Chapter 1187: The Terrifying Trump Card

Three days had passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Nebula Hall in the center of Black Island, hundreds of thousands of guests had gathered.

The Nebula Hall, constructed with the power of the Great Dao, had thousands of tiers of seating. Its activation consumed countless immortal crystals, and it was only opened for the most significant events. For the sake of the Grand Selection, the Treasure Pavilion had made an exception to open it.

The next master of the Treasure Pavilion was about to be decided!

Countless ancient beings had emerged upon hearing the news. The VIP seats around the hall were fully occupied, with countless powerful figures seated in the nebula-like tiers. Among them were numerous prominent figures from all sides.

On the glazed jade platform inside the hall, the five elders of the Treasure Pavilion sat as steady as mountains, exuding an unfathomable aura that filled the entire hall with awe.

Amidst the sea of heated discussions, Yi Feng followed a few others, his excitement growing with each step.

As soon as he stepped out of the left passageway, he saw the surrounding nebula-like formations resembling celestial staircases, densely packed with figures. Everywhere he glanced, there were countless individuals with extraordinary presence.

Yi Feng grew more and more expectant, thinking to himself that he had finally encountered a grand scene.

In contrast, Pei Songhe and Sa Donglai, who were leading the way, seemed slightly nervous.

It wasn’t until they heard the familiar footsteps of their master that they regained their composure and stood confidently by his side.

Various gazes fell upon them, some carrying terrifying spiritual senses. Despite their exposed cultivation levels, which were as plain as white paper, they stood tall and served by their master’s side.

This unusual sight didn’t attract much curiosity, though a few ancient beings did glance at them with peculiar expressions.

After a few moments of silence, an announcement echoed from the right passageway.

“The Young Miss has arrived!”

Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned toward her.

Lu Shuyao, dressed in a long gown that trailed on the ground, walked gracefully into the hall. She was surrounded by eight powerful protectors, her extraordinary demeanor and stunning beauty captivating everyone. Her grand entrance set the entire hall abuzz.

“As expected of Miss Shuyao, truly the goddess of the East Sea!”

“Those seniors’ cultivations are unfathomable!”

“The outcome of this Grand Selection is already decided!”

“I am honored to witness Miss Shuyao ascend to the position of Pavilion Master. This is truly a life worth living!”

The hall erupted in excitement, the atmosphere completely different from before.

Lu Shuyao and her entourage became the center of attention, already exuding the aura of victors. Even the ancient beings at the edges of the hall couldn’t help but flatter her, disregarding their usual dignity.

The excited exclamations only added to the pressure on Lu Xinyan and her group.

Noticing Yi Feng’s calm and composed demeanor, they managed to steady their nerves.

Upon closer observation, Yi Feng remained as serene as still water, merely glancing at the opposing side’s formation without a trace of emotion in his eyes. Such composure was truly befitting of a master.

In reality, Yi Feng was just standing there, utterly confused.

After several glances, he still couldn’t figure out what was so impressive about the newcomers that they had won such overwhelming applause at their entrance.

To him, they didn’t seem all that special.

Sure, they had seven or eight people, which was more than his side, but this wasn’t a brawl among mortals where numbers determined the outcome…

Muttering to himself internally, Yi Feng turned his gaze to Pei Songhe.

“Do you know the cultivation levels and backgrounds of these people?”

Knowing your enemy was half the battle.

It wouldn’t hurt to gather some information first!

Pei Songhe was momentarily stunned.

Seeing Yi Feng’s serious expression, he immediately understood the deeper meaning behind his master’s words.

With his master’s level of cultivation, how could he not see through these people?

Asking such a question was surely a test for him!

Pei Songhe quickly clasped his fists and stepped forward, eager to prove his loyalty.

“Reporting to Master.”

“Miss Lu’s retainers are all extraordinary individuals. The ones at the front have been renowned for many years, each a major figure on Black Island with cultivation levels above the sixth rank!”

“The ones at the back are even more terrifying, having reached the seventh rank!”

“As for the person beside her, named Zhang Tonghai, I must admit, I cannot discern the depth of his cultivation. However, his status is extremely high, and the other retainers hold him in great reverence. He is likely the strongest among them…”

Pei Songhe went on to analyze the opposing side in great detail, recounting their cultivation techniques, backgrounds, and even their personalities. He practically laid out everything except the color of their undergarments.

After speaking for several dozen breaths, Pei Songhe finally ran out of information.

Clasping his fists, he smiled apologetically.

“Master, please forgive me. My knowledge is limited…”

Yi Feng nodded faintly, his eyes showing a contemplative expression.

His calm demeanor further boosted the confidence of his followers. Over the past few days, they had come to regard Yi Feng’s cultivation and wisdom as nothing short of divine.

With their master present at today’s grand event, there was no way they could lose!

Even though the enemy was strong, they remained full of confidence.

While Yi Feng’s group was sizing up the opposing side, the experts around Lu Shuyao were also quietly exchanging messages.

“Reporting to Miss.”

“Among those people, the strongest on the surface is Pei Songhe. The old man beside him may have a sixth-rank cultivation, but he’s only at the initial stage and poses no threat!”

Their gazes lingered on Yi Feng, and they showed a hint of confusion.

“However, that young man is somewhat peculiar…”

“He shows no fluctuations in his aura, and there’s no trace of the Great Dao around him. We can’t see through his cultivation level. He must be using a treasure to conceal his aura or practicing a unique technique.”

“As expected, this person is Lu Xinyan’s trump card, likely possessing a cultivation level above the seventh rank!”

Hearing this cautious assessment, Lu Shuyao’s lips curled into a confident smile.

“A seventh-rank existence? Is that all my dear sister Xinyan has to rely on? Though, for her, even securing such a figure is quite an achievement.”

Muttering softly, Lu Shuyao turned her gaze to the elderly man beside her.

“Elder Zhang, if anything unexpected happens later, I’ll need you to step in. Although the chances are slim, this matter is of great importance, and I don’t want any mishaps.”

“Everything will depend on your presence, Elder Zhang.”

Zhang Tonghai nodded calmly.

“With me here, who dares to contend?”

His soft-spoken words carried an overwhelming sense of authority, immediately earning the respect of the surrounding experts.

“Elder Zhang speaks the truth!”

“Indeed, indeed.”

“Haha, in the presence of Elder Zhang, all others are mere ants.”

Lu Shuyao also smiled brightly, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

“Good.”

Zhang Tonghai had been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years and was a genuine eighth-rank expert. It was said that he could even retreat unscathed from a ninth-rank powerhouse, making him one of the top existences on Black Island. Ordinary people would never have the chance to meet him.

Her sect’s ancestor had some connection with Zhang Tonghai and had promised him a hefty reward to persuade him to make a single appearance.

Such connections and resources were enough to crush anyone on Black Island!

When it came to trump cards, no one could surpass her!

As for Lu Xinyan…

With a few sixth-rank nobodies and an unknown young man, did she really think she could compete with her?

How laughable!

After glancing at them from afar, Lu Shuyao felt an overwhelming sense of superiority.

Noticing the tens of thousands of gazes focused on her, she suppressed her smugness and spoke with feigned magnanimity.

“Sister Xinyan, although we are half-sisters, we are still bound by blood. It’s best to resolve matters peacefully and not fight to the death.”

“If you wish to withdraw from the competition, there’s still time.”

“Otherwise, if you lose later, according to the rules, you’ll have to leave the Treasure Pavilion and won’t even have the chance to manage a branch. As your elder sister, I would feel terrible seeing you exiled to the outside world.”

Her gentle voice resonated throughout the hall, earning her waves of admiration!

With a single sentence, she had won over many hearts, gained the favor of the island’s higher-ups, and subtly pressured Lu Xinyan. Her cunning was truly insidious.

While her words spoke of compassion, her actions clearly aimed to eliminate her rival completely!

Lu Xinyan’s eyes burned with anger, and she was about to retort when Pei Songhe stepped forward, his face filled with righteous indignation.

“Bah!”

“Lu Shuyao, stop pretending to be virtuous! You haven’t even started the competition, yet you’re already flaunting your superiority. Such arrogance! Did you eat garlic for breakfast?”

“And what’s this about sisters not fighting each other? Do you even deserve to call yourself Xinyan’s blood relative? If that’s the case, why don’t you concede instead?”

“What a shameless hypocrite!”

“Hē~tuì!”

A glob of spit flew far across the hall, shocking the guests into wide-eyed silence.

The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

Even with her composure, Lu Shuyao couldn’t withstand such humiliation. Her face visibly darkened, and her previously feigned magnanimity froze in an awkward expression.

It seemed she was on the verge of losing her temper in front of everyone!