Wen Dao Palace's Internal Battle

These words, though calm, were like a needle, precisely piercing Du Yao's pride.

His face darkened, and the starlight around him suddenly intensified. "All that talk ultimately comes down to strength!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already made his move!

"Zhou Tian Star Illusion!"

Du Yao took a step forward, and his figure blurred instantly. Dozens of "Du Yao" suddenly appeared on the arena, each one shining brightly, with an aura exactly the same as the original.

Dozens of figures raised their hands simultaneously, and countless starlight chains shot towards Feng Qingjue from all directions like venomous snakes, instantly sealing off all her space to dodge. This was several times stronger than when she dealt with the gunmen!

Faced with this dazzling and Killing Situation, Feng Qingjue remained standing still, even slowly closing her eyes.

Only a wisp of pale golden True Phoenix Fire flickered slightly at his fingertips.

Regardless of the myriad illusions and chains, she used her unparalleled spiritual sense to perceive the only true flow and core weakness within the vast stellar power.

Just as all the phantoms merged into one according to Du Yao's true form's will, concentrating the power of the countless star locks into a single point, preparing to unleash a thunderous strike—

Feng Qingjue moved.

The transition between stillness and movement is so fast that it exceeds the limits of vision.

Her figure transformed into a pale golden streak, not by directly confronting the enemy, but by skillfully carving through the gaps in the deadly starlight, like a master butcher dissecting an ox, and piercing straight to the core!

Du Yao only felt a blur before his eyes, and a scorching yet incredibly precise Finger Wind stopped three inches in front of his throat.

The surging star power around him seemed to have been squeezed at its vital point, instantly freezing and dissipating.

The entire room fell silent.

All that could be seen was a flash of golden light, and then the starry sky and chains shattered with a deafening roar.

Feng Qingjue had appeared behind Du Yao at some point, her back to him, the true fire at her fingertips burning quietly.

A strand of hair, burned off, slowly drifted down from Du Yao's forehead.

He stood frozen in place, his Adam's apple bobbing, and a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Just a moment ago, he truly felt the breath of death.

"Now, can you consider my proposal?" Feng Qingjue did not turn around; her clear voice carried on the wind.

Du Yao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and slowly withdrew his stance.

He bowed deeply to Feng Qingjue figure, his voice hoarse, and said, "The ideal of Phoenix Soaring Nine Heavens is indeed magnificent, but my path... lies among the stars."

"We have different paths."

Upon hearing Feng Qingjue nodded slightly, did not insist, and turned to leave.

The referee announced loudly at the opportune moment, "The winner Feng Qingjue!"

The cheers then erupted like a tsunami.

Feng Qingjue remained composed as she gracefully stepped off the stage, while Du Yao stood rooted to the spot, watching her retreating figure for a long time without moving.

The referee's voice echoed throughout the stadium once again:

"Next round, Gu Tianye will face Zhang San!"

The audience, who had just been excited by the battle between Feng Qingjue and Du Yao, immediately turned their attention to the other main arena.

On one side is the domineering and unparalleled Great Sun Burning Heaven Sacred Body, and on the other side is the cunning and infamous Zhang San. The drama of this duel even surpasses that of the former.

Zhang San, still with that obsequious demeanor, cautiously walked onto the stage, forcing a fawning smile at Gu Tianye, who was already standing proudly in the center.

"Eldest Brother Gu! I didn't lose a single match in your contest, and I won every single one with a single strike. Your domineering style is unparalleled! I am truly in awe of you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Gu Tianye's icy voice:

"I watched your match too."

A faint Golden Flames began to swirl around Gu Tianye, and the temperature in the air suddenly rose.

He stared at Zhang San with eyes as sharp as knives, showing no contempt, only pure disgust and vigilance.

"To be honest, I don't dislike your underhanded methods." Gu Tianye's words surprised everyone. "The cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world. I understand that those without strength resort to tricks to survive."

His tone suddenly turned cold, filled with undisguised disgust. "But, I'm sorry. Indeed, I find your sneaky, treacherous, and cunning behavior extremely displeasing."

A heavy, oppressive aura of the Sacred Body enveloped the entire arena, instantly freezing the fawning smile on Zhang San's face.

"Do you think I'd be like that fool Shi Jian, giving you an opening because of my underestimation?" Gu Tianye slowly raised his hand, blazing Golden Flames gathering in his palm, radiating a chilling energy fluctuation.

"Wrong. People like you are the most dangerous."

"It is precisely because people like you exist that I must remember you all the more—"

"Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit!"

"Boom--!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Tianye moved!

Without the slightest probing, his attack was swift and devastating!

He transformed into a streak of golden fire that tore through the sky, moving at incredible speed. The scorching heatwave cracked the arena floor.

That overwhelming power was like a real Great Sun falling, completely burning away all the filth and conspiracy before it!

Faced with this all-out attack that far exceeded his expectations, all pretense on Zhang San's face vanished instantly, leaving only extreme solemnity and a trace of panic.

At this critical moment of life and death, he dared not hold back in the slightest!

"Mysterious Armor Shield!"

"Hundred Illusions Body!"

"Armor Person Technique!"

He roared and his hands moved rapidly.

First, a Mysterious Armor Magic Treasure was placed in front of them.

Then, he unleashed all his Spiritual Power, creating numerous clones in an attempt to confuse Gu Tianye.

Finally, several talismans were thrown out; these were armored Armored Person created by the Mad Daoist through the Soldier Puppet Technique.

The Mysterious Armor Shield swelled in the wind, seven phantoms scattered and fled, Heavy Armor Talisman Person stepped forward—a triple defense was formed in an instant.

All three moves were unleashed simultaneously, solely to block this attack.

However--

Faced with Zhang San's triple defense, Gu Tianye didn't even change his sprint trajectory, simply raising his hand casually.

The Mysterious Armor Shield erected a massive barrier—the shield shattered!

The Heavy Armor Talisman Person had just raised his Giant Sword —and he collapsed!

All his methods seemed so pale and powerless in the face of absolute power and merciless crushing!

At that very instant, Gu Tianye's eyes, burning with Golden Flames, precisely locked onto one of the seven fleeing phantoms.

"Whoosh--!"

Golden flames tore through the sky, and a hand covered in blazing Golden Flames, as if traversing the void, precisely seized the throat of the phantom that was trying to escape!

"Well!"

The phantom rippled violently under the immense force, instantly revealing Zhang San's true face, distorted by suffocation and terror.

Gu Tianye's arm remained motionless as he lifted him into the air like a child, fixing him completely under his burning gaze.

"Did you see clearly?" Gu Tianye pulled Zhang San up in front of him, his gaze piercing, his voice carrying an absolute sense of oppression. "No matter how many illusions you have, you only have one true self. Even when faced with a life-or-death situation, what you're thinking deep down is still this pathetic attempt to escape."

The Golden Flames at his fingertips flickered slightly, scorching Zhang San's Protective Astral Energy and making a sizzling sound.

"This is the decisive difference between you and me."

In the ensuing silence, the woman in blue softly exclaimed, "Amano... he's always so dazzling."

The woman in red smiled slightly, "Such a temperament is worthy of the name 'Sacred Body'."

The woman in white, who had remained silent, watched this scene with satisfaction, thinking to herself, 'It seems my only real opponent is that woman, Feng Qingjue.'

The referee promptly announced, "Winner: Gu Tianye!"

Cheers erupted like a tidal wave. Gu Tianye casually tossed the limp Zhang San to the sidelines and stood proudly on the stage.

He opened his arms wide, calmly accepting the thunderous roars and tsunamis surging from all directions, his Golden Flames reflecting the cheers of the crowd, making him appear like Deity.

In the shadow cast by his imposing figure, Zhang San struggled to sit up and huddled in a corner where no one paid him any attention.

He collapsed into the dust, disheveled and covered in ash, his robes torn and tattered.

However, when he slowly raised his head, his eyes shone with an astonishing light, showing no sign of discouragement, only a calm and resentful intensity like a deep, cold pool.

If even such setbacks could break him, then Yang Junhao would have died long ago on that rainy night.

As several arenas came to a close, the referee's voice rang out in succession:

"Next round, Su Wanqing will face Zhang Ziyan!"

"Li Yuxuan vs. Luo Xingtong!"

"Jiang Yan versus Xiao Yun!"

"Xiao Yun...?"

Upon hearing that familiar name, Qin Wangchuan's gaze immediately turned to the preparation area below.

As expected, it was the group from the Wen Dao Palace.