Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

...

On the other side, the Northern Wei army...

"Tiger Group, Number Fifteen?"

Turning her head to look at the strange stone tablet beside her, Zhao Tingmei frowned slightly, a hint of apprehension appearing on her face.

Because the number he just drew was number fifteen, and it belonged to the Dragon Group, one of the Dragon and Tiger Groups!

In other words, Gongsun Jian, who is standing in front of him, is his opponent in the next round!

"Your Highness, this person is quite powerful; I'm afraid you are no match for him. Please be careful..."

Beside him, Guo Tianlin also stepped forward, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone completely undisguised.

After all, the Guo family and the Northern Wei royal family had always been on good terms, and the two families had been allies for many years. Otherwise, Zhao Kuangyi and his nephew would not have invited the Guo family as an external ally.

This is also why Guo Tianlin dared to be so direct and blunt, showing no respect to Zhao Tingmei.

"Young Master Guo is right."

Stroking his long beard, Zhao Kuangyi's expression was solemn. He then said, "This Gongsun Jian is the current head of the Taiji Sword Sect, the chief disciple of Yin Xuanxing, the 'Azure Lotus Jade Sword,' and his Taiji swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection, making him unmatched by ordinary martial artists of his generation..."

"Moreover, according to the rules of the Four Kingdoms Martial Arts Tournament, as long as you lose no more than three times, you still have a chance to advance to the next round."

"So, my dear nephew, you don't need to worry. Even if you concede this battle, you still have a chance..."

"No!"

Before the other person could finish speaking, Zhao Tingmei interrupted him, shaking her head and saying, "Uncle, thank you for your kindness, but I will not admit defeat!"

"Nephew, what are you doing now...?"

When Zhao Kuangyi saw that Zhao Tingmei was determined to challenge Gongsun Jian, he was also stunned for a moment, his face full of confusion.

After all, with the opponent's mere eighth level of the Spirit Soul Realm cultivation, even with the help of the Pure Yang Golden Bell Body, there is absolutely no way he can defeat Gongsun Jian, the number one person of the Taiji Sword Sect. His chances of winning this battle are less than 20%!

"Uncle, I am the Crown Prince of Northern Wei. If I surrender before even fighting, wouldn't that disgrace the illustrious name of our Northern Wei royal family? Moreover, if this matter were to spread, Father Emperor would lose all face..."

"Nephew, you...!"

"Your Highness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Tingmei ignored the advice of Zhao Kuangyi and others, and immediately stepped on the floating clouds, landing opposite Gongsun Jian like a wild goose passing by.

"So, you were my opponent..."

Seeing Zhao Tingmei finally appear, Gongsun Jian merely raised his eyelids slightly, without drawing his sword, his tone remaining indifferent, "However, you are no match for me. If you surrender now, you can avoid physical suffering..."

"Zhao Tingmei of the Northern Wei Kingdom requests Your Excellency Gongsun's guidance!"

However, Zhao Tingmei completely ignored Gongsun Jian's attempts to persuade her to surrender, her face remaining resolute and unyielding.

"Zhao Tingmei, you certainly have commendable courage..."

Seeing this, Gongsun Jian's gaze turned slightly cold, and then an extremely terrifying aura of Yuan Power suddenly erupted from his body. "Make your move. You only have one chance...!"

"The competition begins!"

Seeing the two on the field locked in a tense standoff, with a great battle about to erupt, Qin Xuanzhong, who was in charge of hosting the competition, also flicked his sleeves and spoke in a booming voice.

boom!

The instant Qin Xuanzhong finished speaking, a burst of scorching, terrifying crimson steam erupted from Zhao Tingmei's body.

hiss!hiss!hiss!

The next moment, Zhao Tingmei's clothes instantly turned into scorched earth, seemingly evaporated by blood-red steam. Her entire body was covered in blood-red skin, emitting billowing heat, resembling a giant golden bell, which was terrifying!

Clearly wary of Gongsun Jian's terrifying strength, Zhao Tingmei is not holding back at all and is going all out from the start!

"So this is the Pure Yang Golden Bell Body? Heh, interesting."

Gongsun Jian glanced at Zhao Tingmei, who was surrounded by blood-red steam, and stood with his hands behind his back, a cold smile on his face. He seemed completely unfazed and did not take Zhao Tingmei seriously at all!

Just as Zhao Tingmei and Gongsun Jian were locked in a fierce battle, the atmosphere was equally tense among the Taiji Sword Sect team not far away.

Swish!

Lin Xiaoyu and the others were sitting in a circle, each using their own techniques to send strands of pure Yuan energy to the unconscious Ji Tianchang in the center, seemingly healing him.

"Strange, why isn't it working...!"

After a few breaths, Lin Xiaoyu noticed that Ji Tianchang was still unconscious and showed no signs of improvement. She couldn't help but frown slightly, a look of seriousness appearing on her face.

"Ji Tianchang is afflicted with the Six Soul Terror Curse, a curse that specifically targets the soul. Those afflicted suffer minor mental damage, or even complete soul annihilation. Ordinary Yuan Power is insufficient to revive him at this moment..."

Just when Lin Xiaoyu and the others were at their wits' end, a deep, aged voice came from afar.

The next moment, Qin Xuanzhong flashed back to the center of the group, his face still cold and stern. "You may all leave. I have my own way."

"Yes, Elder Qin!"

Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyu and the others quickly bowed and took their leave, making way for each other.

After all, Qin Xuanzhong is a fifth-level expert in the Yuanhai Realm. With his abilities and methods, treating Ji Tianchang is just a piece of cake for him!

"The Taiji Heavenly Purity transforms the primordial essence into the soul, utterly destroying all demons and evil spirits!"

The moment after everyone dispersed, Qin Xuanzhong suddenly thrust out his right palm, which was faintly visible to be mixed with an extremely pure soul power, and then slammed it hard into Ji Tianchang's forehead.

Buzz! Pfft...!

As this incomparably pure soul power poured into the top of his head, Ji Tianchang's face turned red, his throat bobbed, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood. At the same time, he slowly opened his eyelids.

"Junior Brother Ji!"

"Senior Brother Ji, you're finally awake!..."

"That's great! I knew you were lucky, Senior Brother Ji, and that you'd be alright...!"

Seeing that Ji Tianchang had finally woken up, Lin Xiaoyu and Bi Yangde, who had been eliminated, also looked on with joy, and at the same time secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ji Tianchang, are you alright?"

Qin Xuanzhong also stood with his hands folded, his face still solemn, but his words revealed a hint of gentleness.

After all, Ji Tianchang was a core disciple, while Bi Yangde and the others, who were only inner disciples, were different. If something happened to the other party, it would undoubtedly be a huge loss for the Taiji Sword Sect.

"This disciple is unharmed, and thanks Elder Qin for saving my life!!"

Ji Tianchang struggled to his feet and knelt on one knee in front of Qin Xuanzhong, bowing respectfully.

"Ji Tianchang, some things, if not put aside sooner, will not only affect your martial arts path, but may even cost you your life...!"

Ignoring Ji Tianchang's bow and thanks, Qin Xuanzhong stood with his hands behind his back, his tone somewhat meaningful.

"This disciple will humbly follow Elder Qin's teachings...!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Tianchang's expression also changed slightly, as if he had recalled something, and he couldn't help but slowly lower his head.

Because what the other party was referring to was none other than the massacre of a village in Dongyun Kingdom fifteen years ago.

As for the murderer in this case, it was not Ji Tianchang himself, but the infamous Wusheng Demonic Sect!

About fifteen years ago, Ji Tianchang was traveling and passing through Dongyun Kingdom when he accidentally stumbled upon a group of Wusheng cultists plundering a village. In order to save people, he went on a killing spree and slaughtered all of the Wusheng cultists!

Moreover, in order to help these innocent villagers relocate and seek refuge, Ji Tianchang, who was once a righteous man, left behind a lot of silver. However, the villagers declined his kindness and only begged him to teach them some martial arts for self-defense.

Ji Tianchang originally intended to politely decline the villagers' request, but in the end he couldn't bear to do so, and thus taught them a few moves of Tai Chi swordsmanship.

Little did he know that this very action led to the entire village being subjected to a bloody massacre and retaliation by the Wusheng Cult, with no one escaping unscathed!

This incident became a source of inner demons for Ji Tianchang.

After all, as the old saying goes, "I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me!"

If Ji Tianchang had refused to teach the villagers martial arts and instead left them silver to relocate and seek refuge, perhaps the massacre of the village would not have happened.

That's why Fa Wuxiang just said something so inexplicable: "In the past, Ji Tianchang killed people in order to save them."

Just as Ji Tianchang awoke from coughing up blood and his inner demons began to subside, the fierce battle between Gongsun Jian and Zhao Tingmei also came to an end.

Boom!

A deafening roar of energy clashing with the force of the Yuan Qi erupted, and the next moment Zhao Tingmei coughed up blood and was violently forced back, finally collapsing to the ground like a kite with a broken string, her face deathly pale.

"Cough cough cough...!"

"This person's strength is indeed terrifying...!"

Blood trickled from his mouth. The next moment, Zhao Tingmei struggled to get up, but the blood-red steam covering his body had mostly dissipated. It seemed that the power of the Pure Yang Golden Bell Body had been exhausted, and he was almost powerless to fight anymore!

On the other hand, Gongsun Jian, who was not far away, was still full of momentum and had a calm and composed expression. Moreover, he did not draw his sword from beginning to end. It seemed that he had suppressed Zhao Tingmei with his bare hands and had no power to fight back!