"Step aside!"
An elder of the Beast Taming Sect roared as seven golden light chains flew from his sleeve, instantly surrounding Qin Lie. He formed hand seals with both palms, creating a thick barrier of spiritual energy to isolate Mo Lin.
"Sss—"
A wisp of blue smoke drifted from Qin Lie's seven orifices, twisting and dissipating into the air. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood, and the abnormalities on his body gradually faded.
The elder snorted coldly and flicked a scarlet pill from his sleeve, sending it directly into Qin Lie's mouth.
"Take him back for rest," the elder commanded the disciples who had rushed over, his face grim. "He is not to use spiritual energy for three days."
Mo Lin stood to the side, watching coldly, his gray robes swaying gently in the wind.
When the elder's furious gaze swept toward him, he spoke indifferently: "He has already admitted defeat. What does this have to do with me?"
"What a sharp-tongued junior!" The elder's beard trembled with rage. "Do not think that because the rules protect you, you can do whatever you want! The cultivation world will judge this!"
A slight smirk appeared on Mo Lin's lips, curling into a mocking arc. "If the elder is dissatisfied, you are free to change the rules."
With that, he turned and walked away, his gray-clad back looking particularly stinging under the sunlight.
On the spectator stands, the members of the Five Elements Dao Sect looked solemn.
"Eldest Senior Brother..." Duan Xianxing said in disbelief. "That Mo Lin's cultivation method is too sinister! Qin Lie's three-spirit combined strike was actually..."
Mu Wenyan's gaze was deep. "In tomorrow's semi-finals, I will go meet him."
"What?!" Duan Xianxing jumped up. "Eldest Senior Brother, you're going to challenge him privately? You can't! You'll be disqualified!"
Li Nanzhu rubbed her forehead helplessly. "Seventh Senior Brother... Eldest Senior Brother means that, according to the schedule, it's his turn next."
Feng Qingping turned her teacup thoughtfully. "The situation is still unclear. The Sword Heart Sect and Tianyan Sect certainly won't let their own direct disciples take risks. They're all hoping Eldest Senior Brother will test the waters first."
"Exactly," Jiang Yifan spoke suddenly, his voice cold. "They want to sit back and reap the benefits."
Zhu Yinxi lightly stroked his jade flute. "But if Eldest Senior Brother wins, it will remove a hidden danger for the upcoming matches."
"And if he loses?" Duan Xianxing rubbed his hands together anxiously.
Mu Wenyan chuckled softly, his finger lightly tapping his scabbard. "Then it will depend on his own skill."
"Oh, what are you all worrying about!" Li Nanzhu suddenly laughed, intentionally raising her voice. "When has our Eldest Senior Brother ever lost? No matter how sinister Mo Lin is, could he possibly beat Eldest Senior Brother?"
"That's true!" Duan Xianxing immediately agreed. In his eyes, besides their master Feng Yi, Eldest Senior Brother was the most powerful person.
"Speaking of which, the Beast Taming Sect has been quite unlucky this year," Feng Qingping remarked, subtly changing the subject.
Duan Xianxing was immediately distracted. "Yeah! During the Foundation Establishment stage matches, their disciples were mysteriously injured and forced to withdraw at their own residence. And now their strongest, Qin Lie, has also..."
"I heard their sect leader had to return to the sect for some business," Zhu Yinxi added at the right moment. "Now there are only a few elders left. If they don't handle this properly... they might end up at the bottom of this competition."
"Shh..." Before he could finish, Li Nanzhu signaled for him to be quiet.
Not far away, several Beast Taming Sect disciples were passing by, carrying the unconscious Qin Lie. Their expressions were each grimmer than the last.
Once they were far enough away, Duan Xianxing couldn't help but lower his voice. "Do you think... that Mo Lin could be related to what happened during the Foundation Establishment stage?"
"Be careful with your words," Mu Wenyan said, his tone suddenly serious. "Without evidence, we must not make wild speculations."
Everyone fell silent immediately.
However, Li Nanzhu noticed that as Mu Wenyan spoke, his gaze swept thoughtfully toward the seats of the Qingming Pavilion.
As night deepened, the residence became exceptionally quiet.
Li Nanzhu sat alone by the window, staring out at the moonlight in a daze. Although Mo Lin had won today's battle, she felt that something was off.
"Little Junior Sister?" Feng Qingping pushed the door open, carrying a blue lamp. "Eldest Senior Brother asked me to bring this to you."
Li Nanzhu took the lamp and noticed that the wick emitted a peculiar blue light. "This is..."
"A soul-protecting lamp," Feng Qingping whispered. "Eldest Senior Brother said to light it during tomorrow's match."
Li Nanzhu's heart skipped a beat. "Eldest Senior Brother..."
"Don't worry." Feng Qingping patted her shoulder. "Eldest Senior Brother never does anything he's not certain of." She paused and added, "By the way, during tomorrow's match, stay at the residence with Suisui."
"Why?" Li Nanzhu asked, confused.
Feng Qingping shook her head. "Eldest Senior Brother didn't say why, only that... Mo Lin's technique might affect spiritual bodies."
Li Nanzhu's heart jolted as she looked down at Suisui in her arms. The little skeleton was squirming restlessly, its soul fire dimmer than usual.
The next morning.
"Little Junior Sister, are you really going?" Feng Qingping frowned at Li Nanzhu. "Eldest Senior Brother specifically instructed..."
"I can't rest easy. I need to see it with my own eyes to be at peace." Li Nanzhu solemnly handed the soul-protecting lamp to Jiang Yifan. "Fourth Senior Brother, I'm entrusting Suisui to you."
Jiang Yifan took the lamp and nodded expressionlessly. "It's fine." He paused and added, "Eldest Senior Brother will win."
Li Nanzhu gave a grateful smile and turned to follow Duan Xianxing outside.
The spectator stands were exceptionally crowded today, with even the aisles filled with people.
The entire arena was packed.
Even the sect elders who rarely made public appearances were all present, and the air was thick with tension.
Duan Xianxing muttered under his breath, "I knew it. Eldest Senior Brother really is up against Mo Lin..."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted involuntarily toward the Sword Heart Sect's stands, the dissatisfaction in his eyes nearly overflowing. "Look at them, acting like it has nothing to do with them!"
Li Nanzhu followed his gaze.
At the Sword Heart Sect's seats, Qi Yunze was focused on the arena, while Cang Dongqing had a faint, ambiguous smile on her face.
"Speaking of which..." Li Nanzhu lowered her voice. "You haven't been going over to the Sword Heart Sect to make your presence known lately?"
Duan Xianxing curled his lip and spread his hands. "Don't even mention it. Last time I wanted to get close to Qi Yunze again, but that guy seemed to be intentionally avoiding me." He made an exaggerated face.
"Besides, that Wen Qianhui said I was a Sword Heart Sect hanger-on..."
Li Nanzhu pursed her lips. Even though Wen Qianhui was dead, the harm caused by those words still lingered.
"Oh, forget it!" Duan Xianxing seemed to notice Li Nanzhu's mood and quickly added, "I didn't want to go anyway! The team battle is coming up soon, so it's understandable not to go."
He lowered his voice mysteriously. "I specifically went to tell Sect Leader Zhao about it!"
Li Nanzhu breathed a sigh of relief.
It was better that Duan Xianxing didn't go to the Sword Heart Sect as an undercover agent, if only to avoid running into Cang Dongqing.
Furthermore, Seventh Senior Brother's previous undercover activities had already damaged his reputation among the sects. It was better for him not to go.
"The first match of the semi-finals!" the referee announced loudly. "Five Elements Dao Sect's Mu Wenyan versus Qingming Pavilion's Mo Lin!"
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