"That beauty is so strong!" "Indeed, at the same cultivation level, she won so effortlessly!" "The lady is ferocious! If not for that fellow possessing the Shi family's Petrification Martial Soul, he would have died several times over." "Mhm, the competitions between the Five Great Families truly hold more substance; it was worth traveling a thousand li to witness." The clamor around the Martial Arts Arena rose in waves, the assembled martial artists utterly astonished by Mo Yanyu’s power.

Mo Yanyu stood perfectly centered in the arena, her face like frosted ice, casting a cold gaze upon the Shi family contingent, resembling a snow lotus atop a frozen peak.

While the surrounding crowd was subdued by Mo Yanyu’s ruthless execution, their eyes still gleamed with fascination, fixed intently upon her elegantly contoured figure, murmuring their admiration.

On the Shi family's side, Shi Jian and others looked ashen-faced. Shi Tie trembled with suppressed rage, able only to glare venomously at Mo Tuo, unable to lash out. Such was the nature of the Martial Assembly; those fairly defeated had no recourse but to salvage their honor in another match, having no other path.

"Family Head, Young Master Tianluo is not in mortal danger, but he will be unable to practice martial arts for at least three years," one of the Shi family's retainers announced, approaching from the rear and standing between Shi Jian and Shi Tie.

Shi Jian and Shi Tie flinched, a flicker of grief crossing their eyes. "Grandpa, that woman is strange. Mid-fight, her power suddenly surged—that isn't normal," Shi Yan whispered. "I know." Shi Jian took a deep, steadying breath, then turned to look at Shi Tianke and Shi Tianyun, hesitation clouding his expression.

He had certainly noticed it too. Mid-combat, Mo Yanyu’s face had turned startlingly pale, like paper. It was at that precise moment that the flow rate and sheer density of the jingyuan within her body had dramatically increased—this was unequivocally not a normal occurrence.

"Yuer, come down, Mo Qi goes up!" At that instant, Mo Tuo called out sharply from the opposite side. He added, "The stakes on the dais remain, and my Mo family continues to challenge the Shi family!"

A young man, standing about one meter eighty-five tall, stepped into the center of the arena, replacing Mo Yanyu, and declared proudly, "Mo Family's Mo Qi, at the second layer of the Xiantian Realm, requests guidance from the Shi family!"

"Big Brother!" Shi Tie called out softly, glancing back at Shi Tianke with evident worry. "What do we do?" "Fight!" Shi Jian gritted his teeth, pondering for a moment before suddenly decreeing, "Tianyun, you go up!"

The moment these words were spoken, everyone on the Shi family side changed expression, looking toward Shi Tianyun in confusion. Shi Tianyun was the strongest of the Shi family's third generation, possessing the cultivation of the third layer of the Xiantian Realm. Everyone had expected him to be held back for the final confrontation.

For Shi Jian to send him in now—was the competition below to be abandoned? On the other side, Mo Zhan, the undisputed premier of the Mo family's third generation, had not yet entered the fray. Regardless of whether Shi Tianyun won or lost this current bout, he would forfeit the chance for a subsequent match.

When Mo Zhan finally entered the ring later, whom would the Shi family send against him? If they couldn't find a suitable counter, under the eyes of all spectators, it would imply the Shi family's third generation was barren, leading to a complete loss of face—a humiliation perhaps worse than losing the competition itself!

"Big Brother!" Shi Tie exclaimed in alarm, "Mo Zhan hasn't even fought yet!" "Tianyun must go up! Their methods are suspect; Tianyun needs to be a full minor realm higher to ensure safety!" Shi Jian commanded, his face grim. "Say no more! Tianyun! Enter the arena!"

"Yes!" Shi Tianyun responded with a low shout and strode directly into the Martial Arts Arena. "Shi Family's Shi Tianyun, third layer Xiantian, I request your guidance!"

"Shi Tianyun! Isn't that the strongest youth of the Shi family's third generation?" "Yes, and Mo Zhan hasn't gone yet; why is he out so early?" "The Shi family must be scared stiff, forced to put up Shi Tianyun. This is getting interesting—a third-layer Xiantian against a second-layer Xiantian. The Mo family probably won't accept the challenge and will surely switch fighters." "Right, the Mo family won't suffer such a disadvantage." The surrounding spectators were all visibly shocked, discussing in hushed tones.

Many from the Bei Ming and Ling families looked on with puzzled expressions, their gazes toward the Shi family side carrying an odd ambiguity. Even many from the Zuo family were surprised, unable to fathom Shi Jian's reasoning.

Only Zuo Xu and Zuo Shi seemed to grasp a faint inkling of the strategy, showing none of the outward shock of others, instead exchanging a subtle glance toward Shi Yan.

"A mine in Beiluo City! The commercial street south of Beiluo City!" Shi Jian took a deep breath, retrieved the relevant documentation from the brocade pouch before him, and handed it to the official collector.

"Mo Family's Mo Qi, second layer Xiantian; Shi Family's Shi Tianyun, third layer Xiantian. Do either party object?" After the collateral was placed on the dais, the official frowned, looking between Shi Jian and Mo Tuo.

Mo Tuo paused briefly, glancing at Shi Tianyun, seemingly also perplexed as to why he was sent out. After a moment of hesitation, Mo Tuo leaned over and quietly questioned an old man beside him. This elder, whose hair resembled a messy thatch of straw, gave a slight nod after Mo Tuo’s inquiry.

Seeing the nod, Mo Tuo seemed reassured. He turned to the official and affirmed, "No issues. Any young warrior of our Mo family at the second layer of Xiantian can defeat this young man from the Shi family at the third layer of Xiantian. We are ready to fight!"

"Very well, the match begins!"

The instant the official’s voice faded, Shi Tianyun’s body turned a desolate ash-gray as it petrified. Mo Qi wasted no words, shouting sharply as lightning began to spiral around his arms.

"Mo Qi, show your true abilities early, don't let anyone look down on you," Mo Tuo instructed coolly.

Mo Qi, standing in the arena, immediately understood the implication of his elder’s words. In a mere flash, Mo Qi’s face, just like Mo Yanyu’s moments before, turned deathly pale, devoid of any blood, creating an intensely eerie spectacle.

Similarly. The flow rate of the jingyuan within Mo Qi’s body suddenly accelerated! It was as if a power not his own was being forcefully catalyzed within him. This power saturated his entire frame, causing his imposing aura to instantly surpass even Shi Tianyun’s, who was at the third layer of Xiantian!

"It's happening again!" Shi Tie roared in anger. "The Mo family is definitely using underhanded tactics. This power is not something a martial artist at the second layer of Xiantian should possess!"

Shi Jian's face darkened. "Did you notice? Before agreeing to the duel, Mo Tuo exchanged a word with the old man behind him. The strangeness of both Mo Yanyu and Mo Qi must be linked to that elder!" "I won't let him get away with this!" Shi Tie ground out, his jaw tight.

Shi Tianyun drove a foot into the ground; the hard bluestone metal beneath resonated with a deafening boom, as if about to shatter. Shi Tianyun shot forward like a tempered sword, aiming for the fastest possible close-quarters engagement, intending to cripple Mo Qi early on.

Mo Qi sneered, showing no fear, and met Shi Tianyun head-on. The bolts of lightning around his arms suddenly shot outward! They lunged toward Shi Tianyun, coiling like snakes.

Simultaneously, spheres of vibrant, greenish light erupted from Mo Qi’s palms. These lights condensed into tangible orbs of green energy, slamming fiercely into the charging Shi Tianyun.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The green energy spheres battered Shi Tianyun’s body, momentarily arresting his ferocious advance. Seizing this window, the jingyuan within Mo Qi surged again, and he materialized instantly before Shi Tianyun in the wake of the green orbs. The crisscrossing lightning bolts, miraculously transforming, coalesced into an electric net that instantaneously enveloped Shi Tianyun’s body.

"How is this possible?! The power contained within that youth’s body is comparable to a warrior in the Ren Realm!" Shi Tie gasped.

Shi Tianyun’s body was tightly bound by the electrical cage, and though he struggled violently, he could not break free quickly. At this moment, Mo Qi’s green orbs struck him one after another, driving him backward relentlessly. Mo Qi pressed his advantage, closing the distance to Shi Tianyun, using both hands and feet to unleash a relentless barrage of strikes upon him, his fists and kicks falling without cease.

Blood streamed from the corners of Shi Tianyun’s mouth. The restraining electric net held him completely captive, denying him any opportunity to retaliate.

This was a completely one-sided slaughter! Everyone was stunned, watching in stunned silence as Mo Qi, who was supposedly only at the second layer of Xiantian, bombarded Shi Tianyun, who was powerless to strike back.

"What is going on here?" "I don't know; how can that youth be so formidable? This is wrong, deeply wrong!" "Is this truly a second-layer Xiantian martial artist? Or are the Xiantian warriors of the Five Great Families on an entirely different tier?" "I can’t make sense of it." The surrounding crowd was utterly bewildered, unable to decipher the situation unfolding.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Shi Tianyun, trapped by the electrical net, could only passively endure Mo Qi's onslaught. Blood seeped from his seven orifices, and his gaze began to glaze over.

Shi Jian abruptly stood up and shouted decisively, "We concede this match!"

Beside the dais, the official from the Bei Ming family heard Shi Jian’s cry and immediately looked across the arena toward Bei Ming Shang. At this moment, Bei Ming Shang appeared entirely unconcerned with the battle, lowering his head to sip his tea, as if unaware of the proceedings.

Upon seeing Bei Ming Shang's demeanor, the official understood, bowed his head, and began examining the land deeds on the dais, acting as if he had not heard Shi Jian’s concession.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Shi Tianyun continued to be violently hammered by Mo Qi. He had already collapsed onto the ground, subjected to Mo Qi’s relentless kicks.

"We concede!" Shi Jian roared, fixing his gaze upon Bei Ming Shang.

Only then did Bei Ming Shang seem to snap back to awareness. He first looked up at Shi Jian, then casually glanced at the official by the dais. "The match is terminated! Mo Family wins!" Only then did the official lazily announce.

Mo Qi finally ceased his assault, stepping back a few paces, and sneered, "The Shi family members are all gutless weaklings. A third-layer Xiantian warrior with this level of ability—what a waste of my energy. Hmph!"

With that, Mo Qi strode away head held high toward the Mo family side, accepting the praises of his kin. Han Feng, ghost-like, suddenly floated onto the Martial Arts Arena, lifting the blood-soaked Shi Tianyun and hastily carrying him back to the Shi family retainers responsible for medical treatment.

The retainers scrambled frantically, their expressions grave, shoving a handful of pills directly into Shi Tianyun’s mouth. At this point, Shi Tie forgot his anger toward Mo Tuo, his face iron-gray, quickly placing his hand on Shi Tianyun’s body and channeling his innate jingyuan to treat the wounds.

Silence fell over the arena. The masses of spectators realized the eerie nature of the situation; at this critical juncture, there was no chatter, only strange glances directed at the Mo and Shi families.

"The stakes on the dais remain. Zhan'er, go up now!" Mo Tuo commanded again, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Mo Family's Mo Zhan, third layer Xiantian Realm, requests guidance from the Shi family!"

Mo Zhan’s tall frame stood proudly in the Martial Arts Arena, sneering coldly, "I am genuinely curious: does the Shi family still have anyone who dares to step up now? Do you dare?"