At Du Busi's words, Ning Feng, Vina, and Mu Xue exchanged glances.
Although they didn't fully understand Du Busi's intentions...
Since the Sect Master had personally ordered this test, they had no reason to refuse—and they couldn't refuse anyway.
So the three quickly adjusted their stances.
Ning Feng stepped forward. The muscles on either side of his shoulders swelled, two more heads emerged, and six arms hung at his sides. He had activated Three Heads and Six Arms.
Vina's expression grew focused. Her Brain raced as she calculated the opponent's various abilities, while a pale-blue snowflake floated in her hand.
Mu Xue released her Ice-and-Snow Martial Soul. A chill spread from her as she prepared to support the other two.
Meanwhile, the elder stood in the center of the arena, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.
He leaned forward, pushed off the ground, and charged at Ning Feng.
"Watch out!"
The elder's charge was incredibly fast.
After all, he was a level ninety-two Titled Douluo.
So even though he had suppressed his Soul Power to level thirty for the purpose of testing Ning Feng and the others, and hadn't yet used any Soul Skills or combat techniques...
His battle-hardened body was still no joke.
At that moment, there was a sharp swish...
The elder was already in front of Ning Feng, and his fist came crashing down.
Behind them...
Mu Xue immediately swung her arm. First Soul Skill: Snowflake Dance!
Countless paper-thin snowflakes immediately began circling the elder, trying to restrict his movements.
At the same time, Vina made her move.
Her eyes flickered as she used the Mental Prediction technique to pinpoint the muscle groups the elder was using to strike.
Vina instantly made a precise assessment and called out a warning to Ning Feng!
"Below the left ribs!"
"Got it!"
Ning Feng heard Vina's warning and twisted aside, dodging the elder's straight punch.
Ning Feng had avoided the direct hit, but the punch slammed into the ground, leaving a huge crater in the specially crafted floor of the Sect Master Hall.
"So fast, and so powerful! No wonder a Titled Douluo's body is so formidable!" Ning Feng thought to himself.
But he didn't let the opportunity pass.
Even the elder had left himself briefly exposed after his attack missed.
So Ning Feng seized the opening and launched a full-force assault!
Six Extremes: Iron-Collapsing Force!
Ape Form Fist!
Six Extremes: Collapse Fist!
He unleashed the three combat techniques in succession, his fists bursting with force. Each blow was ferocious, sometimes accompanied by a sound like breaking stone, sometimes by an ape's roar. In the end, every strike landed squarely on the elder's body.
Yet the elder's body was simply too tough.
Although Ning Feng's attacks hit their mark, they had no tangible effect.
The elder merely drew in his stomach slightly, contracting every muscle in his body. He took the attack head-on without moving even a step.
"Self-created combat techniques?"
"Not bad..."
"But not enough!"
The elder pursed his lips and gave Ning Feng no chance to attack again. He swept his right arm across, landing a punch squarely on Ning Feng's side.
The blow carried tremendous force. Ning Feng flew backward and crashed heavily onto the ground five meters away.
Seeing this, Vina and Mu Xue cried out at once, "Ning Feng!"
Vina immediately turned her Martial Soul toward him and activated her first Soul Skill, Snow Lotus Healing. A pale-pink glow enveloped Ning Feng where he lay.
But the elder was faster.
He wasn't deliberately targeting the three of them. It was just that their situation was unusual, and he was a cautious man, so he didn't want them going out on dangerous missions lightly.
Since he had already made a wager with Du Busi, giving the three of them a chance to go out on a mission, he had an even greater responsibility to ensure their safety. That meant raising the standard of the test!
Otherwise, if anything happened, it would be too late for regrets!
So at that moment...
He blurred forward, taking advantage of Vina and Mu Xue being distracted. He struck out with both hands, hitting each of them on the shoulder.
They were sent flying as well, landing beside Ning Feng.
The elder shook his head and commented, "Too weak. Your reactions are sluggish, and your teamwork is clumsy. You still need more practice!"
But Du Busi, watching from not far away, felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
He lowered his voice and muttered:
"That old bastard has no shame."
"How can he even bring himself to say that?"
"So what if he's suppressed his Soul Power? A level ninety-two Titled Douluo's body is already Steel Tendons and Iron Bones, even without using a single Soul Skill."
"He's dead set on keeping the kids from going out to train!"
Still...
Though Du Busi grumbled, he hoped the three youngsters would show a little more grit.
After all, the elder might be playing dirty, but he was one of their own, and he was holding back at every turn.
But if they left the sect and ran into trouble, no one else would go easy on them like the elder did.
By now, Ning Feng had gotten back to his feet. He pulled Vina and Mu Xue up with him.
Vina activated her Snow Lotus Martial Soul and quickly healed herself and Mu Xue.
She looked at Ning Feng, determination in her eyes.
"Junior Brother..."
"We can't keep holding back."
Vina spoke.
"The elder's strength is unfathomable. If we don't give it everything we've got, all we can do is take a beating."
Ning Feng nodded and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Mm... You two cover me."
Vina and Mu Xue exchanged a glance and answered together, "Okay!"
Mu Xue moved first. She took a deep breath and released her third Soul Skill.
Snow Dance Binding!
Countless flakes of snow rose from the ground, forming a massive swirling tornado that trapped the elder in its center.
The tornado's centrifugal force was immense. It briefly restricted the elder's movements, making him pause for an instant.
"Now!"
Ning Feng seized the opening and charged forward.
He drew upon every last bit of Soul Power within his body, pushing his strength to its absolute peak.
Three Phases World-Suppressing!
Six Paths Heaven-Opening!
Formless Dharma Body!
Ning Feng activated all three enhancements at once. His body grew a size larger, his muscles bulged, and every one of his arms was wrapped in raging energy.
Vina followed close behind, pouring all the light of her Snow Lotus Martial Soul into Ning Feng's back and continuously boosting his condition.
Ning Feng's aura had now reached its peak!
Thud! Thud!
He rushed up to the elder, raised all six fists high, and brought them down together with crushing force.
The elder braced himself, taking a defensive stance and choosing to withstand Ning Feng's attack head-on.
Six Extremes Heaven-Collapsing Force!
Boom!
The shockwave from the collision shook the stone pillars inside the hall.
But this time, the elder didn't remain as still as he had before.
His feet slid back two or three steps, and the hard floor tiles shattered beneath him.
When the elder looked up at Ning Feng, surprise showed on his face.
"This kid..."
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