A few breaths after the overwhelming pressure descended upon the arena, another aura rose to meet it.
The black-robed woman had only just lowered her hand when a figure appeared above the Zheng Family delegation.
An elderly man wearing dark robes.
His presence alone caused the surrounding spiritual qi to distort.
Purple Palace Realm.
The Zheng Family Ancestor.
His gaze landed directly upon the Wu Family Ancestor.
Neither spoke.
Yet the atmosphere immediately became suffocating.
The two Purple Palace cultivators stood facing each other across the arena.
One protecting his descendant.
The other protecting his family's representative.
The crowd had long since fallen silent.
Even Foundation Establishment cultivators felt pressure weighing upon their souls.
Many Xuan Gang experts found it difficult to breathe.
Lin Sheng's expression remained calm.
Yet inwardly, he carefully observed everything.
The pressure alone was enough to suppress most cultivators present.
This was the first time he had witnessed Purple Palace cultivators confronting one another directly.
Compared to Foundation Establishment and Xuan Gang, the difference felt almost qualitative.
Before the situation could worsen—
A third aura descended.
Gentler.
Yet equally powerful.
The Qian Family Ancestor appeared between the two sides.
An old man dressed in white robes.
His expression remained calm.
"Enough."
The simple word spread throughout the arena.
The two opposing pressures gradually weakened.
Neither side appeared willing to escalate matters further.
After all, everyone understood the consequences.
A battle between Purple Palace cultivators inside Jade Haven City would be disastrous.
Several minutes passed.
The atmosphere remained tense.
Eventually, the three ancestors disappeared.
Only after they left did many cultivators realize their robes had become soaked with sweat.
The pressure finally dissipated.
The referee received several transmissions through divine sense.
His expression changed repeatedly.
Then he stepped forward.
"The three families have reached a decision."
The entire arena focused on him.
"The Zheng Family representative violated the competition rules by attempting to attack an unconscious opponent after the battle had already been decided."
Many Wu Family cultivators immediately nodded.
The referee continued.
"Therefore, the Zheng Family will still receive the victory for the match."
Some people looked surprised.
Others weren't.
The black-robed woman had clearly won.
Changing the result entirely would have been unreasonable.
"However."
The referee paused.
"The next battle will determine the challenger."
"The Zheng Family will then face the winning family in a final deciding match."
The crowd erupted.
A final battle.
A deciding match.
The competition had suddenly become far more exciting.
Meanwhile, the black-robed woman merely sneered.
As though the decision didn't matter.
She returned to her seat and immediately began recovering.
The battle against Wu Yuanhua had consumed far more energy than she initially expected.
Especially that final Sword Control strike.
Not far away, Wu Yuanhua remained unconscious while receiving treatment.
The Wu Family had already accepted reality.
Winning the competition was no longer possible.
Yet that didn't mean they intended to leave quietly.
The referee raised his hand.
"The Wu Family will be granted one hour."
"Prepare for the next match."
...
One hour later.
The atmosphere had changed once again.
Many people originally assumed the Wu Family would simply send an ordinary representative.
After all, their chances were already gone.
Yet the moment the next figure stepped onto the arena—
The crowd became restless.
A man in blue robes.
Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Mid Foundation Establishment.
Several Wu Family elders immediately stood behind him.
Clearly treating him with great importance.
Zhao Feng's expression changed.
"Dammit."
Lin Sheng glanced toward him.
"You know him?"
Zhao Feng nodded grimly.
"Wu Ming."
The name immediately attracted attention from those nearby.
"Wu Ming?"
Lou Han frowned.
"The one from the Blood River Demonic Sect war?"
"Exactly."
Zhao Feng's expression remained ugly.
"He was one of the Wu Family's most talented cultivators before Wu Yuanhua became famous."
"I heard he died."
"So did everyone else."
The arena gradually filled with discussions.
Several older cultivators finally remembered.
Years ago, Wu Ming had possessed considerable fame.
Then he vanished.
Everyone assumed he had fallen during the war against the Blood River Demonic Sect.
Apparently—
That assumption had been wrong.
He hadn't died.
He had been cultivating in seclusion.
And judging from his aura...
His breakthrough had succeeded.
A Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The Wu Family's final card.
The moment he stepped onto the stage, many smiles on the Qian Family side disappeared.
The situation suddenly became troublesome.
Qian Ying was heavily injured.
Lin Xiaolu had exhausted herself.
Lou Han had already fought.
The remaining options were limited.
Even Zhao Feng's father frowned.
The Qian Family Patriarch remained silent for several moments.
Then Zhao Feng quickly approached him.
The two exchanged several words through divine sense.
The Patriarch glanced toward Lin Sheng.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
Receiving permission, Zhao Feng immediately returned.
"Lin Sheng."
His tone carried expectation.
"Can you—"
Before he finished, Lin Sheng shook his head.
Then he whispered something.
Zhao Feng's eyes widened.
A look of surprise appeared.
"You sure?"
Lin Sheng nodded.
Several moments later, Zhao Feng finally sighed.
"...Fine."
The decision quickly spread throughout the Qian Family delegation.
Many people looked shocked.
Even Lou Han raised an eyebrow.
Eventually—
A figure stood.
Lin Shou.
The crowd became noisy once more.
"Xuan Gang?"
"Against Mid Foundation Establishment?"
"Is the Qian Family serious?"
Many cultivators couldn't understand the decision.
After all, immortal cultivators rarely challenged opponents above their cultivation realm voluntarily.
The risks were enormous.
The benefits were limited.
Yet martial artists often viewed things differently.
They walked a path forged through struggle.
Some of the greatest breakthroughs occurred during battle.
Especially life-and-death battle.
Lin Shou slowly walked toward the arena.
His expression remained calm.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only focus.
Meanwhile, Wu Ming quietly observed him.
The moment their eyes met, both understood something.
Neither underestimated the other.
The referee appeared.
His gaze swept across both sides.
"Begin."
The battle started instantly.
No warnings.
No probing.
No hesitation.
The moment the signal sounded—
Lin Shou's Gang Qi Field erupted outward.
Golden-red Gang Qi surrounded his body.
The crowd immediately recognized him.
"The one who reached nearly ten zhang!"
"Lin Shou!"
"The genius martial artist!"
Excitement spread rapidly.
Unfortunately—
Wu Ming didn't appear concerned.
He raised one hand.
A spell formation instantly appeared.
No chanting.
No hesitation.
A spell cultivator prodigy.
The title wasn't undeserved.
Boom!
An explosion erupted beside Lin Shou.
The attack came from his right side.
Without warning.
Without visible trajectory.
The sudden impact shook his Gang Qi Field violently.
Cracks appeared.
The audience gasped.
Lin Shou immediately retreated.
His expression became serious.
Such power from a casual spell.
No wonder Wu Ming had once been considered the Wu Family's greatest genius.
Before Lin Shou could stabilize himself—
The ground exploded.
Earth spikes erupted upward.
Sharp.
Dense.
Fast.
Rank-2 Spell.
Earthen Spikes.
Dozens of spikes surged toward him simultaneously.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Lin Shou's Gang Qi shattered several.
Yet more continued emerging.
His shield cracked further.
The pressure became immediate.
Relentless.
Wu Ming remained standing in place.
His hands formed seals continuously.
One spell after another.
The audience quickly realized something.
This wasn't an ordinary spell cultivator.
His casting speed was terrifying.
Most Foundation Establishment cultivators required time.
Preparation.
Concentration.
Wu Ming seemed capable of launching spells almost instinctively.
The battlefield rapidly transformed.
Earth walls.
Stone spikes.
Explosive projectiles.
Every attack flowed into the next.
Lin Shou found himself forced onto the defensive.
Yet strangely—
His expression became brighter.
Not fearful.
Excited.
The pressure reminded him of something.
The countless struggles he had endured.
The obstacles he had overcome.
The illusions during his breakthrough.
The obsession he had abandoned.
The path he had chosen.
A grin slowly appeared.
Wu Ming noticed it.
His eyes narrowed.
Why was this man smiling?
The answer came immediately.
Boom!
Lin Shou suddenly charged forward.
Straight through an exploding spell.
Blood appeared on his shoulder.
His Gang Qi shield fractured further.
Yet his momentum only increased.
The crowd stood.
The distance rapidly closed.
Wu Ming's expression finally changed.
Because martial artists were most dangerous at close range.
And Lin Shou had just entered his domain.
The next exchange would be bloody.