The turmoil subsided, leaving Yuh Huatian victorious and Nan Shan defeated.

The defeated can only retreat into the shadows. No one pays attention to a loser; they might let out a few quiet sighs before their gazes fall upon the radiant victor.

Ye Wushuang retracted his gaze and glanced at Nan Shan in the distance. He saw eyes filled with humiliation, indignation, and a hint of bleak despair.

Ye Wushuang could imagine what a crushing blow such a humiliation would be to a proud genius.

Of course, he wasn’t about to pity anyone!

Of the ten thousand teams that had entered the Ninth Pass, only a few dozen remained. The rest had merely served to pave the way for others, acting as stepping stones.

Those standing here were the true elite!

"Xiaoshuang, it’s Qiu Mo and the others."

Suddenly, Ye Rou’s voice sounded in Ye Wushuang’s ear, and his gaze followed her pointing finger.

Separated by a few walls of people, the figures of Yunn Xiao, Jian Bufan, Qiu Mo, and the others came into view.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, they turned to look over at the same time, their faces instantly breaking into smiles.

With a nod, the group strode over.

"I thought we would be the first to arrive, but it looks like you beat us to it." Yunn Xiao walked up to Ye Wushuang’s side, a faint, surprised smile on his face.

"It doesn’t matter who got here first. In the end, we all have to step onto the Battle Platform."

Ye Wushuang replied with a smile. He had an excellent impression of Yunn Xiao, who had helped him in the past. It was a favor he kept in mind.

"Xiaoshuang!"

Qiu Mo stepped forward with a small smile. He looked as if he was about to say something, but in the end, he simply pulled Ye Wushuang into a bear hug.

Ye Wushuang returned the embrace.

"You broke through again!"

Qiu Mo let go and sized up Ye Wushuang, a look of frustration on his face. "In terms of Combat Power, I can’t compare to a Demon Fiend like you. I thought I could at least compete with your Cultivation, but I didn’t expect you to surpass me there, too! You’re too demoralizing. I think I’d better keep my distance."

"Tee hee!"

At Qiu Mo’s words, Yang Qing’er covered her mouth to giggle, and the others laughed as well.

Ye Wushuang shook his head. Qiu Mo himself had just broken through to the Spiritual Spring First Layer, which was a huge leap forward.

Jian Bufan stepped forward, clutching his Flying Snow Sword, and smiled at Ye Wushuang. "Looks like I need to fight you as soon as possible. Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t stand a chance next time!"

Jian Bufan said frankly, without a trace of arrogance. His current strength was at the Peak of Spiritual Spring Fourth Layer.

Ye Wushuang laughed. "Isn’t that what the upcoming Battle Platform is for?"

"True enough."

Jian Bufan laughed.

As the friends were laughing, a group of figures clad in black appeared.

Their faces were masked, but many recognized them. Throughout the Ninth Pass, they had robbed people of not only their points but their treasures as well.

The man in black at the very front, who was wreathed in a Chaotic Saber Intent, was especially terrifying. Though he was clearly at the Peak of Spiritual Spring Fourth Layer, he gave off an aura more frightening than even a cultivator at the Spiritual Spring Fifth and Sixth Layers.

His blood-red eyes, in particular, conveyed a terrifying, bloodthirsty promise of slaughter.

"It’s them again. They don’t even dare show their faces. I wonder which influence they belong to?"

"I heard they’re from some influence called Lingxiao Pavilion. Never heard of it. They’re probably just a pack of rats, nothing to worry about."

Seeing them, the crowd broke into disdainful discussion.

Ye Wushuang turned to look, his smile vanishing. He gestured to his companions and strode toward the group in black.

One clad in white, the other in black—the contrast was stark.

Many eyes followed him. Even Dii Qingxue, Yunn Xiao, and Qiu Mo watched with curiosity.

Only Jian Bufan knew who this group was and what Lingxiao Pavilion represented. It was an influence Ye Wushuang had established only recently, with just a hundred members.

However.

Perhaps no one would believe it if they were told, but this fledgling influence had trampled over geniuses from one major influence after another to cross the Ninth Pass.

If those people knew the truth, they would probably be red-faced with embarrassment.

Ye Wushuang stopped in front of Feng Jue.

At his approach, Feng Jue and his men bowed respectfully, their eyes fixed on Ye Wushuang.

"I know you’re resentful about having to wear these masks. I know you feel the shame of being called rats. It’s a disgrace not just for you, but for me as well."

Ye Wushuang looked at them calmly and said, "However, I promise you this: the day you unveil your faces will be the day they grovel and tremble at your feet. They will look up at you in utter terror."

Ye Wushuang’s words were spoken calmly, but they held an unshakeable conviction.

Previously, he had sent Feng Jue to lead a group through the Ninth Pass to temper them. He never imagined that these ten would cross the first eight passes and stand before him completely unscathed.

For that reason alone, Ye Wushuang believed they would live up to his expectations, and he, in turn, would spare no resource to help them.

"The day we unveil our masks is the day they submit!"

The men whispered the phrase. There was no impassioned shouting, only a quiet, firm resolve. They, too, were more than tired of living behind masks.

"It’s him, Ye Wushuang!"

Elsewhere, a young man with an Ancient Sword strapped to his back spotted Ye Wushuang. His eyes narrowed, and a cold sneer touched his lips.

This young man was Gongg Jian, the strongest disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect. He was at the Peak of Spiritual Spring Fourth Layer, his strength on par with Ao Wuchang’s.

"Spiritual Spring Second Layer!"

He murmured softly to himself and strode forward.

Seeing this, a nearby Ao Wuchang offered a quiet warning, "Gongg Jian, I’d advise against it. Otherwise, this will end very badly for you."

WHOOSH!

Gongg Jian’s feet skidded to a halt. He whirled to glare at Ao Wuchang. "Are you trying to talk me out of it? Don’t tell me you think he can actually kill me?"

"I’m just offering a piece of advice. Whether you take it or not is your business," Ao Wuchang replied. He was still a disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect; even if Ye Wushuang controlled him, he couldn’t ignore his ties to the sect’s honor.

Seeing Gongg Jian marching to his death, he had chosen to offer a warning.

But how could Gongg Jian possibly accept it? He sneered, "Ao Wuchang, you’re no longer worthy of being called the strongest disciple. To be so scared of a single piece of trash... it’s clear you’ve become even more useless than trash yourself."

With that final taunt, Gongg Jian turned and walked toward Ye Wushuang, his stride unstoppable.

As if sensing the hostile gaze, Ye Wushuang turned.

"White-Clothed Killing God, Ye Wushuang!"

Gongg Jian walked up and looked him up and down, his gaze disdainful. "Tsk tsk," he clicked his tongue. "Spiritual Spring Second Layer... I really don’t know who was blind enough to give you the nickname White-Clothed Killing God. More like White-Clothed Trash, if you ask me."

At those words, Feng Jue’s eyes hardened, and a terrifying ferocity flared within his blood-red pupils.

Ye Wushuang turned and shot Feng Jue a look, then stepped forward. "The only reason to talk like that is to provoke me. I’d like to know your goal."

"Oh? Not bad."

Seeing that Ye Wushuang had seen right through him, Gongg Jian feigned surprise before smiling. "No real goal. I just want to have a match with you. A duel to the death, that is. One that doesn’t end until one of us is dead."

"So you’re issuing a formal challenge!"

Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed.