"Understood!"
Within the Zijiā viewing area, shouts echoed to the heavens.
The younger generation of the Zijiā, their fists clenched and eyes alight with ambition.
Even if not for the generous rewards, they wished to showcase their own prowess.
"Good! Truly worthy of being children of our Zijiā! I now declare that the matches officially begin!"
Zi Yangchun's smile deepened. Regardless of the outcome, these youngsters were at least not diminishing the Zijiā's spirit.
"To save time, challenges will proceed on both stages simultaneously! Now, anyone who believes they have the skill may step onto the stage."
As soon as he finished speaking, one person walked onto each of the two stages.
On Zi Yangchun's side, a twelve-year-old boy stepped forward.
The boy, still bearing childish innocence, exuded an aura of resilience.
His gaze was steady, and he said calmly, "Zi Yu requests the guidance of all brothers and sisters."
At the same moment, on the other stage, a voice rang out, "Zi Hanxiao requests the guidance of all brothers and sisters!"
Zi Hanxiao, true to her name, possessed a graceful demeanor and a pleasant smile.
As soon as Zi Yu and Zi Hanxiao finished speaking, others leaped onto the stages.
Before Zi Yu stood another boy.
The boy was of similar age, yet he was like a drawn sword.
He cupped his fists and said, "Zi Xing wishes to learn from my younger brother Zi Yu!"
And before Zi Hanxiao, a young man also stood.
The young man appeared ordinary, perhaps a little simple.
He scratched the back of his head and chuckled naively, "Zi Rong has come to seek some advice from elder sister Hanxiao. Elder sister Hanxiao, please do not be offended."
"How could I be?"
Zi Hanxiao maintained her smile, her voice carrying a tone of peace.
Zi Rong replied, "That's good!"
Seeing this, Zi Yangchun's face showed a benevolent smile.
"Children, the stages are yours! Remember, hold back, and do not injure each other maliciously."
"Yes! Second Elder!"
The four responded in unison.
Zi Yangchun nodded and said sternly, "In that case, let us begin!"
With that, he leaped from the martial stage.
"Brother Zi Xing, please!"
"Younger brother Zi Yu, please!"
As their voices fell, their cultivation realms surged forth.
Zi Yu was at the fifth level of Body Tempering, and Zi Xing was also at the fifth level of Body Tempering.
The two engaged in a fierce exchange. After probing each other with a few moves, they revealed their weapons.
Zi Yu's weapons were two short blades, while Zi Xing wielded a long sword.
An inch longer is an inch stronger; an inch shorter is an inch more perilous.
As both were at the fifth level of Body Tempering, their battle was evenly matched.
In such a situation, one's combat skills became particularly crucial.
On the other stage, Zi Rong chuckled naively, "Elder sister Hanxiao, shall we begin as well?"
Zi Hanxiao replied with a smile, "Alright!"
However, after speaking, she showed no intention of making the first move.
Seeing this, Zi Rong had no choice but to reveal his fifth level Body Tempering cultivation and strike first.
"Sister Hanxiao, be careful!"
With that, his fist, imbued with spiritual energy, shot towards Zi Hanxiao.
Zi Hanxiao smiled and said, "Younger brother Zi Rong, the fifth level of Body Tempering is not enough!"
As she spoke, spiritual energy surged from her palm, and she firmly grasped Zi Rong's fist.
She twisted her waist with force, her slender body rotating. Zi Rong, whose fist she held, was not thrown aside.
Then, she quickly pressed her advantage. With a similar move, Zi Rong, who had yet to regain his footing, was sent flying again.
Zi Hanxiao pursued him once more and repeated the previous action. Zi Rong was thrown out for a third time.
And this time, Zi Rong landed outside the stage.
In the blink of an eye, Zi Hanxiao's movements were seamless, completing the entire sequence in less than two breaths.
Having fallen off the stage, Zi Rong had naturally lost.
He wore a wry smile and cupped his fists towards Zi Hanxiao, "I lose!"
Zi Hanxiao nodded and remained silent.
Although Zi Linling had her eyes closed, the events on the stage were perfectly captured by her divine sense.
She muttered inwardly, "Four ounces deflect a thousand pounds. Not bad!"
"Lin'er is also not bad!"
Ye Lingyuan interjected at the opportune moment.
Even though they were sitting at some distance, their divine senses had long surpassed the Emperor Realm.
Therefore, their silent communication did not arouse any suspicion.
Zi Linling playfully chided him with a laugh, "Silver-tongued! I didn't do anything!"
If she were to open her eyes, she would definitely roll them.
"How so?"
Ye Lingyuan's telepathic message carried a hint of flirtation, "Even if Lin'er does nothing, she is still excellent!"
Zi Linling was speechless.
What kind of logic was that?
Unable to comprehend Ye Lingyuan's thought process, she simply closed her eyes again to rest.
Zi Hanxiao's battle had concluded, while Zi Yu's was still raging.
It was only after Zi Hanxiao had won three consecutive matches and secured a spot for advancement that the battle on the other side finally came to an end.
Although Zi Yu had won, his victory was somewhat messy.
Therefore, he did not participate in a second match and walked off the stage with Zi Xing.
Soon, the second wave of challengers began.
Although Zi Linling had only cultivated for less than a month, her experience and vision far surpassed that of these Body Tempering realm children.
Thus, she observed the strengths and weaknesses displayed by these children during their battles.
"When walking with two others, one must learn from them!"
Zi Linling's state of mind began to shift through such analysis and experience accumulation.
It was like walking a path for the first time; there were bound to be stumbles and even anxiety.
But when you walk it a second time, you would find yourself much more at ease.
As for the feeling after the third time, it would be one of "nothing more than this."
With each repeated walk along the same path, coupled with continuous experience accumulation, the feeling would become increasingly clear.
Until finally, you would realize that the path is still the same path, but the person walking it has become different.
When this feeling arises, you have already grasped a higher level.
If the first level is to see mountains as mountains and water as water, then this higher level is to see mountains not as mountains and water not as water.
The level of seeing mountains as mountains and water as water perceives the tangible form, while the level of seeing mountains not as mountains and water not as water perceives the intangible form extended from the tangible form.
When you see through the essence of the tangible form from this extended intangible form, your state of mind will then enter the third level: seeing mountains as mountains and water as water again!
While this may sound profound, it is not impossible to achieve through continuous tempering.
Zi Linling's state of mind, through such analysis and summation, was gradually moving towards the second stage: the transformation from the tangible to the intangible, seeing mountains not as mountains and water not as water.
Of course, as her state of mind changed, she finally saw the door between the peak of the Spirit Gathering Realm and the Yuan Transformation Realm.
However, because her understanding was still insufficient, that door was not very clear.
Even so, she had already taken an important step towards the Yuan Transformation Realm.