The Dragon Pool water remained bone-chillingly cold. Once the frigid energy entered the body, it would flow through the meridians, causing stagnation in true qi, thus requiring more and more true qi to devour the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Ren Yuanhao had no idea how long he had been in the Dragon Pool, perhaps an hour, perhaps an entire afternoon.
He still remembered what others had said: the nights in this grand competition venue were exceptionally cold. Even cultivators needed vast amounts of true qi to ward off the severe chill.
However, he could never have imagined that outside the cave, the situation was now precarious.
...
The four men in black robes had all thrown back their hoods.
The first man had blond hair and European features, his chiseled face like a sculpture. His body was covered in muscles like tree roots, and his two thick arms exuded an aura of immense, unmatched power.
This man was the Seventh King, named Joseph Green.
The second man was extremely short, his body like a withered branch swaying in the wind. However, his eyes were exceptionally deep, as if a single glance would steal one's soul.
This man was the Sixth King, named Wei Dongfeng.
The third man had not yet made a move. He stood atop a towering structure, gazing into the distance as if admiring the oasis in the desert. His skin was ashen, but not due to any physical discomfort.
This man was the Fifth King, named Green-faced Ghost, the only one who had abandoned his name.
The fourth man was currently locked in a fierce battle with Mo Xinghe. In front of the disciples, they had exchanged at least four to five hundred rounds. Their true qi was extraordinary, not inferior to Mo Xinghe's, and they faintly possessed the strength of the Kai Guan realm. He wielded a long staff, which, though not an ancient artifact, could contend with Mo Xinghe's Azure Dragon Sword – a truly inconceivable feat.
This man was the Fourth King, named Zheng Jun.
Three of the Eight Kings were already fighting against the top elites among the cultivators. However, the number of cultivators above the Foundation Establishment realm was still considerable. Even formidable figures like the Eight Kings of the Grey Wolves found it extremely difficult to eliminate the experts of the Four Great Sects in an instant, or even to regain an advantage.
Of course, this was before the Fifth King made his move.
At this moment, Wei Dongfeng stood facing Yao Yuesheng, Tang Feng, Bai Zhanchen, and Zhou Zixuan. Strictly speaking, the strength of the four was not significantly different, with Yao Yuesheng being slightly stronger. Therefore, their combined efforts managed to keep Wei Dongfeng fully occupied.
"Good heavens, a single King can fight four opponents without being at a disadvantage!"
"Should we go help?"
"Forget it, they haven't even reached the Foundation Establishment realm. Going there would only be a hindrance."
"But this can't go on. That Wei Dongfeng doesn't seem to have used his other abilities yet."
The observers watched closely. Wei Dongfeng, by merely activating an ability called 'Teleportation,' was able to fight evenly with the four. The disciples believed that the Eight Kings could not possibly possess only a single ability.
As they spoke, Wei Dongfeng's eyes suddenly turned blood-red!
Yao Yuesheng called out loudly, "Be careful, it's a pupil technique ability!"
However, before her words could fall, a red glow suddenly enveloped Zhou Zixuan. Zhou Zixuan, as if suddenly possessed, pointed her sword at Bai Zhanchen, whom she longed for.
This turn of events was too sudden. Bai Zhanchen's right shoulder was immediately pierced by Zhou Zixuan's sword, bleeding profusely.
Zhou Zixuan seemed intent on not stopping, pulling her sword as if determined to capture Bai Zhanchen.
Tang Feng exclaimed in shock, "Be careful, his pupil technique can make people lose their minds and attack their own allies!"
"You're not entirely wrong, but can you withstand my King's ability?"
After using his pupil technique ability once, Wei Dongfeng suffered no significant backlash. Immediately, several more red glows surged forward. Tang Feng was already prepared, leaping up and narrowly evading the crimson beams.
However, Wei Dongfeng's 'Teleportation' ability was no joke. He had even anticipated Tang Feng's trajectory. No, he hadn't anticipated it; he had deliberately used the red glow to lure Tang Feng into the very spot he desired!
Before Tang Feng could even feel relief, Wei Dongfeng, having suddenly teleported behind him, struck his nape. Tang Feng felt his senses blur into chaos, like scrambled egg yolk, and then he fainted.
From the activation of his ability to the defeat of the three, it took Wei Dongfeng only a dozen exchanges. Currently, only Yao Yuesheng could still fight normally. Seeing this, Li Chi and Zhang Zhe also drew their swords and advanced.
"Two more dead fish and rotten shrimp?"
Wei Dongfeng had used his pupil technique ability twice in succession. Logically, he should have been suffering from ability backlash by now. Yet, his eyes turned red again, the crimson light surged, and the blood-red lines in his pupils resembled peculiar runes. He was about to engulf the two who were advancing with their swords.
At this very moment, Yao Yuesheng's true qi surged backward, and her sword qi moved westward, vast and mighty, like a rainbow piercing the sun. In an instant, she thrust her sword through Wei Dongfeng's right chest!
Upon seeing this, the people of the Mu Yun Sect's morale surged.
This move was the Mu Yun Sect's sword technique – The Crashing Cloud Sword!
Blood splattered from Wei Dongfeng's chest. He laughed instead of getting angry, "What a fierce swordplay! I never expected you, a woman, to be not only beautiful but also so skilled with the sword. Wei Dongfeng has his sights set on you today!"
As soon as Wei Dongfeng finished speaking, his Teleportation ability activated fully, his figure becoming as elusive as a ghost, making him impossible to pinpoint.
Li Chi, Zhang Zhe, and Yao Yuesheng stood back-to-back, forming a triangular formation, their gazes fixed intently on the flickering phantom.
However, the speed of Wei Dongfeng combined with the power of his Teleportation technique had reached a point where the naked eye could not discern him. His direction could not be determined by observing the flow of true qi.
And just as the three held their breath, Wei Dongfeng's pupil technique, inadvertently, descended from above their heads!
It turned out that Wei Dongfeng's Teleportation ability was merely a distraction; the pupil technique from above was his trump card!
The suddenness of the event meant the three could not fully evade. As the crimson glow enveloped them, their pupils also turned blood-red.
Li Chi and Zhang Zhe began to attack each other, while Yao Yuesheng had her pressure points sealed by Wei Dongfeng.
"Little beauty, these swords and blades are not suitable for you. You are so captivatingly beautiful, you should be a plaything for men!"
Wei Dongfeng caressed Yao Yuesheng's face, immediately enraging the seven disciples of the Mu Yun Sect, who all drew their swords and advanced...
With his single might, Wei Dongfeng was holding off the factions of the Chao Yang Sect and the Mu Yun Sect. Similarly, Green, with his own strength, was containing the Yue Han Sect. Wu Lithy and Huang Yue, along with six others, were locked in a desperate struggle, currently only able to fight him to a stalemate.
At this moment, the pride of the Cang Long Sect – Yuan Che – had already led the Seven Disciples to rush towards the imposing structure, issuing a challenge to the Eighth King, the Fifth King, Green-faced Ghost, who was above.