Chapter 16

The Elder of Rewards and Punishments chuckled and did not argue with the Chief Elder, as it was inappropriate, especially with Hu Baijie present. He, of course, knew Hu Baijie's importance in the eyes of the Sect Leader.

In the arena, amidst the cheers and applause, Hai Shan felt for the first time that she was insignificant, a feeling reminiscent of the first few decades when she began her cultivation.

Back then, her constitution was weak, and her family had always gathered elixirs and magical herbs to improve it. Her cultivation progress was very slow, and she was not at all noticeable. If her family had not continued to support her, she would not have achieved the brilliance of recent years.

This year, she had a great chance to be the top, as she had broken through to the Earth Venerable realm. At the age of twenty-three, reaching this realm was a record in the history of the Lake and Sea Sect.

She believed that even if Hu Baijie had higher talent than her, being seven years younger, she would not have a higher realm than her.

After this year, she knew she had no hope of surpassing Hu Baijie.

"Wow, how impressive. Should we three go up and see his skills?" Hai Shan looked at Hai Yuntian and then at Hu Baijie, worried that they still did not want to team up. In the current situation, even if all three of them went up, it would not be considered shameful. She believed she could at least persuade Hai Yuntian to team up, as he was the one who needed this year's top position the most.

To her surprise, Hai Yuntian calmly said, "I forfeit. I will not participate in this year's top ten competition."

Hai Yuntian's wife stared at him in disbelief. "Yuntian, you don't need to be afraid of him! This morning, you broke through to the first level of the Earth Venerable realm. No matter how strong he is, he is at most an Earth Venerable! Don't you want the position of Chief Elder of the Northern Region?"

Hai Yuntian smiled faintly and shrugged. "I do, but I know I can't win him. Even if he is also at the first level of the Earth Venerable realm, I can't win. The cultivation techniques I practice are ineffective against him."

"Then team up!" Hai Yuntian's wife and Hai Shan almost said this in unison. After speaking, they looked at each other and smiled.

"Last night, if it weren't for his reminder that I might not break through to the Earth Venerable realm in time, I would owe him a favor. Asking me to team up against him... I can't do it. You can call me stubborn, cowardly, or not proactive enough, but I have decided to forfeit."

Hai Yuntian finished speaking and walked to the back to sit down. His wife, unwilling to let go, followed and urgently persuaded him. "Yuntian, don't be like this. At this critical moment, you can't be too merciful! He is already too outstanding. Even if you team up and defeat him, the Sect Leader will still treat him like a treasure. But if you miss this opportunity, it will be extremely difficult to advance from Deputy Chief Elder to Chief Elder in the future. You've been in the sect for so many years; you should know this! How can you not fight and forfeit at this time?"

Hai Yuntian gazed into his wife's eyes and said very seriously, "Please believe my decision."

On the stage, the elder responsible for judging, after the cheers and applause gradually subsided, announced loudly, "Hai Yuntian forfeits! He withdraws from this year's top ten competition!"

Many disciples of the Lake and Sea Sect who were waiting for the final excitement were greatly disappointed. Some thought Hai Yuntian knew he couldn't win, while others who knew Hai Yuntian and had seen Hengyi last night felt he was too concerned with face.

Some people muttered worriedly, "Sister Shan said she would pay if Hai Yuntian wasn't third. I wonder if it counts."

"It should count, right? Sister Shan's family is so wealthy. I bet a hundred taels of silver because I trusted her!"

...

Hai Shan never dreamed that Hai Yuntian would suddenly lose his mind. She glared at him angrily, no longer expecting anything from him, and turned to Hu Baijie, saying, "Let's team up!"

"You go first," Hu Baijie smiled and refused. Hai Shan sneered, "Do you think I'm stupid? Go first and be cannon fodder? If you want to, we go together, or you go first!"

"If you win him, I will forfeit," Hu Baijie's promise made Hai Shan's eyes light up. "Really?"

"Although we are not very familiar, you should believe that I, Hu Baijie, don't care about being the top in the cultivation competition."

Hai Shan hesitated for a moment and then smiled. "Alright! If you keep your word, we'll be good sisters! Otherwise, I, Hai Shan, will never let you off!"

With these harsh words, Hai Shan flew up to the stage. Her dazzling golden robe fluttered in the wind, her left hand held an Eight Trigram Mirror, her right hand a Flying Immortal Sword, her finger wore a spell-absorbing ring that glowed with a faint blue light, her ears were adorned with a pair of True Qi Condensing Earrings, and her feet were clad in Wind-Stepping Boots. The value of her magical tools alone exceeded 50,000 gold. In the Lake and Sea Sect, only her family could afford such expenses, and Hai Yuntian could never compare. This was the main reason for Hai Shan's confidence in defeating Hai Yuntian. Her magical tools surpassed those Hai Yuntian had won in the past top ten competitions, and even if a person carried many magical tools, only six could be effective at the same time, and they could not have duplicate or similar effects.

Many of the magical tools Hai Yuntian had won in the past were duplicates, and only three were effective at the same time. The honor of winning the competition could not be sold for others, so in terms of equal cultivation, he was already at a disadvantage. Last year, Hai Yuntian, who was one level higher, had a hard time winning, and this year, with equal strength, her chances of winning were much greater.

Hengyi bowed to Hai Shan, and she returned the bow. Just as Hengyi was about to attack, Hai Shan suddenly said, "Hey! Can we be fair in the competition? What is your cultivation level? Everyone knows I just entered the first level of the Earth Venerable realm, but you don't let your opponent know anything. As a man, are you ashamed to take such an advantage in a one-on-one fair fight?"

Hengyi was surprised by her words. In the current situation, there was no need for him to hide. If he knew, he would be willing to be honest. "Sister, I have never entered the True Qi Testing Gate, so I cannot answer your question."

Hai Shan looked at Hengyi with half-belief and half-doubt. Seeing his calm expression, steady gaze, and sincere tone, she felt he did not seem to be a deceitful or treacherous person. "Alright, if it's true, I won't blame you. If I find out you lied in the future, I will never let you off!"

"If it's not true, I will accept your punishment."

Hai Shan had nothing else to say and activated her magical tools, waiting for Hengyi to attack!

In the audience, Hai Yuntian's wife anxiously hugged her husband's arm. "Hai Shan won't win, right? She added more magical tools, no wonder she is so confident."

"I have carefully analyzed Hengyi's cultivation techniques. With the four major techniques of the Lake and Sea Sect, she can't win. The Heavenly Wave technique, if he wants to, he can dodge it with his wind-riding speed. The Lake and Sea Vortex, even if he gets close, he has the skill to disappear and evade. The Ice Seal can't decide the outcome if he is passively attacked. The Ice Flower technique has a long cooldown of 120 breaths and can't threaten him. In terms of the general effects of the techniques, the cooldown time, and the speed of the techniques, she is at a disadvantage. Unless her cultivation is two levels higher, the outcome of a one-on-one fight will be decided in an instant. The only person who might win him today is Hu Baijie, who has the cultivation techniques of the Heavenly King Sect and still has a chance to fight."

Just as Hai Yuntian finished speaking, Hengyi moved on the stage!

Hai Shan defended and waited for an opportunity. Hengyi saw that she would not attack first, so he condensed his form and held two red light swords, which he instantly threw.

Hai Shan had anticipated this. She knew the speed of the light swords was too fast and could be controlled by his mind to chase the enemy. Even with her wind-riding speed and her Wind-Stepping Boots, she could not dodge. She immediately activated the Eight Trigram Mirror and the Ice Seal technique to create a golden ice wall to protect herself!

The Infinite Flying Swords shattered the golden light of the Eight Trigram Mirror and then broke through the ice wall.

As the ice wall shattered, Hai Shan quickly activated the Lake and Sea Vortex!

However, before her Lake and Sea Vortex could take effect, Hengyi's Instant Slash skill appeared above her head. Hengyi held a long light sword surrounded by red lightning and fiercely stabbed Hai Shan's back!

The protective True Qi was severely damaged, making Hai Shan's heart race. Before she could react, a burst of white energy shot up from her feet, further damaging her protective True Qi and throwing her uncontrollably into the air!

'Oh no!'

As Hengyi chased her with wind-riding speed, the Ultimate Blade Flower he shot hit her. The Eight Trigram Mirror dimmed, and her golden robe lost its color. Her protective True Qi was damaged again and finally shattered!

Hengyi, who had caught up with her in an instant, delivered a seemingly ordinary punch to her abdomen.

The ordinary punch was enough to trigger the residual light mist left by the Ultimate Blade Flower. In an instant, the light mist exploded, forming a two-zhang-long white light column that completely enveloped Hai Shan!

As the light faded, Hai Shan's eyes were tightly closed, and her body fell...

In the audience, Hai Yuntian's wife was both surprised and convinced. "Yuntian, you were right! He really won Hai Shan in the blink of an eye!"

Hai Yuntian's reaction was calm. He had expected this result. Because of this, he had calculated that even if he teamed up with Hai Shan, their chances of winning would not exceed ten percent. Unless Hu Baijie also joined, but he had already seen that Hu Baijie would not team up. For a ten percent chance, ignoring Hengyi's past help, he thought it was not appropriate.

Before Hai Shan hit the ground, Hengyi caught her and gently placed her on the stage, bowing slightly to show he had no intention of offending her.

"Hengyi—wins!" The elder responsible for judging was thoroughly shocked. Hai Shan, who had just entered the Earth Venerable realm, was defeated in the blink of an eye. He could hardly imagine Hengyi's cultivation level. Hai Shan's cultivation was already beyond his reach, and he was only at the second level of the Mountain Venerable realm, with the Earth realm being a distant dream.

In the audience, there were only cheers and applause, no other sounds. Two female disciples of the Lake and Sea Sect ran over to help Hai Shan off the stage. As she was being carried away, Hai Shan regained consciousness and shouted to Hengyi on the stage, "Hey! Hengyi!"

Hengyi on the stage quickly bowed and said, "Sister."

Hai Shan looked up and shouted, "At midnight tonight, meet at the Rainbow Pavilion! Then we'll go to the True Qi Testing Gate—losing to an opponent of unknown cultivation level, I can't sleep tonight!"

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