"Your attack power is impressive, and your mastery of the water element has reached a decent level. I hope you can deliver an even more outstanding performance next time," Evan Chu said.
Neither woman's attack managed to injure Evan Chu, leaving everyone in the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’s main hall looking at him with awe and reverence. Only now did they truly understand what it meant to be a true powerhouse.
"I'll give you half a stick of incense to rest. Your first attacks were evenly matched, so it's a tie for now. I hope this final round can surprise me," Evan Chu said with a smile.
Selena Yale glanced at Evan and said, "Lin Feng, what if the second round is also a tie? Are you going to make them go again?"
"Don’t worry, Sister Selena. I already have someone in mind—let’s see if she can satisfy me this time," Evan replied, deliberately glancing at Sharon Lin and Snow Lin so no one could guess who he’d chosen.
Half a stick of incense passed quickly. Snow Lin stepped forward and stopped a short distance from Evan. "I hope this strike won’t disappoint you, Sect Master Chu," she said.
As soon as she finished speaking, her longsword erupted in blazing flames. A beast-like roar echoed from the blade, and the fire formed a phantom beast that looked just like a leopard, pouncing at Evan Chu with thunderous force.
Pulling off such a martial skill was no easy feat—especially since, after she unleashed it, the space around the hall trembled nonstop. Countless flames and sword-qi instantly raised the hall’s temperature, making it feel as if everyone was standing in a sea of fire.
Evan was secretly astonished—this strike actually had power on par with a First-Layer Saint Martial expert, and was even fiercer than the Soaring Feather Young Lord’s famed attacks. He hadn’t expected this from Snow Lin.
In terms of strength, Snow Lin and Sharon Lin could easily rank among the top five of the younger generation in Azure Tide Ruins. Yet neither had entered the tournament this time, keeping a low profile and leaving everyone puzzled.
Boom! With a thunderous crash, Evan Chu was blasted over five meters by the strike. Yet when he landed, he stood firm, completely unscathed—though several holes had been torn in his clothes by the flaming sword-qi.
Impressive! This move was much stronger than your first. Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers—so low-key! Evan Chu smiled at Selena Yale, hinting at why her disciples were so powerful yet didn't compete in the tournament.
Selena Yale simply smiled, saying nothing. She was clearly very satisfied with Snow Lin’s performance.
Next up was Sharon Lin. After Snow Lin’s great showing, Sharon was sure not to disappoint either.
Sharon still used her folding fan, but this time she didn’t open it. She glanced at Evan Chu, smiled faintly, and suddenly began to dance before him.
Her dance was so beautiful it was easy to be enchanted—especially with her stunning, nation-toppling looks. Evan Chu, who’d seen countless beauties and even more risqué scenes, was naturally immune to her charms.
He didn’t understand why Sharon was dancing—could this be a Soul-stealing Dance, meant to mesmerize the mind before unleashing a powerful martial skill?
‘You guessed right. This is indeed a Soul-stealing Dance. If your willpower isn’t strong enough, you’ll be charmed and left to be slaughtered. Evan, this woman isn’t simple—I sense a faint Dream Maiden aura on her. Be careful.’ Luna warned him.
Evan was startled. Sharon was Selena Yale’s personal disciple, but with this Dream Maiden aura, she might be Demon Clan. That was hard to accept.
‘How could she be Demon Clan? What’s going on?’ Evan blurted out.
‘She’s not Demon Clan, but she does have some demonic qi. If I’m right, she’s been cursed—hit with gu poison, just like Lucas Young at Crescent Moon Sect. Good thing you noticed, or Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion would be in grave danger,’ Luna said.
Evan knew this was serious. Recalling Luna’s words, he realized the dark organization’s Number Two Protector’s memories pointed to a major sect being targeted soon—turns out, it was Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.
Those dark organization guys were truly cunning—even a place like Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion wasn’t safe. If he’d left via the teleportation array for Monster Beast Forest, he might have returned to find the sect annihilated.
The more Evan thought about it, the more terrified he became. He stood there, almost dazed, leaving the crowd puzzled—they thought he’d been bewitched by Sharon’s dance and quietly looked down on him, figuring that even a top expert was just another lecher. Evan Chu was no exception.
Sharon saw Evan’s expression and thought he’d been captivated. If there were no one else around, her dance would be even more provocative—maybe she’d be left in nothing but her undergarments.
Suddenly, Sharon snapped open her folding fan. A sound of wind and thunder burst forth, and fan shadows filled the hall, attacking Evan Chu with overwhelming force.
The fan shadows carried a biting cold—much stronger than her previous attack. The hall’s temperature plunged, making everyone feel as if they’d been thrown into an ice cellar.
Evan quickly snapped back to his senses, pondering how to uncover Sharon’s true identity—was she demonized, controlled, or simply unaware that she’d been hit with gu poison?
All the sword-qi from the fan shadows slammed into Evan. This time, he deliberately let himself be knocked an extra meter, making Sharon the official winner.
Seeing Evan Chu still unscathed, Sharon’s face fell—she’d used her strongest technique and burned more than half her Stellar Power.
Top experts like this were terrifying—he could stand there and let you kill him, and you’d be helpless. Still, seeing she’d knocked Evan one meter farther than Snow Lin, Sharon felt much better.
Selena Yale also smiled. She looked at Sharon and said, ‘Sharon, you truly didn’t disappoint me. The result is clear—Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master’s seat will be yours from now on!’
Snow Lin’s face was now ugly, full of unwillingness as she stared at Evan Chu, hoping he’d give her a reasonable explanation…