Chapter 499: But You Are Weak

Everyone saw this scene and were again shocked to the point of staring dumbfounded.

The sword tip sank into his chest, and soon a patch of his clothing was soaked.

Song Yan's bloodless lips parted slightly.

"A speck in the vast sea—transform!"

As his words fell, a golden light totem instantly burst from his chest.

Boom!

His white hair instantly turned platinum, golden totem patterns flickered across his skin, and his aura surged again.

This time, even more formidable!

Song Yan swiftly swung his sword to meet Bian Chen's attack, and his speed was astonishingly fast, leaving Bian Chen no time to react.

In just a moment, Bian Chen could no longer withstand Song Yan's fierce assault.

"Myriad Laws of the Thousand Mountain—"

"Three Pure Red Sun!"

The blade erupted with unprecedented might, sword intent condensed instantly, and crashed toward Bian Chen.

Bian Chen's pupils contracted slightly; he immediately exerted all his strength to block.

Boom!

A loud bang rang out, and Bian Chen was flung to the ground.

When Bian Chen struggled to rise, a sharp sword was already pressed against his neck.

The sight left tens of thousands of cultivators in the audience gaping, gasping in shock, as if the air had frozen with astonishment.

"How... how is Song Yan like this?! Each time he injures himself, he doesn't die but his strength surges, each time more overbearing than the last!"

"Heavens!"

"No wonder he can steadily hold the position of Eldest Senior Brother among the Thousand Mountain Six Sons; his strength and disposition truly live up to his reputation!"

"I now understand; likely each of the Thousand Mountain Six Sons hides profound talent, all are astonishingly gifted and outstanding!"

"I previously thought our First Province's Peerless Seven Pride were the peak of the younger generation, unrivaled under heaven, but I didn't expect the Thousand Mountain Six Sons to be this terrifying, not yielding at all, even surpassing them!"

Amid the uproar, the referee finally recovered from his shock, took a deep breath, and announced loudly: "This match, Ninth Province, Song Yan, wins!"

"Look! The Ninth Province's points... they've risen to second place!" A keen-eyed cultivator pointed at the golden characters floating in the sky, his voice trembling with excitement.

"My heavens! They actually surpassed Flying Cloud Island, which had long held second place, and are now closing in on the First Province!"

The crowd erupted.

Countless gazes fell on the scoreboard; the Ninth Province's name shone brightly, stinging the eyes.

Even the Immortal Venerables on the high platform, usually inscrutable and unfathomably deep in cultivation, now showed unhidden emotion, whispering to each other, their eyes filled with profound astonishment and inquiry.

What kind of disciples has the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord taught?

And at this moment, the most unable to stay seated are the people of the First Province.

The originally relaxed and comfortable seating area of the First Province instantly turned oppressively tense, anxiety spreading like a plague.

The eliminated First Province competitors' faces were filled with tension and unease; they fixed their gaze on the ever-approaching Ninth Province points, their palms already sweating.

"No... we absolutely cannot let them surpass us!" a competing disciple muttered, face pale, "We must hold onto first place!"

"If in this Immortal Sect Grand Competition, the First Province's millennia-long top spot is forcibly taken by the Ninth Province, we competitors will become sinners of the sect, forever nailed to the pillar of shame in the First Province's history, condemned for eternity!"

The First Province crowd all looked toward Xie Zixu, Sikong Banxue, Feng Xuanji, Ying Wuhuan, Lu Xiangxiang, and Jiang Shuai, hoping they would definitely defend the top spot.

At this moment, Song Yan's face was ashen, helped down the stage by Yuan Yao and a few others.

After taking a Seventh Grade Healing Spirit Pill, Song Yan's injuries improved somewhat.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you tell us not to risk our lives, yet you aren't doing the same?" Yuan Yao frowned, bandaging his wound as she spoke.

"I..." Song Yan's pale lips twitched a few times, "I merely wanted to do my part."

Moreover, if he were to lose,

then they would suffer even more.

Xiao Lingwei helplessly said: "Eldest Senior Brother, you bear too much responsibility."

Song Yan smiled: "From now on, it's up to you."

Yuan Yao said: "Don't worry, Eldest Senior Brother, we'll try to buy you as much recovery time as possible."

Song Yan pressed his lips and smiled.

In the next round, Yuan Yao took the stage.

The First Province sent out Lu Xiangxiang.

Before the draw, Yuan Yao and Lu Xiangxiang locked eyes; beneath their calm lay hidden turbulence.

Yuan Yao hoped to draw Lu Xiangxiang as her opponent, but the result was not as desired.

Lu Xiangxiang drew a disciple from Flying Cloud Island.

Yuan Yao drew a disciple from the Second Province.

The result was that both Yuan Yao and Lu Xiangxiang won.

Next up was Xue Jin, who drew Jiang Shuai of the First Province.

Jiang Shuai narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up the youth before him: the boy's half-tied pale white hair, delicate features, pinkish eyebrows, and a pair of icy, sinister eyes.

At first glance, one couldn't tell his gender.

Upon closer look, it was clear he was male.

Xue Jin was not frail; he stood tall with broad shoulders and narrow waist, but his face was so beautiful as to blur gender distinctions, making it hard to tell.

Jiang Shuai had watched Xue Jin's match, so he did not take this lightly.

Both of their cultivations were at the early stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"The match begins!"

As the referee's voice fell, almost at the same moment, Xue Jin moved!

Without a word, not even a flicker in his gaze, he turned his wrist and a sword appeared in his hand—its body pure white, the blade suffused with a faint pink light.

The sword light flashed, leaving only an afterimage.

Xue Jin's figure seemed to cross several zhang in an instant, bringing a bone‑chilling killing intent, his sword aimed straight at Jiang Shuai's face!

His swordplay was tricky and vicious in every strike, with extremely strange angles aimed at the body's vital points, carrying a resolve to perish together like jade and stone.

Jiang Shuai's pupils contracted, his heart jolted: "What a fast sword! What a cold killing intent!"

He dared not delay; his inner spiritual power instantly surged to its peak, and he immediately raised his sword to meet the attack.

Clang—

Xue Jin's figure darted flexibly through Jiang Shuai's storm‑like sword onslaught, his pink‑white hair flying in the wind, his androgynous face still icy, only his dark, piercing eyes locked onto Jiang Shuai's every move, seeking an opening.

After several exchanges, Jiang Shuai felt tremendous pressure.

"Not bad!" Jiang Shuai lifted his chin.

Xue Jin, however, coldly spat out four words: "But you are weak."

As soon as those words were spoken, Jiang Shuai's face darkened instantly.

Jiang Shuai's anger was provoked, and he began to launch a fierce assault toward Xue Jin.