The drawing of lots concluded, and the banned list for each sect was finalized.
Cang Dongqing walked down from the high platform expressionlessly, returning to the Sword Heart Sect's ranks.
As soon as she landed, Li Nanyi rushed over, lowering his voice with urgency and confusion. "Junior Sister! Didn't we agree? If we drew the Five Elements Dao Sect, we would ban Mu Wenyan and that eccentric Li Nanzhu! Why did you... why did you change your mind at the last moment and ban Feng Qingping instead? Why did you let Li Nanzhu through?"
To the side, Qu Chen, Pei Ji, and the others didn't speak directly, but their gazes were fixed on Cang Dongqing, their eyes filled with the same doubt and inquiry.
Only Qi Yunze remained calm, gazing toward the high platform as if this result didn't surprise him—or rather, as if he believed Cang Dongqing had her own reasons.
Cang Dongqing's gaze slowly swept over Li Nanyi, Qu Chen, Pei Ji, and the others. Her eyes were so cold that they subconsciously held their breath, feeling a wave of invisible pressure.
Her gaze lingered on them for a long time—so long that Li Nanyi felt increasingly uncomfortable and was almost unable to withstand that scrutinizing look. Only then did Cang Dongqing slowly lower her eyelids and explain in a soft voice, yet one loud enough for the nearby core disciples to hear clearly:
"You think Li Nanzhu's threat lies in her schemes and variables, right?"
Li Nanyi nodded instinctively. "Exactly! That girl is incredibly strange and never plays by the rules. If she's on the field, there's no telling what kind of mischief she'll cook up!"
Cang Dongqing looked up, her gaze profound. "But have you ever thought about what this round of the Heart-Probing Illusion Bridge is testing?"
Without waiting for their answer, she spoke with a hint of chill in her tone, "It tests combat power, wisdom, collaboration, and temperament. And what is the core that powers these twelve trials? It is formations! It is the illusory arrays spread across the entire bridge, omnipresent and ever-changing!"
Her gaze swept across everyone before finally settling on Li Nanyi's face. "Feng Qingping is the most skilled formation master of the Five Elements Dao Sect's younger generation. In the last round's team battle, she used her Golden Core stage cultivation to set up a unique formation that could briefly suppress a Nascent Soul. Her talent and control over formations are obvious to all."
"If we let her enter, she will be like a fish in water within this illusion composed of formations. She might see through the array eyes faster, or perhaps even interfere with or utilize the trial formations. The variables and threats she brings are much more direct and lethal than Li Nanzhu's petty cleverness, which isn't fit for the grand stage!"
Cang Dongqing's voice was resolute. "No matter how many schemes Li Nanzhu has, she needs to rely on the environment and the rules. But Feng Qingping—she might become a part of the rules herself! In a home field for formations, a top-tier formation master's value far exceeds ten opportunists who only know how to play tricks!"
She paused, her tone carrying a decisive finality. "Banning Feng Qingping is equivalent to stripping the Five Elements Dao Sect of their greatest geographical advantage in the illusion. As for Li Nanzhu..."
Corners of Cang Dongqing's mouth curled into a faint arc. "What if we let her on the field? Faced with absolute strength and a meticulously designed illusion, her little tricks are but rootless duckweed that can't stir up any waves! I actually hope she takes the field, so I can... personally crush those laughable illusions of luck she harbors!"
This analysis was clear, logical, and cut straight to the heart of the matter, leaving Li Nanyi, Qu Chen, and the others in deep thought.
Upon careful reflection, it was indeed true!
The Heart-Probing Bridge was essentially a massive compound illusory formation. The role a formation genius like Feng Qingping could play within it was immeasurable!
In contrast, while Li Nanzhu was resourceful, it was mostly about exploiting loopholes in the rules. In a head-on clash through an illusion trial, her advantage was indeed not as direct or terrifying as Feng Qingping's.
"I see..." Li Nanyi came to a realization and scratched his head. "As expected, Junior Sister, you think much further than I do! I was so focused on being wary of that little brat's tricks that I almost forgot about Feng Qingping!"
Qu Chen and Pei Ji also nodded in agreement.
Although there was still a lingering sense of unease regarding Li Nanzhu, Cang Dongqing's reasoning was sufficient to convince them.
Only then did Qi Yunze slowly turn his head, looking at Cang Dongqing with a slight nod, though he said nothing.
The doubts within the Sword Heart Sect were thus dispelled.
On the other side, as the drawing of lots concluded, Bu Qingwei officially announced the final banned list for each sect:
"The results of the bans are as follows:
Five Elements Dao Sect: Mu Wenyan, Feng Qingping; Hehuan Sect: Rong Yuying, Ling Suxin; Water Moon Sect: Chu Chenzhou, An Jinhan; Sword Heart Sect: Qi Yunze, Pei Ji; Tianyan Sect: Yun Xuanji, Yun Xingyan; Mingguang Sect: Huixin, Huineng; Shenmu Sect: Jiang Zhi, Wei Zhaoheng; Beast Taming Sect: Qin Lie, Feng Wuya; Wuji Sect: Ji Yanzhi, Mu Zeting; Xuan Tian Sect: Zhang Qinghe, Lin Anhai."
As the list was announced, almost no sect could find a reason to smile, because the banned participants were all the current strongest combatants of their respective sects.
But such were the rules; complaining was useless.
The teams from each sect immediately began their final emergency adjustments. They had to select the most suitable five-person lineup from the remaining disciples to face the upcoming severe challenge.
After a brief period of commotion and discussion, the final rosters for the ten teams were confirmed one after another.
On the high platform, seeing that all teams were ready, Bu Qingwei delayed no further and announced in a booming voice:
"The lineups are set! The second round of the team battle, the Heart-Probing Illusion Bridge, officially begins!"
"Disciples of each sect, ascend the bridge in the order of your ranking from the first round!"
"Five Elements Dao Sect—ascend the bridge!"
As the words fell, everyone's gaze instantly focused on the five members of the Five Elements Dao Sect!
"Let's go!"
With a low shout from Zhu Yinxi, the five members of the Five Elements Dao Sect looked at each other, seeing both solemnity and determination in their eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, the five of them stepped forward with firm strides, walking toward the ten parallel floating Heart-Probing Bridges that emitted a hazy glow.
The ten bridges looked almost identical; the only difference was perhaps their position.
"Which one should we choose?" Duan Xianxing asked in a low voice.
Jiang Yifan's gaze swept over the ten bridges. He said solemnly, "Since we are destined to be the center of attention, hiding is pointless. If we must choose, choose the most visible one!"
His gaze landed on the most eye-catching rainbow bridge right in the center.
"Fine! The middle one it is!" Duan Xianxing grinned, a flash of excitement in his eyes. "Since they're going to watch us anyway, we might as well let them see clearly!"
The five were in agreement. Their bodies transformed into five streaks of light, shooting without hesitation toward the most central and visible Heart-Probing Illusion Bridge!
"They chose the one in the middle!"
"Good heavens, they really are arrogant!"
"They're clearly not afraid of being targeted!"
The disciples of various sects below let out low exclamations at the sight.
Cold light flickered in the eyes of the disciples from the Sword Heart Sect, Wuji Sect, and other teams.
Just as the five members of the Five Elements Dao Sect stepped onto the central bridge deck—
Hum!
The entire central rainbow bridge shook violently, erupting with a dazzling radiance that completely swallowed the figures of the five!
Upon the bridge, profound runes flowed incessantly. The first point of light at the starting point suddenly lit up, emitting a powerful spatial fluctuation and the pull of divine soul energy!
Li Nanzhu felt an irresistible force envelop her entire body, and the scene before her eyes instantly became blurred and distorted!
Her physical body seemed to be fixed by invisible shackles, unable to move, while her consciousness was violently yanked away by a powerful suction, plunging into a bizarre and surreal vortex!
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