"Jiang Li!"
When they saw the face of that figure clearly, they immediately cried out in shock, their voices filled with disbelief.
Xia Zhilan and the others also wore astonished expressions. They had never expected that after Jiang Li used the Blood Dissipation Returning Origin Technique and forcefully raised his strength to the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage, this would be the result.
"Tap."
Amid the stunned expressions of everyone on the mountaintop, a figure landed steadily on the ground. He turned toward the judge, who was staring at him in dumbfounded shock, and said with a faint smile, "You should announce the result now, shouldn't you?"
Hearing his voice, the judge immediately came back to his senses and hurriedly announced, "The Wanjin Merchant Guild wins the third round!"
When the judge's voice rang out across the mountaintop, both sides fell silent for a moment. Immediately afterward, delighted cheers erupted from the Wanjin Merchant Guild's side.
This result had exceeded everyone's expectations!
No one had imagined that even after Jiang Li used the Blood Dissipation Returning Origin Technique to forcibly raise his strength to the Lesser Yuan Dan Stage, he would still be defeated by Lin Yi!
"Xuan Su, your judgment is as seasoned as ever!" After recovering from his shock, Xia Wanjin's face broke into a delighted smile.
At his words, Xuan Su merely smiled faintly without saying anything.
"We lost..."
Compared with the Wanjin Merchant Guild's cheers, the Blood Wolf Gang's side abruptly fell much quieter. Yue Shan and the others all looked extremely grim.
What they had originally thought would be a certain victory had turned out like this!
"Looks like that boy is the Wanjin Merchant Guild's trump card," an old man with a gloomy expression said quietly beside Yue Shan.
"Just what is that boy's background?" Yue Feng asked with a frown, his voice somewhat cold.
"I don't know. He's extremely unfamiliar. Perhaps he isn't from Flame City. After this matter is over, send someone to investigate him. Anyone who dares ruin the Blood Wolf Gang's plans won't get off so easily..."
Hearing Yue Feng and the old man's conversation, Yue Shan narrowed his eyes slightly as he stared at Lin Yi, cold glints surging within them.
"Guild Master Yue Shan, the results of the three rounds have already been decided. Thank you for letting us win." At that moment, Xia Wanjin stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Yue Shan, and said with a faint smile.
"Heh heh, Guild Master Xia really did find himself an excellent helper," Yue Shan said with a cold laugh.
"Likewise. However, our Wanjin Merchant Guild has won two out of three rounds, so this Danxian Pool will belong to our Wanjin Merchant Guild. Guild Master Yue Shan shouldn't have any objections to that, right?"
Xia Wanjin smiled broadly.
Upon hearing this, Yue Shan and the others couldn't help clenching their fists.
Yue Shan and Yue Ling were especially unwilling to accept it. The Danxian Pool was extremely important to people like them who were in the Late Heaven Origin Realm, yet now they had no share in it.
Seeing Yue Shan and the others' reactions, the Wanjin Merchant Guild's members immediately tensed up. Their hands slowly reached toward the weapons at their waists.
"What? Could Guild Master Yue Shan be planning to go back on his word? Many of Flame City's factions know about what happened today. If word got out, I'm afraid it wouldn't be good for the Blood Wolf Gang's reputation," Xia Wanjin said calmly, staring at Yue Shan.
Yue Shan's expression shifted several times before he let out a cold laugh. "Don't worry. My Blood Wolf Gang can afford to lose."
"Father!"
Hearing this, Yue Feng cried out unwillingly.
"Let's go!"
Yue Shan shouted coldly. He immediately waved his hand, ordering two men to lift the unconscious Jiang Li. Then he led the Blood Wolf Gang's people down the mountain.
As the Blood Wolf Gang retreated like a receding tide, the mountaintop suddenly became much more spacious.
"Hehe, thank you for your great assistance in this Immortal Pool Contest, Little Friend Lin Yi." After the Blood Wolf Gang had left, Xia Wanjin walked over with a kindly attitude and a smile.
"It was mutually beneficial," Lin Yi replied with a faint smile.
"Don't worry. Since I promised to let you absorb the energy of the Danxian Pool, I won't go back on my word." Xuan Su moved lightly, smiling charmingly.
Hearing Xuan Su's words, a flicker passed through Xia Wanjin's eyes, but in the end, he said nothing.
With the strength and talent Lin Yi had displayed, he was worth winning over for the Wanjin Merchant Guild.
Xuan Su led the way toward the pool beneath the mountain wall. As they drew near, Lin Yi could also sense an extremely dense and pure Yin Yang Qi drifting out from the water.
"The energy of this Danxian Pool should only be enough for four people to absorb. Besides Zhilan, Lin Yi, and Liu Yi, the final spot will go to Xia Shi." Xia Wanjin gazed at the Danxian Pool, pondered briefly, and then made his decision.
Lin Yi naturally had no objections. As long as he could enter the Danxian Pool, that was enough.
Xia Wanjin first explained the Danxian Pool's situation to Lin Yi and the other three, then said, "Go on. How much you can gain from this Danxian Pool will depend on your own fortune."
Hearing Xia Wanjin's words, the four of them nodded. Then, with four splashes, they leaped into the Danxian Pool.
With the four of them entering, the vortex on the surface of the Danxian Pool expanded further, and the sound of rushing water spread through the air...
Xia Wanjin smiled faintly and sat cross-legged on a nearby rock. The rest of the Wanjin Merchant Guild's people also spread out, keeping watch over their surroundings.
"The Yin Yang Qi here really is dense." As Lin Yi plunged into the Danxian Pool, he immediately sensed the powerful energy filling the water.
Lin Yi swept his gaze around. Xia Zhilan and the other two had already begun cultivating. With a thought, he sent his Spiritual Energy into the Stone Talisman and called out, "Little Mink, come out."
"Boy, what do you want Lord Mink for?" Little Mink's familiar voice soon rang out in Lin Yi's mind.
Lin Yi sent a strand of thought through his Spiritual Energy. "You should have a way to speed up the absorption of the Yin Yang Qi here, right?"
"I can help you, but you have to agree to one condition," Little Mink said with a strange laugh.
"Let's hear it." Lin Yi put on an intentionally puzzled look.
"Deep beneath this pool, I sensed something. Go down and take a look later..." Little Mink said.
"No problem. Tell me your method," Lin Yi replied without hesitation.
"You'd better not deceive Lord Mink. Otherwise, I'll never help you again," Little Mink warned him before transmitting a Spiritual Secret Technique to Lin Yi: Qi Condensing Vortex.
This so-called Qi Condensing Vortex had no offensive power and was purely auxiliary.
By following a specific method, one could condense a Spiritual Energy vortex within the body. This Spiritual Energy vortex could increase the speed of energy absorption.
Lin Yi did not hesitate. He immediately circulated his Spiritual Energy and began using the Qi Condensing Vortex, while at the same time continuing to circulate the Sky Profound Art.
"Whoosh!"
Under the effects of the twofold boost, the pool water around Lin Yi immediately began to roar. Streams of powerful Yin Yang Qi surged out of the pool at a speed visible to the naked eye before continuously burrowing into Lin Yi's body.
The entire pool began to churn at that moment. A water vortex formed around Lin Yi, while he sat cross-legged at its center, ravenously devouring that powerful and pure energy.
"What is with this guy?"
The sudden disturbance also startled Xia Zhilan and the other two awake. When they saw the commotion caused by Lin Yi's cultivation, they couldn't help cursing him. Then they hurriedly circulated their cultivation arts to the limit and began absorbing the Yin Yang Qi with all their strength.
Lin Yi paid them no attention and simply continued cultivating, absorbing the Yin Yang Qi.
Nearly an hour later, Lin Yan felt that the Yuan Power cluster in his dantian could no longer increase any further. Only then did he stop, still feeling unsatisfied.
"Boy, you've absorbed enough. It's time to go down and take a look..." The moment Lin Yi stopped, Little Mink impatiently urged him on.
"Don't worry. Since I promised you, I won't go back on my word."
Lin Yi replied, then moved his body. Wrapped in Yuan Power, he rapidly dove toward the dark depths of the pool like a fish.
Before you continue