Ding Qian?

Wei Zhao let out a breath of relief and dragged his injured body out of the Arena, staggering as he went. He knew his injuries were serious and needed to be bandaged immediately, or they might leave behind lasting damage.

The Outer Court disciples looked at his miserable state and sighed. "Senior Brother Wei Zhao's fight-to-the-death style may have won him the battle, but it was too brutal... If he encounters a stronger opponent, he may lose his life."

Wei Zhao's success in clearing the trial did not bring much surprise. Instead, it made some Body Refining Tenth Level disciples who had been eager to try lose their nerve. Even Wei Zhao had fought so bitterly—wouldn't they simply be throwing their lives away if they went in?

Sure enough, several more disciples stepped into the arena afterward. They were either eliminated quickly, or beaten to the brink of death by the Fierce Beasts inside, only to be rescued by the Elders in the end.

"Next, Jin Zhong!"

Just when everyone thought there would be no more impressive performances today, the deacon announced the next name.

The crowd erupted once more!

Jin Zhong! Another top genius among the Outer Court disciples, famed for his exquisite Sword Technique and hailed as the "Outer Court's Second Genius"!

A young man in a green robe, a longsword in hand, slowly stepped out from the crowd. His features were refined and his bearing elegant, forming a stark contrast to Wei Zhao's ferocity. He did not walk quickly, yet his steps carried a distinct rhythm, as though strolling leisurely through a courtyard, until he reached the entrance to the Trial Secret Realm.

"Senior Brother Jin Zhong!"

"Look, it's Senior Brother Jin Zhong! They say his Sword Technique has already reached the realm of divine mastery!"

"I wonder if Senior Brother Jin Zhong can clear the trial like Senior Brother Wei Zhao did? Even Senior Brother Wei Zhao had such a hard fight..."

"Hard to say. Senior Brother Jin Zhong's Sword Technique may be formidable, but the Iron Claw Saber-tooth Tiger's defense is astonishing. It probably won't be easy to break through."

The Outer Court disciples discussed it fervently, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

Wei Zhao, who had just finished having his wounds bandaged and was resting to one side, also lifted his head and fixed his blazing gaze on Jin Zhong. Jin Zhong was one of his most direct rivals. He dearly wanted to see how Jin Zhong would perform against the Iron Claw Saber-tooth Tiger.

Jin Zhong took a deep breath and stepped into the Arena without the slightest hesitation.

Soon, the scene in the water mirror shifted. A Fierce Beast even larger than the previous Iron Claw Saber-tooth Tiger appeared before Jin Zhong. Its entire body was covered in thick black fur, and it looked astonishingly well-defended.

Sensing the powerful aura emanating from the Fierce Beast, a trace of gravity appeared on Jin Zhong's formerly calm face.

Roar!

With a roar, the Fierce Beast broke into a heavy charge toward Jin Zhong, kicking up a powerful, blood-reeking gale.

Facing the Fierce Beast's savage rush, Jin Zhong did not meet it head-on as Wei Zhao had. Instead, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes, and his body drifted backward like willow fluff, narrowly evading the beast's charge.

"What incredible speed!"

Just as the Fierce Beast turned around to attack again, Jin Zhong moved!

At some point, the longsword in his hand had already left its sheath. With a flash of sword light, it appeared like a phantom from an extraordinarily tricky angle, thrusting precisely toward the Fierce Beast's eye!

Struck by pain, the Fierce Beast let out an enraged roar and slammed its eyes shut, while its massive claw swept horizontally at Jin Zhong.

Jin Zhong reacted with extreme speed, his figure drifting back in an unpredictable blur to evade the attack once more.

The battle that followed became entirely Jin Zhong's personal performance.

He did not employ many techniques, but his Sword Technique was exquisite to the extreme—phantom-like and traceless!

No matter how the Fierce Beast roared, charged, or slashed with its claws, Jin Zhong could always evade at the very last instant. At the same time, the longsword in his hand would invariably appear in the strangest, most unexpected places, each strike precisely piercing the beast's relatively vulnerable spots—its eyes, its armpits, or the soft flesh of its belly.

Though the Fierce Beast possessed boundless strength and astonishing defense, before Jin Zhong's phantom-like Sword Technique, it seemed incomparably clumsy. It was repeatedly wounded and roared without end, yet it could never truly harm Jin Zhong in the slightest.

Jin Zhong seemed to be toying with the enormous Fierce Beast, handling it with effortless ease.

"My heavens! Is... is he toying with a Fierce Beast?"

"That's incredible! Senior Brother Jin Zhong's Sword Technique is simply divine!"

"As expected of the Outer Court's Second Genius! That Sword Technique—I'm convinced!"

The Outer Court disciples stared in stunned disbelief, cries of amazement rising all around.

At last, satisfied smiles appeared on the faces of the Elders atop the platform.

"Good! What a Jin Zhong!" One Elder stroked his beard and praised him. "His Sword Technique is profound, his Movement Technique agile. He knows how to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, how to keep the Fierce Beast at bay. This temperament and talent of his far surpass that Wei Zhao from before! At last, a genius worth looking at has appeared!"

"Mm. This child's Sword Technique possesses great spirit. He is worth cultivating well," another Elder agreed with a nod.

Within the water mirror, the battle continued for roughly a quarter of an hour. Though the Fierce Beast was powerful and difficult to deal with, under Jin Zhong's constant attrition and precise strikes, it gradually began to show signs of fatigue.

"Now!" A sharp gleam flashed through Jin Zhong's eyes. He knew the moment had come.

He no longer dodged. Rather than retreating, he advanced, shooting toward the Fierce Beast like an arrow released from its bow. The longsword in his hand erupted with a terrifying edge unlike any before!

Ssh!

The sword light flashed and vanished, like a meteor streaking across the night.

Jin Zhong appeared on the other side of the Fierce Beast. His longsword returned to its sheath, his movements flowing as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

The enormous Fierce Beast suddenly froze. The savage light in its eyes swiftly faded, replaced by endless terror and unwillingness. A tiny bloody hole had appeared in its head, blood gushing from it.

The next instant, the Fierce Beast's massive body crashed to the ground, dying on the spot!

Hiss—

A chorus of sharp breaths rang out across the plaza.

"Too strong! That sword strike was so cool!"

"One strike seals the throat! Senior Brother Jin Zhong is incredible!"

"Jin Zhong, qualified!" This time, the Outer Court Elder on the high platform did not stint on his praise, a trace of satisfaction in his voice. "Excellent!"

Jin Zhong let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. The battle just now had drained a great deal of both his Mental Power and physical strength. He bowed to the Elders on the high platform, then turned and left the dueling stage.

Jin Zhong's brilliant performance sent the atmosphere across the entire Outer Court square soaring to a new peak!

"Senior Brother Jin Zhong is incredible! He's far stronger than Senior Brother Wei Zhao!"

"Yeah, that was practically a complete crush!"

"I wonder what kind of performance Senior Brother Ding Qian will put on next?"

At the mention of Ding Qian's name, the discussions in the square instantly grew even more fervent. Everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation and fanaticism!

Ding Qian!

The publicly acknowledged number one genius of Feiyun Sect's Outer Court! His strength was unfathomable; it was said that he had already stepped half a foot into the Qi Gathering Realm! He was the greatest favorite in this Inner Sect Selection Competition!

Even Jin Zhong, who had just passed the trial, could not help revealing a complicated expression when he heard Ding Qian's name. He knew that there was still no small gap between himself and Wei Zhao, and Ding Qian.

Senior Brother Ding Qian will surely be able to defeat the Fierce Beast with ease, right? Jin Zhong thought to himself.

The Elders on the high platform also adjusted their postures one after another, expectant looks appearing on their faces. Ding Qian was one of the disciples they thought most highly of, and they too wanted to see just what level his current strength had reached.

The deacon in charge of calling names took a deep breath and shouted in the most resounding voice he could muster:

"Next, Ding Qian!"