Song Tian's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected Dan Bingli to have reached the late stage of the Spirit Control Realm! Filled with fear, he once again brandished his jade-bone fan, its surface emitting a brilliant light, and shouted:

"Spirit Wind Barrier!"

A barrier of wind formed by spiritual energy appeared in front of him, howling and trying to blow away the ice needles.

However, the vast difference in their cultivation levels left him with no way to resist. When the ice needles dissipated, Song Tian had already turned into an ice sculpture, still in the posture of waving a jade bone fan, but his eyes were filled with terror.

Click

Just as the ice sculpture shattered, a beam of blue light descended from the sky, guiding his figure away. The blue light contained a powerful yet gentle force, saving Song Tian from certain death, but judging from his condition, he wouldn't fully recover without several months of rest.

Seeing this, Dan Bingli was not surprised at all, after all, it was impossible for any real casualties to occur in this competition under Elder Fan's watchful eye.

He then glanced at Murong Liyue's side, pondered for a moment, and without interfering further, headed towards Qin Luo's side.

When Murong Liyue saw that the results for Dan Bingli were already in, she was somewhat surprised. How long had it been? She knew that Dan Bingli had already broken through to the Spirit Control Realm, but she really didn't expect that she could break through to the late stage in just three months. Such a breakthrough speed was truly astonishing.

While she was puzzled, she didn't delay any longer. She quickly changed her hand seals, and her spiritual energy flowed continuously into the spirit array that had already been set up.

The spirit array shone brightly, and the already complex and exquisite array patterns became even brighter. The spiritual energy patterns within the array swept towards Yao Feiguang like a tide.

Yao Feiguang felt the pressure around him suddenly increase. The invisible spiritual power was like mountains, pressing down on him and making it hard for him to breathe. He could only keep fighting back.

"Miss Murong, I just want an answer. Do you really have to be so heartless?"

Yao Feiguang gasped for breath, staring at Murong Liyue not far away with a face full of resentment.

Seeing this, Murong Liyue finally opened her lips, her voice as cold and flat as the water of a frozen pool:

"If your shameless behavior causes Qin Luo to harbor resentment towards me, I will crush you to dust and scatter your soul to the winds, even if it means I have violated the sect rules!"

In Murong Liyue's heart, she hoped to become the virtuous wife who could support and help Qin Luo, whether in the midst of external turmoil or in the quiet moments when they were alone together.

Instead of being a burden who always brings Qin Luo a lot of trouble and problems because of himself.

Although her appearance was natural, it seemed to have become a source of trouble.

From childhood to adulthood, she has had no shortage of suitors and admirers because of her beautiful face. But now, she is only willing to adorn herself for Qin Luo. Those unnecessary entanglements caused by her beauty are not what she wants.

"It seems that I will have to conceal my appearance when I go out in the future to avoid unnecessary attention and trouble."

Murong Liyue pondered to herself, while her spiritual energy flowed into the layers of spiritual arrays without reservation.

Upon hearing this, Yao Feiguang's body trembled violently, and he seemed to give up the struggle, muttering to himself:

"So... it was just wishful thinking on my part."

In his daze, the light patterns within the spirit array meandered and slithered towards him like serpents, instantly wrapping around his body.

Then, the light pattern suddenly contracted and slammed heavily into his body.

Yao Feiguang suddenly felt an overwhelming force raging within his body. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and uncontrollably spurted out a mouthful of blood.

Immediately afterwards, a blue light appeared, enveloping his figure. In the next instant, he was swept away by the blue light and disappeared from the spot, officially eliminated.

Upon seeing the blue light appear, Murong Liyue didn't hesitate and immediately rushed towards the stone steps, unwilling to linger there for even a moment longer.

On the other side, at the foot of the mountain.

As Qin Luo stepped onto the first stone step, an immense pressure, like a raging tsunami, swept over him, seemingly about to engulf him instantly.

However, a faint light suddenly appeared on Qin Luo's body, steadily resisting the pressure. He stood firmly on the stone steps, like a tall tower, completely unmoved.

Qin Luo's act of climbing the steps attracted most of the attention. The surrounding crowd watched Qin Luo stop on the first stone step and couldn't help but discuss it.

"Hmph, I thought he was some great figure, but he's nothing special. He got trapped on the first level. He's all talk and no action!"

"Look at his pretentious manner, he's thinking of getting to the top in one step, but he's stuck on the first step for so long."

"Maybe he's just being mysterious to attract everyone's attention, haha."

Seeing Qin Luo, who was at the height of his fame, standing on the first stone step, many people were surprised. Many who were jealous of him immediately took advantage of his misfortune, and some even burst into laughter, which echoed among the mountains, carrying a strong sense of humiliation.

Amidst the jeers of the crowd, Qin Luo seemed oblivious, his gaze sweeping past the large, dark mass of people climbing before him, and fixing on Wan Shuhua and the others who had already reached two-thirds of the way up the mountain.

Then, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, forming a meaningful arc.

"Then let me see what level my current physical body can reach."

As he finished speaking, Qin Luo slowly took a deep breath. At that moment, the dark light that had been shimmering on his body began to surge wildly.

The light spread and expanded rapidly like a tide, covering his entire body in the blink of an eye.

This placed Qin Luo entirely in a sea of ​​dim light, emanating a suppressed aura.

Immediately afterward, before anyone could react, Qin Luo took a step forward.

However, to everyone's surprise, the kick did not land on the second step as everyone expected, but instead appeared on the hundredth step!

Moreover, the speed showed no signs of slowing down and continued to climb.

His figure moved like a streak of light up the stone steps, speeding upwards and creating a whistling sound.

This sudden turn of events abruptly silenced the previously rising and falling jeers.

Those who had just been looking down on Qin Luo and mocking him were now staring wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

It was as if someone had grabbed my throat tightly; all the sarcastic remarks I had prepared were stuck in my throat, and I couldn't say them anymore.

Instead, there were countless gasps of shock, which sounded particularly clear in the suddenly silent mountain peaks.