The effect of the No Light Ability dissipated.

The plaza in front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple was once more bathed in sunlight.

Once again, everyone saw two blazing suns simultaneously.

One hung in the distant firmament, dispersing endless light and warmth.

The other, hovered in front of Bao Bozhao, who was sprawled on the ground.

In the distance, Chao Yu, the lead general of the Winter Silence Army, was propping himself up with both hands, struggling to rise from the ground.

A little further away, Xie Baoshu, who had once been full of vim and vigor, was still sprawled on the ground, his fate unknown.

Silence filled the air.

Despite many having anticipated Zhongxuan Zun’s ultimate victory before Bao Bozhao’s No Light Ability disappeared—after all, in the previous clash, Xie Baoshu was defeated so decisively, the formidable Ghost General was directly crushed—Zhongxuan Zun had maintained the upper hand throughout.

But when this moment actually arrived...

Shock, nothing but shock!

The three masters of the Outer Building who lay scattered and battered on the field weren’t any ordinary Outer Tower Cultivators. They were the chosen young elites of the Great Qi Administrative Hall, prepared to attend the Yellow River Gathering and contend with talents from other nations!

Of course, they were all still young, far from reaching their peak state at the Outer Building realm. They might not be a match for some older cultivators of the External Building Environment.

As a powerful nation of the world, Qi Country could not send older Outer Building practitioners to a gathering of young talents. Cultivators like Beiyar Commander Zheng Shi, who could rise to higher realms but deliberately suppressed their realm, were undoubtedly strong at the Outer Building level, but how could such aged practitioners be considered young talents?

Qi Country naturally carried the demeanor of a great state.

But who could say that Bao Bozhao, Xie Baoshu, and Chao Yu were not strong?

Bao Bozhao displayed the powerful battle strength of at least three Divine Skills, Xie Baoshu combined the Divine Mirror with wild song, along with Confucianist secret techniques, his combat prowess was not to be underestimated. And who would dare claim they could withstand Chao Yu’s "Ten Years Hidden Blade, Seeking A Single Kill"?

Yet they all lost.

They joined forces to besiege their opponent, but they were still defeated.

Especially Zhongxuan Zun, who had only just barely stepped into the realm of the Outer Building that very day!

This battle would be talked about all over the world!

Almost everyone’s gaze—whether filled with eagerness, anticipation, or caution—fell on the man in flowing white robes.

However, Jiang Wang, who had witnessed every detail through the Red Mirror, couldn’t help but let his eyes drift to the dazzling sun. For some reason, his forehead throbbing with pain...

This Zhongxuan Zun really liked to use suns to smash people’s foreheads!

But this battle was truly splendid. Each choice made in the fight was noteworthy, especially Chao Yu’s "Ten Years Hidden Blade, Seeking a Single Kill," which had some similarities with his own demeaned scholar’s sword...

Grand Qi’s Prime Minister said no more, as the spectators were mostly still immersed in shock.

Thus, the plaza remained quiet.

This quiet endured for quite some time.

"You won."

In front of the hovering, fiercely blazing sun, Bao Bozhao couldn’t help but speak.

Zhongxuan Zun looked down at him.

"I admit, you are more qualified to represent Qi Country at the Yellow River Gathering. Even I am no match for you," said Bao Bozhao, still in a lying position, yet spoke with great grace: "Among the younger generation of the Outer Building, I dare not claim to be the best any longer."

Zhongxuan Zun quietly looked at him for a while, brought his fingers together, and withdrew the sun.

He shifted his foot off Bao Bozhao’s body and silently took two steps towards the center of the plaza.

Bao Bozhao got up, unwilling to lose his mettle, and looking at his retreating figure said, "You won today, but it won’t always be me lying on the ground. The path is long: you and I will have another contest in the future."

Zhongxuan Zun didn’t turn back, simply saying in an indifferent tone, "I think you may be under some misconception. I left you until the end, not because you’re so strong, but thinking that my grandfather might enjoy seeing me trample you a while longer."

There were no expressions of excitement or agitated tone in his voice, so he seemed to be telling the truth: "You’re not qualified to compete with me."

Suppressing the blood that Bao Bozhao had been holding back for a long time, it suddenly spurted out.

But not too many people cared anymore.

Zhongxuan Sheng’s chubby cheeks quivered. In his eyes, the remark by Zhongxuan Zun had greater lethality than the earlier bout itself.

Mr. Zhongxuan hadn’t attended today’s ceremony, as he seldom appeared at such events now. Nonetheless, this scene today—the words of Zhongxuan Zun—would inevitably reach the ears of the elder.

And the elder... would surely be very pleased.

On the high platform, there were only two of the Zhongxuan surname.

Despite anticipating this, Zhongxuan Sheng’s mood couldn’t improve. As for Zhongxuan Mingguang, the father, he was beaming with joy, sweeping his gaze from left to right, looking proud and self-assured. Finally, focusing on the square below, he lightly raised his chin and half-smiled, the very picture of restrained confidence, "Quite like her father!"

Zhongxuan Sheng silently rolled his eyes—if only what my uncle said were true!

Several Little Eunuchs scurried into the square, carrying away the injured.

No one from the military or from the Bao and Xie families approached the square to check on the loser’s injuries.

Injured during a master’s ceremony, the Imperial Physicians would naturally take good care of them.

Due to the constraints of etiquette... family and friends of the injured could only visit them after the rituals.

Xie Baoshu, whose life or death was unknown, was carried away.

Chao Yu raised her palm, stopping the Little Eunuch who wanted to help her up, propped herself on her knees for a moment to catch her breath, before standing up straight.

Her face and head were still stained with blood, but her eyes were calm, never once crying out in pain.

She insisted on walking out of the square on her own, but after a few steps, she halted and slowly turned back to look at... the elegant young man standing proud with his sword at the edge of the square.

At that moment, Jiang Wang was repeatedly contemplating the two strikes from Chao Yu within his mind. The Red Mirror allowed him to see the details of this battle clearly, and what struck him most were these two strikes.

Chao Yu’s blade drew a straight line, separating life and death.

And the desolate swordsman’s blade, with a carefree slash, divided heaven and earth.

Chao Yu achieved "a decade of honing the blade, for a single killing blow."

Whereas the desolate swordsman, Xu Fang, after living worse than death for eighteen years, finally plunged his dagger into his heart at the Blue Stone Palace, laying bare his soul with that thrust, avenging his blood feud in one stroke.

Chao Yu’s "a decade of honing the blade, for a single killing blow," and the blade of the desolate swordsman, shared a natural connection.

Hence, Jiang Wang benefited immensely from this.

Following Chao Yu’s gaze, many also turned their attention to Jiang Wang.

Some of the stronger ones even sensed a concealed Sword Intent emanating from the youth.

They didn’t quite know how to describe what they felt...

Learning the sword on the battlefield?

Jiang Wang, still entangled with the sword techniques, suddenly sensed the shift in atmosphere and looked up to see Chao Yu, face smeared with blood, walking towards him.

Was she coming to demand accountability?

Jiang Wang was a polite man, so he quickly stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Thank you for the instruction, General Chao."

Chao Yu was briefly at a loss for what to say, even forgetting why she had approached him.

She simply nodded her head and walked away.

(Since everyone has been so enthusiastic, pushing us all the way to eleventh, I... wish to strive for the top ten.

I ask for your monthly votes, and if we can make it into the top ten by the end of the month, I will write a special side story to be shared in the subscribers’ group.

This side story can be about Zuo Guanglie, Dong Ah, Zhongxuan Futu, Zhuang Chenggan... all those dazzling, complex, already departed characters who you still regret not seeing enough of, whose brilliance was yet to shine across the skies. Provided it doesn’t affect the main storyline, I will write a side story for them, telling the tales of their yet-to-unfold stories, the glow that should have lit up the firmament.

As for whom specifically the story will be about, we will decide by a vote in the full-subscription group.

With that, I implore your efforts! Ask for your monthly votes!)