12: kill!

On the Ji Family's Training Grounds, the originally boisterous and lively atmosphere was instantly scattered, as if by a sudden gust of cold wind.

It was quiet enough to make one's heart feel uneasy.

Everyone seemed to have had their pressure points struck, their eyes fixed uniformly on one person—Ji Mo.

Just moments ago, Ji Ruoxi was in imminent danger on the Arena Stage, her life hanging by a thread, but Ji Mo arrived just in time, like a Divine Soldier descending from the heavens, to save her.

Frankly, among the many Ji Family disciples, if it weren't for Ji Ruoxi, Ji Mo probably wouldn't even have lifted an eyelid, let alone stepped in to help.

At this moment, the eyes of the entire audience, even those two arrogant referees from the Peerless Sect, were locked onto Ji Mo.

Not long ago, the fight on the Arena Stage had entered a fierce stage, and everyone was waiting to see who would win.

No one had noticed exactly when Ji Mo had appeared.

These two Envoys from the Peerless Sect were both powerful experts at the Acquired Tenth Layer Great Perfection Realm.

Their perception and insight abilities far surpassed ordinary people, yet even they only snapped back to attention when that golden great bell appeared without warning.

They knew clearly that if the great bell had been aimed at Li Gang, they probably wouldn't even have had a chance to rescue him.

Ji Mo looked at Ji Ruoxi, whose face was pale and whose lips were still stained with blood, and spoke gently:

"Sister Xi, go down and rest. I will take your place in this match."

In reality, the Ji Family hadn't registered Ji Mo for this Selection Competition at all.

Ji Mo understood that if he wanted to enter the Peerless Sect, he would have to find another way.

Substituting for Ji Ruoxi now and using his genuine ability to attract the Envoys' attention was the method he had devised.

At the Referee Stand, neither of the two Envoys spoke up to stop the change in the arena.

In their view, although Ji Mo's action was against the rules, since his opponent Li Gang had no objection, they couldn't be bothered to interfere.

After all, what difference did it make to them who participated in the match?

If anything, this unexpected turn added a bit of excitement to what was originally a dull competition.

The two Envoys exchanged glances, and the Referee surnamed Zhang slowly stood up and addressed the crowd below:

"Clan Chief Ji, does the Ji Family agree to substitute a participant?"

Clan Leader, who had been completely disheartened and felt all hope was lost, saw Ji Mo's appearance as opening a window in his despair. Naturally, there was no reason to refuse, and he hastily replied:

"The Ji Family agrees!"

Referee Zhang then turned to Li Gang: "Li Gang, do you agree to the Ji Family substituting a person?"

A trace of disdain flashed across Li Gang's face, and he laughed wildly:

"Haha, since someone is rushing to their death, why would I disagree!"

"In that case, the match continues!"

Referee Zhang announced loudly, his voice echoing across the silent Training Grounds.

With this command, the atmosphere in the Training Grounds tightened once more.

Everyone was anticipating how the upcoming battle between Ji Mo and Li Gang would conclude.

Ji Mo steadily stepped onto the Arena Stage, one step at a time.

Once he stopped, his gaze was like a torch, staring directly at Li Gang, his eyes seeming capable of scorching Li Gang's Soul.

"Li Gang, how dare you! To be so arrogant on Ji Family territory and use such vicious means against a Ji Family woman!"

Ji Mo's voice was like a great bell, reverberating in every corner of the Training Grounds.

Stared down by Ji Mo like this, a trace of fear involuntarily rose in Li Gang's heart, but he quickly suppressed it, letting out a cold snort and saying:

"Ji Mo, it seems your reliance is on that strange great bell. Watch how I break your reliance and kill you!"

Ji Mo casually put away the heaven and earth creation bell; outsiders thought it was placed into a Storage Ring.

In reality, it had been absorbed into Ji Mo's body. He drew the longsword from his waist, the corner of his mouth curving slightly into a smile of disdain:

"Why would I need my cauldron of creation bell to deal with you?"

Having said that, the Spiritual Qi around Ji Mo grew increasingly turbulent and surging.

The aura of the Acquired Sixth Layer was released without reservation, forming a small Spiritual Qi storm around him.

The surrounding air seemed to be stirred up by this power, making "whooshing" sounds.

Seeing this, the crowd below couldn't help but gasp.

"Ji Mo actually reached the Acquired Sixth Layer?

I remember the last time I saw him, he was only at the Acquired Second Layer. This Cultivation speed is too astonishing!"

"Indeed, it looks like we have a good show today. Li Gang is probably going to suffer a setback this time."

Below the stage, people whispered to each other, all marveling at the change in Ji Mo's strength.

Even the members of the Ji Family wore expressions of disbelief.

The two stopped wasting words and instantly launched their attacks. Li Gang brandished the longsword in his hand, executing the Storm Sword Technique.

Lines of sword shadows, like a fierce storm, surged towards Ji Mo. The sword wind howled, and the ground was sliced open by the overflowing Sword Qi.

Ji Mo executed the Gale Sword, his figure moving like lightning, the longsword in his hand transforming into streaks of swift wind.

It continuously clashed with Li Gang's sword shadows; for a moment, the sound of clashing swords was incessant, and sparks flew everywhere.

Seeing that he couldn't break through for a long time, Li Gang roared in anger:

"Storm Splitting Void Slash!"

A massive burst of Sword Qi, carrying the momentum of toppling mountains and overturning seas, swept toward Ji Mo. Wherever it passed, the space seemed to be torn apart.

The moment the Sword Qi struck, Ji Mo fully utilized the footwork accompanying the Gale Sword, flashing to the side like a ghost.

The Sword Qi grazed his clothes, carving a deep gully into the ground.

Taking advantage of the brief gap in Li Gang's Spiritual Power after executing his killing move, Ji Mo seized the opportunity and rushed toward Li Gang like lightning.

The longsword in his hand flashed with cold light, stabbing toward Li Gang's chest with the momentum of thunder striking ten thousand pounds.

Li Gang inwardly cried out that things were bad; he wanted to dodge, but it was too late.

The longsword tore through Li Gang's chest, leaving a sword mark deep enough to see bone.

Li Gang endured the sharp pain of the wound to his chest and rapidly retreated!

He wanted to create distance, but having successfully landed a blow, how could Ji Mo let him have his way? The Gale Sword was fully unleashed, the sword speed increasing with every strike, creating streaks of afterimages.

Li Gang was not known for speed, and being injured further hampered his attacks, leaving him clearly at a disadvantage.

"Die!"

Ji Mo activated the Hegemonic Heaven Refining Art. In an instant, the Spiritual Qi contained within the heaven and earth creation bell inside his body surged into his Dantian like a mighty, overflowing torrent.

The longsword in his hand shone brightly, and the originally ordinary sword light suddenly flared up.

Although Li Gang defended with all his might, he ultimately could not withstand this sudden, powerful offensive.

Under Ji Mo's tempestuous sword moves, the Greatsword in his hand was forcibly knocked away.

With a "clang," it fell onto the Arena Stage.

The momentum of the fierce sword light did not diminish, passing directly across Li Gang's neck.

Immediately, blood spurted out like a fountain, staining the ground red.

Until the last moment of his life, Li Gang's eyes were still filled with disbelief.

He had actually died at the hands of Ji Mo, who had been regarded as trash just two years ago.

Below the stage, the members of the various Families were all so shocked they couldn't close their mouths; the entire scene instantly erupted into chaos.

Within the Ji Family camp, Clan Leader could not suppress his inner excitement and roared toward the sky:

"Hahaha, good, this is truly excellent! Ji Mo, my grandson, has avenged the Ji Family today and thoroughly vented our frustration!"

That voice seemed to release all the grievances that had accumulated in his heart since the start of the match.

In contrast, the members of the Li Family were all stunned, their eyes vacant, like clay sculptures or wooden carvings.

They simply could not accept that the Genius upon whom they had placed great hopes had died so inexplicably by Ji Mo's sword.

On the high platform, the two referees began to converse quietly. The Referee surnamed Zhang spoke first:

"Sister Nangong, what do you think of this young man?"

The beautiful matron Nangong watched Ji Mo in the arena with great interest and slowly said:

"Senior Brother Zhang, this boy is truly extraordinary!

Initially, when clashing sword moves with Li Gang, Li Gang was burly and strong, possessed Inherent Divine Power, and wielded a Greatsword, giving him an Innate advantage.

Although both of them were at the Sixth Layer Realm, Ji Mo was relatively slender and only held an ordinary Fine Steel Longsword.

Yet, even so, in a head-on confrontation, he did not fall into a disadvantage.

Moreover, he was able to keenly seize the fleeting weakness Li Gang exposed and deliver a fatal blow. This boy is not simple."

The Referee surnamed Zhang nodded in agreement and added:

"Indeed! In this young man's final move, the Spiritual Power within his body suddenly surged, faintly showing Spiritual Power fluctuations reaching the Seventh Layer Realm.

Such talent, such potential—he is clearly a peerless Prodigy!" His eyes were filled with admiration for Ji Mo.