[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-235":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260108,4410,"Chapter 235: Unexpected Withdrawal","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-235",235,"\u003Cp>The first round of the group stage is six down to three; after two days of matches, roughly half the competitors have been eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the three remaining, the winner must defeat two more to advance to the next round of groupings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means, after winning the first match, one generally faces one of two scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One scenario is a bye in the next round, waiting for the other two to fight out their winner, then facing them in the final group match to determine the one who advances from six to one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other scenario is to first defeat one of them, then face the challenger who had the bye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which scenario occurs is decided by lottery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu’s match today was the last in their group, and she has now successfully secured a spot in the second round of the Tian Dao Assembly; on their way back with the others, they happened to meet Ji You and his group returning from Cangwu Daochang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s first match was today, which was no secret, so they asked about the result and learned he had won his opening bout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one was surprised by this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially He Lingxiu, who wore an expression of “as I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s combat strength has always been obscure to outsiders, but everyone had a vague sense that his victory was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was only the first round; many opponents were merely aristocratic heirs brought in to fill spots, and truly evenly matched foes would appear later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, such a victory was not worth surprise or applause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like their earlier wins, they merely thought it was what one would expect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After casual chatter, Ji You and Cao Jingsong and others departed, leaving only He Lingxiu and her group still analyzing today’s match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, they saw Yu Shiliu walking in from outside, seemingly distracted, not even greeting them, and heading straight down the forest path toward her residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gaocen called out to her twice, but she didn’t seem to hear, walking directly into her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky was still early, and Ji You, Cao Jingsong, Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and others were drinking tea in their residence when they heard a knock at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening it, they found Wen Siyuan, a disciple of the Administration Hall, standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had returned together from Cangwu Daochang, but Wen Siyuan had parted ways mid-journey to visit Taiping Garden to draw Ji You’s lottery slip; now back, he placed the slip on Ji You’s desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Ji, here is the lottery result for the second round of the group stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You took the envelope, opened it, and saw two large characters: Xiang Hui. “Is this my next opponent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan nodded. “You will fight him tomorrow, then face the one who had the bye—Lou Wanpeng of the Liangzhou Lou family—for the final spot from six to one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought I’d be the one with the bye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The lottery decided it. The match will be tomorrow morning, same location—Cangwu Daochang. I’ll come to fetch you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering the slip, Wen Siyuan turned and returned to the easternmost part of Rusheng Garden’s East Garden—the Administration Hall’s lodging—and lay on his bed, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the other Administration Hall disciples returned to their quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Wen Siyuan, they had gone to Taiping Garden to draw their lottery slips, but instead of rushing back, they diligently scoured the four quarters to gather intelligence on their assigned competitors’ potential next opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, if they won, their behind-the-scenes aristocratic families would reward them with spirit pills as thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they chatted and walked into the room, they saw Wen Siyuan lying on his bed, and exchanged glances, thinking: Wen’s brother returned awfully early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Brother Ji win his first match?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, he won.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Administration Hall disciples showed no great surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some hadn’t even paid attention to who Ji You fought; they simply assumed that with his power—four swords defeating two peers, forcing even the Elder Hall to bow—he was bound to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others from Zhongzhou had heard of Tang Jingming and knew he was no ordinary aristocratic heir, yet still believed Ji You would surpass him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for some reason, they felt Wen Siyuan’s expression seemed distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three heads of the Administration Hall had also returned to Rusheng Garden, as they were responsible not only for the students’ duels but also for the Elder Hall’s Dao debates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After resting and drinking tea, each disciple received intelligence gathered by their subordinates on their assigned opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These reports were compiled, verified, then delivered to the disciples advancing to the next round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three heads held the reports, flipping through them, cross-checking, exchanging insights for a long while, eliminating insignificant details, and finally compiling them into concise files.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, they reached Yu Shiliu’s opponent information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple assigned to Yu Shiliu was Wei Han, who submitted two reports—one on Bu Ze of the Qingzhou Bu family, the other on Xi JinYu, daughter of the Lingzhou Xi family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant Yu Shiliu had received a bye in the afternoon lottery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either Bu Ze or Xi JinYu could become Yu Shiliu’s next opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bu Ze’s strength is actually mediocre; he won only because his opponents were weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then in Brother Qin’s view, Xi JinYu is the one to watch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. In my estimation, Yu Shiliu will most likely face Xi JinYu—so focus on her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three immediately opened Xi JinYu’s report, filled densely with her strengths and weaknesses; after reading it, they turned to Bu Ze’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Xi JinYu’s, Bu Ze’s report contained only a few sparse lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant even Wei Han, who had watched Yu Shiliu’s matches closely, considered Bu Ze no threat compared to Xi JinYu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they pose no threat, there’s no need to over-focus—otherwise, it might disrupt one’s own rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Hetong set down his report, lifted his teacup, and asked: “Who is Ji You’s next opponent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiang Hui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No bye—he has to fight one more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Ang nodded. “Ji You’s luck doesn’t seem as good as before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jingyao looked up. “What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No bye is one thing, but his group’s opponents aren’t easy—Tang Jingming, Xiang Hui, and Lou Wanpeng aren’t ordinary aristocratic heirs; their strength is quite notable. It’s just that their family backgrounds are weaker, so they draw less attention—but they’re far from easy to defeat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation talent isn’t determined by family pedigree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between Immortal Sects and aristocratic families partly stems from differences in the martial arts and cultivation methods passed down through generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, while small aristocratic families rarely produce prodigies, across the Nine Provinces their numbers are still considerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Pu Yangxing, who entered this year; his Pu family is a fallen aristocratic house, yet his cultivation talent is exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s group has no top-tier aristocratic scions, but individually, their strength is formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three murmured, then opened Wen Siyuan’s report on Xiang Hui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes scanned it—but found not a single character; it was entirely blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the three heads paused, then exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan had always been diligent and earnest in the Administration Hall, never slacking off or neglecting orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only explanation for this blank report is that after watching Ji You’s last match, he concluded there was no need to investigate Xiang Hui at all…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, summer breeze drifted gently, the sun warm and the air serene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As before, residents of the county city streamed toward Xianxian Garden, while those from the Eight Gardens headed toward the Nine Daochang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu and her group rose early again, heading to Jingyang Daochang to watch, as today’s final group matches featured Chai Ze and Xiao Hanyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the match began, He Lingxiu spotted Wang Gaocen pushing through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Sister He, have you seen Senior Sister Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t she at Yuyu Daochang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gaocen shook his head. “I just came from Yuyu Daochang—she’s not there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu felt surprised; Yu Shiliu had left early this morning, and she assumed Yu had gone to Yuyu Daochang to watch Bu Ze and Xi JinYu’s match, to study her next opponent—yet now she realized that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was strange, since Yu Shiliu was always meticulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past matches, even against clearly weaker opponents, she studied them carefully—why would she skip watching a strong one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of confusion appeared in He Lingxiu’s eyes, baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Yu Shiliu sat in the spectator stands of Cangwu Daochang, gazing intently at the stage beneath the morning’s brilliant sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had not slept all night; this morning, she had indeed left early—but not for Yuyu Daochang. She came here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had also arrived early, just like her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Huang Rou, daughter of the Zhongzhou Huang family, sitting in the same seat as yesterday, staring toward the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had come yesterday to watch Tang Jingming; after he lost, she had no one left to follow, so she had no reason to return today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, she had come here again this morning, even refusing Qiu Hanyue’s invitation to tour the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides her, three ladies from Yunzhou sat in the same seats as yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had come yesterday hoping to speak with Ji You after his match, but never approached him, instead returning to their quarters in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they had returned, their mindset entirely changed, their eyes filled only with silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also gathered here were Tang’s patriarch and other Tang family members, staring at the two figures on the stage, their hands clenched tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on the spectator platform, three slender silhouettes stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Ding Yao pressed her hand against the railing, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, more than before. When I fought here, there were only a few scattered spectators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the eastern side of the platform sat two young men from the Yuzhou Lou family—one was Lou Wanpeng, the one who had the bye, the other his younger brother, Lou Wanli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tian Shu Academy watched and analyzed opponents daily; they did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever won today’s match would become Lou Wanpeng’s next opponent—they had to come and observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Wanli had fought here before and knew this Daochang was usually deserted; today’s crowd vastly exceeded their expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lou Wanpeng, sensing the direction of all eyes, felt a growing unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this unease had been with him since yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was familiar with Tang Jingming and knew that after his defeat, Lou Wanpeng would realize Ji You was likely very strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many rumors about this man across the Nine Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, everyone in the arena seemed to have come for Ji You, strengthening his conviction in the rumors he’d heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Wanpeng sat up straight, slightly straightened his back, and a faint golden light flickered in his eyes as he prepared to observe Ji You’s movements with his spiritual sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, pale blue barrier light rose from both sides and began converging toward the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hui, a youth of the Xiang family of Zhou, drew his long blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Tang Jingming’s slender frame, Xiang Hui was broad and muscular, his long blade wide and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the overseer struck the bronze gong, Lou Wanpeng froze his gaze and saw Xiang Hui’s spiritual energy surge violently, a fierce blade light erupting with brutal force—then Ji You, sword drawn, stepped forward, raising his long sword high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Wanpeng’s position was on the southwest side of the circular platform, aligned with the direction of Ji You’s sword strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, compared to Xiang Hui, who had gathered spiritual energy across his entire body, Ji You’s sword posture seemed utterly ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when the raised Dao sword suddenly slashed downward, Lou Wanpeng inexplicably felt every hair on his arms rise, his scalp tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You brought his sword down with ferocity, directly colliding with the descending blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hui felt as if a million tons of force had poured into him in an instant—his hands gripping the blade cracked open, blood gushing forth; he staggered backward, desperately struggling to hold onto the violently trembling iron blade, his eyes filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had witnessed a similar scene yesterday clenched their fists, their hearts trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same thing as yesterday had happened again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ji You stepped forward, his figure darting like wind through air, his Dao sword slashing straight down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM—the entire arena’s air pressure burst as if crushed, rolling waves of force exploded outward, churning the entire barrier into a storm of wind and cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In countless pale yellow eyes, the ordinary downward strike carried a howling wind that instantly shattered the spiritual energy condensed on Xiang Hui’s blade, then slammed down—leaving every mind ringing with a deafening buzz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH—like thunder splitting the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hui’s long blade shattered outright, and his entire body was flung backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a puff of pink dust scattered, the tall, burly Xiang Hui crashed to the ground with a thud—just like Tang Jingming the day before—falling utterly silent, nothing like the boisterous man he had been moments earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Wanli’s eyes widened as he glanced at his brother Lou Wanpeng, thinking: Brother, your next opponent is him? What incredible luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Wanpeng, meanwhile, stared with his mouth agape, his jaw trembling uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Yu Shiliu, Ding Yao, and Huang Rou all bit their lips, watching the scene in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s hard to accept something profoundly transcendent the first time you see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people thought: just watch again—maybe if they watched once more, they’d finally understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Xiang Hui crashed heavily to the ground, his blade bent into a grotesque arc, their minds went blank, just as they had the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Jingming and Xiang Hui were not weak. Though inferior to disciples of immortal sects and far behind the direct disciples, they were still among the elite of their clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In everyone’s mind, they wouldn’t make it to the end; securing a spot was already difficult, so losing wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one expected them to lose like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This can’t be the Void-Connecting Realm? How could there be a Void-Connecting Realm like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go back and tell Yan Shuyi—this matter is mine now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Yan Hao loses badly, it could shake a large number of disciples from the Heavenly Sword Peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yao stood atop the high platform, the words from the Sage Banquet echoing in her mind; now, gazing at Ji You’s figure, her eyes grew hazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhuo Wanqiu, who had always believed Ji You’s odds were high and that he’d surely make the top ten, fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, both turned and glanced at their own Inspection Master, noticing he sat upright but his eyes clearly held astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, she had already tested the stranger with her Void-Bound Realm’s pressure—and he had withstood it. At the time, she’d felt utter disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching his two battles, she realized her estimation of him had still been too low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle ended, Ji You left the Cangwu Dao Field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others remained seated where they were, only rising after coming to their senses, their faces filled with shock—leaving those who had left other Dao Fields puzzled, wondering why everyone looked as if they’d lost their souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the same time, Lu Xiong, head of the Lu family, led his disciples across the white jade path back to their residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lu family of Yunzhou had sent disciples to compete at the Qiyun Dao Field, but the results were unsatisfactory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the five disciples they had painstakingly assembled, three had now lost consecutively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lu family was a newly risen century-old clan with shallow roots and mediocre cultivation talent; Lu Xiong had never held high expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet seeing his own disciples lose still filled him with regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this Qingyun world, strength was the foundation of everything—but aside from his two daughters, he truly could not find another worthy son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiong entered the courtyard’s main house and looked up to see his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still wore her outer robe, her shoes caked with mud—clearly just returned from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his wife had little interest in cultivator duels; over these past days, she’d spoken to him about many young talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every evening, she’d mention one, saying he was perfectly suited for one of their two daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words weren’t truly urgent to marry off their daughters—rather, they subtly signaled her disapproval of her daughters’ affection for Ji You. She repeatedly mentioned “country hermits” and “self-taught cultivators,” her tone laced with mockery, her heart secretly hoping he’d change his mind and choose a better match for their daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason, since last night, she had stopped mentioning it entirely—and now seemed dazed, as if lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Junhao and Xiao Hanyan’s duels both ended before noon; upon returning, they found Wang Gaocen already back in the courtyard, staring in confusion at the eastern wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you find Sister Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gaocen snapped out of his thoughts: “Ah, yes—I found her. She returned around the same time as me, but she was distracted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu glanced at him: “Distracted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. When I spoke to her, she didn’t seem to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did she go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gaocen opened his mouth: “I think she came from the Cangwu Dao Field.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Junhao glanced at He Lingxiu and spoke up: “Ji You has been dueling at the Cangwu Dao Field these past two days—could Sister Yu have gone to watch his matches?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just one duel. How could watching it leave her so dazed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu recalled seeing Yu Shiliu last night—she’d already seemed distracted then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be… Ji You had once again been slashed open during his duel, like with Chu He, revealing something alarming that made Sister Yu see…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Gu Ze Tao entered through the door and, seeing them, spoke up: “Have you heard? A man named Lou Wanpeng withdrew from the competition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu didn’t know Lou Wanpeng, but the word “withdrew” made her blink in surprise: “If you’ve made it to the Heavenly Dao Assembly, you should at least try—how could someone still withdraw?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Junhao looked up at Gu Ze Tao, equally incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sage’s Holy Land has always drawn immense interest—even some are willing to suppress their realm for a year just to wait. Now that they’ve reached the Heavenly Dao Assembly, they’d swing at a tree even if there were no fruit—how could anyone quit at this point?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Shi Junhao pressed: “Who is Lou Wanpeng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ze Tao pursed his lips: “A youth from the Lou family of Liangzhou. His group had a bye in the second round—if he hadn’t withdrawn, he’d be Ji You’s next opponent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3172,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","11194bd5e6466b0b4465d80cb295f7dcecb41cffa94f2a24cbaa147473218933","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-236","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-234",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]