Chapter 479: The Grand Competition Ends

Above the Seven-Colored Rainbow Bridge sat the largest gambling arena of the Heavenly Spirit Sect.

Many cultivators of the Mysterious Manifest Realm used it to 'get rich overnight,' leaping straight from obscurity to Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation.

But far more people, because of the addiction above, lost everything in the gambling bouts at this arena, ultimately pawning off even their physical bodies and magic power.

Worse still were those who wagered their very divine souls, ending up in a state of no return.

Even knowing the risks were enormous, this 'gambling arena' remained one of the most popular events in the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and indeed the entire Mysterious Manifest Realm.

Every year, the cut alone earned the Heavenly Spirit Sect a fortune!

But now, the gambling arena, which normally ran twenty-four hours a day without rest, had suspended all its functions, serving only as a venue.

The four contestants stood at one corner of the arena each, watching each other warily.

But most of their gazes still drifted toward Zhao Ruohan.

After all, among those present, her aura was the weakest, and she was also the youngest.

Facing the glances the three occasionally cast her way, Zhao Ruohan's expression didn't change; she merely waved her hand to summon those handle-less flying-sword-style spirit-plant puppets.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hissing sounds rang out through the air.

One spirit-plant puppet after another, like silvery-gray threads, swept in from all directions, landing on the arena and standing guard at her side.

In an instant they covered most of the arena, their crimson eyes fixed intently on the other three contestants.

This was only a small portion; if she brought out more, she feared she'd become a common target and be swarmed.

A Puppet Refiner?!

To think she was hiding such a method.

The three felt a jolt in their hearts, and no longer dared to underestimate her.

After all, a Puppet Refiner who could lurk her way into the finals—who knew how many puppets she had on hand?

The sword cultivator standing in the northeast corner twirled his sword, then reversed his grip on the long blade: "Fellow cultivators, if the few of us start fighting, in the end we'll definitely let those other three reap the benefits."

He cut straight to the heart of the matter.

The reason the few of them were still facing off and hadn't made a move was precisely because they had reservations, worried someone else would sit back and reap the fisherman's gains.

"How about we cooperate first and eliminate those three hidden sixth-men—what do you say?"

The sword cultivator openly laid out his thoughts, and looked toward Zhao Ruohan, who was surrounded by the spirit-plant puppets.

She was from the Supreme Mystery Dao Sect, and those three hidden ones were also from the Supreme Mystery Dao Sect.

In other words, she could completely choose to cooperate with her fellow sect members.

However, after hearing the sword cultivator's proposal, Zhao Ruohan merely nodded slightly:

"Sure, I have no problem with it."

Although she didn't cultivate that so-called 'steady' style, she still had a fair understanding of the moral character of this batch of cultivators.

Cooperate?

Forget it.

Seeing how readily she agreed, the three were slightly surprised, but that surprise vanished in a flash.

"Good! Then while there's still time, let's move quickly."

If they didn't eliminate them within the time shown on the precise coordinates, it would be hard to find them afterward.

"Let's start with the closest one."

Before the word 'start' had even fallen, the four had already transformed into a long rainbow, charging toward the nearest Supreme Mystery Dao Sect steady-path cultivator.

Hum~!

Sword qi crashed down, splitting midair into countless fine, translucent sword threads, like a wisp of green smoke, yet in an instant weaving into a net that descended toward the location of that Supreme Mystery Dao Sect contestant.

Wherever it passed, whether the Mysterious Light Rainbow Bridge or the various buildings built of spirit wood and strange stone—even the free-flowing spiritual energy in the void—was silently severed after the 'sword net' passed.

*Heavenly Net Sword Weave* was created in earlier years by the Sword Master of Hidden Edge.

As the saying goes, 'One sword splitting into three thousand is not about outnumbering the foe; refining threads into a heavenly net is where the sword Dao's extreme realm is seen'—it was a great sword Dao divine ability with overwhelmingly offensive power!

Zhao Ruohan's mind stirred.

Whoosh whoosh!

The spirit-plant puppets followed closely behind the sword net, pouncing toward that hidden Supreme Mystery Dao Sect contestant.

The remaining two also unleashed their own great divine abilities in unison, holding nothing back.

……

……

The main timeline had reached its final moment.

They began joining forces to clear out the Supreme Mystery Dao Sect's sixth-men.

And although the Nascent Soul tier of the first branch timeline had more contestants remaining, they too adopted the same action as the Soul Transformation tier of the main timeline.

But during this process, someone couldn't hold back, choosing to take the opportunity to backstab, wanting to gain more points by doing so……

This move undoubtedly lit the powder keg.

Although the backstabber got his wish and successfully scored one point, he was also jointly eliminated by the other contestants who reacted in time.

But after this, the crowd, who couldn't trust one another, all stopped the action of clearing out the sixth-men.

After a standoff, it directly escalated into a free-for-all.

Judging by the current trend of the Nascent Soul tier, if nothing unexpected happened, the last one standing should be a Supreme Mystery Dao Sect sixth-man……

The highest point in the world.

Where the Mysterious Manifest Heavenly Trajectory was located.

Xu Xing pulled his gaze back from below, and turned to look at Ning Ruo: "It's about time, make the arrangements."

"Mm." Ning Ruo gave a slight nod.

Then, Bai Xi's slender fingers lightly hooked at the empty air.

A half-virtual, half-real thread of the immortal net was hooked out, seemingly flowing with infinite information within.

With a slight flick of her fingertip, the thread drifted and was sent before Xiang Yuanjun.

"Mm?" Xiang Yuanjun looked at her.

Ning Ruo chuckled lightly: "Since it was you who improved the true technique, let you take this final step."

"……"

Does it matter who does it? Wouldn't it be the same either way?

Xiang Yuanjun said nothing more, and flicked the immortal-net thread lightly with a bent finger.

Hum~!

The thread trembled, and a peculiar rhythm spread out from this short segment of immortal-net thread before her, then traveled through the immortal net rooted in every corner of the world, rippling into the depths of the world.

After all, it was the lingering influence left by Xuan; if any residue remained, it would endlessly regenerate, over and over…

So it had to be exorcised at the root level.

The "Ten Thousand Phenomena Spirit-Cleansing Divine Transformation True Law" improved by Xiang Yuanjun—although only two characters in its name had been changed—had undergone an enormous change in its actual effect.

It used the operation of all things and all scenes that existed within the world itself to exorcise the tangled and impure, while naturally enlightening authority.

Thus leaving the foundations of the divine dao in this world where a divine dao system had never appeared.

To improve that "Grand Yin Spirit-Cleansing Divine Transformation True Law" to such a state in such a short time…

One could only say: worthy of Xiang Yuanjun.

Xu Xing sighed inwardly, and inexplicably thought again of how she had once learned his sword art, then turned it around to use the sword art to beat him black and blue…

Cough cough!

He looked aside.

The Xuan-phase Return-to-Voids had all returned.

Because their attempt to "be dogs" had failed, they had no choice but to continue considering how to break the Heavenly Track.

But… still not a single one of them had taken the first step.

As for Mu Yong and the others they had used to scout the way, they were still trapped in the time-anomalous region, struggling to make their way toward the Xuan-phase Heavenly Track.

"Let's go back."

Xu Xing gave a light wave of his hand.

In an instant, whether it was Mu Yong and the others trapped in the time-anomalous region near the Heavenly Track, or the Xuan-phase Return-to-Voids hovering outside, afraid to step in—

Everyone vanished into thin air, sent back.

At this final moment, all living beings of the Xuan-phase Realm, whether Return-to-Void or ordinary people with no cultivation whatsoever, should bear witness properly.

………

The highest point of Tian Ling Sect.

Mu Yong only felt a wave of dizziness, and the scene before his eyes suddenly brightened.

Where he was no longer the empty void; clouds condensed from supreme spiritual energy flowed before his eyes, and the sounds in his ears became noisy and bright, no longer that deathly silence so quiet it made one's heart uneasy…

What exactly had happened?

He looked up, only to find Xuan Xing Old Ghost and the other Return-to-Voids not far away, though their faces were equally blank.

Clearly, they too didn't know what had happened.

Hm?!

Mu Yong, coming back to his senses, was startled, and swallowed hard in lingering fear.

He recalled that not long ago… he seemed to have just cursed Xuan Xing Old Ghost…

Gulp~!

It's over!

He was probably going to have his soul extracted and refined, tormented endlessly…

Just as he was uneasy in his heart, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Xuan Xing also came back to his senses, looked toward him, and his face suddenly darkened.

This brat, a mere Qi Refinement ant, actually dared to curse him—he absolutely had to—

The moment the thought arose, his cultivation within his body immediately showed signs of draining away.

Xuan Xing: "……"

Damn!

That damned Xuan Qi Old Ghost!

Xuan Xing felt utterly aggrieved inside, but could only pretend to be calm and composed: "After you approached that Xuan-phase Heavenly Track, did you notice anything unusual?"

Since there was no way to act against him, he might as well ask something practical.

Hm?

He's not going to act against me?

What scheme is this Xuan Xing Old Ghost plotting?

Puzzled in his heart, but not daring to slight him on his face, he hurriedly bowed and said respectfully: "Reporting to Master, this disciple saw someone grasp that Heavenly Track in a single hand."

Hm?!

Someone grasped the Heavenly Track in their hand?!

The Return-to-Voids, hearing these words, were all involuntarily startled.

Could it be Xuan Qi Old Ghost?

He really didn't die? And has even advanced further by harvesting heaven and earth all these years?

They knew well the power of Tian Gui—even as Fanyu, they could offer not the slightest resistance, forced each day to watch helplessly as their cultivation was drained away…

"Could it be An Qi, our Ancestral Master?" Xu Xing asked urgently.

"No."

How could it possibly be that old devil An Qi!

"When I saw that one, his honorific title also surfaced in my mind."

Here, Mu Yong's tone carried a hint of awe.

As a cultivator, how could one not yearn for that supreme power capable of grasping the celestial gates with a single hand?

Honorific title?

The Fanyu stared fixedly at Mu Yong.

Mu Yong's heart tightened; he snapped back to himself and continued:

"His name is… Ba Zun."

Ba Zun?

Though Mu Yong's voice was not loud, those two words seemed to carry boundless might, making them feel as if countless myriads of Lei Ting exploded deafeningly beside their ears.

An endless, eternal river of blood qi surged through all things, drowning every perception.

Even the entire Xiang Realm paled in comparison to even one ten-thousandth-millionth of a single drop of that river's blood qi…

Vision and perception soared infinitely—and there, a figure clad in black robes and black hair, not tall in stature, clasped his palms together, gripping the entire blood qi river within his hands!

Ba Zun!

Ancestor of Body Refinement!

Just as they felt their spiritual souls, magic power, and even their very existence beginning to shatter…

In the next blink, all those strange phenomena vanished—before them remained only the swirling clouds of Supergrade Spiritual Energy, as if everything had been an illusion.

Of course, all of them knew—it was absolutely not an illusion!

Ba Zun…

So this is the entity behind those outer-realm Soul Transformation cultivators…

Only now did they finally realize.

What use were all their preparations against such a being?

How laughable—our schemes and calculations must have been seen all along, treated as mere jokes…

Several Fanyu wore complex expressions, lowering their gaze to the remaining contestants within Tianling Sect.

…

…

Back to the seven remaining in the Soul Transformation division.

Since four of them formed a team and temporarily joined forces to eliminate the Sixth Elder of Taishang Dao Sect…

Initially, things went smoothly enough.

The four successfully eliminated one Sixth Elder of Taishang Dao Sect.

But because that Sixth Elder's evasion technique was exceptionally skilled, it took far longer—allowing him to drag the encounter past the coordinate display's time limit.

After eliminating him, the four searched again—but found not a trace.

After that, the same scenario played out once more.

Someone couldn't resist and chose to stab in the back!

And they targeted Zhao Ruohan, the "Puppet Master."

After all, Puppet Masters, as a branch of Artificers, were notoriously frail in their physical bodies.

The logic was sound—but they had underestimated one thing: Zhao Ruohan was not a "Puppet Master," but a true, orthodox Magic Practitioner!

Still, due to her youth, her actual combat strength remained somewhat lacking, so after blocking the ambush, she quickly fell into disadvantage.

Seeing defeat imminent, Zhao Ruohan no longer bothered to conceal her true strength—she immediately summoned the hidden puppets around her.

Countless puppets swarmed like a locust plague, filling sky and earth.

The other two had originally planned to stay out of it, waiting for Zhao Ruohan and the attacker to exhaust each other before reaping the benefits…

But as the plant puppets multiplied endlessly, they finally sensed something was wrong—and chose to join the fight together!

In the end, Zhao Ruohan eliminated the one who ambushed her, but after expending most of her plant puppets, she herself was eliminated by the other two.

With four heads eliminated, she earned 2.5 ranking points, totaling 6.5 points for this competition.

Hmm…

To be honest, she had little regret.

She earned such a high score largely because the revised rules gave her enough time to use her innate divine ability—her true personal strength still fell short…

But the final score was higher than Chi Jiuyu's—that was great!

Ye Zhiwei's approach made sense: she was younger than me, yet she kept calling me "Little Zhao"…

This time, I'll call her "Little Chi."

That sounds bad—better to call her "Little Yu."

In short.

With Zhao Ruohan's elimination, only four remained in the Soul Transformation division.

After a struggle, the sword cultivator who practiced Tian Luo Jian Wei eliminated his opponent—but was himself eliminated by another Sixth Elder of Taishang Dao Sect.

The last two Sixth Elders of Taishang Dao Sect, however, entered a strange stalemate, neither choosing to strike first.

Yet as the safe zone shrank bit by bit, the two gradually drew closer—and inevitably collided.

"..."

Fight?

Or not fight?

That is the question.

Neither of them had any confidence they could take the other down.

And while the two were hesitating, the safe zone had already shrunk to its limit.

So they only had time to hastily exchange a few token blows before one of them stepped half a leg out of the safe zone, successfully deciding the victor.

Incidentally, the Nascent Soul bracket was the same.

Clearly, all three brackets had Supreme Dao Sect's contestants surviving to the end, but the process made Cheng Junming, who was watching from the viewing platform outside the boundary, knit his brows tightly.

Good thing there was no livestream this time... (End of chapter)