Ye Yun would have truly thought him to be a dead man, which was rather peculiar.
When he glanced at Chen Wuyi, he saw him watching the martial arts stage with a smug smile.
"Something's not right..."
Ye Yun frowned slightly and then conveyed a message to Gu Xiaoyue.
"Xiaoyue, that guy opposite you is not right. Be sure to protect yourself! Remember! Remember!"
Normally, the Four Sects Grand Assembly prohibited transmitting messages to participants, but as the battle hadn’t yet begun, Yu Wenya, who sensed the fluctuation of profound energy, said nothing.
On the martial arts stage, Gu Xiaoyue paused upon hearing his transmission. She then playfully waved at Ye Yun and said with a smile.
"Thank you, senior. I’ll be careful! And don’t forget the reward we agreed upon!"
Ye Yun’s mouth twitched. Even at a time like this, this girl was still thinking about rewards?
Just as he was feeling helpless, Yu Wenya’s voice rang out.
"I hereby declare, the second match of the Four Sects Grand Assembly begins now!"
On the martial arts stage, Gu Xiaoyue drew her weapon, looking at her opponent with a serious expression. Her profound energy, at the peak of the Transcendent realm, surged forth.
"Gu Xiaoyue of the Gudao Heavenly Sect, please guide me!"
Just two months ago, she hadn’t even reached the Transcendent realm. To achieve Transcendent peak in such a short time, and not through external means, had even surprised Ye Yun when he set out. He couldn't fathom how Gu Chen had managed it.
Given her age, reaching Transcendent peak could be considered genius among geniuses. However, with Lin Xueyan having set such a high bar, her cultivation now felt somewhat disappointing.
"What the heck, only Transcendent peak?"
"I thought they were all King-level geniuses. Seems I was expecting too much."
"It makes sense. One fifteen-year-old King-level cultivator is already terrifying. There can't be that many."
"What a shame, I thought the golden age was coming..."
The people from the Zhenwu Heavenly Sect below breathed a sigh of relief, especially Wu Tiankuang, whose tense heart relaxed.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. It seems Lin Xueyan is the only monster..."
This way, he still had a chance to secure second place. But soon, he realized how naive this thought was.
Yes, Gu Xiaoyue wasn't a top-tier genius, but he had underestimated the participant from the Nine Nether Demon Sect!
"Shen Xin of the Nine Nether Demon Sect, please guide me."
Shen Xin spoke mechanically with a blank expression, holding his long sword. He looked like a walking corpse.
Gu Xiaoyue opposite him also sensed something was wrong and began to be secretly vigilant. However, in the next instant, Shen Xin attacked without any warning.
Black profound energy surged from him, and his figure exploded forward with a thunderous boom. As fast as lightning, his speed was no less than Lin Xueyan's just moments before.
"So fast!"
Gu Xiaoyue's small face changed. Seeing Shen Xin slash at her with his sword, which was wrapped in chilling black energy, she quickly raised her own sword to block.
Though she managed to block it, the immense force transmitted through the sword made her face turn pale, and her small body was sent flying backward.
"No, I can't go head-to-head. I need to..."
Gu Xiaoyue's mind raced as she prepared to change tactics, but a sudden, sharp pain erupted from her abdomen.
Her delicate body trembled. Looking down, she saw a thin, black strip of cloth had appeared behind her silently and instantly pierced her body. Blood flowed unceasingly from the wound.
Seeing this, Shen Xin remained expressionless. He pulled his hand back, dispelling the strip of cloth, and stood quietly, awaiting the announcement of the result.
In front of him, Gu Xiaoyue, though not fatally wounded, instantly lost all her strength and collapsed forward.
"Xiaoyue!"
Lin Xueyan and Bai Xiaoxiao cried out in alarm. Ye Yun’s expression changed, and he instantly appeared on the martial arts stage, catching Gu Xiaoyue.
In just a few seconds, a large portion of her white dress was already stained crimson with blood.
As if sensing Ye Yun, Gu Xiaoyue curled her small body into a ball, her expression one of extreme pain.
"Senior... my stomach... it hurts so much..."
Just these words took all her remaining strength. Then, her head nestled into his embrace, as if this could alleviate some of her pain.
"It's okay, it's okay. It won't hurt for long."
Ye Yun soothed her gently with one hand while urgently taking out a hemostatic pill and a Foundation Cultivation Pill for her.
Then, he placed his palm on her abdomen, gently guiding the medicinal energy with his profound energy to maximize its effect.
Fortunately, the injury was not fatal, and with timely treatment, her damaged internal organs quickly recovered, and the gruesome bloody hole rapidly closed and scabbed over.
"Xiaoyue?"
Ye Yun called out twice. Seeing that she seemed to have fainted from the pain, he stopped calling her, intending to let her rest.
He gently picked up Gu Xiaoyue, cast a cold glance at Shen Xin, and finally fixed his icy gaze on Chen Wuyi in the distance, who wore a mocking smile.