I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

The crowd watched with bated breath, not daring to utter a single sound, fearing to miss even the slightest moment. "I wonder what's going to happen next? I'm so excited!" a young woman exclaimed, while her friend gently held her hand, comforting her, "Don't worry, we'll just take our time."

At the same time, Lin Xi and Genos exchanged a glance. The former's eyes revealed a hint of worry: "That middle-aged man doesn't look easy to deal with..." The latter nodded in agreement: "Yes, but the most important thing right now is to pay attention to Zhao Yan's situation. We can't be distracted and let him fall behind."

Amidst the chatter, a soft "pop" sound was heard—a sound that, though not loud, shook the entire crowd like thunder! Spiraling energy vortices appeared out of thin air around Mo Chen, emitting a mysterious and captivating glow under the sunlight. Then, a small storm composed of countless tiny points of light formed between the two of them, rapidly spinning towards Zhao Yan.

Everyone present was in awe of this scene. "Wow... is this going to summon a storm?!" "This, this is so cool!" Exclamations like these echoed one after another. The old man with the long beard was so surprised that his mouth opened wide, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a few words: "Wow..."

Though Zhao Yan appeared calm on the outside, his heart was roiling. This sudden change not only disrupted his rhythm but also left him feeling an unprecedented sense of oppression. But he was, after all, a formidable warrior honed through countless trials and tribulations, and he didn't retreat or panic easily. "Heh... Since you're so eager to showcase your abilities, I'll play along." With that, he folded his arms across his chest and slowly pushed forward, launching himself into the storm like an arrow...

"Hmph~ Do you think you can break my attack like this?" Mo Chen sneered. However, as soon as he finished speaking, he realized that he might have been a little too optimistic. After a brief contact, not only did he fail to cause any substantial damage to his opponent, but he was also drawn into the strange field created by the opponent, unable to move. "How is this possible... How could this happen..."

Lin Xi, standing in the crowd, couldn't help but tense up at the sight. "What should we do? It feels like the situation is getting confusing again!" Genos, standing next to him, seemed remarkably calm. "It's okay. As long as we trust him, he'll definitely find a solution." His tone was calm, but the trust in his eyes undoubtedly gave his companions a boost of confidence.

As the battle intensified, Zhao Yan gradually grasped the key and began attempting to reverse his disadvantage. Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, who had been intent on observing the situation, quietly stepped closer, clearly intrigued by the scene unfolding before him. "So that's how it is... It seems my earlier judgment was correct. This young man is truly worth the wait," he muttered to himself.

At that moment, the sky suddenly became overcast with thunder and lightning, signaling the imminent arrival of an unpredictable storm. "Hey... is this really a downpour?" someone asked, perplexed. But everyone soon realized it was simply another, even more bizarre phenomenon.

Just before the first drop of rain hit the ground, a golden light cascaded down from the clouds, illuminating half the battlefield and causing everyone to momentarily close their eyes. When the light faded and they reopened their eyes, they were shocked to find that Mo Chen had been firmly bound within a translucent aura, unable to move. Meanwhile, Zhao Yan stood before them, holding a long staff seemingly condensed from pure spiritual energy. His entire demeanor transformed, transforming him into a mighty and inviolable god of war.

The surroundings immediately became bustling with activity: "How, how did they do this?" "Oh my God... It's like a fight between gods!" All kinds of exclamations could be heard.

But things are not over yet, because at this critical moment the mysterious old man stood up again and broke the brief silence.

"Ha... what a fantastic match! And then—the result of the second round is decided!" His announcement immediately sent the crowd into a frenzy of celebration...

However, the stern-faced man stepped forward and said to the two contestants, "I'm very sorry to interrupt, but could I have a few minutes alone with Zhao Yan? I think we might have some kind of consensus and could discuss the possibility of future cooperation."

Zhao Yan, who had initially thought he'd won, was slightly skeptical, but he agreed. "Okay, then please wait a moment. We'll discuss this after the third round!" He turned around and prepared to continue the fight.

"Oh no, no... Actually, what I mean is that it might be more efficient and sincere if we start the discussion now. What do you think?" The middle-aged man suggested with a smile. Although his tone was gentle, his attitude was very firm.

Seeing this, Mo Chen could only smile wryly, expressing his understanding. "No problem, feel free to do as you please. I'm already defeated and can't continue the competition. I wish you a smooth negotiation, Brother Zhao."

And so, under the gaze of everyone, the two men walked to a corner of the venue and began their secret meeting... As for what would happen next, it was up to the readers to imagine and explore. While everyone was immersed in the shock of the brilliant duel, Zhao Yan and the mysterious middle-aged man slowly walked to a slightly secluded area. Although the surrounding crowd was still in the festive atmosphere, many people's attention was already drawn to this unexpected meeting.

"May I know who you are?" Zhao Yan nodded slightly, but his eyes never left the other person's face. He secretly wondered what his purpose was.

The man smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of admiration. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Lin Tianxing, and I'm currently in charge of a small team dedicated to cultivating young talents like you. I believe that based on the strength you demonstrated today, you will become someone that cannot be underestimated in the future."

Upon hearing this, a student in school uniform in the crowd suddenly widened his eyes and said to his friend next to him, "Do you think you're trying to poach Brother Zhao because you see his potential?" The friend replied with a face full of longing, "If I were Mr. Lin, I would definitely do the same!"

Meanwhile, the long-bearded elder, observing all the action from afar, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this young man is truly extraordinary. To possess such fighting prowess at this age is truly impressive."