Outside the arena.
The colossal water-mirror screen captured nearly every one of Yan Yun's movements.
At present, she was at least holding her own against ten opponents without falling behind.
She had keenly identified her opponents' weaknesses.
This top-tier combat instinct and exquisite technique left no doubt as to Yan Yun's caliber.
There was no commentary, but everyone present was an expert — the silence in this moment was itself the greatest acknowledgment of Yan Yun's ability.
Lü Xuan was evidently quite pleased with his disciple's performance. He tilted his chin up slightly, though his expression maintained the pretense of being thoroughly unimpressed, and followed it with a perfunctory shake of his head.
Bai Xuanling shot a sidelong glance at Lü Xuan's smug expression and shook his head slightly.
Yan Yun's current performance was passable enough. If she couldn't even manage this level, then the intensive cultivation package he had personally arranged for her back then would need to be administered all over again.
Otherwise, it would be Bai Xuanling's face that was lost when she went out into the world.
From the direction of Tai Dao Sect.
The Sect Master of Tai Dao Sect watched Yan Yun's near-dazzling figure, then glanced at Lü Xuan's gloating expression across the way, before turning his gaze to his own disciple.
Yu Yang's eyes calmly observed everything unfolding on the water-mirror screen.
The Tai Dao Sect Master smiled and asked, "What do you think? Are you confident?"
Yu Yang looked at his master. "You mean regarding Yan Yun?"
The Tai Dao Sect Master studied the water-mirror. "This bold, all-out fighting style — it does carry echoes of Bai Xuanling in his prime."
The Dao Prince Yu Yang spoke in an even tone. "Yan Yun has her tricks, but if we truly fought to determine victory or defeat, the margin would be razor-thin. What concerns me is Chu Xingchen. Back then at Mist Profundity Observatory... I've always felt he never fully revealed his hand."
"Though Yan Yun has gained a momentary advantage through tactics, it will only last for a moment. The fact that Chu Xingchen hasn't made his move yet — that is likely Tianyan Sect's killing blow."
The Tai Dao Sect Master studied the certainty in his disciple's expression, hesitated briefly, then asked:
"Did he put a great deal of pressure on you back then?"
They had naturally reviewed the fight afterward. After all, a top-tier prodigy who appeared out of nowhere warranted careful documentation. The conclusion they had reached was that his gap with their own disciple wasn't particularly large — roughly the level of a core disciple.
Moreover, Tianyan Sect had ultimately claimed him. Since he belonged to Tianyan Sect, having that level of ability was not inexplicable.
Not to mention, the one who had taken him in was Bai Xuanling.
The Dao Prince Yu Yang considered for a moment before answering. "The pressure was actually manageable... it's just that occasionally during the exchange, he would give off a rather strange feeling."
The Tai Dao Sect Master was about to ask further when the water-mirror's perspective shifted to Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen stood in place, holding a long spear with a slightly translucent quality. His expression mirrored those of the spectators outside, watching Yan Yun's elegant maneuvers in the distance — as though none of this had anything to do with him.
After observing him for a moment, it became clear that Chu Xingchen still hadn't moved a muscle.
As if hesitating briefly, the water-mirror shifted its view back to Yan Yun.
But the Yan Yun of this moment no longer possessed her earlier graceful composure.
The colossal phoenix that had blotted out the sky had already shattered apart. The ten disciples of Xiaoyun Hall, each wielding their own spirit treasures, began deploying a formation. The dust motes were being dealt with by one of the Xiaoyun Hall disciples, and in mere moments, they were nearly swept clean by roaring flames.
The space in which Yan Yun could maneuver had grown smaller.
In one-on-one exchanges against the Xiaoyun disciples, she could still gain the upper hand, but she could not pursue her advantage, nor could she attack with full force.
Because the very next moment, coordinated strikes would arrive. All Yan Yun could do was parry and retreat.
Once delayed for even a moment, finding an opening amid this group's coordinated assault became immensely difficult.
And this was with three of the ten still keeping a close watch on Chu Xingchen, who had yet to make a move.
Yan Yun's movements occasionally grew erratic, her spiritual power flaring unstably before subsiding again.
Clearly, she was not accustomed to fighting under the suppression of her cultivation base.
The surrounding arena had transformed into a sea of fire. The Xiaoyun Hall disciples wove through the flames, their figures growing increasingly difficult to track.
Before long, the Yan Yun who had been fighting with such effortless grace suddenly found herself in dire straits.
At first glance, it could fairly be said that she was being pummeled from start to finish, powerless to retaliate.
Several figures moving at blistering speed continuously harried her. With every raise of their hands, the skyful of flames would surge in to strike.
The Tai Dao Sect Master watched for a moment before suddenly remarking, "It is indeed strange. But he certainly can bide his time."
The situation had grown perilous — one misstep from Yan Yun and she could be suppressed into defeat.
But the Tai Dao Sect Master had barely finished speaking.
Amid Yan Yun's evasive defensive movements, that slightly translucent long spear suddenly appeared, piercing through the churning sea of flames and driving straight toward one of the Xiaoyun Hall disciples.
Boom!
The flames roared past!
That Xiaoyun Hall disciple was blasted away.
The long spear rapidly traced its path back. On its return journey, its form shifted — with what seemed like a single rotation, it transformed into a long sword.
Yan Yun's gaze followed that long sword.
A colossal Nascent Soul hand rose into the air. The myriad swords enlarged, then gathered into its palm.
On the water-mirror screen.
Chu Xingchen's Nascent Soul Dharma Aspect stood tall, its gaze sweeping icily across the arena. It raised Wanban in its hand. Flowing water spontaneously materialized, coiling around the blade. A terrifying sword intent surged upward like a tidal bore.
The Nascent Soul Dharma Aspect's movements were extremely simple.
Raise the sword!
Strike down!
The three Xiaoyun Hall disciples who had been watching Chu Xingchen sprinted forward to press the attack, their own Nascent Soul Dharma Aspects manifesting behind them.
Joining forces, they raised what appeared to be a massive wall of fire burning down from the heavens to block the mercilessly descending giant sword.
The churning sea of flames now resembled mere candle flames — extinguished in an instant.
The firewall melted away as though it were tofu, barely holding for a fraction of a moment.
The sword intent cleaved through all resistance, scattering the boiling inferno.
Yan Yun's figure retreated at extreme speed. Sensing the horrifying sword intent bearing down mercilessly, she stared with a hint of shock at Chu Xingchen, standing at the center of his Nascent Soul Dharma Aspect.
This was...
"A Karma Nascent Soul?!"
The Tai Dao Sect Master frowned slightly, his expression tinged with disbelief. "Someone actually managed to cultivate such a Nascent Soul? Someone truly this audacious... No wonder this person doesn't cultivate within Tianyan Sect itself."
"Those who believe in silence and resign themselves to fate — how could they ever cultivate a Nascent Soul like this?"
"But... what a grand gambit. What nerve! Tianyan Sect... Lü Xuan... Bai Xuanling — none of them can be underestimated in the slightest."
The Tai Dao Sect Master's gaze returned to the water-mirror, where the Nascent Soul phantom raised its descending sword and then, without hesitation, brought its massive foot stomping down.
Terrifying shockwaves swept outward in all directions.
The ten Xiaoyun Hall disciples frantically retreated, dodging Chu Xingchen's attack. Even so, one of them was struck by the Nascent Soul's great sword.
Strictly speaking, it couldn't be called a direct hit.
Because before the sword could land, the disciple's protective treasure activated instantly.
The sword energy washed over them, sending both the disciple and their shield flying, and they were teleported out.
Seeing this, the Tai Dao Sect Master instinctively stroked his beard, then looked at Yu Yang and said with certainty:
"Indeed strange... That kind of power — is that really a Nascent Soul?!"
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