Chapter Twenty-Five: Displaying Their Skills
Outer Gate Arena One: Qin Mengyun faces Zeng Hu. Arena Two: Shang Yu battles Lu Zifeng. Arena Three: Chu Ling against Li Chenglong. Arena Four: Gu Changqing versus Song Jiayan. Arena Five: Leng Zikang against Chen Xue.
Inner Gate Arena One: Zhao Xianyun faces Song Qing. Arena Two: Li Sanshan battles He Xier. Arena Three: Song Xianzhen versus Murong Ruxue. Arena Four: Yu Qingqing against Lin Shiyin. Arena Five: Murong Ye faces Mu Xifeng.
Looking at the twenty figures on the stage—not particularly imposing, yet each one radiating the aura of celestial warriors and fairies—many disciples below could not contain their excitement. They stood up, cheering and shouting, their voices rising and falling in waves.
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The ten top disciples, once on stage, exchanged respectful fist salutes. Then, each unleashed their skills: the Mountain-Splitting Axe, the Clear Cloud Sword, the Flame Blade, the Nether Twin Daggers... Some fought from afar, others engaged in close combat, exchanging blows directly.
Almost everyone revealed their true strength and signature techniques; at this stage, few could still conceal their prowess or play the fool. With evenly matched abilities, the higher their cultivation, the harder it was to determine a victor quickly.
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"Brother Zeng, let me test how much you've improved after your year of training outside," said Qin Mengyun.
Zeng Hu replied with silence, gripping his Mountain-Splitting Axe tightly and swinging it forcefully at Qin Mengyun, whose figure was delicate and refined.
Qin Mengyun, channeling true energy into her Clear Cloud Sword, managed to block the blow, sparks flying from the collision of their weapons.
Her hands trembled slightly, and the force drove Qin Mengyun back four or five steps. Realizing she had encountered a formidable opponent, she swiftly switched from direct confrontation to the Flowing Cloud Footwork, her graceful form circling Zeng Hu from a distance, her sword probing at his defenses from all angles.
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"Sister Chen Xue, is this all you've got?"
"If that's the extent of your power, you can concede. I don't wish to harm you," Leng Zikang said leisurely, having handled the fight with ease from the start.
Chen Xue, who had managed to keep pace initially, now clearly lagged behind.
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"Excellent!"
"Excellent! Now that's the spirit!"
Shang Yu and Lu Zifeng, both starting barehanded and engaging in direct combat, shouted their delight. Within moments, both were marked with bruises, their bodies covered in footprints, faces swollen and battered as they exchanged blows—countering with swift grabs and chasing palms.
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"Watch the blade! Watch the blade! My Flame Blade!"
Li Chenglong unleashed a relentless barrage of slashing attacks, the air filled with the sound of blades cutting through. His style was crude and aggressive.
Chu Ling, small in stature and wielding the Nether Twin Daggers, was not merely on the defensive. One dagger parried, the other spun and stabbed with precision. The entire arena became a battlefield of ice and fire.
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"Fatty Gu! Stand still!"
"Are you a man or not? I'm just a weak girl—what are you running from?"
"Sister, I really can't stop," Gu replied. "I ate too much before coming up; I need to run a bit to digest before I can fight you properly."
Even as he joked, Gu's feet moved like greased lightning, darting around the arena.
Song, chasing him for quite a while, watched as the other arenas erupted in fierce battles, while she and Gu seemed to be playing tag. She nearly burst into tears with frustration.
After another round of chasing, Song Jiayan finally stopped, staring at Gu as he continued his one-man show, running wildly around the stage as if performing solo.
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