The crowd was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
The jeers crashed upon Ren Yuanhao like waves.
"Is this bookworm seeking death?"
"I bet he's gone mad from reading. Look at his face, what's the difference from a corpse?"
"No, no, no, he's the seventh, remember the last seventh? He died horribly. This time, it'll probably be even bloodier."
"Just go with the flow. Being a disgrace is better than losing your life. This guy's brain is probably not working right."
Ren Yuanhao deliberately shivered and sneezed repeatedly.
"Excuse me, I didn't realize it would be so cold up here. I need to go down and get another layer of clothing."
Ren Yuanhao made to step off the stage, but the crowd erupted in even louder laughter.
"This fool, doesn't he know the rules? Once you're on the stage, stepping down means you voluntarily forfeit."
"Exactly, exactly. I don't think he's stupid; he just wants to end it all and find an excuse to leave."
"Useless, go down and get dressed. We're embarrassed just looking at you up there!"
Ren Yuanhao looked puzzled and said, "Oh? So, if I go down to get dressed now, it means I forfeit?"
Some women, attracted by his appearance, nodded repeatedly, seeming unwilling to mock such a handsome man.
"Oh, thank you, fairy sisters, for the reminder. I won't go down then."
Ren Yuanhao pulled his clothes tighter, sneezing again, which sent the crowd into peals of laughter.
Seeing his opponent, Yuan Che disdained to even glance at him. However, he was very pleased to see the Chaoyang Sect embarrassed. After all, in the last competition, the Grand Elder was still bedridden from being hit by the opposing Sect Master.
Yuan Che had to settle this score with the Chaoyang Sect!
"Don't worry, you won't be cold for long," Yuan Che said coldly.
Ren Yuanhao simply squatted on the ground, sneezed a few more times, and then looked up at Yuan Che, nodding in agreement. "That's right, I won't be staying in this damned place for too long either, because I'm about to defeat you."
The latter half of Ren Yuanhao's sentence was spoken with absolute certainty. As he stood up from the ground, he was like a drawn sword!
Whether it was Ren Yuanhao's words that caused fear or his sudden change in demeanor, the cultivators watching in their respective areas erupted in an uproar.
"That's not right, his aura seems to have changed!"
"I noticed earlier, he wasn't using his cultivation to resist the cold. It seems his physical body alone can withstand the low temperature from the ten-thousand-year-old ice!"
"Also, did you notice the book he's holding? That book seems to be called the 'Qing Xin Jue'!"
"Qing Xin Jue? That's a secret technique personally guarded by the Saintess of the Chaoyang Sect. Without her approval, no one is qualified to practice it. Besides, wasn't the Saintess of the Chaoyang Sect missing for forty years? Where did this Qing Xin Jue come from? Could it be that their Saintess isn't missing?"
A series of questions thundered through the entire competition arena like a storm. No one expected that this seemingly sickly man could generate more buzz than anyone else, as if he were shrouded in mist, impossible for anyone to see through.
This included the high and mighty Mo Xinghe, the Sect Master Mo!
Even more surprising was that no matter what was said, Tang Feng, Han Ling Shuang, and the others showed no anger or fear on their faces. Instead, they looked calm and composed, their gazes fixed on Ren Yuanhao as if he were their god!
"Alright, kid! You're arrogant, but you'll pay the price soon. Of course, I had already planned to eliminate every single person from your Chaoyang Sect. Now, I'll start with you!"
Yuan Che used his previous tactic, but Ren Yuanhao also disappeared from the ice bed simultaneously!
"Hey, isn't using the same trick again the greatest insult to a cultivator?"
Just as Yuan Che was about to use his true qi to conceal his body, Ren Yuanhao, moving faster than him, was already behind him!
Yuan Che felt a chill down his spine, as if needles were pricking him!
This move was a modification of the 'You Long Shen' (Roaming Dragon Body technique) developed by the Sect Master. Logically, how could Ren Yuanhao, who couldn't even perform the You Long Shen, know this modified technique!
Mo Xinghe could no longer sit idly in his seat, watching the match with composure.
He knew very well that Mo Xinghe was his trump card. If even he failed, this first single combat match would be lost, and they would only have a chance to secure a spot in the second team battle.
This was not what he wanted to see, nor was it part of his plan.
He had no black stone desk in front of him, and his cultivated appearance of an immortal had vanished, replaced by a ferocity akin to that of a god of war.
Undoubtedly, if he could intervene, he would want to kill that strange man immediately. Of course, this was merely wishful thinking, as the Four Great Sects restrained each other. If the Canglong Sect acted independently, they would not be able to contend with the other three sects with their current strength.
Yuan Che, having been outmaneuvered by Ren Yuanhao, was now fully alert, but a significant shadow had already fallen upon his mind.
This shadow naturally stemmed from Ren Yuanhao. After all, he could have easily inflicted serious damage on him by appearing behind him. Yet, he had abandoned this perfect opportunity, as if creating such opportunities was effortless for him!
"It's really cold up here. Hey, you there, Yuan Che, I'll give you a piece of advice. First, walk off the stage obediently. Second, get beaten by me. I'll give you three seconds to consider. After three seconds, no matter what, you will be in that position."
Ren Yuanhao shivered and pointed below the ice bed, seemingly reverting to his sickly state.
"I think you're looking for death!"
When had Yuan Che ever suffered such an insult? He was about to explode, but Ren Yuanhao took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff. Like a hooligan, he smiled and said, "Hey, I advise you to think carefully, lest you be kicked in the groin and roll off the stage. How unsightly would that be?"
Yuan Che's pride seemed to have suffered a fatal blow. Seeing this, Mo Xinghe directly threw something to Yuan Che in the arena. Yuan Che, recognizing the black wrapped object, raised it high above his head.
As the black cloth unfurled, a long sword with intricate patterns appeared!
"Fierce Sword·You Long! Uncle-Master Mo, that's not Yuan Che's weapon, is it?"
Yao Yue Sheng, showing no fear, fixed his gaze directly on Mo Xinghe.