Xiao Huang froze for a moment, then his gaze sharpened, and he said gravely:
"Wuming, I, Xiao Huang, was not mistaken. You are the opponent I have waited a hundred bitter years for in this Heaven Shocking Realm!"
Xu Taiping took a step back, assuming his fist stance as he said expressionlessly:
"I, too, have long awaited this battle!"
The battle between Xiao Huang and Guan Cixue just now had thoroughly convinced Xu Taiping that Xiao Huang was the opponent he needed to break through the fifth stage of Star-Soul Body Tempering.
Only then did the surrounding spectating cultivators react:
"This Wuming actually revealed his combat strength of his own accord, too!"
"Neither of them is concealing his combat strength anymore!"
"They simply see each other as opponents, nothing more!"
Inside the pavilion, the expressions on Ping'an's and Old Daoist Huang's faces had also shifted from their initial bewilderment and confusion to shock and admiration.
Reclining in her chair, Ninth Madam said with a thoroughly delighted smile:
"I never thought that, even today, I could still see such youthful spirit in these cultivators of the Upper Realm."
As though something had occurred to her, she immediately added:
"How wonderful."
Just then, Boy Siyou's voice suddenly rang out from the Bronze Sparrow Platform:
"If neither of you objects, this competition will begin after three tolls of the bell."
Xiao Huang, who had now recovered all his combat strength through pills, stared unblinkingly at Xu Taiping and grinned:
"I have no objection!"
Xu Taiping met Xiao Huang's gaze without blinking and said expressionlessly:
"Neither do I."
Upon hearing this, Boy Siyou immediately announced once more:
"Since neither of you objects, the competition will officially begin after three tolls of the bell."
As he spoke, a boom rang out, and Siyou's figure abruptly