The spectators in the stands were even more astonished.
"What's going on? Why use the Lingxi Transformation? Although it greatly enhances strength in a short time, it requires at least half a year of bed rest to recover."
"Could it be that the Lingxi Sect and Qingxuan Sect are mortal enemies?"
"Impossible. I remember there is almost no connection between the two sects."
"Wait a minute, the Lingxi Sect has always revered the Heavenly Water Sect. Do you think this could be an order from the leader of Heavenly Water Sect..."
"Hiss... That's very likely!"
On the platform.
The Lingxi Sect disciple roared and charged at Shen Mo, like a mad rhinoceros.
His speed was fast, and his strength was tremendous.
Even though he was only at the major accomplishment stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, with the boost from Lingxi Transformation, he was as powerful as someone at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
If this blow landed, Shen Mo would be slightly injured.
Shen Mo frowned and quickly used the Eight Directions Thunder Move.
His speed was astonishing.
Just before the Lingxi Sect disciple could hit him, Shen Mo narrowly dodged.
However, this extreme evasion cost Shen Mo some spiritual energy and stamina.
He panted a few times.
Yet the Lingxi Sect disciple ignored this and charged again like a crazed bull!
Shen Mo had to keep dodging swiftly.
With the Lingxi Transformation, his opponent's defense was too high.
If Shen Mo couldn't land a critical hit, he wouldn't inflict any significant damage and might even make his opponent more frenzied.
On the contrary, he could end up injured himself.
Getting injured at this point would be serious.
It could affect his subsequent battles.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Lingxi Sect disciple kept charging relentlessly.
Shen Mo continued using the Eight Directions Thunder Move to dodge.
His extreme maneuvers made the spectators hold their breath in suspense.
After half an incense stick's time, the Lingxi Sect disciple's momentum began to wane.
Clearly, the duration of the Lingxi Transformation had reached its limit.
Shen Mo seized the opportunity to punch his opponent in the face.
At that moment, the Lingxi Sect disciple shouted decisively, "I concede!"
Shen Mo had to stop his punch just before it landed on his opponent's face.
The Divine Sword Sect elder nodded slightly. "This match goes to Shen Mo of Qingxuan Sect!"
Shen Mo cupped his hands in salute to the elder. He then looked thoughtfully at another platform.
On the adjacent platform, Zhao Rou was fighting a disciple from Baihe Sect.
As expected, the Baihe Sect disciple aggressively used a self-damaging secret technique right from the start.
Facing the savage, beast-like attack, Zhao Rou was unable to defend.
After more than ten rounds, she was knocked off the platform.
Shen Mo frowned slightly.
He wasn't a fool.
He quickly realized the connection behind these actions.
"It seems Zhang Mo has done a lot to target Qingxuan Sect."
Shen Mo returned to the Qingxuan Sect team and shared his suspicions with the others.
Zhao Ting snorted coldly. "We guessed it. That person is too vindictive."
Luo Shengnan cracked her knuckles. "Who cares! Whoever comes up, I'll smash them!"
"Don't be upset, Zhao Rou. Given your strength, making it to the second round is already impressive," Luo Shengnan comforted Zhao Rou, seeing her red eyes.
Zhao Ting rolled his eyes. "Is that how you comfort someone?"
Shen Mo also couldn't help but laugh.
Even Zhao Rou was amused by their banter.
"I know. I just didn't expect my opponent to fight so desperately..." Zhao Rou sighed.
At this moment, Murong Yue also spoke solemnly, "Be cautious. There will definitely be more opponents like this in the upcoming battles."
"Especially beware of sects closely related to the Heavenly Water Sect!"
"Yes!" the Qingxuan Sect disciples responded in unison.
Soon, all the Qingxuan Sect disciples had taken their turns on the platform.
Zhao Ting lost, Luo Shengnan won, Liu Yunxuan won, and Xiao Fan lost.
Out of the ten-member team, only Shen Mo, Luo Shengnan, and Liu Yunxuan advanced.
The other seven all lost to opponents who used self-damaging tactics.
"Next, it's the battle for the top twenty-five," Shen Mo announced.
The leader of Divine Sword Sect, Luo Chaotian, spoke loudly, reaching out his hand to retrieve all the marble plaques from the disciples. They flew back into his hand.
He removed the plaques numbered fifty and above, leaving only the top fifty.
"As before, reach out and call for the plaques," Luo Chaotian said calmly.
Shen Mo reached out to the floating plaques.
A new plaque landed in his hand.
"Nine, which means my opponent is ten."
Shen Mo ascended the fighting platform.
His opponent appeared almost simultaneously.
Shen Mo saw his opponent and frowned slightly.
The other man hesitated for a moment, then revealed a cold smile.
"Shen Mo, I didn't expect us to meet so early."
"It looks like you have no chance of making it to tomorrow's third round."
His voice was icy.
This person was Wan Renjie, a disciple of Thunderfire Sect, known as the Young Supreme of Thunder!
Seeing Shen Mo and Wan Renjie standing on the same platform, countless spectators were excited.
Now, there was a good show to watch!
Aside from Shen Mo and Wan Renjie's battle, the other three Young Supremes had relatively ordinary opponents.
As a result, nearly half of the audience focused their attention on this fight.
Yin Xuege's eyes lit up. "He's bound to lose! Renjie is my friend, he'll avenge me!"
Zhang Mo nodded slightly. "Shen Mo's luck is bad, running into Wan Renjie. It seems my subsequent arrangements are unnecessary."
Bai Ziyue was delighted. "He'll be stopped here!"
In the Qingxuan Sect team.
Murong Yue frowned.
Zhao Rou exclaimed, "How can he fight one of the Five Young Supremes in the second round?"
"Exactly, even if Shen Mo defeats Wan Renjie, it will cause trouble. Thunderfire Sect is also one of the Five Great Sects..." Zhao Ting frowned deeply, seeing the deeper implications.
Xiao Fan also saw this and smirked coldly.
"Serves him right! He recklessly knocked Yin Xuege out, provoking Heavenly Water Sect's wrath, causing me to be eliminated early. This is his retribution!" Xiao Fan cursed under his breath.
In the Verdant Vine Sect team.
The enchantress Mo Yuheng had not yet entered the ring. Seeing this scene, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Father, do you think someone manipulated the match between Shen Mo and Wan Renjie?" she asked quietly.
The leader of Verdant Vine Sect glared at her. "Don't speak nonsense. Only Luo Chaotian would know about such things."
He glanced meaningfully at the calm Luo Chaotian. "However... fifty years ago, when Qingxuan Sect was still one of the Five Great Sects, Divine Sword Sect did often kick them while they were down. Zhang Mo could easily have persuaded him."
"What? Are you interested in this boy?"
"He is quite impressive, strong, and handsome, reminds me a bit of myself in my youth," the leader of Verdant Vine Sect chuckled.
Mo Yuheng rolled her eyes. "I'm just curious about him. It's far from being 'interested'."
"Pity, the boy will be stopped here," the Verdant Vine Sect leader smiled.
"Not necessarily, his physique seems unusual..." Mo Yuheng recalled something. "Father, didn't you say there was an anomaly in Qingxuan Sect recently, suggesting the emergence of a heaven-grade physique?"
"Yes, do you think it's him?"
Mo Yuheng nodded slightly.
The leader of Verdant Vine Sect looked deeply at the stage. "Then I must watch his performance closely."
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