With more than half of the participants eliminated without anyone noticing, the Purple family's spectator area was a mix of jubilant, dejected, and resilient individuals. Regardless of the outcome, most had gained valuable insights from their bouts. The fights revealed their shortcomings, fostering a desire for improvement and strengthening their resolve.
At this moment, a participant on the stage drew a scoff from Zi Lingling. Her laughter held a hint of mockery, for the person on the stage was Zi Jinling. Zi Lingling had been seated in an inconspicuous spot, so no one had paid attention to the "waste" for so long. Her laughter, however, drew all eyes to her.
"Who is she? She's incredibly beautiful!"
"One smile could captivate a city, another, a nation, and a third, every heart!"
"To have a wife like her in this lifetime, I'd exchange all my cultivation!"
"Too beautiful! Even heavenly fairies can't compare!"
"I've seen countless faces, but none are as captivating as hers!"
The crowd's gazes were immediately ensnared by Zi Lingling's unparalleled beauty. They lavished her with praise, their admiration for beauty undeniable. While their compliments were genuine, they cast a shadow on some faces.
"Waste... Zi Lingling, what are you laughing at!" Zi Jinling's jealousy and anger erupted as she saw Zi Lingling's face. The former Zi Lingling had been sickly pale and emaciated, barely deserving the label of an ugly woman. However, after her detoxification, her complexion improved, and her gaunt frame began to fill out. As her cultivation progressed and impurities were purged from her body, she grew increasingly beautiful. The return of the spring of life to the seven-colored space, coupled with its life-giving essence cleansing her body, had elevated her aura to a new level. She was transforming continuously, not by the day, but by the minute, by the second. Her recent shift in mindset had culminated in the perfect fusion of her appearance and temperament, marking a complete metamorphosis. Her beauty was now akin to a mesmerizing poppy, radiating a fatal allure that drew people in.
"Zi Lingling? The second young lady of the Zi family just called her Zi Lingling? Then she must be that waste..." Someone tried to utter the word "waste" but swallowed it, unable to bring themselves to insult such a beauty. Who could bear to call such a stunning woman a waste?
"Is this truly the third young lady of the Zi family? I never imagined she was so beautiful."
"Indeed! A beauty like this would be a lovely addition to any household, even as a mere adornment."
"You dare to speak such audacious words! Have you forgotten she's betrothed to the Crown Prince? Do you wish to die by coveting the Crown Prince's woman?"
"But I heard the Crown Prince has broken off his engagement with the waste... Third Miss Zi?"
"Impossible! Unless the Crown Prince has lost his sight!"
The Crown Prince's face darkened. He had indeed been blind.
A certain prince's face darkened further. His possession was being coveted!
Zi Jinling's expression was no better. She had deliberately exposed Zi Lingling's identity to shame her with the label of "waste." But the outcome was not as she had planned. How could this be? Zi Jinling failed to realize that while many things could be calculated, the human heart was the most unpredictable. She had overlooked one crucial point: people's leniency towards beauty, especially men's towards a beautiful woman.
"Heh heh..." Hearing Zi Jinling's words, Zi Lingling chuckled again.
"What are you laughing at? Heh heh..." Zi Lingling's laughter was uninhibited. For those captivated by beauty, this was seen not as immodesty, but as an authentic expression of her nature. Zi Jinling's face turned even uglier. She longed to strike Zi Lingling down, but remembering how she had been defeated by so many just three days prior, she suppressed the urge to challenge her.
"Don't be angry! Don't be angry! Just don't be angry..." Zi Jinling tried to comfort herself. However, Zi Lingling's lips parted, and a single sentence escaped: "What am I laughing at? Zi Jinling, I'm laughing at your overestimation of yourself!" This blunt sarcasm infuriated Zi Jinling. Yet, Zi Lingling acted nonchalantly and continued, "Others are competing for advancement, their cultivation is no less than Body Tempering fifth stage, right? You, a mere Body Tempering third stage, why are you standing proudly on the stage defending your position?"
The crowd paused. Her words made sense! Since Zi Yu, a Body Tempering fifth stage cultivator, had been the first to take the stage, it had established an unspoken rule that subsequent contenders would be at least Body Tempering fifth stage. And everyone had been unconsciously adhering to this rule. Now, Zi Jinling, a Body Tempering third stage cultivator, had appeared. At first, no one noticed. But now that Zi Lingling had pointed it out, the seemingly normal situation became rather questionable. This was not just an attack on her person, but a strike at her heart. Zi Lingling's words immediately brought to mind the term "fishy business!" Everyone cast meaningful glances at Zi Jinling on the stage, eager to uncover any impropriety.
"You... I..." Zi Jinling was flustered. She had acted impulsively, wanting to impress. Her beloved was seated beside her. If she didn't appear on stage during the family competition, wouldn't her beloved look down on her? As for defending the stage, she had bribed three Body Tempering third stage clansmen to make it a quick affair. As long as she advanced to the second round, she could retire gracefully. But Zi Lingling had exposed her. Now, she was in a predicament, unsure whether to continue or retreat.
Zi Lingling let out a cold snort and feigned realization, "Did you bribe some clansmen to deliberately lose so you could curry favor with the Crown Prince whom I divorced?" She admitted her deliberate words. And why? Because three days ago, Zi Jinling, Mo Qingcheng, and Ye Xianghan had forced her hand at the entrance of the Water Moon Commercial Bank. Although she hadn't suffered any losses then, she wouldn't pass up an opportunity to annoy Zi Jinling. She hadn't forgotten that the original owner of her body had met her demise at the hands of her second sister.