Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

Amidst surging clouds, three ancient stone platforms, each over ten feet wide, hovered in the center before the altar. The stones were dark and heavy, their surfaces crisscrossed with grooves and ancient patterns of mountains and seas, bearing witness to countless ages. Fine, shimmering light flowed slowly through these patterns. The three platforms stood side-by-side, forming their own protective barrier, firmly suspended in the void. This was the decisive battleground for the final three contestants of the Dongyi Mountain and Sea Alliance Grand Competition.

The rules for the third round are simple and ruthless: a free-for-all battle across the entire arena, with no fixed pairings or offensive/defensive constraints. All remaining cultivators can freely attack, seize, and defend the stone platforms, engaging in one-on-one duels, forming formations, or encircling and restraining each other, but they must not damage the altar's barrier. Once the chaotic battle has completely ended, the three individuals or factions who ultimately and firmly defend the three suspended stone platforms will be among the top three, vying for the championship, runner-up, and third place in this grand competition, and securing additional qualifications for entry into the secret realm and cultivation opportunities.

The Laoshan camp stood quietly on the east side, the atmosphere calm and peaceful. Lin Yan stood at the front of the formation, his eyes as calm as water. He had already seen through the core contradiction of this final battle. Then, with a slight movement of his divine sense, he secretly communicated with the sect leader, Master Xuan Yang, to finalize the Laoshan's battle plan.

Master Xuan Yang, with his serene and composed demeanor, nodded slightly in approval after listening to Lin Yan's sound plan. Laoshan adopted a minimalist approach in this battle, with only Lin Yan and Yun Xi participating.

The Hao clan, the host of the alliance, had already secured their spots in the secret realm and would not interfere in the competition for the stone platform. The Mo family of Jimo did the same.

Clan Chief Hao Cang sat solemnly on the main platform, his gaze sweeping over the entire altar, his mind meticulous and thorough. He always took it upon himself to solidify the Hao clan's millennia-old ritual tradition and safeguard the stability of the Dongyi land veins, single-mindedly maintaining the fairness and order of the finals, preventing chaos on the field, and only hoping for a smooth conclusion to the alliance meeting.

Thus, the entire final battle and power struggle focused on the ambitious Hao family, the opportunistic Wang family, and the lone Laoshan trio.

The Hao clan, located at the northern foot of Mount Tai, has been a family that has built its reputation on martial prowess for generations. Their clan spirit is characterized by iron-blooded competitiveness and a reverence for brute force. Clan leader Hao Qingyue exudes a fierce aura and is both authoritative and domineering. This time, he has mobilized the remaining elite forces of his clan to make a final push, with the sole objective of securing a place in the top three and seizing the core resources of the secret realm.

Currently, the Hao family's fighting strength is centered around their eldest son, Hao Jingchuan. He is arrogant and fierce, with an insatiable fighting spirit, exceptional talent, and unparalleled bravery among his peers. The second son, Hao Lie, is honest, brave, down-to-earth, and fierce, and does not crave empty fame.

Wang Shiya of the Langya Wang Clan is shrewd and adept at navigating the competitive arena. Knowing that brute force is not the best approach, she secretly spent a fortune to bribe all the remaining idle cultivators on the field, using sheer numbers to control the rhythm of the battle. She planned carefully before acting, all to secure a place in the finals.

The final bell tolled loudly throughout the altar and across the sea of ​​clouds, officially marking the start of the battle for the top three!

In an instant, all the remaining cultivators stepped into the air and moved, their spiritual energy radiating across the sea of ​​clouds, their targets locked on the three ancient platforms in the void.

The Hao clan deployed its elite forces, with brothers Hao Jingchuan and Hao Lie leading the charge. The entire group of cultivators formed an iron-blooded battle formation, their martial aura soaring and their imposing presence overwhelming. Relying on their overwhelming clan strength, they swept aside the surrounding rogue cultivators, none daring to stand in their way. In the blink of an eye, the Hao clan firmly occupied the suspended stone platform on the left, eliminating all interference. Their defenses were impenetrable, their aura domineering and unparalleled.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Shiya mobilized a massive number of idle cultivators to swarm and surround the platform, using their overwhelming numbers to sweep away the contenders and firmly control the suspended stone platform on the right. The Wang clan easily captured the second stone platform simply by overwhelming the crowd, and the people lined up around the platform to defend their territory, giving no one a chance to counterattack.

The battle situation became clear in an instant. The two stone platforms on the left and right were divided and occupied by the Hao and Wang families. With their large numbers and solid foundations, ordinary cultivators could not shake them at all.

The central platform remained empty, becoming the last remaining spot for the top three, instantly attracting a fierce competition from wandering immortals and cultivators from small and medium-sized sects. The remaining elites from all sides gathered around the central platform, spells flying and weapons clashing, everyone wanting to seize this opportunity to ascend to the heavens.

Amidst the chaotic crowd, Lin Yan and Yun Xi calmly walked against the flow of air.

Lin Yan's aura was as deep and unwavering as he traversed the chaotic battle; Yun Xi's figure was ethereal, her sword intent as gentle as water and clouds concealing its sharpness. The two needed no words, their tacit understanding was already formed, and they were single-mindedly vying for the central stone platform that everyone coveted.

Cultivators from all sides launched successive attacks, including sneak attacks and frontal assaults, all vying to gain the upper hand. Lin Yan stepped forward, condensing his profound Daoist aura into a protective barrier, blocking all impacts and clearing a path for Yun Xi to ascend the platform.

Yunxi swiftly ascended to the top of the platform, her Water Cloud Sword ringing as it was drawn from its sheath. The shimmering white sword light was like water and clouds, soft yet sharp, continuous and inexhaustible, layer upon layer of sword nets covering the entire stone platform, blocking and forcing back all the cultivators who rushed onto the platform, with no one able to get close to her in either ranged or close-range attacks.

The cultivators charged forward wave after wave, but none of them could set foot on the stone platform. Lin Yan guarded the void outside the platform, preventing any counterattacks from all sides; Yun Xi steadily guarded the top of the platform, using her sword to defend the territory. The two worked together seamlessly, one firm and the other gentle, inside and out.

After a long period of chaotic fighting, the various forces, having failed to achieve their objectives, retreated one after another in frustration.

Half an hour later, the ownership of the three seats was completely settled: the Hao family of the Left Seat, the Wang family of the Right Seat, and the Lin Yan and Yun Xi of Laoshan jointly guarding the Central Seat.

The three ancient platforms have been returned to their respective owners, and the battle in the sea of ​​clouds has temporarily ceased. However, an even more intense tug-of-war between attack and defense has just begun.

On the high platform, Hao Qingyue's face was cold and his ambition was fully revealed. The Hao family already had a guaranteed spot; if they could also seize the middle platform, they could take both of the top three spots and monopolize the top opportunities in the secret realm.

Wang Shiya smiled faintly, secretly weighing the pros and cons. The Wang family had already advanced by securing the right platform with their sheer numbers. If they could defeat Laoshan, they would be able to take both seats and become the biggest winner of this alliance meeting.

Hao Cang maintained neutrality, only ensuring order at the arena and preventing anyone from damaging the altar's barrier, allowing the various forces to fight and scheme. The Mohist disciples completely ignored the raging war and continued to focus on honing their craft.

The silence vanished in an instant, and the great battle erupted once again.

The Hao clan, which took the lead, launched a fierce attack on Zhongtai.

Hao Jingchuan ordered a full-scale attack, his iron-blooded aura sweeping across the sky, his powerful martial force crashing down on the central stone platform. The Hao family's fighting style was fierce and domineering, relying entirely on brute force to overwhelm the enemy. Hao Jingchuan's fists were capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, while Hao Lie led his clansmen in forming an encirclement, relentlessly bombarding the stone platform in turn, hoping to break through Laoshan's defenses in one fell swoop and seize the main platform.

Lin Yan stood at the forefront of the platform, single-handedly withstanding the full-scale attack of the Hao clan. Despite the relentless barrage of violent punches and spiritual energy, his Daoist aura flowed smoothly around him, his defensive barrier unbreakable, never faltering in the slightest. Yun Xi guarded the summit, tightening her sword net to intercept any stray attacks; the two of them joined forces to fiercely protect the central platform.

After a fierce attack, Hao's elite troops were exhausted and damaged, and returned empty-handed to their own stone platform to rest.

Before Laoshan could catch his breath, the Wang family's offensive from the right flank followed in quick succession.

Wang Shiya immediately ordered her subordinate cultivators to surround the central stone platform from all sides. Instead of engaging in a direct confrontation, Wang Shiya used a cunning and relentless strategy of wearing down and pulling the opponent's forces with her large numbers of people. She used long-range spells and poisonous smoke, as well as close-range hidden weapons to launch sneak attacks. She deliberately avoided Lin Yan's sharp edge and focused on attacking Yun Xi's defensive weaknesses, disrupting her sword-fighting rhythm, and attempting to deplete the two of them's spiritual energy.

Yunxi, clad in flowing white robes, used gentleness to overcome strength and stillness to control movement, her dense sword light dispelling all sneak attacks and disturbances. The prolonged battle amidst the throng had severely depleted her mental and spiritual energy; a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, yet her defense remained steadfast and unwavering. Lin Yan moved around the stone platform, promptly patching up any gaps in the defenses and clearing away any approaching enemies, ensuring that he and Yunxi firmly held the central platform.

After a fruitless struggle, Wang's troops also slowly withdrew.

From then on, the competition became a brutal back-and-forth battle.

After resting, the Hao family launched a brute-force frontal attack, while the Wang family, after recovering, used sheer numbers to wear down and harass them. The two families, though not allied, tacitly took turns attacking, giving Lin Yan and Yun Xi no chance to catch their breath and applying continuous pressure, trying to wear down the Laoshan defense line.

The Hao family on the left platform were filled with fighting spirit, while the Wang family on the right platform were deeply calculating.

Only on the central stone platform, two figures stood amidst the raging flames of war. Lin Yan stood firm against the Hao clan's overwhelming force, firmly guarding the foundation of the stone platform; Yun Xi, inside, neutralized the Wang clan's treacherous horde, protecting the entire area atop the platform.

The sea of ​​clouds churned endlessly, and the spiritual energy of the altar roared incessantly.