Lu Wei and Guo Gui couldn't help but shake their heads.
Chen Tao was hopelessly delusional.
He was determined to crush Ling Fan under his feet, to prove his pride.
...
As one ranking battle after another concluded.
Ling Fan entered the top twenty.
Becoming a dark horse.
On the other side.
Chen Tao and Lu Wei also entered the top twenty.
In addition,.
Numerous powerful geniuses emerged.
Even, within the top twenty, there were several peerless geniuses at the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor realm.
This was unimaginable in past disciple selection events.
It was rare to see a fifth-tier Xuan Emperor genius appear in many years.
So many had emerged this year.
Panlong Hand, Long Xuan, fifth-tier Xuan Emperor.
Jade-Faced Young Master, Meng Xing, fifth-tier Xuan Emperor!
Juexin Sword Emperor, Leng Wuqing, fifth-tier Xuan Emperor.
Xiaoxiang Great Clan's Imperial Son, Zeng Huang, fifth-tier Xuan Emperor.
These individuals were also considered hot candidates for direct admission as true disciples.
In the center of the plaza.
The battle stages were merged.
Becoming super battle stages.
A sixth-tier Xuan Emperor expert from the Qingxuan Sect announced loudly, "Next match, Fan Lin versus Chen Tao."
Upon hearing this match-up.
Guo Pang and Lu Wei were stunned.
Chen Tao had actually encountered Ling Fan.
"Kid, your good luck ends now!"
Chen Tao sneered, stood up, and walked towards the battle stage, his power surging, almost touching the peak of the fourth-tier Xuan Emperor realm.
The moment Chen Tao truly stepped onto the battle stage.
His aura completely stabilized at the peak of the fourth-tier Xuan Emperor realm.
Powerful forces raged.
His eyes, like torches, fell upon Ling Fan.
"Get up here!"
Chen Tao fully displayed his overbearing and forceful side.
"Isn't this the genius from the Jinling Chen family? His Emperor Dao origin is profound and solid, his power condensed, truly possessing some of the demeanor of his Jinling Chen family ancestors."
"His opponent, what's his name, Fan Lin? He doesn't seem very impressive. I don't recall any major Fan clan in Jinzhou, probably a rogue cultivator."
"Then Chen Tao's spot in the top ten is secured."
"It's not unfair for a rogue cultivator to reach this point, to be defeated by a genius from a great Emperor Dao clan like Chen Tao."
Among the observing powerhouses, many recognized Chen Tao's identity and began to discuss.
Under the gaze of countless eyes.
Ling Fan slowly stepped onto the battle stage.
Chen Tao looked down at Ling Fan with disdain and grinned menacingly, "Kneel, and offer me a high-grade Emperor Pill, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, I'll cripple you today, making sure you can't even become an inner disciple of the Qingxuan Sect."
"What? You want me to kneel? If I don't kneel, you'll cripple yourself?"
Ling Fan looked at Chen Tao with the gaze of someone caring for an intellectually challenged person and quickly waved his hand, "No need for such a grand gesture, really, it's not necessary."
"Hahahaha!"
The spectator stands erupted in laughter.
Chen Tao gritted his teeth so hard they audibly cracked.
Veins bulged on his forehead, almost bursting.
"You court death!"
Boom!
A terrifying aura of a peak fourth-tier Xuan Emperor surged from Chen Tao like a tidal wave.
The entire battlefield trembled.
Buddha Blaze Heavenly Dragon Seal!
Chen Tao let out a low roar.
Terrifying power gathered madly.
A colossal seal materialized out of thin air.
Upon this seal, a guardian true dragon bore the seal, and ten thousand Buddhas joined their palms, as if to convert all living beings with supreme Dharma.
The power of it.
Even fifth-tier Xuan Emperors felt a slight threat.
"It's long been rumored that the Jinling Chen family has some inheritance connections with the Myriad Buddha Heavenly Realm. Seeing it today, the secret technique Chen Tao uses is imbued with the meaning of Buddhist Vajra's immense power, truly extraordinary."
"With this move, virtually no one among the fourth-tier Xuan Emperors can contend. Chen Tao is already in an invincible position."
"Chen Tao's strength is formidable. He's sure to enter the top ten. Even after entering the Qingxuan Sect, he won't be buried among countless geniuses. His future is boundless, and he should soon be able to contend for the position of true disciple."
Countless powerhouses exclaimed in awe.
"Chen Tao is too ruthless! He intends to kill Brother Fan Lin..."
Guo Gui clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and he deeply broke out in a cold sweat for Ling Fan.
"Chen Tao is narrow-minded and vindictive. Fan Lin has offended him too deeply. If I had known, I should have given him the semi-high-grade Emperor Pill I received, perhaps saving Fan Lin's life. It's too late now."
Lu Wei sighed.
Just as Chen Tao unleashed the supreme divine skill, the Buddha Blaze Heavenly Dragon Seal, and everyone believed Ling Fan was surely doomed.
Ling Fan made his move.
Compared to Chen Tao's grand display.
He used no secret techniques.
With a simple, brutal slap, he struck out.
Bang!
The Buddhist secret technique seal, so powerful it seemed capable of suppressing all below the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor realm, was directly shattered like a brittle brick.
Immediately after.
Before the incredulous eyes of countless onlookers.
A resounding slap landed squarely on Chen Tao's face.
Slap!
A crisp sound.
Chen Tao's face was slapped askew.
His head hanging down.
He plummeted to the ground at Ling Fan's feet.
His entire body convulsed as if struck by a stroke, foam spewing from his mouth. He no longer possessed any of the demeanor of a peak fourth-tier Xuan Emperor genius; instead, he looked like a leper.
Boom!
At that moment.
The entire venue erupted in an uproar.
"Holy cow... I'm not seeing things... The direct descendant genius of the Jinling Chen family, defeated by someone unknown!"
"This is too pathetic, it's like a father beating his son. Chen Tao didn't even have a chance to retaliate..."
"And a Buddhist secret technique? That's it? Knocked unconscious by a slap?"
Countless people were dumbfounded.
Initially, seeing the power of the Buddha Blaze Heavenly Dragon Seal, everyone thought Chen Tao was an incredibly powerful genius.
But now, why did they feel Chen Tao was so weak and easily defeated?
"It's not that Chen Tao is weak. On the contrary, Chen Tao definitely has the strength to be in the top ten. As long as he doesn't encounter a fifth-tier Xuan Emperor level genius, he should be safely in the top ten. In fact, it's the genius called Fan Lin who is too strong!"
At this moment.
A powerful sixth-tier Xuan Emperor from Qingxuan City spoke.
Even in Jinzhou, where powerhouses were as numerous as clouds, a sixth-tier Xuan Emperor was a formidable figure who could dominate an area. No one dared to question the judgment of a sixth-tier Xuan Emperor.
Instantly, everyone's gaze towards Ling Fan changed.
"A dark horse, an absolute dark horse. We thought this person entered the top twenty through luck, but now it seems his strength is so immense that his advancement all the way here appeared too effortless."
"If he can so easily defeat a peak fourth-tier genius, I'm very curious if he can contend with those few peerless fifth-tier Xuan Emperor geniuses."
The crowd began to discuss.
On the other side.
The geniuses within Chen Tao's circle were all stunned.
Guo Gui pinched his chubby face, still somewhat doubting if he was dreaming.
Lu Wei's beautiful eyes, however, shone with brilliance as she stared intently at Ling Fan.
"Casually suppressing a peak fourth-tier genius, giving away high-grade Emperor Pills like common vegetables... Who exactly are you?"
Lu Wei felt she could no longer see through this Fan Lin.