"How could there be such a ferocious Magical Beast?"
This was the thought in everyone's mind. The Thunder Giant Elephant let out a roar like that of a demon god, causing even the void to tremble. The surrounding Dou Qi became chaotic, and thunder surged violently.
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar echoed throughout Cloud Mist Mountain at that moment. The collision of two volcanic-level energies created shockwaves that even caused the ground to cave in.
The massive stone monument at the center of the square would have shattered and been destroyed if not for Yun Yun's personal protection.
Before the terrifying shockwaves dissipated, even the air became distorted. Through the gradually fading energy waves, one could see the Thunder Giant Elephant devouring the crimson sun, its illusory form also dispersing by half.
However, it still carried a terrifying residual force, like a demon god descending, sweeping toward Nalan Yanran.
"Pfft!"
As a misty blood mist appeared in the air, the Thunder Giant Elephant dissipated. Nalan Yanran's delicate body, like a defeated flower petal, drifted down with the wind.
It was clear that before the Thunder Giant Elephant attacked, Nalan Yanran had used a high-level Movement Technique to evade. However, the area swept by the Thunder Giant Elephant was too vast, and Nalan Yanran was still enveloped within it.
Taking advantage of the Amethyst Origin energy that had not yet been exhausted in his body, Chen Mo let it surge wildly through his meridians. He aimed at the spot where Nalan Yanran was about to land and shot forward.
Finally, when Nalan Yanran's body was just tens of centimeters from the ground, Chen Mo slid forward, kneeling on both knees, and caught her.
But before he could check her condition, the nearly depleted energy, with the little Dou Qi left in Chen Mo's body, began to surge wildly.
Chen Mo fell unconscious.
Before losing consciousness, Chen Mo faintly felt his head resting on a very soft spot.
At this moment, the entire arena fell silent.
Everyone recalled the scene of the ancient giant elephant surrounded by thunder and Purple Flame, and Nalan Yanran falling from mid-air.
Nalan Yanran, as the strongest among the younger generation of the Yunlan Sect, had condensed a Qi Vortex at the age of thirteen, becoming a Dou Practitioner. By sixteen, she had reached the level of a Dou Master, and by eighteen, she was already a Seven-Star Dou Master.
This cultivation speed far surpassed her peers in the Yunlan Sect.
Yet, such an outstanding existence, one that others dared not even aspire to, had been defeated by a sixteen-year-old youth with only a Two-Star Dou Master cultivation, whom the Sect Leader had brought back just three days ago.
Perhaps because Nalan Yanran's image in everyone's minds was too perfect, it took a long time for the crowd to process what had happened. Some still couldn't accept this reality.
The referee had not yet announced the result because Chen Mo had fallen unconscious, while Nalan Yanran, though severely injured, was still conscious.
Strictly speaking, although Nalan Yanran had been knocked down by Chen Mo, she had not conceded defeat, so the referee could not declare her the loser.
Instead, Chen Mo was unconscious.
Nalan Yanran lay on top of Chen Mo, with Chen Mo's head resting on her chest. Her beautiful eyes stared at Chen Mo, and after a moment, she seemed somewhat entranced.
Dual Thunder and Fire attributes, a sixteen-year-old Two-Star Dou Master with the strength to challenge a Seven-Star Dou Master.
All of this made Nalan Yanran completely disregard the fact that Chen Mo's head was resting in a somewhat inappropriate position.
Then, she slowly said, "I concede."
"Chen Mo, wins." At the same time, the referee's voice rang out.
At the same moment, Sect Master Yun Yun descended from the high platform. With a flash of light in her jade-like hand, she first fed each of them an Elixir, then declared, "From this day forward, Chen Mo is my second personal disciple and the first place winner of this Inner Sanctum competition."
No one in the square objected, not even the council of elders, who strongly supported the decision.
Grand Elder Yun Leng even decided in his heart that after the competition concluded, he would personally send Chen Mo some top-tier healing medicines and cultivation resources.
Seeing no objections, Yun Yun bowed to Jia Xingtian and the others on the high platform, then raised her hand. A Azure Cyclone appeared beneath the two, lifting them into the air as Yun Yun ascended, slowly disappearing into the depths of Cloud Mist Mountain.
With Yun Yun gone, Yun Leng, who held the position second only to the Sect Master, naturally took on the role of distributing rewards to the top ten disciples.
"Nalan Su, it seems the annulment of the engagement a year ago was the right decision. Perhaps your Nalan family will gain a fine son-in-law," Mu Chen said, no longer teasing but rather envious.
Envious that he didn't have a descendant as beautiful as a flower.
"Tsk tsk, didn't you see the way Yan Ran was staring at that boy? She's clearly infatuated," Miteer Tengshan thought about inviting Chen Mo over for a visit in a few days.
Nalan Su was in a good mood, feeling that Mu Chen made a valid point. Chen Mo had just gone to catch Yan Ran, indicating he was also interested in her. He could further facilitate their relationship later.
With a bit of effort, perhaps next year, he could be holding a grandchild.
Jia Xingtian left, his mood not the best, as Chen Mo was a disciple of the Yunlan Sect.
Fa Ma and Gu He huddled together, "He has a fire attribute, and his soul energy is strong. If he also has a trace of the wood attribute, I can guarantee he'll be a genius in alchemy as well."
"Are you trying to poach him?"
"What do you mean by poaching? The Alchemy Master Association doesn't mind that he's a disciple of the Yunlan Sect."
"In alchemy, you've always lost to me."
"Are you saying you want to as well?"
"Exactly, what I really meant was, if he has the wood attribute, do you think you can snatch him from me?"
...
"Master, how is my junior brother doing?"
Though severely injured, Nalan Yanran had improved slightly after some treatment. Looking at Chen Mo, who lay unconscious on the bed, his body as hot as a furnace, she asked.
"He's slightly better than the night before last, mainly due to excessive Dou Qi consumption and severe physical strain," Yun Yun said after feeding Chen Mo another fourth-grade Elixir.
"The night before last?" Nalan Yanran seemed to have discovered something.
Yun Yun coughed, a blush appearing on her cheeks. Fortunately, she was facing away from Nalan Yanran, so it went unnoticed. She then said, "He had a similar episode the night before last, worse than today, but..."
Yun Yun paused for a moment, "After resting for a night, he was fine."
Nalan Yanran didn't doubt her, her beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Mo's face. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Master, then I'll stay tonight to take care of my junior brother."
"No," Yun Yun replied swiftly. Noticing Nalan Yanran's surprised gaze, she explained, "You're also severely injured, and it has affected your foundation. Come to my room tonight, and I'll help you recover."
"Affected my foundation? No, Teacher," Nalan Yanran was even more puzzled.
"Yes, it's just deeply hidden, and you haven't noticed it yet," Yun Yun said, then led Nalan Yanran away from the side hall, not giving her a chance to ask further.
Night fell.
After confirming that Nalan Yanran wouldn't wake up, a figure quietly slipped into the side hall.
(End of Chapter)