Chapter 1883: Zhong Qing's Probe

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was full of helplessness.

He had cracked the jade token, but given his nature, he would have quietly waited for Fan Xiaoxing and Fan Xiaofeng to enter together. Who would have thought the other party would break the rules and create a barrier... once cracked, one would be sucked in...

Completely unexpected!

Looking down at the countless shocked faces that seemed on the verge of madness, Zhang Xuan was filled with resignation and could only offer encouragement: "Everyone, keep working hard. I'll go ahead and take a look!"

"Go ahead? Is that just one step? It's many steps, isn't it?"

"Kong Shiyao took three and a half hours, and he took... less than a breath?"

"Could his jade token be defective?"

"Think again. How could something from the Great Confucian Hall be defective? Cracking the seal in one breath—is he even human?"

...

Everyone below erupted at once.

This Great Confucian Zhong Qing had just said the shortest record was three hours, and he cracked it in one breath... Did he have to be so fast?

Not just the crowd, but Zhong Qing and Nangong Yuanfeng also twitched their faces.

They had thought that among this batch of examinees, even one who could enter within a day would be good. They never expected such a freak to appear.

"Was it this guy who eliminated Zhong Zixun and the others?"

Unable to hold back any longer, Zhong Qing asked.

"Yes," Nangong Yuanfeng nodded. "But he never made a move himself; it was Fan Xiaofeng and Fan Xiaoxing who acted. He only guided them..."

"With just guidance, he made those two eliminate my eight descendants..."

His throat tightening, Zhong Qing couldn't believe it.

Others might not know the strength of his eight descendants, but he knew it well. To pass this assessment, he had specially given them intensive training. Under normal circumstances, even if they encountered Yan Yixiao, they would have a chance to escape. But now, their entire nest had been wiped out...

And not by his own hand, but just by guidance... Even he himself would find it hard to do such a thing.

"Should we detain him and check his jade token?"

A middle-aged man stepped forward.

"No need. Being absorbed by the barrier means he genuinely cracked the seal with real skill. There are other teachers behind; they will know once the barrier is triggered. It's too late to stop him now..."

Shaking his head, Zhong Qing said no more and turned his gaze to Fan Xiaoxing and Fan Xiaofeng, full of doubt.

The descendants of the ancient sage Zichi had always been at the bottom... When did they become so formidable?

With a light flicker, he approached them: "You two eliminated half the participants combined. I want to see if you truly are extraordinary and invincible."

"How does the Great Confucian wish to test us?"

Fan Xiaofeng and Fan Xiaoxing clasped their fists simultaneously.

Having gone through the elimination round, their mindsets had changed significantly, gaining stronger confidence. Even facing a Great Confucian, they were not as timid.

"Simple. I'll suppress my cultivation to your level, and then... both of you attack together. If you can defeat me, it proves you indeed possess peerless power at the same level."

Zhong Qing looked at them calmly.

He was an Immortal Realm Great Perfection expert. Even if he lowered his cultivation, his insight and experience remained. Although the two were extraordinary, they had no chance of winning against him in a fight.

"Alright!"

Exchanging glances, the two nodded simultaneously.

Seeing them agree, Zhong Qing waved his hand, suppressing his aura. Even so, he still exuded an ethereal quality, making it hard to approach him lightly.

"You make the first move."

Standing still, Zhong Qing gestured with one hand.

After all, he was a master, a Great Sage who had lived for centuries. Even with lowered cultivation, he disdained to take advantage of his juniors.

"Then we won't stand on ceremony..."

Fan Xiaofeng and Fan Xiaoxing instantly elevated their internal energy to the maximum, completing a transformation.

Having eliminated over a thousand opponents at the same level or even higher, they had developed instinctive reactions to combat. Knowing that even with suppressed cultivation, this opponent was not someone they could easily contend with, they held nothing back from the start.

Whoosh!

Their figures flashed like lightning, one in front and one behind, attacking the chest and back respectively.

"Not bad indeed..."

Seeing their speed and decisiveness, Zhong Qing nodded approvingly.

No wonder they could eliminate so many, including his own juniors who couldn't hold out. These two indeed had exceptional skills.

Not to mention anything else, just their decisiveness to strike without hesitation was something many envied but couldn't emulate.

But... just this alone made it nearly impossible for them to defeat him!

Because their intentions and techniques had already been seen through by him, holding no secrets.

Even their next moves were calculated clearly. To break their coordination... it would take only one move!

Sighing inwardly, he flickered, separating his palms and pressing down rapidly, intending to repel both simultaneously and make them understand the gap.

But just as his palms parted and before his energy could surge, the two charging figures suddenly shifted left and right, one with a left fist and the other with a right fist, both aiming for his face.

"What?"

His pupils contracted, and Zhong Qing nearly fainted.

According to normal combat patterns, shouldn't they probe first, then use coordination to force him into a defensive position?

Why did they change tactics when they had good positions?

And aiming for the face at the same time—was that really appropriate?

"Hmph!"

Furious, he raised his separated palms to block the path of their fists, intending to teach them a lesson about the immensity of heaven and earth. Then he felt sharp pains in his chest and groin.

Looking down hastily, he saw Fan Xiaoxing's foot had somehow kicked his chest, and Fan Xiaofeng's foot had struck his groin.

"Ah..."

With a cry of agony, Zhong Qing flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground, curled up like a cooked shrimp.

Although he was an Immortal Realm expert, his groin was a place that couldn't be trained and was very vulnerable. Being hit squarely there, it was fortunate it didn't shatter on the spot.

Moreover, the two, fearing they might not defeat him, had deliberately added extra force. The pain made Zhong Qing break out in a cold sweat.

Crack! Crack!

He unsealed his true energy, returning to the Immortal Realm, and slowly recovered. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the two muttering nearby in lowered voices.

"He feels so weak."

"Could he be a fake? Is this really a Great Confucian..."

Fan Xiaoxing and Fan Xiaofeng looked bewildered, doubting their lives.

Great Confucians of the Great Confucian Hall were invincible in their minds. But this one couldn't withstand a single move and was kicked into a shrimp shape...

How could they believe this?

"So weak? Fake?"

Staggering, Zhong Qing held a mouthful of blood.

His heart... was completely in turmoil.