The battle between Wan Zhu and Li Linglong soon broke out.
To most people, this was a match with no suspense whatsoever.
How could a prodigy from a non-supreme power like the Myriad Gods Sect possibly contend with the goddess of the Hongmeng Dao Palace, who is showered with affection?
Many people in the dojo were whispering among themselves even before the competition began:
"Is Fairy Linglong already studying her opponent in the finals? After all, Han Xuanji comes from the Sacred Court, and his strength is unfathomable; there's absolutely no indication of his weaknesses."
"Yes, no matter the era, Han Xuanji would be a strong contender for first place. If Fairy Linglong wants to win, she really needs to think carefully about how to deal with him."
Han Xuanji sat on the high platform of the Sacred Court, listening to the discussions around him. His face remained expressionless, but his mind was racing.
He knew Wan Zhu's background better than most people present.
Why would the true spirit of "Candle," the Primordial Eternal Deity, take such a great risk to step onto the stage of the Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet?
A guess formed in his mind—was it to find Li Linglong?
The Eternal Deity are currently at a disadvantage. If Li Linglong can regain the power of her past life and become Eternal Deity, even if she cannot reverse the situation, she can still play a significant role.
After all, a Primordial Eternal Deity is equivalent to a Top-Tier Saint King, and is an existence that no force can underestimate.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he shook his head and dismissed it.
They shouldn't be that bold. The Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet is attended by the powerhouses of the nine supreme forces. Not to mention the Saint King of other forces, the Sacred Court alone has five Saint King in charge, including Top-Tier Saint King like the Immeasurable Saint Emperor.
Even if the candle itself were to appear, it would probably be no match for it.
Although the situation on the Eternal Continent is currently stable, the cultivators are happy to eliminate the Eternal Deity, a ticking time bomb.
However, on the other hand, Li Linglong, the person involved, was far less calm than everyone thought.
A strange sense of panic welled up inside her, an emotion that shouldn't have been there for her.
The Saint King Xiaoyao seemed to sense his disciple's unease, and his brows furrowed slightly.
He couldn't see anything wrong with Wan Zhu either, but it was precisely because he couldn't see anything wrong with him that it was even stranger.
How could a cultivator from a non-powerful faction possibly defeat so many prodigies and reach this point?
The only information Wan Zhu revealed was that he possessed extremely powerful time manipulation abilities, had a strong physical body, and was also proficient in the arts of the soul.
On its own, these aspects don't seem particularly outstanding.
After all, the Cultivation Method of the Myriad Gods Sect are definitely not comparable to those of supreme forces. No matter how high one's talent is, without a platform, it is easy to be buried.
As the two stepped onto the battlefield, Wan Zhu's gaze fell upon Li Linglong, and a faint ripple finally appeared in his eyes, which had always been as calm as an ancient well.
He scrutinized Li Linglong's face, as if searching for the shadow of another person through her.
Li Linglong also felt the other person's gaze, and frowned as she asked:
Have we met before?
Wan Zhu was silent for a moment, then gently shook his head, his voice quietly reaching Li Linglong's ears, audible only to her:
"Never seen it before."
Wan Zhu noticed the doubt and hostility in Li Linglong's eyes.
Wan Zhu also sighed, realizing that his old friend had probably truly been reincarnated; even eternal gods could die completely.
He was initially somewhat skeptical, but now it seems to be true.
In his eyes, Li Linglong was already an independent individual, and even if she inherited the memories of her past life, it did not mean that his old friend had been resurrected.
Having received this answer, Wan Zhu felt that the purpose of his trip had been achieved, although he was somewhat disappointed, he could only accept it.
He has already paid a huge price, and it's impossible to take the other party with him.
The Hongmeng Dao Palace protected him very well and was determined to assimilate him. He could only lament the despicable nature of cultivators.
"Perhaps I should take the other side."
Wan Zhu pondered to himself, feeling that he had been too weak. If he had sided with the other side during the great battle, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
Li Linglong's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to ask further questions when Wan Zhu had already withdrawn his gaze, and his aura returned to silence.
The battle soon broke out.
However, unlike the earth-shattering showdown that everyone had imagined, Wan Zhu's performance was far less dominant than in the previous matches.
His offensive was still fierce, with the power of time and physical strength intertwined, but it was clearly inferior to his performance against Cang.
Li Linglong's Light of Hongmeng easily suppressed his Time Domain, and within three moves, she activated the Battlefield Protection Mechanism.
Wan Zhu showed no struggle, nor any resentment.
The moment he was defeated, he even breathed a slight sigh of relief, gave Li Linglong a deep look, and then left the battlefield without any resistance.
A murmur of discussion arose in the temple. Some found it strange, some found it boring, but most did not delve into it.
After all, Li Linglong is so powerful, it's only natural that she wins.
Wan Zhu's achievement of reaching the semi-finals has exceeded everyone's expectations, and losing to Fairy Linglong is not shameful.
Back by the side of the Saint King Xiaoyao, Li Linglong felt no joy despite her victory.
She sat there quietly, a hint of melancholy on her face.
The Saint King Xiaoyao looked at his disciple's expression with some surprise:
Are you unhappy because you feel your opponent isn't taking the match seriously?
Li Linglong shook her head, then nodded, and whispered:
"That's part of the reason. But I'm more confused than anything else."
The other person seemed to have come specifically for me, but they didn't say anything, as if they just wanted to see me and confirm something.
She paused, her brows furrowing slightly:
"Master, I feel that person's aura is very familiar, but I have never seen him before."
The Saint King Xiaoyao remained silent for a moment, without asking any further questions.
He had already realized that Wan Zhu's identity was suspicious, but since the other party showed no ill intent, he did not intend to investigate further.
Perhaps it was someone sent by the Eternal Deity to gather information, but with him monitoring the entire process, it was impossible for anything to go wrong.
He tapped his palm lightly with his folding fan, steer the conversation back on track:
"Don't overthink it. Next, you should be thinking about your opponent in the finals."
Li Linglong took a deep breath, putting aside the matter of Wan Zhu for the time being, and involuntarily turned her gaze towards the direction of the Sacred Court's high platform.
Han Xuanji was sitting there, calmly talking to Mo Chenxiao beside him.
Their gazes met briefly in the air. Li Linglong nodded slightly, and Han Xuanji returned the nod.
Both of them knew that the final battle was just around the corner.
Without a doubt, this is a battle that has transcended the years.
Both sides have reasons why they cannot afford to lose.