It turns out, they were the main characters.

"I had heard of Bai Ruoxi before, and seeing her today, she is indeed as rumored, a rare and exceptional woman."

Xiao Hua wore a gentle and refined smile, which, combined with his rather handsome face, made him quite dashing.

But Bai Ruoxi ignored it, closing her eyes and pretending not to hear.

If the other party and Mu Zhian had no prior conflict, she might have given a polite reply.

However, Mu Zhian had previously mentioned that he and Xiao Hua had some past grievances... Since they were enemies, there was naturally no need to bother with them.

Moreover, although Xiao Hua can be described as handsome, compared to a noble young master like Mu Zhian, he is already inferior in terms of temperament alone.

Xiao Hua's smile remained unchanged, but an unnamed rage was rising within him.

If I were in my previous life, would a mere girl at the Refining Spirit Realm dare to show me such disrespect?

However, it doesn't matter. After today's competition ends, she will know that although they are both at the eighth level of the Spirit Refinement stage, the gap between them is like an insurmountable chasm.

The atmosphere here was gradually building up, but Yao Meng was only just arriving late at the Ascension Platform.

She was as pure and untouched as a fairy in the eyes of the world, her pink lips curving slightly as she gazed at the distant grotto.

Luo Tan leaned back in her chair and glanced at Yao Meng unintentionally.

But this one glance made her pale golden eyes freeze on Yao Meng's face.

At this moment, a strand of hair fell onto the flawless face of the Azure Emperor. Compared to her usual ethereal beauty, she seemed to have a more languid and down-to-earth air today, possessing a captivating and alluring charm.

"Is there something you need?"

Yao Meng glanced at Luo Tan beside her, a faint smile in her eyes.

Luo Tan shook his head gently and said with a faint smile, "I just feel that Fairy Yao Meng's temperament seems different from usual today, so I am a little concerned."

Today, Yao Meng's aura seemed several times more alluring than usual... but even Luo Tan couldn't quite explain what had happened to her.

"I've just gained some insights into cultivation," Yao Meng said casually.

However, upon hearing this, both Luo Tan and Ye Qingxin were somewhat surprised, and even the many elders who had overheard their conversation nearby turned to look.

"After achieving Dao, cultivation alone is no longer enough to advance even half a step. How did Fairy Yao Meng gain new insights?" Luo Tan couldn't help but ask.

Only Ye Qingxin, who knew the secret within Mu Zhian's body, gave Yao Meng a deep, meaningful look.

After being transformed by the innate furnace, the celestial spiritual energy within Mu Zhi'an's body will become an even more unique spiritual energy. Judging from the Azure Emperor's current behavior, the enlightenment she speaks of is unlikely to be...

However, under the gaze of everyone, Yao Meng only chuckled lightly, her slender fingertips slowly tracing along her fair legs, and she looked up at a certain spot below the Ascension Platform.

"Who knows?"

Although she likes green people, she wouldn't go so far as to attract all her enemies at the Dao Integration Realm.

The fewer Dao Integration Realm cultivators who know the secrets of the innate furnace, the better.

"The competition begins!"

Just then, the old man's voice came from in front of the arena, and as soon as the voice fell, everyone's attention was drawn to the cave.

hum!

Xiao Hua's longsword was drawn from its sheath with a tremor, accompanied by a buzzing sound. Runes seemed to be intertwined on the blade, and an overwhelming sense of pressure swept towards Bai Ruoxi.

Boom boom...

A deafening thunderclap echoed from within the cave, and as the sword was swung out, it seemed to transform into a thunder dragon, as if it were about to devour Bai Ruoxi.

As one of the holy sons of Yuzhou, even though his divine king bone was taken away when he was young, Empress Luo Tan still had people give him pills to nourish his body. Now, Xiao Hua's strength is naturally among the best of his generation.

Although Bai Ruoxi is an inner disciple of Canghai Peak, it should be noted that there are quite a few inner disciples on Canghai Peak. While they can provide a lot of resources, it is impossible for them to have an inexhaustible supply.

As for the Bai family behind her, they are unlikely to offer much help.

Although the two are at the same level, there is a difference in their resources. If it were a normal competition, how could Bai Ruoxi possibly be Xiao Hua's opponent?

Right now, everyone below the Ascension Platform is watching this battle. Even some disciples of the Two Elements Sect are not optimistic about Bai Ruoxi's chances. Although they are biased towards their junior sister, they also know that it will be extremely difficult for Bai Ruoxi to win.

Bai Ruoxi raised her palm and struck at the approaching thunder dragon. Ancient runes flickered in her palm. With that palm strike, she forcefully blasted the thunder dragon away, but she also staggered back several steps.

"good."

Xiao Hua nodded slightly, not surprised by the result of the attack, but rather with a hint of appreciation.

This thunder dragon, forged from runes, was one of his moves from his previous life. It was incredibly powerful, but since his opponent was an inner disciple of the Liangyi Sect, it was quite normal for him to withstand his attack.

"The situation is not looking good. Xiao Hua is truly a prodigy..."

Some cultivators frowned slightly but then exclaimed in admiration.

"Bai Ruoxi is talented, but in actual combat, she is still inferior to those who fight outside and have a murderous aura."

"The outcome of this battle is probably already decided."

Many cultivators discussed the matter, believing that Xiao Hua, a genius who had been tempered by years of hardship, was bound to be much stronger than Bai Ruoxi, a flower that had grown up in a greenhouse. At least in terms of sheer aura, Xiao Hua had already won.

In this exchange, Bai Ruoxi was clearly at a disadvantage, which was obvious to anyone with eyes to see.

“Miss Bai, if you continue to hold back your talents, I’m afraid your Ascension Ceremony will come to an end.”

Only Xiao Hua had a sharp eye and immediately saw that Bai Ruoxi was deliberately hiding her true abilities and wasn't taking things seriously. He spoke in a calm tone.

"You're right."

Bai Ruoxi nodded slightly, glancing casually at the outside of the cave.

Although she couldn't see Mu Zhi'an, she knew that Mu Lang was probably watching her from outside.

Yesterday's incident with Lan Mulian had already made her extremely angry. Now, remembering that this person was not only Mu Lang's enemy, but also acting arrogantly like a superior, naturally displeased this great beauty.

The next moment, a golden light shone behind Bai Ruoxi, and then, from that golden light, the ancestral artifact symbolizing the Sword Palace's supreme power silently appeared in the cave.

Almost instantly, all the swords, both inside and outside the cave, began to hum, as if submitting to this ancient bronze sword.

Xiao Hua used his spiritual energy to suppress the sword in his hand that seemed about to fly out of his hand at any moment, and his gaze was fixed on the bronze sword in Bai Ruoxi's hand.

"An ancestral artifact?" He narrowed his eyes, secretly alarmed.

It's unbelievable that the Bai family, an ordinary power, could produce such a sacred artifact as an ancestral weapon...

After a brief moment of shock, Xiao Hua quickly regained a faint smile.

"Although she possesses an ancestral artifact, given Miss Bai's cultivation level, how much spiritual energy will remain in the cauldron after she uses the ancestral artifact?"

For a cultivator in the Refining Spirit Realm to unleash a bronze sword, they need to inject at least 70% of the spiritual energy from the cauldron into it.

After all, the ancestral artifact was the weapon of a Dao Integration Realm expert in his lifetime. To use the ancestral artifact is equivalent to awakening the ancestral spirit within it.

It's fair to say that if he had blocked that attack, he would have been the winner.

The couple were both equally foolish. Mu Zhian had previously used the Heavenly Lock twice in a row, winning by the skin of his teeth.

Now Bai Ruoxi is using the same method again...

However, he is completely different from Ye Yu.

In dire circumstances, he could even forcefully use a secret technique to break through the threshold of the Refining Spirit Realm.

Unfortunately, your opponent is me.

Be sad, Bai Ruoxi!

Xiao Hua was engulfed in flames and surrounded by lightning.

With his hair flying in the wind and his hands behind his back, he resembled a young god-king, exuding confidence and power.

Seeing Bai Ruoxi unleash this sword strike, Xiao Hua showed no fear and activated his secret technique.

He threw a punch, and sparks burst forth, actually managing to block Bai Ruoxi's fatal blow with the bronze sword!

"Xiao Hua is far too strong!"

"He seems to be using a secret technique; his strength is already close to the Void Returning Realm!"

Outside the cave, many cultivators were filled with shock, and some female disciples even showed a strange light in their eyes.

Adam Silver's strength has exceeded everyone's expectations.

Only Luo Tan, standing before the Ascension Platform, narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the young man within the grotto.

Xiao Shuixian was also taken aback for a moment, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

When did Xiao Hua learn this secret technique...?

Furthermore, not only his cultivation level but also his spiritual consciousness have become so powerful that something seems amiss...

"Young Master Mu, it seems the outcome is already decided." Despite her thoughts, Xiao Shuixian still looked at Mu Zhian and said softly.

"Yes, the outcome is decided." Mu Zhian said with a leisurely smile.

Although both men said the outcome was decided, they considered the winner to be completely different people.

No matter what, Bai Ruoxi's body is filled with the spiritual energy of Mu Zhi'an's innate furnace. How could she possibly reach the limit with just this little bit of energy?

Inside the cave, as the two clashed, dust and smoke billowed up. Xiao Hua, with his hands behind his back and his feet on his flying sword, gazed at the slender white figure in the smoke, a calm smile on his face.

"Miss Bai, shall we continue? The outcome is already decided."

After this attack, Bai Ruoxi's spiritual energy was mostly depleted, and with the secret technique still nearly an incense stick's time remaining, the outcome was already clear.

The smoke dissipated silently, and Xiao Hua was just about to see the pale and tired look on his beautiful Daoist partner, Mu Zhi'an.

However, when his gaze fell upon that spot, the smile on his face gradually froze.

"The outcome is indeed decided," Bai Ruoxi said quietly.

After she unleashed the ancestral artifact, the bronze sword had already vanished without a trace.

However, in the next moment, a magnificent and vast golden light shone behind Bai Ruoxi!

The vast golden light shone behind her like a tsunami, making her snow-white palace dress appear as bright as day.

Countless bronze swords silently emerged from the golden tsunami.

This shocking scene silenced the crowd for a moment.

Xiao Hua's eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at the scene, her mind filled with incredulity.

"How is this possible..."

It should be understood that for cultivators in the Refining Spirit Realm to unleash the ancestral spirit within their ancestral artifacts, even those with the purest family bloodline, they must sacrifice at least 60% of their spiritual energy.