"What's wrong? Judging by your expressions, it seems you're unable to accept the challenge."
"Could it be that Situ Qi left you all those resources, yet you haven't even managed to cultivate a single Spirit World Master at the seventh level of Dragon Transformation?"
The blue-robed woman directed her words at the Zhuge Family Patriarch, a mocking curve playing at the corner of her lips.
"My lady, our Zhuge Family's talent is naturally limited. We cannot compare with the Situ Spirit World Gate."
"The Zhuge Family truly has no junior capable of exchanging blows with this young master."
The Zhuge Family Patriarch said.
"No matter. This contest is about fairness, after all."
"Otherwise, people might say I'm bullying you."
"See this? When two juniors step inside, even if their cultivation levels differ, the palace will equalize their barrier battle power to the same level."
The blue-robed woman pointed at the palace formed from the white hair.
Hearing this, the Zhuge Family members reexamined the palace, and a glimmer of hope and anticipation surfaced in every pair of eyes.
Under normal circumstances, not even Zhuge Feiluan would stand a chance against this Situ Gouyue.
But if their barrier battle power could truly be brought to the same level, they still had considerable confidence in Zhuge Feiluan.
After all, it was only natural for a great family with abundant resources to produce powerful juniors.
But when it came to talent and mastery over barrier arts, they felt Zhuge Feiluan was second to no one.
"If that is truly the case, our Zhuge Family is willing to give it a try."
The Zhuge Family Patriarch also spoke.
"Heh…"
But after the Zhuge Family accepted the challenge, the blue-robed woman simply smiled faintly.
"Since you've accepted, I should offer your Zhuge Family a reminder."
"Because my treasure equalizes the juniors' barrier battle power, you need only send out a junior with sufficiently refined barrier arts. As for barrier battle power, it can practically be ignored."
"Although you cannot possibly win, at least sending out someone skilled in barrier arts will ensure the loss won't be too embarrassing."
"Right?"
The blue-robed woman's words were utterly arrogant.
She didn't even show the Zhuge Family the slightest shred of basic respect.
Yet the Zhuge Family members wore smiles on their faces — awkward smiles, to be sure, but they clearly revealed their fear of the Situ Spirit World Gate.
"Thank you for the reminder, my lady."
Even the Zhuge Family Patriarch, faced with this entirely disrespectful "reminder," could do nothing but accept it.
"Young Master Gouyue."
The blue-robed woman turned toward Situ Gouyue.
Situ Gouyue strode directly into the palace.
"Feiluan, stop once the contest is decided."
The Zhuge Family Patriarch also looked toward Zhuge Feiluan.
Though his words said "stop once the contest is decided," what he transmitted secretly was to fight with everything he had.
Of course, his secret transmission was inaudible to others. Everyone only heard those words about stopping when appropriate.
The Zhuge Family members naturally understood this was mere courtesy.
But when those words reached the ears of the Situ Spirit World Gate crowd, they took on an entirely different flavor.
"Stop once the contest is decided? And you think you can do that?"
"Come — step up and fight me. Clash barrier formations with me. If I cannot defeat you in a single strike, I, Situ Gouyue, will concede defeat."
From within the palace, Situ Gouyue pointed directly at Zhuge Feiluan.
"A single strike?"
The moment those words left his mouth, they sparked immediate displeasure among the Zhuge Family members. Even Shengguang Buyu and the others found it rather surprising.
"This junior from the Situ Spirit Gate is quite arrogant."
"Does he really take Zhuge Feiluan for some pushover?"
Shengguang Baimei said via secret transmission.
Though he disliked Zhuge Feiluan, he still acknowledged his strength.
Swoosh—
At that moment, Zhuge Feiluan also flew into the palace.
"May I ask — how shall we conduct this contest?"
After entering, Zhuge Feiluan gave a polite bow.
"You and I will each set up a formation. We begin now, and it ends in half a stick of incense."
"Whether or not you've finished setting up by then, I will launch my attack without hesitation — and I will not hold back."
"So if you're afraid, you may concede right now." Situ Gouyue said.