Chapter 168: Take Action

The fifth match of the Nascent Soul group was drawing to a close, featuring Ma Tianyang, who had also been challenged by Immortal Fairy in a higher-level match.

Vice Sect Master Liu commented, "This Ma Tianyang is in the late Nascent Soul stage, while his opponent from the Five Elements Sect is at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Both are disciples of immortal sects, with roughly similar resources. At this point, external advantages are irrelevant; it all comes down to cultivation. Even a slight disparity in cultivation means the difference between victory and defeat. Ma Tianyang is close to losing."

Just as Vice Sect Master Liu had said, Ma Tianyang gradually found himself at a disadvantage during the fight. His opponent grew stronger with each move, determined to defeat him in one swift blow.

Ma Tianyang was a Talisman Cultivator. The various talismans he drew were considered masterpieces, even outside the sect. If a minor family acquired one, it could be regarded as an ancestral treasure, capable of delivering a fatal blow in crucial moments to save the family.

Unfortunately, Ma Tianyang's opponent was a cultivator who wielded lightning. With thunderous might and extreme speed, every lightning strike precisely disrupted Ma Tianyang's rhythm of drawing talismans, preventing him from utilizing his advantages as a Talisman Cultivator.

Just as his opponent thought victory was assured and pressed their attack, Ma Tianyang suddenly pressed his two palms together. Countless runes flickered, forming a majestic mountain that suppressed his opponent.

Pinned under the mountain, the opponent couldn't mobilize any spiritual energy and was defeated in utter bewilderment. "Thousand-Ton Mountain Talisman!" they exclaimed. "This kind of talisman cannot be stored on paper; it must be drawn on the spot. But even for you, drawing it on the spot would take five minutes! Where did you get the time?!"

Ma Tianyang sneered, "I was drawing the whole time; you just didn't see it."

"How is that possible! Where did you draw it?!"

Ma Tianyang pointed to his body. "My blood vessels."

"While fighting you, I've been adjusting the position of my blood vessels."

"You... *bleep*..."

The formation on the martial arts square was very comprehensive and thoughtful, even equipped with a formation that automatically censored profanity. To outsiders, it sounded like a series of beeps.

The opponent had thought that after observing the Daoist Sect for so long, they were close to understanding its methods, but they were far from it.

Vice Sect Master Liu's eye twitched. He hadn't expected Ma Tianyang to have such a hidden trick. He had been careless and hadn't noticed it.

Blood contained spiritual energy, so adjusting the position of blood vessels to form a talisman was indeed feasible. One could even say it was more ingenious than drawing talismans externally, as there was no loss of spiritual energy.

But the question was, could a normal person even conceive of drawing talismans with blood vessels?!

Vice Sect Master Liu calmly advised Lu Yang, "Don't learn this fighting style. Tying your blood vessels into knots can easily cause blood clots."

Lu Yang thought Vice Sect Master Liu was overthinking it; he had heard that Senior Brother Ma Tianyang could even untie fatal knots in his blood vessels.

After the Nascent Soul group's matches concluded, it was time for the final group: the Soul Transformation group.

This was the most significant group in the exchange event; watching a battle between Soul Transformation stage cultivators offered immense benefits!

Representing the Daoist Sect was Senior Brother Lu Wang from Pill Cauldron Peak, whom Lu Yang had not met before.

Others whispered, "It's Senior Brother Lu! I haven't seen him in a long time."

"I heard that when Senior Brother Lu was forming his Golden Core, he failed three times and was very dissatisfied with his first-grade Golden Core."

"Why was that?"

"He insisted that a Golden Core was also a type of pill. He believed that if a Golden Core didn't have pill patterns or a pill fragrance, it was worthless. So he repeatedly formed his Golden Core until he produced one with a pill fragrance."

"Did he succeed?"

"Yes, he did. Senior Brother Lu really did form a Golden Core with a pill fragrance."

"What special effect does that kind of Golden Core have?"

"It smells particularly good."

Lu Yang asked his subordinate, "Little Liu, who do you think will win?"

"Huh?" Vice Sect Master Liu thought he had misheard. What did this kid call him?

Lu Yang calmly explained, "Your public persona is that of a temporary employee I hired, and I'm your boss. We need to keep up appearances completely. If I'm too respectful towards you, it'll look fake. Our plan is about to be put into action, and we can't reveal anything now!"

Vice Sect Master Liu nodded, acknowledging Lu Yang's point.

"Lu Wang is very famous among Soul Transformation stage cultivators; few are willing to be his opponent. He cultivates both pills and poison, with his poison being stronger than his pills. However, Lu Wang is unlucky; he's encountered an opponent who counters him."

"I've heard of his opponent. He grew up in the Five Poisons Pit and has long developed a body immune to all poisons. Against him, Lu Wang's abilities won't be effective."

On the martial arts square, Lu Wang engaged in battle with the Five Elements Sect disciple. Lu Wang first tentatively released bone-eating poisonous smoke. Just as Vice Sect Master Liu had said, the opponent showed no fear at all; the poisonous smoke had no effect on him whatsoever.

"He's tough to deal with," Lu Wang thought, finding it a bit tricky.

The opponent sneered, "Lu Wang, surrender. You might win against anyone else, but against me, you're bound to lose!"

Soul Transformation stage battles were no longer confined to the ground. Both sides alternately flew into the sky and burrowed into the earth, trading blows. The opponent was stronger than Lu Wang, placing Lu Wang at a disadvantage.

Lu Wang took out a strength-enhancing pill from his robe; this was permitted in the competition.

Just as Lu Wang was about to take it, his opponent snatched it and swallowed it in one gulp.

The opponent sneered, "You want to take a pill? You'll have to get the chance first!"

As soon as the pill entered their stomach, the opponent felt their strength rapidly decreasing.

"What's going on?!" the opponent exclaimed, shocked. This shouldn't be happening.

Lu Wang punched his opponent, sending them flying. "The Ten Elephant Strength Pill grants the user the strength of ten elephants," he stated.

"However, it's meant for cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage. In other words, you now only have the strength of ten Foundation Establishment stage elephants."

"You... *bleep*..."

"Be content," Lu Wang said, "I gave you enough face by not giving you the aphrodisiac version of the Ten Elephant Strength Pill." With that, Lu Wang threw his opponent out of the arena.

For the four matches after the Soul Transformation group, Vice Sect Master Liu didn't predict a single outcome correctly.

It wasn't that Vice Sect Master Liu lacked foresight, but rather that the Soul Transformation stage cultivators of the Daoist Sect had too many unpredictable ideas.

Vice Sect Master Liu took two deep breaths, adjusting his mood. They were about to make their move, and he couldn't let such matters affect his mindset.

He noticed that everyone was in their designated positions, forming the "Yellow Millet Array" to maximize the effect of the Yellow Millet Pillow.

According to Immortal Fairy, this was a sleeping formation she frequently used, and it was very effective.

Vice Sect Master Liu heard the Daoist Sect begin to announce the closing remarks: "The friendly exchange between the Daoist Sect and the Five Elements Sect has now concluded. We are delighted to have spent this wonderful time with all of you..."

Everyone's attention was focused on the viewing platform, making it the perfect time to act!

Vice Sect Master Liu raised his hand and shouted loudly, "Act!"

The Daoist Sect disciples lurking nearby heard the words "Act!" and appeared in unison, pouncing on the higher-ups of the Immortal Sect.

They remembered Lu Yang saying that someone would shout "Act!" when the time came, and they should act as soon as they heard it.

Before this, they had been guessing who would give the command. Some guessed Lu Yang, others guessed Meng Jingzhou, and some even guessed Mang Gu.

Now, the mystery was finally solved.

The Daoist Sect disciples nodded in salute to the still-confused Vice Sect Master Liu, thinking, "A hero indeed."

"So Vice Sect Master Liu was also our undercover agent," they realized, "and had successfully risen to the position of Vice Sect Master."