Chapter 504

"Flower Daoist, you overpraise." Yuan Yao sheathed her sword, smiling as she cupped her fists toward him.

At the same moment, Yuan Yao seemed to sense something, gazing toward a certain direction below the platform, her eyes sweeping past Xie Zixu and landing on Lu Xiangxiang's face.

Lu Xiangxiang stared at her with a cold, deep gaze, hinting at a trace of apprehension and jealousy.

She envied how astonishingly strong Yuan Yao's cultivation talent was!

In her past life, she had never seen anyone whose cultivation talent surpassed Yuan Yao's!

This intensified her sense of crisis.

At the same moment, the immortals on the high platform wore varied expressions; they all, sooner or later, realized that Yuan Yao's spiritual power was terrifyingly strong, and not only that—she had barely entered the early Spirit Transformation Realm when she already mastered the mental domain…

No wonder…

Qianjue Mountain would take in a Yuan Yao who seemed to have no background or status as a disciple.

Fang Tai Immortal stroked his snowy-white beard and whispered to the nearby immortals: "This sect master sees limitless potential in this girl; perhaps she can lead all the heavenly pride..."

"This girl is still young. Although her potential is limitless, she may not be able to shoulder great responsibility. The leader of Tian Jiaocheng needs not only strength but also leadership and resourcefulness." Another immortal whispered softly: "I think Qian Yunzhou, Xie Zixu, or perhaps Ying Wuji could become the leader of Tian Jiaocheng."

Fang Tai Immortal slowly shook his head: "That is mistaken. Earlier in the Liuguang Secret Realm, Yuan Yao became first place there, which shows she has both courage and strategy, lacking neither wisdom nor judgment."

Upon hearing this, the several immortals each had their own thoughts.

The one-on-one platform matches have continued up to now.

First Province still has: Xie Zixu, Sikong Banxue, Lu Xiangxiang.

Flying Cloud Island: Qian Yunzhou.

Ninth Province: Yuan Yao, Song Yan, Xiao Lingwei, Xue Jin, Ying Wuji.

And in the next round, only these three regions each send three participants.

First Province sends Lu Xiangxiang, Flying Cloud Island sends Qian Yunzhou, Ninth Province sends Xiao Lingwei.

Lu Xiangxiang drew a bye.

Qian Yunzhou faced Xiao Lingwei; Qian Yunzhou won.

…

Immediately after, the next match began.

Qian Yunzhou, Sikong Banxue, and Xue Jin drew lots simultaneously.

Qian Yunzhou got a bye.

Sikong Banxue faced Xue Jin; Sikong Banxue won.

…

Qian Yunzhou, Xie Zixu, and Song Yan drew lots simultaneously.

Qian Yunzhou drew a bye again.

Xie Zixu faced Song Yan; Xie Zixu won.

…

Ninth Province lost three matches in a row, making its people increasingly tense. Their gaze fell upon the golden characters floating above the Fudu martial arena.

Now Ninth Province trails First Province by only fifty-nine points!

First Province still has: Xie Zixu, Sikong Banxue, Lu Xiangxiang.

Flying Cloud Island: Qian Yunzhou.

Ninth Province: Yuan Yao, Ying Wuji.

This time the participants from the three regions are respectively Lu Xiangxiang, Qian Yunzhou, and Ying Wuji.

This time, Ying Wuji drew a bye.

On the platform, Qian Yunzhou and Lu Xiangxiang stood facing each other.

"Lu Xiang is the only Nascent Soul Realm disciple among them! I have to say, she's really formidable!"

"Her previous opponents were all weaker than her; she just got lucky!"

"Lu Xiang's opponent is actually Qian Yunzhou—now there's really no suspense."

"Haven't you noticed Qian Yunzhou's face is deathly pale? He's probably at the end of his rope; who will finally win is truly uncertain!"

At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang gazed at the red-clad man before her, her feelings somewhat complex; she could clearly sense the coldness in his eyes.

Lu Xiangxiang summoned her Azure Dragon Sword; the corner of her mouth twitched up involuntarily, then immediately pressed down.

Her fingers gradually tightened around the hilt.

She might not lose to Qian Yunzhou.

As soon as the referee announced the start of the match, Lu Xiangxiang lifted her sword and charged at Qian Yunzhou, her speed and movement extremely swift; her sword technique was fierce and carried a chill, each swing executed in an extraordinarily tricky manner.

Qian Yunzhou quickly realized that Lu Xiangxiang actually knew his weak points; he narrowed his eyes dangerously.

He held a tender-green jade flute, then lightly tapped his toes to step back.

At the same time, he placed the jade flute to his lips and played.

The moment the flute sounded, a murderous aura became evident.

What surprised Qian Yunzhou was that Lu Xiangxiang seemed utterly unaffected by the flute's sound, as if…

…she couldn't hear the flute!

Seeing his look of astonishment, Lu Xiangxiang felt even more delighted!

Qian Yunzhou, in my past life you taught me how to not be affected by your flute attack.

Lu Xiangxiang stared at him, suddenly recalling how he had previously fawned over Yuan Yao, and a feeling of vexed anger welled up in her heart.

Clearly in my past life—

the one you deeply loved was me!

Upon thinking this, Lu Xiangxiang moved with extreme speed toward Qian Yunzhou, her sword strikes like a sudden storm, slashing at him.

Qian Yunzhou's expression shifted slightly; the tender green jade flute in his hand quickly transformed into a green longsword, and he raised the sword to block the opponent's attack.

Qian Yunzhou keenly caught a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

Why?

Qian Yunzhou felt a hint of strangeness rise in his heart.

But soon, his expression turned completely cold.

He gave an ambiguous light chuckle.

"Fellow cultivator Lu, you seem able to dispel my sound attack."

Lu Xiangxiang's heart jumped.

He grew suspicious!

"Fellow cultivator Lu, are you also underestimating me?" On Qian Yunzhou's face, which could overturn all beings and was absolutely gorgeous, lingered a half-smile; before his words fell, he moved and suddenly disappeared before Lu Xiangxiang's eyes.

In the next instant, everyone only felt a blur before their eyes; Qian Yunzhou stood gracefully in midair. His scarlet robe's hem fluttered in the wind like a spider lily blooming in the dark night. He brought the lustrous jade flute to his lips again, and a distant, ethereal flute note flowed out—clear and moving at first hearing, yet concealing a chilling killing intent upon closer scrutiny.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiangxiang's expression drastically changed.

The flute sound entered her ears—not the previous clarity, but transformed into countless invisible needles that fiercely stabbed at her sea of consciousness, making her feel as if her eardrums would be torn apart by this overbearing sound wave!

"Not good!" alarm bells rang wildly in her heart.

Immediately after, countless invisible sound blades, accompanied by a piercing wind-breaking sound, surged toward her from all directions!

Lu Xiangxiang's pupils contracted sharply, her face filled with disbelief, and her heart churned with shock: This is impossible?!

In her past life, could the sound-control technique he taught her be wrong?!

Or perhaps he had kept a trump card from the start, deliberately deceiving her, playing her in the palm of his hand?!

Realizing this, Lu Xiangxiang's face instantly turned ashen as paper, extremely ugly.

Why?!

Why would he also betray me?!

A bone-chilling cold and anger rose in Lu Xiangxiang's heart; her eyes turned icy as frost, fixed firmly on Qian Yunzhou hovering in midair.

She raised her Azure Dragon Sword, infused it with spiritual power, and swung fiercely; sword qi crisscrossed, cleaving the incoming sound blades.

Immediately, she flashed forward, rushing toward Qian Yunzhou with her sword following her body, aiming straight at his face.

Just as her sword blade was a few inches from Qian Yunzhou's crown, about to succeed—

Buzz!!!

A sharper, more piercing flute note suddenly exploded!