Was this really eighth-stage strength?

Hmm?

Someone had actually come knocking, eager to throw his life away?

Xiao Mo turned to look at the man who had raised his hand. He knew him; his name was Xiao Shan.

His strength was nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, he had fallen just short of reaching the eighth stage before this test.

He hardly qualified as an opponent, but this would keep the people around them from thinking Xiao Mo had cheated to reach his current level. It would also show them that he was not someone they could casually look down on.

He rose and gave Xiao Shan a slight cupped-fist salute.

"Of course."

His figure flashed, and he appeared in the center of the competition grounds.

Xiao Shan also leaped into the arena and stood facing him.

After they exchanged salutes, Xiao Shan assumed an attacking stance.

Xiao Mo made no other move. He remained relaxed, standing where he was without taking a stance, as though he did not consider Xiao Shan worth his attention at all.

Anger surged in Xiao Shan's chest. The moment he heard the call to begin, he lunged straight at Xiao Mo without hesitation.

He clenched his hand into a fist, Dou Qi gathering around it as he drove it straight toward Xiao Mo's face.

Facing that punch brimming with Dou Qi, Xiao Mo simply slipped backward with ease. As his opponent changed moves, a shard of ice suddenly appeared in his palm, and he thrust it toward the center of Xiao Shan's back.

Xiao Shan paled in alarm and swiftly dodged aside, but a chill still touched the back of his clothes.

Everyone else thought he had dodged it, but only he knew that the shard had already touched his back and lingered there for a few seconds.

The strength of Xiao Mo before him was unfathomable. He had clearly had the chance to land a decisive strike, but he had held back, giving Xiao Shan room to breathe.

Should I give up?

Xiao Shan felt as though a mountain weighed upon his heart. He knew perfectly well that his current strength could not withstand Xiao Mo.

But he still could not accept it. He had been eliminated today, and now he could not even measure up to this inconspicuous fellow. He simply could not suppress the frustration in his chest.

Unable to endure it any longer, he let out a low roar, stepped forward, and kicked viciously at Xiao Mo's chest.

Xiao Mo paused, slightly surprised that he still had not given up. Still sticking to his principle of stopping short of injury, he retreated half a step, and a snowflake flashed in his hand.

Rip!

The snowflakes sliced straight through Xiao Shan's clothes, instantly leaving more than a dozen slits in them.

One shard of ice stopped a few inches in front of his chest, hanging in midair without advancing any farther.

Xiao Mo spoke lazily.

"That's enough, isn't it? Let's not make this ugly for both of us."

Xiao Shan clenched his fists and glared fiercely at Xiao Mo, but he knew Xiao Mo had been holding back all along. He had repeatedly stayed his hand because he did not truly want to leave Xiao Shan utterly humiliated in defeat.

Xiao Shan loosened his tightly clenched fists. He understood that there was no point in persisting. Defeat was defeat; holding on would change nothing.

He silently stepped back and bowed to Xiao Mo.

"I lost."

Xiao Mo nodded, then turned and returned the salute.

"Thank you for the match."

Silence reigned all around them. Everyone stared in disbelief at the two men in the arena.

Xiao Shan had been just a hair's breadth from reaching the eighth stage, yet even with that strength, he had failed to last two exchanges against Xiao Mo.

He had simply been defeated like that.

Was Xiao Mo's strength really only at the eighth stage?

That question arose in everyone's mind, while Xiao Zhan, seated at the center of the main seats, watched him with an even more searching gaze.

This young man is unfathomable. His strength is definitely beyond the eighth stage. Judging by what he just displayed, he might even be a Dou Zhe.

Xiao Zhan's gaze drifted unconsciously toward the Testing Stone.

Has something gone wrong with it?

He narrowed his eyes, but when he caught sight of Xiao Yan's excited face, he ultimately suppressed his doubts.

After all, it had been rare for his son to make a friend like this during his lowest ebb. Moreover, Xiao Mo had stayed by Xiao Yan's side throughout it all and had never looked down on him.

Perhaps his son's current strength had something to do with him as well.

What did it matter if he had secrets? As long as Xiao Mo remained in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan would be the greatest umbrella sheltering both young men.

With that thought, Xiao Zhan stood up, breaking the silence.

"Xiao Mo wins this match!"

Those who had been itching to try their luck now abandoned all thoughts of challenging him.

After all, he had truly earned his eighth-stage standing, and some had even sensed something unusual in his performance.

Xiao Mo's strength seemed far above the eighth stage. Even Xiao Xun'er, a One-Star Dou Zhe, felt pressure from him.

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked around, waiting for other challengers.

But wherever his gaze passed, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

After looking around and finding that no one else spoke up, Xiao Mo eagerly made his way down from the platform.

Finally, it's over. I really can't be bothered to keep fighting people.

All he wanted now was to go back and lie around. The people up above had droned on for so long that he was sleepy again.

When he returned to his seat, Xiao Xun'er suddenly frowned and caught his arm.

"Xiao Mo, are you really only at the eighth stage?"

His heart gave a startled jolt, but the same carefree smile remained on his face.

"Of course I am. Would the Testing Stone lie?"

Xiao Xun'er was at a loss for words. Her gaze sharpened slightly, and she suddenly spoke.

"Do you dare spar with me?"

Xiao Mo had not expected Xiao Xun'er to want to test the waters with him. He opened his mouth to refuse.

But a single sentence from Xiao Xun'er cut off everything he was about to say.

"If you don't dare, that means you have something to hide."

Xiao Mo did not know whether to laugh or cry. Why had Xiao Xun'er turned her attention to him?

Is this her competitive streak? But I don't want to be her sparring partner at all. What am I supposed to do?

Seeing the two with swords drawn and bows bent, Xiao Yan hurried to smooth things over.

"Don't be like this, you two. Besides, right now, those who were eliminated are supposed to choose someone who passed to challenge. Why are you two about to fight?"

Xiao Yan instinctively wanted to help Xiao Mo cover things up. Since Xiao Mo wanted to hide his strength, he would step forward and shield him.

After all, Xiao Mo had helped him so many times. He could weather these little gusts and waves for him.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Xun'er and shook his head.

"Xiao Xun'er, the Testing Stone doesn't lie. Since Xiao Mo doesn't want to spar, stop insisting."

Xiao Xun'er immediately pouted upon hearing that.

"Hmph, just keep taking his side!"

Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly raised a hand and shouted, interrupting their conversation.

"I choose Xiao Yan as my opponent!"