" Zhou Lie! Well done!"
"You lost with honor! You fought Han Xuanji for so long, you're even stronger than a Heavenly-level seed!"
Shouts echoed from the stands, reaching Zhou Lie's ears. Suddenly, he heard a sentence that made him feel a little dazed.
Stronger than a Heavenly-level seed?
What's the meaning?
How is he stronger than a Heavenly-level seed?
"Alright, you can go now."
He Guanshan's voice came from the high platform, reaching his ears through a secret sound transmission technique. His tone was calm, yet carried a subtle hint of satisfaction:
"Well done this time."
He naturally knew that Han Xuanji had let Hai go, but Zhou Lie's performance was not bad either. He was among the top-tier Earth-level seeds. If he really encountered a weak Heaven-level seed, he could easily exchange a few blows.
Zhou Lie nodded blankly, his steps unsteady, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
As soon as he reached the stands, a group of his familiar brothers from the Tiger and Panther Legion rushed up and surrounded him.
"Well done, Zhou Lie! You've improved quite a bit to be able to fight Han Xuanji for so long."
"Truly befitting the reputation of our Tiger and Panther Legion."
"You have no idea, those Heavenly-level seeds are nothing to him, they can be dealt with in a single punch!"
A cacophony of voices surged forth like a tidal wave, engulfing Zhou Lie.
He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but found himself unable to get a word in edgewise.
Finally, he grabbed someone and asked in a low voice:
"What did you just say? A Heavenly-level seed is nothing to him, just one punch? Which Heavenly-level seed?"
The man's eyes widened, but he quickly realized what was happening:
"You don't know? Well, that's understandable. You contestants can't see the specifics. In the last round, Han Xuanji eliminated a Heaven-level seed in a single encounter. What was that person's name? Zhou Yunhe."
"Ah?"
Zhou Lie's mind went blank.
Zhou Yunhe, of course he knew that name too.
The Heavenly Seed of Azure Moon City possesses extremely high attainments in the Dao of Space and Time, ranking among the top of the younger generation in Nine Mysteries Prefecture.
Such a figure was defeated by Han Xuanji with a single punch?
Zhou Lie fell silent.
He suddenly understood why the people in the stands were cheering for him, and why his brothers regarded him as a hero.
It's not that he's not strong, but that his opponents are too strong.
So strong that even a Heavenly-level seed couldn't withstand a single punch.
His ability to hold out for so long in front of that person naturally earned him respect.
However, this wasn't because he became stronger, but rather because the other party gave him enough face.
Zhou Lie gave a bitter smile, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He recalled how smug he had been in front of Han Xuanji, which made him seem rather ungrateful.
" Zhou Lie? Are you alright?"
Someone patted him on the shoulder.
Zhou Lie snapped out of his daze, shook his head, and forced a smile:
"It's alright. Actually, Han Xuanji really let me win a lot. I learned a lot from fighting him."
Zhou Lie spoke the truth without seeking credit. He knew his own strength. He could easily defeat Han Xuanji, a Heaven-level seed. The fact that he could hold out for so long was purely because Han Xuanji was giving him credit.
The man was also surprised when he heard Zhou Lie's words, and said embarrassedly:
"Actually, we noticed it too, but we were afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it."
Other cultivators from outside Thousand Souls City might not understand, but how could their own brothers not understand?
"You... I'm going to rest now."
Zhou Lie said irritably, then pushed through the crowd.
After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the huge light screen above the platform.
Han Xuanji's name was still on the screen, still lit up.
Zhou Lie took a deep breath, turned around, and continued walking.
The last trace of resentment in my heart vanished completely at that moment.
If you're not as skilled as others, there's nothing more to say.
He didn't feel that Han Xuanji's actions were an insult to him. In fact, when he thought back on it now, Han Xuanji had also used the Dao Principle of Destruction when they fought.
He slowly reflected on it, and came to understand many things, gaining considerable insight.
While saying he was in a hurry to rest, he was actually also processing the insights gained from this battle.
He kept this kindness in his heart and would repay it whenever he met Han Xuanji in the future.
As for the previous grievances, he had already apologized for them.
On the high platform, He Guanshan watched Zhou Lie's departing figure and nodded slightly.
Winning and losing are both normal occurrences.
I'm afraid I can't afford to lose.
On the high platform, Elder Meng and the representatives of the other major powers exchanged glances but did not offer any comments.
They naturally understood why Han Xuanji had held back against Zhou Lie.
Such things are not uncommon at the Principle Conference.
If two players know each other, it's perfectly acceptable for one to save face for the other, as long as the other didn't intentionally lose the match.
Moreover, Han Xuanji's final punch was clean and decisive, without any hesitation, which shows that he has the absolute strength to control the situation.
A capable person is willing to give face to their opponent; this is actually a sign of good character.
Of course, as the host, he couldn't say these things outright, but he was aware of them.
This kind of thing doesn't violate any rules, and it makes sense from a moral standpoint, so naturally no one will hold a grudge.
Wang Chong sat not far away, his gaze shifting from the light screen to Xiao Yan's name, and he nodded slightly.
This kid also made it to the quarterfinals. Although he was seeded as a regional seed by drawing lots, getting this far has already proven his strength.
As for Han Xuanji...
Wang Chong glanced at it and sighed inwardly.
This child's growth rate is even faster than he expected.
When Xiao Yan said he would fight him at the Principle Conference, he thought Xiao Yan was overestimating him.
In retrospect, Xiao Yan underestimated him.
If Xiao Yan had this talent, even the old fogies of the Great Sheng probably wouldn't have any objections.
Hun Qianxue sat in his seat, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
Zhou Lie was eliminated in the round of 16.
But that's not important. What's important is that Han Xuanji is still here, and he's crushed his way in.
As the city lord, he also gained prestige.
Jiang Boyuan sat next to him, his eyes closed, his face expressionless.
He had been playing dead for most of the day, having lost all interest in the Principle Conference from the moment Zhou Yunhe was eliminated.
Upon hearing that Han Xuanji had advanced again, his eyelids twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, though he wasn't finding it so hard to accept.
He figured it out.
It's not that Azure Moon City is incompetent, it's that a monster has appeared in Thousand Souls City.
Hun Qianxue was purely lucky.
A day passes in the blink of an eye, and all the battles come to an end.
Only eight names remained lit up on the screen.
Han Xuanji looked up and saw eight names neatly arranged. His gaze swept over each name, and he silently memorized the information of each person.
Of all the people he truly knew, only Xiao Yan was truly acquainted with him.
The opponent wasn't too unlucky; they drew a seed from a lower-tier region in the quarterfinals and easily advanced based on their strength.
In total, only two of the top eight were rated as Earth-level seeds, while the other six were all Heaven-level seeds appointed by the Great Dao Society.
This also indirectly confirms the weight of the Great Dao Society rating system.
If he and Xiao Yan hadn't kept their achievements hidden so well, the top eight would have been swept by the top-tier seeds.
Han Xuanji didn't think any further. He closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and focused his mind on the flow of the nine perfect Dao Principles within his body.
The opponents ahead will only get stronger, and even if he is absolutely confident, he will never underestimate them.
Three days later, after the break, the quarterfinals officially began.
The moment Han Xuanji stepped into the battle space, a subtle feeling welled up in his heart.
After several cycles, the adaptation to the Heaven-Responding Mirror World became faster and faster. Almost as soon as it gained a foothold, its perception spread in all directions like a tide.
This time, the battlefield was a vast, desolate stone forest.
Countless enormous stone pillars rise from the ground, towering into the clouds, their surfaces covered with cracks from the passage of time.
Grayish-white mist drifted between the stone pillars, shrouding the entire world in a hazy glow.
The concentration of Spiritual Qi is higher than in the previous wasteland and snowfield, but only relatively speaking.
Almost as soon as he regained his footing, he sensed a sharp aura, like a drawn sword, locking onto him from afar.