The Ling family had also sent representatives today. Ling Huayu and the others watched as Ling Luoyi lazily walked onto the martial arts stage and then slowly walked back.
Seeing Ling Luoyi so leisurely and as if strolling through her own garden, everyone felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
According to cultivation level, the second match was Ling Luochen.
An elder called out, "Second match, Ling Luochen!"
Ling Luochen stepped onto the stage. As he walked up, contestants with similar cultivation levels were eager to try, lining up at the entrance.
Elders were stationed at the entrance to check participants. Those with significant cultivation disparities were not allowed to compete, which served as a form of protection.
Because Ling Luochen had one previous defeat, he needed to win twenty-one consecutive matches.
Ling Luochen's first opponent was the First Prince, Nangong Suzhang. He was twenty-five years old, born to Consort Shu, with a cultivation of a first-tier Spirit User, on the verge of breaking through to the second tier. He possessed a mid-grade spirit root with earth attribute.
"Your Highness." As the opponent was a prince, Ling Luochen, a commoner, was expected to bow.
"Ah," Nangong Suzhang waved his hand and said, "Young Master Ling, this is a competition. Your opponent is Nangong Suzhang, not the First Prince. So, feel free to use your full strength."
"Yes."
Despite these words, neither of them made a move.
Ling Luoyi had a decent impression of the royal family and looked at the First Prince. The First Prince bore a striking resemblance to the Emperor, with more refined features. He was dressed in a light blue brocade that shimmered, exuding an undeniable aura of nobility.
Just as Ling Luoyi was about to watch a little longer, a fox face filled with anger suddenly appeared before her.
Gu Yuncheng's heart went on high alert when he saw the unfamiliar person on the stage wearing blue. He knew Ling Luoyi's preferences and that she liked light shades of blue. Even a hint of it could captivate her for hours.
Ling Luoyi looked at the somewhat aggrieved fox face before her, feeling a bit bewildered. She sent a telepathic message, "A'Su, what's wrong? Did someone bully you? That's impossible, who could bully you?"
"Luoluo, you've been looking at that man for so long, you're not even looking at me anymore."
Gu Yuncheng also used telepathy. The voice in telepathy should be the person's original voice, but Gu Yuncheng deliberately used his current voice. Thus, Ling Luoyi heard a soft, cooing, spoiled, aggrieved, and fawning accusation.
Ling Luoyi's body trembled slightly, and she awkwardly touched her nose, sending a telepathic message, "Well, I wasn't looking for that long."
She knew her old habit had resurfaced. This habit hadn't manifested in a long time, but since things were relatively stable now, she hadn't exercised restraint.
"Luoluo~"
"Alright, I was wrong. Forgive me this once."
"Luoluo, my anger isn't so easily appeased. As a punishment, I've decided not to let you hug me for twenty breaths."
Gu Yuncheng jumped out of Ling Luoyi's arms and lay down at her feet. After twenty breaths, he jumped back into her embrace.
Ling Luoyu, standing beside her, saw the little fox jumping up and down and asked, "Luo'er, what's wrong with your little fox? Why is it jumping around?"
Ling Luoyi glanced at the little fox in her arms and smiled, saying, "Third Brother, it's nothing. The little one is just having a tantrum."
Hearing Ling Luoyi's laughter, Gu Yuncheng became even more annoyed, but he couldn't vent his frustration, or it would confirm his tantrum.
Ling Luoyi looked at the little one trying to get angry but suppressing it, and gently stroked its back.
Gu Yuncheng, having been soothed, raised his eyes and gave Ling Luoyi a look, as if to say, "I forgive you."
Seeing the little one's adorable appearance, Ling Luoyi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The Ling family members beside her looked at Ling Luoyi, who had suddenly started laughing for no apparent reason, with a multitude of question marks in their minds.
On the stage, Ling Luochen and Nangong Suzhang still hadn't made a move.
Nangong Suzhang said helplessly, "Young Master Ling, since you won't strike first, I will."
With that, Nangong Suzhang lunged forward at high speed. Nangong Suzhang possessed a mutated wind attribute, making his speed inherently fast. In his rapid state, opponents with lower cultivation levels couldn't even see his movements.
Therefore, he was confident that even Ling Luochen, who was one tier higher, wouldn't be able to keep up, especially since Ling Luochen did not have a mutated wind attribute.
Although Ling Luochen did not have a mutated wind attribute, his speed was already not low. Furthermore, it had improved significantly during his previous trials. He had also undergone brutal training in the Trial Tower, and his current speed was comparable to that of a first-tier Spirit Master with a mutated wind attribute.
Thus, in Ling Luochen's eyes, Nangong Suzhang seemed to move in slow motion, his actions clearly visible.
As Nangong Suzhang approached, Ling Luochen struck out with a palm.
Nangong Suzhang reacted swiftly, managing to dodge in time.
Upon regaining his footing, Nangong Suzhang looked at Ling Luochen in shock, exclaiming incredulously, "You can keep up with my speed?!"
The spectators were also astonished by Ling Luochen's palm strike. They all agreed that in this generation, the First Prince Nangong Suzhang's speed was second to none.
Ling Luochen lowered his head slightly and said, "It's not that difficult."
Nangong Suzhang didn't believe it. He gathered all his spiritual power into his feet and moved.
This time, even Spirit Cultivators two or three tiers higher than Nangong Suzhang couldn't discern his movements.
All that the onlookers saw was Ling Luochen, standing at the center of the martial arts stage, raising his hands, kicking, punching, and striking with his palms.
Ten breaths later, Nangong Suzhang reappeared, panting heavily, his hair slightly disheveled, and his clothes in disarray, looking rather disheveled.
In contrast, Ling Luochen's breathing was not even disturbed, and he had remained in his original spot, not moving an inch.
After his breathing stabilized slightly, Nangong Suzhang cupped his fists and said, "Young Master Ling is indeed formidable. I am no match for you."
"Your Highness is too kind," Ling Luochen replied, returning the gesture.
"It is not kindness, but the truth. Elder, I concede this match."
Nangong Suzhang signaled to the elder and stepped off the stage.
Those lining up at the entrance hesitated for a moment after seeing Nangong Suzhang's defeat, and many gave up.
Ling Luochen's second opponent was the eldest young master of the Wei family, Wei Chutian, twenty-five years old, with a mutated lightning attribute.
Ling Luochen looked at Wei Chutian as he walked onto the stage, trying hard to suppress himself.
Ling Luochen's expression turned grim. Looking at Wei Chutian's face, it was difficult for Ling Luochen to control himself.
Wei Chutian's face bore an eighty percent resemblance to Wei Wensong. Ling Luochen's elder brother and elder sister-in-law had both died at the hands of Wei Wensong, and Ling Luochen had personally witnessed the scene.
At that time, Ling Luochen was only fourteen years old and had just entered the Houtian realm. He was held tightly by the Fifth Elder when he witnessed the scene. The Fifth Elder's legs had just been severed at that time.
Looking at Wei Chutian's face, Ling Luochen gradually fell into a nightmare. The scene of his parents being murdered replayed in his mind, accompanied by Wei Wensong's arrogant laughter.
Everyone noticed that something was wrong with Ling Luochen. Seeing his opponent, they all understood.
Facing the son of the murderer of his parents and relatives, it would be a miracle if he could remain calm.
On the Ling family's viewing platform, Ling Jin also fell into a nightmare, just like Ling Luochen. His elder brother and sister-in-law were killed before his eyes, blood splattering onto his face and dripping into his eyes. He could even see his eldest nephew, through a red haze, questioning him with murderous intent why he wasn't the one who died, shouting hoarsely.
He felt he had no face to see them.
Ling Huayu looked at the two with heartache. One was his youngest son, and the other was his eldest grandson. Both had fallen into a nightmare, yet he was powerless.
When his eldest son and daughter-in-law died, he was blocked by the then head of the Wei family and could only watch as his eldest son died protecting his younger son. His eldest daughter-in-law, heartbroken, also stood in front of her younger son and was stabbed through the heart by Wei Wensong, falling onto her husband.
He couldn't save his eldest son and daughter-in-law back then, and now he couldn't protect his fifth son!
Ling Huayu couldn't control his thoughts and gradually fell into a nightmare as well.