Continuous Advancement

Xue Huaqing let out an angry roar, and a pale yellow spiritual power burst from within him, instantly spreading throughout his body as waves of air surged outward in all directions.

In his palm, a mass of yellow spiritual power spun at high speed, forming blade-like wind edges that radiated overwhelming force.

"Thousand Blades Palm!"

Xue Huaqing thrust both palms toward Lin Xuan. The fierce palm wind was like hundreds upon hundreds of blade gleams, roaring with heavy force.

Bang!

Lin Xuan stood as steady as Mount Tai and fiercely threw out his right fist. This punch drove every muscle in his body, following the force-generating method of Thunder Movement Swordsmanship as all its power gathered upon his fist.

The two figures collided, and terrifying energy ripples swept in every direction. The spectators in front were blown back again and again by the violent gale.

On the arena, Lin Xuan stood tall as a mountain, his expression as calm as water without the slightest change. Xue Huaqing, on the other hand, staggered back several steps, his breathing turning extremely rapid.

The spectators in the stands felt a chill run through them, especially the disciples of the Divine Might Corps. They knew Xue Huaqing's strength well—he was at the peak of Meridian Condensation Stage Five, and his Thousand Blades Palm had reached the level of mastery. Under ordinary circumstances, he could even contend against disciples at the Sixth Level of Meridian Condensation, yet now he had been driven back by a single punch.

Surprise appeared in Duan Fei's, Jiang Yulong's, and the others' eyes. Even Shen Qian'er, who had remained silent the whole time, gave Lin Xuan a few extra glances.

"If this brat isn't eliminated, he'll become a scourge!" Jiang Yulong suddenly remembered his agreement with Lin Xuan. He had originally forgotten all about it, but Lin Xuan's stunning performance made it surface in his mind once more.

Damn it, how is this guy so strong? Xue Huaqing's expression darkened. He had already declared that he would make Lin Xuan crawl out of here. If he failed to do so, he would lose all face.

"Yellow Wind Step!"

Xue Huaqing began running at high speed, his body becoming blurred and indistinct. Gradually, afterimages of him appeared across the arena.

"Wind Races Across the World!" While moving at high speed, Xue Huaqing launched another attack, merging his palm wind into his movement technique. His footwork had originally been a mid-grade Yellow Rank martial art, and his palm technique was also mid-grade Yellow Rank. Yet once the two were combined, their power broke through the mid-grade Yellow Rank, faintly reaching the might of a high-grade Yellow Rank martial art.

"This kid has some ideas," Jiang Yulong said gravely.

Feeling that violent palm wind, Lin Xuan took a deep breath, then stamped his foot against the ground and shot forward.

Thunder Rush!

His right fist shot straight out, without any flourish, relying entirely on overwhelming force.

Boom!

Xue Huaqing's prized palm wind was utterly unable to withstand Lin Xuan's attack. Like exquisite porcelain, it shattered with a thunderous crash.

Pfft! His body skidded backward more than ten meters before flying straight off the arena and crashing to the ground.

"What formidable power!" Some of the advancing disciples began paying attention to Lin Xuan and secretly assessing his strength. Some had already regarded him as an opponent and begun searching for his weaknesses.

Duan Fei narrowed his eyes. He had never imagined that the little sword servant who had just entered the sect three months ago would grow to this extent.

"Looks like things aren't going too well for your Divine Might Corps," Luo Yi said with his arms folded and a smile.

"Hmph!" Yan Kong's face darkened. He wished he could rush up and kill Lin Xuan at once. Jiang Yulong's gaze also flickered as though he were pondering something. As for Shangguan Liuyun, ranked first, he had kept his eyes closed in meditation all along, as if nothing could draw his attention.

The competition continued. The disciples on the arenas fought with all their strength, dazzling lights spilling everywhere, terrifying spiritual-power fluctuations surging as cheers and shouts shook the sky.

Duan Fei's appearance pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

That handsome face of his was enough to slay most female disciples in an instant. Coupled with the title of one of the Four Outer Sect Elites, nearly the entire martial arts arena was calling Duan Fei's name.

"This fellow will be quite a good prospect after entering the inner sect," said a black-clad young man near the golden stands.

"But he belongs to the Battle Group. I'm afraid you won't be able to poach him, will you?" the young man beside him said, sparing no courtesy.

"Hmph, what three great organizations? They're just names invented by a bunch of bored people. With the battle situation outside so urgent, the safest arrangement is naturally the squad system," the black-clad young man said.

The young man beside him shook his head helplessly and said nothing more...

On the golden platform, several sect elders watched Duan Fei and said with smiles, "Quite a few good youngsters have appeared in this selection tournament."

"Oh? I wonder which ones Elder Li has taken a liking to?"

"I think the Four Outer Sect Elites are all quite good," Elder Li said with a beaming smile.

"You old fox, aren't you being too greedy?" another elder said, blowing out his beard. "I think all of the top ten are quite good!"

"Old Fang, which youngsters do you think are promising?" someone asked Elder Fang.

Elder Fang stroked his beard and said with a smile, "I think that Lin Xuan is quite good. What do you all think?"

"Lin Xuan? No impression..." The elders shook their heads.

Elder Fang did not mind. He changed the subject and began discussing something else.

On the arena, Duan Fei moved like a swift gale, so fast that people could not react. In the end, his opponent was directly spun dizzy from being run around.

When Duan Fei stepped down from the arena, countless female disciples screamed at the top of their lungs. All of this made Jiang Yulong extremely displeased.

When it was his turn to enter the arena, his opponent was out of luck. He was directly sent flying by a single sword strike, coughing up blood without end.

After that, Shen Qian'er, Yan Kong, Luo Yi, Tang Yu, and the others took the stage one after another, all claiming victory. However, when the referee made another announcement, the entire martial arts arena suddenly fell silent.

There was naturally only one name with such magic: Shangguan Liuyun.

His opponent was contestant number twenty-three, but the other party directly forfeited, leaving everyone disappointed for quite a while.

The second round ended, and the third round began.

Fortunately, Yin Qingyi received another bye. It left her somewhat dazed and made countless disciples jealous to death.

In the third round, those highly ranked contestants once again displayed their formidable strength.

On arena three, contestant number fifteen, Wei Yong, stared at Jiang Yulong in terror. One move—just one move—and he had been defeated. He was unwilling, helpless, yet did not dare step forward to challenge him again.

On arena one, contestant number seventeen, Guo Fang, danced his longsword through the air. Dazzling sword gleams filled the entire space as he thrust out thirteen hundred consecutive strikes, making even the void tremble, yet he failed to touch even the corner of Duan Fei's robe.

And after those thirteen hundred strikes, Duan Fei used only one palm strike to send him flying.

On arena five, Lin Xuan's opponent was Luo Yi.

"Haha, Brother Lin, I never expected you and I would end up having a match like this!" Luo Yi said with a laugh.

"Indeed." Lin Xuan could not help sighing. He remembered that he had met Luo Yi during his first visit to the Mission Hall, and later Luo Yi's movement technique had sparked his interest.

"I hope Senior Brother Luo won't hold back," Lin Xuan said gravely.

Luo Yi was stunned. When people exchanged pleasantries, they usually said they hoped the other party would show mercy, but Lin Xuan had actually said he hoped Luo Yi would not hold back. Still, he understood that Lin Xuan said this because he did not want him to have any reservations.

"Brother Lin, you really are straightforward. Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Luo Yi laughed loudly and took a step forward. Like fleeting light skimming shadows, he arrived directly before Lin Xuan.