Mu Cengxiao blocked in front of Tian Fangfang.

“Junior martial brother Mu?” Tian Fangfang was also surprised. Mu Cengxiao usually kept to himself, rarely speaking, so it was rare to see such a display of martial brotherhood. Tian Fangfang was very moved: “Are you here to help?”

“Help?” Tan Tianxin’s sword was blocked by someone, and his expression was extremely ugly as he spoke mockingly: “With just a broken iron blade? How laughable.”

“Young Master Tan,” Tian Fangfang still remembered Xuan Lingzi’s instructions and spoke amicably: “We originally had no animosity. This young master only owes you some spirit stones – why don’t we make peace?”

“He won’t make peace,” said Mu Cengxiao. He looked at Tan Tianxin with a calm tone: “His plan from the beginning was to eliminate them.”

“Eliminate?” Tian Fangfang was confused.

“You’re disciples here to participate in the secret realm trial, right?” Mu Cengxiao looked toward the ground where the young man was holding his senior martial brother with great worry. Hearing this, he nodded and said, “My senior martial brother and I represent Liuli Sect in participating in the secret realm trial.”

Liuli Sect – Zanxing had an impression of this name. Liuli Sect was a small sect that was formerly called “Liuli Manor.” During the great war between humans and demons, this small sect also participated in the battle. Although they stayed on the sidelines throughout, they ultimately persisted to the end, so they also gained some reputation. Thus, they changed their name to “Liuli Sect,” though their sect’s power remained very weak, belonging to a type that was normally unheard of. Looking at the situation now, it was indeed as expected – they were being bullied like this by people from Chihua Gate.

“That’s right then.” Mu Cengxiao over there said, “This Young Master Tan should also be here to participate in the secret realm trial. The secret realm is only so big, but there are quite a few people. With one less competitor, naturally, there’s one more opportunity.” He looked toward Tan Tianxin: “Isn’t that right, Young Master Tan?”

In “Clang Clang Gambling House,” no one spoke for a long while.

Li’er Kingdom’s secret realm wouldn’t open for another five days, but the competition had already begun the moment they set foot on this land.

Perhaps this Liuli Sect disciple had accidentally owed Tan Tianxin spirit stones, or perhaps he had fallen into someone’s trap from the beginning. But in this cultivation world where the strong prey on the weak, only one reason was needed. No matter how lame and full of holes that reason sounded, as long as it was a reason, that was enough.

Young Master Tan’s smile froze, and he looked at Mu Cengxiao with eyes full of scrutiny: “What’s your name?”

“Taiyan Sect, Mu Cengxiao,” the youth said coldly.

Zanxing: “……”

In the original work, face-slapping plots were all similar – nothing more than the villain provoking, the protagonist accepting the challenge, then delivering a face-slap while everyone watched in stunned amazement, and the whole place erupted. But Zanxing remembered very clearly that there had never been a time when Mu Cengxiao had announced his sect affiliation from the start like this.

This wasn’t a plot from the original work.

The blue-robed young master beside them let out an “Ah!” and said in surprise: “So it’s that fallen noble sect. This is getting interesting.”

Zanxing frowned. What did he mean by “fallen noble sect”? From this person’s tone, he seemed to be a disciple of some sect as well.

Over there, when Tan Tianxin heard this, he was first stunned, then his gaze became strange as he said: “Taiyan Sect?”

In the gambling house, there were also disciples from other sects. In the cultivation world, the fact that Taiyan Sect and Chihua Gate were mortal enemies was no longer a secret. Hearing this, they all watched the excitement without fear of trouble, not one person willing to leave, just waiting to see how this would end.

“I didn’t expect Taiyan Sect to come meddling in others’ business.” Tan Tianxin first laughed loudly several times, then suddenly looked at Mu Cengxiao with a vicious expression: “Are there only you two from Taiyan Sect? Are you the geniuses who came to participate in this trial? Has Taiyan Sect declined to such a degree?”

“Whether we’ve declined or not isn’t for you alone to say,” Mu Cengxiao said coldly.

“Good, then,” Tan Tianxin retreated a step and said, “Let’s test it then. Huang Fan, He Ri.” From within the gambling house, two men in black-gray Daoist robes suddenly appeared. Tan Tianxin held his long sword: “Teach these wild dogs what a true great sect is!”

The two men held long swords and rushed toward Mu Cengxiao and Tian Fangfang together with Tan Tianxin.

“Three against two, how shameless.” Zanxing sent a voice transmission to Gu Baiying, drew the iron staff from her waist, and charged forward: “Senior martial brother, I’ll help you!”

“Clang Clang Gambling House” immediately became chaotic with people scattering in panic.

Mu Cengxiao faced off against Tan Tianxin, Tian Fangfang against He Ri, and Zanxing against a cultivator named Huang Fan. This cultivator named Huang Fan was also very young, appearing to be in his early twenties. Those coming for this secret realm trial were all talented prodigies recruited by the major sects in recent years, so naturally, they wouldn’t be very old. However, as soon as they exchanged moves, Zanxing sensed her opponent’s terrifying power.

The Taiyan Sect emphasized well-rounded education, with sect members using all kinds of magical artifacts. For instance, Zanxing used a staff, Mu Cengxiao used a blade, and Tian Fangfang used an axe – each had their characteristics. But everyone in Chihua Gate, from top to bottom, used swords. Their sword techniques were extremely ruthless, with elemental force carrying a bloodthirsty killing aura. They weren’t ethereal and transcendent at all. When using swords, they didn’t seem like sect cultivators but rather like hired killers, emotionless killing tools.

The sword tip struck the edge of the Panhua Stick, producing a crisp sound. The cultivator named Huang Fan mocked: “Taiyan Sect is unsightly, actually giving disciples such low-grade magical artifacts. It’s truly unbearable to watch.”

“Magical artifacts aren’t about being high-grade,” Zanxing said. “They’re about the person using them.” After speaking, she pointed with the staff tip, and from the staff body, layer upon layer of flowers bloomed into a vast flower sea. New moon-colored ripples spread through the air in circles, seeming to want to draw the opponent’s long sword in.

Seeing this wasn’t good, Huang Fan jerked his sword tip out but was struck by Zanxing’s iron staff, forcing him back two steps with a look of surprise in his eyes.

“Chihua Gate is unsightly,” Zanxing returned his words exactly as they were: “Actually accepting such low-grade disciples. It’s truly unbearable to watch.”

Huang Fan’s expression darkened as he roared: “Shut up, ugly freak!” He charged again with his sword. Where the staff and sword tip collided, sparks suddenly flew, but the endless stream of flowers extinguished the sparks and wrapped around the opponent’s long sword. Huang Fan retreated step by step. Zanxing was delighted in her heart when she suddenly felt a strong wind coming from behind. Tian Fangfang shouted: “Junior martial sister, be careful!”

A sneak attack! Zanxing turned to avoid it, but Huang Fan in front of her already had his sword thrusting toward her chest.

The proper male protagonist was right in front of them, yet in a two-against-one situation, they were targeting her, a cannon fodder character. The original work was too despicable!

Mimi let out a sharp cry as a snow-bright spear tip charged out from the side, easily deflecting that murderous long sword. The fierce wind brought by the spear tip was like the sea, and the sword’s owner couldn’t dodge in time, getting hit in the face by his sword hilt.

The air in the venue seemed to freeze.

Zanxing looked forward.

“Junior martial nephews,” the youth stood in front of her with his back to her, his voice full of impatience: “Causing trouble for me in less than a quarter hour – you’re something.”