The battle between Lin Xiaolu and Wu Yuanhua continued for nearly another quarter of an hour.
Sword Qi collided with Gang Qi.
Frost spread across the arena floor. Sharp sword intent-like pressure continuously swept through the battlefield.
Many spectators watched without blinking.
The fight was beautiful.
Yet to the eyes of experienced cultivators, the outcome had gradually become clear.
Lin Xiaolu's attacks remained as fierce as before.
Her momentum remained sharp.
Her sword remained steady.
But—
Her Gang Qi reserves were running low.
Several elders from the surrounding factions quietly shook their heads.
No matter how talented she was, she had only entered the Xuan Gang Realm recently.
Gang Qi accumulation required time.
A few months simply wasn't enough.
Wu Yuanhua clearly noticed it as well.
Her expression remained calm.
Rather than meeting every attack head-on, she began retreating.
Evading.
Deflecting.
Buying time.
Each exchange consumed more of Lin Xiaolu's energy while preserving her own.
The strategy was simple.
And effective.
Another collision rang throughout the arena.
Clang!
The two figures separated. Lin Xiaolu landed several meters away.
Her breathing had become heavier.
A faint flush appeared on her face.
The Gang Qi surrounding her body had visibly weakened.
Wu Yuanhua lowered her sword slightly.
She said nothing.
She didn't need to.
The battlefield itself had already provided the answer.
Several breaths later—
Lin Xiaolu released a slow breath.
Then she raised her hand.
"I surrender."
The referee immediately appeared.
"The winner."
"Wu Yuanhua."
Cheers erupted throughout the arena.
The Wu Family side finally relaxed.
Their first point.
Not enough to change the situation.
But enough to keep them in the competition.
Lin Xiaolu stepped off the arena.
The moment she did, a figure suddenly appeared before her.
Lou Han.
Before she could react—
He bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Princess style.
The arena became strangely quiet.
Lin Xiaolu froze.
Then her face immediately turned red.
"What are you doing?"
Her voice was unusually low.
Unfortunately—
Lou Han either didn't hear it or pretended not to.
"You used too much Gang Qi."
"I can walk myself."
"Mhm."
"Put me down."
"Mhm."
"..."
Yet he continued walking.
Not even slowing down.
Several spectators couldn't help laughing.
Even Zhao Feng nearly choked on his tea.
Lin Xiaolu's face became even redder.
Unfortunately for her, Lou Han remained completely unaffected.
By the time they returned to the Qian Family seating area, he had already produced several Gang Recovery Pills.
"Eat."
Lin Xiaolu glared at him.
Then accepted the pills anyway.
Within moments, some color gradually returned to her face.
Meanwhile, the referee's voice echoed throughout the arena once more.
"Current score."
"Qian Family — Two."
"Zheng Family — Two."
"Wu Family — One."
The competition had become increasingly tense.
The next battle could shift the balance entirely.
The referee glanced toward the family delegations.
Then spoke.
"Next match."
"Zheng Family versus Wu Family."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Many spectators straightened in their seats. Everyone knew who would be fighting.
Sure enough—
From the Zheng Family side, the black-robed representative rose. The moment she stepped forward, countless gazes followed her.
Even after several battles, nobody knew her identity.
Nobody knew her cultivation method.
Nobody knew her background.
The mystery only made her more intimidating.
Across the arena, the Wu Family side remained silent.
Several elders exchanged looks. Eventually one stood.
"Referee."
The arena quieted.
"Our representative has only just completed a difficult battle."
"She has yet to recover."
Several cultivators immediately nodded.
The request wasn't unreasonable.
Wu Yuanhua had only recently left the battlefield.
The referee frowned slightly.
His first instinct was refusal. The schedule had already been arranged.
Yet before he could speak—
A sneer echoed throughout the arena.
Everyone froze.
The source was obvious.
The black-robed representative.
The entire arena became silent.
For the first time, they were finally hearing her voice.
Many people unconsciously leaned forward. Even the family heads paid attention.
The black-robed figure crossed her arms. Then spoke.
And instantly—
The arena erupted.
Because the voice was female.
A woman.
The mysterious representative was a woman.
Not a man.
Not some hidden young master.
A woman.
Even the referee stared blankly for a moment.
The black-robed representative didn't seem to care. She simply looked toward the Wu Family delegation.
"Let her rest."
The voice carried obvious arrogance.
Cold.
Dismissive.
Almost mocking.
Then she turned toward Wu Yuanhua.
"Rest if you wish."
"It won't change the outcome."
A faint chuckle followed.
"If you believe another hour will make a difference..."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Then this young lady will simply crush those foolish thoughts entirely."
The arrogance within those words was enough to make many people uncomfortable.
Yet strangely—
Nobody felt she was bluffing.
Not after everything they had already witnessed.
The referee coughed lightly.
Since both sides agreed, there was little reason to refuse.
"Very well."
"Wu Yuanhua will be granted one hour."
The announcement immediately spread throughout the arena.
Soon, discussions erupted everywhere.
A woman.
The mysterious representative was actually a woman.
Speculation exploded.
"Which sect is she from?"
"No idea."
"Perhaps a higher-ranked sect?"
"Impossible."
"Then how do you explain her strength?"
Nobody possessed answers.
Even the major powers could only guess.
The hour passed quickly.
Yet within that single hour, the black-robed woman's identity became the sole topic throughout Jade Haven City.
Some believed she came from a Purple Palace force.
Others suspected a Golden Core inheritance.
A few even proposed origins from beyond Dragon Yuan Province.
Unfortunately—
Nothing could be confirmed.
The Zheng Family remained silent.
As did the woman herself.
Eventually—
The referee returned.
"Prepare."
The atmosphere immediately sharpened.
Wu Yuanhua stood. Compared to before, her aura had stabilized considerably.
The recovery period had clearly helped.
Across the arena, the black-robed woman watched quietly.
Then she sneered.
Apparently amused by Wu Yuanhua's renewed confidence.
The two entered the battlefield.
The referee didn't waste time.
"Begin."
Silence.
Ten breaths passed.
Neither moved.
The audience watched nervously.
Then—
Wu Yuanhua erupted.
Spiritual Qi surged from her body.
Sword embryos appeared one after another.
Not one.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
The entire arena became filled with sharp sword energy.
Many spectators gasped.
Clearly, Wu Yuanhua had no intention of holding back.
The sword embryos shot forward simultaneously.
Like a rain of swords.
The black-robed woman remained still.
The familiar barrier appeared once more.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Countless impacts echoed throughout the arena.
Most of the sword embryos shattered immediately.
Yet not all.
Several actually penetrated deeper than before.
Cracks spread across the barrier.
Tiny ones.
But real.
The black-robed woman's eyes narrowed.
For the first time, annoyance appeared.
The sword embryos continued striking.
Crack.
Another fracture appeared.
The audience immediately sensed the change.
The barrier wasn't invincible.
The black-robed woman's expression darkened.
Then—
She moved.
A wave of stellar energy erupted.
Lin Sheng's eyes immediately sharpened.
There it was again.
That familiar fluctuation.
Star Qi.
The aura was unmistakable.
The black-robed woman raised her hand.
Countless points of light appeared around her.
Like stars.
The next moment—
They shot forward.
Stellar Shot.
The attacks crossed the battlefield instantly.
Wu Yuanhua attempted to evade.
Some she avoided.
Most she couldn't.
Explosions erupted continuously around her.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The arena shook.
Protective barriers flashed repeatedly.
The audience watched in shock.
The attacks were relentless.Each carried terrifying precision.
By the time the barrage ended, Wu Yuanhua had fallen to one knee.
Blood stained portions of her robes.
Several wounds covered her body.
Yet—
She remained conscious.
The black-robed woman looked down upon her.
Clearly preparing to finish the battle.
'The opportunity is mine.'
The thoughts carried complete certainty.
Her hand slowly rose.
Stellar energy gathered once more.
The audience held their breath.
Then—
Something changed.
A sharp radiance erupted from Wu Yuanhua. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The black-robed woman's expression changed.
Wu Yuanhua slowly stood. Her eyes remained calm.
Yet her sword seemed different.
More dangerous.
More complete.
Then—
She attacked.
A single sword.
A single strike.
Yet the entire arena seemed to tremble.
The Spiritual Qi sword left her hand.
Not a sword embryo.
Not Sword Qi.
A true controlled sword.
Several elders stood abruptly.
"Sword Control!"
Shock spread throughout the arena.
Even the Zheng Family Patriarch rose halfway from his seat.
The sword shot forward.
Breaking the sound barrier.
A sonic boom exploded across the battlefield.
The strike crossed the arena instantly.
Then—
Impact.
BOOM!
The resulting explosion swallowed the black-robed woman completely.
The shockwave spread outward.
The arena formations lit up brilliantly.
Cracks appeared throughout the protective barrier.
Formation Masters below immediately rushed to stabilize the array.
For several moments—
Nobody could see anything.
Only smoke.
Dust.
And lingering sword energy.
Then the smoke slowly parted.
The audience collectively inhaled.
The black-robed woman was still standing.
Yet her appearance had changed.
Most of her concealment had been destroyed.
The cloak hung in tatters.
Several protective layers had vanished completely.
Only the mask remained intact.
Yet the expression visible through her eyes—
Was filled with hatred.
Not anger.
Hatred.
Her gaze locked onto the unconscious Wu Yuanhua.
Slowly—
She raised her hand.
The killing intent was obvious.
The audience immediately became alarmed.
Several elders stood.
Yet before anyone could move—
An overwhelming pressure descended from above.
Boom.
The entire arena froze.
Countless cultivators felt their bodies sink.
Some Foundation Establishment cultivators nearly collapsed.
Even Xuan Gang experts became pale.
The black-robed woman's killing intent vanished instantly.
A figure appeared high above the arena.
No one had seen them arrive.
Yet everyone immediately understood.
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed.
Inside, his thoughts became serious.
Purple Palace Realm.