The confidence that Jiang Ning had wasn't a blustering courage. It required neither dramatic and expressive displays nor arrogant declarations.

He exuded confidence simply by sitting there and speaking in his mild, indifferent tones.

Liu Qing was stumped.

She had not come across anyone like him before.

She couldn't describe the feelings that overcame her when she was with Jiang Ning. They felt like a mix of awe, nervousness, respect and a tinge of... adoration.

It was a complicated web of emotions that not even Liu Qing could untangle herself from.

"The next round!" Mr He thundered.

Everyone's eyes were drawn towards the arena.

The second round had started.

Those who had been eliminated in the first round had failed the test. Liu Qing knew exactly how that felt.

It was a feeling that she had experienced more than once.

She had been lucky this time though. She had passed the first round.

She corrected herself immediately. It hadn't been luck. It had been the labors of her hard work. She had deserved it.

"The next match is between Chen Long and Li Wei!" Mr He's voice thundered.

A commotion stirred in the audience. Everyone's eyes landed on Chen Long and Li Wei, who were standing the distance.

How could it be the two of them?

Alongside Luo Heng, Chen Long and Li Wei were the two other most powerful disciples in the Inner Court.

Luo Heng was stronger than the both of them while Chen Long and Li Wei were well matched. It was going to be a tough fight. Why were they being pitted against the other in the second round? It was akin to trapping two tigers in the same cage. Only one would emerge triumphant.

This fight wasn't simply one to pass the test. If that were the case, they could have held the test any time. Why was it being held today, when Qingshan Sect were entertaining visitors? Everyone seemed a little confused. They couldn't help but look at Liu Chuandao and wonder why he had planned the fights this way. What was his intention behind this arrangement? Zhang Heng turned towards Liu Chuandao and gave him a look too.

When the crowd caught the look in Zhang Heng's eyes, they realized that the principal of the Inner Court had no idea what was going on too.

Liu Chuandao revealed nothing on his face. He was the only one who knew that he hadn't planned this. Zhang Heng had been the one behind it. He wasn't going to say anything though.

He wasn't going to interfere with the test regardless of what Zhang Heng had planned. This was the Inner Court's test. Zhang Heng had full rein over how it was going to be run. Liu Chuandao wasn't going to interfere and let Zhang Heng have anything on him.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

Chen Ling and Li Wei entered the arena. Their eyes shone brightly.

Those who weren't familiar with them viewed them as evenly matched opponents who weren't going to yield easily and admit that his opponent was more powerful than he was. This was a great chance to prove who was the better of them both.

"Chen Long, let's find out who's the better fighter today." Li Wei smiled and cupped his fists in greeting. "Here's to a fair fight."

"And a good battle!"

Boom!

As soon as they were done talking, they attacked at the same time with startling speed.

Their first blow resulted in a thunderous collision.

BAM!

The ground trembled.

The force of their blows rippled in the air and blasted at the audience's eardrums.

They were incredibly strong.

The crowd gasped aloud. The two fighters were the cream of the crop in the Inner Court and the younger generation of disciples in the sect. They were the second strongest fighters following Luo Heng.

They were going to be admitted to the Portico and become the Portico disciple of an elder sooner or later.

The fight in the arena looked

intense. Chen Long and Li Wei had

charged right into battle as soon as

the fight had started. Mr He had retreated into the distance so

o that

he wouldn't distract the opponents in any way.

The audience was completely engrossed in the fight, their full attention drawn to the most exciting battle today.

Liu Qing was doing the same too. Her eyes were fixed on the two disciples in the arena. There was a conflicted look in her eyes.

"They're really strong!" was the thought that occupied her mind.

They would have left her trailing in the dust in the past.

What terrified her the most was the fact that she hadn't realized how much stronger they were.

Yet, within a span of a month, she had learned to discern things that she hadn't been able to.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

She turned towards Jiang Ning and gave him a look. "Who's going to win?"