Chapter 166 Eastern Region 29 Looking at the man in black, he seemed a bit stubborn, even his injuries...

The man in black seemed a bit stubborn, getting caught up in the fact that Xie Jiaoyue was being treated unfairly even though he wasn't fully recovered from his injuries.

Chief Wan pulled the person in front of the screen.

"Don't be sad, this little girl has actually turned misfortune into a blessing in disguise."

Only then did the man in black realize that Xie Jiaoyue's mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level was not something she had always possessed, but rather something she had just broken through to.

In other words, after the trial difficulty suddenly increased, Xie Jiaoyue immediately felt a life-or-death crisis and then broke through directly.

That's why Xie Jiaoyue's aura looked so unstable, fluctuating up and down, but at the same time, her spiritual energy was far more abundant than that of other disciples, precisely because of the spiritual energy feedback from heaven and earth brought about by her recent breakthrough.

The Baili clan chief spoke slowly: "If she breaks through again in the trial, given time, she will become a Nascent Soul cultivator just like you and me. After that, if we give her some more time, she might be able to reach the Divine Transformation stage."

The clan leader instinctively retorted, "How could that be?"

The differences between each level are enormous.

In recent years, the number of people advancing to the Nascent Soul stage has been decreasing, and only a dozen or so have reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage. As for breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage, not a single one has done so in the past hundred years.

The last Nascent Soul cultivator was very old, so old that he could disintegrate at any moment. If he died...

I dare not think about it.

Isn't that why they increased their investment in this year's All-Region Competition?

The clan leader remained silent.

As the head of a Heavenly-level aristocratic family, he naturally knew more than others, but when the person who could become his hope actually appeared, he was not so happy.

This person not only didn't appear in his home, but also clearly had a good relationship with all the races. Moreover, he remembered that Jinling City, where Xie Jiaoyue was born, was under the jurisdiction of the Baili family. As for the Xie family, they might also have a good impression of this person because of the shared surname.

He was the only one who had no connection with this person and developed a dislike for him even before they met.

After several emotional outbursts, he felt annoyed whenever he saw Xie Jiaoyue.

While the clan leaders were arguing in a sarcastic tone, the disciples participating in the All-Region Competition had already completed the dodgeball trial.

The first few people to come out were bruised and battered, squatting on the ground dejectedly. According to the rules, they didn't need to make any further judgments; they knew their scores were definitely bad.

The expressions of those who came out afterward varied.

Some looked smug, but after counting the number of people outside, their expressions gradually became serious.

Some were lying on the ground, barely able to get up; it was clear they had given it their all, just to hold on for one more second.

Others looked normal, indicating they were well aware of their own abilities. Although it was an important trial, it was still a competition, so why risk their lives?

Besides the clan elders and patriarchs of various races observing these people, there are also many reclusive bigwigs who are close to independence. They not only observe the disciples' performance during the trials, but also their mentality, and may choose their successors from among them.

Those who give their all are naturally the ones the big shots like the most.

Who doesn't like a hardworking child?

Of course, this batch is not what people are most concerned about. After all, hard work alone is not enough. Talent, hard work, and luck are all necessary to get on that ultimate path.

When only one person remained to emerge, everyone—from the onlookers in the tavern outside, to the high-ranking members of various clans sitting inside, and even the heads of the four most powerful Heavenly-level aristocratic families—was on high alert, eagerly awaiting the final result of the first round of trials.

The first round consisted of three events, and by then it was already dark, yet no one left. They had been waiting all day for this moment.

The tenth place finally started to appear.

It turned out to be a disciple of the Baili family.

Chief Baili's expression immediately turned sour.

“I usually tell her to train more, but she just won’t listen!” Then she immediately started calculating the overall score. Her disciple had done very well in the first two sections, and with the overall score, she might have a chance to move up a few places.

She began to silently curse the other families for their poor results, and even started to wish Xie Jiaoyue well, thinking that it was better for Xie Jiaoyue to get first place than for the two annoying families, Jue and Wan, to get first place.

In the tavern, the appearance of each of the tenth to sixth people elicited cheers from the crowd. People enthusiastically discussed the identities and achievements of these individuals, enjoying themselves even though it was something that had little to do with them.

Xie Lingliu's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Jiaoyue hadn't appeared yet. What did that mean? It meant that, at least in this aspect, Jiaoyue was at least in the top five.

She was all alone and didn't express her true feelings, but the little girl beside her remembered Xie Jiaoyue and spoke her mind for her.

"Sister, sister, has that pretty sister from earlier not come out yet? Is she exceptionally good at academics?"

The older sister carefully observed the water curtain: "For some reason, her water curtain has always been black, but since she hasn't come out, her grades must be good. My sister is really amazing; she found the most powerful cultivator in one go."

The men of the Gongshi clan seem determined to argue with them today, never forgetting to bicker with them, and now they've seized another opportunity.

"Wrong. Her scores in the previous subjects were average. Even if she does well in this subject, she may not be able to get into the top five."

The top five are special. The more generous rewards are just one of the benefits. The names of the top five in each All-Domain Grand Competition are engraved on a stone tablet located on the central long street of Buzhou Immortal Domain, which everyone can see. Who wouldn't want such an honor?

Xie Lingliu finally couldn't hold back any longer and rolled her eyes for the first time today: "Even if Jiaoyue is sixth or seventh... she is still much better than some people who are not even qualified to participate in the overall grand plan."

When the man from the Gongshi clan first noticed Xie Lingliu, he looked her up and down before disdainfully turning his eyes away: "Just an outsider, always so rude."

"You are quite good-looking. If you are willing to become a concubine, you might have a chance to make a living in the Buzhou Immortal Realm. At that time, someone will teach you how to discuss the Dao with the disciples of our aristocratic families."

Xie Lingliu wasn't annoyed. Instead, she shook the small ball in her hand and said, "I've noted it down. Your fiancée is a female cultivator from a collateral branch of the Baili clan, right? I'll go and tell her tomorrow."

The man from the Gongshi clan immediately panicked.

This marriage alliance with a top-tier family was something my family worked hard to secure, and we absolutely cannot let it go wrong in her hands!

He even thought, why not take a gamble and just do it right here!

The edge of the longsword at his waist had begun to gleam with a cold light.

The older sister standing next to her immediately stood up: "Shopkeeper, there are people here trying to cause trouble."

The reason why Baili's tavern has been so successful for so long is that, to say the least, its security is absolutely on par with the properties under the Heaven and Earth Bureau. Within moments, several fierce-looking cultivators arrived.

The man from the Gongshi clan immediately backed down, his knees buckling. The whole process was as smooth as newly spun silk, without a single wrinkle.

If hard tactics didn't work, he tried softer ones, taking out a large number of spirit stones and throwing them to Xie Lingliu.

"Outsider, is this enough? I advise you to stop while you're ahead. If you really anger me, you won't even get this."

Xie Lingliu found it amusing and placed the memory bead in her sister's hand.

"If I'm not mistaken, this person's betrothal partner should be you." Based on the clothing and accessories of the Gongshi man and the Baili sisters, and the information revealed in their conversation, Xie Lingliu had already guessed their identities. Before the two of them met each other, she had already gotten to know the two fiancés.

The older sister was initially confused, but with Xie Lingliu's guidance, everything made sense.

It turns out that the unlucky guy who was about to marry the person in front of him was her.

She went back and broke off the engagement.

The man from Gongshi left in shame and anger, and the scene returned to its usual cheerful atmosphere.

After learning that Xie Lingliu was Xie Jiaoyue's cousin, the Baili sisters immediately shared a table with Xie Lingliu. The younger sister began to talk endlessly about her admiration for Xie Jiaoyue, while the older sister even took spirit stones to place bets.

I'm not after money, I just want your support.

However, Xie Jiaoyue's water curtain remained completely black. Why was that?

Xie Lingliu was a little worried amidst the laughter and conversation. What if something unexpected happened... No, nothing would happen to my sister.

She continued to observe the water curtain, and the fifth one to appear was none other than Chu Xingjin.

Inside the trial grounds.

Chu Xingjin practically crawled out.

He wiped his face, and after scanning around, his expression turned extremely unpleasant.

He wasn't entirely satisfied with his results, but he didn't think it was his fault. Instead, he blamed everything on Xie Jiaoyue and the Xie family. If the Xie family hadn't been so insincere and hadn't offered him all their resources, thus delaying his cultivation progress, he would never have been outshone by those aristocratic scions and would only have achieved fifth place.

Fortunately, he is still in the top five.

Chu Xingjin checked again, wanting to see if the four people who hadn't appeared were the top four in the first two categories, and to see if his fifth place was solid. Upon checking, he discovered that Xie Jiaoyue hadn't appeared at all.

He wanted to ask someone, but he stopped himself after opening his mouth.

If Gong Shichuo knew that he was openly inquiring about Xie Jiaoyue, it would inevitably arouse Gong Shichuo's suspicion, making him feel that he and Xie Jiaoyue were still entangled, which would not do.

However, the more he couldn't ask, the more restless he became.

If Xie Jiaoyue's score is much better than his in this round, will he lose his top five position?

His mind began frantically recalling the trial ranking calculation method. He wanted to memorize the weights that he hadn't paid attention to before, calculating bit by bit how many balls Xie Jiaoyue would need to dodge before she could get past him.

The more he calculated, the more serious his expression became, because two more people came out.

There are only three people left.

If Xie Jiaoyue gets first place in this category...

No, that won't happen!

How much resources could a small, struggling family like the Xie family possibly have? Even if they gave it all to Xie Jiaoyue, what difference would it make?

Moreover... how could someone as shallow as Xie Jiaoyue, whose mind is full of romantic love, be worthy of being compared to him?

He is the chosen one.

Even though Xie Jiaoyue had proven herself countless times, Chu Xingjin still firmly believed that he would be stronger than Xie Jiaoyue.