"clang--"

A crisp bell suddenly rang throughout the arena. The casino steward wiped the cold sweat from his brow and announced loudly, "Beting is closed! The grand competition is about to begin. Please proceed to the arena!"

The crowd began to surge, and everyone headed towards the training ground.

Xia Yuwei followed the Fourth Prince, deliberately passing by Bai Ying, and said in a low voice, "Sister, be careful later, don't... get hurt." Her eyes flashed with malice, and she couldn't wait to see Bai Ying make a fool of herself on the stage.

Bai Ying didn't even lift her eyelids.

Upon seeing this, the Third Prince frowned slightly.

"Princess," the Third Prince stepped forward and said in a low voice, "if you feel it's inappropriate, you can still withdraw now. I can..."

"No need," Bai Ying finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice. "I can win this match."

Xia Yuwei burst out laughing, as if she had never heard a funnier joke.

"Then I'll be looking forward to my sister's performance."

—

With a deep, resonant chime, the array barrier surrounding the martial arts arena slowly rose, its spiritual patterns flowing and enveloping the arena.

Representatives from various factions took their seats in the spectator stands.

The members of the Xuantian Sect sat upright on the east side of the viewing platform. Several elders had gloomy faces, and their fingers were clenched into fists under their wide sleeves.

On the opposite stands, the vice sect leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect slowly rose, his withered fingers rubbing the poison pouch hanging from his waist. His hoarse voice, like a viper's hiss, said, "The Xuan Tian Sect has truly suffered a decline in talent these past few years..." His deliberately drawn-out tone was particularly jarring in the silent training ground, "...and this competition they can't even field a single decent disciple?"

The deputy sect leader suddenly changed the subject, a ferocious smile appearing on his withered face: "Oh, right, there is one..."

He stepped aside to make room for him, saying, "What a pity, he's now a distinguished guest of our Ten Thousand Poisons Sect!"

Behind him, Chu Wuchen, dressed in a long black robe, slowly stepped forward. This once most dazzling prodigy of the Xuantian Sect, now a genius who had betrayed the sect, wore a nonchalant smile on his handsome face. His slender fingers toyed with a blood-red jade pendant, his gaze sweeping contemptuously over the opposite stands, lingering on each of his former fellow disciples.

The disciples of the Xuantian Sect were immediately enraged. Several young disciples in the front row stood up abruptly, their swords jingling at their waists. "Chu Wuchen! You traitor!" someone couldn't help but shout angrily. Although the elders' faces were ashen, they still maintained their last bit of restraint, though their clenched fists were bulging with veins, and their knuckles were white from excessive force.

The bell rang again, signaling the official start of the duel. The members of the Xuantian Sect had no choice but to suppress their anger and place all their hopes on the disciple who was about to take the stage.

"The first match: Xia Qingdai versus—a rogue cultivator in the Golden Core stage, 'Blood Hand' Li Han!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, many people rushed towards the ring!

"Golden Core stage?! There's a Golden Core stage contestant in the very first match!"

Someone exclaimed, "How can they possibly fight like this? Xia Qingdai is just a beginner, isn't she?"

"Li Han? That ruthless man who once single-handedly wiped out a small sect?"

"Haha, Xia Qingdai is probably in big trouble now... The Third Prince placed so many bets on her, and they're all going to end up in the Fourth Prince's pocket."

The ordinary people at the scene seemed particularly excited.

Those mortals who could only look up to the immortal master on ordinary days were now all standing on tiptoe, desperately squeezing forward, wanting to see more clearly.

After all, no matter how interested they were in the previous competitions, they were only watching the competitions between those cultivators.

But Xia Qingdai was different; she was one of them too.

At this moment, the sudden appearance of such an ordinary person on the arena drew their special attention.

Amidst the murmurs of discussion, Bai Ying remained calm and composed on the arena, her gaze as serene as still water.

Across from him, Li Han grinned, his eyes flashing with bloodlust: "Little girl, admit defeat now, and you might at least leave with a whole corpse."

The nobles of the Fourth Prince's faction had already revealed a smug smile of confidence. They leaned back in their gilded chairs, their jade cups swaying slightly, their mocking gazes constantly shifting between the Third Prince and the arena.

"Your Highness, it seems you're going to lose both your money and your reputation this time." The Fourth Prince toyed with his jade thumb ring, deliberately raising his voice slightly. "Ten high-grade spirit stones are a small matter, but you're going to lose face completely because of Princess Qingping... Who would have thought she'd be so unlucky, facing a Golden Core cultivator in her very first match..."

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter erupted around him.

The Third Prince's long, slender fingers gripped the armrest tightly, his muscles taut beneath his black brocade robe.

He paid no heed to the mockery, his gaze fixed on the slender figure on the arena. "Go and summon the Imperial Advisor!" he barked at the guard beside him, his voice unusually panicked. "Tell him I owe him a favor! Ask him to protect Princess Qingping."

The guard hurriedly relayed the message, and a moment later, his face pale, he reported, "The Imperial Preceptor said... the arena's barrier was forged using ancient secret techniques, and even with his cultivation level, he cannot interfere with it..."

The Third Prince abruptly stood up, the jade pendant at his waist striking the table with a crisp shattering sound. He hadn't expected that even the Imperial Advisor couldn't help Xia Qingdai!

He just let Xia Qingdai participate in the competition because he thought the Imperial Advisor could protect her.

However, Xia Qingdai's luck was so bad that she encountered a Golden Core cultivator in her first match, and even the Imperial Preceptor couldn't make a move!

"Xia Qingdai..." he murmured unconsciously. The Third Prince clenched his fingers tightly, regretting that he shouldn't have let her participate in the competition.

From afar came the even more unrestrained laughter of the Fourth Prince's faction, while on the arena, Li Han revealed a bloodthirsty grin.

"Little girl, I'll give you one last chance. If you kneel down and beg for mercy now, I might take pity on you and let you die a quick death." As he spoke, he deliberately released the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator, and blood-red spiritual energy condensed into sharp claw blades in his palm.

Xia Yuwei watched the scene on the arena with unusual pleasure; she truly hadn't expected Xia Qingdai to be so foolish.

Could she really think that her mediocre skills are good enough to participate in this kind of competition?

Those cultivators are not like ordinary mortals; they will consider the other party's status and show mercy.

Princess Qingping is nothing but a fart in the eyes of immortals!

Xia Qingdai now only has two possible outcomes.

One option is to die on the ring, and the other is to kneel down and beg for mercy.

I just don't know if this cultivator will spare her life?

In any case, Xia Qingdai's disgraceful behavior today will spread throughout the entire royal city tomorrow!

Xia Yuwei suddenly regretted betting too little. However, seeing Xia Qingdai's disgraceful state was also incredibly satisfying!

At this moment, everyone was watching the arena, eager to see how Bai Ying would beg for mercy. After all, no one would believe that she would rather choose death.

Unexpectedly, Bai Ying said to Li Han:

"If you're willing to admit defeat to me, I might spare your dog's life."