Above the azure sky, flames exploded, instantly illuminating this part of heaven and earth!
The bright flames blazed. Above that towering rift, the clouds on either side gradually reformed. Everyone held their breath, swallowed, and stared at the figure on the stage in a white robe embroidered with crabapple flowers!
CLANG—
The Qingping Sword hummed, emitting a joyful tremble!
Everyone had only one thought in their minds: Had Su Bei gone mad?!
One man, one sword against twelve?
"What makes that Su Bei so bold? Without the Qingping Sword, how is he any different from the other Refining Void Elders?"
"Who gave him that confidence?!"
"Elder Su has been careless after all. Battling one after another would consume a vast amount of Spiritual Energy and physical strength, but it would be a more stable way to secure victory. Once other members of the Sword Sect step down from the platform, they could share the burden evenly."
"..."
Several observing elders and deacons shook their heads and sighed at the sight of Su Bei on the platform.
Ling Ran sat upright at Wuhua Palace's designated area, took a gentle sip of tea, and leisurely said to Elder Tong Xiu of the Dao Sect beside him, "The Sword Sect will be one person short before the finals even officially begin."
"Indeed, congratulations are in order."
"..."
Tong Xiu closed his eyes, saying nothing.
Su Bei appeared indifferent to everything around him, still standing nonchalantly on the high platform, his hands resting on the Qingping Sword as the night wind lifted the hem of his robe.
The threat posed by Sha He was simply too insignificant, and he, likewise, wanted to know where his limit truly was!
Wenren Pingxin, in the stands, suddenly broke out in a fragrant sweat on her forehead. Her complexion darkened, and she scolded aloud, "Su Bei, what kind of madness has possessed you!?"
"Get down here right now!"
She had already advised him many times before the match not to overreach, not to show off!
Yet, he still did this, treating her words as if they were just wind passing by her ears!?
"That's twelve Mid Stage Refining Void cultivators! Even if you were at Peak Refining Void, you should avoid them!!"
This was no longer a simple matter of one plus one equaling two. The combined force of twelve Refining Void cultivators could be fatal even to someone Half-Step into Dao Integration if they weren't careful!
Su Bei, as if he hadn't heard, looked away from Wenren Pingxin and stepped forward. His eyes lightly fixed on the twelve below as he flicked his sword into a flower pattern. "What's wrong," he taunted, "don't you dare?"
Don't they dare?
「The next moment!」
BOOM—
A thunderous sound erupted as a man in black soared into the air, landing heavily on the Ascension Platform. His eyes fixed on Su Bei as he spoke sternly, "Elder Su seems to underestimate us!"
The man in black took a deep breath. In the next instant, his joints cracked like bursting beans. His muscles and bones thundered, and his spine twisted with a sound like war drums!
Spiritual Energy soared to the heavens. In an instant, the night sky was filled with dense Spiritual Energy!
"Dragon Cauldron Sect, Wang Bahu! Your guidance, please!"
His voice resounded through heaven and earth!
The remaining eleven, seeing someone had already taken to the platform, exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain. Then, they all nodded gravely!
"Since Elder Su insists!"
「The next moment!」
WHOOSH—
A horsetail whisk unfurled, seeming to stretch from heaven to earth!
"Star Sea Sect, Guan Yunpu! Your guidance, please!"
WHOOSH—
A streak of light flashed across the sky. A sudden violent wind erupted, howling and roaring in the night sky!
"Cloud Sea Sect, Liuyun Nan! Your guidance, please!!"
WHOOSH—
A coarse voice thundered over the platform, seeming to descend from the sky!
"White Crane Gate, Wang Baique!"
"Tang Tianming!"
"Hu Minghan!"
"..."
Violent winds howled through the air, around this platform, this section of heaven and earth!
The night wind surged, a chill seeping into the bleak, moonlit night!
The cold moonlight spilled down from the sky. It was sliced into fragments by the clusters of grass and flowers, casting dappled shadows on the ground through the gaps!
Every shout, every roar, signified another Refining Void cultivator on the platform!
WHOOSH—
WHOOSH—
Twelve figures, twelve Refining Void cultivators!
The figure in the white robe embroidered with crabapple flowers stood in the center, his eyes lightly closed, hands resting on the Qingping Sword, as the chill wind swirled around him.
Silence!
All the cultivators stared in shock at the scene before them. It was as if the Sky Mirror itself had been stirred, focusing all its lenses on the tenth competition zone, on that platform now holding thirteen Refining Void cultivators!