The sudden change was noticed by only Yan Shouyi among everyone present.
The others had long since lost their patience. Even those who remained in their seats were merely guarding the belongings of others.
Noticing this shift, Yan Shouyi stood up in excitement.
Did the golden patterns spreading beneath Liu Yiren signify that she had suddenly achieved enlightenment and was preparing to end this prolonged battle?
Soon, others also noticed the change on the Myriad Laws Altar, covering their mouths and letting out hushed gasps. At the same time, they quickly notified their respective sects to return.
This competition had already lasted for two hours.
"What's happening? Lady Liu seems to have gained the upper hand!"
"Yu Lumin is completely immobilized, but Lady Liu is starting to exert her power. At this rate, Yu Lumin will lose soon!"
"As expected of the goddess I favor, go, goddess!"
If the Myriad Laws Altar were considered a massive chessboard, Yu Lumin and Liu Yiren would be the players, and the golden patterns beneath them would represent the territories they occupied.
Initially, both sides had developed steadily, with no clear advantage.
But now, Liu Yiren had suddenly erupted, her territory about to be fully claimed, even encroaching upon Yu Lumin's.
If Yu Lumin made no further moves, he would soon lose to Liu Yiren!
The Old Heavenly Master, standing in the Heavenly Master Hall, suddenly had a spark in his eyes.
He couldn't help but step out of the Heavenly Master Hall, allowing the raindrops to fall on his magnificent Heavenly Master robe.
"How did that girl Liu Yiren suddenly achieve enlightenment?"
The Old Heavenly Master muttered to himself, puzzled. He soon noticed Yan Shouyi beside him.
His expression turned somewhat peculiar: "Could it be because of this brat Yan Shouyi?... True love conquers all?"
Just as everyone thought the outcome was decided, a new development occurred!
Yu Lumin frowned, and the golden patterns beneath him began to surge!
And their surge was even faster than Liu Yiren's!
Even more astonishing, Yu Lumin's movements were more aggressive. He disregarded his own territory and began directly invading Liu Yiren's!
"Everyone, look quickly, Yu Lumin has started to counterattack!"
"It seems both sides were conserving their strength, preparing for this final push!"
"I never realized Yu Lumin had such strong aggressive tendencies!"
"This isn't just a competition, it's a strategic game, with the Myriad Laws Altar as the board and their magical power and willpower as the pieces!"
This "ordinary" competition had finally reached its climax, and everyone was staring intently, holding their breath!
Yu Lumin was invading Liu Yiren's territory, while Liu Yiren had already set up her defenses within her own domain to welcome Yu Lumin's advance.
The two sides exchanged blows, each gaining and losing ground, but it was far more thrilling than their previous clashes!
Suddenly, Yu Lumin retracted all his golden patterns, concentrating all his magical power into a single point.
Liu Yiren seemed to sense Yu Lumin's intention and also withdrew all her golden patterns.
The Myriad Laws Altar, which had been radiating golden light, suddenly calmed. The concentrated golden patterns of the two figures emitted a blinding radiance, like a bonfire.
Yan Shouyi's expression froze, his eyes fixed on the Myriad Laws Altar.
The two of them were about to fight to the death.
Yu Lumin refused to admit defeat, and Liu Yiren was even more determined. Both had reasons why they couldn't lose.
Success or failure hinged on this moment!
The golden light before them grew brighter and brighter, its radiance even surpassing the setting sun, competing with it!
Immediately after, two streams of golden light shot out like snakes, weaving their way across the Myriad Laws Altar, and in the next second, they collided at the center!
BOOM!!!
With a deafening roar, the two streams of golden light merged into one, then transformed into ripples that spread outwards!
Wherever the ripples passed, the formation patterns of the Myriad Laws Altar appeared, and the hard bluestone seemed to turn into soft lake water.
Golden light flickered, like ripples on a pond!
Suddenly!
From the heavens above, a pillar of light descended!
The pillar connected heaven and earth, as if opening a path to ascension in the mortal realm!
Simultaneously, dragon and tiger phenomena reappeared, with dragon and tiger gods coiling around the pillar!
Everyone was stunned. Gazing at this miraculous phenomenon, they seemed to have lost the ability to speak.
Yan Shouyi stared at the pillar of light and muttered hoarsely, "The Gate of Ascension... it's real?"
What would one see if they stepped into that pillar of light?
Were there immortals?
Would one become an immortal?
It was unimaginable that the struggle between Yu Lumin and Liu Yiren had actually activated the Myriad Laws Altar and opened the legendary Gate of Ascension?!
Slowly, everyone recovered.
Yan Shouyi noticed that some of the audience had looks of intense eagerness in their eyes.
It seemed as though they could suddenly rush onto the Myriad Laws Altar at any moment and charge into the pillar of light.
The atmosphere suddenly turned eerie.
Just then, a figure flew out from the Heavenly Master Hall!
As the figure landed, a palm strike landed on the Myriad Laws Altar, causing the ground to shake. Everyone, startled, quickly grabbed onto nearby objects, and some even fell to the ground in disarray.
When everyone looked up again, the descending pillar of light had begun to shatter and disappear!
Looking down, the Myriad Laws Altar had been reduced to fragments by that single palm strike!
That person destroyed the Myriad Laws Altar and the Gate of Ascension?!
A sense of inexplicable anger swept through the crowd. A chance for ascension was laid out before them; who had ruined everyone's opportunity?!
However, upon closer inspection, their anger instantly extinguished.
The one who had made the move was none other than the Old Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhang Yin!
Zhang Yin knelt on one knee, holding a whisk in one hand and patting the Myriad Laws Altar with the other. His Taoist robe fluttered without wind, along with his snow-white beard.
The Old Heavenly Master's gaze was cold as he slowly straightened up and said calmly:
"The so-called Gate of Ascension is nothing but empty talk. The phenomenon just now was merely the result of the contest between Yu Lumin and Liu Yiren. Now that the contest has concluded, I intervened to stop the fight, thus dispelling the phenomenon."
The crowd was speechless.
According to the Old Heavenly Master's logic, the Gate of Ascension simply did not exist.
The divine spectacle just now was merely the outcome of the two individuals' struggle.
This...
was hardly convincing!
No matter how outstanding two juniors were, they couldn't possibly trigger the phenomenon that had just occurred!
The Old Heavenly Master's actions felt like a clumsy attempt to cover something up!
However—
Even though everyone harbored doubts, who dared to voice them?
Who dared to stand before this old man who had shattered the Myriad Laws Altar with a single palm and accuse him of ruining everyone's good fortune?
No one.
The Gate of Ascension arrived quickly and departed even faster. By the time everyone recovered, the phenomenon had completely vanished.
All that remained were the shattered Myriad Laws Altar and the fallen figures of Yu Lumin and Liu Yiren.
Everyone swallowed their saliva, shifting their attention back to the two of them.
Yu Lumin and Liu Yiren had created such a grand spectacle. Now that the outcome was decided, who had actually won?
[Author's Notes]
Happy New Year, everyone!
This February, I want to work extra hard, so I will definitely update more. However, during these few days of the New Year, I'll be visiting relatives, so intensive writing won't be possible.
After the 15th of the first lunar month, I'll be in full swing. From the 15th to the end of the month, I'll be updating 10,000 words daily so you can enjoy yourselves! I've made my promise; now it's up to all of you! Please vote and comment more!