The numerous outer sect disciples, except for a few of Chen Qiuqiao's followers, hardly anyone knew that there had been a conflict between Chen Qiuqiao and Jian Ruyan in the Scripture Pavilion.
But this didn't matter; Jian Ruyan and Chen Qiuqiao were both strong contenders for the top three in the outer sect's grand examination. Their pre-emptive battle once again made everyone feel excited and passionate!
The disciples below the stage started secretly placing bets again, wagering on whether Mu Jinyu's sister Jian Ruyan would win, or the veteran outer sect expert Chen Qiuqiao!
In the end, the male disciples mostly bet on Jian Ruyan, while the female disciples bet on Chen Qiuqiao!
As they were placing their bets,
the drawing for the twelve to six finalists was completed, and Jian Ruyan and Chen Qiuqiao took the stage!
Jian Ruyan stood on the competition platform, her eyes coldly gazing at Chen Qiuqiao. Without hurrying to strike, she said calmly:
"In the Scripture Pavilion, you ignored the rules of first come, first served, trying to use your power to force me to hand over the 'Water Thousand Chill' secret manual. At the time, due to the sect rules, I couldn't fight you in the pavilion. Now that you have reached the fourth layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, we can have a proper battle!"
Chen Qiuqiao's face looked somewhat unpleasant, but he still replied firmly, "Then let's see how well you've mastered 'Water Thousand Chill'!"
With that, Chen Qiuqiao stopped wasting words, attacking directly, determined to defeat Jian Ruyan quickly as an appetizer before challenging Mu Jinyu!
Even if he ultimately lost to Mu Jinyu, at least defeating Mu Jinyu's sister would save him from losing too badly!
"Ha!"
Chen Qiuqiao shouted angrily, striking out with both hands. True Yuan transformed into a dragon, oscillating like water waves, charging straight at Jian Ruyan.
He had been practicing 'Thousand Water Cold' for some time now!
'Thousand Water Cold' is a door god skill, but not a water-based god skill. True Yuan manifests resembling soft water, constantly changing, making it quite favored among outer sect disciples of the Divine Transformation Realm.
Even Li Xiaoxiao and Wu Lei had borrowed the 'Thousand Water Cold' secret manual several times but eventually gave up, finding that the divine skill did not suit them.
Chen Qiuqiao didn't believe that Jian Ruyan, who had borrowed the manual for about ten days, could master it as Mu Jinyu did!
So he boldly attacked, aiming to defeat Jian Ruyan who dared to vie with him for the opportunity to borrow the secret manual!
He also intended to humiliate her, making her understand the consequences of overestimating herself!
"Hmph, petty tricks, and you dare show off?"
Jian Ruyan saw through Chen Qiuqiao's sinister motives the moment he used 'Thousand Water Cold' against her, showing disdain in her eyes.
Unwilling to draw her sword, she waited until the Water Dragon Column was close, then struck out fiercely, raising her hand to slap it away!
"Boom!!"
With a double palm strike, Jian Ruyan shattered the Water Dragon, scattering it like a celestial maiden scattering flowers!
If not for the defensive formation on the stage preventing the water droplets from flying off, the spectators below might have been seriously injured!
After smashing the Water Dragon Column with a single move, Jian Ruyan struck again as Chen Qiuqiao stood in stunned disbelief, using the divine skill 'Water Thousand Chill'.
"Screech!"
In an instant, faint phoenix cries echoed.
On Jian Ruyan's palms, two bird-like shadows formed.
The crowd quickly recognized that Jian Ruyan's left palm held a Water Phoenix, and her right palm an Ice Phoenix!
Jian Ruyan then merged the Water Phoenix and Ice Phoenix into a Yin Yang Fish Tai Chi Diagram as if performing Tai Chi, before striking out. The Phoenixes swirled together, combined, and launched straight at Chen Qiuqiao!
"Puff!!"
Chen Qiuqiao, reacting with a pale face, hurriedly tried to block. But he couldn't withstand the combined force of the Water Phoenix and Ice Phoenix, and was sent flying off the stage, spitting blood!
"Thud!!"
Chen Qiuqiao hit the ground heavily, gravely injured, his face white as a sheet. After vomiting several mouthfuls of blood, he looked extremely weak!
Lin Feng and Elder Cheng, watching Jian Ruyan on the stage, showed a hint of surprise. "Combining hardness and softness, she has also mastered 'Water Thousand Chill' to an integrated level?"
"Outstanding, just like her brother, their talents are equally strong!" Elder Cheng praised.
'Thousand Water Cold' is a divine skill that, when not grasped correctly, can only forcefully release True Yuan like a waterfall, seemingly mighty but easily broken!
Reaching the initial insight level shows the versatility and fluidity, as Chen Qiuqiao demonstrated earlier.
Achieving integration means combining hardness and softness, water and ice, immensely increasing its lethality!
That's why Chen Qiuqiao was defeated by Jian Ruyan in an instant!
"Ah, how could Brother Chen lose so quickly, my Spirit Stones!"
"Sigh, I should have bet on Jian Ruyan, I lost so much!"
"I decided, from now on, that woman is my goddess!"
Chen Qiuqiao lay on the ground, hearing the whispers and comments from the crowd, and in anger, spat out another mouthful of blood.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Mu Jinyu approached Chen Qiuqiao, checking his injuries. They were not severe; Jian Ruyan had shown restraint, and he would recover after some time.
So Mu Jinyu decided not to heal Chen Qiuqiao's wounds.
"Sigh, I gave you a chance, but you're useless!" Mu Jinyu said, somewhat regretfully.
He had been looking forward to a fight with Chen Qiuqiao on the competition platform.
Unfortunately, like Wu Lei, though one of the three great experts of the outer sect, Chen Qiuqiao did not make it to the end.
However, being defeated by Jian Ruyan did increase his value somewhat, and perhaps Jian Ruyan would no longer hold a grudge over the Scripture Pavilion incident!
Chen Qiuqiao's spirit flagged as he heard Mu Jinyu's words, his chest heaving with anger, and his pale face turned red.
As one of the three great experts of the outer sect, failing the selection test and then being humiliated to receive the pass token from Mu Jinyu was already a bitter pill.
He originally intended to bear the humiliation, defeat Mu Jinyu in battle, and make Mu Jinyu regret giving him the token!
But he lost, defeated along the way by Jian Ruyan, who he had looked down on in the Scripture Pavilion, not even qualifying to fight Mu Jinyu!
What a heavy blow!
"Puff!!" Chen Qiuqiao spat out another mouthful of blood and, like Wu Lei, fainted on the spot!
"Tap! Tap!"
Elder Cheng and Lin Feng hurried over, Elder Cheng checking on Chen Qiuqiao's injuries, while Lin Feng angrily said to Mu Jinyu, "Why did you provoke him?"
Mu Jinyu shrugged and replied, "How did I provoke him? I was really looking forward to a fight with him; why else would I give him the pass token? Unfortunately, he's useless, isn't it the truth?"
"Stop talking," Lin Feng said irritably.
Then, after confirming Chen Qiuqiao's injuries weren't severe, Elder Cheng had him sent back to his quarters to rest.