"Ouch~"
Pei Lang's voice was high-pitched and bright, full of a cheeky and irritating joy, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
He deliberately tore a gap in the spirit stone bag, exposing the pile of high-grade spirit stones, which shimmered like a small mountain, to everyone's eyes, especially Yun Wan'er and the group of Tianyan Sect disciples.
"Come on, come on, take a look!"
Pei Lang swayed his hips, waving his spirit stone bag with a cheeky grin, "What's this? Ah, it's the high-grade spirit stones I just won!"
"100 yuan! A whole 100 yuan!"
Pei Lang's gaze was precisely fixed on Yun Wan'er, whose face was ashen, and the group of Tianyan Sect disciples behind her who dared not speak out against their anger. His tone was full of exaggerated sympathy: "Speaking of you lot, weren't you the loudest ones shouting at the gambling stall just now? Didn't you say you were getting free spirit stones? A sure thing?"
"Where are the spirit stones? Show them to me, young master!"
Pei Lang slapped his forehead suddenly, as if realizing something. "No way, no way? It can't be... all gone down the drain? Tsk tsk tsk, that's terrible! We didn't even hear a sound?"
His smug, arrogant demeanor was so convincing that it made the faces of everyone from the Tianyan Sect rubbed raw. Several junior disciples from the Chixiao Sect turned green with fright and pounced on him one by one, howling.
"Senior brother, please stop talking!"
One junior brother clung tightly to Pei Lang's waist, while another grabbed his leg and wailed, "That's enough, senior brother! Stop making us look bad, senior brother!"
Yun Wan'er was so enraged by Pei Lang's smug boasting and hurtful words that she almost fainted on the spot.
However, she couldn't beat Pei Lang, and Lin Qingyuan was still on the ground questioning his life after being instantly defeated, so he had no face or mind to talk back.
Intense humiliation and resentment gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes, and her fingers slowly reached for a jade lotus pendant hanging at her waist.
This was no ordinary sound transmission talisman, but a treasure bestowed upon her by her master, True Person Lingxiao. Even without uttering a word, it could clearly convey the intense grievances and humiliations she was experiencing.
Almost the instant Yun Wan'er grasped the Ice Heart Jade Lotus Pendant, an indescribable and terrifying pressure enveloped the entire Yunqi City Square without warning.
This oppressive aura wasn't deliberately released; it was more like a wisp of energy inadvertently leaked from a sleeping giant.
"Thump!"
"Thump, thump!"
As if struck on the kneecap by an invisible giant hammer, ninety percent of the cultivators in the square, including the City Lord of Yunqi City who had been watching the show with great interest on the high platform, turned pale instantly, their legs went weak uncontrollably, and they all knelt down.
Those with lower cultivation levels lay prostrate on the ground, trembling like leaves, not daring to even breathe.
The number one cultivator in Lingzhou, and the current leader of the Tianyan Sect—Master Lingxiao.
This powerful figure is undoubtedly the pillar of Lingzhou, with unfathomable cultivation, having at least reached the Mahayana stage.
After all, in the entire Lingzhou, apart from him, no one has been able to touch the threshold of Mahayana, let alone know the extent of his abilities. A single wisp of his divine thought is enough to change the landscape.
A voice, devoid of emotion yet imbued with supreme authority, resounded directly in Yun Wan'er's mind, echoing across the plaza like thunder from the heavens: "Wan'er, why are you so restless?"
The Lord of Yunqi City had just been hurriedly helped up by his subordinates when he heard this voice. His legs went weak, and he knelt down again with a "plop," sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.
His heart was filled with rage. How... how could Yun Wan'er be so favored by Master Lingxiao?!
Upon hearing her master's voice, Yun Wan'er instantly found an outlet for her pent-up frustration and grievances. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice, tinged with just the right amount of sobs, recounted the events of the Newcomer Competition "truthfully."
Within his sea of consciousness, Master Lingxiao remained silent for a moment, then let out a very faint laugh, a laugh containing an undisguised... disdain.
"Oh."
His tone was calm, yet carried an indifferent air of looking down upon the world: "If such a strange thing truly exists in Lingzhou, I would like to... see it for myself."
"Wan'er need not worry. I will emerge from seclusion and personally visit Yunqi City during the semi-finals."
Upon hearing this, the City Lord of Yunqi, who had just been helped up, went limp and knelt down again with a thud!
The Venerable Lingxiao himself has arrived?!
What merit does this tiny, dilapidated city possess?!
Yun Wan'er's portion size is terrifying!
Yun Wan'er was overjoyed, and a huge sense of vanity instantly dispelled all her frustration.
She instinctively wanted to curl the corners of her mouth, but fortunately she managed to calm herself down in time, trying her best to maintain that pitiful yet resilient white flower appearance, her voice carrying just the right amount of fear and self-reproach.
"Master, you absolutely mustn't! You went into seclusion to break through to the Perfection realm and undergo the Supreme Tribulation. How can you sacrifice Wan'er for something so insignificant..."
No need for further explanation.
Lingxiao Zhenren's voice interrupted her directly, carrying an undeniable force and a chilling hint of favoritism: "No matter is too small when it comes to Wan'er."
As soon as the words fell, the terrifying pressure that had enveloped the entire area receded like a tide, and the light of the Ice Heart Jade Lotus dimmed instantly, completely severing the transmission.
After a brief silence, the outer disciples of the Tianyan Sect, who had just looked like wilted eggplants, suddenly became as energetic as if they had been injected with ten pounds of chicken blood!
They all stood up straight, their faces beaming with pride, and swarmed around Yun Wan'er, chattering away as if they wanted to elevate her to the heavens: "Junior Sister Wan'er! Did you hear that? The sect leader is going to personally help you out of seclusion!"
"The sect leader treats his junior sister like a precious jewel. Her position in Lingxiao Zhenren's heart is indeed unmatched!"
"I knew it! That woman surnamed Shen is nothing but a crooked and evil practitioner. Let's see what kind of trouble she can cause when the real person arrives!"
Surrounded by the crowd, Yun Wan'er enjoyed the honor she had regained, which was even greater than before, and she was extremely pleased with herself.
She lowered her eyes slightly, trying to suppress the laughter that was about to spill out, her voice carrying just the right amount of weariness and strength: "Senior brothers, please stop talking... I feel really bad for making Master worry about me."
That posture was both pure and innocent, yet resilient.
Pei Lang was about to waile over the fact that "Master Lingxiao was personally present" when, before he could even make a move, two transmission talismans lit up almost simultaneously and appeared in front of Shen Zhaozhao and Wan Qianqiu, who had been standing outside with his arms crossed, seemingly oblivious to all the commotion.
It's Hsiao Ching-jui.
However, in the transmission talisman, Xiao Jingrui's voice was no longer as gentle and composed as before; instead, it was imbued with a despair that suggested he had seen through the illusions of the world and that everything was over: "Run..."
"If you two really can't escape, then good luck to you two..."
"Our sect leader, who's got a screw loose... he... he's... out of seclusion..."
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