Assessment Turmoil

Xiao Yu nodded coldly, then stepped forward, her body gliding out like a butterfly. She lightly raised her slender wrist, formed her fingers into a sword, and pointed toward the center of her cousin's brow.

"Sword Finger."

A high-tier Xuan-rank Dou Technique.

Out of respect for the cousin before her, she used one of the only two high-tier Xuan-rank Dou Techniques that Xiao Ling had taught her.

Seeing this, a flash of unwillingness appeared in the eyes of the girl in green. She raised her jade-like hand and struck toward Xiao Yu.

"Crushing Stone Palm."

However, no surprises occurred; Xiao Yu's "Sword Finger" stopped steadily at the center of the girl's brow.

Afterward, Xiao Yu withdrew her hand, turned around, and walked off the stage.

Seeing this, the Third Elder shook his head and announced.

"Ring number one, Xiao Yu wins."

On the other side, Xiao Wu also took down his opponent in one move and looked toward Xiao Yu, a hint of fighting spirit in his eyes.

"Ring number three, Xiao Wu wins."

As the elimination rounds continued, more and more of the younger generation of the Xiao Clan were weeded out, until only ten people remained on the rings.

The Third Elder looked toward the main platform again, and seeing Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ling nod in acknowledgment, he announced.

"Next is the final battle of the ring tournament. You will draw lots to determine your opponents, and all ten of you will enter the next round, the Hunting Competition. These rankings are not absolute; if any of you perform well in the Hunting Competition, you will still have the chance to move up a rank. Do you all understand?"

"We understand, Third Elder."

Hearing this, the group of Xiao Clan disciples nodded in response.

They then began to draw lots again. Xiao Yu picked up a bamboo slip and glanced at it; a large red character "one" was carved onto it, causing her willow brows to furrow slightly.

At this moment, Xiao Wu, who was nearby, looked toward Xiao Yu and grinned. He flipped over the bamboo slip in his hand and saw that it also had a large blue character "one" on it.

Seeing this, the Third Elder gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"First match, Xiao Wu versus Xiao Yu. The rest of you, take a short rest."

As soon as his voice fell, Xiao Wu strode onto the high platform in front of the Martial Arts Arena—the main ring for this event—and looked toward Xiao Yu, laughing loudly.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, please enlighten me."

Hearing this, a look of gravity appeared in Xiao Yu's eyes. She leaped lightly onto the ring and said in a crisp voice.

"Cousin Xiao Wu, how about we decide the winner in one move?"

"Haha, good, that's exactly what I wanted."

Xiao Wu laughed heartily.

He then took a step forward, and an aura of the ninth stage of Dou Power rose from his body. He looked at Xiao Yu before him and said in a deep voice.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, show your true cultivation level, otherwise you won't be my match."

"Fine, as you wish."

Xiao Yu suppressed the surprise in her heart, lifted her foot, and took a step down. An aura even stronger than Xiao Wu's rose from her body.

"This... holy crap... were they both hiding their cultivation?"

"..."

The surrounding Xiao Clan juniors began to whisper among themselves; this scene truly shocked them to the core.

At this moment, Xiao Wu raised his large hand, curled his fingers into claws, and swiped toward Xiao Yu's neck.

"Fierce Claw Strike."

His "Fierce Claw Strike" was not the original version from the Xiao Clan, but one that Brother Xiao Ling had taught him. Its power was twice that of the original, reaching the threshold of a Xuan-rank Dou Technique.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu took a deep breath, her slightly rounded chest heaving, radiating the charm of adolescence.

She raised her hand, formed her fingers into a sword, and executed the Sword Finger again. However, the power this time was incomparable to before; the moment she pointed, it carried a faint sword qi.

"Ssh..."

As the claw and finger collided, an invisible force rippled outward. If the material of the ring hadn't been so hard, it would likely have been plowed three feet deep.

After the two sides stalemated for over ten seconds, Xiao Yu seized the opportunity. Using that fleeting opening, she instantly shattered all of Xiao Wu's defenses.

"Cousin Xiao Wu, I concede the victory to you."

Xiao Yu cupped her hands to show respect; if she hadn't had the advantage of the technique, the outcome of this match would have been hard to say.

"Thank you for holding back, Cousin Xiao Yu. A loss is a loss, but I will win it back next time."

Xiao Wu laughed loudly.

However, just as Xiao Wu finished speaking, a figure in black flew into the Martial Arts Arena. After landing, he didn't even bother to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and hurriedly bowed toward the main platform.

"Young Master Xiao Ling, Patriarch, it's Aoba Pa, Jia Liebi, and the others who have forced their way in. The brothers couldn't stop them in time..."

"Haha, Xiao Zhan, the dogs your Xiao Clan keeps are so rude, daring to block even us. I'll teach them a lesson for you; you won't mind, will you?!"

Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi led the experts of their clans along with a group of teenagers, walking toward the Martial Arts Arena while chatting.

"You..."

Hearing this, the lungs of the Xiao Clan disciples were practically bursting with rage; if not for the Third Elder, Xiao Yu, Xiao Wu, and the others holding them back, they would have already rushed up to fight to the death!!

On the main platform, Xiao Ling watched Aoba Pa and the others, a trace of anger appearing on his cold face, while a surge of intense killing intent rose within his heart.

The sudden turn of events made Xiao Ling's heart stir.

Could it be that because of my presence, the plot has deviated? After all, this scene never happened in the original story...

"Aoba Pa, Jia Liebi, you are courting death!"

Xiao Zhan stood up in a fury: "Do you want to start a war with my Xiao Clan?!"