“Talent ability?” Fu Yunzi frowned, vaguely feeling it was a bit tricky.

Originally, he just wanted to use the White Deer as a fuse to provoke the Faceless Sword Sect into action.

But now it seems…

This White Deer is hiding more strength than he thought.

‘He can't even use the magical artifact I gave him. Zhao Chi couldn't probe out the full extent of this kid's power at all.’

He looked at Yun Ling not far away. The old guy obviously realized something and was approaching the leading elder of the Years Gate to exchange whispers.

“The winner is the Faceless Sword Sect, Bai Lu!”

The Yuheng Sect's people shouted loudly again.

Li Cheng頤, as the leader of the Faceless Sword Sect's Four Young Swords in the Blue Elite Group, was already highly anticipated. Now, instantly defeating Zhao Chi made the people of his sect and the Years Gate cheer loudly.

Without arrogance or impetuosity, he bowed slightly to all sides and turned to leave the stage.

This battle was over.

On the other side of the arena, Bai He was sent flying by a sword strike, sparks flying. He couldn't muster even a trace of resistance against the Yuheng Sect woman named Shangguan Zi, and surrendered after a few exchanges.

“Rest for thirty breaths. The final battle will determine first and second place.”

The announcement sounded.

Li Cheng頤 left the stage and stood beside Huo Qingkong.

“The Qingmu Sword Sect is acting strangely,” he whispered.

“I know,” Huo Qingkong replied, “Their elder is colluding with the Yuheng Sect. It seems they're working together.”

“What do we do then?” Li Cheng頤 frowned slightly.

“You kids don't need to worry. Elder Yun Ling has made preparations. I'll take care of the rest,” Huo Qingkong said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a fiery gaze was cast from not far away.

It was Ding Zou, the Red Frost Sword of the Qingmu Sword Sect.

Her eyes revealed a burning fighting spirit, clearly waiting for this battle for a long time.

Soon, the final battle began.

Li Cheng頤 and Shangguan Zi of the Yuheng Sect stood opposite each other.

The entire vast arena was empty except for the two of them.

“You're very fast, but victory isn't just about speed,” Shangguan Zi said, her eyes sharp. She bowed slightly, gripping the burning sword on her back.

“Ready.”

The broadcast sounded.

“The final battle, begin!”

The sound waves spread, faded, and landed.

“Instant Prison!”

“Flying Swallow!”

The two drew their swords and charged simultaneously.

*Whoosh!*

Green and red lights suddenly intertwined.

Everything returned to silence.

Li Cheng頤 gently sheathed his sword and turned to walk off the stage.

Behind him, Shangguan Zi collapsed to her knees with a *thump*, a large bloody hole bursting open in her abdomen, blood splattering everywhere.

She was unconscious, her pupils dilated, already in a state of coma.

The shock from the immense power of that exchange instantly deprived her of her fighting ability.

Another one-shot kill.

At first, the four sects didn't pay much attention to the Blue Elite Group. After all, compared to the Grand Group, the Blue Elite Group was just an appetizer, a warm-up.

But as Li Cheng頤 continued to make moves, the upper limit of the Blue Elite Group's strength was rapidly raised.

And that last sword strike had even reached the level of four times the speed of sound, which most deacons couldn't achieve.

Such speed made all the spectators feel a chill in their hearts.

“The number of Yuan Imprints is still the same. It should be a special ability of his bloodline talent,” an elder next to the Yuheng Sect Master whispered.

“Yes, a good ability,” the Yuheng Sect Master nodded.

Thus, the Blue Elite Group's competition came to an end. Li Cheng頤 undoubtedly won first place, earning the right to comprehend the Heavenly Stele for a day.

When he returned to the Faceless Sword Sect's camp, Huo Qingkong had already been called away by Fu Yunzi to prepare for the upcoming Grand Group competition.

“Next, there's nothing for us to do,” Bai He said with a bandage wrapped around his face, cheerfully approaching.

“Congratulations, Senior Brother!” He clasped his fist.

“Congratulations, congratulations.” Qiu Chen also approached with a smile on his face from behind.

Zhao Yuan was at the back. Still heavily injured, she was walking with a slight stagger.

“Congratulations…” She lowered her head and squeezed out the words.

“It's just a small matter. Everyone has only just begun to cultivate their techniques. Winning is just luck. We'll only see real potential later,” Li Cheng頤 said modestly.

“Bai Lu, you're too modest. Anyone with eyes can see that you're much stronger. First place is well deserved,” Bai He said seriously.

“But you also need to be careful. That Shangguan Zi, and Zhao Chi, are both geniuses with strong bloodline talents. Their strength will increase rapidly after their talents erupt,” he added.

“Yes, I'll be careful,” Li Cheng頤 nodded.

He looked around. The surrounding mountains were full of forests. Perhaps he could find some flowers to absorb.

However, considering the strange atmosphere just now, he temporarily suppressed the idea of leaving the team.

This competition seemed a bit dangerous. He could absorb flower energy anytime, but safety must come first.

Not long after, the Grand Group competition began.

The Yuheng Sect's elder personally took action to reinforce the protective formation on the field.

The sixteen members of the four sects stepped onto the stage in pairs.

The ending was without suspense.

No matter who he faced, Senior Brother Huo Qingkong used only one sword strike.

Without drawing his sword, he simply used the Wisdom Sword, a momentary flash.

Victory and defeat were decided.

Whether it was the Years Gate expert with the toughest physique, or the Qingmu Sword Sect expert Ding Zou.

It was all one sword strike.

The only difference was that Ding Zou was the only one among all the opponents who was not injured.

Everything flowed from high to low like water, as if it were natural and inevitable.

Huo Qingkong won without any ripples.

In just one day, the competition ended.

As darkness fell, the Yuheng Sect Master began to distribute the rewards.

“The comprehension of the Heavenly Stele will be given to Shangguan Zi, who will take Bai Lu. As for the Heavenly Silk Cocoon…”

Her face was cold as she opened her hand. A translucent golden cocoon was lying quietly in her palm.

The cocoon radiated golden light, and faint golden mist was dissipating around its body.

“Huo Qingkong, it's yours,” she gently tossed the cocoon.

The cocoon transformed into a golden thread, flying across the arena and landing steadily in Huo Qingkong's outstretched right hand.

“Thank you, Sect Master.”

“Are you so confident that I will make the decision you expect?” The Yuheng Sect Master looked at Huo Qingkong and said loudly.

“Junior doesn't dare, but I believe that with the Sect Master's magnanimity, you wouldn't do such an ugly thing,” Huo Qingkong replied inexplicably.

“You have guts.” A clear look of appreciation finally appeared on the Yuheng Sect Master's indifferent face.

The Qingmu Sword Sect had arranged with her to completely eliminate Huo Qingkong, taking advantage of loopholes in the competition before the Faceless Sword Sect and Years Gate could react.

The original plan was to take action directly during the competition, but she rejected it.

Even if Huo Qingkong was a genius unseen in a thousand years, it would be too much for her, with her status, position, and strength, to personally lead a siege to kill him.

Therefore, taking action during the competition was changed to taking action on his way back.

The rise of the Faceless Sword Sect threatened the Qingmu Sword Sect, and they offered a price she couldn't refuse.

Moreover, the original plan was just to cripple Huo Qingkong.

But this morning, the notified plan suddenly changed to completely exterminating this person.

The Yuheng Sect Master didn't know why, but this didn't stop the dissatisfaction rising in her heart.

“Thank you, Sect Master.” Huo Qingkong clasped his fist and bowed.

Li Cheng頤 watched the whole process from the side. Shangguan Zi had already come to take him to receive the reward of one day of comprehension at the Heavenly Stele.

He followed the Yuheng Sect female disciple, who was still injured, and left the main competition venue, circling into the depths of the Yuheng Sect from the left.

The entire sect environment was quite peculiar. At regular intervals, red long swords were suspended on the walls and stone pillars.

The swords were not burning, but were quietly suspended like some kind of decoration, without moving.

Passing through a deserted and long street, and arriving in front of a secluded courtyard, Shangguan Zi pushed the door open.

Inside was a square courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard stood a massive tree with a trunk four or five meters thick.

The giant tree was tens of meters tall, like a giant building. In the center of the trunk was embedded a strange gray-white stone stele covered with writing.

“You can stay here for a day. I'll take my leave first,” Shangguan Zi said quickly.

“Alright. Thank you for your trouble,” Li Cheng頤 nodded and stepped into the courtyard.

Standing in front of the giant tree, he looked up at the stele.

“What do you seek, child?”

A deep and ancient voice slowly came from the stone stele on the tree trunk.

*Squeak*, the courtyard door closed behind him. Li Cheng頤 looked back, but Shangguan Zi had already disappeared.

“I want to obtain the perfect Seven Intent Saint Spiritual Technique,” Li Cheng頤 said after thinking for a moment.

“Sorry, the karma has not arrived,” the Heavenly Stele replied.

“Then, what can you do?” Li Cheng頤 frowned.

“I can provide you with ancient traces for you to observe and comprehend, but I can only do it once,” the Heavenly Stele said.

Li Cheng頤 sized up the talking tree, slowly approaching.

Suddenly, he reached out his hand.

He gently stroked the strange writing on the stone stele.

A trace of cold, hard sensation transmitted to his mind.

‘I should be able to try using Flower Language.’ Li Cheng頤 narrowed his eyes slightly, and the mark of the Evil Flower on his right hand slowly began to release purple light.

Suddenly, his gaze settled.

‘Flower Language: Good Luck +2!’

Activate.

*Buzz*.

In a daze, something mysterious and unknown flowed out of his mark.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The Evil Flower's information feedback appeared again.

‘Flower Language: Good Luck +2 (The Heavenly Stele's karma with you deepens, doubling the ancient traces presented.)’

That's all?

I've accumulated so much good luck for so long, haven't I??

Li Cheng頤 frowned a little. Just a simple deepening of karma?? That's it?

*Whoosh!*

At this moment, a series of brand new information rapidly appeared.

‘(The Heavenly Stele's karma with you deepens again, tripling the ancient traces presented!)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele's karma with you deepens again and again, quadrupling the ancient traces presented!)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele's karma with you has mutated, elevating the presented ancient traces to ultra-ancient traces.)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele's karma with you has extremely mutated, elevating the presented ancient traces to primeval traces.)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele feels like you are its half-brother, deciding to present immemorial traces for you to comprehend!)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele sees you as its own father, deciding to present its most precious things for you to comprehend, doubling the immemorial traces!)’

‘(The Heavenly Stele sees you as an enlightened ruler, the idol it swore to follow for life, and with tears streaming down its face, it decides to follow you to the death from now on! The stele will present all the traces it has treasured, and burn its own life essence to help you comprehend, enhancing your comprehension by two times during the comprehension process.)’

“…” Li Cheng頤 was dumbfounded, completely stunned by the large chunks of information that popped up in his mind for no reason.

“This freaking…! Can it be like this!?!?”

(End of Chapter)