Chapter 23

On the high platform, Zi Chen and Wu Sheng were recovering their True Qi.

Below the high platform, the disciples were discussing animatedly, looking forward to today's battle. On the grandstand, the elders were also discussing something in low voices.

Their gazes alternated between Zi Chen and Wu Sheng.

After a while, Wu Sheng opened his eyes. After using a Qi Recovery Pill, he had recovered seventy to eighty percent of his True Qi, enough to launch an all-out attack.

At the same time, Zi Chen also stood up. His True Qi had recovered by more than half.

A trace of surprise flashed across Wu Sheng's eyes. He didn't expect Zi Chen's recovery speed to be on par with his.

"Are you ready?" Wu Sheng asked indifferently.

Zi Chen nodded.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the aura of the two changed instantly. Surging True Qi surged around Wu Sheng's body, like a compressed fireball that could explode at any time.

In the next moment, Zi Chen clenched his fists. His body seemed to have turned into a fierce tiger. That was the essence of the Ferocious Tiger Fist. However, at this moment, the tiger that Zi Chen displayed was no longer the king of the forest. Instead, it was a perfect combination of hardness and softness. It could both attack and defend, and there were no flaws to speak of.

When it lost some of its fierceness, it gained a trace of flexibility, making this king without any flaws.

As the two confronted each other, their auras continued to rise. One would explode upon contact, while the other had no flaws.

"This is the complete Star Burst Fist."

On the grandstand, the crowd looked at Wu Sheng with a trace of shock in their eyes. Wu Sheng had actually comprehended the second-grade Battle Skill, Star Burst Fist. His talent wasn't any weaker than Chen Feng's.

After seeing Wu Sheng's current state, everyone's expression changed, including Chen Feng's. Today, not only did he witness the genius Zi Chen, but he also witnessed another genius, Wu Sheng, who wasn't any weaker than him.

Chen Feng's expression became even more gloomy.

"This Wu Sheng is so scary. He was unknown and had been enduring, but now he's shocking everyone. It seems that Zi Chen is going to lose."

"Fifth Stage True Qi Stage against Sixth Stage, plus a complete second-grade Battle Skill, Zi Chen is bound to lose."

Sighs came from the crowd, obviously disappointed.

"That might not be the case."

Miao Kong's eyes shone brightly. That was because he could see that Zi Chen's aura wasn't any weaker than Wu Sheng's. Furthermore, Zi Chen's fierce tiger aura had already changed. Miao Kong couldn't see that change.

Not to mention Miao Kong, even the group of elders did not see through it at the first moment.

"Supernova."

On the battle stage, both of their auras had reached the peak. Suddenly, Wu Sheng let out a shout and took the initiative to attack. He clenched both of his fists and relied on the aura that had reached the peak to throw out a powerful punch. His Zhen Qi began to surge crazily, and all of it rushed towards Wu Sheng's fists.

Immediately after, Wu Sheng's fists lit up, just like Xing Chen's, shining brightly. At the same time, this shining Xing Chen also carried a dangerous explosive aura.

Just as the two fists were about to hit, Zi Chen moved. He tapped his foot, and like a fierce tiger, he nimbly moved. The Ferocious Tiger Fist and Flowing Cloud Steps perfectly fused together, allowing his footwork to slightly shift, and he dodged the fiercest attack of the Supernova Fist. At the same time, Zi Chen also waved his fist, and punched forward.

"Roar!"

After the fusion, the Ferocious Tiger Fist appeared, and issued a sky-shaking roar. It carried all of Zi Chen's Zhen Qi, and all of his strength, and punched towards Wu Sheng.

The wind whistled, and tiger roars could be heard everywhere on the battle stage. The fiercer fist shadows carried a soft and tough aura, making the fist shadows even more powerful.

"This is a fusion Battle Skill."

The moment Zi Chen punched, a cry of surprise came from the stands. It turned out that one of the elders couldn't sit still and suddenly stood up.

At the same time, the expressions of the other elders changed greatly.

A fusion Battle Skill was something that far surpassed the Quintessence of True Meaning. Its power was several times stronger than ordinary Battle Skills.

The Great Elder's eyes flashed, and the Second Elder's face was deathly pale, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Boom!"

Under the astonished gazes of countless people, the two attacks finally collided. A violent collision sound rang out, and the entire platform began to tremble. At the edge of the platform, there were many rocks falling down.

Zi Chen's figure was like an arrow leaving the bow, and he quickly moved along the ground. In an instant, he retreated more than ten meters, and directly fell at the edge of the battle stage. His face was deathly pale, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, a figure was also sent flying in the air. Against Zi Chen's fusion Battle Skill, Wu Sheng was actually sent flying. A line of blood streaked across the air, and Wu Sheng flew to the edge of the battle stage. As soon as his body landed, he immediately rolled and fell off the battle stage.

Victory and defeat were decided in one blow, and both sides were injured.

Zi Chen was still on the battle stage, but Wu Sheng had already left the stage, so Zi Chen had won.

There were no cheers in the surroundings. There was only silence. Everyone opened their eyes wide and looked at what was happening on the battle stage in disbelief.

The appearance of an existence who had comprehended a full set of second-rate battle skills was already very terrifying. His talent was so high that he could even catch up with Senior Brother Chen Feng. However, they had never expected to see the appearance of a fusion battle skill under such circumstances.

The perfect combination of Ferocious Tiger Fist and Flowing Cloud Steps made the power of this third-rate Battle Skill not weaker than a full set of second-rate Battle Skills.

In addition, Zi Chen's tough physique made up for the lack of True Qi, and his slight movement just now had allowed him to avoid the fiercest point of the Star Burst Fist. That was why Zi Chen was lucky enough to win.

On the battle stage, Zi Chen slowly stood up, and his eyes became incomparably bright. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he had won. Presumably, the elders had no reason to be biased.

The judge next to him was shocked, but he didn't announce the winner.

"This battle is a draw."

Just as Zi Chen was about to urge the other side to announce the result, a voice suddenly came from the stage. It was the second elder who stood up and announced in a clear voice.

"A draw?"

The crowd was in an uproar. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zi Chen was standing on the battle stage, while Wu Sheng was down below. The second elder actually said that it was a draw. In that instant, the crowd thought of many things, and also understood many things.

"Elder, where did this draw come from?"

Zi Chen turned his head and looked at the second elder who stood up and questioned. For his future, he had to be bold.

The second elder couldn't refute the facts in front of him. His expression changed, and he said to Zi Chen, "How dare you question an elder's decision? Don't you know the sect's rules?"

"Rules? What rules?"

Zi Chen said loudly, "I only know that I'm standing on the battle stage now, and I've won, but the elder said that it was a draw. Is this the sect's rules?"

Zi Chen's argument left the elder speechless, and he could only stare fiercely at Zi Chen. Today, Zi Chen had offended another person.

Zi Chen turned his head and looked at the first elder. He respectfully bowed and said, "I hope the first elder can make a decision for Zi Chen."

The first elder's eyes narrowed again, and he stared at Zi Chen without saying a word. Today's events were really unexpected. This core disciple spot was originally prepared for Wu Sheng, but they never thought that Zi Chen would actually defeat Wu Sheng.

The other elders looked at each other, obviously unable to control the current situation.

Wu Sheng slowly stood up and lowered his head in shame. He was already regretting his recklessness. If he hadn't been so confident, the core disciple spot would have been his.

But he had been defeated, and this spot was no longer guaranteed.

The disciples below the stage all looked at Zi Chen. Some were gloating, some were jealous, and some felt that it was unfair for Zi Chen. But there were also cold smiles filled with killing intent.

The first elder opened his eyes again. Under the second elder's pleading gaze, the first elder said indifferently, "Let us discuss this matter again. We'll make a decision tomorrow."

Zi Chen's heart turned cold. He had a bad feeling in his heart.

After the first elder's order, the crowd dispersed. The outer sect disciples returned, and the inner sect disciples also dispersed. Chen Feng sneered and left. Su Mengyao looked at Zi Chen with a complicated expression, and also left.

Wang Xiong's eyes were filled with killing intent as he left with Wang Meng and the other inner sect disciples.

"Look at the bright side. Even if it's a draw, your first place is iron-clad." Miao Kong walked in front of Zi Chen and gently patted his shoulder to comfort him.

Zi Chen nodded. But the anger in his eyes and the heaving of his chest showed that he was not calm at all.

Lin Xue's eyes were already red. She was unwilling, but there was nothing she could do.

Zi Chen also left. He was only 63 years old. Although he had experienced death, he had never experienced something like today. He could not calm down for a long time.

The last words of the first elder were like a heavy hammer, pounding on Zi Chen's heart.

Discuss again. Just a few simple words. Zi Chen knew that even if he could keep his first place, he could not keep his spot as a core disciple.

If this spot was meant for him, it would not have waited until tomorrow.

Today, Zi Chen could not calm down for a long time. Boundless anger surrounded his heart. He had an impulse to leave the Nimbus Martial Ancestor immediately.

Lin Xue had just returned and left in a hurry. After a while, she stood outside a small wooden building. There were many flowers and plants on both sides of the building. The scenery was beautiful, and there was a faint floral fragrance in the air.

Lin Xue quickly walked into the small building. Inside, Su Mengyao had been waiting for a long time. She seemed to have predicted that Lin Xue would come.

"Senior sister, please help Zi Chen. What happened today," Lin Xue said anxiously before she even sat down.

"Xue 'er, don't be anxious. Sit down first." Su Mengyao smiled gently.

"How can I not be anxious? What happened today was clearly the second elder's fault. He deliberately sided with Wu Sheng. Even if Zi Chen gets first place, he will not be able to enter the core and become a core disciple."

Lin Xue begged, "Please, senior sister, help Zi Chen. I don't need you to speak for him. I just hope that the elders' decision is fair."

Su Mengyao was very hesitant. Although she also valued Zi Chen, this was the elders' decision. It was not worth it to make trouble for the elders for Zi Chen.

But looking at the begging Lin Xue, Su Mengyao finally nodded, "Okay, I'll try."

Su Mengyao left. Lin Xue stayed here, waiting with hope.

After a long time, Su Mengyao came back, but her face was full of disappointment. She said apologetically, "He doesn't care. He said he will follow the elders' decision."

Lin Xue's heart sank.