Chapter 257: True Opponent

"Yes sir!"

Before Canlie, four people walked out.

These four people consisted of two men and two women.

The two men stood straight like pines, their sword‑like eyebrows flying into their sideburns, and their eyes held a poison‑sharp vigor.

Their dark‑patterned tight uniforms clung to their muscles, tracing their fit bodies with distinct angles.

Ferocious demon patterns embroidered with mythril silk thread at the cuffs appeared and faded with their even breathing, as if a faint light wandered through the lines.

The two women had skin whiter than snow, their brows and eyes shrouded in a mist‑like mystery, and their gauze robes, thin as cicada wings, swayed lightly in the wind.

The blood‑colored agate and bone tassels in their hair struck each other, making a fine sound, like exquisite ghosts stepping out of a netherworld scroll.

These four people were Chunhua, Qiuyue, Mingfeng, and Haoyang.

These four were Canlie's most proud disciples.

From childhood they had been thrown into a secret realm like the Unending Purgatory.

Each day they endured the excruciating pain of demonic qi tempering their bodies, practicing a mysterious art that could rend space.

The blood flowing in their bodies was stained with black runes, and even their souls had been forged through seventy‑two secret techniques.

Usually, Canlie poured all his lifetime's learning into teaching them, even using the essence of ancient demon beasts to forge their personal magic weapons.

This shows that Canlie's regard for them far exceeds that of an ordinary teacher‑student relationship.

Moreover, they were entrusted with the great hope of controlling the supreme opportunity.

Nowadays, the disciples of Qingzhou have been defeated one after another by Li Yilan and Ye Xiaoji.

These Qingzhou disciples could not even force Ye Xiaoji to reveal all her techniques.

Only in desperation would he resort to using this trump card hidden at the bottom of the box.

He would use the four of them to force Li Yilan and Ye Xiaoji.

Because he had expended vast amounts of spiritual power, using a drop of his heart's blood as a guide, he had divined the heavenly secret.

He had long been convinced that continually stimulating these two girls' potential

Then the supreme opportunity would swiftly descend upon this place.

As for this opportunity, he had long been determined to obtain it.

Therefore, no matter how much power or force he had to expend, he must achieve his goal.

After the salute, Chunhua, Qiuyue, Mingfeng, and Haoyang were about to turn and leave.

Canlie's hoarse, low voice, like the scrape of a rusted chain, sounded again.

In his scarlet pupils, countless tiny runes wandered about like living things.

Black mist surged and twisted around him like boiling asphalt.

Wherever he passed, even the air emitted a grating, corrosive sound.

He coldly said: "Remember, killing those two girls is not the ultimate goal; the ultimate goal is to force out all their methods, so that the opportunity may arise."

Canlie's words carried an oppressive pressure that made the heart tremble.

It seemed as if each word could turn into a chain, tightly binding the four's bodies and souls.

Understood.

The four dared not utter the slightest objection, hastily responding in unison with icy, emotionless voices.

The instant their words fell, black flames rose around them, and a six‑pointed star array appeared beneath their feet.

In the blink of an eye, their figures shot toward the arena like ghosts.

Wherever they passed, the air emitted a tearing‑silk‑like screech, and the flowers, grass, and trees along the way instantly withered and carbonized, leaving four blackened scars on the ground.

……………………

At the same time.

On the arena, Li Yilan and Ye Xiaoji stood side by side.

Li Yilan lightly touched the ancient‑looking Unrivaled Imperial Sword at her waist; the azure‑cloud patterns etched on its blade suddenly glowed faintly.

Ye Xiaoji silently circulated her heart method, and a five‑black agile dagger appeared in her palm.

The dagger flickered with a faint, eerie azure light.

The two remained calm, faint spiritual undulations surrounding them as they waited calmly for the next challenge.

However, the Qingzhou disciples beneath the arena remained immersed in the earlier shock.

Some gripped their weapons with trembling palms; others turned pale and retreated.

Looking at Li Yilan and Ye Xiaoji on the arena, their eyes were filled with fear.

After all, Li Yilan and Ye Xiaoji had easily defeated Wang Shuang and Zuo Xinghe, so they dared not even step onto the stage.

Li Yilan frowned slightly, helplessly gazing at the host of the Qingzhou Grand Competition, and said with a hint of teasing: "Host, we're just standing here; they simply dare not go up to fight."

We're also helpless.

If you keep refusing to announce the final result, it will put us in a difficult spot.

Ye Xiaoji also nodded and said: "Yeah, waiting is so empty."

Their words carried a hint of provocation.

After all, they knew that Li Tianyuan, Chu Xiong, Yang Cheng, and others had laid schemes against them.

Now that the three's plans have fallen through, they naturally feel a bit smug, returning tit for tat.

In the Azure Cloud Sect's guest area, Grand Elder Mao Ping of the Azure Cloud Sect also slowly rose to his feet.

His snowy white beard fluttered in the wind as he glared at the host and said: "Yeah, host, fighting or not fighting, speaking or not speaking—what exactly do you want to do?"

The Azure Cloud Sect crowd also followed suit, voicing their discontent.

Some young disciples waved their sect's flags, shouting in unison for their two senior sisters: "Yeah, you fat pig host, hurry up and announce the final result!"

Various urging voices, threatening voices like a tide surged toward the Azure Prefecture Grand Competition host, directly forcing his face to flush red, veins bulging on his forehead.

Bean-sized sweat droplets rolled down his plump cheeks, soaking the front of his clothing.

He also felt embarrassed, only able to shift his gaze back and forth among the grim faces of Li Tianye, Chu Xiong, and Yang Cheng.

His heart felt like holding fifteen buckets drawing water—seven up, eight down.

The layout of the competition secretly controlled by these three was ruined by the Azure Cloud Sect, and their plan failed.

At this moment they stared at him with murderous gazes, seemingly blaming him for being too fair as host.

Meanwhile, the pressure from the Azure Cloud Sect made him feel like a thorn in his back, leaving him torn between advancing and retreating.

Seeing the host's delayed response, the Azure Cloud Sect members all turned their gazes toward Lin Yang.

Elder Mao Ping cast an inquiring gaze, his eyes clearly asking.

Should we directly force the end of this Azure Prefecture Grand Competition?

Or simply overturn the table and cause a scene.

Lin Yang merely sipped his tea calmly; the dark cloud embroidery on his black robe appeared and disappeared with his movements.

He merely gave a faint smile, his expression hinting at unfathomable depth.

Then, after setting down his teacup, he slowly raised his hand, pointing toward the dais, and said leisurely, "Here comes the opponent of Miss Li and Miss Ye."

Everyone was stunned, then followed Lin Yang's pointing direction and looked.

Only to see clouds and mist roiling in the sky; the previously clear sky instantly turned ink-black.

Four figures streaked across the sky like meteors.

As they approached, a bone-chilling cold swept over the entire venue.

The stone slabs on the ground began to form delicate ice patterns; the banners around the arena fluttered without wind, rustling loudly.

The four steadily landed on the arena; at the instant they appeared, everyone present sucked in a breath of cold air.

Their eyes were filled with astonishment and shock.