Qingxuan Sect chased, while Heavenly Water Sect ran.
This scene of cat and mouse was seen not only by every spectator in the stands but also by the disciples on the martial arena.
Whenever Shen Mo and his team charged through the crowd in pursuit, disciples from smaller sects would tactfully make way.
No matter how fiercely they were fighting, they dared not block the path of Shen Mo leading Qingxuan Sect.
Especially after witnessing the power of those three punches—both skillful and strategic.
No one wanted to offend such a formidable Qingxuan Sect.
To many disciples, the Qingxuan Sect team now seemed capable of matching the teams of the top five sects in Xuanjiang!
In the Rising Sun Sect team.
Hong Chilong polished his giant blade until it gleamed brilliantly. Hearing his disciples' surprised discussions about Shen Mo's three-punch victory, he finally looked up.
He watched the two teams, one chasing and the other fleeing, and suddenly smiled.
"Interesting, Qingxuan Sect has produced a talent!"
"I think Yin Xuege's title as Young Supreme should be revoked and given to Shen Mo!"
The disciples of Rising Sun Sect burst into laughter.
It was true that Yin Xuege was one of the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang.
But he had fought against the other four and never won.
His best result was a draw against Thunderfire Sect's Lei Junzi Wan Renjie.
However, Wan Renjie and Yin Xuege were known to be good friends, and some said Wan Renjie deliberately held back, resulting in the draw.
Thus, Yin Xuege was privately nicknamed the Weak Supreme.
In the Thunderfire Sect team.
Nine disciples surrounded Wan Renjie, their gazes also fixed on Shen Mo.
Wan Renjie, tall and lean, was seething with anger.
Seeing Yin Xuege in such a pitiful state, he felt a shared indignation, as if those injuries were inflicted on him.
"Move! Stop them!" Wan Renjie growled.
In the Verdant Vine Sect team.
Mo Yuheng's gaze at Shen Mo grew increasingly curious and amused.
The disciples of Verdant Vine Sect noticed Thunderfire Sect's movements, "Senior Sister, it looks like Thunderfire Sect is about to make a move."
"How dull," Mo Yuheng chuckled, "Watching the show is much more fun. Why intervene?"
"Senior Sister, you mean...?" The Verdant Vine Sect disciples were eager to act.
"Block them. Don't let them interfere," Mo Yuheng said with a light laugh.
"Yes!"
The disciples of Verdant Vine Sect quickly moved and, in the blink of an eye, stood in front of Thunderfire Sect, blocking their path.
Wan Renjie's eyebrows furrowed deeply, "Mo Yuheng, what are you doing?"
Mo Yuheng covered her mouth and laughed, "We like the scenery here. Can't we stay?"
Wan Renjie took a few deep breaths, suppressing his anger, "Fine! This place is yours. We'll take a different route!"
He gestured for the Thunderfire Sect disciples to follow him around the Verdant Vine Sect team.
But Mo Yuheng stepped forward again, blocking his path.
Wan Renjie's veins bulged, "What exactly do you want?"
Mo Yuheng smiled teasingly, "What do you think?"
Wan Renjie shouted, "Move! Or I'll make you!"
Mo Yuheng laughed heartily, "Go ahead and try. Let's see if you can beat me."
Wan Renjie gritted his teeth.
He knew he wasn't a match for Mo Yuheng.
Among the Five Young Supremes of Xuanjiang, Mo Yuheng's strength was second only to Young Sword Supreme Zhou Qingcang.
"I might not be able to beat you, but can you protect all the other disciples of Verdant Vine Sect? Do you want only Mo Yuheng to enter the second round?" Wan Renjie sneered.
Mo Yuheng retorted, "Oh? And can you protect all the Thunderfire Sect disciples from my attacks? Have you forgotten Verdant Vine Sect's specialty?"
She reached out and lightly flicked her hair.
Wan Renjie's eyebrows shot up, and he instinctively stepped back.
Mo Yuheng laughed, "Relax, I haven't used poison yet."
Wan Renjie's expression shifted between anger and frustration.
Verdant Vine Sect's specialty was poison.
Poison powder, poison water, poison smoke—if truly deployed, Wan Renjie could at best protect himself, while the others would be on their own.
They would hope they carried enough antidotes.
Mo Yuheng's earlier gesture was her typical move when using poison.
Wan Renjie had suffered from it before, almost forming a reflexive muscle memory.
Unexpectedly, Mo Yuheng was bluffing this time.
Both sides were at a standstill.
"Senior Brother, what should we do?" a disciple of Thunderfire Sect asked quietly.
Wan Renjie thought it over several times before finally saying, "Retreat. Yin Xuege... let him fend for himself."
"Understood."
The Thunderfire Sect team had no choice but to retreat.
This scene left those around them quite astonished.
The Enchantress, Mo Yuheng, had always been proud and viewed men as insignificant. Why was she helping Shen Mo this time?
Mo Yuheng, uninterested in Wan Renjie, continued watching the chase between Qingxuan Sect and Heavenly Water Sect.
As the two sects remained in a stalemate, Shen Mo's team managed to knock several more Heavenly Water Sect disciples out of the arena.
Now, only Yin Xuege and Bai Ziyue remained from Heavenly Water Sect.
Bai Ziyue, carrying Yin Xuege, weaved through the crowd, finding it increasingly difficult to continue.
The only thing he could do now was run!
The number of participants in the martial arena was also rapidly decreasing.
The count dropped from 490 to 200 in just the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
These 200 then entered a long period of stalemate.
Everyone knew that enduring just a little longer might mean advancing to the second round.
The battle was reaching a fever pitch.
Even so, no one dared to challenge the teams from Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, Verdant Vine Sect, and Thunderfire Sect.
From start to finish, these four teams remained quite relaxed.
Had it not been for maintaining their image, they might have even sat down to play cards.
The scene of Shen Mo leading Qingxuan Sect in the pursuit of Yin Xuege and Bai Ziyue became increasingly prominent and eye-catching.
Nearly seventy percent of the audience's attention was on Shen Mo.
Everyone wanted to see if Shen Mo could ultimately knock Yin Xuege out of the arena.
If that happened, it would be even more interesting.
The distance closed bit by bit.
Bai Ziyue felt a prickling sensation on his back.
He instinctively dodged.
However, Shen Mo was faster.
"Thinking of dodging now? Too late."
Shen Mo's calm voice rang out.
The next moment, his massive fist struck Bai Ziyue's back.
Bai Ziyue felt his internal organs churning, and a metallic taste filled his mouth.
With all his strength, he threw Yin Xuege away.
His own body was then propelled out of the arena by the force of Shen Mo's punch.
He had no chance to counterattack.
The prolonged evasion and running had already drained his spiritual energy.
Now, he couldn't withstand even a single punch.
Yin Xuege spat out several mouthfuls of blood and slowly stood up.
Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and others quickly surrounded him.
Yet, Yin Xuege showed no fear.
Instead, he glared coldly at Shen Mo.
"Do you really want to make a move on me and completely break with one of the top five sects, Heavenly Water Sect?"
Yin Xuege threatened, "If I get knocked out, my master will be furious and will use all her connections to turn every sect against Qingxuan Sect in the subsequent battles!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ting, Liu Yunxuan, and Xiao Fan's expressions changed slightly.
Yin Xuege was right.
If he was eliminated in the first round, Heavenly Water Sect would lose face, and Zhang Mo would likely incite other sects to target Qingxuan Sect.
Although they might pass the first round, the second and third rounds would become extremely difficult.
Xiao Fan immediately said, "Shen Mo, I suggest we let him go. There's no need to completely sever ties."
Liu Yunxuan nodded, "Regardless, we are all sects of Xuanjiang Prefecture. It's better not to escalate things. If we give them face now, we might need Heavenly Water Sect's help in the future."
Luo Shengnan glared angrily, cursing, "Bullshit! You two cowards!"
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