A terrifying shock wave exploded outward in a ring! Its dreadful force cracked even the azure jade steps below! The dazzling light made the spectators behind them instinctively close their eyes.
"Hngh."
Yun Qing and Li Qingming grunted at the same time, both sent flying backward with blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.
Yun Qing's arm was numb, his blood churned, and the tip of the Bear All Things Spear trembled faintly. Li Qingming's breathing faltered as well. Her Ancient Sword hummed softly, and the Sword Lotus Dharma Aspect behind her flickered.
But the next instant, both forcibly mustered a surge of immortal origin, twisted sharply in midair, and stamped down against the force carrying them backward!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Far from slowing down, they accelerated again! One azure, one dark, they tore through the lingering torrents of energy like two meteors driven to their utmost speed, shooting straight toward the platform within reach!
Thirty feet left! Fifteen! Nine!
They were about to touch the jade platform's boundary simultaneously!
Not far away, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's Eight Trigrams Formation Disc drifted to a halt, switching into "sit back and enjoy the show mode." Fu Sanyuan produced three blood-colored copper coins and idly tossed them in his palm.
He eagerly addressed the disciples behind him, who were likewise craning their necks. "Come on, betting's open! Get divining-who's going to win today's Eastern Region Prodigy Battle? The odds update in real time!"
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion disciples immediately whipped out their divination tools with practiced ease. Spiritual light flickered across the Formation Disc, making it look exactly like a sprawling... fortune-telling charlatan's stall.
On the platform, the Eastern Region Azure Cloud Token blazed with glorious light, as though calling to the ultimate victor.
Deep within Yun Qing's double pupils, an eerie