Prince Qinghe’s Mansion’s performance was so pathetic that even the Patriarch of the rival Qi Family was a little surprised. Everyone else was simply speechless.

During this, some couldn’t help but shoot odd glances toward Ji Qingyue and Ji Qinglian.

Ji Hao and Shen Wanshang were among them.

At this point, Ji Hao was tempted to console Ji Qingyue and Ji Qinglian. He still planned to ally with Prince Qinghe’s Mansion to contend with the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion, and he couldn’t afford to burn his bridges with them.

’Did I take things a bit too far?’

But just as Ji Hao was thinking about how to smooth things over, he turned to look at his two nominal cousins. The next instant, his pupils constricted and he froze—the abysmal performance of their subordinates hadn’t caused the slightest change in Ji Qinglian’s or Ji Qingyue’s expressions.

They remained calm, their eyes even holding a sliver of genuine anticipation.

Moreover, Ji Hao could sense that Ji Qinglian and Ji Qingyue were being completely genuine; they weren’t forcing it or merely feigning composure.

’They still think they can win?!’

Ji Hao was filled with astonishment. Beside him, Shen Wanshang, who had been watching the whole time, couldn’t help but knit her fine brows as suspicion bloomed in her heart.

Both were deeply calculating individuals. Though they sensed something was amiss, neither spoke up. They simply pondered in secret what trump card Prince Qinghe’s Mansion could possibly be hiding.

But while they could hold their tongues, the pampered Ji Yao had no such restraint, especially since she had just had a spat with Ji Qinglian.

Seeing Ji Qinglian looking so nonchalant, she immediately sneered, her voice dripping with mockery:

"Hmph. What an act. You don’t still think you have a chance to win, do you?"

"Of course I do," Ji Qinglian replied, her gaze cool.

Ji Yao looked as if she’d heard the funniest joke in the world. "Of course? Is it ’of course’ that nearly your entire force has been wiped out?"

"Oh, you mean them?" Ji Qinglian raised an eyebrow, speaking without a hint of concern. "They were just here to round out the numbers. I never expected them to be useful."

"As long as Zhong Ming is still here, we won’t lose!"

Ji Qinglian’s last sentence was delivered with absolute, ironclad confidence. It was what she truly believed, and it was the very foundation of Prince Qinghe’s Mansion’s hope.

This was unlike her past life. In that world, the gap between individuals wasn’t so absurdly vast, so the power of the collective was what mattered most.

But in this world, Cultivators could channel the Majestic Power of Heaven and Earth into themselves. As a result, the gap between one person and another could be greater than that between a man and a dog.

A truly powerful Cultivator could take on ten men, or even a hundred. Some could even overwhelm an entire city by themselves.

Having witnessed Zhong Ming’s extraordinary power firsthand, Ji Qinglian had absolute confidence in him.

’So what if everyone else loses? As long as Zhong Ming is still standing, that’s all that matters.’

Her unwavering faith only made Ji Yao angrier. But after a quick glance at the Path of Purgatory, a smug smile crept onto her lips. "Is the Zhong Ming you’re talking about that person struggling so hard to move forward on the Path of Purgatory?"

"Hee hee, look at him. His muscles are all tensed up, and it looks like his very bones are about to be snapped by the pressure."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Zhong Ming would never..." Ji Yao’s words prompted an instinctive rebuttal from Ji Qinglian, who immediately looked toward Zhong Ming on the Path of Purgatory.

But after a single glance, a flicker of astonishment crossed her face as well.

On the path, Zhong Ming’s condition indeed didn’t look good. His eyes were closed, his pace was incredibly slow, and every step landed as if his legs were filled with lead, leaving shallow imprints in the stone path beneath him.

"What’s going on? Are you secretly targeting Zhong Ming!"

Ji Qinglian refused to believe Zhong Ming could be so weak, immediately questioning the fairness of the Path of Purgatory.

The moment she spoke, the Qi Family Patriarch rose to his feet, his expression grave. "Princess, you must watch what you say. Since the day it was opened, my Qi Family has never tampered with the Path of Purgatory. Every Cultivator within is subject to the exact same pressure."

"But then..."

"That’s enough, Qinglian. Be quiet." Seeing that her sister was about to say more, Ji Qingyue intervened at the perfect moment. She raised her head, her calm gaze fixed on the figure within the path, and her voice was crisp and clear. "There is nothing wrong with the Path of Purgatory. The pressure Sir Zhong Ming is enduring is no different from anyone else’s. And don’t worry about him. The Path of Purgatory won’t be enough to stop him. He must have his reasons for proceeding this way."

"..."

Her words did quiet Ji Qinglian, but the looks the two sisters received from the onlookers only grew more peculiar.

Ji Yao muttered, "Lovesick fool."

Besides Ji Yao, Ji Hao and Shen Wanshang also shook their heads, speechless.

Shen Wanshang said, "I’ve heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I never imagined Ji Qingyue’s rosy filter for Zhong Ming was this thick. He’s struggling this much right at the start. I doubt he’ll even make it through the first section."

Despite her words, Shen Wanshang found her gaze drawn back to Zhong Ming. And in the next moment, her eyes narrowed.

On the Path of Purgatory, Zhong Ming’s steps had indeed been heavy at first. But by the time he reached the middle of the first section, his pace had quietly quickened. By the latter half, he was already walking as if it were a normal stroll.

This sudden change left Ji Hao and Shen Wanshang stunned, their eyes filled with shocked disbelief.

"???"

"What’s going on? Why was it difficult for him at first, only to become easy?"

"Was he doing that on purpose? Is he toying with us?"