Boom!
A deafening roar instantly filled the arena with dust and smoke!
Beneath Xue Zhifeng, countless fragments of cement scattered outwards!
The whistling sounds of air being pierced seemed like a frequent barrage of hidden weapons.
From this, one could infer the terrifying might of Song Qiao's strike!
And Xue Zhifeng, who bore the brunt of the attack, was naturally not spared.
Blood gushed from his nose and mouth, his entire body feeling as if it were about to fall apart!
Lying on the ground, cracked like a spiderweb, he struggled weakly a few times.
His fingers dug into the ground, yet he could not bear the dull ache in his chest, letting out a few pained coughs.
Witnessing his miserable state, a deathly silence fell upon the entire audience!
Those below the stage widened their mouths in astonishment, but not a single sound escaped them!
Staring blankly at the scene in the training arena, they still could not believe what had just happened.
As a deputy examiner, Xue Zhifeng's strength was beyond question.
Especially his Tai Chi, meticulously cultivated, its forms and intent nearing perfection.
Yet, even with such skill, it proved completely ineffective against Song Qiao?
Instead, it was shattered by the opponent's sheer force, leaving no room for defense!
Gulp.
After a moment of silence, a series of gulping sounds echoed from below.
The crowd’s throats constricted, feeling parched and unsure of how to react.
"Cough, cough..."
Xue Zhifeng lay on the ground, coughing incessantly, his face alternating between green and red, looking utterly dejected.
The gazes cast upon him were a mix of confusion and doubt.
These made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.
The current silence, in particular, felt like a mockery.
Recalling his own plight, his heart surged with anger, unable to hold back!
"Hmph!"
With a roar, he raised a hand and roughly wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his lips.
Snap!
With a flick of his wrist, he slammed his hand onto the cracked ground beneath him, using the force to propel himself upwards.
His toes rapidly tapped the ground, and he managed to stagger back to a stable stance.
"You scoundrel! So young, yet so dishonorable!"
"Today, I will teach you a proper lesson!"
As he spoke, Xue Zhifeng channeled all his pent-up anger into his hands.
He abandoned his stance and discarded all pretense of form.
He completely forsaked his pride and joy, the Tai Chi, transforming his hands into the most primal and savage Eagle Claws!
These were the complete opposite of Tai Chi.
Tai Chi emphasized the harmony between form and intent, with structured movements and profound inner meaning.
Though appearing soft on the surface, it concealed immense inner strength!
Now, his claws radiated murderous intent, ferocious and wild!
The rapid shift in his technique dramatically altered Xue Zhifeng's aura.
A wild energy rapidly spread through the arena!
Even the scattered stones trembled slightly, vibrating restlessly like beans frying in a hot pan!
Hiss!
The onlookers gasped, their hair standing on end.
They clearly felt the palpable sense of danger!
Song Qiao, however, cast a disdainful glance at Xue Zhifeng and snorted.
"Wasting time!"
As his voice fell, Song Qiao unleashed his inner energy.
His aura, previously unassuming, transformed instantly into a chilling, bone-penetrating coldness, like the depth of winter!
Even his face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost, and Xue Zhifeng felt as if his blood had frozen.
Under this oppressive influence, his initially explosive claw strikes faltered for a split second.
And in that instant, Song Qiao moved!
Thump, thump, thump!
Footsteps sounded rapidly across the stage, shattering countless pebbles. Song Qiao’s figure flashed.
He traversed the distance between them in a blink, appearing by Xue Zhifeng’s side!
"So fast!"
Xue Zhifeng's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart sank with a groan of impending doom.
He hastily turned to respond with his claws, only to discover his body was locked, unable to move!
Because a hand had landed on his shoulder!
It was this very hand that had blocked him moments ago, obscuring his vision.
Now, this hand on his shoulder made Xue Zhifeng feel as if he were bearing the weight of a great mountain!
So strong!
Though Xue Zhifeng was reluctant to admit it, the thought involuntarily arose in his mind.
He had just experienced the force in Song Qiao's palm and knew he could not confront it head-on.
Yet, with his shoulder pinned and his feet unable to move, his poised claws remained ineffective, leaving him in a state of panic.
Suddenly, his gaze flickered.
An idea!
At this critical juncture, a sinister, eerie smile appeared on Xue Zhifeng's lips.
His claws, suspended in the air, swiveled downwards, aiming for Song Qiao's vital points!
"How ruthless!"
Seeing where Xue Zhifeng's claws were aimed, the male spectators below simultaneously gasped.
At the same time, they instinctively clenched their legs, their faces contorting like crumpled rags.
"No interest," Song Qiao said with a disdainful glance at Xue Zhifeng.
Before he could launch his surprise attack, Song Qiao slowly tightened his grip with his fingers, lifting Xue Zhifeng's body straight up!
With a casual flick, he tossed Xue Zhifeng away again, as if discarding trash!
Thud!
Another muffled impact.
After hitting the ground, Xue Zhifeng nearly blacked out.
Even so, his condition was dire.
He spat out two mouthfuls of blood, his throat blocked by clots, making him gasp and wheeze.
He quickly pounded the ground with his hands, coughed heavily twice, and finally regained his breath.
Looking at Xue Zhifeng gasping for air on the ground, Song Qiao said coldly.
"If you're going to work for the Guo family, you should train properly!"
"If you want to eliminate me in the first round, you'd better have the skills to do so!"
"Good!"
Below the stage, Xu Rou, seemingly forgetting her usual opposition to Song Qiao, couldn't help but applaud him.
This was in line with her character; like her superior Mo Ling, she judged matters on their merit.
Xue Zhifeng had broken the rules, and she naturally wouldn't stand for it.
It was just that Song Qiao insisted on proceeding.
Now, seeing Xue Zhifeng easily defeated was immensely satisfying!
Gao Meng also looked up at Song Qiao on the stage with a delighted expression, clapping her little hands and cheering for him.
"Master is amazing!"
After recuperating for a while, Xue Zhifeng finally managed to speak.
He slowly leaned back against the stage, supporting himself with his hands.
Despite his unwillingness, he could only grudgingly admit.
"I admit I lost the first round of the assessment."
"However, I warn you not to get too cocky, as this is only the first hurdle!"
"There are three more assessments remaining, and you can't possibly pass them all!"
"Hurry up and go, the next examiner is waiting."
Xue Zhifeng impatiently waved at Song Qiao, urging him to proceed to the next round of assessment.
Xu Rou, however, could not stand it any longer.
"He just passed the first round, and according to the rules, he is entitled to a thirty-minute rest."
"Since you lost, there's no need for you to worry about the rest!"
"Rest?" Xue Zhifeng looked at Song Qiao with a mocking expression, clearly unconvinced.
Song Qiao's expression was relaxed, and he showed no intention of resting.
He turned and walked towards the next courtyard, shouting.
"To the second round!"
Arriving at the assessment site for the second round, the person waiting in the center was Xie Zhong!