A pained expression flashed across Xia Qingxue’s cold face, only to be quickly replaced by anger.

Dai Zichen’s expression flickered. ’Qingxue cultivates the Profound Celestial Ice Soul Technique,’ he thought. ’Her heart was sealed in ice long ago. Ordinary matters shouldn’t be able to affect her. What kind of Illusion Realm could cause such a violent emotional swing?’

To prevent any mishaps, Dai Zichen sent a voice transmission to Zhan Tianxia. "City Lord Zhan, please awaken Qingxue. She is the Direct Disciple of my sect’s Supreme Elder. Her Dao Heart must not be compromised."

Compared to this treasured prodigy, losing to some nobody wasn’t so unacceptable.

But Zhan Tianxia was unmoved. He looked at the two inside the Array and said, "Elder Dai, you are mistaken. The very purpose of the Heart Inquiry Array is to temper the Dao Heart. How can it be called tempering if there are no setbacks?

"Since she is a genius, she should undergo even more trials to achieve a true transformation. Elder Dai, there is no need to worry. The situation of the two within the Array is entirely under my control."

"But—" Dai Zichen was exasperated, but with Zhan Tianxia currently maintaining the Array, he didn’t dare act rashly, fearing he might cause an irreversible outcome.

Another quarter of an hour passed. The expression on Xia Qingxue’s face gradually calmed, and the aura around her stabilized. She had broken through the Third Illusion Realm!

Seeing this, Dai Zichen quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Old Ghost Bai, on the other hand, couldn’t help but sigh in frustration. ’If her Dao Heart had collapsed,’ he lamented internally, ’the Celestial Vein Sect has a hundred ways to turn her into a cripple. A pity she pulled through at the critical moment.’

Both cultivators in the Array had now entered the Fourth Illusion Realm. Song Changsheng’s performance was becoming increasingly brilliant. As the Direct Disciple of the Golden Crow Sect, it was not surprising that Xia Qingxue had lasted this long; in fact, it was expected.

But Song Changsheng was different. He rarely appeared in public. The Lieyang Sect disciples who knew him, along with Hai Dongping, were not currently in the Dao Discussion Hall, so there was no one present who could identify him.

"The Fourth Illusion Realm is impossible for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to break through. Now, it’s just a matter of seeing who can last longer. However, in my opinion, that little girl from your Golden Crow Sect is about to give out."

"The Direct Disciple of the Golden Crow Sect’s Supreme Elder, losing to an unknown nobody... Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Old Ghost Bai sneered at Dai Zichen, stroking his small goatee.

"Hmph. So what? Your people from the Celestial Vein Sect were eliminated long ago," Dai Zichen snorted, retorting sharply.

"Heh heh, it’s true my Celestial Vein Sect’s disciples were outmatched. However, if my sect’s Direct Lineage were here, taking first place would be as easy as flipping a hand," Old Ghost Bai said without a hint of shame. Since the Celestial Vein Sect’s Direct Disciples weren’t present, he could boast all he wanted, couldn’t he?

Dai Zichen’s expression was grim. If Xia Qingxue weren’t still inside the Array, he would have stormed off in a huff.

Just then, the aura around Xia Qingxue suddenly fell into disarray, showing signs of collapse. Dai Zichen’s heart seized, and he was about to intervene and forcibly wake her.

But unexpectedly, Zhan Tianxia was faster. With a wave of his wide sleeve, a surge of lightning flashed, and Xia Qingxue’s figure appeared outside the Array.

Once free from the Illusion Realm, Xia Qingxue’s aura quickly stabilized. Seeing this, Dai Zichen, whose heart had been in his throat, let out a sharp sigh of relief. He cupped his fists toward Zhan Tianxia and said, "Many thanks, City Lord Zhan."

"Don’t mention it. I just didn’t want to cause trouble for my Senior Brother," Zhan Tianxia said coolly, giving him a sidelong glance.

Zhan Tianxia’s words were so blunt they made Dai Zichen flush with embarrassment. If something had happened to Xia Qingxue here today, not only would he have been in unbearable trouble, but even the Supreme Elder of his sect would have had to come to Celestial Sound Mountain to demand an explanation.

Dai Zichen hurried to Xia Qingxue’s side and asked in a low voice, "Qingxue, how are you feeling?"

Xia Qingxue opened her eyes and shook her head slightly. "It’s nothing serious. The Heart Inquiry Array truly lives up to its reputation. If City Lord Zhan hadn’t acted in time to shatter the Illusion Realm, I would have been in trouble."

Her beautiful eyes scanned the hall, and she was surprised to find someone still inside the Array. "Who is that?" she asked softly.

"I don’t know. I’ve never heard of him. Perhaps he’s a hidden prodigy from some family," Dai Zichen said, shaking his head.

Xia Qingxue nodded at his words but didn’t give it much thought. If he hadn’t lasted longer than her in the Heart Inquiry Array, she wouldn’t have even bothered to spare him a glance.

"Should we continue to wait here, or...?" Although Dai Zichen was an Elder, he deferred to her on every matter. This only made Old Ghost Bai all the more curious about Xia Qingxue.

"There’s nothing to see, unless he can break through the Fourth Illusion Realm." After briefly composing herself, Xia Qingxue stood up and walked out of the hall without a backward glance. Dai Zichen cupped his fists at Zhan Tianxia, then led the other Golden Crow Sect disciples after her.

The ownership of the Green Sky White Jade Pill was now decided. The remaining participants had no desire to stay any longer; after all, their Dao Hearts had been more or less damaged, and they needed to return quickly to recuperate.

There was another grand event during the Great City Lord’s birthday feast, and missing it due to injury would be a cause for endless regret.

As these people left, they began asking around about Song Changsheng’s identity. The results of their inquiries, however, left them astonished: he was merely the Young Clan Leader of a Foundation Establishment Family, one that didn’t even have a single Purple Mansion Cultivator.