Bai Zihan’s expression remained calm on the surface, but inside, thoughts were surging like a raging tide.
[Du Changsheng…]
Bai Zihan narrowed his eyes.
He couldn’t sense it, but that was expected—as he was the soul of a Supreme Immortal.
Such a level would already make him the strongest in the Desolate Heaven Empire.
While he was looking at Nie Fengzhuo, the latter too seemed to notice him. Not to mention, Bai Zihan sensed bloodlust—though it lasted only for a few seconds.
Other people might think that it was directed at the other four participants, but he knew that it was definitely directed at him.
(Look at him!)
Bai Zihan smirked. His hatred for his sister was definitely very high, considering that he was showing killing intent just because he was Bai Xueqing’s brother.
Well, if Nie Fengzhuo was stupid enough to attack him now, then he would be more than happy to welcome it.
Of course, such a convenient thing didn’t happen, and Nie Fengzhuo once again focused on the opponent before him.
Just then—
“Bai Zihan… There is a powerful soul attached to that boy’s ring!”
Immortal Emperor Feilian said.
(You’re awake?)
“Only because I sensed a very powerful soul nearby. His power might have been very close to mine before death!”
Immortal Emperor Feilian said as she also began to observe Nie Fengzhuo—or perhaps Du Changsheng, who Bai Zihan couldn’t see.
(Can he sense you?)
Bai Zihan asked.
The Immortal Emperor’s voice was amused.
“Of course not! That soul has been damaged to a state similar to when I met you. However, I had Soul-Confining Artifacts which gradually helped me regain my strength. So, you don’t need to worry about my existence being revealed!”
Bai Zihan nodded, though he wasn’t worried about revealing her existence.
A new thought bloomed in Bai Zihan’s mind as he remembered the System Information of Nie Fengzhuo, and then he looked at Immortal Emperor Feilian.
(What if… I can also bring her back?)
By looking at Du Changsheng’s destiny, it seemed like, with the help of Nie Fengzhuo, he would emerge alive again.
If so, couldn’t the same method be used to bring back Immortal Emperor Feilian?
If he could accomplish that, wouldn’t he have an Immortal Emperor as his ally?
Then he wouldn’t need to worry about anything in this world, even the revived Du Changsheng, as his cultivation realm was still lower than Feilian’s.
But well, he wasn’t sure whether things would go that way.
The first problem was whether Immortal Emperor Feilian would even help him. There was a chance she might not keep her word and become his enemy.
So, even if he could revive her, he first needed to make sure she would definitely be loyal to him and him only.
Then came the second problem: should he let Nie Fengzhuo live?
As one knows, giving time for the protagonist to grow is akin to inviting death to yourself.
Should he even let him live, since he seemed to hate the Bai Clan so much just from his earlier behavior?
Becoming his enemy might be inevitable!
So, should he even let him reach that point where he could revive Nie Fengzhuo?
He needed to weigh his options and find the best choice.
But for now, he was going to do what he came here for—observe Nie Fengzhuo, though he didn’t think that was necessary.
With Nie Fengzhuo’s actual cultivation being in the Soul Formation Realm and his opponent just Golden Core Realm, it wasn’t even enough for a warm-up.
Nie Fengzhuo and the other four participants seemed to have regained their senses and were now ready to face each other after the commotion caused by Bai Zihan.
One of the cultivators suddenly roared, his voice filled with defiance and confidence.
“Don’t underestimate me!!”
With a burst of Qi, he surged forward—his saber gleaming as it arced through the air, wind howling in its wake.
He was the boldest among the four—muscular, fierce-eyed, and clearly unwilling to wait and be seen as a coward.
“Everyone shall know my power!”
The saber swung down toward Nie Fengzhuo’s head with a blazing trail of spiritual fire.
But Nie Fengzhuo didn’t move.
Not even a blink.
CLANG!!
A screech of metal rang out.
To everyone’s shock, Nie Fengzhuo raised just two fingers—and caught the saber cleanly between them.
The entire arena gasped.
“What?!”
“He blocked it… with his fingers?!”
The attacker’s face twisted in disbelief, veins bulging in his arms as he tried to force the blade downward.
But it didn’t budge.
Nie Fengzhuo’s gaze was cold—dispassionate. Like he wasn’t even seeing the man in front of him.
“Too weak!”
He said.
Then—
CRACK!
With a slight twist of his fingers, the saber shattered like brittle glass.
Before the cultivator could react, Nie Fengzhuo raised his other hand—and struck.
A single palm.
Nothing flashy.
But the force was enough to send the attacker flying like a broken kite, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into the barrier surrounding the arena with a loud BOOM.
He crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Silence!
Even the referee’s eyes twitched.
“So fast…”
“He didn’t even use a technique!”
“As expected from one of the favorites to win this preliminary selection.”
The remaining three cultivators instantly broke into a cold sweat.
They hadn’t even started attacking yet—and one of them was already down.
One of the smarter ones gritted his teeth.
“Don’t scatter! Attack together!”
With that shout, although the other two didn’t want to take orders from another, they knew he was right, and the three attacked together.
They charged Nie Fengzhuo from three sides, Qi gathered as they each prepared their strongest techniques.
“Triple Seal Formation!”
One slammed his palms together—summoning a massive golden rune above Nie Fengzhuo.
Another drew a bow and launched a blazing arrow wrapped in wind and flame.
The third slammed his fists into the ground, creating jagged earthen spikes that shot up like spears.
It was a coordinated, desperate attempt. The crowd held its breath.
Although the teamwork could be described as acceptable at best, it was still admirable since they all were strangers—and competitors at that.
So, such teamwork could still be praised.
An average Nascent Soul Realm cultivator would have struggled against attacks from all sides—and that too, so powerful.
Nie Fengzhuo raised his hand slowly—and then struck the ground with his foot.
BOOM!!
A shockwave erupted from beneath him—pure force, rippling outward like a tidal wave.
The formation above shattered before it could activate.
The spikes crumbled to dust mid-rise.
The arrow froze midair, caught in the trembling void—then exploded.
The three attackers were flung backward, coughing blood, landing in a heap.
None of them got up.
Just like that… it was over.
The crowd sat in stunned silence. Not a single cheer.
The announcer swallowed audibly, floating forward with a stiff expression.
“V-Victor of Group Four: Nie Fengzhuo!”
As the announcement echoed, murmurs returned to the crowd—low, reverent, awed.
“He’s… a monster…”
“So this is what he’s become after the annulment…”
“And he’s still so young…”
Nie Fengzhuo ignored the crowd’s reaction. To him, this outcome was expected—and brought no particular satisfaction.
His gaze slowly returned to Bai Zihan.
But it wasn’t a look of curiosity.
It was the look of a challenger.