"Yes, frankly speaking, my Daoist arts are even stronger than my martial arts. Later, I will cast a Daoist art on you that can enhance your strength. By then, let alone snatching a circle, everyone combined might not be your match."
"No way? What Daoist art is that powerful?" Changsun Ruoyan looked shocked. Zhou Hong dared to say that everyone combined wouldn't be her match without even understanding the opponents present.
Just how powerful must the Daoist art Zhou Hong was about to cast be?
"In short, just trust me."
"Okay!" Changsun Ruoyan was increasingly curious about Zhou Hong. His martial arts talent was already so strong, and now he also possessed mysterious Daoist arts.
"By the way, Zhou Hong, what did you mean when you mentioned the Maoshan Sect earlier? Are you from the Maoshan Sect?" Changsun Ruoyan asked incredulously. If Zhou Hong was indeed from the Maoshan Sect, then his background would be incredibly profound. Everyone knew that the Maoshan Sect had a legacy of a thousand years and was one of the ancient sects of China.
"Haha, I'm not from the Maoshan Sect. I was just giving you an example, because the Maoshan Sect specializes in cultivating the Dao."
"Ugh, I thought you were from the Maoshan Sect."
Zhou Hong thought to himself, what was the Maoshan Sect? Earlier, a Daoist priest from the Maoshan Sect had even called him senior.
Soon, fifty minutes passed.
Among the contestants vying for the circles, those with insufficient strength had already fought until they were exhausted and fallen aside. The stronger ones had firmly occupied a circle.
"Ruoyan, it's time for us to enter the fray. There are still ten minutes, which is enough for us to forcefully snatch a circle."
"Then what about the Daoist art you mentioned earlier?" Changsun Ruoyan asked with some curiosity.
"I've already cast it on you. Your current strength and power are at least ten times greater than before. That's enough to snatch a circle."
"What?" Changsun Ruoyan looked incredulous. She had no idea when Zhou Hong had cast a Daoist art on her.
"You don't need to know. If you could see it, then the referees here would also see it," Zhou Hong smiled faintly.
"Are you sure the referees here won't see it? This is cheating. I feel a bit ashamed now."
"Shame about what? Since I said I wanted to make you the champion, I will naturally keep my word."
Changsun Ruoyan forced a wry smile but didn't bother with it anymore. After all, the title of champion was a huge temptation, much like an Olympic champion. The champion of their martial arts competition carried more weight than ten Olympic champions.
Changsun Ruoyan immediately walked towards a man who had already secured a circle.
"Give me your circle," Changsun Ruoyan said to the man.
"Haha, come and snatch it if you have the ability," the young man sneered.
Without a word, Changsun Ruoyan struck out with her palm.
"Boom!" The young man was sent flying.
"Wow!" Many spectators in the arena exclaimed in surprise. Changsun Ruoyan had managed to blast away such a strong competitor with a single move.
Changsun Ruoyan herself hadn't expected it. Her strength had truly increased by more than tenfold. She secretly thought that Zhou Hong hadn't lied to her; he truly knew Daoist arts. This guy was too mysterious.
At this moment, in Jinzhou City, Changsun Qinghe was also watching the live broadcast. When she saw her sister suddenly become so powerful, she seemed to find it incredible. She was very puzzled. She knew her sister's level of strength well. She had felt that her sister wouldn't have a chance to make it into the top ten in this martial arts competition, given the many second and third-tier geniuses from places like the capital. However, Zhou Hong hadn't anticipated that her sister would blast away a powerful opponent with a single palm strike.
At this time, Zhou Hong also walked towards another person.
"Get out of the circle yourself, or I'll blast you out," Zhou Hong said to a youth who looked relatively weak.
"Go to hell!"
"Then I won't be polite." Zhou Hong also didn't say another word. He swept his leg and directly kicked the person out of the circle.
The crowd in the arena let out another collective gasp because Zhou Hong had also suddenly erupted with such immense power, kicking out a formidable opponent with a single kick.
And so, an hour passed.
Zhou Hong and Changsun Ruoyan, without a doubt, had secured a circle and successfully entered the top ten group.
"Congratulations to all ten of you for entering the top ten. Please come down and rest," the host said to the ten people on stage.
At this moment, all ten were very happy, as being in this group already meant they had secured at least tenth place. Of course, Zhou Hong was the exception, showing no particular emotion, as if he had just come on stage to play.
Those who had not managed to snatch a circle felt rather dejected. They would have to compete in the next group for a spot in the top thirty.
However, the competition for the top thirty would take place in the afternoon.
"Everyone, please go back and rest. Please return punctually at three in the afternoon to participate in the elimination matches for ranks 10 to 30."
After the referee finished speaking, all the spectators began to leave. Only one event was conducted per half-day. Although it was only half-past ten now, for the sake of fairness, it had to be this way. For instance, those who had fought themselves to exhaustion to compete for the top ten would be at a disadvantage if they immediately had to compete for the top thirty. Therefore, they were allowed to rest and would compete again at three in the afternoon.
"Zhou Hong, Changsun Ruoyan, you were amazing." As Zhou Hong walked off the stage, the dean rushed up, tears streaming down his face.
"Why are you crying?" Zhou Hong said, exasperated.
"You actually both made it into the top ten group! My heavens, even if one of you is ninth and the other tenth, it's still the best result in the history of our Jinzhou University," the dean said, wiping his tears.
At this moment, a reporter carrying a camera ran towards Zhou Hong and the others.
However, Zhou Hong didn't want to be interviewed and slipped away. Changsun Ruoyan, on the other hand, was forced to accept the interview, though she felt a little guilty.
Zhou Hong returned to the bus and waited for about ten minutes before Changsun Ruoyan and the others finished their interviews and returned to the bus.
At this moment, the other contestants from Jinzhou City looked at Zhou Hong with newfound respect.
"Brother Hong, we're impressed! You made it into the top ten."
"Yeah, Brother Hong, we thought you'd at best make it into the top thirty. You're truly amazing."
Everyone showered Zhou Hong with praise, while only Qian Jie and Tan Chao sat there sullenly, unmoved.
"Thank you all. You should also work hard. Strive to get into the top thirty in the afternoon's competition," Zhou Hong said with a smile.
"Brother Hong, don't joke with us. With our strength, it's already remarkable to make it into the top hundred. In the past, the best Jinzhou University could achieve was the top fifty."
"Is that so!" Zhou Hong chuckled. No wonder the dean was crying earlier. Two students had made it into the top ten.