The air between Han Xuhan and Chen Yan seemed to solidify. Han Xuhan's words began to echo inside Chen Yan's unnerved mind on repeat.

Breaking out in cold sweat, he quickly recalled every sentence uttered by his opponent since he had regained his consciousness, and indeed...

Han Xuhan had not, for a single instance, admitted to using poison on him!

...Could it actually really be the case?

His breath started to grow ragged as the realization lit a fire behind his sprinting thoughts. If this wasn't another misdirection set up by Han Xuhan, if the fog's poison really was never behind the suppression of his vital energy...

What else could it be? What exactly could have such an effect?

Wait!

A bold idea formed at the center of his disordered thoughts all of a sudden, drawing threads of causality from everything Han Xuhan had been involved in throughout the past six weeks.

He had figured it out! This time, he was absolutely certain!

But it only filled his heart with more regrets, immensely heavy; it even colored his composure with a tinge of fear.

"You... used a technique from the path of laws?" he asked in a raspy voice.

But to his befuddlement, Han Xuhan shook his head and said, "Of course not. Using laws requires using qi. How would I do that when the rules of this round forbid it explicitly?"

Chen Yan refused to believe it!

He reached inside his robe and pulled out a star-shaped sheet made of refined wood, its surface covered in minute arrays painted with golden ink.

"This is a Poison Absorption Talisman. It was active on my body for the entire last month, up till now. The reason I was confident in my immunity towards any kind of poison you might bring into the duel is this treasure."

Since Han Xuhan didn't dare to admit it, Chen Yan had no other choice but to take the bait!

"I'll not use this talisman in the third round, like you requested me to. In exchange, explain how you suppressed my vital energy in the second round."

Han Xuhan stared at the talisman doubtfully for a moment, before saying, "Swear a Dao heart oath that it's the only protective measure you have against poison."

"...."

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yan pointed at his mask. "This is also a custom-built device to filter out all kinds of poison, including the fog that you love to use.

I can swear a Dao heart oath to keep it deactivated from hereon, and I can also swear that I won't use any other means against poisons."

Chen Yan's strategy was simple enough. Anyone could deduce it.

He would give Han Xuhan the opportunity to effectively use poison in the third round. In exchange, he would gain an understanding of this unknown factor that could lead to a certain defeat beforehand.

That way, he could renew his strategy accordingly.

Deducing his thoughts, Han Xuhan nodded and said, "Alright then. I can also swear a Dao heart oath to guarantee the truthfulness of my admissions. Can arena official Yu handle the details of the oaths?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The arena official was right there, and being experienced in handling such oaths before duels, he managed to revise the wording of both oaths in no time.

"Speak," Chen Yan said impatiently as soon as the oaths were made.

An amused glint appeared in Han Xuhan's eyes. "Actually, you were half correct. Laws were indeed used to suppress your vital energy during the second round, right after you initiated the first move."

Chen Yan: "....?!"

Han Xuhan brought out a small orb from his pocket. A patch of emerald brightness shone at the center of the orb.

"This thing fueled the suppression. I have a law fragment on me, drawn by my senior, which absorbed the fuel under my guidance and targeted your vital energy.

I didn't really use my own qi, so I broke no rules. Just like that talisman in your pocket and that mask on your face, I used a tool that functions on its own."

Chen Yan: "...."

Leaving him utterly confounded, Han Xuhan turned around and raised his hand in the air, making sure that every eye in the gallery could see the emerald orb in his grasp.

The next moment, powered by the lungs of a third phase martial artist, the most grandiose advertisement plan in the history of the Crimson Snow Sect unfolded!

"My fellow disciples of the outer court! Today, I stand before you with a revolutionary formula!"

In this advertisement plan, Chen Yan was nothing but a stepping stone, a chess piece to be used as a pivot.

"What is the most dreadful obstacle on our path to the peak of our potential? We all know the answer—lack of resources!"

To successfully kick off this advertisement plan had always been Han Xuhan's main goal. This duel was its medium.

"But the world of cultivation is harsh! How can we accumulate enough resources if we don't compete with stronger opponents? And if we do compete, how can we defeat them by ordinary means?"

Han Xuhan pointed a finger at the dumbstruck Chen Yan.

"As you can see, an incredible solution to that impasse is right in front of you!"

Chen Yan: "...?"

"The future is here! Don't miss out on the chance to become the best version of yourself, reaching the peak of your potential!

With my methods, you can defeat even a cultivator at the Soul Reformation realm. So what fear would you have left of a powerful opponent?

What risk would you face in any competition for resources?

What can stop your ascension to the apex?"

The entire outer court, filling the gallery, seemed to have been hypnotized by one young man's voice. Some were breathless, some were slowly rising to their feet, and some trembled in excitement. Not a single pair of eyes dared to blink!

"For the last two months, I've been playing a key role in disseminating the techniques of the legalist path among my brethren in the outer court.

I've faced many challenges on this road, and this duel stands as proof. So, through this very contest, I wanted to prove something to you all!"

The Elders seated at the edge of the arena probably realized what he was trying to do. But what could they even do now to stop it?

One of them tried to cast a silencing spell at Han Xuhan, only to be met by an invisible barrier halfway. Someone had already foreseen such moves and activated the arrays on the border walls of the dueling field.

Who else could it be but Kong Ye?

The older, more experienced Elders closed their eyes, looking detached. Elder Shen was the only one who seemed interested in seeing where things were headed, actively taking account of everything happening alongside Han Xuhan's speech.

"Now you can all see the true potential of the legalist path. Now you can understand why the Law cultivators once dominated our continent!

With just one ordinary, replicable, and disposable tool from their legacy, I've crushed an opponent standing one whole realm above me!

Can you imagine how far you can go if you have access to such methods?"

Han Xuhan tossed the emerald orb a few feet up in the air, watching thousands of mesmerized gazes following its trajectory.

"So, I shall let the decision rest in your hands! Don't fall behind in this race! Buy a manual of the legalist path, cultivate its techniques, and accompany me on a path of overwhelming, matchless power!"