No matter what, Ji Yuanlong seemed to have become demonic.
Ji Yuanlong raised his hand, and a large amount of black energy surged from his arm, transforming into a massive tentacle.
It enshrouded over a thousand geniuses on the Heavenly Ladder.
"No......"
Screams of agony echoed from the Heavenly Ladder.
Everyone couldn't help but gasp.
This Ji Yuanlong was too vicious; he actually intended to kill all the geniuses.
Lin Hengtian sensed that something was wrong and shifted his gaze to Mu Qingqing.
"This young man's situation is dire. Ji Yuanlong is now a peak five-star King realm expert. This young man probably won't be able to resist him for long."
Lin Hengtian thought to himself.
He immediately acted, his figure flashing upwards, preparing to rescue the geniuses.
He couldn't help but mutter, "Where has that old gambler, Dao Yuanming, run off to? I have to save his academy's disciples?"
Lin Hengtian was somewhat annoyed.
Although he said this, he still hurried to rescue the geniuses.
As he flew into mid-air, he encountered Liu Yuanhao, who was also rushing to rescue the geniuses.
Liu Yuanhao was slightly startled when he saw Lin Hengtian and was about to bow.
"Seven Star Sword Venerable Sir..."
"Never mind Sword Venerable, hurry up and save those brats!"
Lin Hengtian said.
Liu Yuanhao quickly responded.
The two of them rushed towards the Heavenly Ladder together.
The disciples on the Heavenly Ladder were already struggling to hold on, enveloped by a powerful black aura.
The black aura constantly seeped into their bodies, as if trying to refine them into puppets.
The pain was unbearable.
Liu Yuanhao unleashed his spiritual power, striking the black aura with a palm, pushing some of it back.
However, the black aura seemed alive. With an eerie trajectory, it latched onto Liu Yuanhao's right hand and rapidly spread throughout his body.
In an instant, Liu Yuanhao's expression changed drastically.
Fortunately, Seven Star Sword Venerable Lin Hengtian unleashed a sword strike, shattering and dispersing countless strands of the black aura with his Seven Star Sword Intent.
Liu Yuanhao and the many geniuses were then able to escape danger.
"Seven Star Sword Venerable, thank you for the rescue."
The over a thousand geniuses bowed their heads in gratitude.
"No need for excessive courtesy! This place is dangerous, you should leave quickly."
Lin Hengtian said lightly.
Liu Yuanhao then turned his gaze towards Mu Qingqing and Ji Yuanlong on the Ascension Stage.
Even he found this black aura difficult to resist. Liu Yuanhao worried that Mu Qingqing, who was closest to Ji Yuanlong, would fall victim.
On the Ascension Stage, Ji Yuanlong madly controlled the black tentacles, grasping towards Mu Qingqing.
Seeing Mu Qingqing completely engulfed by the black tentacles, Ji Yuanlong's face contorted in a ferocious grin.
"Xin Ci, weren't you very powerful? What good is being a genius when you're all destined to be my stepping stones!"
Ji Yuanlong laughed maniacally, his laughter echoing through the air, chilling those who heard it.
However, Ji Yuanlong's laughter died in the next second.
Because he discovered that the black tentacles seemed to be absorbed by something.
The black tentacles that had originally enveloped Mu Qingqing spun in a vortex, and were completely swallowed.
Mu Qingqing stood there unharmed. Not only that, her original early Heavenly Realm cultivation had advanced to the Half-step King realm!
"How is this possible? How could you absorb my power?"
Ji Yuanlong's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Mu Qingqing.
"Is there more? Your nether energy seems insufficient. Come on, continue."
Mu Qingqing said casually.
Hearing Mu Qingqing's words, Ji Yuanlong's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
"This, how is this possible..."
He muttered to himself, unable to react for a moment.
Mu Qingqing snorted, "Forget it, it's time to end this boring farce."
Her figure flickered, and she appeared before Ji Yuanlong. The Star Wheel pupils in her eyes shimmered with a sacred light.
Ji Yuanlong was startled and retreated several steps, unable to meet Mu Qingqing's gaze directly.
However, strands of nether energy still seeped out from him.
A vortex of spiritual energy appeared in Mu Qingqing's palm.
A powerful suction force emanated from the spiritual energy vortex.
The suction force grew stronger and stronger, and Ji Yuanlong's nether energy was continuously drawn into the vortex.
"No, don't absorb my power, stop! I don't want to become a cripple again!"
Ji Yuanlong roared frantically, trying to struggle free.
But Mu Qingqing completely ignored him, continuing to circulate the "Eternal Dao Scripture" to absorb the nether energy.
Soon, all of Ji Yuanlong's nether energy was absorbed by Mu Qingqing.
Ji Yuanlong's face began to wither, and his body became increasingly weak.
His original peak five-star King realm vanished instantly.
In its place was a man with white hair and no spiritual energy, an ordinary person.
For Ji Yuanlong, this was more cruel than killing him.
"You, you..."
Ji Yuanlong trembled, pointing at Mu Qingqing.
Having lost his nether god power, he had reverted to his former state of having his cultivation crippled and being expelled from the sect by the Heavenly Star Pavilion.
In his rage, he spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately fainted.
Liu Yuanhao and Lin Hengtian, who had just arrived, looked at Ji Yuanlong's miserable state in astonishment.
They had thought Mu Qingqing might be in mortal danger, but it turned out Ji Yuanlong was the one defeated.
"Seven Star Sword Venerable, it seems we were a bit redundant..."
Liu Yuanhao asked.
"Hmm..."
Lin Hengtian nodded slightly. "Although I don't know what this kid did, your Four Symbols Academy has truly taken in an exceptional disciple."
"That old gambler Dao Yuanming, he really does get all the good fortune."
Lin Hengtian said with a curl of his lip.
Meanwhile, the crowd at the Star Gazing Tower fell silent upon seeing Ji Yuanlong defeated by Mu Qingqing.
They hadn't expected Mu Qingqing to defeat Ji Yuanlong, who had reached the peak five-star King realm.
Such strength was far beyond their expectations.
"So, does that mean the reward for the first place in this year's Eastern Continent Grand Competition will go to Xin Ci of the Four Symbols Academy?"
Someone asked.
"Nonsense, do you see any other prodigy who can threaten Xin Ci now?"
"Indeed."
Many people nodded in agreement.
Seeing this scene, Liu Yuanhao smiled with satisfaction, feeling extremely happy in his heart.
After so many years, someone from their Four Symbols Academy would finally win the first place in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.
This was an unprecedented glorious record in the history of the Four Symbols Academy.
Just as everyone believed Mu Qingqing to be the winner of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, Mu Qingqing, who had successfully arrived at the Star Gate, was surprised to find that
The Star Gate had already been opened!
"What's going on?"
Mu Qingqing frowned, looking puzzled.
This had never happened in the original novel, so she was momentarily caught off guard.
The people at the Star Gazing Tower were also stunned to see the Star Gate open.
Especially the five Heavenly Venerable realm ancestors, who stood up from their seats, staring at the scene in disbelief.