Xiao Yao was the first person to raise questions and said with a curious voice: "He said beware of the invasion, but in this secret realm, who could invade us?"
When the crowd heard Xiao Yao's words, they came out of their shock and began thinking of an answer to this question.
But Ling Tian had an answer in his mind, so he decided to share it: "I may have the answer to this question."
When Ling Tian said this, everyone in the hall began looking at Ling Tian to know what his answer was.
When Ling Tian noticed their gazes, he said questioningly: "Haven't you noticed that there's no trace of beasts at the seventh stage or higher anywhere, despite the presence of many herbs and the Qi concentration here being higher?"
After Ling Tian finished his words, some eyes began gleaming in understanding.
But Fu Xing Han objected and said: "If he meant spiritual beasts, he could have simply said beware of the beast tide. Why would he say beware of the invasion?"
When the crowd heard Fu Xing Han's words, the light in their eyes extinguished and the look of confusion returned to them.
Ling Tian placed his hand on his chin, then said after a moment: "You're right. I don't know why he did this, but you shouldn't deny that the disappearance of high-level spiritual beasts has something to do with this invasion."
Kong Hao Ran nodded and said in agreement: "He's right. It must be related to the so-called invasion."
After Xiao Yao heard the words, she also agreed and said: "I also agree with Junior Brother Ling, but now, shouldn't we focus on a more important matter?"
When she finished saying that, she cast her gaze on the skeleton, specifically on the purple sword mixed with black.
When both Li Shang and Fu Xing Han noticed her gaze, they raised their auras to the highest level.
Xiao Yao did the same thing and said in a challenging voice: "So how do you plan to determine the owner of this sword?"
Kong Hao Ran, who was the only one who hadn't released his aura, said calmly: "Since everyone wants it, let's decide in a one-on-one duel until only one person remains."
Xiao Yao said with a confident smile: "I agree, but do they have the courage to accept?"
When Fu Xing Han heard this, he said proudly: "And why wouldn't I have the courage?"
Li Shang didn't boast. He just turned to Master Ku and said: "It seems we'll trouble you, Master Ku, to place a formation on the hall's entrance until we determine who is most worthy of the sword."
Master Ku nodded to Li Shang and said while staring at the crowd: "No problem, but I'll be the first to choose treasures after you four. Is there anyone dissatisfied with this?"
When the crowd heard his words, they didn't like it, but they had reached here thanks to him, so no one objected to this.
Kong Hao Ran said after seeing there was no objection, in a calm voice: "Alright, since everyone agrees, let's go out to duel in front of the stronghold, because this stronghold won't last long if we fight inside it."
Everyone nodded and left the main hall except Master Ku, who remained to place a formation on the room.
When they went out, Kong Hao Ran said to the crowd: "Treasures are obtained by capable people, so if anyone here thinks they're capable enough to seize the sword, we won't prevent them from participating."
When the crowd heard Kong Hao Ran's words, although no one stepped forward to participate, they were grateful to him.
But when Ling Tian heard this, he sneered inwardly: "If there was someone who truly possessed the ability, they wouldn't care whether you allowed them to participate or not."
Although Ling Tian thought this, he still had a positive impression of Kong Hao Ran—at least a better impression than Li Shang and Fu Xing Han.
While Ling Tian was thinking about this, he noticed that Li Yi hadn't participated, so he asked him doubtfully: "Senior Brother Li, why aren't you participating in the duel?"
When Li Yi heard this, he turned to Ling Tian and said with a smile: "I'm an alchemist. What need do I have for a sword? Also, Xiao Yao is there. There's no need to worry."
Ling Tian was shocked by his response because he had expected many answers, but this wasn't one of them.
Suddenly, Dan Wen, who was close to them, said curiously: "Isn't Senior Sister also an alchemist? Then why does she want the sword and you don't?"
When Ling Tian heard this, he said calmly: "Senior Brother Dan, this competition isn't just about the sword. The reason I asked Senior Brother is to know why he didn't participate and strengthen his chances, but it seems Senior Brother Li is confident in Senior Sister Xiao's abilities."
Dan Wen was surprised and said in confusion: "Junior Brother, what do you mean the competition isn't just about the sword?"
Instead of Ling Tian answering him, Li Yi answered and said calmly: "Junior Brother Ling is right. It's not just a competition for the sword, but also determines who will lead this place. Do you understand now?"
When Dan Wen heard this, he finally understood what they meant and said in astonishment: "So that's how it is then."
Xiao Yao stepped forward and said confidently: "Well, which of you will come to be crushed?"
When Fu Xing Han heard Xiao Yao's words, he jumped in front of her and said in a mocking voice: "Just because you're more talented doesn't mean you're invincible. Today I'll show you how much a person's foundation can be more important than talent."
Xiao Yao answered mockingly: "You want to show me how foundation is more important than talent? Please don't make me laugh. You're twenty-five and still in the Qi Condensation stage. If we were the same age, you couldn't even withstand a single strike from me."
When Fu Xing Han heard Xiao Yao's words, his face became ugly, but he said while drawing his sword with a grim voice: "Perhaps your words are right or wrong, I don't know, but there's one thing I'm certain of—this sword is mine."
When Kong Hao Ran saw their expressions, he reminded them gently: "Remember that every life is important now for survival, so injury is fine, but restrain yourselves so neither of you kills the other."
Both Xiao Yao and Fu Xing Han nodded in agreement.
The crowd stood watching, and the sound of grass rustling that repeated every few seconds was the only thing audible.
Both Xiao Yao and Fu Xing Han were watching each other cautiously.
When the next sound of grass rustling came, the look in their eyes intensified, and likewise, their grip strength on their swords intensified. Finally, when the sound of grass rustling ended, each rushed toward the other.
When Xiao Yao launched forward, her sword was immediately covered with fire, and similarly, Fu Xing Han's sword was covered with water.
When they approached each other, Fu Xing Han slowed his speed slightly and took a defensive stance, unlike Xiao Yao, who never slowed down.
When their swords collided, instead of sparks flying between them, steam spread.
Each of them retreated several steps after their swords collided.
The determination in Xiao Yao's gaze intensified when she was pushed back, and she rushed again toward Fu Xing Han.
Unlike her, a light flashed in Fu Xing Han's eyes after seeing the result of their first clash, and he chose to retreat and attack from afar using water slashes from his sword.
When Xiao Yao saw this, she didn't slow her movements. Using her fire sword, she erased Fu Xing Han's attacks, leaving nothing but steam.
Fu Xing Han kept launching water attacks continuously until Xiao Yao reached him and their swords collided. He used the momentum of the impact to retreat and execute ranged attacks again.
When the crowd, who had been waiting for a high-level duel, saw Fu Xing Han's repeated retreats, they were disappointed, especially the Fu Clan members.
Unlike them, the Alchemy Pavilion members were ecstatic, and one of them even mocked Fu Xing Han and said: "Is this the greatest genius of the Fu Family? Today my eyes have finally been opened because I've never seen a genius at fleeing like him."
When the Fu Clan members heard his words, their eyes were red with anger, but they had no response, so they remained silent with ugly faces.
Ling Tian was watching Fu Xing Han in confusion and thought inwardly: "He doesn't seem like the type to avoid direct combat, so why is he fighting from afar now?"
Ling Tian continued watching the battle until he heard Dan Wen say: "Where did this annoying fog come from? I can't see Fu Xing Han clearly anymore."
When Ling Tian heard his words, his eyes gleamed slightly and an idea crossed his mind. He watched the fight for some time, and finally said with a sigh: "It seems this duel won't be easy for Senior Sister Xiao."
When Dan Wen heard his words, he said curiously: "Why do you say that, Junior Brother Ling?"
Before Ling Tian could answer Dan Wen's question, Li Yi suddenly said: "So Junior Brother Ling has also noticed."
Ling Tian nodded and said: "Yes, I noticed, but I doubt I would have noticed if I had been in the fight instead of Senior Sister Xiao."
Li Yi nodded in agreement and said: "Not only you—perhaps even I wouldn't notice."
When Dan Wen heard this, he said curiously: "What do you mean?"
Ling Tian said while looking at the duel calmly: "You'll understand soon."
Xiao Yao was chasing Fu Xing Han and wondering why he kept evading. After deflecting Fu Xing Han's water slashes, she stopped for a moment because she realized she was now in thick fog.
When Fu Xing Han noticed her stop, he said mockingly: "So you finally noticed."
After saying this, Fu Xing Han split into six divisions surrounding Xiao Yao quickly so as not to give her a chance to respond.
Xiao Yao knew this movement technique because it was the Six Mist Movement Technique, and she wasn't afraid of it. If the movement wasn't mastered, the body would be clearer than the copies, but because of the fog, she wasn't able to determine the real Fu Xing Han.
When Dan Wen saw this, he said to Ling Tian: "Did you know this would happen?"
Ling Tian answered while watching the duel closely: "Not exactly. I didn't know what he would do, but I was certain he would use the fog to his advantage because his skills are of the water attribute."
Now Xiao Yao was in the middle of the fog trying to get out of it, but how could Fu Xing Han allow that? He was always hindering her from leaving.
Xiao Yao received some light wounds, and this made her angry, so she said angrily: "You're really starting to annoy me."
After saying this, she jumped upward with all her strength.
While she was rising, her entire body began to be covered with flames, and when she reached the highest point, she said: "Let's end this here."
When she said this, the flames on her body began to increase. The color of her eyes and hair changed to red, and the flames that were burning fiercely began forming the shape of a hazy phoenix behind her.
When Ling Tian saw this, he was shocked—not only by her beauty, but by her gaze that looked like an immortal casting a glance at mortal humans.
The light of the setting sun only increased her beauty, as if it made her at this moment like the sun that illuminated this destroyed stronghold. Then Xiao Yao began to fall because she couldn't fly yet.
Fu Xing Han was shocked when he saw her coming at him like a comet, but he quickly said: "I knew the Six Mist Movement Technique wasn't enough to defeat you."
When Fu Xing Han finished saying that, he stopped performing the Six Mist Movement Technique and began gathering Qi in his hand. With it, the water in his sword increased.
But he didn't stop there because he began pulling the fog into his sword like a whirlwind. When he finished, his sword was now like a giant hammer instead of a sword due to its thickness. Then he jumped to meet Xiao Yao.
In the air, when each of them became close to the other, each unleashed their final strike.
When the two strikes collided, they created a wave of fog that prevented vision for a few seconds, but the victor was soon revealed. The crowd saw Xiao Yao holding her sword close to Fu Xing Han's neck, who was kneeling on one knee looking at Xiao Yao.