Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The group of five did not linger any longer, avoiding the noisy crowd, and quickly headed towards the outer gate of the spiritual spring.

Before long, a misty vapor wafted over, and the clear spring water lay quietly among the rocks, constantly nourished by the earth's spiritual energy, emitting a faint glow.

"Ye Qing, set up a wooden energy barrier around the perimeter to prevent others from disturbing us."

"Da Gang, guard the spring and don't let anyone near it."

Lin Yan quickly gave the order, and the two immediately responded and performed their duties.

Yi Azhu helped Yunxi step into the shallow part of the spiritual spring. The Warm Soul Spirit Pearl floated up from her arms, its gentle spiritual light merging into the spring water. Yunxi sat cross-legged, letting the clear spring water envelop her body. Lin Yan once again channeled a wisp of pure water spirit energy into her, drawing upon the power of the spiritual spring to cleanse her meridians.

The wisps of cold, evil energy were forced out of her body and quickly dissolved into the spring water, causing Yunxi's tightly furrowed brows to gradually relax.

"Next, you just need to calm down and circulate your energy. I will leave a wisp of spiritual energy in your meridians to protect you." Lin Yan stood up after confirming that she was alright for the time being. "The competition is not over yet. My group's round is coming up soon, so I must return to the arena."

Yunxi opened her eyes, her voice already somewhat cold: "Go ahead, Azhu and the others are looking after things here, it's fine."

Yi Azhu quickly added, "Brother Lin Yan, don't worry about competing! I'll definitely support Sister Yunxi!"

Lin Yan nodded slightly, then took another deep look at Yun Xi in the spiritual spring to confirm that the evil power was no longer fluctuating before turning around and leaving quickly.

On the field, the various arenas continued to hold rounds, with the disciples calling out names loudly and the draw proceeding in an orderly manner.

Although the controversy surrounding Su Chen's use of forbidden techniques has not completely subsided, the competition rules cannot be interrupted, and the battle for the top twenty continues intensely.

"Next match: Lin Yan versus Zhao Kui!"

The moment the singer finished singing, a figure in black calmly stepped onto the stage.

Lin Yan stood in the center of the arena, his aura restrained and steady. Guan Hai Mo Yan trembled slightly in his dantian, and a spiritual tortoise lay dormant in his sea of ​​consciousness, its pure water spiritual power as deep and boundless as the ocean.

There was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by bursts of discussion.

Everyone could see that he had already adjusted his state after protecting Yunxi off the stage.

On the high platform, Elder Hailan stared at the figure with a sinister gaze, his fingers clenching tightly.

With Lin Yan's safe return, stable cultivation level, and protective attitude in front of everyone, coupled with Yun Xi's fair and square victory, it has become even more difficult for him to make a move in secret again.

Meanwhile, towards the Spirit Spring, Yunxi closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, the evil poison was completely gone, and her sword intent became increasingly clear.

On the opposite side, Zhao Kui leaped onto the stage, his face sinister. He was originally in cahoots with Su Chen, and now that Su Chen had been captured, he was both panicked and furious. He only wanted to use this competition to humiliate Lin Yan and vent his anger.

"Lin Yan, you're lucky to be alive. Even the Moshan Pass couldn't stop you." Zhao Kui sneered, his spiritual energy subtly surging. "Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of Su Chen, you ignorant fool!"

Lin Yan's eyes turned slightly cold: "You've provoked trouble, colluded with accomplices, and plotted against your fellow disciples. Do you even deserve to stand on this stage?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Zhao Kui roared and charged forward, unleashing his full power at the seventh level of Qi Refining. His fist was fierce and aimed directly at Lin Yan's face. He practiced a powerful external martial arts style, which, combined with the stimulation of spiritual energy, was extremely powerful.

Lin Yan moved lightly, using the Shadow Chasing Step, his figure shifting like a ghost.

The next instant, he conjured a wave-like sword finger at his fingertips, and pure water spiritual energy condensed into a single line, lightly sketching a dot.

"Bang!"

The impact of their energies caused Zhao Kui's arm to go numb, forcing him to stagger back three steps.

He was shocked, never expecting that Lin Yan's cultivation had improved so much in such a short time.

Zhao Kui's expression grew increasingly ferocious, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. He even followed Su Chen's example and secretly activated a hidden hand seal.

In an instant, wisps of gray-black evil mist burst forth from his body, and the spiritual energy instantly became chilling and bone-corroding, just like the evil power used by Su Chen.

"It's a forbidden technique! Zhao Kui has also practiced evil magic!"

Someone in the audience gasped in surprise.

The expressions of everyone on the platform changed drastically.

Master Qingxuan slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly: "Outrageous! One after another, they are secretly practicing forbidden techniques, completely disregarding the sect rules!"

Zhao Kui's body churned with malevolent energy, his voice hoarse and piercing: "Lin Yan, you forced me to this! Prepare to die!"

He struck out with his palm, unleashing a torrent of evil energy that hurtled straight at Lin Yan.

Lin Yan's eyes sharpened, and he no longer held back.

Within his dantian, the Sea-Viewing Inkstone shone with spiritual light, and the Azure Sea Emperor Technique was fully activated, causing the purest and most pristine water spirit energy to surge into the sky.

"Azure Wave Sword Technique - Sever Evil!"

The sword is invisible, yet it carries the power to embrace all rivers, its light vast and boundless, specifically designed to subdue evil and wickedness.

The pure water sword energy crashed down, instantly tearing apart Zhao Kui's evil power and causing the yin mist to dissipate completely.

"ah--!"

Zhao Kui let out a shrill scream as he was struck by the backlash of the evil power. His body turned black, he coughed up blood, and collapsed stiffly onto the arena.

Lin Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his breathing still steady, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

But at this very moment—

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the Hall of Law Enforcement!

Thick smoke billowed, spiritual energy raged, and several dark figures broke through the restrictions of the Enforcement Hall, their killing intent soaring to the sky.

"Someone's breaking into the prison!"

"Stop them! They're here to rescue Su Chen!"

The sounds of chaos instantly filled the entire arena.

Everyone looked on in horror and saw more than a hundred masked men in black, with powerful cultivation, sweeping through the law enforcement disciples and actually forcibly rescuing the seriously injured and captured Su Chen!

Elder Tie Su roared in fury, "You audacious madman, how dare you trespass into my Laoshan Law Enforcement Hall!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

At the same time, everyone vaguely realized that Su Chen and Zhao Kui's consecutive use of forbidden techniques of the same origin, and the precise prison break by someone, were definitely not coincidental.

Master Minglang's gaze was like lightning. He suddenly turned to Elder Hailan on the high platform, his figure already leaping out, his aura surging as he prepared to make a move.

"Hailan, Su Chen and Zhao Kui's forbidden techniques share the same origin. The timing of the prison break was impeccable. What else do you have to say?"

Elder Hailan's expression suddenly changed drastically, and she could no longer maintain her composure, with a sinister aura emanating from her body.

Just as the two elders were about to clash, Lin Yan suddenly raised his eyes and spoke in a clear voice that echoed throughout the entire venue.

"Elder Minglang, wait!"

Everyone was taken aback and turned to look at the young man on the stage.

Lin Yan walked slowly forward, his gaze sweeping over the high platform, then looking at the black-clad man rushing towards him from afar. He said loudly, "This person colluded with evil people, secretly taught forbidden techniques, secretly killed people at the Moshan Pass, and even condoned his disciples to murder their fellow disciples. Every single one of these things is closely related to me."

"Today, I will first expose his conspiracy in public and restore order to the sect; second, I will avenge the ambush at Moshan Pass. This man will be dealt with by me personally."

He then turned his attention to the menacing masked men in black, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence.

"As for these arrogant scoundrels who dared to trespass on my Laoshan Mountain, since the Grand Competition is still ongoing and all the new inner disciples are here, we might as well use them as whetstones for the new inner disciples to test their skills. This will both blunt their arrogance and allow all the disciples to gain some personal experience."

After saying that, the spiritual energy of the peach wood sword beneath Lin Yan's feet rose, and he flew straight towards the stone seat where Elder Hailan was.

Upon hearing this, the entire audience fell silent for a moment, then countless disciples' eyes ignited with fighting spirit, and they responded with a thunderous roar.

Elder Hailan's face turned completely ashen, and he shouted sternly, "You brat, how dare you be so insolent before me!"