The entire area fell into dead silence.
The higher-ups of the Azure Mystic Sect exchanged silent looks, the atmosphere turning awkward.
Pills like this—capable of instantly unleashing one's potential to burst forth with power far beyond one's true realm—were life-saving items.
Among the elders present, who over the past few hundred years hadn't secretly bought a few for themselves?
Naturally, the ones with the most explosive effects were those refined by the demonic sects. After all, they didn't skimp on ingredients—a single tiny pill might contain the refined remains of dozens of demonic disciples.
Such pills did have a fatal drawback: consuming one severely damaged one's vital energy.
But it was still better than losing one's life! It was literally a second life.
Although all the higher-ups understood this, demonic pills of this nature ultimately couldn't be brought out into the light. After all, the Azure Mystic Sect was an orthodox, righteous sect.
Sect Master Song Changfeng cleared his throat tactically twice:
“As for this matter, once Gao Qiuge awakens, the Law Enforcement Hall will naturally conduct a thorough investigation to the very bottom.”
“Now, let the tournament continue.”
Jiang Ye curled his lip.
He glanced at the game panel: 【Outer Sect Tournament Progress: 80%】
Let's finish this quickly. I still need to go back and make braised lion's head meatballs.
With a flash of his body, Jiang Ye leaped back onto the arena stage.
The gazes of several thousand disciples instantly focused on her in unison.
Recalling how Junior Sister Bai had just torn apart the Golden Lion with her bare hands and stomped Gao Jinli underfoot with brutal violence, everyone felt their scalps tingle with fear.
The gazes directed at her now were filled with shock and an uncontrollable trace of dread.
Jiang Ye clapped his hands in a completely relaxed manner.
The applause echoed across the quiet arena stage.
He grinned, his crisp voice resounding once again:
“Listen up, everyone! Look at me! I have an announcement to make!”
“To avoid wasting everyone's precious time, I'll reluctantly take first place in this outer sect tournament directly.”
“Who agrees? Who opposes?”
As soon as those words left his mouth...
In the sea of consciousness, Bai Zhirou was already covering her eyes in agony.
She didn't dare look anymore.
She had known it—given Senior's personality, there was no way he would participate in the tournament properly.
Silence fell over the entire field, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly, a tall, handsome young male disciple stepped out from the crowd.
Puffing out his chest, he bellowed at the top of his lungs:
“I, Du Ziteng of Dao Mystic Peak, strongly oppose this!”
Immediately after, he turned around with immense flair, facing the thousands of disciples.
With an impassioned, righteous expression, he shouted:
“We cultivators defy Heaven itself! How can we hesitate and shrink back just because we face a formidable enemy?!”
“Even knowing defeat is certain, we shall still charge forward!!”
On the surface, Du Ziteng looked heroically righteous, but internally he was practically blooming with joy.
He definitely couldn't win in a fight—only a fool would go all-out against this female demon.
But by shouting this out loud, his perfect persona of “unafraid of tyranny, with an indomitable Dao Heart” was solidly established!
When he entered the inner sect, if some elder took a liking to him and accepted him as a direct disciple, he would skyrocket straight to success!
Jiang Ye was so amused he actually laughed.
Having tanked that Golden Lion Roar earlier, his head was still a bit dizzy, and he was already annoyed to begin with.
Now some death-seeking nobody actually dared jump out to act cool, using his face as a stepping stone to farm reputation?
Seemingly infected by Du Ziteng's heroic, tragic fearlessness...
Among the crowd, the remaining seven contestants of the outer sect top ten actually stepped forward one by one, their blood boiling.
“I oppose it too!”
“We cultivators cannot be humiliated! I oppose!”
Watching these figures stand tall with righteous indignation, looking as if they were going to heroically sacrifice themselves...
Jiang Ye couldn't hold back anymore.
Fine, fine, fine.
You all fucking love flexing in front of a crowd, huh?
A mocking curl touched the corners of Jiang Ye's lips as he chuckled softly:
“You know, as the old saying goes: 'Heaven made me useful—'”
Du Ziteng asked in confusion, “What about 'talent'?”
Jiang Ye: “Isn't it standing right across from me?”
“All eight of you, come at me together. Hurry up, don't waste my damn time.”
The moment those words were spoken...
The entire audience instantly erupted!
“Holy shit! That's way too arrogant!”
“One against eight?! Does she really think she's invincible under Heaven?!”
Meanwhile, the disciples of Sword Peak felt their blood boil with excitement, feeling completely vindicated.
In the past few outer sect tournaments, Sword Peak had already been completely eliminated by the time the final rounds rolled around.
Now Junior Sister Bai actually declared she would fight one against eight! This fucking brought so much glory to Sword Peak!
Below the stage, the eight contestants exchanged looks with one another.
Although their eyes held anger from being humiliated, there was even more wild, uncontainable joy!
In a one-on-one duel, they had absolutely zero chance of winning.
But eight against one was a different story! As long as they joined forces to eliminate this dark horse, the throne of first place would be wide open! Everyone would have a shot!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Without hesitation, the eight leaped onto the arena stage in unison with perfect tacit understanding.
Standing tall and holding their weapons tight, they looked like brave warriors about to slay a dragon.
Below the stage, the disciples were caught up in the atmosphere, cheering loudly:
“We cultivators shall never shrink back in fear! Go, Senior Brothers!”
Jiang Ye was completely speechless, rolling his eyes.
Hey, hey, hey, what the hell are you guys getting all hyped about? You're making it seem like I'm the big villain here.
Bai Zhirou: Agreed!
“Let the match begin!”
The arena deacon, who was clearly enjoying the spectacle, announced loudly.
On the stage stood eight contestants.
Four were from Beast-Taming Peak, and four were from Dao Mystic Peak.
“Roar!”
Four ferocious battle pets instantly appeared on the stage—every single one of them was a Tier Two demon beast! Two early stage, two mid stage!
Not to be outdone, the four from Dao Mystic Peak took half a step back, frantically forming hand seals. Spells of various elemental attributes rapidly coalesced in their palms with astonishing aura.
“Junior Sister Bai! Pardon us!”
Du Ziteng roared, leading the charge.
...
Half a ke later.
The scene on the arena stage had completely devolved into chaos.
“Ah! How is she so fast?!”
“Holy shit! Don't hit the face!”
“Awoo—My Swiftwind Wolf! Its leg got chopped off!!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The young girl's figure moved like violent thunder, weaving through the eight contestants.
There were no flashy spell exchanges, only pure parries and counterattacks.
A single slash cleaved one down, a single kick launched a pair flying.
“AAAH, stop hitting, Junior Sister Bai—no, Senior Sister Bai, I was wrong!”
“Stop hitting, stop hitting!”
Wails echoed all over the floor.
On the stage, the eight prodigies who had just been brimming with confidence and shouting “We shall charge forward” were now sprawled across the floor, clutching their faces and groaning in agony.
Jiang Ye grabbed Du Ziteng firmly by the collar with one hand, lifting him high into the air.
Slap!
A crisp, heavy slap landed violently on his face.
“Fuck! You really loved posturing, didn't you?!”
Slap!
“And you dared to posture right in my face?!”
Slap!
“And what was that about 'even knowing defeat is certain, we shall charge forward'?! I'll show you charging forward! Charging forward!”
By now, Du Ziteng's face had been slapped into a swollen pig's head.
Tears streaming down his face, he squeezed out an ugly, flattering smile and slurred out a plea for mercy:
“S-Senior Sister Bai! Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! I just acted on a sudden whim back there!”
“Dammit! Still posturing?!”
Jiang Ye released his grip and slammed Du Ziteng straight onto the ground like trash.
Raising that European size 37 boot, he launched into a furious barrage of kicks against him!
“AAAAAAHHH...”
At first, Du Ziteng was shrieking miserably!
But as the kicking went on...
His cries gradually changed in tone, until the last few actually bore a strange accent:
“Nnh~~”
Jiang Ye: “??”
His foot... froze midair in an instant.
As if he had stepped in disgusting shit, he hurriedly took several steps back.
His face was lined with black streaks, goosebumps rising all over his body.
“Damn it! How fucking gross! Turns out he's a masochist!”
Jiang Ye was terrified that if he kicked him a couple more times, it would turn into fucking rewarding this pervert.