I'd give myself full marks for this performance.

The crowd below the arena was silent at first, before erupting into low gasps of exclamation.

Some rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Wasn't he just being completely suppressed? How did he suddenly win?

Others breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it was a narrow victory. If it had been another effortless crushing, he really wouldn't be leaving anyone else a way out.

As he walked down from the arena, Xiao Ruobai was secretly feeling proud of his exquisite acting skills, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Shen Jinghong stepping down from the adjacent arena—she had actually forfeited and stopped at the second round.

His heart immediately skipped a beat. He had been careless!

To think Senior Sister Shen retreated so early. It seemed his realm of laying low was still not up to par. He had really let it get to his head.

He sneaked a peek at Gu Changge on the high platform. Seeing his master leisurely drinking tea with an expressionless face, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

On the other side, Fang Hanyu had also ended his battle.

The second round ended even more cleanly than the first. The moment his opponent raised his heavy sword, Fang Hanyu stepped forward with quick, nimble steps. As his first strike parried the attack, the spine of his sword accurately struck the opponent's pulse gate.

Before his second sword was even fully unsheathed, revealing only half an inch of its edge, it had already brushed past the opponent's throat, forcing that late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple to instantly freeze in place.

I lose.

The opponent dropped his sword, his voice trembling as he conceded. He was still rubbing his numb wrist as he walked off the arena.

The silence from the spectator stands lasted even longer than in the first round, before the ensuing exclamations nearly blew the roof off the pavilion.

He... he won again? It only took two moves! Even faster than last time!

But that's the Iron Sword Madman from Sky-Holding Peak! Rumor has it he can take a head-on strike from a Core Formation realm cultivator. How was he as fragile as paper?

In the crowd, the disciple who had previously yelled about him relying on his weapon flushed red and stubbornly retorted.

It's definitely the weapon! Look at his scabbard; it just tapped the opponent's wrist and made it numb. It's absolutely coated in something!

However, not many echoed his words. After all, everyone had seen that Fang Hanyu had not even fully drawn his sword this time.

Amidst the discussions, what drew even more attention were the female disciples in the stands.

A few inner sect female disciples from Azure Cloud Peak huddled together, their eyes seemingly glued to Fang Hanyu. They lowered their voices but could not hide their excitement.

Wow, the way he sheathes his sword is so cool!

He's clearly only fifteen, so how does he have such an aura?

They stared wide-eyed at the arena. Someone muttered softly with a blushing face, He's so handsome... Even more captivating than Senior Brother Li.

Many other female disciples simply stood up, their gazes so fiery they could burn a hole right through someone. Their whispered conversations drifted over on the wind.

His name is Fang Hanyu, right? If I go deliver medicine to Purple Bamboo Peak later, do you think I could bump into him?

I really want to have his babies.

I heard he just joined the sect not long ago. Should I ask someone to deliver a love letter for me?

These gazes were like fine needles, pricking Fang Hanyu and making him feel completely uncomfortable.

He was already unaccustomed to being surrounded by crowds, especially such blunt and passionate stares. The tips of his ears quietly turned red.

Seeing Xiao Ruobai walking over, he subconsciously hid behind his senior brother. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, as if the cold touch could suppress the flustered heat in his heart.

Seeing him like this, Xiao Ruobai could not help but chuckle softly. Junior Brother, your charm is quite something. It's only been two rounds, yet you've already captured the hearts of so many senior sisters.

Fang Hanyu frowned. They are so noisy.

That's called being popular.

Xiao Ruobai patted his shoulder, then lowered his voice.

Junior Brother, your acting skills still need improvement. How could you end it so quickly?

Fang Hanyu replied rather helplessly, I also wanted to have a back-and-forth exchange, but he was simply too weak. I already hid ninety percent of my strength, yet he still lost in an instant.

Xiao Ruobai was so startled that he quickly covered his mouth and rapidly glanced around.

If other disciples heard these words, their Dao hearts would probably collapse on the spot.

Just listen to what he was saying! It was simply adding insult to injury!

Fang Hanyu pried his hand away and added, Next time, I'll try using only five percent of my strength.

Xiao Ruobai was speechless.

On the high platform, Ye Guying lightly tapped his fingertips against his armrest and said to Gu Changge, This child's sword intent is so astonishing. He truly is a good seedling.

Gu Changge raised an eyebrow. Senior Brother Ye, are you trying to poach my disciple?

I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Ye Guying laughed. How could I dare poach Junior Brother Gu's person?

How about after the grand competition ends, I let my useless disciple Chenyu stay at Purple Bamboo Peak for a few days, so he can exchange sword techniques with Hanyu?

Gu Changge gave Ye Guying a faint, knowing smile.

Good heavens, his scheming was so obvious it practically slapped him in the face.

As if he didn't know him; it was purely to let his disciple go to Purple Bamboo Peak to freeload and reap benefits.

The second round quickly came to an end.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu had not been in the sect for long, yet they won consecutively and advanced to the top sixteen, leaving many secretly astonished.

At this point, the distribution of the various peaks in the advancement list gradually became clear.

Azure Cloud Peak had Li Xuanfeng and two other core disciples, making a total of three.

Sky-Holding Peak's Shi Jingxian and Lin Mochen were riding a strong wave of momentum.

Aside from Cauldron Peak, which focused primarily on alchemy and lacked combat strength, resulting in only Lin Xiaowan entering the top sixteen, the rest of the main peaks all had two people advancing to the third round.

At this stage, the lowest cultivation base among those who advanced to the top sixteen was the Core Formation realm.

After a half-hour rest, the third round of the competition began.

When Xiao Ruobai walked up to the arena gripping his long halberd, a wave of low murmurs had already started below.

His opponent was Lu Chenyu, the head disciple of Mountain Suppressing Peak. Wielding two refined iron heavy hammers, he stood there as solidly as an iron tower. Just the sheer imposing aura of him swinging his hammers left many spectating disciples in awe.

That's the personal disciple of the Mountain Suppressing Peak Master! A mid-stage Core Formation expert with tyrannical combat strength. This kid from Purple Bamboo Peak is probably doomed.

Xiao Ruobai's ears twitched slightly, taking in all the discussions.

He watched the fierce wind generated by the opponent swinging his hammer, but his mind was churning—with his cultivation at the Purple Mansion realm, this mid-stage Core Formation opponent was simply not enough to look at.

Let alone meeting force with force, even if he stood perfectly still and let the man smash him, the opponent wouldn't be able to break through his War God Physique's defense.

However, it was better not to demoralize these geniuses. If he won again, they would probably start doubting their entire lives.

Thinking this, he deliberately slowed his Shadow-Treading Steps by a fraction. When his long halberd clashed with the heavy hammers, he even struggled and stumbled back two steps.

He twisted his brows into a knot and even squeezed out two drops of cold sweat on his forehead.

Seeing this, Lu Chenyu swung his heavy hammers with even more ferocious wind.

Xiao Ruobai dodged left and right, occasionally selling a deliberate opening, which drew continuous gasps from the crowd below.

After five exchanges, Xiao Ruobai was suddenly struck in the chest by a hammer from the Iron Hammer King. He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

I... I concede.

Junior Brother Xiao, I'm sorry, I couldn't hold back my strength in time.

Seeing Xiao Ruobai heavily injured and knocked to the ground, Lu Chenyu explained somewhat nervously.

Senior Brother Lu, weapons have no eyes. I don't blame you, I can hold on...

After saying that, Xiao Ruobai leaned heavily on his halberd to force himself up. Another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips as he slowly walked down from the arena.

This scene made the hearts of the onlookers ache endlessly.

However, as Xiao Ruobai walked, he secretly muttered in his heart: This acting is absolute perfection. I have to give myself full marks.

Meanwhile, Fang Hanyu was matched against Azure Cloud Peak's core disciple, Li Wuling...