Celestial Mirror City, West District

It was like a snowy world. The mountain range was covered with snow and numerous icebergs protruded from the ground like giants made of crystal as a biting wind buffeted the area.

This was the day everyone was anticipating.

Everyone who was cultivating within Celestial Mirror City had gathered here as this was the location for the Sand Seizing Battle. Atop some icebergs in the outer area were numerous viewing platforms, and the cacophony caused by the crowd had dispersed some of the ice and snow.

"The people participating in today's first Sand Seizing Battle are Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e, Lu Ruyan, and Chi Li! The Academic Federation has directly decided to bring things to a climax from the very beginning."

"Well, whose fault is it that this Sand Seizing Battle has become so popular? The entire city has been discussing it for the past ten days."

"There isn't any choice. After all, the bet of one hundred and forty grains of Celestial Mirror City is just too much. Even Sheng Qiao'er, Zhou Jun, and the other eighth-grade Dukes might not be able to afford this.”

"It's said that Li Luo has basically borrowed all of the East Divine Continent's Celestial Mirror City that was won in the Domain Traversal Battles. Jiang Qing'e had done the same with the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College."

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Lu Ruyan and Chi Li did that as well. They had used their backgrounds to take loans and managed to obtain seventy grains of Celestial Mirror City."

"Wow, they all have a lot of courage."

The outer divine continents’ sage colleges had gathered like clouds on a viewing platform, and the ones at the fore were the Thunderflame Divine Continent's Fang Xingyun and the Azuresea Divine Continent's Shui Baoping.

"You've reached the lower Seventh Duke Stage?" Fang Xingyun asked with surprise when he saw the diminutive but well-endowed lady. He could sense that her resonant power undulations had strengthened.

Shui Baoping haughtily replied, "After using the Celestial Mirror Sand that we received, I was able to take another step and successfully forged my seventh Duke Bergfried."

"How many pillars were there?" Fang Xingyun asked curiously.

Shui Baoping sighed. "It’s just a seven-pillar. With my potential, this is my limit. Without the aid of the Celestial Mirror Sand, it would have taken years of bitter cultivation. Thus, I didn't expect to forge a better Duke Bergfried."

Fang Xingyun nodded with a complicated expression on his face. The outer divine continent was incomparable to the inner divine continent. Just in terms of the density of worldly natural energy, the latter was several times greater. When it came to cultivation resources, it was not even a fight.

Thus, even he felt that his final limit was the Eighth Duke Stage. Taking another step would require a heaven-defying opportunity. "It's a pity. If I had reached the lower Seventh Duke Stage before the competition, I might have been able to draw out Li Luo's curse art ahead of time and you would have been able to take precautions against it. In that case, the East Divine Continent would not have come out on top," Shui Baoping lamented. It seemed that she still held resentment towards Li Luo for beating her.

Fang Xingyun then shook his head. "Do you really think that Li Luo won only because of that curse art?"

Shui Baoping's brows lifted curiously, but she didn't answer.

Fang Xingyun continued, "An unparalleled genius like Li Luo has more trump cards than you can imagine. I could distinctly feel that when he demonstrated that curse art, he was simply using me as a test. He wanted to know exactly how effective the curse art was when used against a seventh-grade Duke. Thus, if he didn't have the curse art, he would’ve likely used an even more frightening method." ꞦἁŊօВЕś

Shui Baoping guffawed, "Are you trying to reassure yourself after your loss to him? Is that why you're putting him on a pedestal?"

Fang Xingyun didn't explain any further; he merely smiled. "Whether this is true or not, you'll find out soon during the Sand Seizing Battle."

"Could it be that you think he can defeat Chi Li? That is an experienced mentor of the Mythical Spirit Ancient College. Behind him lies the Chi family, which is helmed by a King Stage expert in an inner divine continent. Such a robust foundation is not something that an outer divine continent vice principal can compare with," Shui Baoping said with a hint of self-mockery in her voice. Her arms were crossed and she was smiling.

Fang Xingyun didn't mind that she was poking fun at him. This was the truth, and he had to admit it. If he were to exchange blows with Chi Li, he would barely last ten bouts. However, Li Luo wasn't him.

"Logically speaking, Li Luo's chances of victory are not high. Similarly, logic told me that I couldn't possibly lose to him during our battle," Fang Xingyun helplessly said.

Shui Baoping was left speechless. She knew that there wasn't much point discussing this and that only actions would matter. Her gaze then swept across their surroundings and she suddenly asked, "The Sand Seizing Battle will start in two hours, yet Li Luo hasn't appeared. I heard he secluded himself to cultivate, but I don't know what he's trying to do. Could it be that it is as per the rumors, that he's using this as an excuse to avoid fighting?"

Fang Xingyun wanted to refute these idle, speculative comments, but he chose to keep silent. Constantly speaking out for Li Luo wasn't a problem, but it did make it seem like he had been physically and mentally defeated by Li Luo and was trying to regain some of his reputation by elevating his opponent. It was best to just watch the show quietly from the stands for now.

At the same time, atop another snowy mountain in the vicinity, Sheng Qiao'er was looking down at the battlefield. "Qiao'er, your luck isn't great. You've actually rolled the snowy mountain battlefield, an environment that greatly suits Lu Ruyan."

Lu Ruyan had an ice resonance, so this was the most appropriate environment for her. Fighting her here would give her a tremendous boost.

Jiang Qing'e's delicate features were exposed to the chilly winds, causing her face to look a little rosy, which made her seem a little more spirited despite her indifferent voice. "Even though she has the terrain advantage, she can't beat me."

Hearing Jiang Qing'e's tyrannical words caused Sheng Qiao'er's eyes to light up with envy. "Such a top-grade maiden has been taken advantage of by that brat Li Luo…”

She then turned towards the East Divine Continent's viewing platform and asked, “That said, is that brat still cultivating?"

Jiang Qing'e nodded.

Ning Meng, who was beside them with her bamboo cup, was happily drinking away as she asked anxiously, "It can't be that he won't make it in time... right?"

Xiao Feng's gaze flickered and he warmly smiled. "If Mentor Li Luo can't make it, I'm more than willing to step in for him. However, I’m probably not Chi Li's equal and can only do my best to stall for time."

A sense of joy emerged from deep within his heart. Fighting side-by-side with Jiang Qing'e would be an excellent opportunity to get closer to her. However, Jiang Qing'e shook her head. "There's no need. He will definitely be here."

Although the current situation wasn't desperate, she knew Li Luo's character very well and no matter what happened, he would never let her face the opponents alone.

Xiao Feng's smile stiffened. A look of melancholy appeared in his eyes and a sour feeling surged within his heart. Jiang Qing'e was simply too difficult to get close to; no matter what he tried, it was almost impossible to even approach her. Breaking through such an invulnerable fortress was only even remotely possible if they had built a relationship since young, penetrating her defenses gradually with a stream of droplets. In other words, Li Luo was simply too lucky. The only way someone could have gotten close to her was if it was gifted to him from the get-go!

As time went by, more and more voices could be heard throughout the icy mountain range. It was then that a large number of rushing sounds could be heard coming from the distance. And then a figure finally descended upon the East Divine Continent's viewing platform.

A young, strapping man remained standing in the air with a smile. "I've kept everyone waiting."

It was Li Luo!

As the numerous gazes were directed towards him, a change could be seen in their eyes. They could sense that the resonant power undulations coming from Li Luo were much more active and almost seemed to be boiling over! It was clear that his strength had increased in the past ten days.

Countless shocked voices resounded throughout the mountainous area. "He... suddenly broke into the upper Second Transcendent Duke Stage?"