After the results were announced, a murmur of admiration spread through the test hall.
An eighth level of Body Tempering at sixteen and an outstanding talent for martial arts—the crowd saw Mu Ye as a rising star of the Mu clan.
"Maybe Mu Ye is the true genius of the clan," many thought.
But just as they were about to marvel at his success, Mu Zi resolutely walked onto the arena.
Seeing the girl, the crowd fell silent.
The elder smiled, perhaps glad that the test was nearing its end, and his tone became lighter.
"Hah, participant Mu Zi, seventh level of Body Tempering. We will now appoint an examiner..."
But the girl's next words caused a genuine commotion.
"I challenge Mu Ye to a fight!"
"What?" the elder's heart skipped a beat. "Can't these test-takers behave themselves?" he thought, feeling his nerves at their limit.
"I challenge Mu Ye!" Mu Zi repeated, her gaze sharp on the young man.
Mu Ye froze in surprise.
The crowd buzzed.
"What's happening? Is there a challenge stage in the combat test?"
"There's no such rule; it seems the young lady decided this herself!" a voice from the crowd rang out.
"Hey, did I hear that right? She wants to challenge someone above her level!"
"The seventh level of Body Tempering at fourteen—when did she even have time to learn martial arts?"
"Besides, Mu Ye just defeated an eighth-level examiner. He's no pushover!"
"I don't believe she'll succeed."
"She's just overestimating herself!"
The elder looked at Mu Zi seriously:
"If the challenge fails, your grade will be lowered by one level. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure!" Mu Zi answered firmly.
"Participant Mu Ye, do you accept the challenge?"
Recovering from his surprise, Mu Ye smiled:
"Little Sister Zi, you're no match for me. It's better to give up; I don't want to hurt you."
"Who are you calling 'Little Sister Zi'?" Mu Zi's eyebrows shot up in anger, her glare piercing him.
"Ahem," Mu Ye, publicly put on the spot, felt a flare of anger.
"Alright, I hope you don't cry afterward! I accept the challenge."
When the fight was confirmed, the crowd buzzed with anticipation.
It seemed there was some conflict between them, and such a confrontation promised to be a spectacle.
On the arena, they stood facing each other.
In Mu Ye's eyes, the girl's cold gaze was reflected. Anger flared in his chest, and taking a stance, he lunged at Mu Zi.
"Eight Desolations Palm!"
In the main seat, Mu Tian clicked his tongue:
"He went straight for a second-rank technique! This guy isn't holding back! Tsk, tsk, what a ruthless heartbreaker!"
Mu Yun, ignoring his words, watched the girl with anxiety.
But Mu Zi, meeting Mu Ye's attack, remained unfazed. Only when he was a step away from her did she calmly move to meet him.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa..."
Nine clear claps rang out on the arena, and a fist met a palm.
"Bam!"
After a muffled impact, both staggered back three steps—their forces were equal!
"Impossible! The 'Nine Claps' fist is only a first-rank technique! How can it compare to my 'Eight Desolations Palm'?" Mu Ye, looking into the girl's eyes, calm as an ancient well, cried out in confusion.
Mu Zi looked at him coldly and sneered:
"Techniques are divided into strong and weak, but everything is decided by the mastery of the one who uses them."
"A first-rank technique is enough to deal with you!"
Without giving him a chance to respond, Mu Zi rushed to attack, using the "Nine Claps" fist.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa..."
Her movements were light but powerful, her hands moving with grace, and the spectators felt a special rhythm inherent in martial arts.
Mu Ye hastily counter-attacked with the "Eight Desolations Palm," but in his confusion, he quickly found himself on the defensive, barely managing to parry.
"Why is her 'Nine Claps' fist so strong?" Mu Ye roared mentally.
In the main seats, everyone was stunned.
"Zi has mastered the 'Nine Claps' fist!" Mu Yun couldn't believe his eyes. The seventh level of Body Tempering was already a feat, but she had more surprises?
Mu Tian added thoughtfully:
"And it's not just the 'Nine Claps.' There's some special power in it. It's as if a martial arts master is demonstrating the technique."
Clan Head Mu Tao said:
"The 'Nine Claps' fist is a first-rank technique, but they say when perfected, its power is comparable to a second-rank technique."
"I've seen many who brought it to nine claps, but their blows didn't measure up to a second-rank.
"Before, I thought it was an exaggeration, but today I saw with my own eyes a 'Nine Claps' fist that's on par with a second-rank!"
"A monster, Zi is a true monster!"
Looking at the stunned faces of the crowd, Mu Lingsha suddenly felt a subtle sense of superiority.
"Finally, you're all speechless!"
On the arena, Mu Ye was desperately fending off attacks, and for the first time, the elder felt she was losing control of the situation.
"Ye Lan, hold on!" she rasped. "Drag out the fight; she'll tire out first!"
Mu Ye, being at the eighth level of Body Tempering, had more Yuan Li. If the fight dragged on, the advantage would be his.
Hearing her, Mu Zi sneered coldly:
"A clever plan. But can you withstand me? Do you have the strength?"
"It's time to end this!"
Mu Zi used the "Gliding Steps," and her figure became a phantom, flitting around Mu Ye like a butterfly among flowers.
"Nine Claps Fist!"
Her attacks sped up, and claps resounded endlessly on the arena.
The crowd below stood frozen, their mouths agape.
"Perfected 'Gliding Steps'!"
Mu Yun jumped out of his seat. How many more surprises did Zi have hidden?
"Another technique perfected!" the spectators' faces flushed. "Compared to Mu Zi, Mu Ye's talent is nothing!"
With the use of the "Gliding Steps," Mu Ye found it harder and harder to cope. Mu Zi's movements confused him, and only a sudden burst of skill saved him from defeat.
Suddenly, while continuing to resist, Mu Ye inhaled a faint fragrance and froze, forgetting to defend himself.
Noticing his strange reaction, Mu Zi frowned.
"What is this guy doing?" Mu Zi muttered.
Without thinking, she lifted her leg and, with a single kick, sent the helpless Mu Ye flying off the arena.
"Boom!"
A dull thud marked the outcome of the fight, and the result stunned everyone.
Mu Zi, at the seventh level of Body Tempering, had defeated Mu Ye, who had the eighth level, and had dominated the entire fight.
Looking at the unperturbed Mu Zi and the dazed, defeated Mu Ye, everyone understood: this was complete excellence.
Calmly looking at the elder, Mu Zi said:
"Announce the result."
He came to his senses, still shocked.
"The winner is Mu Zi!"
After the announcement, the female elder couldn't maintain her feigned composure, and her face darkened.
...
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