The two-hour rest came to an end. Gu Qinghe and Li Xiaoman took flight, leaving the snowy hill area behind.
They flew side by side, yet the woman kept her distance. One of the main reasons was Gu Qinghe's attitude.
The Yin-Yang Sect of the Spring Region soon came into view. Other disciples looked up as Gu Qinghe and Li Xiaoman arrived.
"That qi aura on his body… how is it possible he broke through to Peak Foundation Establishment in just two hours?"
"What? Peak Foundation Establishment? That's insane! He'd be nearly unbeatable."
"This is bad. The Spring Region's reputation is going to be crushed by him."
Many disciples sensed the change in the qi radiating from Gu Qinghe. Very few inner disciples had reached Peak Foundation Establishment.
That level of cultivation was something only Core Disciples were supposed to have.
Gu Qinghe landed in the sect's arena and lowered his head in greeting toward the old man, the Yin-Yang Sect Master.
Li Xiaoman did the same. The other two Spring Region participants followed suit.
"Today, the semifinal round will begin!" announced the elder.
Gu Qinghe and the other three contestants turned their attention to the stone bracket used for the draw.
The process was completely random—there were no restrictions preventing disciples from the same region from fighting each other.
"The first match: Gu Qinghe versus Han Xiao!"
"The second match: Yun Shanxing versus Li Xiaoman!"
There was a slight sense of relief that Gu Qinghe wasn't matched against Li Xiaoman.
But his vigilance rose even higher—his opponent was Han Xiao.
Although Han Xiao's cultivation was below his, he was the sect master's nephew.
With connections like that, he clearly had access to the sect's best techniques and artifacts.
Gu Qinghe stepped into the arena. Han Xiao stood on the opposite side.
"New rule!" the elder announced. "Any participant who uses techniques outside the Taoist path will be disqualified!"
Han Xiao curled his lips into a mocking smile and glanced briefly toward the Yin-Yang Sect Master.
How ridiculous. Everyone knows you're just trying to cover up your own weakness.
"The first match… begin!"
"Qinghe! You've disgraced the credibility of the Taoist path!" Han Xiao shouted. "You'll pay for it now!"
Han Xiao formed hand seals. Blue lightning runes appeared beneath his feet, forming a lightning body and a protective lightning barrier.
Gu Qinghe narrowed his eyes and leapt backward to create distance.
"Lightning Dragon Body… activate!"
A powerful qi shockwave spread across the arena. Gu Qinghe's gaze sharpened—Han Xiao was using an earth-grade technique.
Even so, its full power couldn't be unleashed due to cultivation limits.
Han Xiao's speed and strength surged dramatically. Still, it wasn't a serious threat to Gu Qinghe.
Gu Qinghe responded by forming his own hand seals. He rose into the sky as golden runes appeared behind him.
He pointed forward. A golden dragon shot out, roaring as it charged straight at Han Xiao.
The golden dragon slammed into him. Han Xiao swung his arm and punched the dragon's head, triggering a violent explosion.
Gu Qinghe spat out a mouthful of blood and wiped it away immediately.
"His strength… it's on par with Peak Foundation Establishment!"
Han Xiao was also affected. He was forced backward, injured by the dragon's explosive qi.
Even so, he managed to maintain the Lightning Dragon Body Technique.
"Is that all you've got, Gu Qinghe?!" Han Xiao roared.
"You asked for it."
Gu Qinghe formed another set of hand seals—longer and far more complex. Golden runes appeared again, this time above Han Xiao.
In an instant, a massive golden bell descended, trapping Han Xiao inside.
Han Xiao jolted and tried to forcefully increase his power to shatter it.
Golden light gathered in Gu Qinghe's right hand, stabilizing the bell.
His left hand extended forward—thousands of swords materialized in the sky.
With a pointing gesture, he commanded the swords to shoot down, piercing into the golden bell without damaging it.
Inside the bell, Han Xiao was attacked relentlessly by the combined sword-and-bell technique.
"Gu Qinghe! Come and fight like a man!"
Gu Qinghe gave a faint smile. "Why bother? Winning is what matters."
Han Xiao managed to deflect some of the swords, but doing so rapidly drained his qi.
His Lightning Dragon Body Technique began to falter.
From outside the bell, Gu Qinghe could clearly sense it. Han Xiao was injured, his body covered in slashes, exhausted and barely holding on.
Gu Qinghe clenched his right fist. "Shatter."
The golden bell exploded, sending smoke soaring into the sky and shocking everyone.
Even the sect master narrowed his eyes, trying to see more clearly.
Gu Qinghe landed at the edge of the arena, a safe distance from the explosion site.
The golden bell vanished. The thousands of swords disappeared as well. Gu Qinghe was certain Han Xiao couldn't have survived.
He gathered qi in his hand and swept it aside, dispersing the smoke.
Nothing. Han Xiao was gone.
Gu Qinghe's pupils shrank.
Where did he go?
WOSH!
A sudden gust of wind struck from behind.
Gu Qinghe turned fast and saw Han Xiao—disheveled, veins bulging, his body wrapped in a terrifying crimson-red aura.
Demonic aura?!
Han Xiao swung his spear. Gu Qinghe dodged, but the shockwave sent him flying.
He struggled to stabilize himself, barely keeping from being knocked out of the arena.
"That's a demonic aura! You're not going to stop this?!" he demanded.
The elder fell silent, then glanced toward the Yin-Yang Sect Master for confirmation.
The old man gave no response.
That meant the match could continue.
The entire area erupted in noise as everyone witnessed Han Xiao shrouded in a violent, ominous demonic aura.
Several guests frowned. In their eyes, the qi radiating from Han Xiao clearly belonged to a demonic cultivation path.
But neither the disciples nor the envoys had the authority to judge whether Han Xiao had violated the rules. Only the elder and the sect master did.
Li Xiaoman stared in shock at Gu Qinghe.
He was clearly exhausted after using his previous techniques. For reasons she didn't fully understand, her hands clenched tightly in anger.
Gu Qinghe clicked his tongue and began dodging Han Xiao's spear strikes.
The attacks grew faster, more precise, and far more powerful. Han Xiao was clearly relying on demonic techniques to win.
If this continues… I'll die.
His eyes ignited with golden light.
[Heavenly Path Insight Technique!]
[Detected: Demonic Path Cultivator]
[Cultivation: Late Foundation Establishment]
[Target Options:]
[1. Purification Palm Technique || Righteous qi palm strike, suppresses demonic aura on contact, reducing opponent's strength]
[2. Demonic Suppression Formation Art || Formation that suppresses demonic aura, cleanses meridians, neutralizes the dantian]
[3. Meridian Locking Method || Seals meridians, completely stopping demonic qi]
[System Recommendation:]
[Optimal: Demonic Suppression Formation Art effectively neutralizes demonic qi, but requires extreme focus and Core Formation cultivation]
[Alternative: Meridian Locking Method, seals meridians and halts demonic qi completely with minimal qi consumption]
Using a formation will drain too much qi and leave me injured. If Han Xiao keeps attacking afterward, I'm done.
Meridian Locking Method… it's effective, but the sect master will hate me for it.
Gu Qinghe didn't care.
He chose the Meridian Locking Method. His hands opened into seals as a golden needle formed in his palm.
Li Xiaoman's eyes widened in shock. It was the same technique Gu Qinghe had used when he first tried to attack her with a soul-based strike.
In the next instant, Gu Qinghe shot the golden needle forward. It pierced straight into Han Xiao's forehead.
The technique activated immediately. The golden needle sealed Han Xiao's meridians, sending pain through his body.
Han Xiao screamed. Everyone's attention snapped forward. Even the sect master stood up from his seat.
"Meridians… locked!"
A burst of golden qi erupted from Han Xiao's body. The crimson demonic aura vanished instantly.
Han Xiao collapsed, unconscious and powerless.
The threat was over.
Gu Qinghe dropped to one knee, coughing up blood. Using a technique far beyond his cultivation had taken its toll.
In a flash, the sect master appeared beside Han Xiao along with the elder. He grasped Han Xiao's wrist, checking his meridians.
"Gu Qinghe!"
"How dare you lock my nephew's meridians!"