There was still a little time left before the hour was up.
At this moment, Chen Xiao was already exerting immense pressure on Xu Weizhou.
He gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself and prevent his voice from trembling. "Outsider, what exactly do you want?"
"Heh, I don't want anything."
Chen Xiao sneered, "You all blame me for releasing the Earth Demon, and now, I have eliminated the Earth Demon…"
Everyone fell silent, realizing that this terrifying person was going to settle scores with them.
This made them tremble.
Just as everyone thought Chen Xiao was going to make a move against them, Chen Xiao said indifferently, "My meaning is, can the preliminary selection for the Heavenly Pride Competition continue?"
Only then did everyone realize what he was talking about.
Indeed, the preliminary selection for the Heavenly Pride Competition was interrupted by the appearance of the Earth Demon, but the competition would definitely proceed as scheduled, so the preliminary selection still needed to select fifty Heavenly Prides.
Xu Weizhou also came to his senses and coughed awkwardly, "You are right, the preliminary selection indeed must continue!"
"I now announce that the preliminary selection will continue, entering the free challenge phase! The cultivators who are still in the square are qualified to challenge other cultivators, at their own risk. The last fifty cultivators standing in the arena will be qualified to participate in the main competition of the Heavenly Pride Competition held in Immortal Sect City!"
Xu Weizhou announced loudly. At this time, there were less than a thousand cultivators still standing in the square.
Most of the others had fled far away, intimidated by the power of the recent battle.
And these thousand people were undoubtedly the Heavenly Prides among Heavenly Prides, and the brave among the brave!
But today, among them, fifty people had to be chosen.
No, to be precise, it was forty-nine people, as that outsider had already secured one spot.
Just as everyone was sharpening their swords, preparing to pick an opponent and challenge them,
Chen Xiao suddenly raised his hand and said, "Wait a moment!"
Everyone looked at him, wondering what he was going to do.
It was obvious that although Xu Weizhou was the host of this preliminary selection, the real decision-maker of this preliminary selection was Chen Xiao!
"You still haven't answered the question I asked you."
Chen Xiao stared at Xu Weizhou and suddenly smiled faintly.
Xu Weizhou looked astonished, recalling what Chen Xiao had said.
"Now, do you still think that your Earth Sect people deserve 'more equal' treatment?"
This was what Chen Xiao had said at the time.
Xu Weizhou frowned and chewed on the words before his whole body jolted!
He understood Chen Xiao's intention!
The Earth Sect did not deserve "more equal" treatment.
Then, when Li Shouzheng fell into the vortex, he should not have been alive!
Xu Weizhou completely understood Chen Xiao's intention. He disdained to kill Li Shouzheng, but Li Shouzheng had to die!
Then, it was obvious who should take action.
"What, Elder Xu still doesn't understand my meaning? Do you need me to say it out loud for you to understand?"
Chen Xiao emphasized his tone, continuing to put pressure on Xu Weizhou.
"This humble Taoist understands…"
Xu Weizhou sighed silently, raised his hand, and struck Li Shouzheng with his palm.
Li Shouzheng was still congratulating himself that Chen Xiao hadn't killed him. Terrified, he faced the sudden palm strike and had no time to react.
Pfft—
Li Shouzheng's physical body turned into a mist of blood.
Xu Weizhou was, after all, a former Dao Integration realm expert. Although his Dao intent had dispersed, killing Li Shouzheng was more than enough.
"Senior Brother Saint Son…"
All of this happened in an instant. By the time Li Miaozhen reacted, Li Shouzheng was already scattered.
"Elder Xu!"
Li Miaozhen glared at Xu Weizhou accusingly. Although in her heart, Senior Brother Saint Son was just an idiot, they had grown up together, like siblings.
"Li Shouzheng brought this upon himself. I shouldn't have saved him earlier."
Xu Weizhou explained faintly and then ignored Li Miaozhen. With a wave of his hand, he announced, "Now, the preliminary selection for the Heavenly Pride Competition will continue!"
This time, Chen Xiao did not interfere, and the Heavenly Pride Competition proceeded normally.
The subsequent preliminary selection for the Heavenly Pride Competition finally returned to its normal state.
About half an hour later, the final fifty winners were decided.
And throughout the entire process, not a single person dared to challenge Chen Xiao.
Li Miaozhen glared at him hatefully several times but ultimately chose to be rational.
Chen Xiao walked up to her and provocatively said, "Didn't you say you would challenge me during the free challenge phase? What, are you going back on your word?"
Even so, Li Miaozhen did not lose her composure. She just glared at Chen Xiao fiercely and then walked away silently, choosing someone else to challenge to vent her anger.
When the preliminary selection for the Heavenly Pride Competition ended, the purple light shield that had been enveloping Houtu City shattered with a loud bang.
Streams of light, like meteors from the sky, flew into the city and landed on the square!
"It's the Elders, it's the Ziwei Dao Master, that's great, we're saved, finally saved!"
Although they had expected the Earth Sect to discover the situation immediately and rush to support them, Xu Weizhou was so excited that tears streamed down his face when the city protection array was broken.
The past hour had been the longest hour of his life.
Everyone had expressions of immense excitement because they knew that once the powerful figures of the Earth Sect arrived, they would be truly saved.
"Are they the Elders of the Earth Sect? I heard that the Dao Masters of the Earth Sect are all Dao Integration realm experts!"
"Thirteen Dao Integration realm experts, I've opened my eyes today. Hey? Who is that person, so beautiful!"
"Are you crazy? That's the Ziwei Dao Master of the Earth Sect. If you dare to point your finger at the Ziwei Dao Master, you're courting death!"
The crowd chattered and discussed. A woman of exceptional beauty, however, garnered the most attention.
The woman was clad in a phoenix feather robe. Although dressed as a Taoist nun, she radiated dazzling beauty, making people involuntarily think in a vulgar direction.
No one would have imagined that the esteemed Dao Master of the Earth Sect would be a woman, and such a 'charming' woman at that.
She was surrounded by thirteen elders like stars around the moon. Her gaze was cold and arrogant, but every movement exuded a thousand kinds of charm, making people fantasize and uncontrollably desire to play with her!
Even Chen Xiao's eyes were fixed on her. After a wave of heat, his mouth felt dry.
This person was actually the Dao Master of the Earth Sect?
If he hadn't heard the surrounding discussions, Chen Xiao would have thought she was a fox spirit transformed!