As the punch landed, the entire Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance fell into a deafening silence.
The woman, however, maintained a remarkably composed demeanor as she slowly retracted her fist. “Let’s go back,” she said.
The representative of the Five Elders Association’s martial faction, though visibly shaken, followed behind the peasant woman, gradually disappearing from the viewing mirror’s display.
It wasn’t until Xu Jing, the peak Soul Transformation cultivator from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, regained consciousness with a confused expression that the spectators finally snapped out of their shock.
“Wow! That old lady is insanely powerful!”
“That punch… it felt like even the Dao itself was about to be annihilated!”
“Did anyone see clearly how she struck?”
Even Li Fan and the rest of the spectators repeatedly played back the scene captured by the viewing mirror.
However, despite slowing the footage to its limits, the peasant woman’s movements remained indiscernible. All they could see was a blur before the shadow of a fist appeared, and Xu Jing was overwhelmed by the punch’s energy, falling unconscious.
Even the commentator seemed stunned by the punch, as a single line slowly appeared on the mirror:
“Three punches from the peasant woman? Does that mean there are two punches she hasn’t unleashed yet?”
“Gasp! If the first punch alone could suppress someone as prodigious as Xu Jing, who could possibly withstand all three punches?”
“Shuo Feng definitely can’t handle it. What about Di Luwu?”
“Di Luwu’s speed is incredible; the peasant woman might not even be able to land a hit on him.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
…
Amid the heated debates, the first day of the competition finally came to an end.
The result was a draw, seemingly setting a harmonious tone for this “friendly exchange meeting.”
However, as the days passed, and the outcomes of the remaining contests—focused on Dao, artifacts, formations, alchemy, and talismans—all unexpectedly ended in ties, the atmosphere gradually took on a peculiar vibe.
If the draws on the first and second days could be attributed to coincidence, then six consecutive days of evenly matched results suggested something more deliberate.
It seemed as though the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association had reached some sort of secret agreement, collectively sending a subtle message to all cultivators:
A message of “peace.”
From every angle, the two sides appeared evenly matched. Reigniting the flames of war would likely lead to mutual destruction.
With such stakes, was there any point in further conflict?
Enlightened by this realization, cultivators across the land understood that this “friendly exchange meeting” was merely a grand performance. The outcome was likely predetermined, with each duel meticulously following a script.
Still, for just 100 contribution points, one could enjoy the spectacle and study the battles of various prodigies, gaining valuable insights. For most cultivators, it was well worth it.
Moreover, this display seemed to set the tone for a period of “peace” in the near future, providing cultivators with a sense of relief and stability.
Thus, even after the friendly exchange meeting ended, discussions about it persisted among the cultivators.
“In my opinion, the so-called prodigies who participated in this event weren’t all that extraordinary. They were strong, no doubt, but not beyond imagination. I’m currently at the Nascent Soul stage. Once I break through, I might be able to challenge them!” Ř𐌽ȪＢÊ𝙨
“Exactly. Take that nine-year-old Soul Transformation cultivator, Di Luwu, for example. While he’s fast, his fighting style relies heavily on speed. If we analyze it carefully, we might find a way to counter him.”
“I’ve had similar thoughts. So it’s not just my imagination?”
“We should devote ourselves to cultivation. Who knows? The next time there’s a chance for such a grand performance, we might be the ones stepping into the spotlight and making a name for ourselves across the land.”
…
Just as all the cultivators across the world were starting to think they had a chance again, Li Fan received a message from Immortal lord Hongxi.
“The real competition is about to begin. Do you want to come and watch?”
Li Fan’s heart stirred slightly.
“The real competition? Sir, what do you mean?”
Hongxi replied lazily, “This so-called friendly exchange meeting is divided into two parts: the overt and the covert. The overt part is a performance where the results are pre-determined.”
“Neither side in the open competition will reveal overwhelming and terrifying power. Now that the great war has just ended, it’s crucial to replenish fresh blood. If we crush their motivation to cultivate, it would be counterproductive.”
“So, both sides have been holding back their full strength.”
“Privately, however, it’s necessary to truly determine a winner and probe each other’s depths.”
“The entire process of this private competition must be kept confidential. Each region is allotted only two remote viewing slots. Since Ziyun is watching on-site, one spot is vacant.”
Immortal Lord Hongxi explained.
Hearing this, Li Fan immediately agreed. At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.
He had thought the performances of those so-called “prides of heaven” (geniuses) had been somewhat underwhelming. While their techniques and skills were impressive, none displayed truly stunning divine abilities.
At the same level of power, not to mention competing with him, even Zhong Shentong, who mastered the Seven-Colored Divine Light, might not guarantee a clear victory.
Now it seemed there was indeed something fishy going on.
Li Fan arrived at the Administrative Hall, where Hongxi was already waiting.
Hongxi lightly tapped the table, and in an instant, the world’s scenery changed.
From the Congyun Immortal City, they were transported to the peak of a mountain surrounded by a sea of clouds.
Li Fan was initially startled. But seeing that Hongxi showed no hostility, he chose to wait and observe.
“The competition is about to begin. There’s no commentary, so how much you comprehend depends entirely on your own understanding,” Hongxi said, waving his hand.
In the distance, the sea of clouds surged, revealing a square seal.
The seal’s engraved patterns seemed to resemble the scenery of the Congyun Sea.
At that moment, the seal projected a beam of light upward, illuminating the sky.
In the next instant, two figures appeared.
Not only were they lifelike images, but the aura and pressure emanating from them felt utterly real.
It was as if a massive mountain suddenly weighed down on him, and Li Fan almost bent under the pressure, struggling to breathe.
His internal cave-heaven energy circulated slightly, not at full power but enough to ease the burden a bit.
Li Fan stared intently at the two figures standing above the sea of clouds.
One of them bore an uncanny resemblance to the nine-year-old Soul Transformation genius who had appeared earlier. Even their attire and weapon were identical.
However, this figure looked even younger, appearing to be only five or six years old.
“Please grant me your guidance!” the child said in a soft, milky voice, sounding utterly adorable.
But when the child made a move, Li Fan’s expression changed dramatically.
With a casual swipe at the void ahead, countless silver beams descended from the sky in an instant.
As the world was dyed entirely in silvery hues, the surrounding area seemed to transform into a domain under the child’s complete control.
In Li Fan’s perception, the area ahead had become akin to an independent world.
“I fear my Binding Insect Divine Ability would be greatly weakened in that space,” a thought quickly flashed through Li Fan’s mind.