Seeing that the outcome was clear and that Li Qingshan had acted with great restraint, without harming Ji Haiyue's vitals, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden admired his composure.
She stepped forward at the opportune moment, her ethereal beauty and clear voice like a flowing spring, perfectly calming the agitated atmosphere in the room. "You two fellow Daoists possess wondrous and profound abilities, which have broadened our horizons greatly."
Fellow Daoist Li's attainments within the Dao Palace Realm have nearly reached the Dao itself; Qingyao is filled with admiration.
She began by explicitly affirming Li Qingshan's victory, her words sincere and earnest.
His gaze then turned to Ji Haiyue, whose face was pale and whose breathing was slightly disordered. His tone was gentle but firm, "Fellow Haiyue has also demonstrated the profoundness of the Ji Family's Void Ancient Scripture. Her attacks are fierce and her spatial changes are unpredictable."
The path of cultivation is long, and occasional victories and defeats are common. I hope that fellow practitioners can use this opportunity to verify their own abilities and make further progress on the path.
Today we gather to discuss the Dao, and I hope that Fellow Haiyue will not let this distract us from our pursuit of the Dao.
Her words not only highly praised Li Qingshan's incredible "Dao Palm" skill, but also confirmed his victory and power.
This gave Ji Haiyue a dignified way out, characterizing a potential conflict as a beneficial "verification of the path."
This demonstrates his wisdom and magnanimity as the host in mediating disputes and maintaining relationships among all parties.
Upon hearing this, Ji Haiyue's body trembled almost imperceptibly. He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress all the humiliation and resentment.
He bowed deeply to the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion. "Holy Maiden's golden words, I, Ji, will keep in mind."
Today, I, Ji, have indeed failed due to my lack of skill and shallow understanding.
He finally admitted defeat.
Just as he turned to leave, Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone present.
He spoke calmly, yet his voice seemed to resonate with the Great Dao: "For a mere mortal to witness the true face of the Great Dao is a blessing for this Lifetime."
Today's defeat is not your shame.
When you reach the end of your journey and ask the heavens, you will realize that this is the highest glory you can trace back to in the endless years to come.
These words, though simple, carried a transcendent air of looking down upon all living beings; each word was like a knife, piercing straight to the heart.
Everyone present felt an invisible pressure, making it difficult to even breathe.
Ji Haiyue suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, not from her injuries, but from a blow to her Dao heart.
He staggered, not daring to linger any longer. He waved to his disciples and fled in a hurry, almost as if escaping, his back view appearing quite lonely.
After this battle, Li Qingshan's name was no longer merely associated with his astonishing Daoist charm and mysterious background.
It has also been branded with the label of "unfathomable" strength.
After a brief silence, the atmosphere in the arena instantly became enthusiastic.
Jiang Yifei was the first to step forward. As a core member of the Jiang Family, he was broad-minded and had extraordinary insight. At this moment, there was no trace of probing on his face, only pure appreciation and the desire to make friends. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Li is truly a divine person!"
Yifei only realized today what it means to be outmatched and to have a world beyond the world.
Fellow Daoist, your ability to apply the laws to such a degree at the Dao Palace Realm is truly astounding!
My Jiang Family delights in making friends with heroes from all over the world. If you, fellow Daoist, ever have the time to visit Jiang River in the future, please be sure to come and visit my Jiang Family. I, Yifei, will certainly prepare a warm welcome for you, and we will discuss the Dao over wine until we are thoroughly drunk!
His invitation was sincere and fervent, elevating Li Qingshan to a level of equal interaction with the holy sons of Great Saint.
Zhao Fa of the Yaoguang Holy Land also suppressed all his ulterior motives. Although his usual warm smile reappeared on his face, anyone could see the solemnity and apprehension beneath it. He cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Li's supernatural abilities are unparalleled, and I, Zhao, am truly convinced. The Yaoguang Holy Land also welcomes talented people. If you are interested, you are welcome to come and exchange ideas at any time. Our Holy Land will certainly treat you with the courtesy due to a distinguished guest."
Although he spoke politely, he no longer dared to be sarcastic as before, and his attitude was noticeably more humble.
"Fellow Daoist Li, I admire you! My Five Elements Hall has some influence in the Northern Region. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!"
The young master of the Five Elements Hall patted his chest, speaking in a warm tone.
" Feng Xi of the Demon Emperor Hall, it is my great honor to witness your Feng Cai today!"
Even the arrogant Feng Xi took the initiative to step forward and pay his respects, his eyes filled with respect for the strong.
The successors of the Purple Mansion Holy Land and the Dao Yi Holy Land, as well as the young talents of other major religions and kingdoms, no longer held back. They gathered around, expressing their admiration, extending invitations, or simply trying to become acquainted with the group.
Their words were respectful and eager, as if it were an honor to even speak a single word to Li Qingshan.
"See that? This is a true role model for us all! Unrivaled among his peers, defeating even the strongest foes with a single hand!"
"From now on, Li Qingshan will surely have a place among the top young figures in the Eastern Wasteland!"
"More than just one seat! I think it's almost on par with those Saint-level figures!"
"I wonder if he already has a master? If not, I'm afraid Great Saint will be fighting tooth and nail to get him."
The surrounding chatter was filled with exclamations of amazement, envy, and admiration.
The law of the strong ruling the world was on full display at this moment.
With a clean, decisive, and almost overwhelming victory, Li Qingshan won the heartfelt respect of all the young talents present, and officially rose a dazzling new star in the starry sky of the younger generation in the Eastern Wasteland.
Li Qingshan remained calm and composed despite the crowd's enthusiasm.
He responded to each question with ease and composure.
He smiled and accepted Jiang Yifei's invitation, " Qingshan will remember Fellow Daoist Jiang's kindness. If I ever come to the Jiang River in the future, I will definitely pay him a visit."
He remained calm in the face of Zhao Fa's overtures, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhao is too kind. If the opportunity arises, I will certainly visit Yaoguang."
He neither appeared arrogant nor unapproachable, but maintained an enigmatic and detached demeanor, handling things perfectly.
He knew perfectly well that today's events would spread throughout the Northern Region and even the entire Eastern Wasteland at lightning speed. This laid an excellent foundation for his subsequent plans, whether it was seeking opportunities or dealing with various forces.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden stood quietly half a step behind Li Qingshan, maintaining the demeanor of a hostess without overshadowing him.
She watched Li Qingshan navigate the crowd with ease, his confidence and composure stemming from absolute strength, his maturity beyond his years, and the wisdom he displayed in dealing with all sides—all of which made her eyes, hidden beneath the rosy clouds, flicker slightly.
Unlike the young men she usually encountered who were either arrogant because of their family background, proud because of their talent, or deliberately low-key and profound, Li Qingshan possessed a natural leadership quality and mysterious charm.
She thought to herself, "Not only is her foundation and strength terrifying, but her interpersonal skills are also remarkable."
This idea became increasingly clear in her mind.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone and the atmosphere had calmed down, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden gracefully moved to stand beside Li Qingshan and said in a clear, melodious voice, "Fellow Daoist Li, in the front courtyard, there are still nine stones obtained from the edge of the Primordial Ancient Mine. They are of unique nature and contain profound mysteries. Would you mind if I invited you to come and appreciate them with me?"
Her direct mention of the stone's origin added to its mystique and also demonstrated her high regard for Li Qingshan's discerning eye.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingshan's eyes revealed a timely look of interest, and he nodded and smiled, "That is indeed my wish, I dare not ask."
The Primordial Ancient Mine is shrouded in mystery, and the stones surrounding it must possess extraordinary qualities. It is an honor for Li Qingshan to be invited by the Holy Maiden to witness its beauty.
His tone was relaxed, filled with anticipation for unknown opportunities, a stark contrast to his domineering demeanor just moments before, showcasing his composure and ease.
The two walked side by side, under the gazes of onlookers who held expressions of envy, curiosity, awe, or complex emotions, slowly toward the area in the front yard where special stones were displayed.
Black Emperor followed behind, head held high and chest puffed out, strutting with an air of arrogance, as if it were the one who had just stolen the show. Its haughty " Laozi a powerful background and a strong pet" attitude was infuriating yet utterly helpless to watch.
Slightly away from the crowd, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden moved a little closer to Li Qingshan and transmitted her voice in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, her tone carrying a hint of teasing and reminder: "Fellow Daoist, you have certainly shown your brilliance today and become famous in one battle. I'm afraid the crowd here today could not have imagined this."
Fellow Daoist's strength is no less than that of the Holy Land Elders.
It's likely that within a few days, the name " Li Qingshan " will resound throughout the Northern Region. At that time, it will be difficult for you to keep a low profile, fellow Daoist.
Li Qingshan turned his head and could clearly smell the faint, ethereal fragrance wafting from nearby, neither quite orchid nor quite musk. A slight smile played on his lips as he replied telepathically, his voice tinged with amusement. "If it weren't for the Holy Maiden's unparalleled beauty, which stirred up storms from all directions, how could I, Li, have been drawn into this vortex and forced to resort to some means to protect myself?"
"In truth, the saintess is the real culprit."
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden gave a soft hum, and the mist seemed to ripple slightly. Her voice, transmitted through the mist, carried a hint of barely perceptible coquettishness, but without any annoyance. Instead, it made her seem even more intimate. "Well done, Fellow Daoist Li, you're quite adept at turning the tables."
It's clearly your own amazing abilities that you're trying to pin the blame on me.
This brief private exchange brought the two closer together because they had both "experienced" a turmoil.
Li Qingshan chuckled, knowing when to stop, and changed the subject, asking with a slightly serious expression, "The Holy Maiden just mentioned that those stones originated from the edge of the Primordial Ancient Mine, and said that they contained mysterious secrets 'even ominous.' I wonder what is so special about them that makes your Holy Land treat them with such seriousness?"
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden narrowed her eyes slightly, and her tone in the telepathic message became more solemn. "It's difficult to describe in detail. The aura they exude is extremely ancient and peculiar, vaguely matching some ominous signs recorded in my Jade Pool's ancient books."
Even masters of Source Arts find it difficult to fathom its inner workings, knowing only that it may contain extraordinary treasures or be shrouded in immense danger.
Therefore, I have not easily resorted to violence. Fellow Daoist possesses Innate Dao Embryo and profound spiritual perception; perhaps you can glimpse a trace of a mystery that is imperceptible to us.
She frankly expressed some of her concerns and expectations, revealing her great trust in Li Qingshan's abilities.
"Is that so?" Li Qingshan said thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over the stone garden in the front yard that was now in sight. "Then I will observe it more closely when the time comes."
The two spoke in hushed tones, their figures gradually blending into the more tranquil and exquisitely laid-out stone forest scenery in the front yard, where a strange aura seemed to flow, temporarily isolating them from the noise and discussions behind them.
On the lakeside, the crowd gazed in the direction where they had disappeared, their hearts still churning with emotion.