"Once the match-up is known in advance, we can try to make sure you and that Old Qin draw the corresponding numbers. If we prepare in advance, it won't be difficult."
Fairy Lingyue communicated telepathically with Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping nodded secretly in response.
"Little Friend Taiping, please."
At this moment, Qin Yuan, with his white beard and hair, came to Xu Taiping and made a gesture inviting him to step onto the stage.
"I dare not, please go ahead, Old Qin."
Xu Taiping modestly yielded.
"Alright, I'll go up first and wait for you, Little Friend Taiping."
Old Qin then laughed heartily, lightly tapped his toe on the ground, and his figure floated onto the stage as lightly as a feather.
This move immediately drew a round of applause from the audience below, who then all turned their gazes to Xu Taiping.
"Why doesn't anyone want to use the stairs?"
Xu Taiping was still puzzled.
"Taiping, don't use the stairs this time. We can't lose the momentum."
To Xu Taiping's surprise, Fairy Lingyue's competitive spirit had been stirred up.
Xu Taiping retracted his foot, which was already on the stairs.
He could ignore others, but he had to listen to Sister Lingyue.
Then, everyone saw Xu Taiping's sleeves suddenly inflate, and with a "boom," his body turned into a gust of wind, disappearing from his original spot and reappearing on the stage.
This was the result of the second level of the Wind Shadow Step.
"At such a young age to have such profound true qi, could this boy have already achieved the initial stage of the Gate Opening Realm?"
Some cultivators who had originally doubted Xu Taiping's strength, thinking he had won against Sun Hu by luck, now chose to remain silent.
"Young friend, at such a young age to have such profound true qi, you are truly formidable, truly formidable."
On the stage, Qin Yuan smiled and nodded at Xu Taiping.
However, Xu Taiping, who was observant, noticed that although Old Qin concealed it well, there was occasional hostility in his eyes.
"Old Qin, you flatter me. It's just a minor skill."
Xu Taiping remained unperturbed by Qin Yuan's praise.
"Someone of your age still competing for the position of a formal disciple must be a person of strong will and ruthless nature. Don't be deceived by his smiling face, Taiping."
Fairy Lingyue reminded Xu Taiping.
"I won't, Sister Lingyue."
Xu Taiping responded in his mind.
He had already given his all against an opponent like Sun Hu, let alone this Old Qin.
The examiner on the stage asked the two as usual.
The two did not delay, responding while getting into their respective stances.
The examiner nodded and then struck the copper gong on the stage with a "clang."
The examiner's voice echoed throughout the venue.
"Please, Old Qin, teach me."
Xu Taiping politely glanced at Qin Yuan.
"Not at all, not at all!"
Qin Yuan shook his head with a smile.
However, the moment his words ended, his figure "boom" suddenly disappeared from his spot, appearing in front of Xu Taiping as if by teleportation.
His robe suddenly billowed, and a palm carrying a massive palm shadow struck toward Xu Taiping.
No one could have expected that the previously dignified Qin Yuan would sneak attack a young boy.
From the beginning, Xu Taiping had noticed the hostility in Qin Yuan's eyes, and with Fairy Lingyue's reminder, he could not have been unprepared.
Amidst the fierce palm wind, Xu Taiping suddenly sidestepped, almost brushing past Qin Yuan's palm wind.
Then, in Qin Yuan's surprised gaze, Xu Taiping delivered a powerful strike, the "Horn-Crushing Mountain," toward Qin Yuan.
At the critical moment, Qin Yuan's profound true qi burst forth, forming a thick protective aura around him, barely blocking Xu Taiping's punch.
Despite this, with the massive impact, Qin Yuan was still pushed back several dozen feet.
Xu Taiping, whose figure remained steady, once again used the Wind Shadow Step, rushing out from his spot.
Before Qin Yuan could steady himself, another "Horn-Crushing Mountain" struck toward him.
But just as Xu Taiping's fist was about to hit, Qin Yuan's body suddenly shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding the punch.
Although he didn't hit Qin Yuan, the fierce fist aura from Xu Taiping's punch rushed down to the stage, raising a cloud of dust and scaring the audience into retreating.
At this moment, everyone finally understood why Xu Taiping had defeated Sun Hu with a single punch in the previous match.
Looking at the stage again,
Although the previous punch missed, Xu Taiping did not stop. He retracted his fist and drew his sword, slashing toward Old Qin.
The length of the sword made up for the range limitation of his fists.
What Xu Taiping did not expect was that Qin Yuan, standing on one foot, seemed like an unbreakable doll, dodging every slash no matter how fast he swung.
"It's the Unfallen Technique!"
"Right, it's Old Qin's Unfallen Technique!"
Someone in the audience exclaimed.
"To force Old Qin to use the Unfallen Technique, this boy indeed has some skills!"
"Yes, but if he can't break through Old Qin's Unfallen Technique, it's all for nothing."
Amidst the audience's discussion, Xu Taiping, with a blank expression, delivered several more slashes, but they were all dodged by Old Qin.
By the time he delivered the last slash, his speed had noticeably slowed down.
Suddenly, the one-footed Qin Yuan leaned forward, a soft, boneless palm grasped Xu Taiping's wrist, neutralizing his force, and then his shoulder slammed into Xu Taiping's chest.
With a loud thud, Xu Taiping was pushed back several steps before he could steady himself.
"Young man, your sword is too slow, and your punches are too weak. You can't win like this!"
Qin Yuan said with a challenging smile.