Chapter 32: Stunned Silence

Just as everyone remained in a state of shock, unable to process what they had witnessed, the radiance suddenly stopped in its tracks without any warning.

To everyone’s utter astonishment, it had frozen precisely at the third stage!

A roar of disbelief erupted throughout the arena!

"A third-stage Spirit Master? How is that even possible?" someone gasped in disbelief.

"Indeed! It is absolutely impossible! Hasn't she always been regarded by everyone as a useless piece of trash? How could she transform into a third-stage Spirit Master overnight?" another chimed in.

"Impossible! There must be some trickery involved! She must have tampered with something to cheat her way through!" yet another shouted with conviction.

Immediately after, a disciple stepped forward and declared loudly, "Honorable elders, Ouyang Xiaoyue must have secretly consumed a forbidden drug capable of mimicking spiritual power! We implore you to launch a thorough investigation into this matter!"

As soon as his voice fell, other disciples joined in the clamor: "We request a thorough investigation! The truth must be uncovered! We cannot let such cheating go unpunished!"

By now, those who had begun to recover from their shock could not accept the harsh reality before them. In their eyes, Ouyang Xiaoyue was nothing but a talentless waste; that she could display such startling strength could only mean she had used underhanded tactics.

High upon the platform, Ouyang Chenxi, who had been eagerly waiting to witness a farce, saw the smile on her face freeze instantly. She clearly remembered that Ouyang Xiaoyue was supposed to be proficient in fire-attribute spiritual energy, yet the blue glow pulsating before them clearly indicated a water-attribute!

Could it be... that she was a rare dual-attribute Spirit Master? At this thought, an indescribable sense of jealousy and unease surged within Ouyang Chenxi.

The jealousy and hatred that followed nearly drove her to madness. She suppressed the twisted emotions deep within her, replacing them with a look of feigned disappointment. "Sister, why... why would you do such a thing?"

Xiao Ling’s heart sank; it sensed acutely that its master was incensed. Ouyang Tianxing had repeatedly forced her to kneel, and she had endured it until now, but her rage had clearly reached its breaking point.

Suddenly, a roar echoed from Ouyang Tianxing: "Guards! Seize these two at once! Bring out the family discipline and punish them severely!"

His voice was deafening, reverberating through the entire hall. The noisy crowd fell silent, and all eyes turned toward them. Ouyang Tianxing’s eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, his face twisted into a demonic, chilling mask. Having seemingly lost his reason, he was fixated solely on forcing Ouyang Xiaoyue to submit to his tyranny.

Facing the enraged Ouyang Tianxing, Ouyang Xiaoyue remained calm and composed, showing not a hint of panic. She stood perfectly still, yet within the depths of her beautiful eyes lay a coldness that seemed capable of freezing everything in its path.

Just then, Ouyang Xiaofeng pressed his lips together, stepped forward, and shielded Ouyang Xiaoyue firmly behind him. He straightened his back, looked Ouyang Tianxing in the eye without a trace of fear, and declared righteously, "Patriarch, please calm your anger!"