Back for Another Clash

Wu Zhengxin could hardly believe his eyes. He had personally planted the Spirit-Locking Curse in Mo Chen's body and arranged beforehand for someone to force him to drink wine made with Spirit-Sealing Herb.

How could he possibly be standing unharmed on the Grand Tournament's arena platform?

Had he found an antidote? Or had some expert behind him lent a hand?

"Why is it you again, brat?"

The examiner looked Mo Chen up and down, displeasure on his face. "I warned you last time, yet now you dare arrive late even for the final three rounds. Do you hold the rules of Emerging Cloud Peak in contempt?"

Mo Chen bowed solemnly. "This junior would never dare show disrespect. I suffered an unexpected mishap on the way and nearly lost my life. The moment I escaped danger, I rushed here with all my strength. I certainly did not arrive late on purpose. Here is my Contest Token. Please examine it."

Mo Chen presented his Contest Token with both hands.

The examiner snorted, swept it with his divine sense to verify its authenticity, then quietly withdrew his sense.

"Hmph. I'm in a tolerable mood today, so I'll let you off this once."

With a sweep of his broad sleeve, the examiner announced loudly, "First match of the Mingyi bracket: number one hundred eighty-one, Mo Chen, against number one hundred fifty-six, Wu Zhengxin!"

The announcement immediately stirred a commotion in the stands, drawing the attention of numerous spectating cultivators.

"He actually came! I thought he'd forfeited outright!"

"Look at that bedraggled state. Seems the Wu Household really did make a move, but this Mo Chen was lucky enough to survive."

"Too bad the platform is a hundred feet up. We can't see clearly with our eyes, only get a rough sense of things with