Many were terrified, knowing they were no match. Having been on the field for so long, they had a general sense of the depth of the pond and their own capabilities. To linger longer would only lead to death, so they thought of the best strategy: retreat.
Several people began to flee the arena. Those remaining on the field, seeing that the escapees posed no threat, did not pursue them, letting them go.
However, just as they were about to exit the area, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, engulfing them. With a crackling sound, the individuals instantly turned into charcoal, falling to the ground and still emitting black smoke.
It seemed the sky above the arena concealed countless magical treasures, designed to deter anyone attempting to leave mid-contest.
At this point, everyone finally realized that to enter this competition arena meant either victory or death.
Linghu Xiaoxian, watching from the sidelines, smiled faintly, as if everything had unfolded as she predicted.
The contest continued, with several people still approaching Mo Qi, attempting to seize an easy advantage, but all were repelled by him.
After a while, at some unknown moment, the fighting suddenly ceased.
Only Han Wudi, Chu Xiangling, Mei Xing, and five other Mahayana stage experts remained on the field. Of course, there was also Mo Qi, who had been hiding on the side.
The remaining individuals stood in the arena, their gazes filled with fierce hostility, their killing intent reaching its peak.
Nine were elites, yet four more had to be eliminated!
The scene was incredibly brutal!
Everyone had sustained injuries, some minor, some severe, except for Mo Qi!
Victory was within reach, so close, yet death was equally imminent.
No one was willing to be the one to fall!
But any further engagement would inevitably lead to someone falling!
Looking back at the previous battles, it was enough to make one's heart pound with fear!
Had they not stopped, they might have fought until the bitter end. But this sudden pause was like pulling someone out of an ice-cold pool; asking them to dive back in was unthinkable – better to die.
Therefore, at this moment, everyone was trembling, hesitant and cautious.
After a brief pause, it seemed as if a silent understanding was reached through exchanged glances, and they quietly surrounded Mo Qi.
Linghu Xiaoxian sighed, "Alas, you brought this upon yourself. With no real skill, why pretend to be so virtuous? Now you've courted disaster."
Mo Qi remained unfazed, unmoving. He merely lifted his eyelids slightly and said, "Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late to regret it!"
The others turned a deaf ear, believing Mo Qi was merely playing psychological games, a sign that he was out of options and at his wit's end.
However, from Mo Qi's perspective, he wondered why these people were so misguided.
Wasn't it better to live?
The next moment, all their magical treasures erupted in a dazzling array of colors, surging towards Mo Qi!
Among them were Chu Xiangling's Heavenly Dao Stone, Han Wudi's Ling Tian Ruler, Mei Xing's Bagua Mirror, and the other five's flying swords, Five Poisons Beads, Red Gold Hammer, and Immortal-Subduing Whip!
A cacophony of booming sounds ensued, with energy and light crisscrossing, blindingly brilliant, like the sun falling to earth, too intense to behold.
The onlookers could only see a blinding light instantly engulf Mo Qi's body, completely obscuring him.
Disciples of the Sun Moon Sect sighed in unison, "Alas, I feel this person deserved to live the most."
"But what can be done? In this kind of competition, who wouldn't target him? If I were on the field, I would do the same."
"There's no need to pity people like this; he brought it upon himself. It's no one else's fault."
"Exactly, he courted his own demise! His cultivation isn't high, yet he acts so aloof. Who is he trying to impress? Is he the only saint, and everyone else is utterly wicked?"
"Yes, he deserves to die!"
As Mo Qi was submerged in the radiant light, Linghu Xiaoxian couldn't help but stand up, murmuring, "Isn't this a bit too... cruel!"
"Even though I wished for his death, he shouldn't have died so miserably!"
Linghu Xiaoxian left, looking somewhat lost.
It wasn't exciting at all!
Why, after watching, did she feel a sense of desolation?
She regretted coming.
Chu Xiangling gazed at the expanse of light in the center, thinking, he's probably turned to dust!
Who told you to provoke me! Do you think you can afford to offend this young lady?
Not only did you provoke me, but you also injured me, so you deserve to die!
The light persisted for a long time, and it seemed everyone was addicted, unwilling to retract their techniques. Explosions continued incessantly in the center, sand and dust churned, and smoke billowed outwards endlessly.
Han Wudi chuckled, "He's dead, definitely dead. Let's all retract our techniques together."
Mei Xing said, "Alright, I'll count to three, and we'll retract them together."
"Good!" everyone agreed in unison.
"One..." Mei Xing began to count.
Just then, without any warning, within the multicolored, vibrant light, a faint red glow flickered, like a phoenix suddenly taking flight, appearing and disappearing in an instant, as if it had never been there at all.
But all eight of them were undeniably injured!
And severely so!
The eight individuals fell to the ground in eight different directions. Some were still moving slightly, while others lay like heaps of mud, completely still.
As the light dissipated, Mo Qi remained seated in the center, his eyes closed in meditation, as if he hadn't moved at all, not even opening his eyes.
The surrounding spectators were stunned!
"Can someone tell me what happened?"
"I don't know, did they kill each other?"
"That must be it; otherwise, how could they have all fallen at once?"
At this moment, Mei Xing slowly stood up and shone his Bagua Mirror onto the other three who lay like mud. They instantly turned to ash, along with their flying swords and magical treasures.
Two more were about to stand up when he also struck them dead. The remaining two magical treasures, the Red Gold Hammer and the Five Poisons Beads, were not turned to ash, indicating they were truly precious items!
Mei Xing's eyes lit up!
Just as he was about to step forward to seize them, Mo Qi, sitting in the center, opened his eyes. He extended his hand slightly forward, and the two magical treasures fell into his grasp. He then calmly placed them into his storage bag!
Mei Xing curled his lips and prepared to use his magical treasure to strike Han Wudi. However, Chu Xiangling suddenly erupted, her Heavenly Dao Stone sweeping down from behind him with a swift brush, draining his vital blood in an instant, turning his body into a pile of withered bones. His Bagua Mirror shattered with a crack.
As Chu Xiangling was about to attack Han Wudi again, the referee suddenly announced, "The competition has ended!"
But she still sent her Heavenly Dao Stone flying, turning Han Wudi into withered bones as well.
His Ling Tian Ruler clattered to the ground.
Chu Xiangling reached out to grab it, but Mo Qi was faster. With a mere flick of his hand, the Ling Tian Ruler flew into his grasp and was, once again, nonchalantly placed into his storage bag.
How shameless!
He had never seen such a brazen person!
To gain without effort, to be lazy, and yet to be so composed!
Chu Xiangling swayed, her gaze fixed on Mo Qi, her eyes burning with killing intent.
Mo Qi didn't even lift an eyelid, calmly stating, "I advise you to calm down. Otherwise, you will face the consequences!"
Chu Xiangling hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked out of the arena.
The referee announced the numbers of the victors! Mo Qi stood up and also slowly walked out of the arena.
Under the arrangements of the Sun Moon Sect, Mo Qi, Chu Xiangling, and the victors from two other arenas, a total of twelve people, lined up. Mo Qi was pleased to see Ping Wu also standing among the winners.
The First Hall Master, Mu Yingxing, the Second Hall Master, Ma Ren, and the Third Hall Master, Bao Shuping, stood at the front of the队列, their eyes scanning each person.
It seemed they were going to select people!
Are we livestock? Mo Qi thought, a thousand horses galloping through his mind. If it weren't for Ling Feiyan and the others, who would endure such indignity?
He assumed they had already decided who would pick first and who would pick later.
With a tacit understanding, Ma Ren stepped forward first, selecting four people. Then, Mu Yingxing chose Ping Wu, Chu Xiangling, and two others. Bao Shuping, with a sigh of resignation, accepted the remaining four.
Looking at Mo Qi and the other three, Bao Shuping was on the verge of tears. What kind of trash were these? How did they manage to last until the end?
Bao Shuping waved his hand impatiently, "Follow me!" and turned to leave.
The four had no choice but to follow him.
They walked through corridors and halls, finally stopping before a tall tower.
Bao Shuping turned back and said, "This is the resting place of our Third Hall."
The three of them looked at it and their faces turned green.
What kind of accommodation was this? It was worse than the prison cell from last night!
The tower soared into the clouds, seemingly without end!
The tower's body was covered in moss, ancient and damp, with water droplets occasionally dripping from the eaves.
Dark energy swirled around, eerie and terrifying, as if emanating from within the tower.
A ghostly aura permeated the air, yet Bao Shuping said many people lived inside.
How could it possibly look like a place where people lived?
Bao Shuping continued, "You can choose your own floor to reside on. However, the lower floors are already occupied by those who arrived earlier, so you will have to search for living quarters higher up. But the higher you go, the harder it is to access. You'll have to rely on your own abilities."
"What I need to tell you is that the upper floors are difficult to enter, but once you do, there are many benefits."
After saying this, he turned and strode away.