Unexpected Twists

A scarlet long saber appeared in Zhao Jingan's palm. A bloody saber aura erupted from the ground, cleaving the descending great river into trickling streams that splashed outwards.

"Zhao Jingan using external power, isn't that against the rules?" Hao Pojun revealed himself and shouted at Elder Xin.

Elder Xin shook his head slightly, his expression calm. "Formations are part of strength; it's not against the rules."

A hint of smugness flashed in Zhao Jingan's eyes. He was actually just exploiting a loophole in the martial arts competition rules. By using a formation, he had grafted some external power onto himself. This was one of his trump cards for participating in this martial arts gathering.

Shi Lan felt a slight difficulty. Zhao Jingan's current aura far surpassed that of a typical ninth-level Foundation Realm martial artist, being only half a step away from the Earth Fiend Realm. If she were to face him, she wouldn't have much confidence.

Hao Pojun's expression turned grim, a flicker of anger in his eyes. He looked at Zhao Jingan, who was enveloped in a black shadow, and raised the jade bead in his hand again.

Whoosh... whoosh!

An even more turbulent stream of water surged from the jade bead. Under Hao Pojun's urging, the water transformed into nine overlapping waves. The sound of the churning waves drowned out the rumbling thunder from the sky, like an enraged dragon, lunging towards Zhao Jingan.

Zhao Jingan leaped into the air. Blood-red light flashed in his hand, slicing through the air in a flurry of saber shadows. He broke through the layers of water, saber energy scattering in all directions, slashing directly towards Hao Pojun's waist, as if intending to cut him in half!

Hao Pojun raised his hand and waved, the Dingshui Pearl in his hand colliding