Their voices were filled with a complex mix of astonishment and shock.

With his very first move, the top disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute had etched his name into everyone’s memory.

Elder Sang Yanping’s voice rang out at the perfect moment. "The winner is Chen Qing of the Cyan Wood Institute! He is rewarded with one drop of ten-year Earth Core Milk and ten days of cultivation in an A-Class Quiet Chamber at Langya Pavilion!"

This reward far surpassed any before it. The drop of ten-year Earth Core Milk, in particular, instantly drew countless envious stares.

With a calm expression, Chen Qing bowed toward Elder Sang Yanping and the Sect Leader. Then, under a sea of complicated gazes, he walked back to the Cyan Wood Institute’s ranks.

"Well done." Li Baichuan’s voice was deep, audible only to Chen Qing, who stood close by.

"Thank you, Master Li," Chen Qing responded quietly, his heart remaining untroubled.

Chen Qing’s battle against Li Lei had brought the festive atmosphere to an all-time high.

Although the subsequent matches were still fierce, they seemed somewhat lackluster with such a tough act to follow.

Disciples from the various institutes took their turns on stage. Swords flashed and fists flew, but none could replicate the stunning impact of Chen Qing’s Perfect Spear Realm.

The top disciples, such as Yan Yaoyang and Nie Shanshan, seemed to have reached a silent agreement, as no one else stepped forward to issue a challenge.

Yan Yaoyang’s gaze rested on Chen Qing for a moment, his expression grave, but it eventually settled back into composure.

「Time passed, and the sun began to set.」

When the final match concluded with a veteran disciple from the Kun Earth Institute narrowly defeating an opponent from the Li Fire Institute, Elder Sang Yanping stood up again and announced loudly, "The Sect’s Grand Celebration assessment has come to a perfect conclusion! All victors will be rewarded. You may collect your prizes from the Internal Affairs Hall later!"

"Next, I invite all our distinguished guests and fellow sect members to proceed to Tingtai Pavilion for the evening banquet!"

Following Sang Yanping’s words, the five Deans, the Elders, and the experts from the three visiting sects all rose to their feet. The atmosphere once again became relaxed and lively.

Just then, in that moment of festive transition when the noisy crowd began to move and order had slackened—

RUMBLE!!!

A deep, muffled boom, as if erupting from the very depths of the earth, exploded without warning!

Immediately after, the entire Lake Heart Island began to shake violently, as if an invisible giant hand was frantically shaking the island’s very foundations!

"What’s going on?!"

"An earthquake?!"

The solid flagstone ground buckled like waves, throwing countless unprepared people off balance. The din of toppling tables, crashing chairs, and shattering pottery was incessant.

Dingbo Lake’s water seemed to be boiling, churning and roaring violently. It kicked up murky waves dozens of feet high that crashed against the shore, filling the air with mist! The scene instantly descended into chaos!

He Yueting reacted with lightning speed, pulling a pale-faced He Lanxin behind him for protection. Gang Qi erupted from his body, blasting away flying debris.

"Don’t panic! Hold steady!"

Du Lingchuan let out a fierce shout, his voice like a clap of thunder. His burly frame was like a stabilizing needle, shielding several Xuanjia Sect disciples behind him.

Granny Ling Shuang slammed her Winding Dragon Staff onto the ground. A visible ring of Cold Ice True Gang spread out, enveloping the nearby Cold Jade Valley disciples.

Ye Qingyi’s elegant brows furrowed. Her figure, like a green lotus in the wind, remained stable amidst the violent shaking as her gaze swept across the surroundings.

The Deans of the Wutai Sect’s other four institutes also protected the disciples behind them, their expressions revealing a hint of nervousness.

Chen Qing watched Li Baichuan retreat slightly, followed him back a few steps, and asked, "Master Li, what’s happening?"

Li Baichuan said faintly, "It’s just a small matter. What’s there to panic about? Even if the sky falls, it won’t be your turn to hold it up."

’How could I not panic when I see you backing away?’

Chen Qing’s nerves tensed.

"The Demon Sect! Could it be an attack from the Demon Sect!?"

Amidst the chaos, someone shrieked this most terrifying guess in panic. Like a spark in a pan of hot oil, it instantly ignited an even greater panic!

The Demon Sect. In Yunlin Prefecture, their name was practically a taboo.

Some of the weaker disciples turned pale with fright. The scene was on the verge of spiraling completely out of control!

"SI—LENCE—!!!"

A deep bellow, seemingly containing the might of heaven and earth, exploded in everyone’s ears like thunder from the nine heavens!

The voice wasn’t loud, yet it instantly suppressed all the noise and screams.

It was none other than the Sect Leader, He Yuzhou!

He was now standing at the highest point of the viewing platform, his cyan robes fluttering without a breeze.

His sharp cry, infused with potent True Astral, instantly jolted the panicked crowd’s hearts and spirits, as if they had found their backbone.

Just as everyone’s hearts and spirits calmed slightly, and they looked uncertainly toward the Sect Leader and the still-churning lake surface—

BOOM—SPLASH!!!

The surface of Dingbo Lake near the center of Lake Heart Island suddenly exploded!

A massive pillar of water, dozens of feet in diameter, shot toward the sky!

The murky current, carrying silt from the lakebed, resembled a furious water dragon charging into the heavens!

The water pillar carried an irresistible force, as if it would punch a hole through the sky itself!

"Hmph!"

He Yuzhou snorted coldly. Without any visible movement, his figure appeared phantom-like in the air, directly in front of the water pillar.

He raised his right hand, fingers splayed, and thrust his palm out toward the raging water dragon!

VMMM!

A pale gold Geng Metal True Gang instantly erupted from his palm!

It wasn’t a roaring flame, but countless needle-fine, incomparably sharp golden strands of Gang Qi!

The True Astral left his body and expanded in the air, instantly forming a giant, pale gold Palm Seal dozens of feet wide! The edges of the Palm Seal shimmered, as if forged from a billion tiny, sharp swords. Carrying an incisive aura that could sever all things, it brutally cleaved into the top of the skyward-rushing water pillar!

CLANG—!!!

It sounded as if ten million Divine Weapons were being unsheathed at once! A piercing, sky-rending shriek replaced the massive boom, and countless dazzling golden rays burst forth from the billowing white steam!