Fourth-Tier True Flood Dragon Armor Acquired, Enough to Withstand a Nascent Soul! A Third Journey to the Yue Region, and a Sudden Turn in the Situation

The Dharma Arena on Origin Sacred Mountain was utterly silent, as still as death.

The stands, which had been filled with ceaseless whispers moments before, now held not a single voice.

"H-how is this possible?!"

Someone broke the silence first, their voice unsteady.

"Three breaths-less than three breaths!"

"True Person Huanshu, a late Core Formation cultivator, was defeated in less than three breaths?!"

"Hiss! That was too fast!"

"I-I didn't see a thing! That mist was too thick for divine sense to penetrate. What happened?"

"True Person Fang-he-he's even more terrifying than last time."

Discussion surged like a tide, but the words came in broken fragments, filled with shock and horror.

The thirty-odd Core Formation cultivators present wore different expressions, yet without exception, the same words were written across their faces-

Utter disbelief!

In the Nine Seas Merchant Association's section of the stands, President Chen slumped in his chair, his face as white as paper and his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Lingyunzi and True Person Shengxiao exchanged a glance, each seeing profound relief in the other's eyes, so intense it almost spilled over.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness they had not insisted on taking the lead.

Thank goodness they had chosen to bow to the circumstances.

At the center of the raised platform, True Person Feng Yue had been leisurely pouring tea with Rogue Person White Cloud, preparing to watch a fierce battle. He had reckoned it would last at least the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Instead-

An explosive boom rang out in the arena, startling him so badly that several drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand, yet he did not even notice.

True Person Feng Yue's gaze first fell on the figure embedded in the stone wall,