Who Was the Winner?

Since it's a competition, there are naturally rules.

There are twenty people from both sides entering the secret realm this time. After the last person comes out of the secret realm, the side whose cultivators have passed the most challenges wins the competition.

These rules are much simpler than those of the first match.

There is a ranking stone tablet in front of the secret realm. Anyone who has entered the secret realm and been to the trial grounds can find their trace on the stone tablet, thus knowing their current progress.

This stone tablet is bound to the cultivator's soul, so it cannot be tampered with, and no one can use it to cheat.

This is why Wuyue Qing's first thought was to trap Sang Ying and her group, rather than tamper with things elsewhere.

This competition can only be judged by strength; schemes and tricks will be useless.

Perhaps fearing that things might go wrong if they waited too long, Wuyue Qing urged everyone to start the competition as soon as they entered the secret realm.

"Since everyone is here, let's start the competition quickly to avoid wasting everyone's time." Her gaze swept over Liu Duanyue, seemingly trying to provoke her.

Liu Duanyue's expression was very serious, and she kept glancing outside the secret passage. "Starting so soon? Can't we wait a little longer?"

Knowing what he was waiting for, Wuyue Qing smiled slightly, "What's there to wait for? Aren't all our people here? Or is Fellow Daoist Liu still waiting for his reinforcements?"

The sarcasm in those words couldn't be clearer.

Liu Duanyue gritted her teeth and didn't respond, but her expression grew increasingly stiff.

Wuyue Qing was very satisfied with his expression and couldn't help but urge him a few more times.

Finally, as the appointed time was almost up, Liu Duanyue withdrew her gaze in disappointment and then sent the ten cultivators sent by the Yin Mountain Sect into the trial field.

When it was finally time for his "junior brother" to go in, Liu Duanyue pulled him aside and said earnestly, "You must do your best to pass the test. Fellow Daoist Sang down."

His "junior brother" nodded emphatically, and then stepped into the trial field, carrying the expectations of the entire Yin Mountain Sect.

Wuyue Qing watched this scene with a smile. The techniques Sang Ying had taught them had already been revealed to their own people by Wuyue Wensheng. This time, the Yin Mountain Sect was destined to lose.

She was already impatient to see Liu Duanyue break down and be heartbroken.

Because of this excessive joy, when Wuyue Wensheng contacted her and explained Sang Ying's long list of requests, she readily agreed.

"They're just small things. We'll agree to them, lest word get out and people say our Moonless Household lacks backbone." She didn't take it to heart. In Wuyue Qing's opinion, Sang Ying and the others were just making a lot of demands, and they certainly wouldn't ask for anything expensive.

Wuyue Wensheng felt that his third young lady might not have understood him, so he had to say again, "They want a lot of things, and none of them are cheap. The spiritual fruits they're asking for are all..."

"Alright, you can handle these things yourself. If you feel they can't prepare everything, preparing only a portion is fine too. Just don't let outsiders look down on the Moonless Household." After saying this, Wuyue Qing ignored him.

Wuyue Wensheng knew that saying this would offend the Third Miss, but the items on this scroll were really too expensive!

With a bitter expression, he reread the contents of the scroll and finally selected a few items that were not so expensive in comparison.

"Why would we eat ten-thousand-year-old spiritual fruits and drink thousand-year-old immortal dew?" Wuyue Wensheng cursed under his breath, but still obediently went to prepare these good things for them.

It can only be said that the Moonless Household paid a heavy price for this victory!

After Wuyue Wensheng left, the backyard returned to its former tranquility. Only when it was certain that Wuyue Wensheng was nowhere to be seen did "Gu Wangchuan" smile again.

"Fellow Daoist Sang, what do you think of my performance just now?" he asked Sang Ying with a grin.

Sang Ying was very understanding. "That's good. Next time you can be even more emotional, since we've already missed the second match by then."

Listening to her advice, Gu Wangchuan nodded seriously.

After saying that, he sighed again, "I wonder how my senior brothers are doing right now, and how far along the second round of the competition is?"

"Don't worry," Sang Ying reassured him, "Our plan is flawless. Perhaps when Wuyue Wensheng comes again, you'll see a face ashen with rage."

Gu Wangchuan had no doubt about this either.

It was still within the Severed Vitality Mystic Realm, and it was still those two families.

The Yin Mountain Sect disciple who came with Liu Duanyue was anxiously waiting for the results of the competition. He was among the first to emerge from the training ground, and his exhaustion made him almost fall asleep on the spot.

But the outcome was not yet revealed, so of course he refused to leave, stubbornly staying with Liu Duanyue, waiting for the last person on his side to appear.

Heavy footsteps approached, and the people waiting in the passageway quickly looked up, but to their disappointment, they only saw an unfamiliar face.

As soon as the person appeared, he happily approached Wuyue Qing and exclaimed, "Third Miss, I've passed the sixth test!"

At this moment, the people of the Yin Mountain Sect could not see the expression on their young sect leader's face, but they could see Wuyue Qing's joyful face and the excited and jubilant appearance of the Moonless Household.

This is undoubtedly the best result among the two groups. Without the help of Sang Ying and the other two, the Yin Mountain Sect would probably have really lost this battle!

"Senior brother, it's alright. We'll have another round if we lose this one. We'll definitely win next round!" A junior disciple whispered in Liu Duanyue's ear, as if making a vow.

But to their surprise, Liu Duanyue did not show any sign of frustration; instead, her eyes were filled with a smile.

Wuyue Qing, however, didn't see this scene. Instead, she approached with a gloating expression and asked, "Fellow Daoist Liu, have all your disciples come out? We're about to announce the results. I wonder who will be the winner of this competition today?"

Liu Duanyue looked at her, her face displaying a calmness and composure that Wuyue Qing hadn't expected. "You don't know who the winner is, but I know very well. This time, the victor will definitely be my Yin Mountain Sect!"

Upon hearing this, even the disciples of the Yin Mountain Sect felt that their young sect leader was being arrogant.

They could only make it to the fifth level at most; how could they possibly beat someone who made it to the sixth?

Could it be thanks to that last junior brother who hasn't even appeared yet?

The disciples of the Yin Mountain Sect felt sorry for their young sect leader who was trying to remain calm, while also regretting that their own sect had lost a competition that should have been a sure thing.

Wuyue Qing was about to mock Liu Duanyue, the last member of the Yin Mountain Sect also made a move.

Just before he emerged, the nine chimes signifying complete success once again reached everyone's ears.

A note from the author:

That's all for today. I hope the sweltering weather will cool down soon!