The Flowing Cloud Sea Peak seemed equally unprepared for the Ji Family possessing a Seven-Star Celestial Master. The moment Mo Yunyi revealed her true cultivation level, he was struck speechless. It wasn't just him; even He Haoran had no idea that the Ji Family harbored someone like Mo Yunyi.

The last time he visited the Ji Family, Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng were still discussing how to secure a prime cultivation spot left vacant by relocating families. Yet now, Mo Yunyi demonstrated the power of a Seven-Star Celestial Master! Aside from the core members of the Ji Family, the only ones with a genuine grasp of their true strength were Baili Da and Yu Luan...

"Sect Master Flowing Cloud, is there no issue now?" Baili Da asked, his brow furrowed, with a hint of impatience. Flowing Cloud Sea Peak could only nod. "No issue.

The Ji Family is qualified to compete for the three newly excavated cultivation territories." "Very well, let me briefly explain the situation again..." He Haoran, beaming with delight, cheerfully introduced the rules of the Sect Competition, his gaze sweeping frequently towards the Ji Family. Everyone knew the Ji Family's presence at Blood Rain Mountain was entirely due to him; clearly, the Ji Family and the He Family's interests were aligned—the stronger the Ji Family’s displayed strength, the greater the benefit for the He Family. The representatives of the families and sects present to contend for the three cultivation territories listened intently, focusing seriously on He Haoran's speech.

After finishing the recitation of the commonly known rules, He Haoran flashed a grin. "I imagine everyone is more eager to hear about the three cultivation territories themselves..." He paused, seeing the expectant looks on the faces of the crowd, and announced with satisfaction, "The three newly discovered cultivation grounds consist of a valley, a volcanic crater, and a pool." "The valley originally lacked rich Heaven and Earth spiritual energy. However, a major earthquake ten years ago resonated from deep within the valley floor.

After the quake, the valley began to ** with dense Heaven and Earth vitality. After ten years of sustained accumulation, the spiritual energy within the valley has become exceptionally rich, second only to Blood Rain Mountain itself. This location is the finest among the three new territories." "A volcanic eruption spewed magma from the depths through the crater mouth.

Whether it was purging impurities, we cannot say, but after the eruption, the concentrated Fire Origin Energy within the crater solidified instead of dissipating, causing the area to begin nurturing Fire Elemental Stones. Based on our observations, within fifty years, the crater might even produce Fire Origin Crystals!" "The pool is similar to the crater. It formed naturally due to geological shifts.

Three years ago, subterranean water began emerging to form the pool. The water within is saturated with profound Five Elements Water Force. The stones at the bottom, constantly influenced by the pool water over the years, have also begun to generate Elemental Stones imbued with strong Water Origin Force." "Cultivation territories often arise from rare natural phenomena.

The changes in the natural world hold unexpected miracles. We in Blood Rain Mountain have a vast treasure ground nearby; every shift in the earth brings new surprises. The appearance of these three territories this time is a blessing for our Blood Rain Alliance..." He Haoran's voice rose as he detailed the information about the three most coveted cultivation sites.

For those anxious to claim the territories, the contents of his speech greatly energized them, causing fists to clench and fighting spirit to ignite. "Next, I will announce your respective opponents. Blood Moon Sect versus the Luo Family, Chick Family versus..." After presenting the information everyone cared about most, He Haoran allowed a brief period for excited discussion before moving on to the topic of even greater interest: the pairing of opponents.

At this announcement, all chatter ceased. For every major sect and family, no topic held more weight than the list of opponents. The masters within the families named immediately fixed their gazes upon their rivals for the morrow, their expressions growing colder...

Given the large number of participating families and sects, and their varied strengths, families matched against weaker opponents were ecstatic, while those pitted against notoriously powerful factions looked crestfallen, sighing in bitter resignation. "The Ji Family versus Black Rock Cliff!" A chilling glare suddenly shot from the eyes of a person standing behind Flowing Cloud Sea Peak the moment He Haoran uttered those words. Bie Yan, the Master of Black Rock Cliff, gave a low, cold chuckle and nodded across the distance toward Mo Yunyi.

Mo Yunyi's expression remained unchanged, displaying an air of tranquil composure regardless of favor or disgrace. Her eyes narrowed slightly, not sparing Sun Yan another glance. "Dingyan Cliff has always followed the lead of Flowing Cloud Sand.

Bie Yan himself is in the Seven-Star Heaven realm, rumored to be capable of Spirit Roaming Three Stars! Like Flowing Cloud Sand, Bie Yan joined the Blood Rain Alliance later. Before joining, it was said that the Black Rock Cliff faction consisted of notorious bandits who oppressed the region, ruthless individuals, none of them decent folk..." Huang Kun, for some reason, had remained close to Ji Changkong.

As He Haoran finished speaking, he immediately began to elaborate. "Notorious bandits who oppressed the region?" Ji Changkong grinned, glancing at Huang Kun, and asked with a smile, "If we speak of great bandits, can he compare to Tuoba Lie?" Shaking his head with a wry smile, Huang Kun explained, "He certainly cannot compare to Tuoba Lie of the Eastern Great Plateau. However, Sun Yan's group has never played by the rules.

Tuoba Lie is called a great bandit not only because of his astonishing personal strength but also because, despite being a great fiend, he has always acted with integrity and never committed acts that incite widespread public outrage. But this Bie Yan, one cannot be so sure..." Frowning, Ji Changkong looked towards Mo Yunyi beside him, a touch of worry surfacing in his heart. Although he knew Mo Yunyi was in the Seven-Star Heaven realm, he was uncertain of her exact stage within that realm.

What if her cultivation level was lower than Sun Yan's? Battling someone like Sun Yan in such a scenario would mean a heavy loss! As if sensing his concern, Mo Yunyi smiled and shook her head.

"Changkong, don't worry. Though this old woman is aged, I still know my limits..." "Granny Mo, please be cautious. A person like that might resort to any means," Ji Changkong cautioned, his expression immediately turning cold.

"Why would the Blood Rain Alliance accept such a person?" "Originally, the Blood Rain Alliance indeed did not intend to accept someone of his character, but Sect Master Flowing Cloud insisted fiercely..." Huang Kun explained quietly, with pointed insinuation. Without needing further explanation, Ji Changkong understood the underlying politics. He nodded and sneered, "He had better not try any tricks, or I will make him learn the steep price of scheming!" Smiling, his tension easing, he looked at Huang Kun.

"By the way, your Huang Family doesn't seem to be participating?" "Our Huang Family's current cultivation territory is quite good; we don't need to fight tooth and nail over these three new sites..." Huang Kun replied naturally. "I came purely to watch the excitement, hehe, I never expected to encounter such an interesting young man as you." "Interesting?" Ji Changkong smiled faintly. "After this Sect Gathering concludes, you are welcome to visit our Ji Family's new grounds." Ji Changkong extended the invitation casually.

Huang Kun's face lit up, as if he had been waiting for this exact invitation. He quickly nodded, "Definitely, definitely!" Ji Changkong nodded in return and said no more, quietly returning his attention to He Haoran's speech. When He Haoran finished speaking, he offered a few more words of encouragement, then asked everyone to make do for the night by finding a spot outside the valley to rest.

Cultivators accustomed to braving wind and dew were not the type to indulge in luxury, so no one objected, and the gathered groups dispersed individually. That night, the Ji Family members gathered to discuss the matches for the following day. Huang Kun provided Ji Changkong with a detailed account of Black Rock Cliff and Sun Yan.

After receiving some form of assurance from Ji Changkong, he departed contentedly. Later, He Zhizhang quietly approached. He Zhizhang was presumably acting on He Haoran's instructions, intending to brief the Ji Family on Black Rock Cliff's situation.

Upon learning from Ji Yuxing that Huang Kun had already covered the details, He Zhizhang smiled and refrained from redundancy, heading straight back to report to his elder. "According to Huang Kun, Black Rock Cliff is formidable, and Bie Yan is closely allied with Flowing Cloud Sea Peak. This fight will certainly be all-out effort from them.

On our side, Changkong and Changxiao should manage. In the matches for the Three-Talent Heaven and Five-Element Heaven realms, we should secure victory, but for the other few matches..." Ji Tusheng said, his face grim, shaking his head in frustration at this point. The competition consisted of five rounds, covering the five realms from Three-Talent Heaven up to Five-Element Heaven.

For the Ji Family, Ji Changkong, capable of easily defeating Yao Yue at the peak of Five-Element Heaven, should secure a stable victory in that tier, with little suspense. Ji Changxiao was at the peak of the Three-Talent Heaven realm. Recently, with the aid of numerous spiritual treasures, he had vigorously practiced the "Limit Body Tempering Art," leading to rapid progress.

Ji Changxiao possessed rich combat experience and a steadfast will. At the peak of Three-Talent Heaven, his chances of winning were extremely high. Besides Ji Changkong and Ji Changxiao, the other participants were Ji Lanyun, Ji Yuxing, and Mo Yunyi.

Among the Ji Family members in the Four-Image Heaven realm, Ji Lanyun possessed the most solid cultivation base, despite being from a collateral branch of the Ji Family. Ji Lanyun was around forty years old. Perhaps due to her Ji Family lineage, she was corpulent for a woman.

She specialized in fierce offensive combat, communicating with the Sacred Beast White Tiger in the Four-Image Heaven realm. Although she had been in the Four-Image Heaven realm for years without reaching the peak, her Origin Force was profound. However, her practical combat experience was limited.

Whether she could win solely on the strength of her deep Origin Force was uncertain. Ji Yuxing’s situation was even harder to predict. Although he was in the ** Heaven realm, he had yet to temper a divine weapon of his own, putting him at a significant disadvantage in combat.

His potential for defeat carried substantial risk! As for Mo Yunyi, though in the Seven-Star Heaven realm, no one knew how many stars she could Spirit Roam to. Coupled with the fact that she had never publicly fought in years, the family lacked confidence in her actual combat capability.

The outcome of tomorrow’s battle was unknown. "I'm likely to lose my match. Tempering a divine weapon takes time.

I truly wanted to forge my divine weapon before the Sect Gathering, but... but there simply isn't enough time," Ji Tuxing admitted guiltily, his face etched with a bitter smile. He was realistic, not overreaching.

"I... I'm not sure either," Ji Lanyun, this woman, appeared somewhat simple-minded and clearly anxious. "There shouldn't be any major issues.

As long as Changxiao wins, even if I risk my life, I must defeat that Sun Yan!" While others sighed in worry, Mo Yunyi remained composed. "Everyone, don't overthink things. Changkong is certain to win, Changxiao has a high probability of winning, Lanyun still has a chance, and my situation...

should also be fine!" No one knew Mo Yunyi's true realm, but her confident assertion instilled some faith in their hearts. "This is just the first battle. Our Ji Family must crush them in the opening round!

After tomorrow's fight, the Ji Family will instill dread; anyone facing us henceforth must feel their hearts tremble!" Ji Changkong stood solemnly, full of confidence. Although he couldn't discern Mo Yunyi's true realm, his keen sensitivity to Origin Force allowed him to perceive that Mo Yunyi's internal Origin Force was significantly deeper than that of Bie Yan of Black Rock Cliff! Most importantly, when he saw Bie Yan, he could instantly tell he was in the Seven-Star Heaven realm.

However, when Mo Yunyi wasn't actively channeling her Origin Force, even he couldn't ascertain her true level! All signs suggested Mo Yunyi would be no match for Sun Yan. "One can only hope..." Ji Yuxing replied with a bitter smile.

Due to his insufficient personal strength, he lacked strong confidence. "Whoosh... Cough, cough..." A voice drifted from a distance.

The Ji Family members instantly fell silent, turning their heads in confusion toward a girl standing far off, who spoke unwillingly, pouting, and raising her voice: "Ji Changkong, last time in the Hundred Herbs Garden, I didn't realize it was you... I... I apologize..." Ji Changkong blinked in surprise, then broke into a grin, looking at Baili Xiu standing in the distance.

"It's a small matter, a trivial thing. If you hadn't come, I would have forgotten what happened in the Hundred Herbs Garden. How about coming over for a chat?" Baili Xiu hesitated before nodding and slowly approached the Ji Family group.

"I hope I'm not interrupting? The competition is tomorrow; you must be discussing how to deal with the people from Black Rock Cliff, right?" "We've already finished discussing," Ji Changkong replied with a gentle smile. "Miss Xiu, I was too abrupt last time; I accidentally trespassed into your restricted area.

I sincerely apologize; please don't hold it against me." "Forget it, forget it, it's all in the past. Considering you stood up to the Yao Family and that girl Zou Zhilan today, I'll pretend nothing happened..." Baili Xiu waved her hand, pouting slightly. He chuckled inwardly.

She came to apologize, yet now she was adopting this haughty stance. Considering her reluctant demeanor just now, Ji Changkong understood. Deep down, Baili Xiu didn't believe she was wrong at all.

Baili Da must have forced her to apologize, compelling her to make this perfunctory appearance. "You have a feud with the Yao Family and Zou Zhilan?" Ji Changkong mused, then asked with a smile. "I dislike anyone associated with Flowing Cloud Sea Peak.

Hmph, that fellow is too detestable. Now he’s gathering allies everywhere, even putting on airs with my father! He forgets that if we hadn't taken in Flowing Cloud Sand back then, how could they have entered Blood Rain Mountain?

When he wasn't the Sect Master of Flowing Cloud Sand, he fawned over my father, exceedingly respectful. Now... hmph!" Baili Xiu pouted.

"Miss Xiu'er, what did your father ask you to tell us?" Ji Changkong asked slyly. "My father told me to warn you to be careful of the poisons used by the people of Black Rock Cliff. Those fellows used to cause trouble, and that one in the Four-Image Heaven realm, Ba Jun, is exceptionally skilled at using colorless, odorless poisons that can be released into the air during combat, leaving no trace afterward..." "Ah!

How did you know my father sent me?" Baili Xiu continued following his lead, relaying everything. Only after she finished did she realize, immediately glaring suspiciously at Ji Changkong. "You schemer, you're full of bad intentions!

Hmph, who doesn't know you tampered with the spiritual treasures of Yao Hai and Zou Zhilan? You just couldn't get caught... Yao Hai and Zou Zhilan aren't good people, but they aren't fools to that extent.

You, sir, are just as my father said—black-hearted but fair-faced... Ah, no, that wasn't what my father said, I said it myself!" Baili Xiu panicked, growing flustered, her face turning bright red. She ground her teeth, "You, you were trying to trick information out of me!" "I didn't do anything!

You said it all yourself," Ji Changkong spread his hands with a look of feigned innocence. "Don't wrongly accuse me; I truly did nothing." "I'm not talking to you anymore!" Baili Xiu stomped her foot angrily, daring not to say more, and turned to leave. "This girl...

she is rather interesting. Although a bit spoiled and willful, she is straightforward and lacks guile. Rare, truly rare." Mo Yunyi seemed rather fond of such guileless girls, nodding with a smile, and glancing sideways at Ji Changkong.

"The young girl is fine, but her father is a bit more wicked..." "Uncle He is always called the Old Fox. Hehe, looking at his daughter's mouth, I suspect she often undercuts him..." Ji Changkong also shook his head, chuckling. His remark eased the tension among the Ji Family members, finding the situation rather amusing.

With this simple-minded Baili Xiu disrupting the atmosphere, the Ji Family members relaxed, abandoning their somber expressions, and began discussing the matter of Black Rock Cliff using poison. The next day, at the Earth Rift Valley, the Blood Rain Mountain Sect Gathering commenced. Without much tedious preamble, the Sect Gathering officially opened as dawn broke.

By the time the sunlight illuminated the Earth Rift Valley, the first match was already underway. Blood Moon Sect versus the Luo Family. Sometimes battles could drag on for a long time; other times, they concluded swiftly.

The duel between the Blood Moon Sect and the Luo Family did not last long. Within half an hour, the three matches concluded with a complete victory for the Blood Moon Sect, rendering the subsequent battles unnecessary. Flowing Cloud Sea Peak's face was wreathed in smiles as he conversed in low tones with the Sect Master of the Blood Moon Sect, occasionally punctuated by a slightly louder burst of laughter.

In contrast, Baili Da frowned, his expression decidedly less pleasant. The Blood Moon Sect was a faction leaning toward Flowing Cloud Sea Peak, his sharpest instrument. The Luo Family, however, was closely tied to Baili Ke, and their defeat cast a shadow over Baili Ke’s prestige.

In the following five matches, three were won by factions closely allied with Flowing Cloud Sea Peak. Factions with strong ties to the He Family and Star Stone Sect managed to secure only two victories. "Changkong, did you glean anything?" Outside the valley, Mo Yunyi frowned slightly and quietly asked Ji Changkong beside her.

"Granny Mo is asking about the leanings of the judges?" Ji Changkong paused momentarily. "There are dozens of sects and families in Blood Rain Mountain. Only about half lean toward the He Family, Star Stone Sect, and Flowing Cloud Sand.

The other half are neutrals who do not involve themselves in the disputes of the three factions. Tell me, even though the He Family, Star Stone Sect, and Flowing Cloud Sand don't need to fight for the three new cultivation territories, why do they place so much importance on the Sect Gathering?" Mo Yunyi inquired. Ji Changkong smiled.

"Of course, it is to fully display their strength so that the neutral parties can clearly see who the supreme power in Blood Rain Mountain is, allowing them to make their choice!" He saw the intricacies of this matter clearly without needing her reminder. "The Sect Gathering is essentially a covert battle among the He Family, Star Stone Sect, and Flowing Cloud Sand. Through this method, they simultaneously secure benefits for their affiliated factions and show the neutral parties which sects align with them, making them understand the current landscape so they can make their decision." He paused, then continued with a low laugh.

"I suspect that after every Sect Gathering concludes, the three major powers will negotiate with the neutrals, right? I imagine that those who were previously undecided will have made their choice by the time the Gathering ends..." As he spoke, Mo Yunyi and Han Hai both watched him. When he finished, Han Hai smiled and nodded, but then looked at Mo Yunyi and said, "Changkong has been away for less than a year, yet he is more insightful than someone who has traveled for ten years!" "With those two great elephants teaching him, his growth is naturally much faster than others," Mo Yunyi smiled, looking fondly at Ji Changkong.

"Look, He Haoran has glanced over our way several times. It seems he desperately hopes we can retrieve the lost face for him..." "Granny Mo, I grew up drinking Bitter Endurance Wine, and Fire Dragon Brew; the medicinal herbs for both were collected by Uncle He. Otherwise, I might not have survived until now," Ji Changkong explained his reasoning, concluding that He Haoran would not harm them.

"I see, I understand..." Mo Yunyi nodded, saying no more. "Black Rock Cliff versus the Ji Family!" He Haoran shouted loudly, his expectant gaze immediately fixing on the Ji Family section. Ji Changxiao's expression hardened, and he abruptly stood up.

He was a veteran of numerous great battles. For years, he had shouldered the burden of revitalizing the family in place of Ji Yuxing, fighting against Ji Wulingxue every few years—though repeatedly defeated, Ji Changxiao's perseverance was truly rare. This resilience was evident in the great benefits he gained from the "Limit Body Tempering Art." The essence of this art was that the more enduring and harsh one was upon oneself, the greater the rewards gained!

"Brother, it's up to you now," Ji Changkong said with a smile as the other approached him.

"After losing for so many years, I will not lose again," Ji Changxiao stated with grave seriousness, the words sounding like a solemn vow.

Emerging from the Black Rock Cliff side was a youth who was slight in build but possessed intensely sharp eyes. Also at the Three Talents Heaven Realm, this young man, named Zhang Meng, was perhaps marginally taller than Ji Changxiao, but his lean frame suggested he might not excel in a direct physical confrontation. Ji Changxiao and Zhang Meng proceeded together into the Earth Fissure Valley. In the center of those shimmering stones, once He Haoran declared the start, Zhang Meng suddenly darted into the stone field and vanished instantly.

He advanced resolutely toward Zhang Meng's concealed position, showing no fear. His approach was clearly intended to bait Zhang Meng into using the terrain for an initial assault.

"That's the spirit, that confidence! There won't be many surprises in this match, Brother is bound to win!" Ji Changkong grinned widely. He could tell that the youth called Zhang Meng had not yet fully condensed his Divine Soul, nor did he possess strong self-assurance, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen to conceal himself first.

"Indeed, our Ji Family has won this round..." Mo Yunyi also nodded in agreement.

The reality was exactly so. As Ji Changxiao stepped among the chaotic stones, Zhang Meng immediately launched a furious barrage. Great stones flew through the air, hurtling directly toward him. These stones were inherently massive, and furthermore, they were imbued with Zhang Meng's Yuan Power.

Ji Changxiao did not resort to brute force. He weaved swiftly through the trajectory of the incoming stones, easily evading each one that approached. Only for the denser clusters of smaller stones did he bother to strike out and shatter them.

With a flash of emerald light, Ji Changxiao rapidly closed the distance toward Zhang Meng.

When the distance narrowed, Zhang Meng, who had been hiding behind a massive boulder, suddenly shifted his stance and hurled a flurry of fist-sized stones, sending shards flying everywhere.

"Cough..." Amidst the spray of stone fragments, Ji Changxiao coughed once, his expression shifting to one of alarm.

His speed suddenly increased, veins bulging on his forehead. Ji Changxiao seemed transformed, his gaze shooting out like a fierce blade, driving straight toward Zhang Meng. Ignoring the barrage of fist-sized stones striking his body, he slammed into a stone the size of a door panel.

A faint emerald glow suddenly burst from the door-panel-sized stone. The massive rock immediately fragmented into numerous smaller pieces. Amidst the shower of flying stones, Zhang Meng's sharp cry suddenly rang out.

His body swayed, his steps slightly unsteady, yet the grim look remained fixed on Ji Changxiao's face. He unexpectedly appeared behind Zhang Meng, seizing him by the back of the neck and hoisting him into the air. After confirming that everyone had witnessed the action, Ji Changxiao flung Zhang Meng away and swiftly retreated from the Earth Fissure Valley.

"Ji Changxiao wins!" He Haoran called out without hesitation.

Returning to the Ji Family side, Ji Changxiao's steps were slightly weak, and his face held a pallor, but upon reaching his family's area, he had completely regained his composure.

"When the stone fragments flew, a colorless poisonous smoke was mixed in. (For full novel reading, visit Shiliu Literature Network) Zhang Meng secretly deployed the toxic smoke against everyone's notice. That smoke can confuse the body's Yuan Power, giving a sensation of utter weakness. However, this feeling disappears very quickly; I can already feel no trace of abnormality in my body now," Ji Changxiao murmured once he was back with the Ji Family.

"Indeed, this toxic smoke only acted for an instant, vanishing from the body afterward without leaving any trace. Even if we wanted to cause trouble for them later, there is no evidence," After probing lightly on Ji Changxiao's back, Ji Changkong felt nothing unusual. He turned to look at Mo Yunyi, "Grandma Mo, please check the situation."

Mo Yunyi also extended her hand, sending a wisp of Yuan Power circulating over Ji Changxiao. She then nodded with a grave expression: "There truly are no residual traces. That person from Black Rock Cliff is truly malicious!"

"Lanyun, be extremely careful in the next match!" Ji Yuxing instructed.

"Understood, I'll try to stay further away from him," Ji Lanyun nodded, acknowledging the advice.

"Ba Jun versus Ji Lanyun!" He Haoran announced loudly.

A lewd middle-aged man with a long goatee emerged, wearing a smug smile. This middle-aged man, Ba Jun, was precisely the poisoning expert mentioned by Baili Xiu. As soon as he appeared, Ji Lanyun instinctively backed away fearfully, unwilling to approach Ba Jun too closely.

"Aunt Lanyun, I fear... I fear you might lose. Aunt Lanyun has deep Yuan Power and excels in close-combat, frenzied attacks. Abandoning her favored fighting style makes it very difficult to overcome this insidious fellow named Ba Jun," Ji Changkong sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Forget it, if this match is lost, it's lost; it won't affect the overall situation," Mo Yunyi also sensed things were not looking good. Ji Lanyun wasn't the sharpest to begin with, and facing someone as cunning and deceptive as Ba Jun, the chances of victory were slim indeed.

As Ji Lanyun entered the valley, she maintained a considerable distance from Ba Jun. This time, Ba Jun took the offensive, constantly closing the gap toward her. Ji Lanyun tried to retreat, but she couldn't evade him.

The phantom image of the Sacred Beast White Tiger and the phantom image of the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon crossed paths in the air. The White Tiger phantom was overlaid with a faint greenish hue and rapidly weakened. Ji Lanyun's body felt suddenly pliant, and she wanted to retreat further. Unfortunately, before she could escape far enough, she felt a wave of weakness and listlessness wash over her. Under Ba Jun's sustained assault, her advantage in deep Yuan Power was completely nullified. Finally, Ba Jun managed to press his long sword against her throat. "Ba Jun wins!" He Haoran shouted with resignation.

"I lost..." Ji Lanyun walked back dejectedly, sinking onto the ground with a sigh. "It's not your fault; that Ba Jun was too insidious. We all saw you were clearly affected by his poison just now." Mo Yunyi offered comfort, and Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng beside her also murmured words of solace.

Ji Lanyun, being simple and honest, felt somewhat relieved by their words. She quickly turned to Ji Changkong and said, "Xiao Kong, you must be careful. These people are experts with poisons; make sure you don't actually fall for it..."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Perhaps once I go up, neither Grandma Mo nor Second Grandfather will even need to step onto the stage," Ji Changkong replied with a strange, sly smile.

"Even if you win, we still need to win one more match! Why would you say that?" Ji Lanyun seemed confused.

"Ji Changkong versus Dan Bo!" He Haoran's voice rose in excitement, his face breaking into a wide smile. He knew Ji Changkong was guaranteed to win this one.

"Why I say that, you'll understand shortly..." Smiling at Ji Lanyun, he moved toward the Earth Fissure Valley with an unhurried air. On the Black Rock Cliff side, Dan Bo, a cultivator of the Five Elements Heaven Realm, already had half his body buried in the earth, staring coldly at him from within.

"He's finally here! Haha, I've been waiting for this match!"

"Wonderful! Last time he defeated Yao Yue, I didn't even get a good look. Now I can finally see his true strength clearly!"

"Dan Bo? Heh heh, that fellow is definitely going to lose!"

"Not necessarily. Black Rock Cliff has many unusual tricks, and they are masters at employing all sorts of underhanded methods... I myself suffered a silent loss to one of them before..." As soon as Ji Changkong took the stage, immediate murmurs erupted from the onlookers. These spectators were quite excited, chattering and debating animatedly.

It was almost a unanimous belief that Ji Changkong would win; nobody favored Dan Bo.

"You arrogant brat whose stench hasn't even dried yet, do you really think you can win?" Dan Bo, half-buried in the earth, looked up at him with a mocking grin.

"You see? The eyes of the masses are sharp, hehe. You can see that everyone thinks I will win!" Ji Changkong grinned arrogantly. "You must understand, sometimes cheers are a form of strength, and that strength can sometimes be more useful than Yuan Power!"

"I don't believe it!" Dan Bo sneered. The moment He Haoran gave the signal, his entire body vanished into the depths of the earth, disappearing from underground.

"I'll make you believe it!" Ji Changkong suddenly became brazen, adopting an extremely leisurely posture. He appeared even less concerned than Ji Changxiao before, clearly not taking Dan Bo seriously, as if he were just strolling casually in his own courtyard as he walked toward the Earth Fissure Valley, hands clasped behind his back.

Dan Bo had vanished completely. He was the only one wandering around the valley floor, seemingly unaware that Dan Bo still existed beneath the ground.

Peng!

In front of him, the earth split open, sending up a massive plume of dust and sand that rushed toward him. Within the dust cloud, Dan Bo emerged like an earthen statue, covered head to toe in mud, which seemed to form a natural suit of armor.

Amidst the swirling dust, wisps of light smoke, distinct from the sand, slithered like spiritual serpents toward Ji Changkong's body. His body suddenly went limp, and the Yuan Power within him abruptly spiraled out of control. His expression instantly changed drastically, showing utter panic.

A look of chilling coldness flashed through Dan Bo's eyes, a ruthless glint that vanished quickly. He suddenly launched himself forward from within the dust cloud, unleashing a surging force from his hands.

Dan Bo's objective was likely not just to defeat him!

The power he unleashed in that single moment was enough to kill most cultivators of the Five Elements Heaven Realm instantly. Dan Bo intended to take Ji Changkong's life!

The blood in his body heated up instantly. In that same moment, the light smoke that had infiltrated his system was volatilized, and the chaotic Yuan Power within him suddenly returned to normal, no longer under any constraint.

Within the swirling sand, Ji Changkong suddenly thrust out his hand, just as he had done when seizing Yao Hai and Bu Zhilan previously. With impeccable precision, he clamped his fingers directly around Dan Bo's neck. Dan Bo, who had been lunging forward with claws extended, found his full power unable to manifest; it was as if he had crashed into a wall of tempered steel, rebounding violently back into his own body.

Peng, peng... A few dull thuds sounded within Dan Bo's body. His airborne form thrashed like a snake, his eyes rolled back, and blood began to flow uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth.

With one hand gripping Dan Bo's neck, Ji Changkong stared coldly into his vacant eyes and whispered, "Dan Bo, you thought you could win by using poison?"

Dan Bo's face was ashen, bloody foam continuously spitting from his lips, his eyes filled with resentment. "Heh heh, how does it feel to have all your power surge back into your body? You brought this upon yourself; it has nothing to do with me. Relax, you won't die, at most you'll be resting for three to five years..." Smiling, he waved his hand, and Dan Bo's body swayed in response to the gesture.

"Ji Changkong wins!" Dan Bo's dazed eyes suddenly relaxed. He thought he had finally escaped that fiend.

To everyone's astonishment, Ji Changkong, who still held Dan Bo tightly with both hands, did not let go. Instead, his face contorted fiercely, one hand clutching his own throat as he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face turned greenish, and with a look of absolute fury, he pointed at Dan Bo and roared, "You, you dare use poison!"

"Ji Changkong, if you won, release him and prepare for the next match! What is this endless stalling!" Sun Yan of Black Rock Cliff shouted sharply.

"Ji Changkong, release him now! What kind of person uses poison? Don't try to frame others again!" Liu Yunhaifeng bellowed. Since the previous match had happened under the eyes of everyone, he had nothing to say, but this time, he had no intention of backing down.

As he spoke these words, he waved his hand toward He Haoran and Baili Ding and charged straight into the Earth Fissure Valley.

As Liu Yunhaifeng advanced toward the valley, his eyes remained fixed on Ji Changkong, daring not to slacken even for a moment, lest Ji Changkong try some trickery at this juncture.

He Haoran and Baili Ding exchanged a quick glance, then both rushed urgently into the valley from either side, arriving next to Ji Changkong almost simultaneously with Liu Yunhaifeng.

By this time, Ji Changkong's face had already transitioned from green to dark black!

Black poison was spreading across his neck. Anyone with eyes could see that he had been poisoned! However, what surprised everyone was—he remained standing upright! One hand was still clamped firmly around Dan Bo's neck, and no matter how much Dan Bo struggled, he could not break free!

The incident from the previous day, where he had seized Bu Zhilan with one hand and Yao Hai with the other, had already spread throughout the major sects of Blood Rain Mountain. Few expected that just one day later, he would be repeating the act.

This time, the one he held was Dan Bo, a Five Elements Heaven Realm expert!

Being in the same realm, no one was surprised that he could defeat Dan Bo. However, holding Dan Bo with one hand while enduring Dan Bo's kicking and struggling without budging an inch, remaining completely unaffected, caused a chill of fear in some observers!

"Damn it, is this kid even human? Someone in the same cultivation realm is attacking him like this, and he's totally fine!" This was the unspoken thought echoing in most people's minds.

He Haoran and Baili Ke were just about to speak when Ji Changkong finally 'couldn't hold on' and collapsed. White foam was emerging from the corner of his mouth, and he weakly pointed at the struggling Dan Bo, uttering faintly, "He... he used poison... the antidote..."

It was an agonizing effort just to keep the blood from washing away the poison within his system. The Xuanyuan Bloodline was indeed formidable; the moment the toxin entered his body, it naturally began to expel it. To deliberately contain the poison within his body, he had gone to great lengths, enduring significant pain.

He Haoran and Baili Ding's expressions shifted dramatically. They both seized the near-lifeless Dan Bo, and while Liu Yunhaifeng stared on dumbfounded, the two pulled a small vial from Dan Bo's inner robes. On the bottle were two stark, blood-red characters: Antidote!

Beneath the characters was a small line of text explaining: Heavenly Serpent Birth, colorless and odorless, can be mixed with dust or stone fragments. The poisoned person's complexion will first turn blue, then black... It was too obvious!

"This isn't mine!" Dan Bo spat out a mouthful of blood before managing to speak.

"Revoke Black Rock Cliff's qualification to participate in the competition! Furthermore, according to the rules, using poison during the Sect Assembly means the sect is directly expelled from Blood Rain Mountain! From this day forward, Black Rock Cliff is no longer a sect under my Blood Rain Alliance!" He Haoran roared decisively.

"Sun Yan, take your Black Rock Cliff members and leave Blood Rain Mountain, leave the Earth Fissure Valley, effective immediately!"

"Hmph, a dog can't change its habit of eating excrement! They dared to cause such a ruckus even after coming to the Blood Rain Alliance!" Baili Wu raised his hands, barely containing his excitement.