Chapter 1627: Turning Hostile

“Ah!” Grandmaster Huoling exclaimed, instantly standing up. But Guan Chouhai stepped forward, blocking her path. “Grandmaster,” he said, “we elders shouldn’t interfere in the contests between the younger generation, should we?”

Grandmaster Huoling’s expression was grim. However, the opponent’s words were reasonable, leaving her with no way to refute them.

If a fight were to break out, it wouldn't yield a result quickly, and Pei Mianman might already be injured by then.

At this moment, Zu An also rose abruptly, intending to intervene and help. But he suddenly thought of something and sat back down.

Yan Xuehen, who had been secretly watching Zu An, withdrew her gaze. She thought to herself, "This Miss Pei must be quite important to him."

Many disciples watching in the arena couldn't bear to look, covering their eyes. Everyone had witnessed the power of the Shadowless Orb; without the elders’ formations to dissipate it, even a combat stage could be destroyed. How could a person withstand a direct hit to the chest?

The crucial point was, even if the person could be saved after such a hit, would their chest remain intact?

What a brutal attack on that spot!

Many male cultivators secretly cursed Ziyin. "This guy usually looks so refined," they thought, "why didn't he aim for somewhere else? Why specifically target her chest? If he exploded it, could he even pay for the damage?"

In contrast, some female cultivators watched with excitement. Pei Mianman’s powerful presence had been too intimidating for them previously, and they wished Ziyin would teach this “seductive woman” a good lesson.

However, just as the Shadowless Orb was about to hit Pei Mianman, a phantom image of a large bronze cauldron suddenly enveloped her.

Clang!

With a loud bang, the bronze phantom trembled slightly, and the Shadowless Orb bounced back.

Ziyin reached out and caught the reflected Shadowless Orb, his expression filled with shock. "What just happened?" he wondered.

Not only he, but even the sect masters from various factions were moved, stretching their necks to peer into the arena.

They saw that the phantom was not a mere cauldron, but a magnificent and splendidly patterned strange bird. Its overall shape resembled a tripod, with the large bird's two feet and tail forming the supporting points for its body.

The strange bird somewhat resembled an owl seen in everyday life, but it was far more powerful and eerie.

Especially its eyes, which seemed alive and filled with an unknown mystery.

"What kind of weapon is this, to actually withstand an attack from an immortal-grade artifact?"

This was the question in everyone's mind, and they all looked towards Wan Tongtian and Grandmaster Huoling.

Wan Tongtian was also bewildered; this item clearly did not belong to the Azure Palace. He looked inquiringly at Grandmaster Huoling.

Grandmaster Huoling was equally puzzled. However, at such a moment, if a master admitted ignorance, wouldn't they become a laughing stock?

So, she puffed out her chest, looking so proud that her tail might as well have been wagging.

The others grew even more impressed, thinking, "Grandmaster Huoling hides her true strength so well! We must definitely consult her afterward."

Qiu Honglei asked Yun Jianyue, who was beside her, "Master, what exactly is that thing? It looks incredibly powerful."

"I don't know," Yun Jianyue shook her head. "But that kid certainly does. You can ask him yourself later."

Qiu Honglei followed her gaze and saw Zu An smiling, as if he had known this all along.

Zu An, of course, knew. It was the Fu Hao Owl Zun that Pei Mianman had obtained in the Shang Dynasty secret realm. He hadn't expected her to develop a protective function for it.

Just then, the Fu Hao Owl Zun suddenly transformed into a giant owl. As it appeared, the entire combat stage was enveloped in an ink-like darkness, making it impossible for the disciples outside to see what was happening within.

Wang Wuxie and the others were all startled. "What is this?" they wondered.

They tried to probe with their spiritual energy, but found that their normally pervasive energy became incredibly sluggish upon approaching the darkness, barely able to penetrate even a little after a long while.

With their cultivation levels, they could naturally discern the situation inside if they stood at the edge of the stage. However, given their current status and position, they couldn't possibly lower themselves to do so.

At the same time, they were secretly shocked. This darkness was somewhat akin to a Grandmaster's domain. "What kind of divine weapon does she possess?" they thought.

Among those present, only Guan Chouhai was most anxious. He subconsciously thought of going to the edge of the stage.

At that moment, Grandmaster Huoling, with a smile, blocked his path. "Sect Master Guan," she said, "it's not proper for us elders to get involved in the affairs of the younger generation, is it?"

Guan Chouhai's breath hitched. He had never expected the tables to turn so quickly.

At that moment, roars and rapid thudding sounds emanated from the stage. It was clear that Ziyin was continuously throwing Shadowless Orbs, attacking in all directions.

The reinforced stage's formation array flashed wildly, clearly swaying precariously under the Shadowless Orbs' onslaught.

The disciples from various sects watched in immense shock. Ziyin's Shadowless Orbs were simply too powerful; a mere graze or touch would likely result in severe injury.

Only a few, like Wu Xiaofan and Wan Guiyi, had solemn expressions. "Ziyin is likely to lose," they murmured.

Although Ziyin's Shadowless Orbs were unpredictable and immensely powerful, they weren't entirely traceless. However, they had no clue about the night domain Pei Mianman had manifested. If they were in his shoes, they honestly admitted they might not have performed as well as Ziyin.

Ziyin could still use the Shadowless Orbs to defend his entire body by attacking. But what about them?

On the stage, Ziyin was in a panic because he suddenly found himself completely blind. While cultivators reaching a certain level could perceive their surroundings through their six senses even without sight,

at this moment, he could feel nothing—only an extreme, dense blackness.

In desperation, he could only wield his Shadowless Orbs in a dazzling array, striking everywhere in hopes of coincidentally hitting his opponent.

The silence around him was too profound, so unnerving that it made his skin crawl. He even had to shout to bolster his fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, Pei Mianman was hiding somewhere about three meters away from him. Previously, it had been difficult to evade his Shadowless Orbs because Ziyin could see her.

Now, with his aimless attacks, it wasn't difficult to avoid them. In this darkness, she was the queen.

She waited quietly, waiting for an opportunity.

Clearly, it was difficult for anyone to avoid revealing weaknesses in an environment where they could neither see nor perceive. Soon, she found her chance.

Azure Mist and Rosy Clouds!

A terrifying wave of scorching flames spread out, like mist, like a sunset glow—beautiful yet dangerous.

Grandmaster Huoling's eyes lit up from outside the arena. She sensed the aura of her unique skill, and usually, when this move was employed, it signified the moment of victory or defeat.

Sure enough, with a loud bang, a figure flew out from the combat stage, scorched black all over, with disheveled hair and clothes torn and tattered like a beggar on the street.

"Ziyin?"

There were only two people on the stage. This person was clearly not the voluptuous Pei Mianman, so it could only be the other one. Although it was impossible to connect this miserable and disheveled figure with the tall, handsome young noble from before, the facts were undeniable, and everyone had to believe it.

"Ziyin actually lost?"

"And lost so miserably?"

"I told you this pretty boy had no real skill. All he ever does is show off. Now he's the fifth chief disciple in history to fail in the group stage."

...

Amidst the surrounding gossip, Ziyin, already severely injured, couldn't bear it any longer. He spat out a mouthful of blood and instantly fainted.

"Disciple!" Guan Chouhai quickly flew over and caught him. Upon examination, he found that many of Ziyin's bones were broken, and his meridians were chaotic with rampant, violent fire elemental energy. He couldn't help but roar with fury at the stage, "You actually struck with such heavy force!"

At this moment, the darkness on the stage gradually dissipated, and Pei Mianman appeared before everyone, swaying slightly. Hearing his accusation, she opened her mouth as if to explain something, but for some unknown reason, closed it again.

Guan Chouhai was now a mix of shock and rage. He had never expected Ziyin to lose. As the chief disciple of the Lihentian Sect, Ziyin represented the sect and Guan Chouhai's own reputation. This incident was a complete humiliation for the Lihentian Sect.

By then, not only would Ziyin be nailed to the pillar of historical shame, but Guan Chouhai, as his master, would naturally join him.

For the Lihentian Sect, he would be an eternal sinner.

The thought of Lihentian disciples in a thousand years pointing fingers and disparaging his name every time this incident was mentioned sent a chill down his spine.

Now, seeing Pei Mianman not respond, his rage intensified. "Demoness! What evil artifact did you use to ambush Ziyin?"

He had already made up his mind: he would absolutely not acknowledge the result of this match.

Moreover, in his view, Pei Mianman's true strength was indeed inferior to Ziyin's. She had clearly cheated and won by sheer luck, relying on that strange bronze zun.

Grandmaster Huoling was furious. "Guan Chouhai, what utter nonsense are you spouting?! My disciple wins and it's an ambush, but your disciple wins and it's 'only natural'?"

Her temper was fiery, and provoked like this, she no longer cared about being uncouth.

As a sect master, Guan Chouhai had never been cursed like this before. His face darkened. "What was that ink-like darkness just now? Don't tell me that's a skill from your Azure Palace!"

"What concern is it of yours whether we have that skill or not?" Grandmaster Huoling was actually curious about the move herself, but of course, she wouldn't back down at this moment.

Guan Chouhai coldly scoffed, "That skill just now had no trace of a righteous and honorable style; it was clearly a demonic sect's insidious trick! If you don't explain yourselves, who's to say whether someone with ulterior motives has infiltrated our Daoist sects, intending to commit evil deeds!"

***

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