Within Xie Lianhua's body, her second spiritual root, the Fire Spiritual Root, instantly illuminated.
Wood and Fire Dual Spiritual Roots!
This was her most crucial secret.
A secret even her own sister did not know.
Xie Lianhua had never imagined that this secret, which she had hidden for half her life, would be forced out into the open for everyone to see.
What was even more infuriating was that she had no choice but to do so!
It was because her wood spiritual power was temporarily unusable, and her life was under threat.
If she didn't use her fire spiritual power, the "Wood Spirit Explosion" would directly tear her to shreds.
The Fire Spiritual Root unleashed its might.
On the Hua Ling Sword, fire spiritual energy surged, emitting a dazzling red glow.
Fu Liuyun, Li Luo, and Xiong Tai all showed a flicker of shock in their eyes, and Fan Tong and Tang Yan were no better.
The Four Great Powers had always been renowned.
They had originally thought that the strength of the sect leaders was roughly equal.
However, the moment Xie Lianhua's strength was exposed, they realized they had miscalculated.
Even for Fu Liuyun, who was at the peak of the Hua Yuan Realm, the outcome against Xie Lianhua would be a fifty-fifty chance.
As for the others observing, they had no mind to care about anything else.
Their worldviews had been completely shattered.
Why?
Because of Zi Linling!
A novice who had been cultivating for less than a month had forced Xie Lianhua, who was in the late Hua Yuan Realm, to use her trump card. What a preposterous notion!
And such a preposterous notion was unfolding before their very eyes. It was a testament to their composure that they hadn't cursed out loud.
Zi Wenchang's face was not just dark; it was exceedingly dark.
Because with Zi Linling's current strength, she could completely overwhelm him!
Fortunately, the Family Head Token was missing. Otherwise, when he succeeded as Family Head, if Zi Linling were to challenge him for the position with the Family Head Token, all his efforts would have been in vain.
Zi Wenchang had never felt so fortunate that the Family Head Token was missing!
The other seven Family Heads had varied expressions, but each was an extraordinary sight to behold.
Especially Hua Wuhen and Luo Chuan, who felt a sense of impending crisis.
Situ, clad in red, on the rooftop, was so shocked he forgot to drink his wine.
He remembered when Xie Lianhua ascended the stage with murderous intent, he had been worried for Zi Linling.
He had even been prepared to intervene and save her if she were in danger.
But now?
He looked at Ye Lingyuan, whose expression was calm and unruffled, and said, "You knew all along, didn't you?"
Ye Lingyuan calmly nodded and replied, "Even a Saint King Realm might not be Lin'er's match."
Situ Yunfeng then recalled that Ye Lingyuan had been smiling all along, without a trace of worry.
He patted his forehead and said with a wry smile, "It seems I was overly concerned. With your nature, how could you stand by and watch her fall into danger without acting?"
Ye Lingyuan said earnestly, "You are her friend!"
The implication was that as her friend, it was natural for him to be concerned.
Situ was taken aback, and then a charming smile appeared in his enchanting peach blossom eyes.
He raised his wine gourd, clinked it against Ye Lingyuan's wine jar, and drank with a smile.
Friends, no need for many words!
Ye Lingyuan smiled faintly and took a long swig from his wine jar.
On the arena stage, the "Wood Spirit Explosion" had already enveloped Xie Lianhua.
The immense power tore at her body, threatening to rip apart her very soul.
Xie Lianhua took a deep breath and swiftly brandished her Hua Ling Sword.
Soon, cracks began to appear on the swirling walls of the "Wood Spirit Explosion," as she attempted to cleave it into pieces.
As the cracks widened, the "Wood Spirit Explosion" became unstable.
Zi Linling shook her head and said, "Is it about to explode? Then let it!"
As her words fell, the power of the "Wood Spirit Explosion" began to contract violently.
Contraction meant the compression of power.
When power was compressed to its limit, even greater power would erupt.
Xie Lianhua, within the confines of the "Wood Spirit Explosion," immediately felt an immense danger.
But even if she could escape the range of the "Wood Spirit Explosion" now, it would be too late. Su Dan Novel Network
What's more, her speed was nowhere near enough to escape.
"Damn it!"
Xie Lianhua cursed inwardly and quickly retracted her Hua Ling Sword.
As she spun rapidly, the fire spiritual energy on her Hua Ling Sword also traced a circle, forming a shield of fire spiritual energy.
Before the fire spiritual energy shield had fully closed, a deafening roar echoed in her ears.
Xie Lianhua's ears instantly went deaf, and in that very moment, the fire spiritual energy shield appeared around her.
Zi Linling shook her head again, muttering a word of pity.
Then, with a thought, she exclaimed, "Wildfire Everywhere!"
A wall of fire appeared before her, shielding her from the aftershocks of the explosion.
"Bitch! I will kill you!"
A furious roar erupted from the area where the "Wood Spirit Explosion" had detonated.
Zi Linling sneered, "That's if you have the ability!"
"Scorching Flames!"
"Soul Refining Flames!"
She stacked her Blazing Flame Spirit Skills to the third level in one go.
The horizontal wall of fire instantly curved, forming a fiery circle three meters in circumference.
Above the circle, flames leaped higher than a person, and the temperature was terrifyingly high.
Within the training grounds, the temperature rapidly rose, and the spectators in the viewing area could not bear it, their cries of agony rising one after another.
Although they were all prodigies of their respective factions, their cultivation realms were too far apart. How could they withstand the residual power of a battle between Hua Yuan Realm powerhouses?
Ye Lingyuan frowned.
With a gentle wave of his hand, a barrier rose around the arena, instantly isolating the extremely high temperature.
Within the fiery circle, the explosive energy finally dissipated.
Xie Lianhua appeared before the crowd in a disheveled state.
Her clothes were tattered, ripped in places, leaving her barely covered.
If not for the soot and ash covering her, she would have been completely exposed.
Of course, it was thanks to that fire spiritual energy shield, otherwise, she would have been gravely injured, if not killed.
Even so, she had sustained considerable internal injuries.
"Zi..."
"Pfft!"
Her face contorted with rage, and just as she was about to curse, she spat out a mouthful of blood.
However, the moment the blood was expelled, it was instantly incinerated by the surrounding flames.
"Zi Linling, this Palace Mistress will not rest until one of us is dead!"
Xie Lianhua's voice was filled with endless resentment.
If hatred could kill, Zi Linling would have died countless times over.
Zi Linling chuckled, "As if we had a good relationship before!"
"You..."
"Pfft!"
Enraged, Xie Lianhua spat out another mouthful of blood, which, as before, left no trace.
"I will kill you!"
She had even abandoned her self-title of "this Palace Mistress," indicating her extreme anger.
With a roar, the fire spiritual energy on her Hua Ling Sword surged once more.
Zi Linling sneered, "Old hag, you failed at Wood Spirit Explosion, and you're even worse at playing with fire! Because... when it comes to fire, I am the ancestor!"