*

Another round of the competition began. Tan Taibei took out the Zanpakuto given to him by Nanqing from his dantian. It was also his natal sword.

Ke Nanqing glanced at it and said, "Put this sword away and get a different one."

She took a piece of ten-thousand-year-old mystic ice from the sect's treasure pavilion and sculpted and forged it herself. The sword is dark all over, and it also contains innate ice marrow taken from the depths of the "Nine Nether Abyss". Wherever the sword energy passes, it can freeze all spiritual power. If the sword wielder's cultivation is sufficient, it can even directly freeze the opponent's soul.

They are all disciples with low-level cultivation. If they were to take this sword and go into battle, what would be the point of the competition?

Tan Taipei stood quietly, her eyes lowered, not responding at all, her face showing some reluctance.

He can control the sword's energy. The Zanpakuto was a gift from his master, and he simply wants to use this sword...

Helpless, Nanqing had no choice but to conjure another ice sword and throw it to him.

"Go ahead, use this one."

Tan Taipei instantly retracted the Zanpakuto, his small hand clutching the ice sword his master had just condensed.

Actually, if we're talking about what's most comfortable to use, although Nan Qing has a higher cultivation level, the ice sword he condenses from his own spiritual energy is definitely more responsive and controllable.

But he just felt that the sword his master gave him, even if it was just casually conjured, was better than all the other swords!

Tan Taipei jumped onto the ice sword, stood steadily on it, and rode the sword into the air, heading towards the arena in the distance where the Foundation Establishment stage was located.

His small figure stood out in the crowd, drawing the attention of many disciples who began to whisper among themselves.

"That is...?"

"Although this is the first time I've met him, he must be Tan Taibei, a direct disciple of Master Ling Shuang!"

"No, I mean, how did he get onto the Foundation Establishment stage's arena?"

"...It seems so..."

Most of the outer disciples had heard of Tan Taibei's name and knew that True Person Ling Shuang had taken in a five-year-old disciple at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, but few had actually seen him. After all, outer disciples were not allowed to enter the inner sect unless something was wrong.

But the inner disciples were very familiar with the place; Nan Qing would take him to the Spirit Cuisine Pavilion for meals every day, which had significantly boosted the pavilion's business over the past few months. Of course, the disciples' spirit stone savings had also decreased considerably...

"Is that brat Ling Shuang's newly accepted personal disciple?"

"Yes, Senior Sister, I had heard before that she was at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage, but I didn't expect that she had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

"...Just returned from training, and already at the Foundation Establishment stage at five or six years old??"

"...I just got back too..."

"Never mind, I'm going to fight my junior uncle!"

"I also want to see just how powerful he is, that he actually became a personal disciple of Master Ling Shuang."

...

Nan Qing not only holds a very high seniority in the Qingyun Sect, but is also a renowned top expert throughout the entire Nine Heavens Continent. Her self-created sword technique, "Ice Soul Seven Kills," is also unparalleled.

Although she has remained at the Great Perfection of the Tribulation Transcending Stage for hundreds of years and has yet to ascend, she is still one of the most powerful individuals in the Nine Heavens Continent.

Moreover, Ling Shuang Zhenren has only cultivated for a thousand years. You should know that the ancestors in the Tribulation Transcending stage of other sects are all old monsters who have cultivated for thousands of years.

For hundreds of years, countless talented individuals have tried to become her disciples, but without exception, they have all been turned away.

Until... the appearance of Dan Taipei.

Therefore, he naturally became the target of many people's desire to defeat him.

Perhaps they were all thinking that if they defeated Tan Taibei, would it mean... that they too were worthy of Ling Shuang Zhenren's special attention?

Tan Taipei stood in a corner of the arena, with countless eyes on him, some probing, some contemptuous, and some jealous. Yet he remained calm and composed, his small face devoid of any extra expression, even his dark eyes were undisturbed, a stark contrast to that of an ordinary five-year-old child.

At this moment, the arena was full of a hundred people.

Looking around, most of the disciples were gathered in twos and threes, forming temporary alliances, exchanging glances and whispering to each other, discussing how to join forces while remaining wary of their fellow disciples.

Only in Taipei was there a large empty circle around him, with no one standing with him.

"clang--"

The bell rang again, and the Grand Elder's voice resounded throughout the entire square:

"The competition begins!"

The moment the sound fell, the arena erupted in chaos.

Various spiritual lights exploded, sword energy crisscrossed, and a hundred disciples attacked almost simultaneously, the light of spells, talismans, and magical treasures intertwining into one.

On the arena, a fierce battle raged, with disciples constantly being knocked off the stage.

However, the corner where Taipei is located is unusually quiet.

Whether it was tacit understanding or a feeling that bullying a five-year-old child was undignified, almost no one took the initiative to attack that corner of Taipei.

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

When only about twenty people remained on the stage, someone finally walked towards Taipei.

"Junior Uncle, I'm sorry to offend you..."

Tan Taipei held a long sword and looked at the man.

"please."

Not only him, but also the other contestants still fighting on the stage, and the crowd below the stage, did not really take Dan Taipei seriously. To have the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment stage at such a young age must be due to the pills he has taken.

Such cultivation is like a flower in water or the moon in a mirror—it shatters at the slightest touch.

Moreover, he is already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and he is determined to win this competition!

He only used 30% of his strength in this "Flaming Sun Finger" strike, seemingly afraid of hurting the child in front of him.

However, he looked down on Dan Taipei, but Dan Taipei took it very seriously.

He is his master's only disciple, and he knows what those people are saying behind his back, so he must win this sect competition!

"Zheng—"

The sword rang out clearly, and a chilling sword aura clashed with the crimson spiritual light.

To everyone's surprise, the crimson spiritual energy shattered and dissipated like bubbles when it touched the sword energy.

Without giving the person a chance to react, Tan Taipei stepped forward, his figure suddenly becoming elusive, leaving frost on the table wherever he went.

"It's the Flowing Cloud Step!"

"At this speed... could it be that they've already broken through to the fifth level?"

"...Is the Flowing Cloud Step so easy to master...?"

What do you think?!

The "Flowing Cloud Steps" consists of nine levels and is a basic movement technique that all inner disciples of the Qingyun Sect can learn.

The first three levels of this technique are not difficult to master, but they only improve agility and movement.

Only from the fourth level onwards, each level contains profound mysteries, and it depends on individual comprehension. Only from the fourth level onwards can one truly understand the profound mysteries of this technique.

Although the Flowing Cloud Step is not a top-tier skill, very few people can cultivate it to the ninth level of perfection.

Most people stop at the first volume, that is, the first three levels, so the appearance of Tan Taipei's Flowing Cloud Step is enough to make many people re-evaluate Tan Taipei's position in their hearts.

On the path of cultivation, the most taboo thing is to underestimate one's opponent, which is also the first lesson they learned when they entered the Qingyun Sect.