“Yunmeng, you…”

Yun Teng's face was grim. He hadn't expected that his words would cause Yun Meng to sever ties with the Yunlan Holy Land and the main branch of the Yun family. However, he didn't think he was wrong. On the contrary, he felt that Yun Meng was blinded by love and would definitely regret her choice in the future.

Of course, Yun Teng didn't know Yun Meng's true aptitude. He only thought that Yun Meng, like most imperial princes and princesses, had the aptitude of a third-class emperor. This was why he helped Ye Chen even though he knew that Yun Meng was on Chi Yuan's side.

In his view, Yunmeng's importance to the Yunlan Holy Land was incomparable to that of Ye Chen.

It's good that Yunmeng has distanced itself from Yunlan Holy Land and the main branch of the Yun family right now, so that it won't fail to win over Ye Chen and cause Yunlan Holy Land and the main branch of the Yun family to stand against Ye Chen.

"I shouldn't have let that kid in!"

The Holy Lord Yunlan was heartbroken and full of regret. Since Yunmeng was called a goddess by the Heavenly Phoenix Clan, she must possess divinity. Even if her talent was inferior to Ye Chen's, it would not be qualitatively different.

However, compared to Ye Chen, whose chances of being recruited are slim, Yun Meng, as a daughter of the Yun family, has a direct connection to both the main branch of the Yun family and the Yunlan Holy Land. Yet now, because Yun Teng has sided with Ye Chen, Yun Meng has severed ties with the Yunlan Holy Land and the main branch of the Yun family. How could he not be angry and regretful?

"Hmph, even so, my attitude will not change. Unless he can prove that his talent is indeed higher than Ye Chen's, and that he was not possessed by a demonic cultivator, I have every reason to suspect that he has ulterior motives!"

Yun Teng stated with righteous indignation.

"I don't care about your attitude, but you've misunderstood something. I didn't mean for him to cripple his cultivation; that was just a casual remark. What I really want is..."

Chi Yuan paused, staring at Ye Chen, and said, word by word, "It's his fate!"

"Just as he wanted my life, the situation between us is already one of life and death, so don't even think about the possibility of us making peace."

"Let me give you another piece of advice: taking sides is not a game, not child's play, but a life-or-death struggle. Li Cangling is already dead at my hands. If you are determined to stand with Ye Chen and be my enemy, then don't blame me for showing no mercy when we meet in the arena."

What? Li Cangling was killed by Chi Yuan?

Upon hearing this, Chi Yue, Yun Teng, Wu Ban, Jiang Yi, and Feng Ge all changed their expressions drastically.

Having witnessed Chi Yuan's combat prowess, Feng Ge had no doubt about it. She was only glad that she was a person of her own mind, otherwise her life would have been in danger.

Yun Teng and Wu Ban both knew that Chi Yuan was incredibly powerful, but they never expected that Chi Yuan would actually dare to kill the Holy Land's imperial son.

Most importantly, Chi Yuan succeeded in killing Li Cangling even though Li Cangling could have retreated at any time. This means that Chi Yuan's combat strength is likely higher than they overestimated, and at least he can overwhelm Li Cangling!

Thinking of this, the two were shocked. They believed they were much stronger than Li Cangling, but they were far from being able to crush him. Did that mean that Chi Yuan's strength was also far above theirs?

Chi Yue and Jiang Yi were naturally shocked and horrified. It was unimaginable to them that Li Cangling, with his cultivation and combat power, would die at the hands of Chi Yuan, a first-level Spirit Sect cultivator.

But this only strengthened their conviction that Chi Yuan was suspicious!

Even those ancient freaks were far less powerful than this. If Chi Yuan hadn't been possessed by a powerful being, how could his combat strength have reached such an unbelievable level?

Moreover, Chi Yuan even threatened to kill Ye Chen, showing no regard for the overall situation of the righteous path. If he hadn't fallen into demonic possession, why would he disregard the future of the righteous path and insist on killing Ye Chen?

"Chi Yuan, don't think that just because you killed Li Cangling, we will be afraid of you. This is the righteous world, not the demonic world! Even if we don't take sides, we will not let the demonic path run rampant!"

Chi Yue said in a cold voice.

Jiang Yi also said solemnly, "Before we confirm whether you two are good or evil, we will not easily take sides, but we cannot sit idly by and watch you put Ye Chen to death."

"Right and wrong will be judged by the righteous law enforcers, but before that, we must ensure Ye Chen's safety!"

“That’s right. If Ye Chen is truly a disguised demon prince, he will not be able to hide it from the eyes of the law enforcers. Now that we have intervened, we cannot allow you to exercise your power as law enforcers and take his life.”

Yun Teng and Wu Ban both expressed their opinions, invoking the law enforcement to pressure Chi Yuan. They did not take sides, but both wanted to stop Chi Yuan from killing Ye Chen.

They were also afraid of death, and they only participated in the trial to do Ye Chen a favor; they never thought of risking their lives for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen sneered inwardly. Kill him? Who kills whom is still uncertain. Wait until the final arena and see how Chi Yuan survives against the Shadow Demon!

"The seventh trial will begin after an incense stick has burned. The exit channel has now been opened. Those who wish to exit may do so before the trial begins. Once the trial begins, those who have not exited will have their fate left to fate."

At this moment, an aged phantom appeared above the circular platform. This was the spirit of the Seven Absolutes Pagoda, known as the Tower Elder.

Along with Elder Tower, there was also a spatial passage for exiting the trial.

This is a standard procedure in the seventh level of the trial, giving those who are weaker or do not want to risk their lives in the arena a chance to withdraw, thereby reducing the mortality rate of the trial.

It's important to understand that the threats on the arena come not only from opponents, but also from the arena itself. Each arena is a dangerous place with a level of danger no less than the sixth level of the Absolute Ground, or even more so. Even if the opponent doesn't try to kill you, you could still die on the arena.

Therefore, let alone disciples below the sect level, even low-level or mid-level spirit sect masters are unlikely to survive on the arena. Only those who have reached the combat power of a high-level spirit sect master can guarantee that they will not die from threats other than their opponents.

It can be said that this level of trial is entirely a stage for high-level experts, and those with weak strength have no room to maneuver.

Many weaker participants on the platform had a clear understanding of this, so they withdrew from the trial as soon as the exit channel appeared.

Xu Jingyuan, Qiu Guangyu, and the other four also left. They only came to the top floor to get the pass reward; how could they dare to actually participate in the top floor trial? Wouldn't that be courting death?

"Wan'er, Liu Yan, you two should go out too."

Chi Yuan looked at Ning Wan'er and Liu Ruyan and said that their cultivation levels were too low at the moment. Even if they could unleash strength far exceeding their own cultivation levels, there was no need to use it in the trial, especially Ning Wan'er. He did not want Ning Wan'er to use that power that did not belong to her again.

"Yes, senior brother, please be very careful."

Ning Wan'er knew that staying would only worry Chi Yuan, so she obediently withdrew from the trial.

"Don't let me down."

Liu Ruyan gave Chi Yuan a look that only the two of them understood, and then left with Ning Wan'er.

Chi Yuan frowned when he saw Yun Meng still standing there motionless: "Aren't you going to go out and wait to die?"

Yunmeng had been waiting for these words. Although Chi Yuan's tone was harsh, she was still overjoyed. She gently told Chi Yuan to be careful, gave Feng Ge a knowing look, and then walked towards the exit passage.

After an incense stick had burned, the arena battle officially began.