"How is this possible?"
Watching his offensive formation get blocked so effortlessly by his opponent, the disciple from the Star Fallen Holy Land immediately panicked.
"My turn."
But the Nine Profound Sect disciple clearly had no intention of giving his opponent any chance to recover. He immediately began setting up his offensive formation.
"I haven't finished preparing yet," the Star Fallen Holy Land disciple said.
"Once one side starts, the other must start as well. The two must be synchronized — that's the rule. Otherwise, you'll be the one at a disadvantage," an elder from the Nine Profound Sect remarked.
Under these circumstances, the Star Fallen Holy Land disciple had no choice but to immediately begin setting up his own formation. However, perhaps because his earlier offensive formation had consumed too much Mental Power, setting this one up proved extremely difficult for him.
Before long, the time of one incense stick's worth had passed, and his defensive formation still wasn't complete.
Boom— At that very moment, the Nine Profound Sect disciple's offensive formation came crashing in, not only shattering his unfinished defensive formation to pieces but striking him directly.
Though such an offensive formation wouldn't cause him any real harm, the sheer force knocked him to the ground, leaving him in quite a wretched state.
"Useless thing. With skills like these, you still dare to embarrass yourself out here? Get lost."
At that moment, an elder of the Star Fallen Holy Land was furious. After all, this was not merely a contest between disciples — it was a contest between their respective powers. The disciple's miserable defeat was genuinely humiliating for the Star Fallen Holy Land.
"I'll go."
Just then, another male disciple from the Star Fallen Holy Land stepped forward.
"What, you want to challenge me?"
The Nine Profound Sect disciple who had just won looked at the newly arrived Star Fallen Holy Land disciple with undisguised contempt.
"That's right. This time, it's my turn to challenge you," the Star Fallen Holy Land disciple said.
"Then come. The result will be the same regardless."
The Nine Profound Sect disciple spoke with the same contemptuous tone. It was as though, after the previous bouts, he had already figured out the Star Fallen Holy Land disciples' level of strength. So now he appeared even more confident, and he no longer bothered to show his opponents any respect.
Soon, the two began their clash — and once again, the duel played out exactly like the one before. The Star Fallen Holy Land disciple lost. He was simply no match for the Nine Profound Sect disciple.
"Forget it, let me go."
At that point, Shura Zhao Kun spoke up in a resigned tone, slowly rising to his feet as he did. He was preparing to make his move, but he didn't even bother to look at the Nine Profound Sect disciple properly. If the Nine Profound Sect disciple hadn't put the Star Fallen Holy Land disciples in his eyes, then likewise, this Shura Zhao Kun didn't put the Nine Profound Sect disciple in his eyes either.
"Let me try first."
But before Zhao Kun could even walk out, a figure darted forward ahead of him.
When the crowd saw who it was, every pair of eyes in the area lit up. Even the Nine Profound Sect disciple who had won two bouts in a row saw a dramatic shift in his gaze — the contempt vanished entirely, replaced by nothing but admiration.
The newcomer was none other than Xia Yun'er, the Holy Maiden of the Star Fallen Holy Land.
"Let me give it a try against you," Xia Yun'er said with a smile.
"Oh, that would be wonderful! To have a bout with Miss Xia would absolutely be my honor!"
The Nine Profound Sect disciple broke into an ingratiating grin, looking nothing like someone facing an enemy. His attitude couldn't have been more amiable — one might even say eager. And this demeanor was night and day compared to what he'd shown before, which left the two Star Fallen Holy Land disciples who had already lost to him grinding their teeth in frustration.
Showing different treatment was one thing, but showing it this blatantly was more than they could stomach.
"I'll attack and you defend — is that alright?" Xia Yun'er asked with a smile.
Her smile was devastatingly charming. The Nine Profound Sect disciple's eyes went completely blank, staring straight at her.
"Yes, yes, of course — whatever Miss Xia says."
The Nine Profound Sect disciple nodded eagerly. At this rate, he clearly had no intention of fighting seriously anymore. It was as though his very soul had been plucked away by Xia Yun'er.
"Then, I'll begin," Xia Yun'er said.
As she spoke, she began setting up her formation, and the Nine Profound Sect disciple hurriedly readied himself to respond.
It seemed that everyone present had been filled with anticipation for Xia Yun'er. Almost every spectator turned deadly serious — even Chu Feng was no exception. After all, Xia Yun'er was no ordinary disciple. She was the Holy Maiden of the Star Fallen Holy Land, the future inheritor of its legacy.
Finally, the time of one incense stick's worth arrived, and Xia Yun'er and the Nine Profound Sect disciple finished setting up their formations at the same moment.
The Nine Profound Sect's defensive formation was the same spherical barrier that looked rather ordinary.