Mortal Bones

"Hee hee..."

Xu Ziyan was amused by Zhao Linglong's indignant expression.

However, she was well aware that this was Zhao Linglong's personality. She often stood up for the disciples of the Seven Peaks.

"Linglong, don't get too worked up. These people must have recognized that little Taiping is the one who defeated Qin Yuan a few days ago, which is why they gathered to watch the spectacle."

She took Zhao Linglong's hand and gently patted it.

Because she had been entrusted by the Peak Master with the task of selecting disciples, Ziyan had some understanding of the external disciples.

"This man in green, his name is Tian Qi. He came to Yunlu Mountain seven years ago. Before that, he was the leader of a gang. In a fit of rage, he slaughtered over a hundred members of a rival gang. Fearing retribution from his enemies, he fled into Yunlu Mountain."

At this point, Du Gu Qingxiao also spoke.

Like Ziyan, he was familiar with these key external disciples.

"Why did the Qingxuan Sect accept such a notorious criminal?" Zhao Linglong asked, puzzled, as she looked at Du Gu Qingxiao.

"It's said that he was involved in our Qingxuan Sect's external dealings and was willing to offer all the wealth he had accumulated over the years, along with his family's superior martial art, the Ghost Shadow Leg, in exchange for a qualification to enter the mountain and escape his enemies."

Ziyan answered Zhao Linglong's question.

"This man is ruthless and cold-blooded, and yet he has this kind of ambition. He seems to be tougher to deal with than the Lu Yuan you were talking about earlier."

Zhao Linglong's tone turned serious.

She did not overlook Tian Qi's strength because of her bias.

"Tian Qi's greatest asset is his family's Ghost Shadow Leg. In terms of killing power, this Ghost Shadow Leg is not weaker than any superior martial art. Otherwise, during the previous Seven Peaks selection, so many external disciples wouldn't have died under his Ghost Shadow Leg, even when they were on guard."

Qingxiao nodded gravely in agreement.

"The match is about to begin."

At this moment, Ziyan, who had been paying attention to the copper mirror, reminded the group.

Then Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao refocused their attention on the copper mirror.

In the mirror, Tian Qi and Xu Taiping both climbed onto the stage.

Once they were on the stage, neither of them said anything.

Xu Taiping assumed the stance for the Qingniu Fist.

Tian Qi, with his Ghost Shadow Leg, raised his left leg provocatively, and a series of crimson, flame-like true qi began to swirl around his muscular thigh.

Seeing this, the people in the bamboo forest all held their breath, not daring to blink.

On the Dragon Gate Hall stage

"Clang!"

The overseer on the stage swung his arm and forcefully struck the nearby copper gong.

"Boom!"

Almost as soon as the gong sounded, Xu Taiping and Tian Qi's figures disappeared from the stage.

When they reappeared, they were already in the middle of the stage, exchanging dozens of punches and kicks.

Tian Qi's legs were as fast as Xu Taiping's fists.

In an instant, the gusts of wind created by their fists and legs collided, surging like waves, one after another, spreading from the stage.

"This Xu Taiping... can actually take Tian Qi's Ghost Shadow Leg?!"

"No wonder he was able to defeat Qin Yuan."

The spectators below the stage were all astonished.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would hardly have believed that a young man could fight evenly with the infamous Tian Qi, just using the Qingniu Fist.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, Xu Taiping's Cow Horn Crashing Mountain collided with Tian Qi's leg that came down like a battle axe.

This punch still didn't determine the winner, as they were locked in a deadlock at that moment.

However, when their true qi collided, it stirred up waves of fierce winds, giving the spectators a tremendous sense of pressure.

"Rumble..."

Though it seemed like neither of them moved on the surface, the collision of their true qi never ceased.

Xu Taiping's Remnant Sunset true qi and Tian Qi's unknown true qi were like forces at odds, constantly pushing each other outward.

"Get down!" Tian Qi suddenly roared.

In an instant, the muscles in his standing leg suddenly bulged.

The sudden increase in force caused his leg to slam into the rocky ground with a "bang," shattering it.

Then, with the momentum, he spun his body and poured all his strength into the leg aimed at Xu Taiping.

"Boom!"

With a loud explosion, the protective true qi around Xu Taiping shattered.

A massive force came crashing down from Tian Qi's leg, pressing hard onto his arm, making him sink. The rocky ground beneath his feet cracked as well.

"You little brat, my legs aren't just fast, they're heavy too. Let's see if I can crush you!"

Tian Qi grinned viciously.

But to his surprise, Xu Taiping's body didn't budge.

Not only was he not sinking further, but the energy that had been suppressed by Tian Qi's attack surged once again, becoming overwhelming.

"Boom!"

A burst of energy exploded outward.

Xu Taiping's true qi suddenly erupted, and the force he had been holding back was now released. His arm, which had been pinned by Tian Qi's leg, shot upward, directly pushing aside Tian Qi's thick thigh.

"Small success in the Open Gate Realm?"

Xu Taiping's sudden surge of energy made the onlookers' hearts skip a beat.

Most of the outer disciples on the Dragon Gate Hall had already broken through the Open Gate Realm, but few had the energy fluctuation of small success like Xu Taiping at this moment.

However, they certainly didn't know that even this energy fluctuation was the result of Xu Taiping deliberately suppressing his power in order to refine his martial arts.

"Boom!"

As soon as Xu Taiping pushed Tian Qi's leg aside, his prepared left fist smashed heavily toward Tian Qi's lower body.

"Swoosh!"

Tian Qi quickly retracted his leg, side-stepping to avoid the blow.

"Boom!"

But Xu Taiping seemed to have predicted his move, and his right fist, already in motion, struck toward the place where Tian Qi had dodged.

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, Tian Qi's protective true qi was shattered by Xu Taiping's fist. His waist was struck solidly, and he was sent stumbling back a few steps.

"Swoosh!"

Before Tian Qi could regain his balance, Xu Taiping was already in front of him again, as if he were his shadow.

"Get out of my way!" Tian Qi, enraged, shouted.

He then poured true qi into his right leg and delivered a heavy kick toward Xu Taiping's approaching fist.

"Bang!"

The collision of fists and legs.

Xu Taiping only staggered slightly.

On the other hand, Tian Qi was forced back several steps by the recoil.

And it was these few steps that allowed Xu Taiping to spot an opening, seizing the opportunity to use his Charging Cow Breaking Formation.

"Boom!"

Before Tian Qi could stabilize himself, Xu Taiping's fist landed heavily on his chest.

Then came the second, third, and fourth punches!

Xu Taiping charged like a raging bull, continuously using his fists instead of horns, relentlessly pounding toward Tian Qi.