Having all disciples with high-grade spiritual roots was impossible for sects on Xingyun Continent.
But Ten Thousand Ancients Sect might be able to do it—as long as Jun Gou Sheng didn’t use contribution points to exchange for other items, but rather used them to exchange for high-grade aptitude transformation liquid. Over time, achieving universal high-grade wasn’t impossible.
Su Xiao Mo, who came to Taixuan Holy Sect as an undercover agent, claimed to have middle-grade spiritual roots.
Therefore, when he executed Nine-Bend Flowing Shadow Steps smoothly and naturally, the higher-ups immediately determined that without sufficiently strong spiritual root aptitude, it would be extremely difficult to comprehend it to this degree in such a short time!
“How is this possible…” He Zongying also looked completely astonished.
He had studied Nine-Bend Flowing Shadow Steps before. After comprehending it for several months and feeling it wasn’t as cost-effective as other movement techniques, he chose to abandon it.
Now, a guy who just entered the sect had not only learned it, but reached a level where flowing light afterimages existed—he had definitely comprehended it to perfection!
“Whoosh whoosh—”
Just then, explosive sounds came from his ears!
A palm strike seemingly carrying flames killed from the side. Its speed was fast and power strong, making He Zongying’s heart skip a beat: “Not good…”
“Boom!”
“Thud thud thud!”
He Zongying was struck and staggered backward.
After stabilizing himself, he looked at the faint flame aura gathered on Su Xiao Mo’s right fist and said incredulously: “Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm!”
“Swish!”
Su Xiao Mo didn’t speak. Executing Nine-Bend Flowing Shadow Steps, he moved around again, then seized openings to execute Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm. Immediately, waves of scorching heat swept across the training ground in all directions.
The watching disciples and participants were completely dumbfounded.
A month ago when Su Xiao Mo and He Zongying set their combat appointment, except for a very small portion of disciples, most had determined the latter would easily defeat the former. After all, they weren’t on the same level.
But now that the two were fighting, the underestimated Su Gou Sheng was executing Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm and Nine-Bend Flowing Shadow Steps. Everyone present naturally found it incredible.
Including Sun Yingquan and Xia Shui Yun, and including all the higher-ups of Taixuan Holy Sect.
“Swish swish swish—”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
On the training ground, Su Xiao Mo used his movement technique to frequently move around. At appropriate times, finding openings, he would strike with the domineering Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm.
This combat style had both ethereal unpredictability and rigid fierceness—extremely pleasing to watch!
However.
He Zongying was suffering!
Unable to keep up with his opponent’s rhythm in such a short time, he could only gradually fall into passivity, gradually being struck until he staggered backward across the stage.
“Third Elder!”
An Elder said in surprise: “This Su Gou Sheng has Wuzong-level cultivation!”
Relying only on two martial techniques comprehended to perfection, Su Xiao Mo would have difficulty defeating He Zongying, who had already reached peak Wuzong. So releasing his realm to Wuzong-level was necessary.
“A month ago he had only just broken through to Wushi. A month later he has Wuzong cultivation. Did this boy deliberately hide his cultivation, or did he cultivate up to it?” An Elder questioned.
From a normal perspective, the higher-ups were more willing to believe Su Xiao Mo had been hiding his cultivation all along.
“Both should be true.” Third Elder speculated.
Elder Sun said: “My son gave this boy all 100 natural spirit stones he’d stored for years. He’s also been cultivating very diligently during this time. Having Wuzong cultivation isn’t surprising.”
“Shui Yun also gave 50 natural spirit stones.” Elder Xia said.
Hearing these two speak this way, the Elders who had been questioning immediately felt relieved.
One of them said: “No wonder this boy broke through to Wuzong in such a short time. So he was given so many resources.”
Su Xiao Mo’s efforts hadn’t been in vain. His sudden increase in strength shocked everyone, but with prior groundwork laid and the natural spirit stones given by Sun Yingquan and Xia Shui Yun, the higher-ups didn’t feel it was too abrupt.
Of course.
He also knew that regardless of this battle’s outcome, he would undergo spiritual root aptitude verification. So while attacking He Zongying, he thought to himself: “What level should I reveal?”
He definitely couldn’t show Saint-grade aptitude, because it would cause a huge uproar and he might even be repeatedly interrogated and investigated by the sect. Although his background had been thoroughly prepared, if there were any oversights discovered, there would be a possibility of his identity being exposed.
“High-grade is too ordinary.”
After brief consideration, Su Xiao Mo decided: “I’ll go with supreme-grade spiritual roots then.”
Supreme-grade spiritual roots would be considered quite good in second and third-tier sects, but in top-tier first-rate sects they could only be considered neither high nor low.
“Boom!”
Su Xiao Mo again seized an opening and executed Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm, striking He Zongying’s back.
“…”
The watching disciples’ mouths twitched.
Many people thought Senior Brother He could solve Su Gou Sheng within ten moves. As a result, after the two fought nearly thirty moves, not only had the former failed to do so, he was actually being constantly suppressed.
“Damn it!”
He Zongying steadied himself, his gaze flashing with coldness.
Being beaten into such an embarrassing state by a disciple who just entered the sect—he definitely couldn’t accept it!
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
His fists suddenly clenched. Strong spiritual energy erupted from within his body!
He was angry!
He was going to launch a desperate counterattack!
“Swish!”
Just then, Su Xiao Mo circled around behind him and unexpectedly struck out another Six-Style Blazing Flame Palm, sending the about-to-erupt He Zongying flying back several meters.
He was only releasing Wuzong-level cultivation, yet relying on two Taixuan Holy Sect martial techniques, he could beat him until he couldn’t find his bearings.
This guy was truly pathetic.
It wasn’t that He Zongying was pathetic. With his cultivation, going to a second or third-tier sect, he could suppress any disciple of the same level.
Unfortunately, Su Xiao Mo who came from Ten Thousand Ancients Sect had experienced various tempering and trials. Even with only first or second-rank Wuzong cultivation, he could rely on rich combat experience to completely suppress him!
“Since I’m going to show off, I’ll show off big!”
“Swish!”
Su Xiao Mo quickly closed in, then launched an overwhelming offensive. Scorching palm strikes filled the training ground, waves of heat sweeping in all directions.
What he wanted to do was not give He Zongying a chance to counterattack—completely suppressing him to death!
“Swish swish swish!”
“Boom boom boom!”
Under the dense offensive, He Zongying was beaten into constant retreat. He didn’t even have a chance to gather momentum for an eruption. It was extremely embarrassing!
“…”
The outer disciples’ mouths twitched violently.
That was the overwhelming favorite to win the championship, no question! Yet he was being beaten by an outer disciple who just entered the sect not long ago until he had no power to resist!
“My heavens!”
Sun Yingquan remained in a state of confusion, saying dazedly: “Gou Sheng… is actually this strong!”
Xia Shui Yun thought to herself: “He’s figured it out. He’s decided to use his true strength to tell his fellow disciples that he’s not only good at flattery and fawning.”
“Ah! Ah—”
“Boom!”
He Zongying wanted to erupt, but this kind of combat that could only rely on shouting was completely ineffective. He was struck in the face by Su Xiao Mo’s punch, staggered backward several steps, and nearly sat down on his rear.
“Not on the same level.” The Elders shook their heads.
From the brief exchange, they had already seen that although Su Xiao Mo’s cultivation wasn’t as high as He Zongying’s, his combat experience and use of martial techniques completely crushed him.
“A surprise.”
“A very big surprise!”
A smile appeared on Third Elder’s face.
Top-tier major sects had many disciples entering each year. Naturally, some unexpected geniuses would appear quite commonly.
However, this Su Gou Sheng gave Third Elder the feeling that although his cultivation wasn’t high, his combat skills and martial technique usage were very mature. Without guidance from a famous master, it would be extremely difficult to reach this level.
“Boom!”
Just then, He Zongying, unable to withstand the overwhelming bombardment, was finally beaten until he fell off the training ground, then sat slumped on the ground with a fierce expression, his entire body transmitting intense pain.
“Senior Brother He.”
Su Xiao Mo stood on the platform and cupped his hands: “I yield.”
“First match.” Third Elder didn’t drag it out either, immediately announcing: “Su Gou Sheng wins, He Zongying is eliminated!”
—