Another figure shrouded entirely in gray mist spoke then:
"As Luo Hong is now, once the restrictions on his Three Corpses inheritance are lifted, even this sect master of the Azure Profound Sect might not be his match."
"Besides, even if Luo Hong loses, we still have a hidden trump card."
"After all, what we care about in this Sword Inquiry is not victory or defeat, but merely the life and inheritance of someone in the Azure Profound Sect."
Hearing this, Jiu Yuanzi's expression steadied somewhat. Without betraying anything, he nodded lightly and said:
"Understood."
He folded his arms across his chest and looked toward Luo Hong.
At that moment, Luo Hong happened to look toward him as well, sending him a voice transmission:
"Cave Master! If you lift my Three Corpses restrictions, I can kill even Sect Master Zhao Qian for you!"
Jiu Yuanzi considered for a moment, then declared expressionlessly:
"Luo Hong, seek a few pointers from Sect Master Zhao!"
As he spoke, a faint glimmer suddenly lit up on a ring on one of his fingers, hidden inside his sleeve.
Luo Hong seemed to sense something. His eyes immediately shone as he said:
"Thank you for granting my wish, Cave Master!"
As he spoke, the aura fluctuations around him rose a level without warning.
But almost all the spectating cultivators had their attention fixed on Zhao Qian, and they failed to notice this entirely.
Only Lü Daoxuan and Zhao Qian, whose attention had remained on Luo Hong, clearly sensed this change.
Lü Daoxuan's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself:
Taiping should be right.
Meanwhile, Zhao Qian, who had still harbored considerable confusion, understood in an instant.
Under the puzzled gazes of the spectating cultivators, he cupped his hands and declared:
"Challenger in this Sword Inquiry: