He knew full well that even if Second Senior Brother broke through to Spirit Refining, defeating the Sect Master in a head-on sword inquiry would certainly not be easy.
So from the very beginning of the match, he had considered exploiting the Sect Master's arrogance and favoritism to severely wound him.
Before a duel between high-rank cultivators, even the slightest damage to either the divine soul or the cinnabar heart could very well lead to defeat and death.
"Xu Taiping smashed the Sect Master's flying sword?"
"How... how is that possible?"
"Xu Taiping actually has the strength to fight the Sect Master."
At this sight, Five Elders Pool, which had fallen deathly silent after Xu Taiping shattered the flying sword with a single punch, erupted once more.
Amid the cries of shock and doubt, the Prefect of the Nine Prefectures suddenly clapped his hands, his eyes shining. "Such daring, such calculation!"
"Prefect, you saw it too?"
Huang Que looked at Liu Chuxuan beside him in surprise.
"If I'm not mistaken, Xu Taiping must have been preparing this punch for Zhou Tong from the very start of the match. This was his only opportunity to wound Sect Master Zhou Tong before the sword inquiry."
Liu Chuxuan nodded as he spoke.
"The boy doesn't look like much of a schemer, yet he actually planned this far ahead from the moment he entered."
Huang Que's face was full of astonishment.
"This isn't scheming. It's instinct. Xu Taiping is a born martial artist. He was born for the battlefield. Whether today's sword inquiry succeeds or fails, I'm taking him away. This boy must not die in this petty struggle within the Azure Profound Sect."
Liu Chuxuan's tone grew somewhat excited.
"You!... You're courting death!"
Just then, a furious roar suddenly rang out from the