As the thick smoke dissipated, the first thing everyone saw was Master Lingxiao still standing on the dueling platform.

Then, his eyes searched around for Changli Immortal Lord's whereabouts before he found him kneeling on one knee, having fallen off the arena.

As the last bit of smoke dissipated, the outcome of the elders' contest was finally decided.

The scene was completely silent; not a single person uttered a sound.

They seemed still immersed in the fierce competition.

After an unknown amount of time, a loud cheer erupted from the Flying Cloud Sect's preparation area.

"We won! We won!"

"Master Lingxiao! Master Lingxiao! Master Lingxiao!"

In the past, the entire audience would have chanted Lingxiao Zhenren's name.

However, only a few people cheered with the Flying Cloud Sect; the majority remained silent.

Although Immortal Lord Changli lost, the shock he brought to them was too profound.

He challenged Ling Xiao, the number one cultivator in the cultivation world, even though he was above his level, and was so ruthless to himself that he was willing to burn his divine soul power.

In this battle, Master Lingxiao can only be described as having won by a narrow margin.

If there were no difference in cultivation level, at the same cultivation level, Immortal Lord Changli would definitely be far ahead of True Person Lingxiao.

Immortal Lord Changli struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and dusted off the grime on his body.

He raised his eyes and looked meaningfully at Lingxiao Zhenren standing on the competition platform.

Then he withdrew his gaze, turned around and walked straight toward Shen Sangruo and the others who were rushing over.

His steps were composed, showing no trace of the embarrassment of a loser.

Did he lose?

Immortal Lord Changli twitched the corners of his mouth, a smile playing on his lips.

On the field, Master Lingxiao clutched his chest, his once cold and handsome face now covered in soot, and the hem of his robes was burned to ashes.

He looked more disheveled than he had ever been before.

This is what everyone can see. What they can't see is that at this moment, Master Lingxiao's chest is churning, he is forcibly suppressing the taste of blood in his throat, and his fingers hidden under his sleeves are trembling uncontrollably.

His complexion was not good; in fact, it could be described as ugly.

The words that Immortal Lord Changli had said to him during their final duel flashed through his mind:

"You are not worthy to be her master!"

The others couldn't see what happened because of the blinding light, but Lingxiao Zhenren knew clearly that Changli Xianjun was not knocked off the arena by him.

Instead, he withdrew from the competition himself.

He laid so much groundwork, but his real goal wasn't to win the match at all.

Changli Immortal Lord's goal from beginning to end has always been to avenge Shen Sangri.

If we could win the elders' competition, that would be ideal. If not, then we'd rather forgo the elders' competition and give Lingxiao Zhenren a good beating.

Lingxiao Zhenren had a sullen face. Changli Xianjun burned his divine soul power just for Chen Sangruo, for one of his disciples?

Is it worth it?

He frowned deeply, not understanding why Immortal Lord Changli would go to such lengths for Shen Sangri.

In his mind, it was a disciple's good fortune to have his master, as an elder, teach him cultivation techniques, thus fulfilling his duty as a master.

Disciples may go to such lengths for their master because they have received his favor, but how can the master harm himself for his disciples?

Lingxiao Zhenren was puzzled, and thought that Changli Xianjun was just putting on a show.

But this still shocked him greatly.

Lingxiao Zhenren had no time to think further; the sharp pain in his chest reminded him that he was seriously injured.

Immortal Lord Changli ran off the arena, creating distance to avoid most of the attacks, while he withstood them all.

Given that Immortal Lord Changli came specifically for him, it will probably take him more than a year to recover from his injuries.

Even the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm requires a year to maintain physical strength, so one can imagine how severe his injuries were.

"Master, are you alright?" Bai Mumu, Feng Heyun, and the others rushed over.

Lingxiao Zhenren's voice showed no sign of abnormality, his cold laugh carrying his usual arrogance and mockery, "It's alright, how could he possibly harm me?"

"It's good that Master is alright. I was so scared just now," Bai Mumu said worriedly. "Let me help you back to rest."

Lingxiao Zhenren subconsciously glanced in the direction of Ninghua Sect.

Shen Sangruo and the others also surrounded Immortal Lord Changli.

Shen Sanruo asked anxiously, "Master, how are you feeling? Are you badly injured? How is your soul?"

Unlike Lingxiao Zhenren, Changli Xianjun made no attempt to conceal his injuries.

"Ouch, it hurts so much! That Lingxiao Zhenren really tried to kill me! He hates me so much!"

"If it weren't for this immortal lord protecting my heart meridian in time, I'm afraid I would have already died."

"How terrifying, Master Lingxiao!"

As she spoke, she leaned into the arms of the fairy Qingluan beside her.

Qingluan Fairy: "..."

Despite his disdain, he accepted it anyway, considering that Immortal Lord Changli was half-dead.

Immortal Lord Changli's lips curled up imperceptibly. Face and such are all superficial; a man who knows how to be charming has the best life.

Upon hearing this, Shen Sangri frowned slightly. She knew Lingxiao Zhenren to some extent and knew that Lingxiao Zhenren's hostility towards Changli Xianjun was genuine.

"Then why did you burn your divine soul power to fight him to the death? Master, you don't need to do these things for me." She sighed, "This is my grudge against them."

She didn't want her current master and fellow disciples to get involved.

"What do you mean by 'you' and 'us'? You are my disciple, and I will not allow anyone to bully you." Immortal Lord Changli pretended to be angry. "If your senior brothers and sisters are bullied, I will also go and settle accounts with those people."

This is his duty as a teacher.

"Disciple understands." Shen Sangruo nodded. "Thank you, Master. Let us help you back to the preparation area."

She and the others from Ninghua Sect helped him up, and Immortal Lord Changli started groaning again, as if he had suffered a serious injury.

Only Lingxiao Zhenren, whose face darkened, knew that the guy was just faking it!

The injuries suffered by Immortal Lord Changli were less than a tenth of his! He was the one who was truly seriously injured!

And then there's Changli Immortal Lord's incredibly manipulative remarks—he's the one who clearly wants him dead!

Lingxiao Zhenren was already suffering from unstable qi and blood due to his serious injuries, and now he was even more angered by Changli Xianjun's distorted words, which made his breathing disordered.

Shen Sangruo showed such concern for a pretentious person, yet didn't even glance at him, the one who was truly injured.

He was her master for so many years!

For the first time, Lingxiao Zhenren felt the sting of being treated differently, and he felt extremely resentful.

To say he's unworthy to be her master?

No matter what, he is a thousand times better than this hypocrite!

Lingxiao Zhenren flicked his sleeve, ignoring Bai Mumu's outstretched hand that tried to support him, and left directly.

Bai Mumu awkwardly withdrew her hand and clenched it tightly.

The final results of the Elders' Competition have been announced. Gu Ci Zhenjun stood in the center of the competition platform and began to announce the rankings of each sect in this Elders' Competition.