When Xing Peng stepped out of his room again, several hours had passed. The martial arts arena was still bustling with activity, but the battles had now reached their most intense stage. The top ten were about to emerge!
"Platform one, Xing Jianfeng versus Xing Jun."
"Platform two, Xing Qianshan versus Xing Zhong."
"Platform three, Xing Tiandong versus Xing Xiaochuan."
"..."
Elders continuously called out the names of the contestants, instructing them to take their places for the final struggle to determine the top ten warriors.
As the elders shouted, twenty figures soared into the air one after another, propelled by powerful bursts of energy, and landed on the platforms. These were the last twenty contestants. Once their battles were decided, the top ten would be firmly established, and the ranking matches to determine the distribution of rewards would begin.
Every family trial of the Xing clan not only signifies that the participants qualify to represent the Xing clan in the trials of the four major academies, but it also means that the victors receive many rare techniques, elixirs, and weapons from the family.
It is precisely because of these rewards that every participant is so enthusiastic.
All the warriors who had been defeated and the spectators eagerly awaited the final showdown, their breathing quick and eyes sparkling, unwilling to miss the climactic battles.
Those who had made it this far were the strongest of the young generation in the Xing family, some familiar faces and some new ones who had only recently caught the attention of the family elders.
Whether they were veterans or newcomers, they all represented their current status within the family, which was much higher than that of the other descendants, eliciting envy and jealousy.
Especially for the weaker warriors, seeing those who were once on par with them suddenly become candidates for the top ten filled them with envy and a strong motivation. If these people could become top ten warriors through hard work and training, then so could they, one day achieving the same glory.
"Xing Xiaochuan, just give up, you're no match for me!" Xing Tiandong taunted arrogantly on platform three, giving Xing Xiaochuan a disdainful glance.
"Give up? What a joke. Xing Tiandong, don’t think for a moment that I will concede! I will definitely defeat you this time!" Xing Xiaochuan retorted with a cold laugh.
"With just your ability, defeat me?" Xing Tiandong scoffed.
"Don't think you're something special just because you've advanced to the late Human Level. Xing Tiandong, you're bound to lose today. I, Xing Xiaochuan, will surely step over your body to become one of the top ten warriors!" Xing Xiaochuan countered defiantly.
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"So be it, then!" Xing Tiandong waved him on, clearly uninterested in drawing his saber for the fight.
"You dare underestimate me!" With a flash of cold light in his eyes, Xing Xiaochuan roared and unleashed the Fiery Tiger Cannon Fist, causing a sonic boom as it hurtled towards Xing Tiandong.
"Solid as a Rock!" Xing Tiandong shouted back, throwing a punch of his own. The Earth Level martial skill 'Mountains Strength' was instantly deployed, radiating an unbreakable, rock-solid aura that captured the attention of the surrounding spectators.
"Boom!" The fists of Xing Tiandong and Xing Xiaochuan collided with a deafening roar. Following the contact, Xing Tiandong's stance slightly shifted, while Xing Xiaochuan trembled violently, retreating several steps with a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"With your strength, you don't even stand a chance to draw your blade! Xing Xiaochuan, better scram off the platform!" After heavily injuring Xing Xiaochuan with one strike, Xing Tiandong arrogantly taunted him again.
"You wish!" Wiping the blood from his mouth, Xing Xiaochuan's eyes flashed fiercely: "Xing Tiandong, you've forced my hand. Taste my Fiery Sky Burning Palm!"
As Xing Xiaochuan spoke, his aura exploded dramatically, his body strangely swelling. As he expanded, a surging heat emanated from his body, turning his normally pale hands a burning red, as if they were searing iron plates.
"Earth Level Advanced Martial Skill—Fiery Sky Burning Palm!"
The recognition of this move caused an uproar among the crowd, with some of the Xing family elders looking on with fervent interest.
"Excellent! A worthy talent indeed, mastering the Earth Level Advanced 'Fiery Sky Burning Palm' at such a young age!" Applause broke out.
Those familiar with the technique knew it was extremely difficult to master. Practitioners who could harness it were often able to fight beyond their level. Although Xing Xiaochuan was at the peak of the mid Human Level, deploying such a martial skill allowed him to contend even with those in the late Human Level.
Seeing Xing Xiaochuan unleash such a technique, Xing Tiandong frowned slightly but remained contemptuous, not the least bit anxious.
"Xing Xiaochuan, you've made me draw my blade. Face my 'Demonic Saber Technique'!" Xing Tiandong slowly drew the saber from his back, and as he did, his hair unfurled wildly without any wind, a crazy aura bursting forth from him, magnifying his presence several times over and ripping through the surrounding air. Standing there, he seemed like a demon wielding a magic saber, merged as one with his weapon, causing onlookers to feel as though their very souls were under assault.
"This is the realm shown only after reaching the ninth level of the 'Demonic Saber Technique'! Xing Tiandong has actually cultivated the 'Demonic Saber Technique' to the ninth level! This is a momentous day for the Xing family; since the Carefree King, we have finally seen another unparalleled genius!"
The higher echelons of the Xing family exclaimed upon witnessing this scene, even more excited than when Xing Xiaochuan displayed the 'Fiery Sky Burning Palm'. Although powerful, the 'Fiery Sky Burning Palm' could injure its user if forced, unlike the 'Demonic Saber Technique'. The 'Demonic Saber Technique' is among the pinnacle of Earth Level martial arts, almost touching the Heaven Level by drawing upon the Vital Energy of heaven and earth. Xing Tiandong’s current state of unity between man and saber has elevated him to a supreme level of martial prowess, a feat as challenging as mastering an initial Heaven Level technique. Achieving such mastery and the unity of man and saber, he is destined to become a supreme master.
As Xing Tiandong unleashed this aura, Xing Peng arrived at the arena. Unnoticed by the crowd, who were focused on the battle, Xing Peng narrowed his eyes, taking a leisurely interest in Xing Tiandong's unity of man and saber, though he remained indifferent to the elders' exclamations.
Xing Tiandong's strength was undeniable, yet it was only at the late Human Level, far from comparable to his father. In Xing Peng’s heart, few could surpass his father, the true genius of the Xing family.