Chapter 434: Dimensional Reduction Strike

"Novel 'Reigning Over Nine Heavens' ()" Find the latest chapter!

At Fu Changkong's command, three powerful referees entered the arena.

These three were not instructors from the Holy Sanctuary but three chief referees invited from the League of Blades' Combat Association—White-Haired Ox-Demon An Nanxi, Heavenly-Eye Fernandis, and Earth-Listener Jos!

The three top-tier referees of the League of Blades, titled heroes renowned for their fairness, sharp judgment, and their own ghost-level prowess, were frankly overqualified for a Holy Sanctuary disciples' match—let alone all three appearing together...

"The number one Holy Sanctuary in history—now that's what I call style."

"They call it 'ceremony.'"

"Tch, pure theatrics." Aota scoffed. What was the big deal about a fight? Just pick any open space and get it over with. If it were him, he'd have finished ages ago.

Beside him, Xue Zhiyu was staring at the entrance where the Rose team would emerge. Chief Referee An Nanxi had already begun announcing the Rose Holy Sanctuary's combat roster, and Xue Zhiyu's eyes lit up slightly. "Look, they're coming out."

As the challengers, the six members of Old Wang Squad were already household names. Frankly, by now, even the most prejudiced wouldn't consider Rose a weak team anymore. Countless eyes turned toward the entrance, while the Rose stands erupted in thunderous drumming and cheers.

Amid the clamor, the red Rose uniforms appeared, with Old Wang leading the way. The overwhelming presence of over fifty thousand spectators didn't seem to faze the Rose captain in the slightest—his ice-cool composure was legendary across the League. With a lazy, devil-may-care smirk that suggested he couldn't care less, he had a certain roguish charm that, admittedly, became oddly appealing over time—especially for the ladies.

Behind him, the other five members of Old Wang Squad were equally spirited.

Mapeier was the type who remained unfazed no matter the situation. Even a crowd of fifty thousand couldn't rattle her as she calmly followed behind Wang Feng.

Kela and Wu Di were slightly nervous, though not because of the sea of spectators or their opponents. Instead, it was because they had truly realized their dream—no, their wildest hope—upon joining Rose: for beastfolk to receive equal treatment in the world of humans. This time, the Great Elder of the Southern Beasts had personally attended, the highest honor they could imagine. Even among beastfolk, many had dismissed their ambitions as a joke.

Fan Texi stood tall, his confidence bolstered not just by experience but by his improved strength. Against the Seven Great Holy Sanctuaries, Rose had only lost once. Could the Holy Sanctuary really be stronger than all seven combined? His eyes darted toward the Rose stands, where Famier was leaning over the railing, waving excitedly at him. Her round glasses framed her delicate oval face, making her look even more adorable.

Axi was fired up, raising his fist high. "Rose will triumph!"

"Rose will triumph! Rose will triumph! Rose will triumph!"

"Thoom-thoom, thoom-thoom, thoom-thoom, thoom-thoom!"

A small wave of momentum rippled through the stands, where cheers and drumbeats intensified.

But truth be told, their voices were but a drop in the ocean of fifty thousand. While the number of Holy Sanctuary disciples supporting Rose and the Holy Sanctuary wasn't vastly different, the overwhelming majority of the spectators were civilians from Blade City—rabid fans of the Holy Sanctuary. In terms of sheer cheering power, Rose was hopelessly outmatched.

Amid the cheers were far more jeers and mocking laughter.

Winnie rolled her eyes. Of course, it was their home turf... Who didn't have supporters these days? As she walked, she scanned the VIP seats until her gaze landed on her targets.

Two middle-aged men in their early thirties, dressed in luxurious attire, sat beside Gui Zhicai, the elder of Darkmoon Isle—Li Xuanyuan and Li Fusu, the third and fourth of the Eight Tigers of House Li, also Winnie's elder brothers. They were chatting amiably with Gui Zhicai, laughter frequent.

Winnie had been quite disrespectful during her time on Darkmoon Isle, yet instead of punishment, she received their hospitality. While a child's antics could be overlooked, the family elders had to step in to express gratitude. The Eight Tigers of House Li had risen in prominence over the years, with two already at ghost-peak level—figures the League saw as future powerhouses. No one wanted to cross them, and their influence ensured respect wherever they went. Representing the Li Family as VIPs, seated beside Gui Zhicai, and with Li Xuanyuan's expertise in Puppetry, they naturally hit it off.

As for Winnie? She was the Li Family's most treasured little sister. Truth be told, it wasn't her father who spoiled her rotten—it was those eight doting, overprotective brothers! Sensing Winnie's gaze, Li Xuanyuan and his brother beamed, waving warmly with overflowing affection—as if they feared she'd freeze if held too lightly or melt if coddled too much.

"Ugh, gross!" Winnie quickly looked away. She wanted nothing to do with these overbearing brothers. Every meeting was the same—asking if she was cold, hungry, or wanted ice cream... Did no one care about her actual needs? They all treated her like a helpless little girl! Still, at least it was Li Xuanyuan and Li Fusu this time. If it had been the eldest brother...

Just thinking about her eldest brother—a hulking, bearded mountain of a man who loved rubbing his stubble against her face—and his trademark gesture: Could anyone imagine a rough, towering man flashing a heart sign with a doting smile and blowing kisses?

"At least it's not the eldest!" The mere thought of his antics sent shivers down Winnie's spine, nearly making her gag. "If it's just these two... I'll endure it."

It took Old Wang Squad a full two to three minutes to reach the center of the massive arena. Now, it was time for the hosts to make their entrance.

Frankly, while Rose had gained considerable fame, the Holy Sanctuary's team was no stranger to the crowd either. Having won the last three consecutive Heroic Tournaments, their roster had remained consistent. Aside from Ye Dun, the undisputed number one, every member was a renowned expert within the Holy Sanctuary.

The Holy Sanctuary's flags waved, and battle hymns rose, building momentum for their team's entrance. But when Chief Referee An Nanxi began announcing the Holy Sanctuary's roster, the entire arena—fifty thousand strong, including the Rose supporters ready to boo—fell deathly silent.

"Captain Ye Dun, Vice-captain Tianzhe Yifeng, main members Jin Ganghu Husha, Huo Kun Amogan, and Shen Luan Tian Wu Lan!"

Only five names were announced, leaving the eagerly awaiting audience stunned—including those from the Holy Sanctuary. Are these even human?!

Tianzhe Yifeng???

A name that had etched itself into the memory of the entire League! Years ago, during the Hero Tournament, he had forcibly turned five one-on-one matches into a one-versus-five free-for-all with the excuse that "his teammates couldn’t make it." Not a relay—five at once! The result? Five opponents crippled within three minutes, leading to the next three matches being forfeited by top-50 Holy Sanctuary teams out of sheer terror. He was hailed as one of the top three prodigies in Holy Sanctuary history in terms of both talent and ability. Three years ago, he had left the Holy Sanctuary to travel the world. If anyone claimed he wasn’t at least ghost level by now, no one would believe it.

And now, such a figure was representing the Holy Sanctuary against Rose?

Dimensional suppression??? Is this even human?!

If it were just him, fine—maybe the Holy Sanctuary was afraid of losing. Rose’s recent performance had been bizarrely strong, so adding an extra layer of insurance was understandable.

But what about the other three?

Jin Ganghu Husha, Huo Kun Amogan, and Shen Luan Tian Wu Lan—the infamous "Iron Trio" of the Holy Sanctuary, all top talents who had left years ago to form the now-renowned hunter team, the Demon-Hunting Squad. They specialized in bounty assignments, honing their skills, and had already taken on multiple S-rank assignments.

S-rank missions meant dealing with ghost-level threats—far beyond what any ordinary Holy Sanctuary disciple could handle, let alone dare to imagine. Yet these three had already excelled in several such missions. To the outside world, they were long-graduated, established experts. But now…

The stands fell eerily silent. Forget the dumbfounded spectators—even the VIP section buzzed with hushed whispers among the dignitaries.

Technically, the Holy Sanctuary wasn’t breaking any rules. These individuals were still officially registered as their disciples. But in spirit? This was pure bullying. The two teams weren’t even in the same league. What was the point?

"Principal Fu," Hawkland couldn’t stay seated, his face livid. "While the Holy Sanctuary Challenge has no explicit rules, it’s generally understood to involve disciples still enrolled in school. But you’ve brought in this kind of lineup—"

"Principal Hawkland," Fu Changkong replied calmly, barely glancing at him. "If it's not forbidden, it's permitted. As for these so-called ‘non-enrolled’ disciples—they remain officially registered. Though they train abroad, their hearts remain with the Holy Sanctuary. I find such loyalty praiseworthy, not disgraceful. Besides, if we’re talking about rule-bending, isn’t Rose the true master of ‘rule interpretation’?"

Hawkland was left speechless. He never thought he’d be on the receiving end of such a loophole—especially when Wang Feng was the king of exploiting them.

As he scrambled for a rebuttal, Fu Changkong smiled faintly.

"Wang Feng’s progress is undeniable. Rose’s teaching methods do have merit. But Principal Hawkland," Fu Changkong’s eyes gleamed sharply, "why does such a prestigious academy suffer constant talent drain? Why do no elite disciples return to support Rose in its time of need? Before questioning others’ strengths, perhaps you should reflect on these issues first."

Fu Changkong was no pushover. In his youth, he had debated fiercely in the Parliament, and decades of political maneuvering had sharpened his rhetoric to perfection. Against a researcher like Hawkland, who had spent half his life buried in academia, the outcome was never in doubt.

With a few masterfully twisted arguments and overwhelming presence, Fu Changkong left Hawkland speechless, even forgetting his original point.

As Hawkland stood dumbfounded, the two teams below took their positions.

The deafening cheers, the bizarre reactions from all sides—especially Winnie’s slightly dazed expression—clued in the rest of the Rose team that something was off. The moment they regrouped, they bombarded her with questions.

Winnie, of course, knew of Tianzhe Yifeng. She quickly summarized the four’s backgrounds, leaving even Old Wang stunned.

"The Holy Sanctuary’s secrecy is insane," Winnie grumbled. "Even our Li family had no clue Tianzhe Yifeng was competing!"

"One ghost level, three suspected ghost levels? Damn, this is adults bullying kids!" Fan Texi’s face twisted in despair. After their training on Dark Moon Island, they’d been bursting with confidence—only to face this.

"Captain, what do we do?" Wu Di’s morale plummeted. Ghost level and Tiger Peak practitioners were worlds apart—no comparison. "Can we protest?"

"All of them are officially enrolled Holy Sanctuary disciples. The rules allow it. Besides, this is Blade City—their territory. Protesting here is pointless..." Winnie sighed. "Honestly, this is beyond shameless. We—"

"Relax, relax. Seriously, you guys. Just play your best today—no regrets. Back when we started, you were all so hesitant. Now you’re getting greedy—thinking of taking down the Holy Sanctuary?" Wang Feng teased, lightening the mood.

"You’re the one who said we’d win, and now you’re saying ‘no regrets’?" Winnie rolled her eyes.

"Chill. Leave Tianzhe Yifeng to me—I’ll handle him in minutes. Ghost-level fighters don't grow on trees!" Wang Feng waved dismissively. "We’re already here. Let’s just fight!"

The others could only laugh bitterly. Wang Feng versus Tianzhe Yifeng? In runes, spirit beasts, puppets, bragging, or even wooing, Wang Feng could outclass him tenfold. But in a real fight... well, that was another story.

"Don't look at me like that, Winnie. When has your captain ever let you down? If I say I can handle it, then I definitely can. No need to worry. That ghost-level fighter seems pretty arrogant—he’ll definitely wait till the end to step up. Just don’t lose before then, and we’ll be fine."

If Old Wang claimed he could beat Tianzhe Yifeng in a fight, no one would believe him. But if he said he had a way to deal with Tianzhe Yifeng, they might actually believe him. Who knew what kind of scheme he had up his sleeve this time?

"As long as you have a plan!" Winnie felt a bit more at ease. She had come to the Holy Sanctuary prepared for anything this time. "I can guarantee one win! But the rest…"

She glanced at the others. Mapeier might stand a chance—her calm demeanor alone was reassuring. But the others…

Fan Texi was still nervous. After all, these opponents were beyond anything they had imagined, clearly surpassing the level of regular Holy Sanctuary disciples. Their earlier confidence had been built around facing a team led by "the strongest—Ye Dun." But now, Ye Dun seemed like the weakest on that team. It wasn’t just Fan Texi—even Kela and Wu Di grew uneasy after hearing Winnie’s explanation, their brows furrowed.

Winnie rolled her eyes. With morale like this, it seemed the Rose squad was doomed to disband.

"What kind of talk is that?" Old Wang’s eyes widened. "Come here, all of you!"

Wang Feng hooked an arm around Fan Texi’s shoulder and gathered everyone into a huddle, arms draped over each other, six heads pressed close together.

"Forget about those damn opponents! Close your eyes! Think back to our training on Darkmoon Island last month!"

"Hell no, I protest!" The mere mention of training sent involuntary shivers down their spines, and they instinctively wanted to protest their captain’s torture methods. But the next second, a gentle surge of soul force washed over the center of the huddle—Old Wang had activated a spell. Why else would he gather their heads together? To save effort, of course!

"Remember it well… feel it deeply…"

Wang Feng’s voice, like a demon’s whisper, forced their eyes shut.

Then Fan Texi shuddered, his eyes rolling white. Frankly, he thought he’d endured his fair share of beatings in life, but even if he combined all the hits from his first twenty years, they wouldn’t compare to the sheer brutality of last month’s training on Darkmoon Island. That was absolute hell! It had taken him over half the journey just to push those memories aside—but now, this damn captain!

Fan Texi wasn’t the only one. Even Winnie, caught in Wang Feng’s spell and dragged back into those memories, broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

Gasping for air, everyone except Mapeier jumped up the next second, howling and lunging at Wang Feng for revenge.

"Hey hey hey, stop it!" Wang Feng fended them off while shouting. "We’re in the middle of a match! Be serious! If you want revenge, wait till after the match. Look at the arena—they’re calling us out! Who’s going first?"

"I’ll go!" Fan Texi was still fuming. He’d nearly pissed himself just now—if he’d actually wet his pants in front of 50,000 people, especially Famier, his reputation would’ve been ruined forever. "I’ll smash the opponents first, then come back and smash you! Damn it, Feng, it took me so long to forget even a little of that—you’re a monster!"

"Ah Xi, you better wrap this up quick!" Winnie gritted her teeth, her face pale. She had suffered more in that training than in this lifetime—no, probably the next too. "I’ll go second, and when I’m done, I’m coming back to—"

"The captain did the right thing. You’re no longer afraid of the opponents." Mapeier smiled. For easier reading next time, you can bookmark this page (Chapter 434: Dimensional Crush).

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