Xu Mu did not speak. After blocking the incoming small sword energy, his dark red long sword flew towards Xue Kaixuan.
Xue Kaixuan's gaze was icy and piercing as he once again unleashed the Ice Prison Cage.
The phantom sword slashed continuously against the ice, but failed to shatter it.
Xu Mu, now holding a firewood knife, strode quickly towards Xue Kaixuan.
He raised the firewood knife, just about to attack.
Suddenly, Xue Kaixuan inside the ice pushed outwards, and the blue ice trapped Xu Mu.
"Hahaha! Kid, didn't expect that, did you?"
Xue Kaixuan couldn't help but laugh. "This move of mine is an Earth-grade technique. Did you think it was for defense? Its true purpose is actually to trap the enemy and then crush them to death!"
As he spoke, Xue Kaixuan pressed his hand against the ice, the blue light points on his body growing brighter and brighter.
Inside the ice surrounding Xu Mu, dozens of ice spikes as thick as fingers gradually grew.
The spikes grew longer and longer. If this continued, Xu Mu would undoubtedly be impaled and die.
Seeing this, Jiang Huihui immediately stood up. Before she could speak,
Wei Jingzhi beside her spoke first. "It's over. Once trapped by an Earth-grade technique, death is certain."
The few people around also nodded.
From the moment Xu Mu could skillfully control the phantom sword, it was proof enough that he was a master.
It must be known that sword control is extremely difficult, yet he handled it with ease.
"This kid is decent, but compared to my grandson, he's still far behind."
Xue Dongsheng glanced dismissively at Xu Mu.
Just as Wei Jingzhi was about to make the announcement, his eyes suddenly widened.
Inside the ice, Xu Mu not only showed no sign of panic, but instead revealed a smile.
"Buddy, your technique has a major flaw."
Xu Mu looked at Xue Kaixuan with a smile.
"A flaw? What are you? How dare you question our sect's Earth-grade technique!"
Xue Kaixuan's face was full of contempt.
"Then let me tell you where the flaw is."
As Xu Mu spoke, the firewood knife in his hand suddenly turned fiery red.
With a fierce swing, a phoenix's cry resounded across the earth.
Boom!
The ice instantly exploded. A flame phoenix slammed into Xue Kaixuan's chest, propelling him backwards.
Crash!
Xue Kaixuan shot out like a cannonball, crashing into a distant hillside.
The clothes on his chest were torn, covered in blood, and he fell unconscious.
The phoenix, meanwhile, flew up into the sky until it disappeared.
"That's the flaw in the technique. Getting so close to me, isn't that asking for death?"
Xu Mu said calmly.
Flame Phoenix Sword?
At this moment, the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect who had come with Zhao Gang were all dumbfounded.
Why did this kid know how to use their sect's lost Earth-grade technique?
"Bastard! How dare you hurt my grandson!"
On the high platform,
Xue Dongsheng roared with fury. His body was completely enveloped in blue light as he instantly charged towards Xu Mu.
Wei Jingzhi, just about to intervene, noticed that a black-robed figure he had been keeping an eye on in the spectator stands moved first.
He lowered his hand.
"Damn! Beat the young one, and now the old one comes?"
Seeing Xue Dongsheng charging at him, Xu Mu was just about to unleash his Heaven-grade technique, Demon's Protection,
when he suddenly saw a black-robed figure instantly appear in front of him.
Whoosh!
The black-robed figure caught Xue Dongsheng's fist, his tone icy. "Shameless old fool!"
Boom!
A fiery red Qi instantly erupted.
Crack!
The ground beneath their feet shattered like a spider's web, cracks spreading across the entire arena.
He directly threw Xue Dongsheng away.
Xue Kaixuan quickly adjusted his posture mid-air, flying out fifty or sixty meters before landing on the ground, nearly stumbling.
The onlookers were all shocked.
"Who is this black-robed man? He threw the Third Elder of the Lingxiao Sect around like a chick."
"That Third Elder is above the Grandmaster level!"
...
Xue Dongsheng's face was dark. He felt utterly humiliated.
But just from that overwhelming surge of Qi moments ago, he knew he was no match.
However, he absolutely couldn't back down. With so many people watching, where would he put his face if he did?
He just prayed that someone would quickly stop him.
"You dare attack me! You're seeking death!"
Xue Dongsheng roared at the black-robed man, but in his heart he was screaming, Someone save me, someone save me!
"Old Xue, stop!"
Wei Jingzhi shouted from the high platform.
Hearing this, Xue Dongsheng finally breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but he couldn't admit defeat verbally. "Mr. Wei! Don't stop me!"
"You are in the wrong!"
Wei Jingzhi said indifferently. "Xu Mu already showed mercy. Otherwise, that phoenix wouldn't have flown into the sky."
Hearing this, Xue Dongsheng clenched his fists. He immediately ran towards Xue Kaixuan.
Kneeling to examine his injuries, they indeed weren't severe.
"Thank you, senior."
Xu Mu smiled at the black-robed figure before him.
But the black-robed figure ignored him, walking directly towards Cui Yu's side and sitting down next to him.
Seeing this, Xu Mu shook his head slightly.
No surprise, this person was probably also from the Eternal Life Research Institute.
He walked off the field. Now, everyone looked at Xu Mu with changed eyes.
So the real master was this "Dark Horse" guy.
Upon closer observation, they realized Xu Mu's clothes weren't even dirty after fighting a genius like Xue Kaixuan.
It was a complete crush. From the elegant dodging at the beginning to the techniques later, he had suppressed Xue Kaixuan the entire time.
Now they believed that what Chen Xuan said earlier wasn't a lie.
Perhaps precisely because Chen Xuan was skilled, he realized Xu Mu was extraordinary upon their first exchange and conceded in advance.
On the high platform.
Jiang Huihui excitedly clenched her fists.
[Favorability +20]
Who would have thought that scoundrel Xu Mu was so powerful? But why did he always make her save him before?
Could it be... he was intentionally finding reasons to see her?
[Favorability +10]
Zhou Shui sitting beside her grabbed Jiang Huihui's hand, her face also full of disbelief.
She never imagined Xu Mu was this strong.
Jiang Xingjun wasn't looking at Xu Mu at the moment, but staring at the black-robed man from earlier.
Jiang Sheng was also finding it hard to believe. This Xu Mu had hidden himself too deeply.
He remembered the Demon Sword Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect were mortal enemies. Why did he know techniques from both sects?
Lv Pinlong rubbed his nose at this moment, never expecting Xu Mu to be the true master.
"Between you and this Xu Mu, who is stronger?"
The black-robed man next to Cui Yu asked calmly.
"Master, I am stronger than him."
Cui Yu said confidently.
"Is that so?"
As the black-robed man spoke, he suddenly looked to his left.
Another black-robed figure walked over and actively sat down beside him.
"Brother Zhuo, long time no see."
Hearing this voice, the black-robed man in front shuddered violently, immediately reaching out to grab this person's right arm.
He found the robe sleeve empty.
"Little Que..."
Jiang Mingzhuo released Zhang Que's robe sleeve, murmuring softly.
Zhang Que took out a box of Hongtashan cigarettes and handed it to Jiang Mingzhuo.
Jiang Mingzhuo directly pulled out two, putting one in his own mouth and handing the other to Zhang Que.
Zhang Que put the cigarette box away, raised his hand to hold the cigarette, and smiled. "He's Brother Shou's son."
"I could tell. He looks almost exactly like him back in the day."
Jiang Mingzhuo sighed softly. "I miss the times when we were all together. But now, some are dead, others injured."
"Brother Zhuo, I want revenge!"
Zhang Que took out a lighter and lit Jiang Mingzhuo's cigarette first.

] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"

ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!

shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."