What did Master Sun mean? The star officials and night-wanderers at the back had clearly heard the heartfelt anguish in his voice. For a moment, they couldn't comprehend—wasn't it the Prime Heavenly Sovereign who was about to meet his end? The sand-covered ground would render the night-wanderers' invisibility useless, and thirty bronze puppets wielding swords could easily decapitate the Prime Heavenly Sovereign. So, who exactly was going to fall? If the Prime Heavenly Sovereign were merely a land god, then there would be nothing to say—but he is a night-wanderer. Even with defensive tools suited for earth-based creatures, he would not withstand thirty sword strikes. When asked by Masters Hongying and others, Master Sun replied with irritation: "I once repaired a pair of shoes..." Shoes? The other senior masters at Taimei still stared at him with expressions of bewilderment. At that moment, a sharp, clear sound rang out inside the hall, cutting through the conversation, and the elders turned their attention back to the platform. Under the manipulation of the spiritual servant, a bronze automaton wobbled precariously, advancing with an odd yet swift gait, and reached before Yuan Shi Tian Zun, raising its rusted battle blade to deliver a powerful strike. Zhang Yuanqing raised the blade to parry, only to feel the impact not of the blade, but of Subduer Sun Wukong's golden staff. The joint of his hand where he gripped the blade shattered instantly, blood gushing forth. Was this merely a puppet? No—this was the strength of a fire master, or perhaps even the power of a spirit-possessed demon! Zhang Yuanqing nearly broke into a tirade, accusing the opponent of cheating. If one puppet could exert such formidable force, what would thirty puppets do? They would surely disembowel him with a flurry of blades! His heart quickened, and his back hairs stood on end. Seeing Yuan Shi Tian Zun being pressed by a single automaton, the spectators outside gasped in astonishment. How could Tian Zun possibly withstand a siege of thirty automata? The crowd grew increasingly convinced that Tian Zun might fall to Zhao Chenguang's counterattack. "Get out!" Zhang Yuanqing's anger surged, his arm muscles tightening as he unleashed a powerful force, forcibly pushing the puppet's battle blade back. While the puppet stumbled backward, black, viscous energy surged from Zhang's eyes, transforming his aura into something both eerie and regal. He reached out, trying to grasp the black thread atop the puppet's head. Yet, as a Night-Wanderer, his hands passed right through the thread, leaving nothing in his grasp. "Damn it! Can't touch it?" As the bronze puppet steadied itself and launched a cutting strike, Zhang Yuanqing cursed and retreated. Since he couldn't handle the thread, he would have to deal with Zhao Chenguang's spiritual attendant instead. He glanced at the attendant floating behind Zhao Chenguang, his expression shifting from furious to a cold, sinister smile. "Even if I die today, I'll swallow your spiritual attendant whole." Observing the suddenly capricious behavior of Yuan Shang Tianzun, Zhao Chenguang furrowed his brow, calmly remarking, "You know the match won't end in death—yet you deliberately make such dramatic remarks. That's fine. Later, I'll have you experience the sensation of being cut to pieces, thousands of times over." Zhang Yuanqing, no longer cold, snapped, "What's wrong with threatening you? I'm not just going to threaten you—I'm going to embarrass you to the very roots of your family!" "Brat! Full of arrogance!" roared Zhao Changlang, the elder and de facto ancestor. Zhao Chenghuang closed his eyes, focusing on regulating his breath to restore his strength, while the spiritual servant standing behind him lifted his lowered face, two beams of deep, serene black light shooting out. The very next moment, the bronze automata carried their swords, wobbling but moving with remarkable speed, their movements stiff yet precise—like thirty formidable, strange beings. Faced with this wave of strong opponents, Zhang Yuanqing retreated once more and summoned his second item. Two streaks of dark red light danced and intertwined, enveloping his feet. His running shoes vanished, replaced by a fresh, large-sized red dance shoe. Just then, the first bronze automaton charged forward, lifting its left leg, stepping forward with its right, arching its upper body dramatically, and raising its right arm, which held a rusted battle blade high. It launched a powerful strike. Zhang Yuanqing had originally intended to sidestep, but the red ballet shoe had its own intentions. A flash of red light sent him spinning—just like in a ballet, graceful and fluid. The second bronze puppet arrived, its long sword vertically cleaving through. The blade grazed Zhang Yuanqing’s body as he had already spun away with elegant grace. The third bronze puppet arrived, its long sword vertically cleaving through. The fourth, the fifth… Zhang Yuanqing spun gracefully, each sword falling like a gate, trailing behind him. Every blade came perilously close, yet missed by mere millimeters. Though it appeared thrilling, he remained composed, moving with elegant grace through the midst of the blades. Stop it, stop it—this is rather embarrassing… If Elton John’s speaker were here, the music would surely be “The Way You Look Tonight.” With so many people watching, Zhang Yuanqing felt his face grow warm. The first form of the red ballet shoe is pursuit—unstoppable, indestructible, unintermittent—rule-based, and the one Zhang Yuanqing has most relied upon in the past. Yet the second form is less commonly used, but as the enemy grows stronger and the Red Slippers' attacks grow weary, the value of the second form becomes increasingly evident. The second form emphasizes evasion, agility, and the ability to run effortlessly regardless of terrain. It excels most in chaotic battles—navigating through a storm of blades, untouched by a single drop of blood. Watching the Prime Heavenly Sovereign, now clad in the Slippers, calmly evade the encircling array of puppets, Zhao Chenghuang's previously composed expression suddenly darkened. A surge of impatience rose within him. Why did he still have reserves? Why was he so resilient? Why could they not finally break him? Zhao Chenghuang finally felt a sense of apprehension toward this opponent. The spectators outside, eyes wide, stared in astonishment—what kind of agility and reflexes allowed such graceful evasions amidst an assault of thirty bronze puppets? "That was the Red Slippers seen in yesterday's副本 match." "It's what grants the Yuanshish Tianzun an astonishing dodging ability..." "He can both pursue and retreat—this is truly a top-tier artifact! Who says Yuanshish Tianzun doesn't have world-class equipment? This is his second such item now. Where is the Wenyuan Pavilion University Scholar? Come out here—I'm going to kill you!" The audience erupted in阵阵 astonishment, and the official messengers of the Wu Xing Alliance brightened up—just moments before they had looked worried, now their brows were raised with excitement and enthusiasm. In contrast, the members of the Taiden Sect, including Ye You Shen and the Xingguan officials, all frowned. Yuanshish Tianzun was truly tenacious; one after another, his equipment came into play, turning what had seemed like a certain defeat into a prolonged, resilient stand. Senior Sun sighed, "It's precisely these shoes..." Having touched the Red Dance Shoes and studied their attributes, he immediately sensed trouble when he saw Zhao Chenghuang's true strength—the Army Puppet Storage Box. He intended to outmaneuver the others, to wage a battle against the collective, and even a contestant at the Transcendent Stage would only be forced to surrender—let alone the Earth God, who might be cut to pieces by a dozen blades. Yet only Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun possessed these red dancing shoes... Echoes linger in my ears of distant, nearly forgotten voices: "When I was very young and frail, I once entered the Shu Ling Tunnel. There, I found a pair of particularly interesting dance shoes. Ever since I met you, I've often thought—what if I could return to the Shu Ling Tunnel and bring those shoes with me as a gift?" "Did you really enter the Shu Ling Tunnel? That's absurd—Shu Ling Tunnel is an unexplored instance." "I didn't say I cleared it, did I?" "Again, absurd! Then how did you get out?" "This is a secret I cannot reveal—kiss me, and I'll tell you." "Ugh!" ... At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing, dancing among the blades, executed a smooth semicircular arc, weaving past a group of bronze puppets and advancing toward Zhao Chenghuang. The most cost-effective way to break through was to eliminate his spiritual attendants. Zhang Yuanqing charged forward with determined strides, accelerating sharply at a distance of five to six meters, becoming a shadow that surged toward Zhao Chenghuang's back. Zhang Yuanqing strode forward with fierce determination, delivering a res He had originally intended to use the straw figure, but activating its ability of decline required several seconds of setup—enough time for the spiritual servant to maneuver the bronze automaton to turn and counterattack. Zhao Chenghuang calmly withdrew the small clay figure, holding it gently in his palm. "Whoosh!" The narrow, long blade struck the hazy light barrier, cleaving it into vast fragments of luminous shards. Zhang Yuancheng communicated with the red slippers, regaining control of his feet, stepping aside swiftly and positioning himself beside Zhao Chenghuang, the dark, viscous substance in his eyes now clearly visible. Attacking Zhao Chenghuang forced him into a defensive stance, and his defensive tools were limited to that small clay figure—his limited inventory of props made it impossible for him to deploy other defensive measures. Once the clay figure was used, he would become clumsy and uncoordinated. Under the imposing gaze of the night-wanderer, the spiritual servant's body stiffened, as though encountering a terrifying adversary. The distance was just right… Zhang Yuancheng took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and prepared to consume the spirit with a gesture. At that moment, a dark figure surged forward from the diagonal rear. At the crucial moment, Zhao Chenghuang summoned the yin corpse to escort him. Pfft! Zhang Yuqing couldn't dodge, being struck squarely in the face and sending a fountain of water splashing upward. The 4th-level yin corpse, propelled by inertia, crashed through and shattered the enemy's body, advancing steadily. As the water droplets settled back onto Zhang Yuqing's body, they resumed their original form—he had always worn the yin-yang robe. The water spirit's passive ability, which counters physical attacks, was a masterstroke, yet it had a cooldown, so it couldn't maintain this state continuously. Still, let you take care of my feet, then… Zhang Yuqing quietly said to the red slippers. Thud! Zhao Chenghuang folded his small clay figure, and at the very instant when Yuan Shi Tianzun's body resumed its original form and when darkness began to surge in Yuan Shi Tianzun's eyes, he launched himself decisively, rushing forward swiftly and drawing his right arm back. He delivered a powerful punch to the enemy's side of the face. Zhang Yuqing saw this and immediately interrupted his soul-consuming technique, raising his sword to strike. Th Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden ache in his neck, then rotated his head 180 degrees and saw his back. The war blade had sliced through Zhao Chenghuang's chest, revealing the severed bones and the faintly visible organs within. Zhao Chenghuang's face twisted momentarily, then quickly retreated. "Crack!" Zhang Yuanqing turned his neck, aligning his head properly. Truly, one punch has cured my chronic cervical issues... he thought with a touch of dry humor. At that moment, the spiritual servant behind Zhao Chenghuang broke free from the influence of the devouring spirit, suddenly pulling back with sharp streaks of black lines from his fingertips. The copper blocks clanged against one another, and simultaneously, thirty bronze puppets were drawn back. They rose into the air, like marionettes being held aloft by invisible strings, sweeping down in a dense wave toward Zhang Yuanqing. As they descended, the bronze puppets raised their war blades. Zhang Yuanqing's red dance shoes suddenly glowed brightly, and he surged forward, running wildly without hesitation. As the enemy seemed about to break free from the zone covered by the bronze automata, the spirit servant, clad in tattered robes, pressed his fingers downward. Thirty automata, like fishing floats with the hook set, suddenly sank. Thirty standardized war blades, sharp enough to cut through steel, surged from all sides and severed the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn—now completely helpless. At that moment, a heavy, rhythmic thudding sound echoed as the Warrior One, clad in armor, surged forward like a war chariot. The falling bronze automata were thrown hither and thither. Zhang Yuanqing, meanwhile, slid smoothly on a crouch, emerging from the dust and debris. Behind him, the heavy bronze automata fell like rain, splashing up showers of yellow sand. The spirit servant, now lifting his arm sharply, caused the automata lying flat on the ground to rise upright, encircling the Warrior One, and with a swift motion of his hand, dispatched him. Hush-hush-hush… The light shield sustained by the armor trembled violently, showing signs of imminent rupture. Unit One endured the slashing attacks, clenched its fists and struck out with both arms, repelling one bronze automaton after another, producing sharp metallic clashing sounds. These automata were not only immensely strong but also solid as iron and copper. Not good—this way, the armor's defenses would eventually be compromised. Zhang Yuanqing immediately issued the order to break through. The shadow corpse lacked intelligence; without a command to break through, it would continue fighting until it was cut into pieces. Unit One immediately abandoned resistance, bent its body low, and rushed toward one side, breaking through the lines of bronze automata. As soon as it broke free, the four-level shadow corpse charged like a bull, pushing it forward over a hundred meters before crashing into a stone wall beneath the audience section, creating fissures. The two shadow corpses engaged in fierce combat, striking with full force. On the other side, the frail spiritual servant, dressed in tattered robes, summoned five bronze automata to serve as guards, arranging them in a fan formation in front of Zhao Chenghuang. "Too bad—the head-taking operation has failed!" Zhang Yuanqing held his sword, his gaze sweeping over the bronze automaton before settling on Zhao Chenghuang, who was gasping heavily. Neither side launched further attacks; instead, a brief standoff ensued. "Huff... huff... huff..." Zhao Chenghuang labored to breathe, glancing down at the wounds on his chest and abdomen. The bleeding had already slowed and was now turning a dark red—signs of clotting. Yet, such severe injuries would typically require several hours of recovery even for the self-healing abilities of Ye You Shen. His condition had worsened. Suppressing his frustration, Zhao Chenghuang paused to reflect. He believed he had two strategic options: first, to delay time, allowing the effectiveness of the pair of red dancing shoes to wane, then commanding the bronze automata to converge and subdue Yuan Shi Tianzun. Second, to conserve his strength, waiting until he could re-activate his ghostly transformation, after which he would assume the role of general, leading his troops (the automata) to strike and defeat Yuan Shi Tianzun. The core of both strategies was to delay time. This spiritual servant has a surprisingly high intelligence—knowing how to deploy guards. Zhang Yuanqing is also contemplating his strategy. The second form of the Red Dance Shoes can only be worn for five minutes. After that, he'll have to deactivate it and switch to a pursuit command. While the attribute description of the Red Dance Shoes doesn't mention a cooldown period, Zhang Yuanqing has discovered a pattern through prolonged use. The optimal way to use the Red Dance Shoes is: First Form + Second Form + a dance routine! (Note 1) This completes one cycle. Of course, he can also use First Form + dance routine, or Second Form + dance routine. In any case, after either the First or Second Form, a dance routine must follow in order to initiate the next cycle. The spirit servant of Zhao Chenghuang is protected by a bronze automaton; we just tested that—forcing a successful assassination would be extremely difficult. So we’ll have to resort to the most straightforward, albeit foolish, method. Fortunately, my physical stamina has barely been affected. As both sides temporarily halt their actions, the audience’s enthusiasm gradually cools and reason returns: "Such a pity—originally, we could have launched a surprise night attack on the spirit servant, but the ground has turned into sand, and even a night stroll would leave footprints. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun’s attempt failed." "Hmm, why hasn’t Zhao Chenghuang sent the bronze automaton into attack? At this stage, shouldn’t that have drained Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun’s energy?" "I suddenly have a question—what is the cost of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun’s red dance shoes? For such a supportive item, wouldn’t there be a time limit?" "You mean… Zhao Chenghuang is testing the cost of the dance shoes?" "Zhao Chenghuang has already managed to identify the weaknesses in the robe—testing the cost of the dance shoes should be no different." The entire area falls silent. Master Sun's complexion improved slightly, saying, "The second form of that artifact requires five minutes of wear. Zhao Chenguang's strategy is sound—he protected his spiritual attendant and, once Master Yuanshizhen's artifact is deactivated, he can launch a counteroffensive." Hearing this, Master Zhao smiled and stroked his beard. Master Hongying also smiled: "That's excellent. Master Yuanshizhen is truly tenacious. I've watched him progress from the early rounds of the tournament all the way to the final battle, and I've deeply admired him..." She paused, for if she had continued, it would have been "You're simply being foolish, Master Sun." At that moment, spectators outside saw Master Yuanshizhen, wearing red dance shoes, holding his long sword, charging single-handedly toward the army of lifeless figures—like a lone hero charging into a vast host of troops. Had he gone mad? The audience was startled, and even the elders were momentarily stunned. Ticking, ticking—Zhang Yuanqing, holding his sword, his robe flapping behind him, surged forward like a war chariot, charging straight into the ranks of the bronze automata. While sprinting at high speed, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly stepped sideways, just avoiding the enemy's downward slashing blade and then snapped his forearm with a powerful twist, causing his muscles to bulge visibly, which drove the narrow-mouthed long sword in a swift stroke. Thud! The narrow-mouthed long sword struck the bronze automaton's chest, carving a deep gash. Indeed, it's tough as nails... Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself, his body suddenly collapsing as two war swords sliced past his head. Then, under the guidance of the red ballet shoes, he launched upward, raised his sword, and charged forward, the blade scraping across the bronze automaton's body and sparking bright flames. Two more war swords approached from behind. The red ballet shoes leapt into the air, then kicked the chest of the bronze automaton in front, executing a backward somersault to evade the blades coming from behind. Zhang Yuanqing spun through the air, gripping the long sword in both hands, growled deeply, and with the momentum of his descent, drove the blade down in a powerful strike. Clang! The narrow-mouthed long sword cut through the shoulder of a bronze automaton, leaving a gash over ten Zhang Yuanqing quickly retreated, stepping out of the area before being completely surrounded by the bronze puppets. Not good—despite the sharpness of his war blade, he still couldn't pierce through these creatures... Zhang Yuanqing held the blade and retreated, his mind growing increasingly anxious. This way, five minutes would soon pass. What could he do? His thoughts raced swiftly. Suddenly, he recalled the scene when Da Ji Ba and Bai Long had jointly attacked the third-level witch-guisher, "Heng Xing Wu Ji." At that time, "Heng Xing Wu Ji" had transformed into a chrysalis, his entire body armored with keratin, making him impervious to blades and arrows. Da Ji Ba first launched a fire assault, Bai Long rapidly cooled the area with water, and finally, Guan Ya delivered precise shots that easily penetrated the armor. As this image came to mind, Zhang Yuanqing made a decisive choice regarding his third item. He opened his inventory, grabbed the explosive handgun, raised the barrel, and fired at the charging bronze puppets. *Bang! Bang! Bang!* A series of dark red streaks shot toward the puppets, exploding upon impact. The bullets primarily struck the puppets The bullets from the explosive pistol struck the bronze body, producing not a sharp metallic clink, but a slightly dull boom—each bullet behaving like a small mortar shell, bursting upon impact. The areas hit turned a deep bluish-black, shimmered with vibrant hues, and rose in wisps of misty vapor. Zhang Yuanqing maintained his "monster attraction" while firing continuously, as the distance between him and the creatures was close, ensuring that his shots generally landed—though occasionally off-target, with bullets meant for the chest veering instead to strike the crotch. Uninterrupted fire lasted for two minutes. Then, Zhang Yuanqing withdrew his explosive pistol, gathering a pool of black light in his left palm, shaping it into a water sphere the size of a human head—his current limit, achieved through the yin-yang robe. With no rivers, ponds, or faucets nearby, this was as much as he could do. He gently pressed the water sphere against the narrow, long blade, allowing the cool water to flow along the blade and fully coat it. "Try my ice blade," he said, "no—my water blade." Then, he raised the blade and plunged into the ranks of the bronze puppets. He bent low at the waist, moving with swift steps, occasionally leaning to one side, stepping diagonally, leaping, or splitting his legs—exactly like the legendary Liangbo Weibù. Though it appeared chaotic, there was a hidden elegance, allowing him to skillfully evade attacks from all directions. At the same time, he wielded his narrow-mouthed long knife, striking, slashing, sweeping, and chopping at the hot spots on the bronze puppets' bodies. Sizzling—steam erupted continuously. Any area struck by his blade immediately cracked, fissures spreading rapidly, tearing through the entire body with a cascading, snowfall-like effect. Zhang Yuanqing broke through the entire line of bronze puppets and reached near Zhao Chenghuang. Behind his gently raised dark-blue robe, the bronze puppets one after another collapsed, their shattered copper fragments scattering across the ground. At that very moment, his red dance shoes shattered into radiant light and reformed, a pair of fresh, delicate red dance shoes, appearing nearby. Zhang Yuanqing's palm bore wounds that exposed bone, blood trailing down the blade, yet he paid no heed, gazing at Zhao Chenghuang several meters away and lifting his chin: "How?" That's what it means—to master science and mathematics, and never fear no matter where you go. Zhao Chenghuang's face was ashen, his lips slightly trembling, either from being challenged or from the fury of his bronze puppets' complete defeat. At this moment, there were no bronze puppets left before him. When the Yuanshǐ Tianzun shattered one after another, Zhao had ordered his five nearby puppets to advance, but they too fell victim to the relentless assault. The audience remained utterly silent. Countless eyes fixed on the Yuanshǐ Tianzun, standing with the blade, astonished that he had broken through the deadlock so violently, so wildly, yet with such skill. The fire priests were filled with passion, breathing rapidly, experiencing a sense of exhilaration and satisfaction—this was truly the way a man of strength should fight. A few seconds later, cheers erupted, and the entire arena surged into excitement. Yet at this moment, the elders' assembly was unusually quiet. Having deployed all their tools and strategies, the two contestants had few cards left. Who would win and who would lose—even the masters themselves could not guarantee. The Taiyuan Sect elders remained silent, their hearts weighed down; they now realized that Zhao Chenghuang might not secure the championship so easily. The Wuxing Alliance elders, however, were silent with quiet anticipation. In their assessment, Zhao Chenghuang was expected to emerge as the champion of this transcendent realm. With Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun securing a top-two finish, the Wuxing Alliance had already achieved its objective—using plain terms, their KPIs were met. Thus, they had no expectations for Zhao to win, and were delighted to purchase Fu Qingyang's shares. Yet, as the battle reached this stage, perhaps, maybe, a turning point might emerge? The elders, such as Dog Elder, suddenly felt hopeful, yet worried that this sense of optimism might be mere illusion. Hence, they chose to remain silent. On the field, Zhao Chenghuang took a deep breath and said, "Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, I admit you are strong—strong enough to pose a real challenge. You are the most powerful transcendental-level night-wandering deity I have ever encountered. In the future, you may well become my greatest rival." As he spoke, he opened his mouth and swallowed his spiritual servant behind him, gazing steadily at Primordial Heavenly Sovereign with a serious expression. "But that is for the future. As for now, I still need to outperform you." With that, Zhao Chenghuang retrieved the third item from his inventory—a pendant shaped like a green leaf, now hanging at his chest. Instantly, a gentle green glow emerged, with delicate strands of green mist weaving through his skin, flesh, and meridians, repairing the wound on his chest. Within a few moments, the wound began to heal, then formed a scab, and Zhao Chenghuang's pale complexion gradually turned rosy. Yet he had not fully recovered nor regained his full strength. The wood spirit's healing capabilities at the transcendental stage were limited and could not achieve the "resurrection" effect of life essence fluid. But that was enough. With this artifact, Zhao Chenghuang drew a deep breath and could now unleash his ghostly transformation once more. He slightly bowed, his muscles bulging with effort, his throat emitting painful cries. Suddenly, his body grew towering, his skin rapidly turning dark blue and gleaming with a metallic sheen. Veins of black wound through his thick, knotted muscles, his fingernails growing swiftly into dark, sharp ghostly claws. A layer of white frost formed beneath his feet, spreading outward, and an overwhelming chill poured over the arena. "Can he really transform into a ghost again? What's going on with Zhao Chenghuang? He has so many reserves! He's completely outclassing the transcendent-level players—this is a full-dimensional assault!" "Another ghostly transformation..." The audience erupted in complaints, growing increasingly desperate. They had watched Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn struggle tirelessly, repeatedly countering Zhao's tactics, pushing through with every ounce of strength until now—only to face yet another ghostly transformation from their opponent. Everyone seemed utterly defeated, and Yuan Shi Tian Zun's mindset must have been no different. The elders observed calmly, seemingly silent, but when Zhao Chenghuang performed his second ghost transformation, several elders from Tai Yi Men appeared noticeably more at ease. The elders from the Five Elements Alliance remained exceptionally composed—after all, this outcome was entirely expected. Zhao Chenghuang's victory was the natural progression, and thus, no one felt disappointed. I knew he still had more tricks up his sleeve; otherwise, the third item would have been used much earlier... Zhang Yuanqing watched Zhao Chenghuang as he transformed into a ghost, knowing that the wooden spirit item was his ultimate backup—ensuring Zhao could perform a second ghost transformation. In his ghost form, Zhao Chenghuang's speed and strength now rivaled those of a sage-level cultivator, truly possessing the decisive power in the current situation. "You are indeed a formidable opponent—perhaps even the peak of extraordinary combat prowess." Zhang Yuanqing reached into his pocket, pulling out seven small blue pills, keeping one there, and swallowed the rest whole. Then, he mentally envisioned the appearance of his father, who had passed away many years ago. His frame surged dramatically, his height soaring to 1.9 meters, his muscles tightly knotted and his black veins rising prominently. Cold white frost condensed beneath his feet, spreading rapidly outward. Within just a few breaths, he transformed into a fearsome monster, standing face-to-face with another. Ghostly transformation? Zhao Elder suddenly sat upright, his gaze sharp and fixed intently on the scene. The members of Taiyuan Sect, accustomed to night wanderings, looked stunned. The elders of the Five Elements Alliance saw their eyes brighten. On the audience seats, a figure in a white suit abruptly stood up, no longer seated. Behind him, a group of White Guard officers rose in unison. This action triggered a ripple effect, causing the crowd to surge and wave in waves, with large sections of audience members rising to their feet.