Bai Ying was about to go and compete with Chu Wuchen as agreed with Elder Wei Ji when she suddenly heard a female voice rang out: "Who said the Xuan Tian Sect has no one left?"

The voice trembled violently, yet it stubbornly raised its pitch, sounding particularly jarring in the deathly silence.

Bai Ying frowned and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw her "good sister" Xia Yuwei hiding behind a maid, a wicked smile on her lips.

The maid's face was deathly pale, and her legs trembled like leaves, yet Xia Yuwei forced her to continue shouting, "I...I remember...Miss Xia Qingdai of the Xuantian Sect said...she can win this competition!"

"Whoosh—"

The entire training ground erupted in an uproar, as if a pot had been boiled over.

The mortals all turned their gazes to Bai Ying, their eyes filled with disbelief. The cultivators' seats were in an uproar, with elders from various sects whispering amongst themselves, their faces etched with doubt.

"Xia Qingdai?" An elder of the Ziyang Sect frowned and whispered, "When did the Xuantian Sect take in such a disciple?"

"Is he just someone brought in to fill a spot?" someone sneered nearby. "Even Xiao Yunlan lost, who else could possibly beat Chu Wuchen?"

Following the gaze of the crowd, they saw a girl dressed in plain clothes standing quietly among the mortals.

She was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pretty but unremarkable face, and no trace of spiritual energy emanating from her. How could such an ordinary girl dare to challenge Chu Wuchen, the young master of the Demonic Sect, who had already reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm?

"This is utterly absurd!"

"Isn't this suicide?"

"Has the Xuantian Sect gone mad?"

Mocking laughter rose and fell; everyone regarded it as a huge joke. Chu Wuchen's entourage laughed even harder, some even whistling.

Only in the Xuan Tian Sect's seat did Elder Wei Ji's eyes flash with a barely perceptible glint.

The white-robed cultivator actually showed up! Could there be some unexpected twist in this competition?

On the high platform, Chu Wuchen's lazy gaze finally wavered. He followed the crowd's gaze and casually sized up the "scapegoat" who had suddenly been pushed forward.

The girl was dressed in plain clothes, her face calm, without sorrow or joy.

"Oh?" He suddenly laughed, the demonic energy coiling around his fingertips transforming into a small snake, flicking its tongue as it slithered towards Bai Ying. "So it's you? Daring to claim you can defeat me?"

"Miss Xia!" The Third Prince suddenly stood up from his seat, his black brocade robe knocking over a teacup on the table, scalding tea splashing onto the back of his hand, but he was completely unaware.

Just now, Xia Qingdai softly told him that he could win the contest, clearly trying to comfort him. But this maid actually said those words at this moment; it was utter nonsense in public!

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to speak up to stop him, but when Chu Wuchen's icy gaze swept over him, a bone-chilling cold instantly froze his blood.

This prince, who was usually high and mighty, suddenly realized that in front of these cultivators, the power of mortals was nothing but a joke.

"Imperial Preceptor...please summon the Imperial Preceptor..." He trembled as he crushed the communication jade talisman in his sleeve, his eyes fixed on the maid who was shaking like a leaf, as if he wanted to take her life immediately.

The maid was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes.

Xia Yuwei, however, hid behind and gently waved a round fan embroidered with begonia flowers, a malicious pleasure gleaming in her eyes.

She knew, of course, that Xia Qingdai was not a cultivator at all. Now that she was being put on the stage, she would either show her fear on the spot, kneel down and beg for mercy, and become a laughing stock.

Or...

He was crushed into dust by that demonic cultivator!

Now, Xia Qingdai would probably kneel down immediately.

Just imagining that scene made Xia Yuwei incredibly excited!

Once this happens, Xia Qingdai will definitely become the talk of the town.

Who will dare say she's inferior to Xia Qingdai now!

"Sister, you'd better watch out," she murmured in a voice only those nearby could hear. "I'm waiting to see you... begging for mercy on your knees."

Xia Yuwei almost burst out laughing.

The entire arena was completely silent, with everyone's eyes fixed on Xia Qingdai.

Xia Qingdai's father, Xia Mingde, simply couldn't believe his eyes.

In stark contrast to Xia Yuwei's reaction, he was absolutely furious.

His face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he almost bit his teeth to pieces.

"This wretched child...this wretched child!" he cursed wildly in his heart, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

He only came here today to see if he could find a backer for the Xia family, but he didn't expect to see that idiot Xia Qingdai. What was she doing?

At this moment, let alone finding a backer, her actions are pushing the entire Xia family into a fire pit!

Who is Chu Wuchen? A traitor to the Xuantian Sect, a ruthless killer! If he were to take his anger out on the Xia family because of Xia Qingdai...

Xia Mingde's vision went black, as if he could already see the entire Xia family being devoured by demonic energy. He stared intently at Xia Qingdai on the arena, wishing he could tear her to pieces with his eyes—

"Kneel down! Kneel down and beg for mercy!" he screamed inwardly. "This damned girl, is she really going to drag her whole family down with her?! Even if she's severed ties with the Xia family, will Chu Wuchen care? We're still going to be implicated!"

However, to his utter horror, his timid and fearful daughter calmly raised her eyes and nodded slightly to Chu Wuchen.

"I would be grateful for your guidance, Cultivator Chu."

Her voice was neither humble nor arrogant, showing absolutely no fear.

Xia Mingde's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

What is that bastard doing? She actually dared to accept the challenge!

Bai Ying's clear, cool voice cut off all the noise as she slowly walked towards the arena.

"Xia Qingdai, a disciple of the Xuantian Sect." Bai Ying said, a black flame condensing at her fingertips. "Please enlighten me."