People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

"Look! That black finger is actually blocking Xiao Ling's aura!"

The first to exclaim in surprise was an old man from a secluded sect in the front row of the stands. His withered fingers pointed intently at the two strands of energy locked in mid-air, his voice filled with disbelief and trembling.

The exclamation was like a pebble thrown into boiling water, instantly igniting a commotion throughout the venue. Thousands of eyes were fixed on the sky, and gasps of astonishment rose and fell.

"It really...it really suppressed him! The ancient clan's 'Great Annihilation Finger' is indeed worthy of its reputation!" Someone clutched the hem of their clothes, their voice filled with shock. The scene of Xiao Ling easily suppressing the ancient demon was still in their minds. Now, seeing the ancient demon turn the tide with a Heaven-rank fighting technique, even their breathing became rapid.

Some of the disciples from factions close to the ancient clans couldn't help but raise their voices, their tone tinged with smugness: "I knew it! The ancient clans' secret techniques, passed down for thousands of years, are not something that can be compared to any ordinary fighting skill. It's already an accident that Xiao Ling could use a Heaven-rank fighting skill, but in terms of foundation, he is ultimately no match for the ancient demon!"

Discussions spread like a tide across the square, and many people, looking at the hundred-foot-long giant finger that was constantly suppressing the black halo, gradually revealed a look of understanding on their faces.

Someone shook their head slightly and sighed softly, "It seems that this duel is about to be decided... Xiao Ling is strong, but he underestimated his opponent and was careless. After all, the 'Great Annihilation Technique' is the ancient clan's trump card. He was too overconfident to try to take it head-on."

Unlike the surrounding voices predicting that Xiao Ling wouldn't last long, Xun'er, sitting in a corner of the stands, remained remarkably calm.

Although her pale fingertips curled up for a moment unconsciously, as if pulled by the raging energy fluctuations in mid-air, her clear eyes remained calm, fixed on the figure that stood tall in the eye of the storm.

“Brother Xiao Ling… won’t be suppressed so easily.”

She parted her lips slightly, her voice as soft as snowflakes falling on a lake, yet it carried an undeniable certainty, quietly overshadowing the surrounding clamor of exclamations, carving out a quiet corner of the bustling square that belonged only to her.

The ancient demon hovered in mid-air, its ears filled with the amazement and admiration from all around the plaza. Looking down at the hundred-foot-long black finger steadily suppressing Xiao Ling's dark aura, the corners of its mouth finally couldn't help but curl into a smug smile.

The frustration he had felt from being relentlessly pressured by Xiao Ling vanished. He felt the annihilating power surging from his fingertips, and a glint of wild joy flashed in his eyes. Now he finally saw a glimmer of hope for a comeback. In the end, Xiao Ling could not withstand the power of the ancient clan's ultimate technique!

But before his smugness could even warm his face, a sudden change occurred.

The pitch-black halo, which had been firmly suppressed by the Great Extinction Finger and whose chaotic halo at the edges had even dimmed, suddenly emitted a piercing "humming".

The buzzing sound was not like the mournful cry of energy depletion, but rather like a sleeping behemoth suddenly awakening. The ripples on the surface of the halo instantly surged violently, and circles of pitch-black ripples spread wildly at a visible speed, causing even the surrounding air, frozen by the aura of annihilation, to tremble.

The next second, a far more powerful devouring force than before erupted from the ancient light circle!

That power, like a greedy vortex, swept straight toward the hundred-foot-long black finger. The annihilation energy that the ancient demon had injected into the black finger was forcibly pulled out by this suction force, turning into visible black air currents that continuously flowed into the light circle.

As this energy was absorbed, the previously somewhat weak black halo suddenly became more vigorous, the chaotic halo at the edge expanded by several feet, and even the speed of the halo's expansion suddenly accelerated, instantly reversing the previous downward trend!

Upon seeing this, the smile on Gu Yao's face froze, and a strong sense of unease surged in his heart. He subconsciously activated his fighting spirit, wanting to increase the power of the Great Annihilation Finger, but the hundred-foot-long giant finger seemed to have its foundation removed, and its previous overwhelming power visibly declined.

After absorbing energy, the dark halo expanded against the pressure of the black finger, instantly breaking the stalemate. The chaotic airflow at the edge of the halo slammed into the giant finger, making a crisp "crack" sound. The black finger, which was once as solid as a pillar, began to crack inch by inch from the part that came into contact with the halo!
Cracks spread wildly across the giant finger like a spider web, and the originally dense aura of annihilation continued to dissipate, only to be completely swallowed up by the halo.

In the blink of an eye, the colossal finger that had once shocked the entire audience was completely enveloped by the dark halo, even the last trace of annihilation power was devoured, leaving only countless tiny black specks of light that quietly vanished as the halo rotated, leaving no trace behind.

After the pitch-black halo completely devoured the hundred-foot-tall giant finger, its momentum not only did not diminish, but instead, like a ferocious beast breaking free from its restraints, it continued to expand with even more ferocious power. Its pitch-black edges gleamed with chaotic light, and it rapidly crushed towards the direction where the ancient demon stood.

The clamor around the square instantly fell silent. The audience, who had just been marveling at the ancient demon's dominance, now stared wide-eyed, gasping in unison, forgetting even to regulate their breathing.

Who could have imagined that, in the blink of an eye, the situation that had been firmly suppressed would be completely reversed, and that the halo that had shown signs of weakness actually contained such terrifying power.

Several ancient clan elders in front of the stands, who were used to seeing all kinds of storms, couldn't help but stand up, clench their sleeves, and stare intently at the arena, their fingertips trembling slightly.

The smugness on the ancient demon's face had vanished, replaced by a deep-seated horror.

He watched as the dark halo, imbued with the power of devouring, approached step by step, his heart feeling as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He knew better than anyone how strange this halo was; it could even devour the power of annihilation. If he were to be entangled by it, he would surely suffer the fate of having his soul annihilated!

He almost instinctively retreated, his figure leaving a disheveled afterimage in the void. But after only a few feet, his back slammed heavily against an invisible barrier, the protective enchantment set up by the elders.

The barrier that had once been used to defend against the aftershocks had now become a cage trapping him. The ancient demon looked around but couldn't find even the slightest way out. He could only watch helplessly as the dark halo, carrying an aura of destruction, pressed down on him.

In the blink of an eye, the dark halo closed to within ten feet of the ancient demon, its chaotic edge already touching the hem of his robe. Even the fighting spirit flowing around him began to be pulled by that devouring force, and it looked like it would engulf him completely in the next second.

Just at this critical moment, an aged sigh suddenly rang out in the sky above the square, calm yet carrying an undeniable majesty: "Young friend, your strength is truly extraordinary, and you do not live up to the name of the successor of the Xiao Clan."

Before the words were finished, the void in front of the ancient demon suddenly paused slightly, and then distorted like ripples on water.

An old man in a gray robe appeared out of thin air, standing perfectly between the dark halo and the ancient demon.

He slowly raised his arm, and the surging spatial power in his palm surged out like a tide. The invisible barrier instantly blocked the momentum of the light circle's advance. The pitch-black light circle, which had previously been able to devour even the hundred-foot-long Annihilation Giant Finger, was actually stopped by this power and could not advance even an inch further.

Immediately afterwards, the old man flicked his fingertips, and a surging semi-saint aura spread out without reservation, crashing onto the light circle like a thunderclap.

With a muffled "bang," the dark halo that had shocked the entire audience shattered instantly, turning into countless tiny black specks of light.

With another wave of his sleeve, the old man completely dispelled the remaining energy fluctuations, leaving not even a ripple. The raging storm in the arena subsided instantly, with only the spatial power surrounding the old man still slowly flowing, displaying the full might of a semi-saint and plunging the entire plaza into an unprecedented silence.

When the raging energy aftershocks on the field completely subsided, everyone looked up again and could see the appearance of the person who had appeared. He was wearing a spotless white robe, and even his hair, beard, and eyebrows were as white as snow. Only his figure remained as upright as a pine tree, showing no signs of old age.

What's most striking are his slightly sunken eyes. Instead of the turbidity often seen in the eyes of the elderly, they seem to contain two bottomless black holes. The moment someone's gaze falls upon them, it's as if they are being pulled into them by an invisible force, exuding an indescribable mystery and majesty.

"Elder Tongxuan..."

The elders of the ancient clan, including Gu Qian, who were in mid-air, immediately suppressed their auras and bowed deeply the moment they saw the old man's face. Their voices were full of awe.

The fact that several Dou Zun elders treated him with such respect speaks volumes about the white-robed elder's identity.

The old man, known as Elder Tongxuan, nodded slightly in response to everyone's respect. Then, his gaze slowly turned forward and landed on the figure still standing on the bluestone ground in the arena. It was Xiao Ling, who had just finished his move.

"Hehe, Elder Tongxuan, you flatter me. My meager cultivation is nothing to mention."

Xiao Ling had sensed Elder Tongxuan's aura long ago and knew that this half-saint's appearance must be to protect the ancient demon.

He was not one to be out of touch with reality, so he naturally wouldn't do anything unnecessary. On the territory of the ancient clan, it was impossible to take the life of the ancient demon, let alone completely ruin his relationship with the ancient clan.

Moreover, Gu Yao was, after all, a promising talent within the ancient clan who had the potential to break through to the Dou Sheng realm, and held a considerable position within the clan. If he hadn't held back just now, Xun'er, caught between the two clans, would have found herself in an even more difficult position.

With this in mind, Xiao Ling took the opportunity to bow to Elder Tongxuan with a humble tone, showing neither resentment nor losing his composure.

Upon hearing this, Elder Tongxuan's smile deepened. He nodded slowly, his gaze falling on Xiao Ling once more, sweeping over him with scrutiny.

For some reason, this seemingly young descendant of the fallen Xiao clan seemed shrouded in mystery in his eyes. He couldn't see through his cultivation level or the depth of his foundation. A strange feeling arose in his heart, making him feel somewhat strange.

But he was, after all, a semi-saint who had lived for over a thousand years, and had seen countless storms. His expression remained unchanged. After a moment, he spoke, his voice hoarse with the characteristic raspiness of an old man, yet every word was clear:

"I never expected that the Xiao clan, after so many years of silence, would produce someone like you. If Xiao Xuan could know this in the afterlife, he would be extremely gratified."

As soon as he finished speaking, he changed the subject and looked behind him. Gu Yao was still frozen in place, his face still as pale as paper, but his hands were clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Elder Tongxuan's voice was calm and even, yet it resounded clearly in the silent square: "Gu Yao, you have already lost this contest."

With a "boom," these words struck the ancient demon's heart like a heavy hammer. His body trembled violently, and the aura of annihilation at his fingertips instantly dissipated.

He knew better than anyone that if Elder Tongxuan hadn't intervened at the last moment, he would have been crushed into dust by that dark halo, leaving not even his soul behind.

Even knowing this, he, who has always been proud and arrogant, still found it difficult to accept this cruel reality.

Since being suppressed by Xiao Ling in Zhongzhou, he returned to the Ancient Clan and devoted himself to cultivation, working day and night without rest. He also often led the Black Annihilation Army out to fight and hone his skills. At this coming-of-age ceremony, he was even tested and found to have an eighth-grade bloodline. The clan elders all praised him as one of the most promising talents in the Ancient Clan in the past thousand years to break through to the Dou Sheng realm.

Before the competition, he had imagined the outcome countless times, but he never thought that even after exhausting all his trump cards and using the "Great Annihilation Technique," he would still be powerless against Xiao Ling and lose so completely.

"Victory is victory, and defeat is defeat." Elder Tongxuan looked at the ancient demon, whose fists were clenched and refused to loosen. His calm voice held a hint of sternness, each word like a hammer blow on a bluestone.
"If you don't even have the courage to admit defeat, how can you talk about taking command of the Black Annihilation Army and inheriting the position of the Black Annihilation King?"

Gu Yao gritted his teeth, the taste of blood seeping between them, the resentment surging in his chest almost overwhelming his reason. But Elder Tongxuan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over him, gradually calming him down.

After a moment, he finally took a deep breath, slowly raised his eyes to look at Xiao Ling, and said in a somewhat hoarse but still frank voice: "I lost."

Even after those three words were spoken, the square remained deathly silent.

The audience who were just marveling at Gu Yao were now frozen in place. Many of the Gu clan disciples were filled with disbelief. Gu Yao was one of the top five geniuses among the younger generation of the Gu clan, with an eighth-grade bloodline and the secret techniques of the Gu clan. Yet he had been defeated by a descendant of the already declining Xiao clan.

Even though everyone had heard that Xiao Ling had made quite a name for himself in Zhongzhou, the ancient clan was currently at its peak, and its resources and heritage were far beyond what Xiao Ling could enjoy.

This cruel and starkly contrasting outcome shocked everyone present, making it difficult for them to even breathe, as they found it hard to accept the reality before them.

"Indeed, someone who can win Miss's heart is no ordinary person." At the edge of the stands, Gu Zhen looked at the arena and couldn't help but murmur. He was Gu Zheng, who was always by Xun'er's side.

"Having ventured all the way from that remote Northwest Continent to the Central Plains, he has not only achieved such success, but also defeated ancient demons with such ease... Xiao Ling's true strength is truly unfathomable."

As soon as he said this, several ancient clan disciples who had been silent around him nodded in agreement.

Previously, when they learned that Xun'er was in love with Xiao Ling, they were filled with resentment and disgust. How could a descendant of the declining Xiao clan be worthy of their ancient clan's young lady?

But today, witnessing Xiao Ling use a Heaven-Rank Battle Technique to fight against an ancient demon and even completely suppress its trump card, that initial contempt has long been replaced by shock.

"Putting everything else aside, just this strength alone is truly impressive." Someone echoed in a low voice, their tone devoid of the previous hostility, replaced only by genuine recognition.

Even the disciples who had previously lamented the fate of the ancient demon now felt a surge of admiration as they gazed at Xiao Ling's serene figure. (End of Chapter)