Chapter 973 - 969: Some Rejoice, Some Weep!
The one-minute countdown seemed exceptionally long to everyone present, yet it also seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
As the countdown reached the last ten seconds, with the first alert sound just ringing, Sun Miaohan, who had been maintaining a charging stance, finally began to move.
Yet this movement caused most of the audience to gape in surprise, except for a few like Ji Dantong, who were strong in capability, and the Heartbreak Valley higher-ups on the pavilion who already saw everything. Everyone else had a stunned expression.
The reason was simple: Sun Miaohan’s current move wasn’t the long-charging killer move most anticipated, but a straightforward compression of True Qi, using highly condensed True Qi to deal damage.
Despite sounding simple, the challenge for the controller was extraordinarily high. A single mistake could lead to a complete failure, with the chaotic True Qi causing significant self-damage.
Like now, Sun Miaohan could completely be likened to a dangerous character carrying TNT bombs; however, the timing of the explosion required her utmost control. If she couldn’t manage it, there would be only one result: she wouldn’t reach Bai Xiaoxuan before her own demise.
Realizing the impending power might be earth-shattering, the crowd’s gaze shifted from Sun Miaohan to the little girl Bai Xiaoxuan, their expressions turning slightly surprised.
Because Bai Xiaoxuan’s delicate face showed not a hint of panic at all. Could it really be, as Ji Dantong said, Bai Xiaoxuan possesses some hidden trump card?
But it doesn’t make sense; Ji Dantong wasn’t the only one closely related to Bai Xiaoxuan. How could only she know something Sun Miaohan didn’t!
However, this was due to the usual impressions of Sun Miaohan and Ji Dantong. In the eyes of the crowd, Ji Dantong’s reputation was mixed but undeniably strong, with combat skills far exceeding peers — even her critics couldn’t deny that.
But a high level of strength doesn’t equate to high intelligence; in the crowd’s view, at least, Sun Miaohan could absolutely mentally outstrip Ji Dantong, given past instances were plentiful and not easily overturned.
At this moment, Bai Xiaoxuan, under the focus of everyone’s gaze, spoke as before: "Heavy!"
The One-Character True Words released, Sun Miaohan immediately felt her whole body sink, as if advancing with a mountain on her back. Her steps instantly turned chaotic, almost causing a True Qi upheaval.
However, as she steadied herself and hadn’t had time to breathe a sigh of relief, a slightly childish voice reached her ears again...
"Freeze!"
This word caused Sun Miaohan, who had previously suffered freezing agony, to involuntarily stir, but with her wisdom, how could she overlook this scenario.
Controlling the highly condensed True Qi alongside, Sun Miaohan shouted lightly, suddenly her body enveloped in a flame-like light shield, firmly facing against the advancing storm, methodically moving forward.
Xuanxuan, oh Xuanxuan, you are still too young, not steady enough!
Encountering almost exactly as estimated, Sun Miaohan couldn’t help but reflect inwardly.
Now, hearing the countdown nearing its end and observing the long series of footprints behind Sun Miaohan’s difficult yet steady progress, everyone felt exceedingly tense, barely daring to breathe.
Yet watching this scene, it seemed the audience below the stage was even more nervous than Sun Miaohan and Bai Xiaoxuan competing on stage!
As the countdown reached three seconds, Sun Miaohan was only two steps away from Bai Xiaoxuan. When the time came, without any other moves, she merely needed to gently press her hand on the little girl’s armor, and the task would be completed.
Yet, puzzlingly, until now, Bai Xiaoxuan’s face remained composed besides the solemnity without losing her composure.
This performance made the crowd nod in acknowledgment. Worthy of being Sect Leader Xu Ming’s closed-door disciple, though young, her mind was indeed unmatched by ordinary people!
Under pressure, Sun Miaohan took another step, now only a step from Bai Xiaoxuan, and as she lifted her foot, a tender voice cut through her ear...
"Trap!"
This time, Sun Miaohan finally couldn’t hold the tension within, overtaken by an inexplicable panic as if something bad would happen, surfacing and refusing to be contained.
In just a fleeting moment, Sun Miaohan discerned the ground beneath seemed to sink; looking down, she widened her eyes in disbelief... Suddenly, a swamp-like substance appeared beneath her feet, rising almost to her ankles.
Sun Miaohan quickly exerted force, trying to break free of the swamp, yet the more she struggled, the deeper she sank, further aggravating her entrapment and becoming increasingly inextricable.
Aware of the urgency, Sun Miaohan was about to abandon dignity and launch an attack towards Bai Xiaoxuan in a crawling manner.
Bai Xiaoxuan’s footing had a circle barely maintaining her stance; under the rules, if she stepped out, it constituted a violation, resulting not in warning but immediate defeat.
Bound by such restriction, Bai Xiaoxuan naturally dared not make any reckless move, showing only a helpless expression; her True Qi was also nearly depleted, insufficient to continue using Words Accompanied by Law, forced use would certainly lead to backlash, and the likelihood of failure was high.
Still, at this point, Bai Xiaoxuan was rather calm; after all, everything she could and should do she had done to the utmost — success or failure now depended on fate!
Thinking thus, Bai Xiaoxuan closed her glistening eyes, waiting for the final two-second countdown to end, for master Xu Ming to announce Sun Miaohan’s final performance.
...
Once the time froze, the watching disciples expressed varying emotions.
Observing Sun Miaohan’s slender fingers just less than a centimeter from Bai Xiaoxuan, and the swamp reaching up to her thighs, some lamented, some wished to bang their heads on the wall.
Yet many felt regret over preceding bets, in stark contrast, especially those who supported Bai Xiaoxuan’s victory, led prominently by Ji Dantong.
Seeing Bai Xiaoxuan clinch victory, Ji Dantong instantly jumped, cheering with uplifted hands, jubilant as if she encountered great joy, causing those around to gape at her demeanor.
It was Ji Dantong’s first display of such loss of composure publicly, shattering her usual image.
Serves you right!
Preaching how long your legs are, let’s see how you brag now!