CHAPTER 2055: CHAPTER 2053: BREAKING OUT UNDER PRESSURE

Fo Lanying furrowed her eyebrows and didn’t relax until she heard someone say Bai Ruozhu was all show.

Clad in blue, Bai Ruozhu didn’t stand out as much as Fo Lanying in her Jiuli Clan attire with a red base and black gold edges, yet she emanated an air of elegance and mystery. Xiaohei’s armor was dark, enhancing its steadiness.

Fo Lanying felt a sting to her eyes and became irritated, shouting, "Bai Ruozhu, you’re either relying on poison or external aids; that’s all you’re capable of."

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, "My Beast Pet is considered an external aid? Then does your Mechanical Puppet fall into the same category? If external aids are off-limits, my Beast Pet won’t step in, nor should you use Mechanical Puppets. How about that?"

"Why should I?" Fo Lanying yelled, "How can you tell a Mechanist not to use Mechanical Puppets?"

"You were the one who brought it up. When it’s on you, it’s all fair and justified, but on others, it’s all about incompetence. You really are running a double standard." Bai Ruozhu said disdainfully, and then dismounted from Xiaohei, patting its head.

Xiaohei affectionately nuzzled against her hand, looking quite gentle, unlike a Ferocious Beast that roams the jungle.

"It’s not the same!" Fo Lanying retorted.

Bi Tao sneered, "If you’re going to compete, Fo Lanying, stop making excuses. Are you preparing an exit strategy, worried you won’t be able to handle a loss?"

"Exactly, you borrowed Mechanical Puppets from your Elder, yet you’re forbidding others from using Beast Pets. How can you even say that?" Luo Xiang frankly stated.

"You... " Fo Lanying nearly cursed in anger.

A cough sounded, "Silence, the competition is about to begin. Both parties, please enter the Testing Ground."

The scene instantly quieted. The Second Elder appeared on the judge’s platform, his old face expressionless and clearly displeased.

Elder Su sat beside him, nodded to Bai Ruozhu, indicating his support for her.

Bai Ruozhu and Fo Lanying took the stage one after the other. The Fifth Elder waved his hand, an invisible air current encapsulated the Testing Ground.

"The Protective Barrier is set, the competition can begin at any time." The Fifth Elder said politely.

The Second Elder nodded, arrogantly glanced at Bai Ruozhu, and said, "The competition may begin. Follow the rules: no poison, no hidden weapons, no life-threatening attacks."

Bai Ruozhu secretly pouted, no hidden weapons? Would you uphold these trivial rules if you faced enemies in the River Jiang?

She brought Xiaohei to the center of the Testing Ground, silently calculating its dimensions. If Fo Lanying’s Mechanical Puppets were plenty, this fixed space would be quite disadvantageous for Bai Ruozhu.

"Both parties ready, begin the competition!" announced the Fifth Elder.

Cheers erupted below, with Onlookers shouting encouragement and some excited over their wagers.

"Bai Ruozhu, let’s see where you can hide today." Fo Lanying grinned slyly, throwing out her waist token. It emitted a clicking noise, transforming into an utterly black MechanicalMechanism Cat, even its eyes were black.

Bai Ruozhu squinted; she had overheard the Onlookers’ discussions that said the waist token was given to Fo Lanying by the Second Elder. She dared not be careless, knowing Fo Lanying intended a swift victory to redeem past disgrace.

"Xiaohei, be careful. Don’t meet force with force," Bai Ruozhu whispered.

Fo Lanying quickly tossed three rings more, and several Puppet Beasts appeared in the field, narrowing the movement Space.

"All of you, attack her!" Fo Lanying seemed like a queen looking down on others, filled with majesty, as if she could leave Bai Ruozhu unable to rise.

Bai Ruozhu swiftly drew her Dagger, and with a clang, she blocked the oncoming MechanicalMechanism Cat. It collided with her Dagger, remaining unscathed, emitting a crisp sound.

This Second Elder’s Mechanical Puppet is indeed impressive!

Bai Ruozhu became even more cautious, quickly forming hand seals, enveloping herself and Xiaohei.

"Huh? She knows Magic Techniques; this Bai Family girl is something." The Fifth Elder expressed his pleasant surprise after setting a defensive Barrier.

The Second Elder snorted coldly, "Broad but not deep, nothing special."

Elder Su, displeased, sternly said, "Surviving outside is what matters."

In the next moment, they heard a rip; a part of Bai Ruozhu’s sleeve was torn by the MechanicalMechanism Cat!

"Didn’t I say Fo Lanying would win? How could that outsider be a match for the Second Elder’s granddaughter?" someone exclaimed excitedly. The Second Elder’s face relaxed slightly, his eyes betraying a hint of a smile; he rather liked hearing others praise Fo Lanying.

Elder Su felt nervous for Bai Ruozhu, only to see her calmly take two steps back and point at a Puppet Dog nearby, saying, "Xiaohei, destroy it!"

With a howl, Xiaohei pounced, followed by the sound of creaking Metal, and the Puppet Dog was torn apart, losing its previous form.

Bai Ruozhu’s lips curled slightly. Since Fo Lanying liked using Mechanical Puppets, she would make it a one-way trip for them.

"How is this possible?" Fo Lanying exclaimed in anger, although that Puppet Dog wasn’t the best treasure of the Fo Family, it was quite sturdy. How did a leopard manage to tear it apart?

Bai Ruozhu sneered, "If you’re going to compete, then compete. Why so much chatter? If you can’t win, just surrender and don’t waste my precious time!"

"Nonsense! How could I not win against you?" Fo Lanying laughed hysterically, as if hearing the funniest joke ever.

In the next second, Bai Ruozhu moved, her figure flickering, and her Dagger aimed directly at Fo Lanying’s face.

Startled, Fo Lanying retreated rapidly, quickly throwing out two Mechanical Puppets to protect her.

Bai Ruozhu did not press forward recklessly, instead maneuvering with Xiaohei, biting two more Puppet Beasts, demonstrating Xiaohei’s mighty prowess.

"How could this be?" Fo Lanying yelled angrily, commanding the MechanicalMechanism Cat to launch a surprise attack. At any cost, she wanted Bai Ruozhu dead here.

On the sidelines, the Second Elder grew anxious, noticing Fo Lanying becoming more impatient, a Mechanist’s greatest fear.

He sternly shouted, "Sink your Qi to the Elixir Field, let the Mechanical Puppets perform to their best!"

Fo Lanying was awoken, calming down immediately.

Those watching the commotion, like Bi Tao and others, stamped their feet in anger. Wasn’t the Second Elder blatantly helping his granddaughter?

This time, Fo Lanying didn’t dare underestimate, calling forth all the Mechanical Puppets she could control. Suddenly, the crowd exclaimed, "Oh my, it’s the time-controlled Mechanical Puppets! The Second Elder’s granddaughter can actually wield ten Mechanical Puppets! She’s truly a genius!"

Bai Ruozhu’s pupils narrowed. She advanced to ten, was it a stroke of fortune in battle, or had she always hidden her strength?