### Chapter 403: Mixed Reviews
Huang Hong was still charging ahead recklessly, sweat beading on his forehead like little peas rolling off a conveyor belt. His face had turned pale from excessive spiritual energy consumption, yet the fighting spirit in his eyes showed no sign of dwindling.
However, he could clearly feel the spiritual energy within him draining away like tiny grains of sand slipping through an hourglass, quickly reaching the bottom.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yun Zhonghe maintained his calm demeanor despite a few colorful stains on his clothes, handling the situation with ease.
Huang Hong inwardly praised him, thinking to himself, “No wonder I’ve had my eye on this guy! He’s really something!”
What a powerhouse!
But just a moment later, Huang Hong suddenly blinked; when he refocused, Yun Zhonghe had reappeared!
The guy he had just slightly wounded was now totally unscathed.
A look of bewilderment crossed Huang Hong’s face.
Yun Zhonghe slightly parted his lips, as if weighing his words, then said, “Brother Huang, I’m really sorry, but I’m determined to win this competition and claim first place. So I can’t stick around for a proper duel today. Let’s compete properly when we get out, okay?”
Huang Hong realized with a jolt that everything he just experienced was an illusion!
As this thought crossed his mind, the ground beneath him suddenly radiated a chill, followed by his feet being firmly encased in ice, restricting his movements. Simultaneously, a razor-sharp sword beam rushed down from above!
Lin Zhongyu’s sword had struck like lightning right in front of him.
That swift sword; even though Huang Hong was ready with his “sword” character, he was still a split-second too late to mount an effective counterattack.
He could see Lin Zhongyu’s sword shining brilliantly, the sword qi erupting like a dragon, exploding right on Huang Hong’s chest!
“What a powerful sword!”
Despite being ninth on the Disciple Ranking, a prodigy in his own right, Huang Hong wasn’t going down easily, even if he was nearing his last breath. Don’t think you can finish him off so easily!
But he conveniently forgot that Lin Zhongyu was also a swordsmanship genius!
The next moment, Huang Hong was kicked out of the secret realm’s space.
His face pale, he looked up towards the shimmering water screen at the entrance, which was replaying the moment of his defeat.
Before long, several of his teammates were also expelled from the secret realm, each showing signs of exhaustion.
“I was careless,” Huang Hong sighed softly, “I didn’t expect Yun Zhonghe would have Lin Zhongyu, the swordsmanship genius, guarding him. It’s both enviable and infuriating!”
Even being kicked out didn’t stir anger in his tone, but rather a hint of relief.
It was a shame not to have confronted Yun Zhonghe directly. That battle of feigned illusions left him wanting more.
But Huang Hong didn’t feel insulted; he could only blame his lack of expertise in spells for not seeing through the illusion.
Those deemed geniuses had minds just as sharp, which was something he respected.
Reflecting on the recent battle, even the encounter with an illusion proved quite enlightening, so he could still say he tangled with Yun Zhonghe.
Especially since Yun Zhonghe didn’t even need to draw his sword and toyed with him solely using magic; that was truly impressive!
Remembering Yun Zhonghe’s parting promise, a glimmer of anticipation shone in Huang Hong’s eyes: “Next time, I’ll have to force you to draw that sword. Li Shidi, you better put in the work!”
A smile teased the corners of his lips, and he licked his slightly dry, nervous lips, a rush of excitement bubbling up inside him.
…
In the spectator area, voices buzzed like a beehive, various opinions intertwining.
Yun Zhonghe’s tactic of eliminating Huang Hong’s team stirred mixed reactions among the audience.
Some scoffed at Yun Zhonghe’s use of illusions to deceive his opponent, labeling him as sneaky.
To them, true strength should come from straightforwardly defeating one’s opponent with raw power, not relying on such crafty tactics.
However, others applauded Yun Zhonghe’s approach.
They believed that while it seemed like a shortcut, it demonstrated his abilities quite well.
After all, in this unpredictable battlefield, being able to flexibly use various means was a rare wisdom indeed.
If you’re so good, go ahead and create an illusion to eliminate Huang Hong yourself!
Overall, though, the impression of Yun Zhonghe’s performance didn’t reach the level of praise enjoyed by the likes of Li Yifeng or Zhao Lingxiao’s prodigious teams.
Li Yifeng and his crew, through ruthless and decisive displays of power, provided an exhilarating experience for the audience, naturally earning heaps of applause.
In contrast, Yun Zhonghe’s crafty win, using illusions and sly tactics, came off a bit underhanded and lacked enough excitement, attracting some criticism from the audience.
After all, the audience only has to watch while the contestants have to juggle many complexities.
When Yun Zhonghe defeated Huang Hong, the main screen in the center showcased even more thrilling scenes, drawing many eyes away.
It was Li Yifeng’s squad again, causing a ruckus that felt like a hurricane sweeping away leaves—unstoppable. Even while facing two prodigy teams teaming up to ambush them, Li Yifeng’s squad effortlessly wiped them out in an instant!
All in under five seconds!
Li Yifeng’s gaze remained calm, while the defeated prodigy teams looked pale, filled with shock and disbelief.
Because Li Yifeng hadn’t even drawn his sword yet!
In that moment, Li Yifeng’s might was on full display!
Meanwhile, Zhao Lingxiao, Vice Sect Master Zhao’s son, also exhibited impressive strength on the battlefield. Though he didn’t showcase the brutal aesthetic that shocked everyone like Li Yifeng did, every step he took was composed, exuding a gentlemanly demeanor.
He fought only one-on-one against other teams rather than pulling off a one-on-two or one-on-three combo like Li Yifeng.
Additionally, other prodigy teams began to emerge on the scene!
As previously mentioned by Qin Hongye, prodigal toolsmith Wu Ziming was also stirring up a significant disturbance.
Currently, eight prodigy teams existed.
Each prodigy team stood out, making eye-catching displays.
Whether it was a swift execution or a cheerful skirmish leading to an easy victory, they remained calm and collected.
The first level of the secret realm was vast, reducing the chances of two prodigy teams running into each other. However, as the competition progressed and ordinary teams were gradually eliminated, the remaining prodigy teams would inevitably ignite fierce battles over precious spiritual herbs.
The audience brimmed with anticipation, eager to witness the peak showdowns among those prodigy teams, imagining the extravagant battle feast that awaited.
Who would ultimately win? Who would stand victorious at the end? It’s difficult to predict currently.
But one thing’s for sure—
At least Yun Zhonghe’s team wasn’t on the radar of the majority of viewers, with only a tiny fraction still keeping an eye on him.
