"Let me show you my internal energy then!"
Seeing that Zhu Yangyu was starting to stir his inner energy, Wan Yunting was naturally unwilling to be outdone. He circulated the inner energy in his dantian, and it instantly flowed rapidly through every acupoint in his body like lightning…
As Wan Yunting formed his hands into palms and assumed an attacking stance again, it was as if a faint green aura emanated from him. This surprised the Kunlun Sect's Great Elder Zhang Qing, who stood below the stage, and he remarked, "This fellow's internal energy is quite formidable!"
"Indeed, his energy is like lightning, and his movements are like thunder. It's incredible that at such a young age, he possesses such powerful internal energy. This young man is no ordinary person!" Master Hui Kong stroked his white beard, gazing at Wan Yunting on the stage. It was as if he could see a faint green aura emanating from him, circulating through his meridians, which was truly astonishing.
Even Zhou Ruoxi, standing behind Abbess Yun Bai, could sense the potent energy emanating from Wan Yunting, which deeply moved her. She even wondered in her heart if this person had truly only just broken through to the early stage of Martial Dao Dan Jin.
But why could she now feel that Wan Yunting's internal energy was even stronger than Zhu Yangyu's?
Even Sima Boyong, seated nearby, had a subtle shift in his gaze. He thought to himself that this kid was indeed not simple.
"Senior Brother Chang, is your disciple truly only at the early stage of Dan Jin?" Wuwuzi couldn't help but turn his head and ask Chang Wude in surprise.
"That's right."
Chang Wude nodded. Now feeling smug, he glanced at Sima Boyong and said with a smile, "My disciple doesn't have any special abilities, but he's very lucky. He's encountered a great opportunity."
Even Yang Jingyi, sitting beside him, who had been preoccupied, was now moved by the strength Wan Yunting displayed. She hadn't expected the disciple Chang Wude brought back to have such high martial arts talent.
Zhu Yangyu, on the stage, frowned, his piercing gaze fixed on Wan Yunting. How could he not sense the potent aura emanating from this fellow, which surprised him?
Previously, when Wei Ping mentioned that Wan Yunting was at the early stage of Martial Dao Dan Jin, Zhu Yangyu had been dismissive. Although this kid had broken through to Dan Jin in his twenties, he believed that with his current strength, defeating him would be a simple matter.
However, at this very moment, Zhu Yangyu's mind suddenly entertained the possibility of being wrong. But with his innate arrogance and the fact that so many people were watching, Zhu Yangyu couldn't admit to being mistaken, nor could he afford to lose!
Instantly, a murderous intent flashed in Zhu Yangyu's eyes. He charged at Wan Yunting again, his fist, wrapped in aura, whistling through the air. In an instant, he arrived before Wan Yunting and, without hesitation, swung his fist towards his face…
But in the next second, a strange green light flickered in Wan Yunting's sharp eyes. He seemed to see through Zhu Yangyu's attack trajectory, and his movements appeared much slower in Wan Yunting's eyes. Therefore, he shifted his body and dodged Zhu Yangyu's punch. With a turn of his right hand, his palm, imbued with aura, directly slapped towards Zhu Yangyu's left abdomen…
"Ugh…"
Immediately, Zhu Yangyu felt as if his left abdomen had been struck by a thousand-pound boulder. He flew out, landing heavily on the wooden stage, and then slid several meters before his back hit the edge of the stage and he stopped.
His narrow eyes widened, and a salty taste filled his throat. He wanted to spit out blood, but Zhu Yangyu managed to suppress it. He didn't want to die so miserably in front of everyone…
"Yangyu…"
Sima Wentang, below the stage, couldn't help but rush forward, followed by Wei Ping. The sect leaders and masters of the various factions present looked astonished, not expecting the outcome to be decided so quickly.
Sima Boyong, seated next to Wuwuzi, saw Zhu Yangyu fall onto the stage, and his old face darkened. His sinister eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he stared at Wan Yunting on the stage.
He also sensed Sima Boyong's gaze, and Wan Yunting turned his head to meet it, his sharp eyes fixed on him without any fear.
"Yangyu, how are you? Can you still stand?"
Sima Wentang and Wei Ping went over and looked at Zhu Yangyu, who was holding his left side. He felt as if his kidney was about to explode from Wan Yunting's palm. His face was pale, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead due to the pain.
It was a cold day, and sweating from pain showed how intense it was.
"Senior Brother, I'm sorry…"
At this moment, Zhu Yangyu didn't try to put up a brave front, knowing that even if he stood up now, he couldn't possibly defeat Wan Yunting.
Sima Wentang's expression was grim and extremely unpleasant. He looked up and glared at Wan Yunting on the stage, then said coldly to Wei Ping, "Take him down."
Wei Ping nodded and called Zeng Yongchang to help support Zhu Yangyu off the stage. However, he subtly glanced back at Wan Yunting with eyes full of resentment and unwillingness. But he could only grit his teeth and endure, being supported by Zeng Yongchang as he walked off the stage.
"Hahaha…"
Chang Wude, seated to Yang Jingyi's right, let out a couple of loud laughs. He turned to Sima Boyong and said boastfully with a smile, "Junior Brother Boyong, the disciple you've trained isn't up to par either!"
These words struck Sima Boyong like a thorn, but he couldn't show his anger. He smiled at Chang Wude and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Chang, for your disciple's mercy. Actually, it's quite normal. After all, I study medicine, so my achievements in martial arts are naturally inferior to yours, Senior Brother. Therefore, it's very normal for your disciple to win against mine."
"Tch, trying to save face after losing."
Chang Wude sneered and turned his head back to look at the stage. Sima Wentang had already gone up and announced, "Wan Yunting wins. Therefore, he will replace Zhu Yangyu and participate in the sparring and martial arts competition with Wei Ping and Xu Lingwei alongside the young talents of various factions…"
As he spoke, Wan Yunting couldn't be bothered to look at Sima Wentang and directly stepped off the stage. He walked past Sima Boyong and them without even glancing at them, returning to Chang Wude's side. Chang Wude praised him with a smile, "Well done, you didn't disgrace your master."
Wan Yunting smiled and replied, "It's because you taught me."
"Hahaha…"
This remark made Chang Wude laugh wildly again.
This scene made Sima Boyong's heart turn grim, but he maintained a smiling expression.
"Next, we will draw lots to pair the contestants against each other."
Sima Wentang said, and then had Zeng Yongchang bring up a lottery box. He continued, "Now, whoever's name I call will come up to draw lots. Shaolin Sect's Xu Hai…"
As Sima Wentang called out the names, the young disciples from the various factions stepped onto the stage, forming a line. There were nineteen of them in total.
Adding the three disciples from the Wuliang Daoist Temple, Wan Yunting, Xu Lingwei, and Wei Ping, there were twenty-two participants in this sparring competition.
"Those who draw matching numbers will be your opponents!"
Sima Wentang said, and then had Zeng Yongchang carry the lottery box over, allowing each of the standing contestants to draw a bamboo slip. These slips were marked with numbers from 1 to 11, denoted in black and red.
For example, if you drew a red number 1 slip, you would become opponents with the one who drew the black number 1 slip!
Zeng Yongchang carried the lottery box, starting with the disciples of the various factions, and finally reaching Wei Ping, Xu Lingwei, and Wan Yunting. Even if disciples from the same sect drew the same number, they would still be opponents, and the winner would advance. Of course, they could also forfeit.
"Junior Sister Zhishan, what number did you get?"
Wei Ping drew a black slip, number 7. Xu Lingwei held her drawn slip and said calmly, "Number four!"
"I got number eight," Wan Yunting said, holding his slip with a smile.
Wei Ping nodded and said, "Let's go down."
Sima Wentang said, "Alright, then those who drew number one will stay and begin their match. Everyone else can go down first."
The young disciples of the various factions on the stage nodded and left the stage one by one. Those who remained were a disciple from the Qingcheng Sect and a disciple from the Xingyi Sect, both of whom had drawn number one.
"Remember, do not attack vital points. Stop when you've landed a hit. Friendship first, understand?" Sima Wentang solemnly instructed the two combatants.
"Understood…"
The disciples from the Qingcheng Sect and Xingyi Sect nodded. Sima Wentang nodded and stepped down from the stage. "You may begin."
Then, the two disciples began their match. Neither of them used weapons, but rather engaged in fist and foot combat. However, the disciple from the Qingcheng Sect was at the late stage of Hua Jin, while the disciple from the Xingyi Sect was only at the early stage of Hua Jin. The difference in strength was too great. Thus, after less than five minutes, the disciple from the Qingcheng Sect effortlessly secured the first victory.
"Pan Yulong of the Qingcheng Sect wins!"
Sima Wentang went up and announced the result of the match, then called out, "Next, please, those who drew number two, step onto the stage. Yulong, you may step down now."
Pan Yulong stepped down and returned to his sect leader, Liu Bing. The sect leaders of the various factions also turned their heads to congratulate Sect Leader Liu's disciple on his victorious first match…
The disciple who drew number two was a female disciple from the Huashan Sect, who happened to be matched against Zhou Ruoxi, the only spot for the Emei Sect.
"Go, Senior Sister Zhou…" Jiang Tingxia and her fellow disciples cheered her on.
This female disciple from the Huashan Sect was named Xie Qiuhe. She stepped up holding a long sword. Seeing this, Zhou Ruoxi also had a disciple from the Wuliang Daoist Temple hand her a long sword. This sword was unsharpened, used for sparring, and could not cause harm.
The two stepped onto the stage. Xie Qiuhe was somewhat arrogant. After bowing to Zhou Ruoxi, she immediately assumed a stance with her right hand holding the sword.
Zhou Ruoxi politely returned her bow. Her pretty face was calm, exuding a composed yet elegant aura. Her stunning beauty, dressed in a white ancient-style long dress on the stage, gave her an ethereal, swordswoman-like demeanor, as if she had stepped out of a wuxia drama.
This scene attracted the attention of the young male disciples from the various factions and the Wuliang Daoist Temple below the stage. The crowd was already abuzz with discussion, betting on whether Zhou Ruoxi would win this match…
Xie Qiuhe also heard the words from below the stage, causing her expression to darken slightly. Impatient, she brandished her long sword and attacked Zhou Ruoxi first, thrusting the sword straight forward…