Outside the boundary, the Cultivators and Elders watching the competition were already engaged in lively discussions.

The topics were invariably about Song Yan and Li Yi.

Yang Wenxuan sat in the Elder’s seat, his gaze deep as he watched Song Yan, his mind calculating something unknown.

Beside him stood a young female Disciple, remarkably beautiful, bearing a slight resemblance to Qin Ying.

"Has the Qin Family had any contact with this person?"

The young woman seemed unsurprised by Elder Yang’s sudden voice transmission: "I heard that Elder Sister once tried, but the other party refused..."

Yang Wenxuan nodded slightly: "Oh? Why?"

"This person is a Disciple under Qin Xijun."

Hearing this name, Yang Wenxuan subtly turned his head, his peripheral vision glancing at Qin Xijun.

He shook his head slightly and sighed: "Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite..."

"Elder Yang, do we need to..."

The young woman’s meaning was clear.

But Yang Wenxuan lowered his eyes: "Qin Ying couldn’t persuade him, do you think you can?"

The young woman’s heart sank, but she merely lowered her head.

"However, this person is a bit strange."

Yang Wenxuan’s gaze was piercing: "I investigated him during the Jiran Valley incident."

"A three Spiritual Root Aptitude, with no one to sponsor him, yet he has grown to this extent..."

Yang Wenxuan speculated in his heart.

A Demonic Path spy?

The possibility was low; if he were truly a Demonic Path undercover agent, he wouldn’t be so foolish as to draw so much attention.

Did he have some fortuitous encounter?

Or did he truly gain some benefit from Wang Xi’s corpse in Jiran Valley... "At that time, I will go with you."

"Yes, Elder."

...

At the very edge of the battlefield within the boundary, in an unnoticed corner.

Lin Qing followed the Restriction unhurriedly, slowly walking inward, seemingly uninterested in acquiring more spiritual patterns.

His brows were slightly furrowed at the moment, as if he had a headache.

Not far away, a female Cultivator was staring at him with great apprehension.

It was Yuwen Yao.

"What was that just now?"

She murmured to herself: "I haven’t had any alcohol today, so how could it be..."

"It’s like I entered a painting?"

Looking at Lin Qing, she pondered: "Could it be some kind of rare treasure of this person?"

Before this, after Lin Qing obtained more than fifty spiritual patterns, he stopped taking action.

He knew that over fifty spiritual patterns were more than enough to enter the top twenty-two.

Spiritual Plants were already difficult to find, so the remaining time would be better spent meditating and Cultivating here, rather than wasting it.

He sacrificed the xian you scroll, using it as a simple illusion array for protection.

He just didn’t expect that even such a remote place could be found by this female Cultivator.

What was even more absurd was that the other party’s spiritual power fluctuations were extremely intense.

She could even emerge from the ink painting on her own!

Lin Qing felt wary.

Having learned his lesson from the Sect Master before, he was now like a startled bird, seeing enemies everywhere.

No matter what he encountered that he didn’t understand, he felt very hesitant.

Yuwen Yao, however, was eager to try and compete with this unknown Junior Brother.

However, the final Restriction had already begun to contract, and neither of them wanted to be eliminated by the Restriction at this critical juncture.

Thus, the strange scene before them occurred.

On the Ancient Vine Forest, the series of battles triggered by a single Golden Vein Spirit Dispersing Plant naturally attracted the attention of both of them.

However, both had their own thoughts.

Yuwen Yao felt a bit regretful.

Having been trapped in that painted world for a long time, she had already missed the opportunity to directly confront Senior Brother Kong You, Song Yan, and Li Yi. To make a move now would not be satisfying enough.

As for Lin Qing, he looked at Song Yan, who was currently meditating and recuperating, lost in thought.

Living another life, many things had actually changed.

He himself was very clear about this.

Tracing back to the source, everything seemed to be related to this Junior Brother named Song Yan.

Even in his "previous life," this person didn’t exist in the Sect at all.

"Is this good or bad after all..."

He subconsciously touched the golden vertical line on his brow, and a faint stinging sensation came from it.

"And is this person an enemy or a friend?"

In the Ancient Vine Forest, the remaining Cultivators grew fewer and fewer.

Li Yi frantically harvested spiritual patterns. At this moment, the number of spiritual patterns on his waist token had reached "424."

Clang—

At a certain moment, a huge sound of a bell suddenly resounded throughout the entire Sect Sword Wipe realm.

Elder Xu Ziqing’s voice came from the sky.

"Time is up, the selection is over."

"Since there are fewer than twenty-two Disciples left within the Restriction, for the final duel stage, the Disciple with the highest spiritual pattern score among those eliminated will be substituted."

Song Yan was startled.

He had been watching Li Yi’s battle and hadn’t noticed that there weren’t many people left within the Restriction.

Xiao He had already returned to his sleeve. Turning his head, he saw that Gu Qingqing was gone.

According to Snake Babe, it was because she was accidentally touched by the Restriction and tragically eliminated while scurrying around in panic.

Otherwise, with Xiao He’s protection, it was highly possible for a Qi Refining Middle Stage participant with "two" Dao spiritual patterns to advance.

Buzz—

At this moment, the spiritual pattern jade tokens on everyone’s waists all transformed into streaks of spiritual light, flying towards the sky.

A flash of white light passed, and everyone disappeared.

On the Sword Debate Platform at the peak of Wipe Sword Peak, spiritual light showered down like rain.

When Song Yan opened his eyes, he was surrounded by Disciples who had been teleported out.

Xu Ziqing stood up from the Elder’s seat and announced the list of advancing Disciples.

"Li Yi, four hundred twenty-four. Temporarily in first place."

"Song Yan, one hundred ninety-one."

...From top to bottom, a total of twenty-two fellow Cultivators.

Among them, Song Yan also heard many names of people he hadn’t encountered in the Blessed Realm but were relatively familiar, such as Senior Brother Lin Qing and Shao Sichao, as well as Xiang Zhaoling, whom Song Yan had always been wary of.

Surprisingly, Senior Brother Sun Zhengfu also entered the ranks of these twenty-two.

His spiritual pattern count was very low, only a little over ten.

He must have avoided elimination in the chaotic battle before the time ran out.

After the announcement, Elder Xu Ziqing waved his large sleeve:

"Three days later, on the Wipe Sword Platform, twelve Disciples will be decided."

"Take a good rest. Senior Brother here wishes all Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters excellent results."

The selection stage of this Sect Sword Wipe officially concluded here.

Clap.

A large palm slapped Song Yan’s shoulder heavily, and without Spiritual Qi protection, it actually hurt.

He was startled and instinctively turned his head sharply.

He saw Li Yi carrying a large halberd, his laughter making Xiao Song’s ears buzz.

"Hahahahaha... Junior Brother Song’s swordsmanship is exquisite, it makes my blood boil."

He slapped Song Yan’s shoulder again, with great force: "Take a good rest. In the duel three days later, you and I must have a good, hearty fight!"

Song Yan staggered from the slap but was also infected by this person’s heroic spirit.

He cupped his hands and said: "Senior Brother’s halberd technique is divine; I hope you will show mercy then."

In fact, even now, Song Yan didn’t know this person’s name.

He only had a vague guess.

"Mercy? Hahahahaha..."

Li Yi’s eyes widened, and he burst into laughter.

"No mercy, no mercy."

He waved his hand as he left Wipe Sword Peak.

The Disciples on Wipe Sword Peak were slowly leaving the venue. At the edge of the square, Li Qingfeng was sprawled on the stone steps, groaning.

Beside him was Junior Sister Cen Qinghe, who was treating his injuries.

Song Yan walked over with a half-smile, and Gu Qingqing also snuck over, hunched.

"Oh, isn’t this my Junior Brother Li Pang?"

"How about it? I helped you get revenge."

Li Qingfeng rolled his eyes at him, too lazy to bother, but instead glared fiercely at Gu Qingqing.

"Qingqing, you’re confused! Aiding and abetting evil, look at this person, huh? How arrogant has he become now?"

Gu Qingqing smiled sweetly: "Hehehe, Senior Brother Li, don’t be angry."

"Didn’t we also find a Beauty Fruit? If we sell it to the Pill Chamber, we can exchange it for quite a few Spirit Stones."

"By the way, where’s Brother Sun?"

Sun Zhengfu also had a share in this Beauty Fruit.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear; Senior Brother Sun happened to come over.

"Brother Sun, where did you go later? I looked for you for a long time and didn’t see you..."

"Uh..."

Sun Zhengfu looked a bit embarrassed: "Junior Brother Li, I’m really sorry."

"I ran into someone halfway. My strength... was just so-so, so I suffered some minor injuries and went to find a place to recuperate and recover."

To be able to remain unnoticed until the Restriction time ended, Brother Sun’s luck was indeed quite good.

As everyone chatted, Li Qingfeng gradually regained his ability to move freely.

So they left the peak square together.

Song Yan and Sun Zhengfu still had to participate in the final match three days later, so it was more important to save some time to adjust their condition.