Pay to Cultivate Immortality? My Sect is Completely Free - Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Venerable Faction Showdowns Return in the Elimination Matches?

The next day, in the grand plaza of Sacred Ruins City, people arrived one after another.

The new day of the Immortal Alliance Assembly resumed as the powerful figures and disciples from the various major factions took their seats in the viewing stands.

“Huh? Where are all the other Venerables besides Venerable Xuan Ba?”

Someone noticed something was off. The several Venerables who had been on the jade stone pillars yesterday had all disappeared without a trace—completely empty.

“The elimination matches after the Heavenly Dao Sect faced off against the Sacred Tiger Sect are pretty meaningless—just weaklings pecking at each other. Maybe those Venerables have already returned to their factions?”

“Yeah, that makes sense. What is there to pay attention to during the elimination matches anyway?”

“Phew, with the Venerables gone, it feels so much lighter, like a huge mountain that weighed down on us has vanished.”

“Ha ha ha, exactly! We didn’t even dare to breathe freely before!”

Everyone chatted happily, not paying it much mind.

Venerables were such lofty beings; how could ordinary people ever figure out what was going on in their minds?

At the lines for the Four Overlord Factions—Southern Heavenly Gate, Sacred Lion Sect, Sacred Eagle Sect, and Sacred Roc Sect—all the Great Elders frowned deeply.

Where had their Venerables gone?

Still, none of them dared to ask directly. If they had to find out where the Venerables were headed, was it really something these elders could easily understand?

Anyway, as long as the Venerables’ life tokens and soul lamps were intact, that was enough.

At the resting pavilion of the Heavenly Dao Sect, all the disciples had already returned to the sect to diligently cultivate with the Black Dragon Meat. Only Su Bai stood there alone.

Last night’s great battle had been shielded by formation arrays, so no other powerful figures had sensed it.

Moreover, because the four great Venerables had fallen within the formation, their life tokens and soul lamps hadn’t changed—no one knew they had died at Su Bai’s hands.

Only the Venerables from the Sacred Tiger Sect and Venerable Xuan Ba knew the whole truth, and naturally, they wouldn’t dare spread such news carelessly!

“Elimination Match Number Twenty-Five, begin the drawing of lots!”

As the Chief Judge Elder of the Dominating Heaven Sect announced the start, the new round of drawing lots began.

Moments later, two golden characters appeared in the sky.

Number One: Southern Heavenly Gate!

Number Two: Sacred Roc Sect!

At the sight of these two names, the once noisy grand plaza fell into complete silence in an instant.

“Is this… the final?”

After a brief pause, a trembling voice broke the silence, instantly igniting the entire crowd!

“Did I see that right? Southern Heavenly Gate versus Sacred Roc Sect? Wasn’t that last season’s final match?”

“Oh my god, yesterday’s first match was a major showdown between Venerable factions, and today they’re about to repeat it?”

“Amazing! After dozens of elimination tournaments, this one’s gone crazy!”

The plaza erupted into uproar, countless people buzzing with excitement, their eyes wide as they fixed on the two factions facing off.

Yesterday had just ended with a grand Venerable faction clash, and now, one more was happening!

But this was only the elimination round, not the final!

“I protest, there must be some inside deal!”

A Divine Transformation Elder from the Sacred Roc Sect stepped forward, shouting angrily.

To face Southern Heavenly Gate in the elimination round—there was no doubt they would lose!

The Sacred Roc Sect was the dominant force capable of reaching the finals!

Could it be that even the Sacred Roc Sect would end up eliminated in the first round, just like the Sacred Tiger Sect?

That would be an enormous embarrassment!

The Southern Heavenly Gate’s side remained quiet—except for a few elders and disciples who frowned slightly, no one spoke up.

Their strength was more than enough; no matter who they faced, victory was assured.

However, facing the Sacred Roc Sect in the knockout round made them uneasy as well.

Wasn’t their own Venerable on good terms with Venerable Xuan Ba?

How could such a situation arise?

“We of the Sacred Roc Sect firmly oppose this drawing result and request a redraw!” an elder of Divine Transformation from the Sacred Roc Sect grumbled angrily.

They refused to believe there was no trickery involved!

“Hmph?”

In the sky, Venerable Xuan Ba snorted coldly, his gaze locking onto the Divine Transformation elder of the Sacred Roc Sect.

In an instant, that elder felt a chilling cold wash over him, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his body stiffening.

“You laughed the hardest when the Heavenly Dao Sect faced the Sacred Tiger Sect yesterday, so why oppose it now when it’s your turn?”

“Or are you questioning the Dominating Heaven Sect’s drawing results?” Venerable Xuan Ba growled sternly, eyes flashing with a harsh gleam.

“N-No… I wouldn’t dare!” The elder turned pale with fear and shook his head repeatedly.

“Since you don’t dare, then get back to your seats. If you say another word of nonsense, your qualifications will be revoked!” Venerable Xuan Ba said coldly.

The elder from the Sacred Roc Sect clenched his fists tightly but dared not argue further. Dejectedly, he slunk back to his place.

At the same time, he quickly sent a message to his own Venerable: “Old Ancestor, the Old Scoundrel from the Dominating Heaven Sect is targeting our Sacred Roc Sect. Please return and administer justice!”

Su Bai smiled faintly as he looked at the message transmitted through the Transmission Jade Slip.

Your Old Ancestor isn’t coming back anymore!

Yet again, it was a major confrontation between venerable powers. Many old gamblers flocked to the Dominating Heaven Sect’s bookmaker’s booth, only to find it was already closed!

Dominating Heaven Sect wasn’t running any bets this time!

They were too afraid to lose!

As expected, the results of this round of matches were no surprise.

The Sacred Roc Sect was indeed powerful, and their disciples were even stronger than those of the Sacred Tiger Sect. But their opponent was Southern Heavenly Gate!

Southern Heavenly Gate sent only three disciples but managed to defeat all ten of Sacred Roc’s strongest disciples!

As for the main battle, the Sacred Roc Sect didn’t even participate, recognizing the huge gap in strength and immediately conceding defeat.

Thus, the Sacred Roc Sect was eliminated!

Everyone had just witnessed this thrilling match and was about to take a break when the new knockout round draw was announced—and it stunned everyone once again.

Number Three: Sacred Eagle Sect!

Number Four: Sacred Lion Sect!

Two golden characters floated in the air, quieting the entire grand plaza as an eerie atmosphere spread.

“How is this possible? The Sacred Eagle Sect and Sacred Lion Sect have come face to face again?”

“What’s going on? All six Venerable powers in Southern Xuan Prefecture’s tournament are meeting each other in the knockout rounds?”

“This…”

“This time, something’s really gone wrong. It’s probably not just a simple match anymore…”

“The heavens over Southern Xuan Prefecture… are about to change!”

At this moment, even the most foolish people could sense something was off!

Meeting once or twice could be chalked up to chance—even if the odds were incredibly slim, it wasn’t impossible.

But three times in a row…

That was absolutely no coincidence!

This was blatantly staged!

Yet everyone knew there was a problem, and no one dared to speak up.

In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme!

Who would dare criticize Venerable Xuan Ba?

Fairness has never truly existed in this world!

“Hmph, let the match begin!” Venerable Xuan Ba snorted coldly and announced the start of the fight.

After speaking, he vanished from where he stood, quietly reappearing in a corner of the Heavenly Dao Sect pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a White-Robed Youth stood with hands behind his back, watching the match unfold on the arena below.

Venerable Xuan Ba took a deep breath, cloaked his presence so no one else could detect him, and then approached the White-Robed Youth, wearing an expression of ingratiation.

“Senior, are you satisfied with the arrangements I’ve made?”