Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

Yin Zhiping's heart pounded when he saw Yang Guo carrying Wang Qingchen like a chick. He knew all too well what secrets this fool was hiding.

If Yang Guo were to publicly interrogate him about the origins of those poisons, his secret collusion with the Mongols would be completely exposed.

He absolutely must not let Wang Qingchen say anything reckless.

Yin Zhiping strode down from the viewing platform. His face was ashen, and he swept his horsetail whisk heavily in front of him before shouting sternly, "Wang Qingchen! You wretched child, why are you running?"

He strode up to Wang Qingchen, placing his right hand directly on Wang's shoulder. His fingers tightened, and a dark red aura silently seeped into Wang's collarbone. He lowered his voice, warning in a tone only the two of them could hear: "If you want to live, shut your mouth. Blame Li Qingzhi and his gang. If you dare utter a single word more, you'll be reduced to a pool of blood in seven days."

Wang Qingchen was in excruciating pain, breaking out in a cold sweat. It felt as if a thousand needles were piercing his bones. He looked up and met Yin Zhiping's bloodshot eyes, and was so terrified that he wet himself. He knew that if he betrayed Yin Zhiping, he would die immediately, and there was no antidote. His only option was to shift the blame to his three accomplices.

Yang Guo released his grip and stepped aside to watch the show. He had long suspected something was amiss between the two and wanted to see how this hypocrite would smooth things over.

Wang Qingchen's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, crying out, "Uncle-Master Yin, spare me! Sect Leader, spare me! This disciple was terrified! Li Qingzhi and his two companions were patrolling the back mountain a few days ago when they saw this young lady alone and harbored evil intentions. This disciple saw them from a distance but dared not intervene. Today, seeing that their scheme has been exposed, I fear being implicated as an accomplice, which is why I tried to run away!"

Yin Zhiping sighed deeply. He looked up, closed his eyes, and appeared heartbroken.

"The Quanzhen Sect's century-old reputation has been ruined by a few beasts like you!" Yin Zhiping's voice trembled, each word conveying a resolute determination to sacrifice even family for the greater good. He turned to Qiu Chuji and bowed deeply: "Uncle-Master Qiu, please have the Discipline Hall arrest them! Keeping such scoundrels on the mountain for even a day longer is a desecration of Patriarch Chongyang!"

Qiu Chuji's face turned ashen, and he waved his hand. The Taoist priests of the Disciplinary Hall quickly dragged Li Qingzhi and the other two from the crowd forward. Upon examination, all three had severed tiger's mouths and indeed bore the palm marks of the Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm. The evidence was irrefutable.

Lu Wushuang looked at the three Taoists who were pinned to the ground, drew his curved sword and wanted to go up and chop them down, but was stopped by the people next to him.

Yin Zhiping stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lu Wushuang, his posture extremely humble: "Miss, I have failed in my duty of discipline, and you have been frightened. These three will be handed over to the Disciplinary Hall, stripped of their martial arts, and expelled from the sect. The Quanzhen Sect will never tolerate evil. Do you think this punishment is fair?"

Lu Wushuang sheathed her sword. Although she had a fiery temper, she knew when to stop. She rolled her eyes at Yang Guo and sneered, "So your Quanzhen Sect still has some manners. But I'll settle the score with this scoundrel for his foul mouth sooner or later! Keep those thieving eyes of yours for me!"

Yang Guo waved with a grin: "Take care, young lady. Come visit again sometime. Walk slowly next time, don't twist your ankle again. I can't stand seeing beautiful women suffer."

Lu Wushuang stomped her foot in anger, turned around, squeezed through the crowd, and went down the mountain.

Yin Zhiping turned around, faced the assembled heroes, and bowed deeply once more: "I apologize for making this a laughingstock of you all. My family has suffered misfortune, and I cannot shirk my responsibility."

He then turned to Yang Guo, adopting the demeanor of a stern teacher: "Guo'er, you acted bravely and righteously, and I have wronged you. But since you did a good deed, why didn't you say so sooner? Why did you have to make such a fuss and let the world laugh at the Quanzhen Sect? Your temperament really needs discipline."

This tactic of shifting the blame was brilliantly executed. By directly blaming Yang Guo for his bad attitude, he masked his own guilty conscience for having indiscriminately convicted someone earlier.

Yang Guo shrugged and spread his hands: "Master, you didn't even ask me. You came up here wanting to expel me from the sect, how could I have the right to interrupt? I can't exactly cover your mouth and stop you from speaking, can I? Besides, doing good deeds anonymously, isn't that what you always taught me?"

Huang Rong picked up her teacup on the viewing platform and gently skimmed off the foam. She interrupted the farce, saying, "Master Yin, now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, and the time for the competition is fast approaching, let's not waste time on these trivial matters. All the heroes of the world are waiting to see the Quanzhen Sect's brilliant moves. We can't expect everyone to stand here in the cold wind watching you and your master bicker, can we?"

Yin Zhiping gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger. He walked up to the high platform directly in front of the arena, swept his whisk, and loudly announced the rules of the Tongtian Arena.

Yin Zhiping stepped onto the high platform directly in front of the arena. He held a whisk in his hand, his Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, his face filled with compassion and solemnity. He cleared his throat and spoke in a loud voice, which, amplified by his inner strength, resonated throughout the entire Chongyang Palace square.

"The Quanzhen Grand Competition begins today. This Heavenly Arena is divided into nine levels, from bottom to top. Heroes of the world bear witness that our Quanzhen Sect selects its leader based on true talent and learning, and on integrity and honesty, absolutely not allowing the slightest bit of underhanded means." He raised his hand and pointed to the towering nine-story wooden pagoda that reached into the clouds.

"Each level has a central platform with a wooden plaque for advancement. The first level has 100 participants and 50 plaques. The second level has 50 participants and 25 plaques, and so on. Those who obtain a plaque and remain on that level for half an incense stick's time without being knocked off the platform may ascend the steps." Yin Zhiping surveyed the disciples below, his tone extremely authoritative. "Those who step out of bounds are defeated, and those who fall and cannot rise are defeated. In competitions among fellow disciples, it is forbidden to kill anyone, and the use of hidden weapons or poisons is strictly prohibited. Those who disobey will be treated as traitors!"

Yang Guo stood in the crowd, arms crossed, mentally rehearsing these words twice. Having been a player well-versed in the rules of various games in his past life, he was secretly delighted upon hearing this. These rules sounded grand, but in reality, they were a sieve riddled with loopholes. They only stated that one could stay for half an incense stick's time to grab a card, but didn't say one had to defeat the opponent. Wasn't that just grabbing a card and running around the field?

He raised his hand and rubbed his aching lower back. These past few days, those two old ladies in the ancient tomb had taken turns tormenting him, leaving him exhausted and his legs still trembling. If he were to fight these old fogies head-on, he'd be spitting blood by the time he reached the ninth floor. Conserving every ounce of energy was better than nothing; being a coward wouldn't cost him anything. Anyway, once he got the token and went upstairs, who cared about how graceful he looked?

With a loud clang, the gong sounded. The railings around the first level of the arena were removed. Hundreds of third and fourth generation disciples surged onto the wide wooden platform like a tidal wave.

Yin Zhiping stood at the edge of the viewing platform, lightly flicking his whisk. Several fourth-generation disciples mixed in with the crowd received the order, drew their longswords, and rushed towards Yang Guo in a fan shape. These men were all henchmen who had taken Yin Zhiping's poison, and in order to save their lives, they were extremely ruthless, their sword tips aimed directly at the vital points on Yang Guo's body.

Yang Guo, with lightning speed, used the "Snake's Leap" technique from the Nine Yin Manual. His body moved like a boneless eel, sliding out along the wooden plank with incredible agility. The disciples' swords all missed their mark, unable to stop their momentum, and crashed straight into their fellow disciples. Chaos erupted, and curses filled the air.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Yang Guo leaped onto the central platform using his Golden Goose Skill. He grabbed a promotion token and stuffed it into his robes. Then he ran to a wooden pillar at the very edge of the arena, leaned against it, and tucked his hands into his sleeves, adopting a posture of watching a grand spectacle. If anyone tried to snatch his sword, he would simply circle the pillar, refusing to engage.

Half an incense stick had burned out. More than half the people on the field had collapsed. Yang Guo, however, was perfectly fine, not a single hair out of place, and he cheerfully climbed the wooden ladder to the second level.

On the viewing platform, Sun Bu'er's face turned purplish-red. She slammed her hand on the rosewood table, making the teacups jump around.

"Shameless! Utterly shameless!" Sun Bu'er cursed, pointing at Yang Guo's retreating figure. "This traitorous disciple is a coward, utterly devoid of any righteous spirit of the Xuanmen! When faced with a contest between fellow disciples, he flees like a rat, completely disgracing the Quanzhen Sect!"

Huang Rong sat upright in the large chair, slowly skimming the foam from her teacup. Hearing Sun Bu'er's cursing, she parted her red lips slightly, her words extremely sharp.

"Master Sun's words are utterly unreasonable. The rules of the arena are clearly written: the winner is determined by remaining in the area for half an incense stick's time to claim the token. Guo'er obtained the token without a scratch; that's called winning without bloodshed, demonstrating both wisdom and courage. Does one have to fight to the death like those brutes on the stage, losing arms and legs, to be considered a hero? Do the disciples of the Quanzhen Sect only grow muscles and not brains?"

Yin Zhiping was furious, but he had to maintain the dignity of the chief disciple. He took a step forward, bowed to Huang Rong, and tried to intimidate her with righteous indignation.

"Chief Huang, you are mistaken. Our Quanzhen martial arts emphasize moderation, balance, and uprightness. Yang Guo's actions are opportunistic and exploitative. If he were to become the leader and lead the heroes against foreign enemies, would he also instruct his disciples to desert in battle and run amok? Such behavior would only invite ridicule from all fellow practitioners!"

"Master Yin, you're really putting a huge accusation on him." Huang Rong put down her teacup and retorted without any politeness. "You set the rules. Since he didn't break them, how can you say he was cheating? In a battle, there are strategies for deployment and avoiding the enemy's strengths. You couldn't even touch the hem of an eighteen-year-old's clothes, and instead of reflecting on your own disciple's lack of skill, you blame the other's superior agility. This kind of sore loser behavior is what makes you a laughingstock in the eyes of the world."

The leaders of the various sects below the stage were also discussing among themselves. Qing Lingzi of the Kunlun Sect shook his head and sighed, "Yang Guo's movement technique is indeed exquisite, but such behavior is certainly not what a reputable sect would do."

Yang Guo ignored the criticism from the audience. He continued using the same method, relying on his superb lightness skill and ability to seize opportunities to climb four levels. By the fifth level, only about thirty elite third-generation disciples remained on the stage.

Among these thirty people were seven or eight Taoist priests who were usually very close to Yin Zhiping. When they saw Yang Guo come up, they immediately abandoned the others, drew their long swords, and formed a small Big Dipper Formation to surround Yang Guo.

Seeing this formation, Yang Guo knew he couldn't escape. But his back ached terribly, and he refused to exert himself. His eyes darted around, and he decided to try and distract them with words. He pointed at a tall, thin Taoist priest at the center of the formation and shouted loudly.

"Hey, senior brother, your stance is really weak! Your legs are shaking like a leaf. Did you pay too much 'taxes' at Cuixiang Restaurant in town last night? With your build, you can't even hold a sword steadily, yet you're trying to set up formations? Go back and eat some goji berries to nourish yourself, don't embarrass yourself here!"

The tall, thin Taoist priest was in the prime of his life, and when Yang Guo publicly ridiculed him like this, his face turned bright red with embarrassment, and he flew into a rage.

"You lecherous thief, die!" he roared, no longer caring about the formation's orientation, and thrust his sword straight at Yang Guo's face. With this movement, the flow of true energy in the entire sword formation was severed.

Yang Guo had been waiting for this opening. He stepped according to the Bagua principles, shifted his body to the left, and avoided the sword's edge. He extended his right index finger, and the pure Yang energy of the One Yang Finger shot out, striking the back of the Taoist's longsword.

With a crisp clang, the longsword flew out of his hand. Using the force of the recoil, Yang Guo leaped up like a roc spreading its wings, grabbing the advancement plaque on the wooden pillar. He then landed in the farthest corner of the arena, toying with the plaque and baring his teeth at the Taoist priests.

"You flatter me, thank you so much for the token, senior brother. When I become the sect leader, I'll give you meat buns every day."

Yin Zhiping, watching from below the stage, was furious. He had hoped that this sword formation would exhaust Yang Guo's internal energy, but who knew that this little bastard would break it with just a few vulgar words. He gripped the handle of his whisk tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning blue from the excessive force. He gritted his teeth inwardly; this little bastard was too quick-witted, and he absolutely couldn't let him continue like this.

Yin Zhiping turned around, faced the various sect leaders on the viewing platform, raised his voice, and spoke in a highly inflammatory manner.

"Esteemed seniors! This boy spews vulgarities and acts like a street ruffian, utterly lacking the decorum of a cultivator! His blatant disregard for the rules of the Quanzhen Sect is clearly a result of his reliance on the demonic arts he has learned, making him arrogant and disrespectful. As the chief disciple of Quanzhen, I cannot stand idly by and watch him ruin the legacy of Patriarch Chongyang. Once he reaches the top, I will personally take action to cleanse the sect and restore peace to the martial world!"

A high-ranking monk from Mount Wutai chanted a Buddhist prayer and nodded in agreement: "Master Yin is absolutely right. This young man is too violent; if he were to wield great power, he would surely bring disaster."

Huang Rong watched Yin Zhiping's earnest performance with a cold eye, knowing full well what was going on. This hypocrite used righteousness as a pretext, but in reality, he was afraid Yang Guo would seize the position of sect leader. She turned to look at Yang Guo on the tower, a few doubts arising in her heart. This little thief usually loved to show off, why was he so restrained today, even his moves seemed lazy?

Could it be that last night in the ancient tomb...? Thinking this, Huang Rong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she cursed this rascal for his lack of self-control. Once this matter is resolved, she'll definitely give him a good scolding.

The arena battles continued. Yang Guo fought his way to the seventh level. Only ten people remained on this level, and there were only five wooden plaques. Apart from Yang Guo, the other nine were all top masters among the third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect.

As soon as the gong sounded, the nine men, with remarkable tacit understanding, discarded their wooden plaques and simultaneously pointed their swords at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo dropped his playful grin. These nine people weren't as easily fooled as the others; they were genuinely capable.

It seems that simply hiding won't work. He touched the hilt of the sword at his waist and drew up the pure Yang energy within his body.

"Yang Guo, you have committed countless evils, today is your death day!" the leading black-bearded Taoist shouted fiercely, and took the lead in attacking with his sword. The other eight followed closely behind, and the nine long swords intertwined to form an impenetrable sword net, blocking all of Yang Guo's escape routes.

Yang Guo snorted coldly, advancing instead of retreating. He didn't draw his sword, but instead formed claws with both hands and charged straight at the net of swords. He activated the "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" from the Nine Yin Manual with pure Yang internal energy, making it less sinister and more domineering.

His hands moved nimbly through the net of swords, like butterflies flitting among flowers. Each time he caught a longsword, he would use the penetrating force of his One-Finger Divine Skill to disperse the opponent's internal energy, then snap it in two. With a few crisp "crack" sounds, the three fine steel longswords broke into several pieces.

"Is that all you've got? You dare try to take my life?" Yang Guo leaped into the air and kicked the black-bearded Taoist in the chest. The Taoist screamed and flew off the stage like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the bluestone slab and losing consciousness.

Seeing this, the remaining eight men were filled with fear and could only grit their teeth and fight to the death. They changed formation, attempting to exhaust Yang Guo's stamina through prolonged combat.

Yang Guo, however, did not do as they wished. His footwork was unpredictable, deliberately seeking out areas with fewer people. If he encountered someone alone, he would strike them down with a powerful blow. He was determined not to fight these people head-on with their internal energy, but to rely entirely on the exquisiteness of his techniques to win.

On the viewing platform, Qiu Chuji nodded repeatedly. Although he disliked Yang Guo's previous slickness, seeing his sharp moves and pure inner strength, he realized that Yang Guo was indeed a rare genius of the Quanzhen Sect.

"This child's martial arts have improved again. Even you and I might not be able to match his agility," Qiu Chuji said to Wang Chuyi.

Wang Chuyi's expression was solemn as he replied in a low voice, "His martial arts are superb, but his character... Senior Brother, his every move is ruthless, showing no brotherly affection whatsoever. If he were to become the sect leader, I fear our sect would never have a peaceful day."

Seeing his chosen experts being easily defeated by Yang Guo, Yin Zhiping's anger surged to the top of his head. He abruptly stood up, pointed his whisk at the seventh-level arena, and shouted fiercely.

"Fellow Daoists, see clearly! He is not using Quanzhen martial arts at all! This is the evil art of the Demonic Sect! If he can inflict such a poisonous attack on his fellow disciples today, he will surely become a great scourge to the martial world in the future!"

Yin Zhiping's words were extremely inflammatory. The crowd below, already dissatisfied with Yang Guo, was now even more enraged, drawing their weapons and threatening to rush onto the stage to attack him.

Seeing this, Huang Rong slammed her Dog-Beating Stick heavily onto the bluestone slab. With a muffled thud, a surge of powerful internal energy erupted, sending several of the loudest martial artists in the front row staggering back several steps.

"Master Yin, I've truly witnessed your ability to distort the truth today." Huang Rong stood up, surveying the entire arena, her tone radiating undeniable authority. "On this arena, swords have no eyes; life and death are left to fate. Your disciples are less skilled, so you accuse them of using evil magic. Do you only consider your sect righteous if you stand there and let your disciples kill you?"

Huang Rong turned to Qiu Chuji, her words sharp: "Master Qiu, is the Quanzhen Sect's grand competition based entirely on Yin Zhiping's empty boasts? If so, then we might as well not fight this Tongtian Arena! Guo'er, come back to Peach Blossom Island with me. We don't need this lousy sect leader!"

Qiu Chuji felt his face burning from Huang Rong's words. He knew Huang Rong's temper well; if he really angered the leader of the Beggars' Sect, the Quanzhen Sect would lose face today.

"Chief Huang, please calm down," Qiu Chuji quickly said, then looked sternly at Yin Zhiping. "Zhiping, stop talking nonsense! Although Guo'er didn't use Quanzhen martial arts, his moves were upright and definitely not evil. The rules of the competition cannot be disregarded. Anyone who dares to obstruct us again will be punished according to the sect rules!"

Yin Zhiping gritted his teeth and could only sit down sullenly. He stared intently at Yang Guo, who had already reached the eighth level, his dark red true energy surging wildly within his dantian. He decided to no longer endure it; once Yang Guo reached the ninth level, he would personally snap this little beast's neck in front of the entire world.