“Behold, it is Lu Song!” a voice cried out, echoing across the training grounds. “My master has oft spoken of him, declaring him Hengyue Sect’s brightest star in a century! Xuandao Sect is surely doomed this day!”

“Go forth, Fifth Brother!” another bellowed, thick with pride. “Let your victory be a beacon for us all!”

The inner disciples of Hengyue Sect, their spirits buoyed by the first clashes, roared their encouragement. Some of the fairer maidens, their hearts aflutter with newfound admiration, cast longing glances towards Lu Song.

Even Huang Long Zhenren, his countenance usually stern, allowed a smile to grace his lips, confident of Lu Song’s triumph.

Wang Zhuo, his eyes burning with envy, merely sneered and turned away, a disgruntled snort escaping his lips.

Across the field, the disciples of Xuandao Sect felt a prickle of unease. Lu Song’s renown preceded him; they had witnessed his skill during the previous exchange, two decades hence. Though ultimately defeated then, he had left a lasting impression upon the elders of Xuandao.

Old Man Ouyang, his face momentarily darkened, spoke with grim resolve. “Xu Mu,” he intoned, “I grant you leave to unbind the Master’s seal, and reveal your true strength!”

With a solemn nod, Xu Mu began to disrobe, revealing a dark yellow paper talisman affixed to his chest.

A collective gasp swept through the elders of Hengyue Sect. Examining the charm with troubled eyes, shock etched itself onto their faces.

“Fellow Daoist Ouyang,” Huanglong began, his voice laced with dismay, “this paper talisman…”

Ouyang’s eyes gleamed with a cold light as he interrupted. “Huanglong Zhenren, I have a proposition, one that I shall use this opportunity to lay bare. If Xuandao Sect emerges victorious from today’s contest, then in addition to the already agreed terms, we shall require the loan of Hengyue Peak for a period of five hundred years!”

A wave of consternation rippled through the gathered crowd. Huanglong’s eyes narrowed. “Fellow Daoist Ouyang, you jest!”

Ouyang shook his head. “Fellow Daoist Huanglong, you have seen the paper talisman. The spiritual power imbued within cannot be the work of any mere Nascent Soul stage ancestor. Truth be told, an ancestor of Xuandao Sect has returned from the battlefields beyond the fourth-level cultivation country…He brings tidings that all the ancestors of your Hengyue Sect have fallen in battle!”

The colour drained from Huanglong Zhenren’s face. After a long, pregnant silence, he spoke in a low growl. “Fellow Daoist Ouyang, tread carefully with your words, lest you invite the wrath of Hengyue Sect!”

Ouyang smiled thinly. “It is precisely because of past friendship that Xuandao Sect refrains from exploiting this circumstance. We offer Hengyue Sect a measure of mercy. Should Hengyue Sect prevail in this competition, then the matter is closed. My words are spoken. Fellow Daoist Huanglong, let the competition continue!”

The inner disciples of Hengyue Sect, though confused by the veiled pronouncements, felt a heavy stone settle in their hearts. The very sky seemed to darken above them.

Wang Lin felt a shiver run down his spine. Situ Nan’s words rang true: the cultivation world was indeed divided according to national power.

Sun Dazhu, his face ashen and his eyes glazed over, muttered to himself, “It is over, all is lost! Our ancestors are dead. Hengyue Sect could once use their names to intimidate others and barely hold its ground, but now… it is finished! Curse the Qinglong Kingdom, that fourth-level cultivation country! They recalled all the Nascent Soul stage ancestors of Zhao’s Kingdom five hundred years ago for the war beyond the stars, and now Hengyue Sect suffers this fate!”

Huanglong Zhenren, his gaze sweeping across his junior brothers and the anxious disciples, quelled the turmoil within and roared, “Do not despair, disciples! The veracity of these claims shall be determined by the elders in the Sect’s Hall of Judgment! What use is panic now! Lu Song, continue the competition!”

Lu Song, still reeling from Ouyang’s devastating words, steeled his resolve. He parted his lips, and a ray of purple light shot forth, rapidly swelling into a gigantic hand wreathed in dark energy, reaching to seize Xu Mu.

Xu Mu’s expression flickered. Without a word, he slapped his storage bag, releasing six golden orbs that hurtled skyward to meet the oncoming blow. Lu Song sneered, performing a secret incantation with his right hand. With a wave of his colossal hand, a gust of wind arose, causing the six golden orbs to falter and veer from their intended course.

This unnatural wind even disrupted the flow of spiritual energy within Xu Mu’s body. His face twisted in alarm. “Explode!” he screamed.

The six golden orbs detonated in unison, unleashing a wave of raw power that forced onlookers to stumble backward.

Lu Song chuckled coldly. “A paltry trick!” He clenched his hand, compressing the swirling energy from the explosion into a fist, which he slammed down with unrelenting force.

Xu Mu, pale as death, saw the crushing hand descend. With gritted teeth, he drew forth a seemingly unremarkable piece of yellow paper from his storage bag. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood mist upon it.

The blood, defying gravity, coalesced in the air, forming a miniature blood dragon. Xu Mu, his eyes locked on the macabre creation, recited an arcane formula as he manipulated the blood dragon. It contorted, biting its own tail to form a strange symbol, which he then pressed onto the yellow paper!

The yellow paper erupted in a blinding light, rivaling the sun. The descending fist faltered and began to dissipate, its destruction visible to the naked eye.

Wang Lin’s eyes widened, a flicker of recognition in his gaze. He too possessed such a paper talisman within his storage bag!

“A spirit treasure, is it?” Lu Song frowned. He swung his sleeves, and two white dragons shot forth, spiraling through the air, attacking Xu Mu with lightning speed.

Xu Mu laughed bitterly. He was already pouring all his energy into resisting the monstrous hand above him. He had no power left to parry the two flying swords that had transformed into deadly dragons.

As the white dragons bared their fangs, poised to strike, a chilling snort echoed from the ranks of Xuandao Sect’s disciples.

Instantly, a black streak shot forth, effortlessly ensnaring the two white dragons, producing a sickening creaking sound. The dragons writhed and shrunk, transforming back into two small silver swords. The black streak tightened its grip, and with a resounding crack, the two flying swords shattered, falling lifelessly onto the stone platform.

Lu Song’s face contorted in agony. The destruction of his mind-linked flying swords caused him to vomit a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with horror. The crushing hand above Xu Mu, now bereft of its master’s control, dispersed into nothingness.

Xu Mu, having narrowly escaped death, clutched the yellow paper talisman, retreating swiftly, his face a mask of relief. Lu Song, meanwhile, staggered down from the stone platform, his spirit broken.

Huanglong Zhenren’s face was thunderous. “Xuandao Sect,” he roared, “you push your luck too far!” Several of his junior brothers echoed his anger, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords. The more hot-tempered amongst them had already drawn their weapons, ready to spill blood at the slightest provocation.

The inner disciples, understanding the gravity of the situation, seethed with indignation. The two purple-robed disciples, however, exchanged wary glances, their eyes fixed on the middle-aged man standing at the rear of the Xuandao Sect’s ranks.

It was he who had emitted the chilling snort that had saved Xu Mu’s life.

Old Man Ouyang glanced back at the middle-aged man, a wry smile playing on his lips. “In this third match,” he conceded, “Hengyue Sect has emerged victorious. As for what transpired just now, I…”

“Old Man Ouyang, enough with your empty words! This Hengyue Sect is nothing!” The middle-aged man, defiant and arrogant, stepped forward. With the force of his single step, the ground cracked, a thin fissure snaking beneath his feet and across the stone platform.

(The last line remains unchanged.)