The spectacle Yu Luming and Liu Yiren created terrified everyone.
The Old Heavenly Master, with his astonishing display, shattering the Myriad Laws Altar with a single palm strike, truly instilled awe and deterred any defiance.
It was then that Yan Shouyi truly realized how formidable this old man was.
As the pillar of light dissipated and the dust settled, the figures of the two on the Myriad Laws Altar finally became visible.
Both appeared somewhat disheveled, with blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, their eyes burning as they looked at each other.
Pouring their spiritual energy into the Myriad Laws Altar was already an incredibly arduous task. To have persisted for so long only to have it shattered by the Old Heavenly Master's palm strike likely meant they both suffered some backlash.
Who had won and who had lost?
The Old Heavenly Master stood up, flicked his horsetail whisk lightly, then draped it over his arm. He said calmly:
"As for the winner and loser, you tell me."
With that, the Old Heavenly Master slowly walked back towards the Heavenly Master Hall.
Liu Yiren silently turned around and kowtowed three times to the rear side of the Heavenly Master Hall. She said with immense regret:
"Master, your disciple is incompetent and failed to help you fulfill your wish."
Her words stunned everyone present.
The answer had been revealed.
Liu Yiren had been defeated by Yu Luming, a bitter loss at the Myriad Laws Altar!
The victor was Yu Luming!
Yu Luming slowly got to his feet, his steps slightly unsteady. He looked at the Old Heavenly Master outside the Heavenly Master Hall, his heart filled with emotion.
Just one last step.
After defeating Yan Shouyi tomorrow, I can succeed to the position of Heavenly Master and understand the meaning of my existence...
Seeing the Old Heavenly Master nod slightly at him, a smile touched Yu Luming's lips.
Master has finally acknowledged me, just once.
He then looked at Yan Shouyi.
"Yan Shouyi! I won!"
Yan Shouyi shifted his gaze from Liu Yiren to Yu Luming. He cupped his fist from a distance in congratulation.
These two strongest of the younger generation, despite their rivalry, also held a mutual respect for each other.
Yu Luming called out with a smile:
"Tomorrow's battle, please prepare yourself seriously. I, Yu Luming, will not lose to you!"
Yan Shouyi smiled slightly, "I will give it my all."
"Good! But after the fight, we'll go watch the sunset outside the Heavenly Master Hall!"
Yan Shouyi's mouth twitched, "You asking me to watch the sunset, as a grown man, sounds a bit strange."
"Do you have a better plan?" Yu Luming asked.
"If there's a chance, let's go to Rongcheng. I know many fun things there."
"Alright, I'll go with you!"
After speaking, Yu Luming lost all his strength and plopped onto the ground, leaning against the rubble as he fell asleep.
It was clear that Yu Luming had poured all his strength into winning against Liu Yiren.
Perhaps due to her deep spiritual energy, Liu Yiren's condition was slightly better than Yu Luming's.
It was a pity, though, that this competition wasn't solely about who had more spiritual energy, because at the very last moment the light pillar appeared, everyone had noticed Yu Luming's golden patterns gaining the upper hand.
This round, Yu Luming had indeed won.
"They truly are the chosen ones. This match was fought with such earth-shattering intensity!"
"Did they really open the gate to ascension just now? And why did the Old Heavenly Master intervene? I don't understand! I truly don't understand!"
"If that really was the gate to ascension, does it prove that only the Heavenly Master's heir can open it?"
"Speaking of which, although Yu Luming won, our goddess Liu is also terrifyingly strong!"
"Indeed, from now on, she has a place in the entire Xuanmen."
"It's just that I wonder what goddess Liu's plans are for the future, will she continue to stay on Longhu Mountain?"
"There's still a match tomorrow, Yan Shouyi versus Yu Luming. What if Yan Shouyi wins..."
"So, does Yan Shouyi actually possess the Dragon Tiger Secret Script?"
The spectators buzzed with discussions, their opinions varied, and they couldn't stop talking.
Looking at Liu Yiren kneeling on the stage, Yan Shouyi sighed softly and finally walked onto the Myriad Laws Altar.
To Longhu Mountain, Liu Yiren, who had only arrived a month ago, was perhaps still an outsider. Apart from Zhang Sishui, no one stood by her side.
If Yan Shouyi hadn't appeared at this moment, Liu Yiren would have remained kneeling.
Yan Shouyi approached Liu Yiren, patted her shoulder, and asked:
"Are you participating in the Luotian Grand Ceremony solely to help Elder Zhang Sishui fulfill his wish?"
Liu Yiren sighed, "This was merely a transaction between my master and me. I participate in the Luotian Grand Ceremony, and Master gives me the strength to change my life."
"You seem to already know about your past life?"
"I went to the Guanjing Terrace and saw my past life. I also know about you... and the story of the Princess of Yushu Kingdom."
Yan Shouyi's expression stiffened.
This made things even more awkward.
However, Liu Yiren took it quite well and instead comforted him, "In my past life, I was just a weak woman. I had no choice, so in this life, I hope to have the power to change the future and not repeat the same mistakes as in my previous life. That's why I agreed to Master's conditions and came to Longhu Mountain."
"What are your plans for the future?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Liu Yiren replied, "Master bestowed his entire lifetime of cultivation upon me. I have no way to repay him. From now on, I will quietly guard Longhu Mountain and spend the rest of his remaining days with him. As for what happens after that, I'll make plans then."
Zhang Sishui's voluntary transfer of his cultivation to Liu Yiren had ultimately led to his own limited time left.
According to Yan Shouyi's estimation, Zhang Sishui could live for at most another year, or even less.
No one could judge Zhang Sishui's actions. Just as Zhang Sishui himself had said, everyone lives for a lifetime with a dream.
Zhang Sishui was willing to give everything for that dream, and he had long been prepared to bear the consequences.
"Yiren..."
Yan Shouyi opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Liu Yiren stood up, turned around with a smile, and comforted him, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I still hope you win your match against Yu Luming tomorrow."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Yan Shouyi released his hand, and Liu Yiren, accompanied by disciples of Longhu Mountain, descended the Myriad Laws Altar.
She was going to see Zhang Sishui.
Watching Liu Yiren's retreating figure, Yan Shouyi felt a slight sense of relief. This Liu Yiren in this life was somewhat different from Princess Wenyan in the previous life.
Princess Wenyan had no choice, but Liu Yiren had infinite possibilities.
"Does thinking this way make you feel any better?" Yan Shouyi asked the General in his mind.
The General did not reply, but Yan Shouyi's guilt lessened considerably.
He took a deep breath.
All the matches for today were over. From now on, he only needed to consider two things.
First, the match against Yu Luming tomorrow.
Second, to find Zhang Wuma's flaws.
Just as he was contemplating,
A large face suddenly appeared in his vision, startling him. He instinctively threw a punch.
"Ouch!"
The person clutched his face, howling in pain. Yan Shouyi took half a step back before recognizing him by his attire. This person seemed to be that sycophant from the Maoshan Sect, Han San.