Outside the secret realm, atop a high platform suspended among the clouds.
Elders and disciples from various sects were tensely watching the huge light screen, witnessing the chaotic pursuit and fierce struggle at the entrance of the stone forest.
When the crimson elimination circle abruptly halted at the most critical moment, stopping less than three feet behind the disciples of the Mingguang Sect, the entire platform fell into a deathly silence, followed immediately by a massive uproar of discussion!
"It stopped? The elimination circle actually stopped!"
"That was too thrilling!"
"The Five Elements Dao Sect is going to counterattack!"
Disciples below the platform chatted fervently, their faces filled with shock, excitement, and confusion.
Even some of the sect elders on the platform looked surprised, whispering among themselves, clearly caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.
Sitting in the seat of honor was Bu Qingwei, the Sect Leader of the Tianyan Sect. He was currently stroking his long beard, a profound and carefree smile on his face, as if everything happening before him was perfectly within his grasp.
He calmly scanned the frozen elimination circle on the light screen and the colorful expressions of the two sects' teams inside and outside the boundary. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened slightly, and the fine lines at the edges of his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement.
Look at those little rascals from the Five Elements Dao Sect; their eyes are nearly popping out of their heads!
And those bald donkeys from the Mingguang Sect—their faces must be turning green, aren't they?
Bu Qingwei was secretly delighted, relishing the chaos like a spectator who didn't mind if the trouble grew bigger. On the surface, however, he maintained his transcendent appearance of sage-like grace and divine insight.
This sudden change wasn't due to an error in the secret realm's rules; on the contrary, it was a power granted by the rules themselves.
In the rules of this team battle, a little-known clause had been preset to ensure the intensity and entertainment value of the competition while preventing disciples from being eliminated too early or in mass non-combat situations due to extreme circumstances.
As the leader of the most neutral sect among the Eight Sects, Sect Leader Bu Qingwei had the authority to make minor adjustments to the contraction of the elimination circle under specific conditions. This was to ensure that the core of the competition remained the disciples' true strength and adaptability, rather than purely relying on rule loopholes or geographical luck.
Exercise of this authority had to be based on the principle of maintaining a fair and exciting event.
And at this moment, Bu Qingwei had invoked that very power.
Originally, the situation was supposed to be as everyone expected. According to the preset trajectory, the elimination circle should have shrunk at a constant speed to the tiny space behind the stone forest passage entrance, confining the final showdown to a narrow area.
But Bu Qingwei had watched the previous chase where both sides used their wits and courage—especially Li Nanzhu's itching powder and the Mingguang Sect's endless human sandbag tactics. The situation was full of drama.
If he forced both sides into a melee inside the passage, it would be pitch black. What would anyone be able to see?
It might even cause the fine techniques of many to be suppressed by the terrain, bringing this great show to a premature end.
Thus, he simply pinched a secret seal within his sleeve with his fingertip. The surging elimination circle stopped at his command, freezing at the most thrilling moment.
On the surface, his action was dignified; it could be explained as giving both sides a fairer space for a final battle and preventing terrain factors from excessively influencing the outcome.
In reality, he truly felt the current situation was more interesting and simply wanted to watch this good show play out to its fullest.
Rules? Aren't rules made by people?
As for the Mingguang Sect falling into a disadvantage because of this?
Well, they could only blame themselves for their previous tactics not being pretty enough to make Sect Leader Bu happier.
At this moment, Bu Qingwei admired the stunned expressions of the crowd below, especially the ashen face of Elder Huiqing of the Mingguang Sect. His mischievous desire to share his private joy with the public was greatly satisfied.
This authority was well spent!
Bu Qingwei was smug, feeling more and more that his decision was brilliant.
"Sect Leader Bu, this action... is it perhaps a bit inappropriate?" Elder Huiqing finally couldn't help but ask in a heavy voice, his tone carrying suppressed anger.
Bu Qingwei set down his teacup, his smile remaining gentle, yet his eyes were calm and unruffled. "Elder Huiqing, why do you say that? The elimination circle has stopped here, and the disciples of both sects are within the boundary. Victory or defeat depends on their own abilities. What is inappropriate? Does the Elder believe that your sect's disciples are inferior to the Five Elements Dao Sect in an open area?"
His words were light, yet they pinned a large label of looking down on his own disciples onto the Elder. This left Elder Huiqing speechless for a moment, his face turning even more unsightly.
Bu Qingwei felt a surge of secret satisfaction, though his expression remained as clear as the moon. He turned his gaze back to the light screen, already anticipating the even more exciting developments to come.
As for the consequences?
Well... when the time came, he would just find some excuse like "maintaining tournament balance and preventing accidents" to brush it off.
After all, he, Bu Qingwei, was the most "impartial" of all.
Meanwhile, inside the secret realm, the battle was nearing its end.
The sudden stopping of the elimination circle instantly ignited the long-suppressed fighting spirit of the Five Elements Dao Sect.
Their attacks, previously restrained by the fear of the boundary, were now unleashed without reservation, pouring frantically toward the Mingguang Sect, whose formation was in total disarray.
The Mingguang Sect's combat power had already been greatly reduced by the itching powder, and their formation was scattered. Facing the full-force counterattack of the Five Elements Dao Sect, they simply couldn't organize an effective resistance!
"Withdraw! Retreat quickly!"
Huineng barely blocked a strike from Zhu Yinxi, feeling his blood and qi churning. Seeing his fellow brothers being divided, surrounded, and in a wretched state, he knew the situation was hopeless. He could only roar hoarsely, giving the most helpless of orders.
However, how could retreating be easy?
The thin Golden Core stage disciple was the first to suffer. He was pinned down by Jiang Yifan's attacks and was already irritable from the itching. Now, he was full of openings. Within just a few rounds, the jade pendant at his waist was snatched away. Before he could even react, he vanished into a streak of white light.
Immediately after, the precept blade monk was also caught in a pincer attack by Ling Suxin and Feng Qingping. Unable to defend from both sides, he was eventually blown back, landing right at the edge of the stationary elimination circle and was likewise teleported out.
The three Foundation Establishment disciples were even more powerless to resist.
"Bald donkeys! Where do you think you're going!" Liu Qingyang howled as he rushed toward a Foundation Establishment disciple.
He knew his cultivation wasn't high enough, so chasing a Golden Core would be like delivering himself on a platter.
His eyes were sharp; he had long since targeted that Mingguang Sect Foundation Establishment disciple who, due to lower cultivation, had fallen behind and was also scratching himself frantically.
That disciple was already panicking and tormented by the itching powder. How could he outrun the perfectly fine Liu Qingyang?
In just a few breaths, Liu Qingyang kicked him to the ground from behind, followed by a "brutal" round of punches and kicks.
The entire process was startlingly fast!
From the moment the elimination circle stopped to the end of the battle, it took less than half the time it takes to finish a cup of tea!
Of the five-man Mingguang Sect team, except for Huineng—who had the highest cultivation and quickest wit, and managed to escape by using the recoil from a strike by Jiang Yifan—the other four were completely wiped out!
The battle ended, leaving the field in a mess.
The Five Elements Dao Sect team quickly cleaned up the battlefield and tallied their gains.
As for Duan Xianxing... he was still in the depths of misery.
"Junior... Sister..."
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