After a long while, Qiao Qianshan's breathing finally became erratic, and a part of the spiritual energy within him depleted. His gaze was fixed on the man before him, as if realizing something, he ceased his attack!
Below the stage!
"Qiao Qianshan! Don't be a coward! Kick his ass! He's just a Nascent Soul mid-stage, you've fought them before."
Yun Molinglong shouted, her demeanor incredibly arrogant and overbearing, completely unconcerned by the frightened expressions of those around her.
Qiao Qianshan didn't respond, but his heart was heavy! This felt wrong! It was different from the Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivators he had encountered before! With his cultivation, that attack should have injured the opponent!
The middle-aged man opposite him smiled slightly, his tone quite sarcastic.
"Oh, boy, why'd you stop? You look tired! How about I take over?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged man's lips curved into a cold smile, and he vanished from his spot in an instant...
His fist, imbued with immense power, smashed down. Qiao Qianshan had almost no chance to retaliate, and the scene quickly turned one-sided! It became a complete annihilation! m..oΓg
The audience was stunned! Even the sect leaders on the stage were astonished!
At this very moment, Qiao Qianshan suddenly summoned the Red Tiger, and his body leaped rapidly to the side! The man and beast cooperated seamlessly, barely managing to dodge the attack! However, by now, he was covered in bruises and purple contusions, enduring unbearable pain!
"Red Tiger! Let's go!"
With a loud roar, the Red Tiger bellowed towards the sky and swiftly lunged forward. Qiao Qianshan followed close behind. The man opposite him let out a disdainful snort and raised his hand, about to swat them both away. Unexpectedly, the person before him vanished instantly, and scorching flames seared the man's back!
"Ah! Despicable brat!"
With that, the man, filled with rage, kicked the Red Tiger flying and then began to brutally assault Qiao Qianshan! Purely venting his fury!
"Ah!!"
Heart-wrenching screams echoed, and the audience couldn't help but avert their gaze, unable to bear watching! However, the competition rules stipulated that if he didn't surrender or fall off the stage, the match could not be stopped!
In the end, Qiao Qianshan was kicked off the stage like a corpse...
"Thump!"
Yun Molinglong swiftly flew over to catch him. After examining him, she was furious. Her eyes, burning with rage, stared intently at the man, almost lunging at him to fight!
But Qiao Qianshan quickly held her back...
"Don't go... I lost!"
With that, he passed out. When the alchemist stepped forward to examine him, he became enraged on the spot!
"This is too cruel! Almost all his bones are broken! His skin is covered in bruises, and his dantian has a gash! This..."
The alchemist's shocked outburst reached everyone's ears, and they all glared at the middle-aged man with anger! But they were infuriated by his disdainful and arrogant gaze!
His expression... was as if he were looking at ants! It was truly infuriating!
Jin Bao'er frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly, a dangerous aura emanating from her entire being. Clearly, she was angry!
"If you're so angry, why don't you make a move?"
Long Lixing spoke, a hint of confusion in his tone. If it were him, anyone who dared to injure someone he cared about would be slammed to the ground and utterly defeated on the spot! No one would be able to stop him!
However, Jin Bao'er lowered her gaze slightly. Her voice was restrained and icy.
"Cultivators have their own rules! The arena is a battlefield! Proud warriors do not allow others to interfere in their battles!"
This was also what she admired about Qiao Qianshan and Yun Molinglong! They both possessed their own pride and would never hide behind others like cowards!
Hearing this, Long Lixing fell silent. His purple eyes flickered, a warrior's pride?
A few minutes later, the sect leaders on stage also sharply rebuked the middle-aged man, but he completely ignored them, his attitude extremely arrogant!
Jin Bao'er heard the commotion and looked over, only to hear a statement!
"My apologies, everyone. Old Six isn't usually like this! Perhaps he hasn't recovered from the recent battle with the Demon Race..."
The middle-aged man was precisely one of the dozen or so Nascent Soul stage experts who had initially fought with Lord Yama the Demon Lord during the battle with the Demon Race...
However! Jin Bao'er sensed an unusual atmosphere!
As expected, the middle-aged man quickly defeated his opponent in the subsequent matches, advancing to the final competition with a top-ranking position! This, however, incited widespread indignation, and everyone was filled with resentment.
That night, after Jin Bao'er appeared and examined Qiao Qianshan's injuries, she felt waves of anger surge within her! The alchemist had understated the severity!
Qiao Qianshan's bones were almost shattered, especially his back. A clear, bluish-purple footprint was visible, evidently left by the opponent in retaliation for his back being burned. Even his dantian, crucial for a cultivator, had a gash across it. This was a complete act of killing intent.
His methods were utterly brutal! Fortunately, Qiao Qianshan held on until the very end before crying out, perhaps to spare Yun Molinglong from worry.
The life essence from the spirit tree branches gradually flowed into him, mending all of Qiao Qianshan's injuries, including his dantian.
Then, she frowned and looked at Yun Molinglong, her tone quite serious!
"Linglong, if you encounter that person in tomorrow's competition, surrender if you can! Absolutely do not fight him!"
Yun Molinglong was displeased and immediately jumped up, vehemently refusing!
"I won't! That old fogey dared to act like this, tomorrow I'll make him taste my power!"
Jin Bao'er frowned upon hearing this, knowing this would be the outcome. She then pointed at Qiao Qianshan and said coldly!
"Fine! If you want to end up like this, I won't stop you! It's not me who'll be crippled anyway! Nascent Soul stage versus Out-of-Body stage, you're truly bold!"
With that, she turned to leave in anger... A sigh echoed in her mind...
"What? Wasn't it about a warrior's pride?"
The moment the voice finished, Jin Bao'er retorted sternly!
"Damn pride!"
"When you're about to die, who cares about such things!"
She was clearly enraged, her face ashen! Her eyes were filled with icy, bone-chilling coldness. Obviously, she could no longer hold back!
In response, Long Lixing smiled helplessly, his tone becoming a little more coaxing and doting.
"Alright, alright, you're right! But since you didn't act then, wouldn't it be more satisfying to personally cripple him in front of everyone tomorrow?!"
Jin Bao'er calmed down upon hearing this, instantly understanding his meaning. As she lowered her gaze, the coldness at the corners of her lips intensified, becoming quite eerie.
"You're right!"
The next day, it was soon Yun Molinglong's turn to fight the middle-aged man. As soon as she stepped onto the stage, Yun Molinglong attacked with full force. Likely fueled by anger, she coordinated perfectly with the Fire Phoenix, aiming directly for the man's lower back—the area that had been most severely injured yesterday.
The man's eyes were filled with disdain. Perhaps he underestimated the young girl before him, coupled with his victories yesterday... caught off guard! The Fire Phoenix's claws tore into his lower back, and blood instantly splattered on the ground...