Chapter 1897: The Law Enforcement Team Mobilizes

Qin Xiao, a descendant of Ancient Sage Zi Pi, had reached the pinnacle of Saint 9-dan a year ago. He had expected to pass the Grand Confucian Hall assessment with ease, so he was surprised when it turned out to be an elimination match.

Even with the elimination format, he believed that careful play would guarantee him a spot in the top hundred. Unfortunately, his luck ran out quickly. Soon after entering, he encountered Yan Yixiao, the strongest participant in the assessment, and was consequently eliminated.

"Yan Yixiao is the strongest participant in this assessment; there's no shame in losing to him!" Outside the mountain, a middle-aged man, who had been standing with Nangong Yuanfeng and others earlier, approached. Participants who were eliminated were immediately teleported to this location, allowing the Grand Confucians of the Grand Confucian Hall to monitor the situation inside in real-time. This man was Ran Fei, a descendant of Ancient Sage Ran Yong.

"I know it's not unfair... I'm just a little unwilling!" Qin Xiao replied, feeling embarrassed. There was nothing he could do about being outmatched, but it was disheartening to be eliminated so soon after the assessment began.

"There's no need to feel unwilling," Grand Confucian Ran Fei said with a comforting smile. "Yan Yixiao is Yan Xue's younger brother and has received his guidance. What's more, he's currently gathered so many strong individuals, all with cultivation at Great Saint 1-dan, reaching the 'Impervious to Gods' realm. It would be difficult for anyone to defeat them, let alone you." He added, "Unless something unexpected happens, he's surely going to be the last one standing and achieve the highest score."

In this assessment, the most basic requirement was to remain in the competition; the more participants one eliminated, the higher one's ranking would be. Yan Yixiao, with his own strength, was considered the top among over two thousand participants. He had also assembled an alliance of six or seven other exceptionally powerful experts. Anyone who encountered them had no choice but to be eliminated.

"Indeed, the lineage of Ancient Sage Zi Yuan has always produced a succession of powerful individuals; there's nothing to be done about that..." Although he was reluctant to admit it, Qin Xiao nodded awkwardly. Before he could finish his thought, a flash of light suddenly appeared, and a figure landed with a "thud" on the ground nearby.

"Is that Shi Yuan, a descendant of Ancient Sage Zi Heng? Wasn't he following Yan Yixiao? He was the one who just eliminated me..." Qin Xiao stared in astonishment at the person who had suddenly fallen. He recognized this individual; it was one of the seven members of Yan Yixiao's alliance. How could he have been suddenly eliminated and teleported here? Could it be that someone dared to attack them even with Yan Yixiao present?

*Thud!* While Qin Xiao was still in shock, his vision blurred again, and another figure fell, once more one of Yan Yixiao's alliance members. *Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!* Four more consecutive thuds followed, as four additional people dropped, each wearing an embarrassed expression.

"They're all..." Qin Xiao was dumbfounded. These individuals were all familiar faces, members of Yan Yixiao's alliance. How could they all have been eliminated in the blink of an eye? Were they eliminated by Yan Yixiao himself, or had they encountered some formidable enemy? Unable to contain his curiosity, he rushed forward, asking, "What happened to you all...?"

Before Qin Xiao could finish his question, yet another figure landed with a "thud" right before them. When they clearly saw the person's face, not only did Qin Xiao's eyes widen, but Ran Fei also swayed, nearly losing his balance. It was none other than Yan Yixiao, the descendant of Ancient Sage Zi Yuan, whom they had all believed would certainly claim first place in the assessment!

The presumed champion struggled to his feet, a look of utter fury on his face, as he pointed towards the mountain before them. Unable to contain his rage, he bellowed, "Fan Xiaoxu... damn you!" Yan Yixiao genuinely felt like crying. He was an 'Impervious to Gods' expert, the designated champion of this assessment, and had expected to dominate. Yet, Fan Xiaoxu had grabbed him by the neck and tossed him out like a helpless chick, without him being able to offer any resistance. It was an absolute humiliation!

After his outburst, he turned to Grand Confucian Ran Fei, cupping his fists. "Teacher Ran Fei, I suspect... Fan Xiaoxu, the descendant of Ancient Sage Zi Chi, cheated. I request that the enforcement team be dispatched to investigate."

"Cheating?" Ran Fei questioned. "Yes," Yan Yixiao said through gritted teeth. "I saw Fan Xiaoxu half a year ago. While he wasn't weak, there was a significant gap between our abilities. Now, not only did he defeat me with ease, but none of these others were a match for him either..." "Alright, I will notify the enforcement team to go and investigate immediately!" Grand Confucian Ran Fei nodded.

Although he didn't know how the alleged cheating might have taken place, the accusation came from the presumed champion, so it could not be ignored. Ran Fei took out a special communication jade token and transmitted the order. "Don't worry," Grand Confucian Ran Fei said, looking at Yan Yixiao, "if there was any cheating, there will definitely be traces, and it won't escape the discerning eyes of the Grand Confucian Hall." He added that while fair assessments naturally prohibited cheating, if one was eliminated due to genuine lack of strength, then there was simply nothing that could be done.

"Understood!" Yan Yixiao breathed a sigh of relief. "You just mentioned... Fan Xiaoxu. You were eliminated after encountering him? How many people did he have on his side to defeat so many of you powerful experts?" Grand Confucian Ran Fei asked, his curiosity piqued.

In his opinion, if Yan Yixiao could assemble such a formidable group of experts, then his opponent must have done the same. Otherwise, for a single person to defeat an alliance of seven... even a Great Saint 2-dan wouldn't be able to achieve that!

"He..." Yan Yixiao's face flushed, and his facial muscles twitched. "It was just one person... and a Fan Xiaofeng, who didn't even make a move!" "One person?" Grand Confucian Ran Fei was stunned. "Did you fight him one-on-one?" "No, a group of us surrounded and attacked him..." Yan Yixiao's face grew even redder.

He had originally intended to invite the other party to join their alliance, given his strength. However, the stubborn 'idiot' refused to cooperate and angered him, prompting his group to attack. Who could have imagined that so many powerful experts couldn't even last a single round against him? "A group of you attacked one person, and he single-handedly eliminated all of you?" Grand Confucian Ran Fei's eyes widened in disbelief. Yan Yixiao was reluctant to admit it, but could only nod.

"This..." Grand Confucian Ran Fei was utterly speechless, his mouth agape in shock. One person defeating so many powerful experts—could it be that Fan Xiaoxu had already reached the Great Saint 2-dan realm? To achieve such a level even before entering the Grand Confucian Hall... It couldn't possibly be true! Filled with astonishment, he was about to inquire further when he felt another wave of light fluctuation before him. Then, a group of people, like raindrops, fell with a series of "thuds" right in front of them, all looking disheveled.

"It's the enforcement team..." "Aren't the enforcement team supposed to eliminate other participants? How did they... end up here as well?" Qin Xiao, Yan Yixiao, and the others all felt their heads spin.

The figures who appeared were none other than the Grand Confucian Hall members responsible for enforcing rules within the mountain. They had been dispatched to investigate Fan Xiaoxu, but unexpectedly... they had all been eliminated and expelled from the assessment.

"You don't have your jade tokens..." Ran Fei blurted out, unable to contain his surprise.

"That Fan Xiaoxu... he grabbed me, set up a teleportation array, and just threw us out..." The head of the enforcement team struggled to his feet, hastily explaining.

"Set up a teleportation array... and threw people out?" Everyone present was dumbfounded.

Inside the mountain, Zhang Xuan turned to glance at the dazed Fan Xiaofeng. "Come on," he said, "let's go find Fan Xiaoxing!"