The third day after the selection phase had passed. The second phase of the Hundred Arts Conference had quietly begun. On this day, the sunlight was radiant, and spring was vibrant.

Under Ye Xiner’s reluctant and longing gaze, Hong Yuan took up his sword, turned around, and gracefully departed. Guided by a steward of the Ye Family, he slowly stepped into a pure white column of light. At the very next moment after he entered, Ye Fengdao, with three companions in tow, rushed towards the white column of light.

"The destination of Ye Gufan is the grey wasteland," whispered the Ye Family steward.

Ye Fengdao’s expression remained unchanged as he silently nodded. But the light within his eyes dimmed slightly—for Hong Yuan, and for himself. Once, like Hong Yuan, he had shone brilliantly and was also a Heavenly Talent in the Martial Arts of the Ye Family. However, after clashing with Ye Qingcheng, he became imprisoned by the power of Great Saint Taibai. He knew that Great Saint Taibai had taken no notice of his presence. But just the radiation of the Great Saint’s power was enough to make him feel suffocated.

Ye Qingcheng, everyone thinks you love empty fame and only know how to strive for victory. But I know these are merely distractions to conceal the divine arts you cultivate... Ye Fengdao’s gaze was deep, and his large hand tightly gripped the hilt of the Flaming Wild Sword.

With a stride, he led his three companions toward the grey wasteland.

The moment he was engulfed by the column of light, Hong Yuan felt an intense sensation of weightlessness. The dual Apertures within his body rapidly operated, with blue-green True Essence and blood-red True Essence circulating within him. Moments later, Hong Yuan regained his clarity.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in an open and desolate wasteland. The sky was a dull, pale grey; the ground was dotted with grey-white rocky mounds, interspersed with sparse, short, dried grass. Utter desolation!

A cool breeze blew, carrying sand straight towards Hong Yuan, which would certainly dirty his clothes if he did not stop it. Faced with such a nearly lifeless setting, Hong Yuan’s face remained calm.

"Wood Tao Divine Power—Grass Trees Soldiers!"

Hong Yuan’s right hand moved within his wide sleeve, and a cluster of blue-green light appeared above it. With a light pinch, the cluster of blue-green light sprinkled onto the yellow, sandy ground.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

On the desolate land, green plants shot up, grass instantly grew, and flowers bloomed profusely...

Warriors made of grass and wood rose from the ground, imposingly arrayed in front of Hong Yuan, advancing outward in accordance with his will. While the Grass Trees Soldiers Divine Power was insignificant in direct confrontation, its auxiliary capability was highly valued by Hong Yuan. With its presence, Hong Yuan’s vision greatly expanded, reducing the time needed to collect resources.

This seemingly inconspicuous Wood Tao actually harbors such mysteries. No wonder the Azure Lotus Heaven Lord became a saint through this path. Hong Yuan mused, watching his army of grass and wood soldiers easily dispatch a Ten Thousand Beast Swarm of Sand Serpent Lions. A sense of admiration welled within him.

The Sand Serpent Lions had sleek, grayish-yellow fur. Their limbs were not ordinary claws but peculiar ones resembling those of a Flood Dragon. Their tails were, in fact, numerous venomous snakes, either coiling around the Sand Serpent Lion’s back or rearing up, their bodies erect, flicking crimson tongues.

Such Ferocious Beasts! A single Hundred Beast Swarm of them would be enough to throw a fifth-rank Martial Artist into disarray. A Thousand Beast Swarm could spell doom for an ordinary fifth-rank Martial Artist, to say nothing of a Ten Thousand Beast Swarm!

It had to be said that the army of grass and wood soldiers formed by the Grass Trees Soldiers Divine Power had commendable aspects. And as Hong Yuan willed it, the Grass Wood Dragon beneath his feet also let out a dragon’s roar, showcasing its Great Power.

At this moment, Hong Yuan seemed like a Cultivator of the Slave Tao with profound achievements.

This massive commotion drew the attention of other cultivators undergoing trials in the grey wasteland.

In the midst of a turbulent storm of wind dragons and wind blades, Wu Bufan, the Heavenly Talent of the Wu Family, looked up, his lips suddenly curving into a smile.

Amidst the swirling yellow sand, Ye Fengdao inwardly sighed but nevertheless had to lead his three companions towards Hong Yuan’s location. With several leaps, their figures flashing, they caught sight of Hong Yuan’s army of grass and wood soldiers.

And Hong Yuan, likewise, noticed them.

Separated by a stretch of sandy land, both parties stood on small hills, directly facing each other.

"Ye Gufan, you shouldn’t have refused Big Sister Qingcheng," Ye Fengdao said coldly.

"Oh? And what, you want to force me into submission with martial power?" Hong Yuan raised a sword-like eyebrow, chuckling derisively.

His attitude instantly ignited the anger of the other three.

"So you’ve chosen the hard way!"

"Hmph, you really think you’re the Leader of Artifact Refining?"

"Brother Fengdao, let’s attack him together! No need for more words!"

One transformed into a Golden Arrow Gryphon; with a flap of its wings, golden arrows filled the sky, explosions thundering incessantly, truly terrifying.

Another became a Wind Thunder Eagle, diving from the sky, forceful wind and thunder erupting from beneath its wings, with a deep rumbling that cut through the void.

Yet another took on the form of a Water Wing Wolf, its howls shaking the heavens and the earth; clouds suddenly gathered, and droplets of rain began to fall.

Ye Fengdao sighed lightly. With a fierce swing of the Flaming Wild Sword, in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a flaming swordfinch, unleashing fierce flames as he attacked Hong Yuan.

Transformation Tao? Hong Yuan’s gaze was deep as he extended his right hand, slowly drawing the Longsword from his waist. A surge of overwhelming True Essence rolled up from his lower Aperture, filling his body.

He understood that the Grass Trees Soldiers Divine Power was likely insufficient against these well-prepared opponents.

There is no invincible Divine Power, only an invincible Martial Artist. The thing most feared by Martial Artists in combat is the exposure of intelligence. Therefore, with the Grass Trees Soldiers Divine Power deciphered, Hong Yuan’s heart remained as calm as an ancient well.

BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

In a few breaths’ time, all the grass and wood soldiers were utterly destroyed. Even the Grass Wood Dragon beneath Hong Yuan turned to ashes.

"Ye Gufan, what makes you think you can stand so tall?" the Golden Arrow Gryphon demanded, its expression resentful as it suddenly flapped its wings.

The Water Wing Wolf, Wind Thunder Eagle, and the flaming swordfinch also launched their attacks, surrounding and besieging Hong Yuan.

"Hmph." Hong Yuan snorted coldly, not deigning to answer.

He said proudly, "As it happens, I too possess a Divine Power."

Sword Tao Divine Power—Ancient Sword Dragon Transformation!

In an instant, Hong Yuan transformed into a silver Flood Dragon, his cold sword becoming its horns. The Flood Dragon’s body shone with brilliant silver light, its horns as sharp as spears, its eyes pure white, and its teeth and claws fiercely terrifying. Its scales, layered upon layers, emitted a metallic halo. The dragon’s body measured six hundred and sixty-six meters in length; its form was slender, its lines flowing gracefully and beautifully, exuding a cold and sharp intent.

Such might was utterly terrifying.

Already nearing Sainthood!

Wu Bufan, watching from a distance, was utterly dumbfounded.

How did a seemingly harmless little white rabbit suddenly transform into a man-eating, vicious Flood Dragon?

「Outside, in the Ye Family’s main city.」

Everyone looked on in stunned silence at Hong Yuan, who was displaying his Divine Power within the Water Mirror, appearing unmatched in the world.

"Ye Fengdao was easily crushed!?"

"It’s truly hard to believe! Ye Fengdao, who has reigned for many years, beaten like a dead dog by someone from a branch family."

"Four Martial Arts Heavenly Talents! Outside, almost any one of them could dominate a territory. Yet, together, they couldn’t defeat Ye Gufan. A lifetime of reputation, I fear, now turns to dust."

"..."

Most people were discussing, all feeling it was incredible; more than that, they were utterly shocked.

Ye Xiner listened to the crowd’s praise for Hong Yuan, joy and bitterness swirling in her heart, but ultimately, joy outweighed the bitterness.

She made a difficult decision in her heart: I cannot be a stumbling block hindering Gufan’s growth. He... he deserves better...

Thinking this, Ye Xiner’s eyes lowered, her mood somewhat desolate, yet also somewhat relieved.

Ultimately, I am just an ordinary woman.

「Ye Family’s inner city.」

In a glittering, ancient, and lofty palace.

Ye Qingcheng looked up at the Water Mirror in the sky with a serious expression, her brows deeply furrowed.

She had to admit, this Divine Power Hong Yuan has displayed puts tremendous pressure on me. In the hands of others, glory and fame are merely illusory things. But in my hands, through a secret technique, they can be transformed into resources for cultivation. My own transformation from a little grey duckling into a Snow White Phoenix was thanks to this very secret technique!

THUD. THUD.

A series of soothing, heavy footsteps sounded, and Ye Qingcheng’s furrowed brows instantly smoothed. She quickly rose to her feet and hurried forward to greet the visitor.

A figure appeared, clad in white-gold robes, exuding an extraordinary aura, with long white eyebrows trailing to the ground—it was an old sage who had attained the Tao.

The visitor was none other than Great Saint Taibai!

"Grandfather, what brings you here?" Ye Qingcheng embraced Great Saint Taibai’s arm, speaking coquettishly.

Great Saint Taibai smiled indulgently at Ye Qingcheng and said, "According to reports from your father, Ye Gufan possesses a great destiny and is suspected of being the Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation. I must take action personally."

"What? The Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation!?" Ye Qingcheng’s beautiful face changed in an instant, and she couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

It was rumored that the Eternal Azure Lotus, after enduring nine lifetimes of tribulations and returning across the ages, could attain the undying and everlasting Eternity Realm!

Suddenly learning that Hong Yuan might be the Eternal Azure Lotus Reincarnation, it was no wonder Ye Qingcheng was so profoundly shocked.