Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition Grounds
Wen Qinyang, heedless of her own well-being, descended into a state of unbridled fury upon the battlefield.
Within the recesses of her mind, the incendiary flames stoked by the Burning Mind Flame gu held dominion. Reason and prudence were swiftly usurped by a fervent compulsion. No longer did she entertain notions of retreat or caution.
Instead, her sole impetus became one of relentless advancement, destruction, and eradication. These fervid thoughts consumed her mind, burning with an intensity that knew no bounds.
As she rampaged amidst the clash of forces, Qinyang became the fulcrum upon which the battle pivoted.
Her assault, borne on the wings of icy projectiles, swept away any semblance of resistance the Bao clan could muster.
Her ferocity knew no equal, and she emerged—a silver-haired demon of frost—to those who bore witness.
The Bao clan, outmatched and overpowered, found their ranks faltering under the unyielding onslaught.
"Fall back!"
"Regroup!" - Echoed their desperate cries as the advancing Wen clan, led by Qinyang's indomitable charge, pushed them further and further in retreat.
Amongst the observing Bao clan gu immortals, a furrowed brow betrayed their growing concern.
"Should this assault persist, the advantage garnered in the previous round will surely be eroded." - Lamented one amongst them.
"Indeed, we must not forget that this is but the third round. The Wen clan doubtlessly has hidden tricks."
"The true conclusion of this competition lies in the fifth and final round." - Replied another, engaging in a measured discourse.
Meanwhile, the three supreme elders of the Bao clan maintained a calm countenance, for they knew that this was merely the dawning of a protracted struggle.
Yet, even as Qinyang's icy fury reached its crescendo, an abrupt cessation seized her movement. Her steps faltered, and she came to a sudden halt, her face devoid of expression.
Without warning, her gaze fixated upon the sky above as her body crumpled to the ground.
"What transpired?"
"Has she been felled by an unseen attack?"
"Could it be that she met her end in such an abrupt manner? Could she...?"
The witnesses, struck dumb by the unfolding events, could only grapple with bewilderment.
Amongst them, only one harbored the knowledge of what truly occurred.
Wen Hao Jiong, a faint, satisfied smile playing upon her lips, beheld the scene with a sinister satisfaction.
"The effect of the Burning Mind Flame gu have proven flawless. The fiery thoughts have consumed all of her thought. Without any thought, one becomes naught but a corpse upon the battlefield." - She silently mused, reveling in the resounding success of her devious scheme.
Hao Meng, casting aside the decorum befitting his status as an elder, sprang to his feet at the sight of his fallen beloved.
"Qinyang!" - He cried out, unabashed by the absence of restraint that his youth afforded him. For he was still a young man, his emotions raw and untempered by time's hand.
"My dear boy, see with your own eyes." - Spoke his mother, Wen Hao Jiong, in a tone that carried the air of lecturing wisdom.
"Qinyang's aspirations exceeded her grasp. She allowed herself to be ensnared in the heat of battle, and now we witness the consequence." - Her words held a sharpness that cut through the air, delivered with the weight of disapproval.
"But I warned you from the outset, my son." - She continued, her gaze unyielding and her voice tinged with a touch of disdain.
"She was never worthy of standing by your side."
Hao Meng, his fists clenched and his teeth ground together, turned to face his mother. His eyes bore into hers, seeking answers amidst the tumultuous storm of emotions that surged within him.
"Mother! Tell me, did you orchestrate this? Did you do all this?" - He demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation.
Yet, Wen Hao Jiong offered no response. Her silence, suffused with implication, spoke volumes. Her unspoken confession was as good as an admission of guilt.
The tension hung heavy in the air, a tangible force that threatened to suffocate the very breaths of those present.
However, the weight of the moment shattered abruptly. Hao Jiong, her attention pulled back towards the battlefield, experienced a sudden shock.
Her eyes widened in astonishment, for what she witnessed defied all reason.
"What trick is this?" - She exclaimed in her mind.
"Why does her killer move persist?" - Hao Jiong's mind grappled with the anomaly before her.
Qinyang, lying amidst the dirt and filth of the battlefield, her body motionless, yet her killer move continued to unleash her icy projectiles with unwavering resolve.
The frigid frost condensed, birthing formidable icicles that streaked forth unerringly towards their targets.
Even when confronted by incoming assaults, her barrage of ice intercepted them, rendering them naught but feeble and ineffectual. Just as before, her killer move held fast, unyielding to the absence of thought.
"Killer moves require thoughts for their control! This defies reason!" - Hao Jiong voiced her incredulity, her mind grappling with the incongruity of the situation.
Qinyang, thoughtless and unconscious, became an immovable bulwark upon which none could trespass.
Hao Meng's eyes, tinged with a flicker of hope amidst his worry, burned with intensity.
Alas, he found himself bound by the impotence of his circumstances, unable to intervene and offer aid to his beloved Qinyang.
The gazes of the Wen clan immortals, spectating the unfolding scene, carried a peculiar blend of emotions upon their countenances.
From the opposing side, the glares emanating from the Bao clan immortals pierced through the air like silent screams of accusation.
"How dare you cheat so brazenly!"
"She is clearly unconscious. Which one among you is manipulating her gu?"
The truth lay plain before their eyes, yet everyone had their own impressions. Some form of interference had undoubtedly transpired.
Each clan harbored their own ideas, casting blame upon the other in a futile dance of accusations.
Yet, to voice their suspicions aloud would only serve to damage the reputations of both clans.
Within the hearts of the Bao clan, an unyielding conviction took root, believing that the Wen clan had employed blatant and underhanded means to help the standing of their gu masters.
Meanwhile, the Wen clan held a steadfast belief that the Bao clan had orchestrated this very scenario, seeking to frame the Wen clan as flagrant purveyors of deceit.
Tensions simmered beneath the surface.
Unbeknownst to the gu masters embroiled in the fierce conflict, their essence waning as the battle wore on, they inched back.
This only served to accentuate the anomaly of Qinyang's endurance. Though unconscious, she continued to persist, her aperture brimming with the potent rank five primeval essence bestowed upon her by the Beggar Moth gu.
The rank three gu worms at her disposal seemed but pebbles in an ocean against the reservoirs of her newfound sustenance.
The other gu masters, their reserves dwindling, could only marvel at the unfathomable wellspring of her strength.
Her information path method continued to operate unabated in an autonomous manner.
Amidst the mounting tensions and the ebb of the gu masters' strength, a resounding "ding" reverberated through the competition ground, signaling the entrance of the rank four gu masters onto the stage.
The rank four gu masters stepped onto the stage, their eyes alight with determination and anticipation.
The tension in the air was palpable as the spectators watched intently, awaiting the clash of new powers that was about to unfold.
The previous rounds had already showcased the extraordinary skills and abilities of the gu masters, and now, with the emergence of the rank four contenders, the stakes were raised even higher.
Among the onlookers, the Bao clan's immortals maintained their stern expressions, their eyes never straying from the Wen clan's participants.
The suspicion and accusation still lingered, unresolved and simmering beneath the surface. They were determined to uncover the truth behind Qinyang's inexplicable endurance, refusing to let this matter be swept aside.
Meanwhile, the Wen clan's immortals met their gaze with a mix of defiance and righteousness, silently vowing to protect their clan's honor against any unjust accusations.
As the next round commenced, the battlefield transformed into a whirlwind of clashes and collisions.
The rank four gu masters displayed their formidable techniques, each one showcasing their path and skill set, while Bao clan displayed their varied wood path methods.
Their movements were swift and precise, their attacks unleashed with calculated ferocity. It was a symphony of martial prowess, as the gu masters moved across the battlefield, their methods intertwining like a complex tapestry.
In the midst of this chaos, Qinyang, though still unconscious, remained a central figure. Her icy killer move continued unabated, as if driven by an invisible force.
The splinters of ice shattered and scattered around her started to pile into mounds.
The ice started to form a natural barrier, hindering attempts at advancement from the Bao clan gu masters.
It was a sight both awe-inspiring and perplexing, for how could an unconscious gu master exhibit such power?
Hao Meng watched with a mix of worry and hope. He yearned to rush to her side, to aid her in this moment of uncertainty, but he knew his interference would be met with opposition and suspicion. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with determination.
"Just one round. Please just last one more round." - He repeated quietly.
To the astonishment of the newly arrived Wen clan gu masters, Qinyang's icy onslaught did not discriminate between friend and foe.
Their pleas for her to recognize them fell on deaf ears, as her relentless attacks continued unabated.
The frozen projectiles struck indiscriminately, causing chaos and confusion on the battlefield.
"Friendly fire! Cease your assault!" - They cried out desperately, their voices drowned amidst the clash of attacks and the chilling gusts of wind.
But their words were futile, for Qinyang's killer move operated on its own, unaffected by their pleas.
In her eyes, they were not "whitelisted" when she scanned the battlefield, and thus became targets of her deadly barrage.
As the rank four gu masters sought to approach the frontline, they were met with the full force of Qinyang's unyielding presence.
Activating their defensive techniques, they struggled to fend off the onslaught of ice on top of Bao clan's force.
The once-unified Wen clan found themselves divided, their attention split between the enemy forces and the enigmatic state of their fallen comrade.
"She does not respond! What shall we do with her?" - One of the rank four gu masters exclaimed, his voice laced with uncertainty.
They were faced with an unexpected situation, one that defied their previous experiences on the battlefield.
Qinyang, in her unconscious state, had become a force unto herself, and they were left grappling with the implications.
In the midst of the chaos, a voice of reason emerged.
"Protect her! Look at the life marking flare she has accumulated! The Wen clan cannot afford to lose that!" - The urgency in the speaker's tone was evident, highlighting the importance of preserving Qinyang's lifeline.
Another voice, tinged with frustration, added: "Do not concern yourselves with her well-being. It is clear that she can handle this situation on her own."
A clamor erupted among the spectating gu masters, their voices rising in a chorus of shock and disbelief.
"She attacks her own! Madness has consumed her!"
"The icy demon has revealed her true colors!" - Their words echoed through the air, spreading like wildfire, fueling the growing controversy and drama among the onlookers.
Whispers of treachery and betrayal filled the competition ground, as the spectators grappled to comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes.
Qinyang's once-esteemed reputation now hung in the balance, overshadowed by the accusation of turning against her own kin.
The icy tempest she conjured, once hailed as a formidable weapon against their enemies, now became a symbol of chaos and destruction.
The gu masters watched in dismay as her relentless assault targeted not only the opposing forces but also her fellow Wen clan members.
Rumors swirled through the crowd, painting Qinyang as a fallen hero, her heart consumed by darkness and her loyalty shattered.
But amidst the confusion and turmoil, a few voices rose above the cacophony of accusation and condemnation.
"Do not be quick to judge! There must be more to this than meets the eye!" - They implored, striving to temper the rising hysteria with reason and caution.
On Bao clan's side, a young man turned back to glance at the battle he just escaped.
"Work of immortals..." - Zhao Min shook his head as he thought with disdain.
* * * * *