He crashed heavily onto the Martial Arts Arena, and the broadsword flew from his grasp.

The vast plaza once again became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The two Sect Masters stopped at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, breaking out in a cold sweat.

’Thank goodness. Song Wanning was rational enough not to deal a killing blow.’

That soul-shaking killing intent from just a moment ago was truly terrifying!

It was only then that the crowd realized this Dan Dao Master actually walked the path of slaughter.

The contrast was just too great.

"Ugh—"

Liu Yao lay on the ground, unable to get up. His body twitched a few times as he coughed up more blood.

Not only was he covered in wounds, but he had also suffered severe internal injuries. His organs were all displaced, and that last sword strike had even left a crack in his heart.

It would take him one or two years of recuperation to fully recover!

’So terrifying.’

’When that sword strike came, the urge to submit rose uncontrollably in my heart again...’

’Song Wanning knows Demon Arts!!!’

’She’s too wicked!’

Liu Yao flinched. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. ’Thankfully this is the Martial Arts Arena. Otherwise, I would have been done for just now.’

As his mind raced, a pair of blue and white, diamond-studded boots appeared before his eyes.

He looked up to see Song Wanning’s icy face.

Her expression was indifferent, the killing intent around her yet to dissipate.

She spoke in a cold voice, "Liu Yao, I never imagined you could be so condescending. Yiyi and I had an agreement, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult me like this!"

"Did you think that by doing this, I would accept you?"

Song Wanning’s voice reached everyone’s ears.

"Let me tell you, someone like you isn’t even worthy of carrying my shoes!"

’Not even worthy of carrying her shoes?!!’

Liu Yao’s eyes went wide. Blood rushed to his head, and he violently spat out a large mouthful of it. His vision went black, and he passed out from sheer rage.

He had never, ever imagined things would take such a bizarre turn.

’This wasn’t what I wanted at all...’

Liu Yao fainted, and the entire audience erupted in an uproar.

Endless sighs and jeers rose and fell, with many disciples even starting to whistle mockingly.

The Sect Master of the Mountain Gazing Sect had completely lost face. He wished he could just turn and leave.

But he couldn’t.

The duels had only just begun. He had to stay here and continue being "disgraced"...

Fuming, he shot Liu Yao several glares before shouting at Liu Yiyi in the crowd, "Hurry up and get him down from there!"

’Hasn’t he caused enough of a disgrace?’

’Those two siblings are both so unreliable. If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought them!’

Scolded so fiercely, Liu Yiyi’s face flushed red. She bit her lip, stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena, and lifted the blood-soaked Liu Yao.

Her hands trembled with anger, and her eyes, fixed on Song Wanning, were filled with hatred.

"Song Wanning, I never knew you were this kind of person! After so many years of friendship, you actually..."

"What? Now you want to turn the tables and blame me?"

Song Wanning dropped all pretense. She sneered and shot her a glance.

"It was clearly you two siblings who colluded to set me up and humiliate me. You’re a real case of the thief crying ’stop thief’!"

"Did you think that by having your brother throw the match, I’d be so moved that I’d fall in love with him and let you into the Song Family? I’m not that stupid!!!"

Liu Yao’s goal had always been to use the Song Family for a meteoric rise. She wasn’t lying.

The moment she finished speaking, the people from the other Sects instantly understood.

’So that’s how it is. Liu Yao is quite the schemer.’

Someone couldn’t resist teasing, "It seems the benefits at the Mountain Gazing Sect aren’t that great. Why else would he ignore his Sect’s interests just to suck up to someone?"

"Why don’t you all come to our Sect instead? We definitely won’t treat you poorly..."

"HAHAHA!"

The members of the Mountain Gazing Sect: "..."

’I want to die!’

"You’re slandering us!"

Liu Yiyi was stunned by Song Wanning’s "shamelessness." She never had such a plan.

She only wanted to use Song Wanning as a stepping stone to boost her own fame. Her brother knew nothing about it!

Song Wanning was completely framing them.

Endless hatred churned in her heart, but then she suddenly heard Song Wanning’s voice transmitted directly to her mind.

The voice was tinged with disdain and dripping with malice.

"I did it on purpose. What are you going to do about it? Idiot!"

"SONG WANNING!!!!"

Liu Yiyi broke.

’In the past, Song Wanning was always the one she could play with and manipulate!’

’Why did she suddenly change?’

Liu Yiyi shrieked with fury, having long forgotten her innocent and pure facade.

This caused another wave of murmurs to spread through the crowd.

Song Wanning smiled faintly, gave her a slight, mocking curl of her lips, and glided away.

Her movements were graceful as she landed lightly back in her seat.

The gazes of the surrounding Nascent Soul Cultivators all turned toward her in unison.

But they only saw her cross her legs and leisurely smooth her hair, completely devoid of the "crazed" appearance she’d had just moments ago.

Song Wanning looked up, a smile playing on her lips, and asked, "Why is everyone looking at me like that? Do you have an opinion on my methods?"

This series of duels was being held under the banner of a friendly spar, so it was natural that one shouldn’t be too heavy-handed.

Yet Song Wanning had severely injured Liu Yao, which was indeed hard to justify.

But given Liu Yao’s actions, only one thing could be said: he deserved it!

No one could really say anything, so they all just smiled, offered a few pleasantries, and turned away.

Two rounds of duels had ended in such a bizarre fashion, leaving everyone rather frustrated.

Liu Yiyi, unwilling to accept defeat, carried Liu Yao and retreated. She had to take him to their lodging at Guest Welcoming Peak and get him settled. She couldn’t let this duel affect his foundation.

Everything finally returned to normal.

Soon, other Cultivators took to the Martial Arts Arena, and a new duel began.

Song Wanning sat lazily while Bai Yang and Li Rao ran up to stand behind her.

’Master showed her might just now and gave Liu Yao a proper thrashing. That was so satisfying!’

Li Rao’s eyes shone. With every move Song Wanning made, her admiration reached a new peak.

’Master is the most powerful person in the world!’

Bai Yang was also filled with pride. ’Someone like Liu Yao dared to covet Master?’

’As if he’s worthy!’

However, the situation was still grim. As long as the ancestors didn’t appear, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s position would remain extremely difficult.

As a member of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, he hated that his own strength was so low that he couldn’t represent the Sect in battle.

Bai Yang silently clenched his fists.

’Cultivation cannot wait. I hate this feeling of powerlessness!’

...

The duels continued, but Song Wanning was growing sleepy just watching.

She let out a bored yawn and propped her chin on her hand, listlessly gazing at the Martial Arts Arena.

She had no interest in these matches. The only reason she remained was to wait...

...to wait for the news that would cause the Heavenly Inquiry Sect to be demoted to a mid-tier Sect.

’It should be about time...’

In her previous life, this news had also impacted the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. But because Master Liu was still guarding the Sect, and Gu Qingyuan later quickly advanced to Divinity Transformation under the "favor" of the Heavenly Dao, the Sect ultimately avoided the fate of decline.

In this life, however, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect wouldn’t be so lucky.

The battle on the Martial Arts Arena was intense, and everyone was captivated by the tense situation.

Suddenly, the long, drawn-out toll of a bell rang out.

The entire audience was stunned!