out of place with the other serious and talented disciples.
No one else dared to say anything, after all, Changyang Gushuo was a strong contender for first place in this year's Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament. With the combined backing of the strongest aristocratic family and the strongest holy land, everyone believed Changyang Gushuo would undoubtedly win first place with no suspense.
Several disciples by Changyang Gushuo's side surrounded him, showering him with praise.
"Senior Brother Changyang, the first place in this Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament is yours."
"Is there even any doubt? With Senior Brother Changyang's strength, wouldn't it be a piece of cake to take first place?"
"Exactly, our Senior Brother Changyang comes from the ancient first aristocratic family. His strength is unmatched. How could disciples from other holy lands possibly be your match?"
Although Changyang Gushuo knew they were only saying these flattering words to get closer to him, he couldn't deny that he quite enjoyed the feeling.
Suddenly, Changyang Gushuo's peripheral vision caught sight of the talented disciples from the Killing Heart Holy Court. He spotted a stunningly beautiful and familiar girl. His eyes widened instantly, and he was so excited he nearly jumped out of his chair.
"Isn't this the little beauty I met at the Xin family's place? After looking for her for so long, she's actually a disciple of the Killing Heart Holy Court!"
Changyang Gushuo's sudden movement surprised the disciples around him. They then followed his gaze and understood that Senior Brother Changyang had taken a liking to a beautiful young girl from the Killing Heart Holy Court! This explained his excitement, and they immediately resumed their flattery.
"Senior Brother Changyang, look, that beautiful girl from the Killing Heart Holy Court is looking at us."
"Looking at us? She's clearly captivated by our Senior Brother Changyang."
"Yes, our Senior Brother Changyang is so dashing and charming. It's only natural for girls from other holy lands to fancy him."
Hearing the disciples' sycophantic words, Changyang Gushuo gradually lost himself and felt a surge of internal satisfaction. He believed that he had left a deep impression on the girl at the Xin family's place back then. Otherwise, why would such a beauty be paying attention to him?
Changyang Gushuo's heart swelled with pride. He then flipped his hair and gave Xin Ci a look he thought was very suave, projecting an air of arrogant self-importance, as if to say, "Don't fall for me, brother."
Xin Ci also noticed this guy glancing in his direction and couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain. In Xin Ci's eyes, Changyang Gushuo's self-proclaimed handsome pose looked like that of an idiot whose brain had suddenly gone haywire.
Even Li Fulan, standing next to Xin Ci, felt the same. She tugged at Li Fulong's sleeve and whispered to him, "Brother, there's someone from the Divine Firmament Palace who's been staring at us, his eyes twitching like he's having a spasm, and he keeps winking at us."
"Hmm? What a weirdo?" Li Fulong raised an eyebrow slightly and followed Li Fulan's gaze, his expression instantly turning grim.
Sensing the change in Li Fulong's expression, Li Fulan quickly asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"
"That person looking this way is Changyang Gushuo. I didn't expect him to participate in this Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament. The first place in the tournament should be his for the taking."
"Changyang Gushuo! The young master of the Changyang family!" Li Fulan initially thought he was just a perverted weirdo, but she never imagined he had such a prominent background! She had heard a lot about Changyang Gushuo's reputation as a prodigy. However, she wasn't too worried and said nonchalantly, "Brother, why are you so nervous? Even if Changyang Gushuo gets first place, it's no big deal. We can enter the Immortal Spirit Pool for cultivation if we're in the top five anyway, so there's no need for us to fight to the death."
Li Fulong disagreed. He explained seriously, "This Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament isn't just about Changyang Gushuo. There are the Twin Stars of the Buried Sword Pavilion, Dugu Yunmeng of the Northern Cold Holy Land, Xuan Yihan of the Profound Void Mountain..."
"These individuals are all prodigies of their respective holy lands. It won't be easy to secure a spot among these talents."
Hearing Li Fulong's explanation, Li Fulan also felt that this Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament was indeed quite dire. Li Fulan wasn't lacking in self-awareness. Although her talent and strength were quite good in the Canglan Dynasty, she probably had no advantage when facing the prodigies of these holy lands.
Xin Ci, on the other hand, remained calm. In his opinion, whether it was against Changyang Gushuo or any other holy land prodigy, he was confident he could defeat them.
"The Holy Land Martial Arts Tournament officially begins!"
"The first match: Su Mei of the Northern Cold Holy Land versus Ye Xinran of the Killing Heart Holy Court!"
As the referee elder announced, Su Mei and Ye Xinran simultaneously flew out and took their positions on opposite sides of the Immortal Martial Stage. No one expected the first match to be a duel between two female disciples. A murmur of surprise rippled through the audience. These two female disciples possessed distinct charms and unique temperaments. One was alluring and seductive, while the other was cold and proud, giving the impression of incompatible elements.
Ling Qinghan's red lips curved into a charming smile as she cast a glance at Ji Honghao. "Holy Lord Ji, I didn't expect the Northern Cold Holy Land and the Killing Heart Holy Court to be matched up in the very first round."
"It doesn't matter. The Killing Heart Holy Court is the only assassin holy land among the five major holy lands. They won't hold back against anyone they face."
"So you should worry more about your disciples from the Northern Cold Holy Land," Ji Honghao said indifferently.
Ling Qinghan maintained her smiling demeanor and replied, "Then, Holy Lord Ji, we shall see." Ling Qinghan was very confident in her disciple for the first match. Su Mei's strength ranked among the top five among the twenty prodigies dispatched by their Northern Cold Holy Land. Dealing with an unknown female disciple from the Killing Heart Holy Court was more than enough!
At this moment, on the Immortal Martial Stage, the two women had already engaged in a fierce battle. Su Mei, who initially underestimated Ye Xinran, was increasingly surprised as the fight progressed. The unknown female disciple from the Killing Heart Holy Court was surprisingly powerful, her cultivation reaching the four-star Heavenly Venerate realm, the same as hers. After exchanging hundreds of blows, Su Mei began to show signs of fatigue. Ye Xinran, however, showed no signs of exhaustion, and the power of each of her moves had significantly increased.
Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, Su Mei stopped holding back. Utilizing the Northern Cold Holy Land's unique cultivation technique, the Profound Ice Holy Nether Record, she created a small ice domain on the Immortal Martial Stage. The surrounding air began to freeze, and a thin layer of extreme ice gradually covered the ground.
Upon seeing this, Ye Xinran dared not be careless. She swiftly tapped her toes on the ground, soaring into the air, thus avoiding being frozen by the ground. However, Su Mei's attacks were not that simple. She had anticipated Ye Xinran flying into the air. Soon, Ye Xinran found herself surrounded by numerous delicate and beautiful snowflakes. Seeing these snowflakes, Ye Xinran's expression turned grim. This was because the snowflakes contained an extreme cold energy. Once they made contact, they would erupt with surging cold currents, engulfing her entire being and turning her into an ice sculpture.