The scandal of the engagement banquet spread like a plague throughout Qinglan City and its surrounding areas.
Lin Fan, once worshipped as a genius, fell from grace overnight, becoming a pariah accused of "murdering his friend for treasure" and "deceiving the world." The bustling carriages before the Lin residence grew sparse; the families that once fawned over them now distanced themselves, even casting stones in their fall. Under the continuous commercial strikes from the Mo Residence and the pressure of public opinion, the Lin family's businesses collapsed entirely. Creditors besieged their doors, and the family members lived in constant fear, with increasing demands to expel Lin Fan from the family.
The Flowing Cloud Sect was also thrust into the storm. Under pressure, the sect dispatched envoys to investigate, accompanied by a sullen-faced Qin Yao. Her concern was not for Lin Fan's character but for Shen Mo's "resurrection" and his mysterious, formidable power. The humiliation of her crippled strikes gnawed at her like a venomous snake. Within the sect, opinions diverged: some advocated for punishing Lin Fan and purging the sect, while others, recognizing Shen Mo's treasures and powerful legacy, argued for prioritizing the sect's interests and luring him back.
To appease the Flowing Cloud Sect and salvage their remaining dignity, the Lin family, in consultation with the city lord's residence, decided to host the "Qinglan City Sect Selection Competition" early and exceptionally allowed independent cultivators to participate. Everyone understood that this so-called competition had become a public battleground between Shen Mo and Lin Fan—and by extension, the Flowing Cloud Sect.
On the day of the competition, the central city square was packed with an unprecedented, almost eerie excitement.
Shen Mo registered first under his real name and true appearance. As he strode into the arena, the crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on him, brimming with reverence, curiosity, and an indescribable complexity of emotions. His expression was calm as he scanned the stands, pausing briefly on the pale-faced Lin Fan and the cold-eyed Qin Yao, before indifferently withdrawing his gaze.
Lin Fan, caught between the pressure of the sect and the remnants of his family's influence, had no choice but to participate. His eyes were sinister, his aura chaotic and unstable due to his inner demons. Though he barely maintained his peak Body Tempering realm with medicinal aids, his facade of strength was transparent to all.
The competition began.
Shen Mo's matches were unequivocal, even monotonous. Regardless of whether his opponents were in the Body Tempering or early-stage Body Tempering realm, and no matter what martial techniques or treasures they wielded, he defeated them all with a single move.
Sometimes a light flick of his finger would cause their offensives to melt away like ice, sending them flying from the arena; other times a casual palm strike would shatter their凝聚掌风, forcing them to retreat in disarray. He never shifted his stance, relying solely on the naturally circulating Annihilation Energy field around him to ensnare attackers, making their energy stagnant and crumbling their morale without a fight.
His combat style was cold, efficient, and carried a serene disdain for all things, as if every element of this world could be devoured and assimilated by him. His fathomless power sent chills down the spines of all spectators.
On the high platform, Qin Yao watched Shen Mo's every battle with growing alarm. She noticed his energy attribute was unparalleled, seemingly capable of suppressing and even consuming all forms of energy. Whether it was the five elements, frost energy, or venomous aura, they would inexplicably weaken and vanish upon approaching him. "What reverse heaven legacy did he acquire after falling off the cliff? This is no ordinary fortune…" Greed and apprehension intertwined within her, intensifying with each passing moment.
Lin Fan had also advanced through the preliminary rounds, though his victories were far from effortless. He even sustained minor injuries along the way. After each win, he would instinctively glance at the ever-composed figure of Shen Mo, his eyes brimming with unmaskable terror and deep-seated resentment. His inner demons had taken root, severely affecting his judgment and performance.
Finally, after several rounds, the final match arrived.
To everyone's surprise, the finalists were not Shen Mo versus Lin Fan as anticipated, but Shen Mo against Qin Yao, who had volunteered to compete!
Qin Yao descended gracefully into the arena, her white robe as an inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect accentuating her cold beauty. Her early-stage Divine Sea cultivation erupted without restraint, stirring the surrounding elemental energy into visible vortexes. She aimed to avenge her past humiliation and personally probe the depths of Shen Mo's power!
"Shen Mo," Qin Yao's voice was icy, laced with condescension, "I didn't expect you to return. However, luck saved your life once, but it doesn't mean you should throw it away."
Shen Mo regarded her with a tranquil gaze, as if observing an inanimate object.
"In three moves," he declared, his voice carrying an unshakeable certainty that resonated across the arena, "I will defeat you."
The crowd erupted! To defeat Qin Yao, a Divine Sea cultivator and inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect, in three moves? Was Mr. Mo (Shen Mo) not overconfident?
Qin Yao's face flushed with rage, her fury twisting into a forced laugh: "Well! Well, what arrogance! I'll see how you plan to defeat me in three moves!"
"First move, *Annihilation Wall*."
Without further ado, Qin Yao unleashed the Flowing Cloud Sect's signature "Flowing Cloud Layered Wave Palm" at full force! Palm shadows cascaded like towering waves, each more immense than the last, carrying a soul-chilling cold and a mountain-crushing might, surging toward Shen Mo! The overwhelming momentum left many Body Tempering cultivators in the audience pale with shock.
Shen Mo neither dodged nor raised a hand to block. Before him, the air rippled like water, and a distorted black energy barrier materialized as if from nowhere, capable of devouring all light!
The immense wave of palm energy collided with the black barrier. Instead of the expected earth-shattering explosion, the overwhelming force was silently consumed and annihilated by the barrier, not even a ripple disturbing its surface! The fierce cold dissipated instantly without a trace!
Qin Yao's expression shifted dramatically. She felt her concentrated palm energy vanish into the abyss like a stone sunk into the sea, completely nullified by Shen Mo's bizarre power!
"Second move, *Devouring Heaven and Earth*."
Shen Mo made his move. With a single hand thrust forward, a black vortex the size of a fist yet seemingly capable of consuming souls erupted in his palm! A terrifying suction force emerged, not targeting objects but directly acting on Qin Yao's internal energy and life force!
To her horror, the true energy she had cultivated over years began to escape uncontrollably through her pores, drawn toward the black vortex! Even her vitality was slowly ebbing away! Desperately, she invoked her cultivation techniques to resist, yet her body was still irresistibly pulled toward Shen Mo by the dreadful suction!
"No! What kind of devil art is this?!" Qin Yao screamed, her composure shattered, all traces of her previous cold arrogance gone.
"Third move, *Shattering Illusion Strike*."
As Qin Yao struggled against the devouring force, her stance faltered, leaving her defenses wide open. Shen Mo's fingers melded into a blade-like strike, arriving with impeccable timing! A black beam of energy, condensed to its utmost and piercing as if to tear through reality itself, struck with blinding speed at the flat of Qin Yao's abdomen—the location of her dantian and qi sea!
"Pop—!"
A sound akin to a balloon bursting.
The surging true energy surrounding Qin Yao dissipated instantly. She let out an ear-piercing shriek, her body collapsing limply to the ground as if drained of all strength! Her face turned ashen, her eyes filled with boundless despair and disbelief.
Her dantian and qi sea had been utterly pierced and crippled by the strike!
Years of arduous cultivation, reduced to nothing!
Shen Mo strode over to stand above her, repeating her own cold words from three years prior, his voice laced with icy mockery:
"For a mere jade, crippling your cultivation—it's not worth it."
With that, he turned away, not sparing another glance at the soulless figure on the ground, as if she were nothing more than discarded trash.
The arena fell utterly silent!
Everyone was stunned by the breathtaking speed of the events! Three moves! Just three! Qin Yao, the pride of the Divine Sea realm, lay defeated and crippled before Shen Mo with barely a fight!
The Flowing Cloud Sect's envoy leaped to his feet, his face livid with shock and fury. Yet intimidated by Shen Mo's earlier display of terrifying power, he dared not act.
Shen Mo's gaze drifted past the limp Qin Yao and the enraged envoy, finally settling on Lin Fan in the stands. Lin Fan was pale as a ghost, trembling violently as if riddled with fear.
He raised a hand, flicked his index finger lightly, and spoke in a casual yet suffocatingly oppressive tone:
"Your turn, Lin Fan."
"Or would you rather kneel and beg for mercy right now?"