Chapter 67

Xiao Ran descended from the stage amidst a chorus of surprise, replaying the battle in his mind. Although he had spoken confidently, he knew that if Xiang Longxia hadn't underestimated him and used the Rampant Dragon Ascension from the start, he would never have won so easily!

Moreover, Xiang Longxia had only recently advanced to the third level of Qi Cultivation, and his control over True Qi was still not proficient, a clear weakness. Xiao Ran's keen eyesight made him particularly adept at dealing with opponents with such significant flaws!

Back in the contestant area, Xiao Ran reviewed the battle in his mind while observing the matches on stage!

Zhang Xian and Sikong Yuehua still dispatched their opponents cleanly and decisively, advancing with a crushing dominance!

Apart from these two, Xiao Ran was most concerned about a fifteen-year-old girl!

The girl was the darkest underdog after Xiao Ran!

Her name was Luo Xiaoyi, an independent cultivator. She was previously unknown, and it was said that her family's financial situation was not good, so she had not entered a martial arts school to learn!

She practiced a family-inherited cultivation method, and her martial arts were just common techniques, but at only fifteen, she had reached the peak of the second level of Qi Cultivation.

Given her conditions, her performance was even more astonishing than Xiao Ran's ex-fiancée, Lan Yan'er!

If she could break through to the third level of Qi Cultivation within one or two years, she could directly apply to the City Lord's Mansion for a recommendation to become a disciple of the Golden Light Sect!

The City Lord's Mansion had the responsibility of recommending talents!

Luo Xiaoyi's opponent in the second round was a boy named Li Jin!

Li Jin had entered the Golden Sun Martial Arts School with Xiao Ran, but unlike Xiao Ran's tortoise-like cultivation speed, he mastered the first level of body strengthening boxing in just half a month, while Xiao Ran took three months to get the hang of it!

He then advanced to the second level of body strengthening in just two years, and another two years to the third level, and then to the Qi Cultivation realm in another two years!

In the Qi Cultivation realm, he broke through to the second level in just three years and reached the peak of the second level in another three years.

In the martial arts school, he was often compared to Xiao Ran, like the "other people's child" in common sayings!

Jin Zhengyang also had high hopes for him!

However, in the battle with Luo Xiaoyi, he was suppressed from the start!

Xiao Ran carefully observed Luo Xiaoyi's battle. She had at least ten spirit orifices condensed and practiced the White Bird Sacred Fist.

This boxing technique, said to mimic the Three-Eyed White Bird, was light and graceful, sounding quite good, but it was actually just a seventh or eighth-rate martial art!

However, in Luo Xiaoyi's hands, this boxing technique transcended its limitations, becoming grand and majestic, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary!

It dazzled the eyes of the audience.

Seeing her, Xiao Ran realized what true talent was, a feeling like when Qiao Feng used the Taizu Long Fist to defeat the Shaolin monk's Demon Subduing Robe, leaving a lasting impression!

Li Jin only lasted the time of a stick of incense before being forced off the stage, spitting blood!

Even Zhang Xian and Sikong Yuehua, after seeing her battle, showed a serious expression in their eyes!

After the second round of matches, it was already evening. Only thirty-two contestants remained, and just one more victory would qualify them for the semi-finals, giving them the chance to perform martial arts in front of the City Lord and the special guest, Feng Wanqiu!

Apart from the generous rewards and the recommendation to become a disciple of the two major sects, just the comments from the two of them were invaluable, making the competition worthwhile!

Jin Zhengyang looked at the sky and thought that the preliminary rounds would likely end before midnight!

He reached into the draw box and pulled out two numbers!

His expression immediately turned strange, and he glanced at Xiao Ran, saying, "The first match of the third round: Xiao Ran vs. Zhang Xian!"

Xiao Ran was taken aback. He had drawn the first match three times in a row, and out of the three opponents at the third level of Qi Cultivation, he had faced two!

The odds were simply unbelievable...

The two slowly walked onto the stage!

Zhang Xian was a burly man, just shy of twenty, with a full beard!

His body was broad and muscular, and if his expression wasn't fierce, he would give off a sense of honesty!

In the martial arts school, Zhang Xian was known for his good temper, of course, when not in a match!

Xiao Ran didn't have a good impression of most people in the martial arts school, but he had a certain respect for Zhang Xian, as the previous owner of this body was often bullied in the school.

But if Zhang Xian saw, he would always stand up for Xiao Ran, so their relationship was quite good!

Xiao Ran looked at Zhang Xian and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, why did you come to this competition? With your progress, you're sure to get a recommendation next year!"

Zhang Xian slowly replied, "If I get this recommendation, I won't need to take the school's recommendation slot, and the junior brothers will have one more chance!

So I must strive for this recommendation!"

Xiao Ran shook his head and said, "Senior Brother Zhang is still the same, always thinking of others, but I also want the top spot in this competition!

So I'll have to offend you!"

Zhang Xian smiled and said, "Junior Brother Xiao, you advanced from the first level of body strengthening to the second level of Qi Cultivation in less than a year, which really scared me!

But seeing you stand on this stage, I'm very happy for you!

Talking about these trivial things is meaningless. In a martial arts competition, one must give it their all!

But I have to say, although you seem strong, your chances of winning against me are very small!"

Zhang Xian didn't care that Xiao Ran had been expelled from the school. If Xiao Ran recognized him as a senior brother, he would recognize Xiao Ran as a junior brother!

Xiao Ran also chuckled, "Senior Brother Zhang, don't underestimate me..."

With that, he activated his movement technique and rushed at Zhang Xian like lightning, launching the Regretful Dragon Strike!

Zhang Xian remained still, his spirit orifices opening, and a mass of True Qi surged out, colliding with Xiao Ran!

Xiao Ran's expression turned serious, and he couldn't complete the Regretful Dragon Strike. His hands turned into a blur, using the Unempty Yin-Yang Seal technique to deflect the True Qi masses back!

A few exploded like thunder when they touched Xiao Ran, but he absorbed and neutralized them!

Xiao Ran called out, "Senior Brother Zhang, your Five Thunder Hands have reached the stage of Ten Thousand Orifices Thundering, truly broadening my horizons!

I believe you're not far from breaking through to the third level of Qi Cultivation!"

Zhang Xian nodded and smiled, "It's not that difficult. All orifices can be used for martial arts, just with varying strengths. With some effort, it can be achieved!

Your technique of borrowing force and dividing True Qi is also impressive!

Otherwise, you wouldn't even have the qualifications to face me with the Five Thunder Hands!

Try this palm!"

With that, Zhang Xian struck with a palm, the energy condensed but not released, emitting a thunderous sound, extremely intimidating!

Xiao Ran roared and met him with the Unempty Yin-Yang Seal!

Boom...

The two exchanged a palm, each stepping back one step!

Zhang Xian felt Xiao Ran's palm force was extremely strange, sometimes fierce, sometimes heavy, sometimes swift, and it could even draw out his own True Qi. Caught off guard, Xiao Ran's True Qi broke through thirteen layers of his True Qi defense, only being neutralized at the shoulder well!

His arm felt extremely numb!

Xiao Ran also didn't fare well. Only about ten percent of Zhang Xian's True Qi entered his body, but it was highly condensed and intertwined in a complex manner, resisting external forces. Unlike the previous True Qi, it took a lot of time to neutralize!

During this process, Zhang Xian's True Qi exploded inside him, causing his True Qi to boil and his meridians to ache!

It took two breaths to neutralize this True Qi!

Zhang Xian shook his hand, his eyes brightening, and said, "Your Unempty Yin-Yang Seal is truly formidable!

But I noticed that this technique is strong in defense but weak in attack!

Your True Qi is diverse but not chaotic, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner, like commanding an army. It's truly incredible, I wonder how you do it! Your True Qi might not be as strong as specialized techniques, but if you use it with the Five Thunder Hands, it would be a perfect match!

Watch this, this is how to use the Five Thunder Hands!"

With that, Zhang Xian slowly raised his hand, and five strands of green True Qi, glowing brilliantly, converged on his hand, intertwining in a complex manner, emitting thunderous sounds as they collided!

Jin Zhengyang also smiled bitterly at this scene. His disciple was a good person, with a good character, always thinking of others, and never holding back when helping his fellow students!

But he was just too good!

Xiao Ran was his junior brother, but that was in the past, and now he was his opponent, yet he was teaching on the spot!

But this attitude of teaching was also a sign of great confidence!

(Because of the compression of the ancient continent's plot, I got stuck today, so this is all I have. I've been sleeping too late recently, and I'm a bit tired.

I'll try to write two chapters tomorrow!

Finally, please give me a vote!)

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