When the third round ended, Xu Qingtong, Tian Zongfei, and Lin Qian had all won and advanced smoothly to the fourth round. Only the dull-witted man had failed to advance. After a fifteen-minute rest, the fourth round began.
When Xu Qingtong stepped onto the platform, he discovered that his opponent was an old acquaintance: Tian Zongfei, who had lost to him before. Although he had defeated the man once, that had been during the points matches.
Tian Zongfei's strength was certainly not what he had displayed in the points matches. Winning or losing that bout had not mattered. He had only lost to Xu Qingtong to throw dust in everyone's eyes and avoid drawing attention.
Even when facing the yellow-robed girl in the elimination rounds, Tian Zongfei had not shown his full strength. Xu Qingtong reckoned he might not even have used seventy percent of it. The man certainly had more tricks up his sleeve. Xu Qingtong would have to stay doubly alert and handle him with care.
Tian Zongfei was also startled to see Xu Qingtong. Then he laughed heartily and said, "Little Brother Xu, fate really does keep bringing us together! I was no match for you in the points matches, Brother Qingtong. This time, you'll have to go easy on your big brother. Don't let me lose too much face!"
Tian Zongfei tried to cozy up to Xu Qingtong, acting as though they had known each other for years and shared a deep bond.
Xu Qingtong dared not lower his guard. Remaining fully alert, he bantered back, "You're too modest, Brother Tian. You let me win last time, and I was foolish enough not to realize it. I hope you'll show mercy this time!"
With that, Xu Qingtong cupped his hands, retreated several steps, and took his stance.
"Brother Tian, please!" Without waiting for Tian Zongfei to say anything else, Xu Qingtong activated a Shield Talisman with one hand and controlled the Goumang Seal with the other, sending it crashing toward Tian Zongfei.
Knowing that Xu Qingtong's cultivation was low and his magic power could not match his own, Tian Zongfei summoned his flying sword and slashed at the Goumang Seal. Sword and seal collided with a crisp clang, then flew back to their owners.
This time, Xu Qingtong did not feel his blood and energy churn. He guessed that Tian Zongfei was probing him rather than using his full strength.
Xu Qingtong urged his magic power onward, and the Goumang Seal flew toward Tian Zongfei again. At the same time, he activated a Fireball Talisman with his other hand and hurled it at him as well.
Tian Zongfei responded without hesitation. Forming a hand seal with one hand, he cast the Water Arrow Technique and sent it shooting toward the fireball. Water and fire collided, vanishing instantly.
Xu Qingtong was inwardly alarmed. Tian Zongfei's magic power was indeed formidable. Although he had not used one of his newly crafted Fireball Talismans, even an ordinary Mid-Grade Fireball Talisman packed considerable power. Yet Tian Zongfei could counter it with a spell. It seemed he had still underestimated the man.
At that thought, Xu Qingtong grew even more cautious and quickly activated a top-quality Mid-Grade Fireball Talisman. As before, Tian Zongfei launched a Water Arrow Technique to intercept the fireball.
He had not expected this Fireball Talisman to be more powerful than the last. After striking the fireball, the water arrow only held it back for a moment before vanishing. Although Tian Zongfei's water arrow had weakened the fireball somewhat, its momentum did not diminish, and it continued hurtling toward him.
Tian Zongfei could only throw himself backward and fall flat on the ground, narrowly avoiding the fireball. But Xu Qingtong's second fireball was already flying toward him.
With no other choice, Tian Zongfei rolled aside to dodge the fireball. At the same time, a shield appeared in his hand.
By the time Xu Qingtong's third fireball arrived, Tian Zongfei had raised the shield in front of him. Having learned how powerful these fireballs were, he cast aside his contempt and poured magic power furiously into the shield. Even so, the fireball drove him back half a step.
Xu Qingtong would never lightly surrender such a hard-won opening. He unleashed three Fireball Talismans almost simultaneously. He had been willing to expose his trump card-his top-quality Mid-Grade Fireball Talismans-precisely to seize the initiative.
Seeing the three fireballs hurtling fiercely toward him, Tian Zongfei knew he might dodge one but could not evade the others. He simply stopped trying and poured nearly all his magic power into the shield.
Boom! Boom! Boom! After Tian Zongfei barely managed to withstand the fireballs, his shield shattered into fragments. Xu Qingtong froze, surprised that victory had come so easily.
Just as he was waiting for Tian Zongfei to concede, he saw the man produce a small bell. It was the size of a fist and yellowish brown.
This is bad, Xu Qingtong thought, hurriedly taking out another Shield Talisman. Before he could activate it, a clang rang in his ears, followed by a buzz inside his head. His mind went blank in an instant. In that moment of dizziness, Tian Zongfei's flying sword struck his protective barrier.
Fortunately, Xu Qingtong had two primordial spirits and powerful divine sense, so the brief dizziness did not affect him much. Seeing that his barrier had cracked, he hurriedly activated another Shield Talisman. At the same time, he beckoned with his right hand and recalled the Goumang Seal.
Tian Zongfei was decisive as well. Seeing Xu Qingtong recover instantly and assume a defensive stance, he did not hesitate. He poured magic power into the bell again, preparing a second sonic attack.
Xu Qingtong now understood that Tian Zongfei had used sound waves to attack his divine sense. Seeing him activate the bell again, his thoughts flashed like lightning, and he hurriedly shaped his divine sense into a shield over his niwang palace. The bell clanged again, and Xu Qingtong immediately went blank, freezing in place.
Seeing Xu Qingtong standing motionless, Tian Zongfei dared not delay. He was just about to direct his flying sword at him when a sudden pain pierced his head. His consciousness blurred instantly, and his flying sword fell at an angle. Then a tremendous force blasted him away.
The spectators were all rather bewildered. What was going on? Clearly, the boy had been struck by the bell and frozen on the spot. Why was the man ringing it the one who had fallen off the platform?
Only Tian Zongfei himself knew what had happened. Xu Qingtong must have possessed some treasure that could withstand sonic attacks and launch attacks with divine sense. He simply had not seen it.
Xu Qingtong walked to the edge of the platform and cupped his hands toward Tian Zongfei below, saying somewhat bashfully, "Brother Tian, thank you for letting me win!"
Tian Zongfei's expression stiffened, but he immediately laughed. "We're brothers! No need to stand on ceremony!"
After the fourth round ended, only ten contestants remained. Xu Qingtong saw that Lin Qian was among them and wondered whether he would face him in the next round.
After an hour's rest, the fifth round officially began. Xu Qingtong drew the fifth platform, the last one, while Lin Qian drew platform three.
Xu Qingtong felt somewhat relieved that he had not drawn the same platform as Lin Qian, but also a little disappointed.
He looked over and saw no one on platform five. Everyone should have finished drawing lots, so where had his opponent gone? Who cares! I'll get up there first!
Only a few breaths after Xu Qingtong stepped onto the platform, a young man dressed in splendid brocade robes came up. Xu Qingtong vaguely recognized him. He was the young man who had eliminated the dull-witted man.
Neither spoke. After cupping their hands in greeting, they began fighting.
Seeing that the richly dressed young man intended to win through talismans just as he did, Xu Qingtong had no desire to become entangled in a drawn-out fight. He activated the Heavenly Fire Body-Tempering Art and took one of the man's attacks head-on. Then he hurled out a string of Mid-Grade High Grade talismans, blasting the man off the platform.
This was Xu Qingtong's easiest victory since entering the elimination rounds. He truly had no idea how that richly dressed young man had made it into the fifth round. Could he be a talisman specialist like me?
Once all the matches had ended, Elder Yuan Hong announced loudly, "Congratulations to the five winners! All five of you have earned a place in the Mist Valley Trial. Return to this hall in half a month, and the three of us will take you to participate in the trial!"
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