Yang Hong was unaware of the ulterior motives of Ancestor Chaoyang and Monk Tongyuan.
After the combat rules were finalized, he went to his fifty-six disciples who were diligently cultivating.
All disciples were at the seventh layer of their respective cultivation realms; for example, Qi Refining seventh layer, Nascent Soul seventh layer.
Although their cultivation and aura had been reduced, their auras had become more solid and substantial, and it was believed that their actual combat strength had not decreased but rather increased.
Upon seeing Yang Hong descend, all disciples ceased their cultivation and stood up, looking at Yang Hong with fighting spirits.
"Gu Boji and Qi Zhaonan, each select four teammates to form a team. Gu Boji will be responsible for engaging the Buddhist sect, and Qi Zhaonan will be responsible for the Immortal sect."
"Zhong Wenxuan and Hua Xiaobai, you will be responsible for the Foundation Establishment realm. Wen Yili and Zheng Xiuqin, you for the Integration realm... Zhang Zhengyan for the Nascent Soul realm..."
There was no need for pre-battle speeches. Yang Hong directly assigned roles. These disciples had been preparing for over ten days and were all eager to fight.
Ten teams were quickly arranged. Ye Yudong had also discussed the combat venues and specific rules with the leaders of the two major alliances.
On the newly cultivated Lihuo Plain, two square light barriers, ten li wide and a hundred zhang high, lit up.
The formations provided no protection; they merely served to demarcate the boundaries. During combat, being struck out of the formation area would result in a loss.
Simultaneously, if a cultivator admitted defeat to their opponent, they would fly out of the formation area, which would be considered a surrender.
Furthermore, magical artifacts, elixirs, and talismans used against cultivators could not exceed their own cultivation level. Talismans were limited to ten, and elixirs must not be poisonous.
These were normal limitations, serving as external aids.
However, Monk Tongyuan and Ancestor Chaoyang, for reasons unknown, had established a rule that as long as one did not leave the formation area, even shouting "I surrender" would not count as a surrender.
"Heh heh~ These two scoundrels want to kill people!"
Upon hearing this rule, Yang Hong immediately understood their intentions.
After a brief moment of thought, he devised a solution.
"Ye Yudong, tell those two old foxes that our disciples need to eat and ask them to wait for an hour.
As for their meals? Qingfeng Villa has not prepared any."
"This... Alright, I'll go inform them."
Hearing Yang Hong's words, Ye Yudong's legs trembled, but he gritted his teeth and went to negotiate with the Buddhist and Immortal sects.
Yang Hong did not concern himself with the process. He directly used a遁术 (escape technique) to reach the talisman-making room on the mountainside of Qingfeng Mountain.
An hour later, Yang Hong gave each of the fifty disciples prepared for the competition a silver talisman.
After Yang Hong distributed the talismans, Ye Yudong cautiously reported some news.
"Sect Master, they have added another rule: killing is forbidden. If a cultivator accidentally kills someone, they will be disqualified!"
"Hmm~ What are these two old foxes up to now?
The previous rule was clearly aimed at killing!"
"Sect Master, could this be a measure to protect their disciples?"
"Heh heh~ Do you believe it?"
"Uh... I suppose so?"
They did not discuss it further and directly flew to the outside of the competition venue with all the disciples of Qingfeng Villa.
Before Yang Hong and the disciples could properly survey the battlefield, Monk Tongyuan approached them.
"Fellow Daoist, let's begin."
"Hmm? Then let's begin."
Seeing the old monk's eagerness, Yang Hong saw no need for pleasantries and readily agreed.
He turned to look at the fifty eager disciples and said only one sentence: "As soon as you engage, use your restrictive spells. Restrain them first, limit the enemy's movements, and then knock them unconscious with your fists!"
"Yes! Knock the enemy unconscious!"
Upon hearing Yang Hong's command, the disciples roared in unison, their fighting spirits soaring.
In contrast, the cultivators from the Buddhist and Immortal sects seemed to have a lower morale.
It was only then that Yang Hong noticed that the cultivators they had sent out appeared to be somewhat older.
The three parties each sent out a referee. Notably, the [Great Buddhist Divine Power Alliance] and the [Immortal Alliance] each dispatched a cultivator at the early stage of the Integration realm.
Therefore, Yang Hong sent out Ke Jimei and Ran Boren. Ke Jimei would be responsible for officiating between the [Qingfeng Villa] disciples and the [Great Buddhist Divine Power Alliance], while Ran Boren would work with the referee from the [Immortal Alliance].
Yang Hong, Ancestor Chaoyang, and Monk Tongyuan stood between the two battlefields, observing.
Of course, there was an element of mutual vigilance. As soon as the matches began, Yang Hong's divine sense spread out, ready to save anyone at any moment.
Seeing Yang Hong tense, Monk Tongyuan suddenly smiled and comforted him:
"Benefactor, life and death are predetermined, and fortune and status are bestowed by heaven. Let the disciples fight it out."
"Heh heh~ As long as no one resorts to underhanded tactics, I am confident that my disciples will not lose."
"Heh heh~ Benefactor, rest assured, there will be no underhanded tactics."
Monk Tongyuan chuckled strangely and looked towards the battlefield on the Buddhist side. Yang Hong followed his gaze and his eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Bald donkey, you're pushing too far!"
"Heh heh~ What's wrong, Benefactor? We have merely sent out an outstanding disciple.
By the way, Xuanzhen has exceptional talent. He has cultivated to the great circle of Qi Refining tenth layer."
Listening to Monk Tongyuan's smug boasting, Yang Hong's killing intent surged!
The bald man in monk's robes who had entered the combat arena, his appearance and build were familiar to him. He had paid special attention to him just half a month ago.
Kuang Jingyun!
Kuang Jingyun, who had joined Qingfeng Villa only three years ago and was a seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator whom Yang Hong had personally nurtured.
Now, he was entering the combat formation wearing monk's robes. Without a doubt, he was representing the Buddhist sect.
Yang Hong took several deep breaths, quickly calmed down, and cast a cold glance at Monk Tongyuan. He lowered his gaze and remained silent.
However, using his powerful divine sense to avoid Monk Tongyuan, he secretly issued an order to the disciples fighting the Buddhist sect.
...
Standing on the combat arena, Gu Boji was initially stunned by Yang Hong's order. But upon seeing his opponent, he instantly understood his Sect Master's anger.
"Traitor!"
"Hmph~ It's that old fellow Yang Hong who's blind. I have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and a Lightning Heavenly Spiritual Root at that!
Joining any sect, I would be an absolute genius, at least a core disciple, or a true disciple. To be merely an outer disciple in that lousy Qingfeng Villa is an insult to me!"
As Kuang Jingyun spoke, he became increasingly agitated and, before Gu Boji could prepare himself, struck with a lightning spell.
At this moment, the referee from the Buddhist sect hurriedly shouted, "First match: Gu Boji of Qingfeng Villa, Kuang Jingyun of the Great Buddhist Divine Power Alliance."
As the referee's voice fell, a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm had already struck Gu Boji's head.
"Despicable~ Shameless~ Traitor~"
The Qingfeng Villa disciples outside the arena erupted in curses. Some of the more hot-tempered disciples were already rushing towards the combat area.
"Amitabha~"
However, the cultivators from the Buddhist sect reacted quickly. Two ninth-tier Buddhist cultivators blocked the area in front of the combat zone.
"Return, trust your Minister Gu!"
Yang Hong's calm and firm voice also reached them at this moment. The disciples of Qingfeng Villa immediately recalled Gu Boji's performance in the previous sect war and calmed down.
On the battlefield, Kuang Jingyun's face had lost its former anger and agitation. He appeared calm and sinister, and the spells in his hand continued unabated.
Continuous bolts of blue lightning, as if they consumed no spiritual energy, struck down one after another.