After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, everyone watching below the stage had already seen the situation clearly. Although the saber-wielding youth's technique had not fallen into disarray, he had completely lost his momentum, and his movements were hemmed in by the long sword. His defeat was only a matter of time.
Whether they were the hall masters and elders watching the match or the disciples below the stage, all were greatly astonished that Qin Fengming could display such skill at such a young age.
Judging by his age, he was only twelve or thirteen. Even if he had begun practicing martial arts at five, he had trained for no more than five or six years. Yet the might he displayed was like that of a seasoned veteran who had practiced martial arts for more than a decade.
"Hall Master Zhang, I heard this young disciple has already been taken under your wing. How did you manage to find such an excellent disciple? Could you tell us about it?"
Upon seeing Qin Fengming's abilities from the elevated platform, someone could not help asking Hall Master Zhang.
"Hahaha, what's so difficult about that? Although every hall present is considerably more imposing than my Hundred Refinements Hall, when it comes to discovering talent, none can compare with my Hundred Refinements Hall. Any disciple chosen for selection must first pass through the Hundred Refinements Hall under my control."
"Ah, if you hadn't mentioned it, old brother, I really would have forgotten. You truly have every advantage."
Although discussion ran rampant atop the elevated platform, Qin Fengming no longer gave the saber-wielding youth any chance. When his sword technique abruptly changed, a crisp clang rang out, and the two figures onstage suddenly stopped. A long saber fell to the floor.
"Senior Brother Qin won! Senior Brother has entered the top twenty and will enter Elite Hall—there's no doubt about it now." Amid a wave of uproar, the disciples who had come with Qin Fengming erupted in cheers, all of them immensely excited.
Although Qin Fengming had won, he was also panting heavily. After all, none of the people still competing were mediocre.
After informing Duan Meng and the others, Qin Fengming went straight back to his residence. As for the opponent he would face the next day, he did not dwell on it in the slightest. In any case, he would have to bring out a hundred and twenty percent of his strength in tomorrow's battle.
That evening, Qin Fengming once again went to Hundred Zhang Cliff.
His master was greatly pleased by Qin Fengming's performance during the day. After encouraging him for a while, he said, "Fengming, Sect Master Sima of Luoxia Valley will personally attend tomorrow's match. As long as you win again, you'll enter the top eight of this tournament. When that happens, I will certainly recommend you to the Sect Master so that you can enter Dark Night Hall."
Hearing his master's words, Qin Fengming felt both nervous and delighted. If things truly went as his master said, the road ahead of him would undoubtedly be far broader.
"Master, has my opponent for tomorrow's match been decided?" He knew his master had always been upright, but asking a little about it without violating the rules should not be too excessive.
"Heh heh, I can only tell you that your opponent tomorrow is also a person of considerable strength. You need only rest well and prepare for battle with all your might."
The next day, at the competition grounds.
As soon as Qin Fengming arrived, he saw an old man on the central elevated platform whom he had not seen during the previous two days. The old man wore an Eight Trigrams Immortal Robe and held a horsetail whisk. His face was as fair as jade, and a long beard flowed over his chest. Seated atop the platform, he naturally exuded an imposing air.
Seeing how extraordinary the old man was, Qin Fengming knew without asking that this person was none other than Sect Master Sima Qingshan.
Although Qin Fengming was pleasantly surprised to see the Sect Master attend in person, he also knew that he would have to fight with all his strength when he took the stage.
Seventh match. Qin Fengming once again climbed onto elevated platform five.
Qin Fengming's reappearance immediately drew a wave of cheers from below the stage. The voices came not only from the youths who had arrived with him; many of the young men participating in the tournament also called out their approval.
After the previous matches, Qin Fengming had already earned the respect he deserved. No one regarded him as merely a young boy anymore.
Turning his head toward the central viewing platform, he saw his master whispering something to Sect Master Sima. Qin Fengming was naturally delighted, but he quickly gathered his thoughts and looked toward the gray-robed youth opposite him.
The youth standing opposite him wore a solemn expression, his eyes bright and focused, without the slightest hint of contempt.
This youth had clearly learned of Qin Fengming's previous performance and no longer held even the slightest hope of luck.
When the youth presiding over the match gave the order, the opponent, who was a head taller than Qin Fengming, held a long spear but did not launch the first attack.
Seeing this, Qin Fengming smiled faintly. "Thank you for yielding the initiative, Senior Brother. Then forgive me."
With a flourish of his sword, the moves of the Thirteen Forms of the Willow poured forth like the Yellow River breaking its banks, surging out like a violent storm.
In an instant, a mass of white sword light began to revolve above elevated platform five, circling endlessly around the youth standing at its center.
As Qin Fengming unleashed his full strength, the sounds of dragons roaring and tigers howling rang out across the grounds. Hearing them, everyone watching below the stage felt a strange sense that there was nowhere to begin, as though they were utterly unable to find a way to oppose him.
Just as Qin Fengming was displaying the exquisite sword moves of the Thirteen Forms of the Willow with all his might, someone among those on the central elevated platform murmured under his breath:
"So that's how this sword technique can be used. Little Fengming has actually comprehended it to such a level. Even Little Wei seems inferior to him in comparison."
For his master, who had personally taught him, to utter such words meant that Qin Fengming, fighting atop the elevated platform, could finally set his heart at ease.
While Hall Master Zhang muttered to himself, Sect Master Sima, seated beside him, suddenly turned around. A note of astonishment escaped him as he said, "Brother Zhang, I once saw Heroine Liu execute this sword technique myself, but its artistic conception was vastly different. Could it be that you took another path and developed such a domineering sword technique?"
"You flatter me, Sect Master. This did not come from anything I taught him. He must have worked it out himself. Even within my wife's sect, I have never seen anyone execute the Thirteen Forms of the Willow in such a manner."
Hearing this, a thoughtful look immediately appeared on Sect Master Sima's face. His gaze fixed on elevated platform five, and he did not shift it in the slightest.
The spear-wielding youth's skill was not weak either. Once he displayed the Cloud Piercing Spear Technique, his advances and retreats were measured, and with offense and defense perfectly balanced, his spear moved like an impenetrable storm. His performance was truly commendable.
The two fought for more than a hundred exchanges, yet neither revealed the slightest sign of defeat.
"Brother Zhang, this young disciple of yours is truly a promising talent. In another twenty exchanges, he will certainly win." Just as the two combatants on the elevated platform remained locked in an even battle, Sect Master Sima chuckled and turned toward Zhang Li, speaking with certainty.
Hearing this, the solemn expression on Zhang Li's face eased slightly, and he nodded gently in agreement.
The other several elders were somewhat puzzled by the exchange between the two, but given their status, none of them openly asked about it.
As Sect Master Sima had predicted, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Qin Fengming thrust out a move. The youth opposite him raised his spear to deflect it, never expecting that Qin Fengming's move contained a major flaw. With a sharp twist of his wrist, the tip of the sword lightly grazed the youth's arm.
Although this strike was not enough to seriously injure the youth's arm, for the sake of his dignity and appearances, he naturally could not continue fighting Qin Fengming.
After this battle, Qin Fengming had entered the top ten of the tournament, and the plan his master had laid out had been perfectly completed.
Before you continue