On the battle stage.
Ling Fan extended his foot and kicked Chen Tao.
Chen Tao was like a dead dog, moving only when kicked.
"You're not very resilient. Where did your confidence come from earlier?"
Ling Fan shook his head.
He appeared utterly perplexed.
Then he walked off the stage on his own.
The referee finally reacted and quickly announced the result of the match.
"Fan Lin wins! Chen Tao loses."
A burst of cheers erupted from the audience stands.
Within the plaza.
Several immensely powerful young figures stood out like cranes among chickens, making it impossible not to notice their demeanor.
"What do you all think? What is this person's strength?"
One immensely powerful young figure said indifferently.
The parts of his arms exposed from his sleeves revealed lifelike dragon scale tattoos, as if a terrifying true dragon was about to surge forth from his hands at any moment.
This person was one of the four peerless geniuses of the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor realm who had emerged from this selection.
Long Xuan.
Nicknamed "Coiled Dragon Hand."
"This person is playing the fool to hide his strength. He is very powerful, almost invincible beneath the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor realm."
A refined young man with a face like the mid-autumn moon, sharp sword-like eyebrows, and star-like eyes, holding a folding fan, spoke.
This person was another fifth-tier Xuan Emperor genius.
Jade-Faced Young Master, Meng Xing.
"Oh, Brother Meng thinks so highly of this person."
A young man beside him, adorned with opulent grace like an emperor, remarked.
This was the Imperial Son of the top-tier Di Clan of Xiaoxiang, Zeng Huang.
"It's nothing surprising. He only reigns supreme among the fourth-tier Xuan Emperors. Until he reaches the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor realm, he doesn't even have the qualification to speak with us."
Another young man holding a sword said.
This was yet another fifth-tier Xuan Emperor genius.
Heartless Sword Emperor, Leng Wuqing.
"That's true. The gap between the fourth-tier Xuan Emperor and the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor is like a chasm. Moreover, for true geniuses like us, we would never give others the chance to cross realms."
Jade-Faced Young Master Meng Xing chuckled.
Coiled Dragon Hand Long Xuan smiled mysteriously, "There's one more round of matches later, the top ten to top five. It's possible one of us four will encounter this Fan Lin. I think if you do, you should be careful. Don't capsize in the gutter, or you'll turn joy into sorrow."
"Long Xuan, aren't you a bit too timid? Scared like this by a fourth-tier Xuan Emperor?"
The Imperial Son of Xiaoxiang, Zeng Huang, and Heartless Sword Emperor Leng Wuqing sneered.
"Heh, I'm just giving a reminder."
Long Xuan walked away with his hands behind his head.
...
When Ling Fan stepped off the stage.
Fatty Guo Gui scurried over.
Ling Fan didn't look closely.
He thought it was a meatball that had come to life.
"Brother Fan, you've been hiding your strength quite deeply. You made me worry for nothing!"
As he spoke, Guo Gui whispered, "That slap you delivered was so satisfying! If I had your strength, I'd beat him nine meals a day."
Ling Fan smiled.
He also felt that the slap was quite exhilarating.
"Young Master Fan, congratulations."
Lu Wei's voice sounded from behind Guo Gui.
Lu Wei's slender figure, standing behind Guo Gui, was so small that she cast no shadow.
"There's no sense of accomplishment in defeating such a weakling. It's not worth mentioning."
Ling Fan waved his hand.
"Didn't you also enter the top ten? Congratulations to you too."
Ling Fan said.
"If you hadn't given me that semi-high-grade Emperor Pill, after I refined some of its medicinal power, my strength immediately increased by a large margin. Otherwise, I might have struggled to even enter the top twenty."
Lu Wei stuck out her tongue.
She appeared bright and captivating.
"However, reaching the top ten is already my limit. None of the top ten are easy opponents, especially those four fifth-tier Xuan Emperor geniuses. If I encounter them, I can only surrender. Of course, now you must be added to that list."
Ling Fan smiled noncommittally.
"Brother Fan, tell me honestly, are you still hiding your strength?"
Lu Wei leaned closer.
A scent of purity immediately wafted over.
Ling Fan looked down from above.
With a glance, he saw a certain view.
He smiled and joked, "What strength am I hiding? It's you who's hiding quite a lot of it. I didn't realize you were so well-endowed. There's a saying for it, something like 'thin branches bearing ripe fruit'?"
Lu Wei let out a startled "Ah," and her earlobes immediately turned red. She quickly straightened up.
"You… shameless!"
Ling Fan chuckled and said, "I'm not blind. You can't blame me for that."
"Hmph!"
Lu Wei's face flushed, and she stomped her foot before running off.
Guo Gui quietly gave Ling Fan a thumbs-up from the side.
"Brother Fan is mighty! Weiwei, the great beauty, is the goddess in our circle. You actually dared to tease her, doing what I've always wanted to do but never dared!"
Guo Gui said enviously.
He couldn't do it.
If he dared to tease Lu Wei, Lu Wei would beat him into a pig's head.
Lu Wei's strength was far greater than his.
As the two chatted and laughed.
At this moment.
A majestic voice announced, "The final round. First match, Long Xuan versus Deng Wu. Second match, Han Min versus Meng Xing. Third match, Lu Wei versus Leng Wuqing. Fourth match, Jin Yong versus Li Can. Fifth match, Zeng Huang versus… Fan Lin!"
As the voice faded.
It immediately stirred up quite a commotion.
Among the top ten.
Long Xuan, Meng Xing, Leng Wuqing, and Zeng Huang were all fifth-tier Xuan Emperor prodigies.
Although Deng Wu, Han Min, Lu Wei, Jin Yong, and Li Can were also very strong, almost all at the peak of the fourth-tier, they had no chance of winning against fifth-tier Xuan Emperor prodigies.
Therefore, the first, second, and third matches were without suspense.
The fourth match was a battle between two fourth-tier Xuan Emperor geniuses, which also had little appeal.
Only the fifth match!
Zeng Huang versus Fan Lin.
One was a fifth-tier prodigy who looked down upon all others.
The other was the dark horse genius, Fan Lin, who had just defeated a peak fourth-tier genius with a single slap.
This battle held a sliver of suspense.
Of course.
The vast majority of people still favored Zeng Huang.
After all, the cultivation realm was there.
As expected.
In the first match, Long Xuan easily defeated Deng Wu.
The second match also ended in a few breaths.
Meng Xing unleashed a palm strike, as if he had melted a vast starry sky into his palm force. Han Min had no power to resist and was blasted off the stage.
The absolute suppressive power of a fifth-tier Xuan Emperor prodigy was fully displayed.
The third match.
Lu Wei decisively conceded.
Coupled with her sister being an established true disciple of the Qing Xuan Sect, Leng Wuqing did not resort to cruel measures and accepted Lu Wei's concession.
The fourth match.
A duel between two peak fourth-tier geniuses.
Although it was also fierce.
After witnessing the terrifying strength of the fifth-tier Xuan Emperor geniuses, this match seemed somewhat bland, lacking excitement.
And everyone knew.
No matter who won between Jin Yong and Li Can.
They would not directly become true disciples.
The fourth match ultimately saw Li Can win by half a move.
At this moment.
The entire plaza fell silent in unison.
The most anticipated battle was about to begin.
The Imperial Son of Xiaoxiang, Zeng Huang…
Versus the sudden emergence of the dark horse genius, Fan Lin!