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After a moment of distraction, in the instant before Gu Yuan's explosive blade energy struck, Xuanyuan Tianxia unleashed the last of his true qi, transforming it into a protective barrier to shield himself.
**Boom!!!**
Innumerable blade energies scattered, striking the arena's defensive formation and sending ripples across its surface.
Gu Yuan stood still, gazing at the swirling mist of blade energy before him, his eyes glowing red. He already saw the final outcome.
With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind arose, dissipating the spiritual energy storm generated by the collision of blade and sword energies.
It also revealed the scene within to the entire audience, eliciting gasps of astonishment.
There stood Xuanyuan Tianxia, propping himself up with his eight-sided Han sword. His body, ravaged by the blade energy, was covered in countless blade marks. Even though he had used all his true qi to form a protective barrier at the last moment, it had only managed to offset some of Gu Yuan's Divine Emperor's Unrivaled Blade.
Xuanyuan Tianxia's face was pale, blood trickled from his lips, and his once golden martial robe hung in tatters, leaving him in a state of utter disarray.
"Xuanyuan!?" Feng Wu Shuang cried out with concern from the contestant's seats, rising to her feet. Heartache and tension filled her eyes as she watched the two figures in the arena.
Dong Qing, watching from the side, looked at Feng Wu Shuang with bewilderment, a question mark slowly forming on his face. "Wait, sis, it's only been a few days of competition. I thought you didn't know each other before this? Why the heartbroken expression?"
Feng Wu Shuang also noticed Dong Qing's shocked gaze, her face flushing with embarrassment. She slowly returned to her seat, resuming her usual aloof demeanor, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Dong Qing muttered to himself, surprised by Xuanyuan Tianxia's charisma, which could seemingly captivate a proud talent like Feng Wu Shuang. He truly admired it!
He looked back into the arena, observing Gu Yuan's upright figure with a hint of an inexplicable expression. He murmured, "The path of martial arts... Heh..."
Gu Yuan looked at the injured Xuanyuan Tianxia and slowly said, "You lost!"
Xuanyuan Tianxia remained silent, offering a helpless smile, accepting the reality. Since childhood, he had known his extraordinary talent. This was the first time he had lost to someone his own age. However, he wasn't discouraged; a single defeat was not the end. Recognizing one's shortcomings was the right way forward!
"I might not lose next time!" Xuanyuan Tianxia said with a smile. While he accepted the outcome of this match, he refused to accept the notion that he would always lose!
Gu Yuan's gaze was somewhat indifferent as he watched Xuanyuan Tianxia's retreating back, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Xuanyuan Tianxia, prepare to keep losing. It's not that I'm not on humanity's side, but I seek enlightenment! How could I possibly give up my chance to achieve the Dao to you!
Returning to the arena, Gu Yuan ignored Feng Wu Shuang's hostile gaze and Dong Qing's curious one.
He took out all his healing supplies, closed his eyes, and sat down. He opened his mouth and swallowed a healing pill, beginning to refine its medicinal properties. Through the consumption and redistribution by his 840 million particles, each particle was restored, simultaneously absorbing the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth. This recovery process was highly efficient. In just over half an hour, all damaged particles throughout his body had been fully healed.
Moreover, his strength after recovery surpassed what it was before. Gu Yuan understood that this was the true meaning of combat.
He calmly surveyed the arena, immediately recognizing that Feng Wu Shuang was clearly outmatched by Dong Qing. Countless Divine Phoenix True Fires raged across the arena, but around Dong Qing's body, a faint halo appeared, remarkably similar in color to the merit power Gu Yuan had previously obtained.
The Divine Phoenix True Fires couldn't get close to Dong Qing at all; it felt as if nothing could harm him. Was this the power of the Great Heavenly Venerate of Salvation?
Gu Yuan wondered, contemplating methods to break through this power.
Feng Wu Shuang's face was pale, her teeth clenched. "Damn it, Dong Qing's power is too strange! How am I supposed to fight this? My Divine Phoenix True Fire can't harm him at all!"
A hint of despair flickered in Feng Wu Shuang's heart. She had been channeling her Divine Phoenix True Fire with all her might for half an hour, yet hadn't even grazed Dong Qing, not even the hem of his clothes!
This made her, who had been recognized as an unparalleled genius since childhood, doubt herself. Was she truly a genius?
Dong Qing's sharp eyes caught the hint of confusion in Feng Wu Shuang's gaze. A smile curved his lips. His objective had been achieved; it was time to end the match.
A yellow light flashed across Dong Qing's face, and the yellow spiritual light surrounding his body erupted. A yellow halo swept across, instantly extinguishing all the Divine Phoenix True Fires filling the arena and engulfing the entire stage.
Feng Wu Shuang looked at Dong Qing with alarm. She felt all her true qi being instantly suppressed by this yellow spiritual light, rendering her unable to mobilize it. She couldn't even move her body.
Panic seized Feng Wu Shuang. She desperately tried to use the Divine Phoenix True Fire within her to burn through this restraint, but it seemed to have no effect.
"Stop struggling. Your Divine Phoenix True Fire is strong, but it's useless against me. Moreover, my power will seal your true qi. If your physical body isn't as strong as mine, you'll be sealed too," Dong Qing's languid voice echoed as he walked step by step towards Feng Wu Shuang, his eyes appraising her beautiful, flawless face.
He then looked at the referee, who signaled. Dong Qing approached Feng Wu Shuang, confirming that she was indeed incapacitated.
After confirmation, the referee blew his whistle, announcing Dong Qing's victory.
Dong Qing snapped his fingers lightly. A faint yellow spiritual essence flew out of Feng Wu Shuang's body, coiled around his index finger a few times, and disappeared into his skin.
He then returned to his seat, not glancing at Feng Wu Shuang again. "What's the use of beauty? It doesn't equate to strength. In all the realms, strength is the only capital that determines one's status."
Just like the foremost female immortal in the myriad realms, who was subdued by the overwhelming power of the Martial Ancestor of the myriad realms.
Feng Wu Shuang stared blankly at Dong Qing's retreating back, her pride shattered as if by a heavy hammer. She turned and walked towards the exit. Her once noble figure now appeared somewhat desolate.
It wasn't that she couldn't accept defeat, but she couldn't accept being defeated so effortlessly. She had unleashed her full power and hadn't even touched Dong Qing's clothes.
How could she possibly continue cultivating like this?
Gu Yuan watched Feng Wu Shuang's departing figure, his mouth twitching slightly. He had already realized that Dong Qing could have defeated Feng Wu Shuang in an instant, but he chose not to. Instead, he opted to torment her mentally.
"Too cruel! Isn't this simply destroying one's Dao heart?"
"Is this the external manifestation of the Great Heavenly Venerate of Salvation? Could this be an avatar born from his malevolent thoughts?"
Gu Yuan couldn't help but speculate. From his understanding and the teachings of Gu Shaoshang (which constituted the majority!), the Great Heavenly Venerate of Salvation was an exceptionally compassionate and venerable being. How could he possibly exhibit such behavior?