Chapter 553: 倒数第一?

This was Zhang Xuan's first time facing a Demonic Tune Master. Although the opponent's State of Mind wasn't as profound as his own, their actual power was significantly greater. He was putting all his effort into resisting, barely able to cope, so he had no time to observe his surroundings.

Therefore, Zhang Xuan had no idea that the pale face before him belonged to Elder Wu. He simply thought someone was trying to ambush him.

With a flick of his spear, he put all his strength into it, and the Heaven's Path Spear Art transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight forward.

Elder Wu, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, didn't even have time to react before he saw a long spear flying directly towards him. His pupils constricted, and before he could dodge, the spear struck him squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward.

*Thud!*

He landed against the wall, splayed out like the character '大' (big).

"Holy moly!"

No one had anticipated such an unexpected turn of events after the music ended. Their eyes bulged, faces flushed crimson, looking as if they were about to spit blood.

This was Elder Wu, the only Demonic Tune Master in Myriad Kingdom City, a peak Saint 4-dan expert, a figure revered and feared by all. To be struck by a spear and plastered against the wall like a pancake... Was this really happening?

"Elder Wu, why did you... run in front of me? I really didn't mean to..."

Hearing the collective gasps of astonishment, Zhang Xuan finally reacted, recognizing the man. His face flushed with embarrassment. *Wasn't this supposed to be a test of mental fortitude? Why did he run over here? I thought someone was trying something malicious...*

"Cough, cough!"

Elder Wu coughed out two mouthfuls of blood before finally recovering. He struggled to peel himself off the wall, his face a picture of exasperation.

*What was this all about?* The Hall Master had told him it was just a simple test, and he had come excitedly, never dreaming he would almost lose his life.

The sound of the young man striking the formation plate continuously exploited the flaws in his Demonic Tune. If he hadn't counterattacked, his soul would have been severely damaged. He had been forced to move closer step by step, increasing his attack power...

Yet, the very sound waves that even the Hall Master would be wary of seemed to have no effect on this person whatsoever. It was as if he was playing a game... and the young man hadn't even noticed the increased power!

*Good heavens!* *He can even resist demonic tunes without being affected... What kind of monster did those two, Su Fan and Ling Hengyu, find?*

The intense frustration made him question his very existence.

"Never mind, I don't blame you..."

Knowing that the sonic attacks were uncontrollable during such a clash, and that it wasn't the young man's intention, Elder Wu took a few deep breaths, adjusted himself, and waved his hand.

Though filled with unwillingness, there was nothing he could do. As a revered Elder, he couldn't possibly go looking for trouble with this young man! Besides... he was already in such a sorry state without even seeking trouble. If he actually went for it... he might not return alive!

*It's better... to just let it go.*

"Examine it!"

He removed the formation plate from the wall and handed it to the Master Teacher responsible for examination.

"Yes, sir!"

Taking the plate, the Master Teacher meticulously counted the lines on it before announcing, "Four hundred thirty-one strokes. Each line is of equal weight and uniform strength!"

"Four hundred thirty-one strokes? Isn't that the same as Young Master Ruohuan's score?"

"It really is... He actually managed to engrave that many strokes with a spear?"

"I thought he was just randomly hitting it. I can't believe he actually created lines! That's incredible!"

"If the number of strokes is the same... then who is second? Or are they tied for second?"

Upon hearing the result, everyone was stunned, and a clamor erupted.

They had assumed Zhang Xuan was merely making up the numbers, banging his spear randomly, and that the lines on the formation plate would be chaotic, crisscrossing, or perhaps even leave no marks at all. They never dreamed that his score would be identical to Young Master Ruohuan's!

Both had the same number of strokes, one less than Feng Mosheng... So how would the rankings be determined? There couldn't be two second places, could there?

"He also got... four hundred thirty-one strokes?" Young Master Ruohuan's face darkened, clearly not expecting Zhang Xuan to achieve such a score.

He had toiled relentlessly with his carving knife, overcoming countless difficulties to produce that many. Yet, the other party, with a shaking spear, making clanging sounds and wild thrusts, achieved the same number of lines. Was this real?

"It seems we've underestimated him. This fellow isn't as simple as he appears!" he mused, raising an eyebrow.

Having heard that the young man was only a 2-star Master Teacher, he hadn't considered him a rival. Now, it seemed Zhang Xuan was far more formidable than imagined.

Carving a formation plate from several meters away with a spear... in the past, such a feat would have been unthinkable. Even witnessing it now, he found it utterly unbelievable.

"However... it won't be that easy to tie with me!" Young Master Ruohuan sneered, a corner of his mouth curving upwards.

What if their stroke count was the same? He still had a trump card up his sleeve and didn't believe a country bumpkin from a remote kingdom could possibly compare to him.

"Impressive!" Feng Mosheng was also full of admiration.

He had used a carving knife and only managed one more stroke than the other party. Truly, this was someone highly recommended by an Elder—terrifying!

He had initially thought himself a dark horse in this selection, but compared to Zhang Xuan, he was merely a black donkey.

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the six formation plates lay flat on the table, their intricate lines displaying the results.

"Hall Master, please make your judgment!" The Master Teacher responsible for the examination bowed to Hall Master Kang.

"Mmm!" Hall Master Kang nodded and, along with Elder Su and the others, stepped forward to examine all the formation plates.

"The statistics are correct. I will now announce the results of the first assessment," Hall Master Kang declared, looking around. "Feng Mosheng is first with four hundred thirty-two strokes. Jun Ruohuan and Zhang Xuan are tied for second with four hundred thirty-one strokes. Fu Xiaochen is fourth with four hundred twenty-seven strokes. Luo Xi is fifth with four hundred eleven strokes, and Du Hu is sixth with four hundred seven strokes!"

"I didn't expect Master Feng to get first place in the end!"

"This Master Zhang is also formidable; he tied with Young Master Ruohuan as soon as he appeared!"

"Indeed, I thought he was just seeking fame, but I never expected him to be so capable!"

A commotion erupted below.

Everyone had assumed Young Master Ruohuan and Fu Xiaochen would stand out. No one had anticipated the emergence of these two dark horses: Feng Mosheng and Zhang Xuan.

"Alright, the first assessment is complete. Now, we will proceed with the second round..."

Having announced the results, Hall Master Kang looked around, just about to move on to the next assessment, when he was interrupted by a voice.

"Hall Master, I believe there's an issue with the previous results!"

Everyone turned to see Young Master Ruohuan approaching with a smile.

"Oh?" Hall Master Kang looked over.

"Before the first assessment, Elder Wu stated that the champion would be whoever could engrave the most strokes, and the most intricate ones, despite the interference of the Demonic Tune!" Young Master Ruohuan said. "Am I correct?"

"I did say that!" Elder Wu nodded. He had recovered considerably after regulating his breath, though his face was still pale and his spirit somewhat weak.

"Precisely. You merely counted the strokes just now, but you didn't... observe the intricacy!" Young Master Ruohuan chuckled softly.

"Intricacy?"

Everyone was startled, and even Hall Master Kang frowned. *How would one observe that? Were they supposed to see whose lines were finer? That's related to the depth of the carving knife, and has nothing to do with one's State of Mind!*

"It's simple. I didn't just engrave lines on the formation plate... Please take a look!"

He took a few steps to the formation plate he had just carved. With a flick of his wrist, his carving knife appeared, and he quickly made dozens of strokes on it.

These strokes were very simple, merely connecting many of the fragmented lines. But with this connection, the seemingly chaotic lines on the plate immediately transformed.

With a clear hum, a magnificent peony appeared before everyone's eyes, surrounded by spiritual energy, blooming fully.

"It's... a painting!"

"Young Master Ruohuan carved a Five-Realm artwork on the formation plate in that environment!"

"No wonder he was so confident, even though his stroke count was clearly less than Master Feng's. So that's why!"

"A Five-Realm painting... only a 3-star Calligrapher-Painter can create something like that! I heard that Calligrapher-Painter was one of Young Master Ruohuan's auxiliary professions, and it truly seems to be the case now!"

"Incredible..."

Everyone erupted in commotion. Even Hall Master Kang couldn't help but glance sideways.

To be able to imbue a flower with spirituality and create a Five-Realm painting while under the influence of the Demonic Tune, which affects one's mind... Young Master Ruohuan's mental fortitude and State of Mind had reached an exceptionally profound level!

No wonder he was so confident!

Engraving lines was merely the simplest expression. To engrave them in a structured way and form a painting... that was true skill.

Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to create a Five-Realm work in just three minutes. Yet, he completed it while under attack from the Demonic Tune... His talent, ability, and temperament all seemed terrifying!

"Excellent, excellent!"

Hall Master Kang's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly with satisfaction.

His own auxiliary profession did not include painting or calligraphy, so he hadn't noticed it initially. However, seeing the peony appear firsthand, he understood the difficulty involved.

Young Master Ruohuan was his direct disciple, and such an astonishing performance made him feel proud and deeply gratified.

"Master Feng only carved four hundred thirty-two lines. My fewer strokes aren't because I couldn't engrave more, but because... I created a painting. I ask the Hall Master to reconsider who is stronger and who is weaker!" Young Master Ruohuan said confidently.

"Mmm!" Hall Master Kang nodded and looked around. "What are the opinions of the other Elders?"

"Although he has one less stroke, he created a painting... Young Master Ruohuan is clearly superior!"

"To create a Five-Realm work under the Demonic Tune, such mental fortitude is admirable!"

"I believe Young Master Ruohuan should be first!"

Soon, many Elders offered their opinions, agreeing that Jun Ruohuan should be first.

All the Master Teachers present had no doubts, and even Feng Mosheng expressed his agreement. Although he had carved more lines, the opponent's work was far more intricate, with every stroke serving a purpose, clearly superior to his own haphazard carving.

"Very well, since there are no objections, I will now announce the results: Ruohuan is first, Feng Mosheng second, Master Zhang third, Fu Xiaochen fourth, Luo Xi fifth, and Du Hu sixth!"

Seeing no one object, Hall Master Kang announced loudly.

"Young Master Ruohuan is still powerful, truly a strong contender for the championship!"

"He easily took first place in the first assessment and maintained his advantage. Now we'll see the results of the subsequent rounds!"

Everyone nodded.

Seeing that he had indeed secured first place, Young Master Ruohuan smiled faintly. He turned to look at Zhang Xuan, who was not far away, and raised an eyebrow. "Master Zhang, I'm sorry, it seems I won't be able to tie for second with you!"

*You caused quite a stir earlier, didn't you? So what? You still obediently lost to me and ended up third!*

"Uh..."

Zhang Xuan hadn't expected this fellow to gloat after getting first place. He shook his head helplessly and looked at Hall Master Kang. "So... as long as it's more intricate, the score will be better, right?"

"Yes!" Hall Master Kang was momentarily stunned but still nodded.

"Uh, that's good then!"

After saying that, Zhang Xuan turned to look at the formation plate lying flat on the table, his expression hardening. "It's been half a day already, stop pretending! Get up and get to work!"

As his voice trailed off, a resonant hum of spiritual energy vibrated. The formation plate he had just carved activated with a "whoosh!", instantly drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, which converged into a massive vortex.

"Spiritual energy agitation... Is this... a 4-star Spirit Gathering Formation with its own spirituality?" Elder Wu's pupils constricted.

As a 4-star Formation Master, Elder Wu possessed extensive knowledge of formations and understood the difficulty of carving formation plates. Even with his level of skill, carving a 4-star Spirit Gathering Formation plate would take at least a week.

Yet, the young man had engraved one with a spear in just over three minutes... and crucially, it even possessed spirituality!

This... this was simply too incredible!

A 3-star blank formation plate was generally only capable of supporting a 3-star formation; this was a well-established fact. But not only had he carved a 4-star formation, it also possessed spirituality... To what extent had his understanding of formations reached?

At the very least, Elder Wu couldn't compare!

Even more terrifying was that he had done it while engaged in battle. Elder Wu had been left dizzy and spitting blood, yet the young man not only seemed unaffected but also managed to create a 4-star formation plate with spirituality...

Elder Wu felt utterly deflated, his entire being overcome with dismay.

"Carving a formation plate is intricate and complex; every step requires meticulous design, and no error is allowed. And he did it with a spear..."

"Compared to this, Young Master Ruohuan's Five-Realm painting isn't even in the same league!"

"Indeed, the difference is too vast..."

Witnessing the spiritual energy gathering, everyone in the room fell silent, their eyes wide with disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost.

"You..." Young Master Ruohuan trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of madness.

He had thought creating a painting was incredibly impressive and powerful. He never imagined this fellow would... directly create a 4-star formation!

Even a 4-star Formation Master would find it difficult to do without the Demonic Tune. Yet, this young man, barely twenty, had done it while making Elder Wu vomit blood...

This was simply too outrageous!

And most importantly... this formation plate also possessed spirituality!

While his own painting also had spirituality, compared to this, the difference was immeasurable. They weren't even on the same level.

He had been so certain he would be first this time. He never expected to be utterly defeated in the blink of an eye, and then trampled underfoot...

Young Master Ruohuan was beyond tears.

If he had known this, he wouldn't have been so smug just now. He had just said he couldn't tie for second, and now... he was the only one in second place...

What a slap in the face!

As he stood there, his face filled with gloom, he heard the other party's voice. "Does my formation count as intricate?"

"Cough, cough, yes!" Hall Master Kang's face flushed.

The other party had carved an entire formation, and he hadn't even noticed. It was truly embarrassing to think about.

And the most crucial part... the result of a single assessment had to be re-announced twice. What kind of prodigies were participating in this selection?

"For the first assessment, Master Zhang is first, scoring six points; Ruohuan is second, scoring five points; the rest follow in descending order..."

Knowing that further deliberation would only lead to more embarrassment, Hall Master Kang quickly announced the results. This time, seeing no further objections from the crowd, he let out a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, now we begin the second assessment: Cultivation Level Examination!"

"To become a Master Teacher, cultivation is paramount. Master Teachers are renowned for being invincible among their peers, not only capable of discerning flaws but, more importantly, having deeply consolidated cultivation and abundant power!"

"Of course, cultivation is related to sufficient resources and guidance from Master Teachers. Each of you comes from a different background and has a different cultivation level, so a unified combat assessment would certainly be unfair!"

Everyone nodded.

For example, Young Master Ruohuan, who came from the Jun Clan, the leading family of Myriad Kingdom City, and whose teacher was Hall Master Kang himself, had received the most favorable conditions from the start. Coupled with his older age and strong cultivation, his strength was undeniable.

Others, like Luo Xi and Du Hu, originated from remote kingdoms where cultivation conditions were far inferior, and they were also younger. A direct combat assessment against Young Master Ruohuan would certainly be unfair.

"Therefore, after discussions with the other Elders, we have decided that Elder Bai will suppress his cultivation level and fight against you all. Under the same cultivation, the more rounds one endures, the stronger their true ability. This way, we can not only assess your cultivation but also observe a cultivator's judgment and decision-making when facing danger, making the assessment of strength more accurate," Hall Master Kang continued.

"A combat assessment with suppressed cultivation?"

"The participants in this selection have varying cultivation levels. One-on-one combat would definitely be unsuitable. For instance, Master Fu Xiaochen has reached the peak of Saint 3-dan, while Master Zhang is only at the peak of Saint 1-dan. There's no suspense about who would win without even fighting."

"Exactly. Having Elder Bai suppress his cultivation to match theirs, and then determining victory by whoever endures more rounds, is comparatively fairer..."

"As a 4-star Master Teacher, Elder Bai's comprehension and understanding of martial arts are unparalleled by any of them. Even if he suppresses his strength to their level, they won't be able to defeat him. Judging their strength by the number of rounds they last, without sustaining injuries, and clearly differentiating their capabilities—it's an excellent method!"

"Indeed, Elder Bai's combat power is almost unrivaled, save for Hall Master Kang. Moreover, he is fair and impartial, so I have no objection to this rule!"

Upon hearing the rules for the second round, everyone nodded simultaneously.

The six participants in the selection had different cultivation levels, making a fair direct combat impossible. Therefore, having an Elder suppress his cultivation to fight each of them individually was a viable solution.

By suppressing his cultivation to match theirs and determining rankings based on how many rounds they endured before defeat, their true strength could still be proven. This was considered the fairest method.

Seeing everyone agree, Hall Master Kang nodded and looked at an elder nearby. "I'll trouble you with this!"

"It's no trouble," the elder said, stepping forward.

This was Elder Bai, Bai Heng!

"Rest assured, once I suppress my cultivation, I will fight with all my might, showing no mercy to anyone! However many moves you can endure, that's how many it will be. I, Bai Heng, guarantee by the honor of a Master Teacher, that there will be no favoritism or fraud!" Elder Bai declared, raising his eyebrows, his face devoid of expression as he stood before the crowd.

"Elder Bai is fair and impartial; we have no doubt about that!" Young Master Ruohuan, Fu Xiaochen, and the others quickly affirmed.

Elder Bai was a highly respected Elder in the entire Master Teacher Pavilion, a peak Saint 4-dan expert whose strength was only slightly inferior to Hall Master Kang's. He was known for his integrity, and with his guarantee on a Master Teacher's honor, it was impossible for him to go easy on anyone. He was completely trustworthy.

"Since there are no objections, please prepare yourselves. You may use weapons or fight bare-handed, employing your most proficient techniques and methods to engage Elder Bai. However... for fairness and confidentiality, your battles will take place in a sealed environment. The specific number of rounds will be displayed on the wall by a special formation, making it impossible to falsify results. The specific details of the battle will not be made public!" Hall Master Kang continued.

Hearing this arrangement, the other Master Teachers nodded again.

Every Master Teacher possessed unique ultimate techniques that they preferred to keep secret. If performed in front of everyone, they could easily be leaked, rendering their life-saving moves ineffective.

Battling in a sealed environment, with only the number of rounds displayed and no secrets revealed, would be much safer.

"I'll go wait inside!" With a wave of his hand, Elder Bai turned and walked towards a small room within the main hall.

"Alright, who will challenge first?" Seeing Elder Bai ready, Hall Master Kang turned to the six participants.

"I'll go first!" Fu Xiaochen stepped forward.

He originally had the strength to contend for the championship, but only managed fourth place in the first round, leaving him feeling frustrated and stifled.

In terms of State of Mind, he might be inferior to Feng Mosheng or Young Master Ruohuan, but in terms of actual strength, he was confident he was not weaker than anyone!

"Mmm, be careful!" Hall Master Kang nodded approvingly, giving a word of caution.

"Thank you for the reminder, Hall Master!" Fu Xiaochen walked towards the room.

As he entered, a flash of light appeared on the white wall before everyone's eyes, and a line of numbers slowly emerged.

Ten...

The numbers continuously jumped, climbing upwards, quickly reaching "ten."

"It's already begun!"

"Even with suppressed cultivation, to last ten moves against Elder Bai is quite impressive for Master Fu!"

"Needless to say? Master Fu is Elder Hai's student; his Thousand Ocean Fist has long since reached perfection. Even if Elder Bai is invincible, at the same level, it would take at least fifteen moves or more to defeat him!"

"Indeed, the Thousand Ocean Fist, with its endless waves and ceaseless tide, is truly powerful..."

"I wonder how many rounds he can endure."

Seeing the numbers displayed on the wall, everyone knew that the battle had begun and had already exceeded ten moves. Their fists clenched in excitement.

Elder Bai was immensely powerful. Even with suppressed cultivation, being able to endure over ten moves under his full attack was certainly something to boast about!

When a strong expert suppresses their cultivation, even if they match yours, their understanding of combat is completely different, reaching another level. How could someone with a lower cultivation background possibly win?

Amidst the onlookers' astonished gazes, the fluctuating numbers finally stopped.

Thirty-one!

Immediately after, the door opened, and Fu Xiaochen walked out. Although he looked a bit disheveled, his eyes shone with excitement.

Only through personal experience did he truly realize Elder Bai's might. Even with his cultivation suppressed to match his own, Elder Bai was still an insurmountable opponent.

If he hadn't used all his trump cards and unleashed his strongest techniques, enduring twenty moves would have been good enough.

Thirty-one rounds. While it wouldn't guarantee him first place, he was certainly confident of securing a spot in the top two.

"Impressive!" Young Master Ruohuan glanced at the approaching young man, his expression also becoming serious.

To have endured so many rounds before defeat, even he felt immense pressure.

"Young Master Ruohuan, let me see your score!" Coming before the crowd, Fu Xiaochen looked at Young Master Ruohuan, his gaze flickering.

"Alright!" Jun Ruohuan took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and entered the room.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

Before long, a series of numbers began to jump on the wall.

"How many moves do you think Young Master Ruohuan can last?"

"I don't know about that. He and Master Fu have similar strength, pretty much evenly matched. If the latter could last thirty-one moves, he shouldn't be too far off!"

"Let's hope so!"

As the numbers continued to increase, everyone's expressions grew more solemn.

Jun Ruohuan and Fu Xiaochen were the most highly anticipated figures before the selection, idols to many of the younger generation. Everyone wanted to know whose comprehension of combat was stronger.

"It should be Fu Xiaochen who lasts longer!" Hall Master Kang spoke up.

"Oh?" Elder Su looked over, puzzled.

"Xiaochen's State of Mind is steady, and he excels at defense. Ruohuan, on the other hand, comes from too privileged a background and is arrogant. When facing danger, he tends to attack even more fiercely. Such attacks might work against others, but against... Elder Bai, they won't be very effective!" Hall Master Kang analyzed.

"That's true!" Master Su and Master Ling nodded simultaneously.

Jun Ruohuan was known as the leader of the Four Young Masters, not out of flattery, but because he had fought his way up step by step among the younger generation.

It was precisely because he was too strong that he became arrogant.

Arrogant individuals tend to have weaker defenses. In such situations, this might not be noticeable among peers of the same cultivation level, but against Elder Bai, who possessed vast combat experience, he would certainly be at a disadvantage.

As they conversed, the light on the wall slowly faded, and a line of numbers appeared before everyone.

Thirty!

As Hall Master Kang had predicted, Young Master Ruohuan's performance was inferior to Fu Xiaochen's. He couldn't endure past thirty moves, falling short by exactly one move.

"One move short?"

"Do you think he might have held something back, just like in the first assessment, where it looked like a one-move difference but he actually won?"

"How is that possible! A combat assessment is a genuine fight, move for move. One move less is simply one move less; you can't cheat your way through it!"

"True!"

Seeing "thirty moves," and like before, some were initially doubtful but quickly realized.

Combat was different from carving the formation plate earlier. One more move literally meant one more move; there was no way to falsify it.

*Creak!*

Amidst the discussions, the door opened, and Young Master Ruohuan walked out, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

To lose to Fu Xiaochen by just one move was something even he hadn't anticipated.

However, there was nothing he could do. Although Elder Bai had suppressed his strength to match his own, his attacks were like an endless tide. Even using all his power, thirty moves was his maximum effort; he couldn't have lasted one more.

A loss was a loss, and it wasn't a significant defeat.

"I'll go!"

Seeing him emerge, Feng Mosheng took a deep breath and walked into the room.

A flash of light appeared, and numbers began to display. Before long, Feng Mosheng emerged, looking pale, the number fixed at twenty-eight.

Seeing his score, Fu Xiaochen and Young Master Ruohuan simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Their eyes collectively fell upon Zhang Xuan, who was nearby.

The three of them had completed their assessments. If anyone could potentially change the situation, it was this fellow.

Although they didn't know his combat prowess, the fact that he could use music to drive Elder Wu almost insane meant he was certainly not simple.

To their surprise, however, Zhang Xuan didn't rush into the room. Instead, Luo Xi and Du Hu went in first. What was surprising was that Du Hu, who had the worst score last time, actually managed to last twenty-eight moves this time, the same as Feng Mosheng.

As for Luo Xi, she was slightly weaker; being a woman, she was at a physical disadvantage and only managed twenty-four moves before being completely defeated.

"It's Master Zhang's turn..."

"Indeed. I wonder if he can be the biggest dark horse again, just like in the first round!"

"I doubt it. The closer one's cultivation is to Elder Bai's original level, the stronger their understanding of combat, and thus the longer they can last. Conversely, the further away, the shorter."

"That's true..."

As Zhang Xuan walked towards the room, everyone lowered their voices.

A combat assessment with suppressed cultivation wasn't as absolutely fair as imagined. It would definitely be easier for a Saint 4-dan expert to suppress their cultivation to Saint 1-dan and fight, rather than suppressing it to Saint 3-dan.

It was like a graduate student taking a university student's exam: while they could complete it, it would still be somewhat challenging. But taking a kindergarten-level exam would be very easy.

Master Zhang's cultivation was the lowest among the participants, so Elder Bai suppressing his cultivation by three major realms to fight him would certainly be much easier.

"How many moves do you think he can last?" Hall Master Kang asked Master Su, who was nearby.

"This... I don't know, but I'm very familiar with Elder Bai's strength. If he suppresses his cultivation to the peak of Saint 1-dan... he could easily defeat even a mid-Saint 2-dan expert. Master Zhang probably won't last long!" Master Su hesitated before replying.

Although he had great confidence in Zhang Xuan, it was Elder Bai in there, a super-expert at the peak of Saint 4-dan.

Such a person's control over power and understanding of martial arts had reached an extremely profound level. Even Master Su himself wasn't a match when Elder Bai suppressed his cultivation to the same level. For Master Zhang to remain undefeated for many moves would be difficult!

"Yes, twenty-odd days, and he increased his cultivation by three major realms consecutively. Even with extraordinary talent and fortunate encounters, his control over his power must be somewhat unstable. If I'm not mistaken, he should be defeated within ten moves!" Hall Master Kang analyzed.

Master Su had already stated that this young man had progressed from the Zongshi realm to the peak of Saint 1-dan in just over twenty days. With such rapid breakthroughs, even for a Heavenly-Acknowledged Master Teacher, his power was bound to be somewhat unstable!

Saying he would be defeated within ten moves was already the most optimistic estimate.

"I think so too, but... Master Zhang cannot be measured by common sense. No one knows what will happen..." Master Ling interjected.

Although he also felt that Hall Master Kang's analysis was flawless, and under normal circumstances, Zhang Xuan wouldn't last ten moves, with Master Zhang... until the result was out, no one could predict it.

"Quick, look, it's started!"

Not only were they nervous, but everyone in the hall couldn't help but look over. On the smooth white wall, a number appeared... One!

"Huh? Why isn't it increasing?"

Seeing the number "one," everyone assumed it would rapidly increase and then stop at a certain value, just like with the others. To their surprise, it seemed to be etched onto the wall, completely motionless.

"Could it be... that the observation formation is broken?"

"Impossible! Elder Wu personally set up this formation, and it's been working perfectly fine so far. How could it break for no reason?"

"Then why isn't the number... moving?"

"Could it be..."

Suddenly realizing something, everyone froze, filled with disbelief.

"He... lost in one move?" Young Master Ruohuan's eyes lit up, and his fists clenched in excitement.

Fu Xiaochen on the side also brightened.

The two had been worried that this suddenly appearing dark horse would once again create a sensation, just like before. They never expected him to be defeated in just one move.

*Indeed, how could a Saint 1-dan kid possibly withstand Elder Bai's attacks?*

They had previously thought this fellow might be their biggest obstacle to passing the selection. Now, it was clear they had overthought it and worried needlessly.

"This score is too terrible... With this strength, he can participate in the Master Teacher Grand Competition?"

"While strength isn't the sole deciding factor in the Grand Competition, it's very important. Even the beautiful Luo Xi could last twenty-four moves, yet he lost in one move... That's too fast!"

"Indeed, what good is a strong State of Mind if your strength is lacking? He'll be quickly eliminated in the Grand Competition!"

Understanding what had happened, everyone started to discuss it.

In the first round, this fellow was astonishingly talented, even driving Elder Wu crazy. They had thought that even if he didn't perform as spectacularly in the second round, he would still surprise them and achieve a decent score. They never dreamed... he would be so terrible!

Defeated in one move!

Let alone a Master Teacher, even an ordinary cultivator could at least last a few moves!

"This..." Hall Master Kang, Master Su, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

They had estimated Zhang Xuan might not last ten moves, but... what on earth was losing in one move?

"Master Zhang always surprises us, and this result is truly unexpected..." Master Su said with a wry smile.

Master Zhang always did the unthinkable. Just now, they had considered many possible outcomes, but none had predicted that he would lose in one move, defeated so utterly.

"Alright, since the results are out, I will now announce them!"

Shaking his head, Hall Master Kang looked around. "Fu Xiaochen lasted thirty-one moves, taking first place. Young Master Ruohuan lasted thirty moves, placing second. Feng Mosheng and Du Hu both lasted twenty-eight moves, tying for third. Luo Xi lasted twenty-four moves, placing fifth, and Master Zhang... only lasted one move, placing last..."

He was announcing the results of the second assessment when he heard the door "creak!" open.

Turning to look, Hall Master Kang's eyes immediately widened, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Holy cow!"