While Gu Qingli and Sikong Ran sat in the audience earlier, Sikong Ran had confided in Gu Qingli that the arena was crafted from an extraordinarily resilient stone, further reinforced by the blessings of several formidable warriors. Such a platform could not be shattered by forces below the rank of a King; only a high-star King could hope to mar its surface, while lower-ranked Martial Kings' strength might or might not suffice.
Those words still echoed vividly in Gu Qingli's mind, yet scarcely moments later, they were proven utterly fallacious.
The venom spat forth by the colossal toad hissed as it seeped into the arena's stone floor, corroding a small crater into its surface—a stark testament to the venom's devastating corrosive potency. Should even a trace cling to flesh, the victim would be stripped bare of any protection.
Though Li Ke'er inwardly cursed Gu Qingli's nimble evasion, she quickly commanded the toad to launch another assault. Though she retained some hidden trump cards, she fervently hoped to vanquish Gu Qingli without resorting to them, as their expenditure would be a grievous loss.
After all, the purple-toxic giant toad was notoriously ferocious; Li Ke'er was convinced it would be no match for such a diminutive opponent as Gu Qingli.
As Gu Qingli vaulted backward, evading the toad's strike, she contemplated that its thick, almost impervious hide made conventional attacks futile. Yet, she was far from without recourse.
What was deemed "impervious" was relative to Gu Qingli's current offensive strength—the toad's flesh could still withstand her blows.
With a sharp crack, Gu Qingli lashed her whip once more across the toad's bulk. Intent on draining the creature's venomous reservoirs before initiating a decisive strike, she sought to neutralize its greatest threat.
Li Ke'er's frustration boiled over.
"Gu Qingli, do you lack the courage for a direct confrontation? What use is your cunning, darting about like a coward?" she jeered, her voice ringing out loudly enough to provoke the entire crowd—an intentional taunt.
Gu Qingli's evasiveness frustrated her; neither she nor her purple-toxic beast could match Gu Qingli's unfathomable speed and elusive grace.
Casually, Gu Qingli retorted, "Then try and catch me."
Her nonchalant tone, as if leisurely strolling a garden path, only infuriated Li Ke'er further, drawing laughter from the audience while threatening to make Li Ke'er choke on her own fury.
This was the first time many had witnessed the prodigious Gu Qingli's legendary talents. Her speed alone surpassed that of many lower-star Martial Kings. Even more astonishing was her composure and calm in the face of danger—traits incongruous with her tender age of twelve.
Half an hour slipped by, and the spectators' admiration for Gu Qingli grew exponentially. Talent alone might inspire awe, but when coupled with unparalleled resolve and unyielding patience, it commands profound respect.
"Miss Gu of the Sixth House is truly formidable—her poise and endurance are exceptional."
"Indeed. Were it me, I would have buckled long ago under such relentless provocation."
Unbeknownst to most, Li Ke'er had spent the entire time hurling insults at Gu Qingli, nearly exhausting her breath. Yet Gu Qingli remained unshaken, her intellect and caution rendering her impervious to provocation.
Li Ke'er's anxiety deepened; the venom coursing through the giant toad's body was a crucial element in her strategy to annihilate Gu Qingli.
Yet Gu Qingli refused to draw near, moving with such speed that she was often merely a fleeting shadow. Her emerald whip struck each venomous sac with uncanny precision, rupturing them one by one.
The arena floor transformed, pockmarked with pits and fissures, smoke curling from numerous scorched patches.
Throughout this drawn-out contest, Gu Qingli's agility was mesmerizing—evading the giant toad's furious lunges with near-miraculous grace, her perseverance inspiring the crowd.
"This girl will surely achieve greatness," they murmured.
"To endure what ordinary mortals cannot, combined with such innate talent—she embodies the essence of heaven and earth."
Oblivious to the murmurs, Gu Qingli wiped the sweat from her brow, fatigue creeping in after the relentless exertion.
At last, she had nearly depleted the venomous sacs on the toad's body. Her intuition told her that, as a creature of poison, its lethality was greatest within its own toxic reserves.
All previous warnings about the Li family's cunning and ruthlessness had ingrained a deep caution in her, sharpening her vigilance.
Suddenly, a surge of brilliant azure energy flooded her frame, intertwined with shimmering silver spiritual power—a formidable display of her might.
This marked Gu Qingli's first direct assault since stepping onto the arena.
Li Ke'er's incensed tirade abruptly cut off mid-phrase as she screamed, releasing a torrent of gray spiritual energy.
The infamous purple-toxic giant toad reacted with blinding speed, unleashing its blood-red tongue—a sinuous, monstrous appendage—toward Gu Qingli's face with a terrifying rush of air.
Prepared in advance for this very strike, Gu Qingli dodged with lightning agility.
The crimson tongue crashed into the ground where she had just stood, the crowd collectively holding their breath at her narrow escape.
Leaping into the air, Gu Qingli launched several silver needles streaking with green energy like falling stars.
These needles, coated with specialized medicine, found their mark piercing the toad's eyes.
She had awaited this precise moment; exhausting the toad's venom was but a tactic to weaken it and diminish the threat it posed.
The giant toad let out a piercing, agonized croak.