“Number 2 and number 15 step forward!”

As soon as the elder shouted that, Shiming stepped forward causing a slight commotion in the crowd. After getting on the stage, Guiren’s figure was seen following after, and soon enough he was on the stage standing in front of Shiming.

All the disciples below suddenly felt the expert's intense gaze locking onto the stage. Even though they weren’t in the line of fire, they still gulp at the insurmountable pressure coming from their gaze.

Their interest in Yang Su’s match was minimum and even though he showed to have some power, as well as his supposed claim to get first place, their one and only purpose was still to see Ghuanyu’s demonstration of his new way of cultivating through the Four Physical Realms.

“Start the match!!”

As usual, the elder’s voice shouted for the match to start, and immediately after Guiren dashed forward like a bullet train to appear in front of Shiming throwing out a golden fist to his chest.

Guiren’s body was empowered by his external martial arts called the Mystic Golden Body. It was a powerful Silver-grade high-class body cultivation method, one of the best within the Academy for those cultivating in the Four Physical Realms. Along with his already reconstructed bones that gave him herculean-like strength, this amplified it even more.

Guiren hadn’t held back when made his move, he was planning to defeat this bastard in one move.

‘Swoosh!!’

Guiren’s dazzling fist pierce through the air towards Shiming.

Shiming who looked completely unperturbed actually drew back his fist, which was now glowing with azure light before he struck out and met Guiren's unstoppable fist.

Guiren’s fast and unstoppable fist seemed as if it had come smashing into an immovable wall made from tungsten metal.

The clash resounded across the venue and the clash created a shock wave that ripple out on the stage, kicking up a lot of dust.

When it was clear, everyone’s eyes landed on Guiren’s and Shiming’s figure which was still in place with locked fists.

This sight made the experts' eyes light up, as this meant that Shiming’s physique was comparable to Guiren’s own, who had reached the Third Phase of the Meridian Opening Realm, having opened 50 meridians.

As both of their fists locked with each other, Guiren started to push back against Shiming’s own to overpower him, but Shiming’s fist didn’t budge. Shiming tried to do the same but their physiques were equally matched.

Guiren then suddenly pulled back his fist and sent his right leg whipping out to the side of Shiming’s head. However, a thud echoed out as Shiming was quick enough to block the kick with his forearm.

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Without stopping his momentum, Guiren pulled back his leg and went low to swipe Shiming’s legs from under him but, Shiming raised his foot, causing Guiren's kick to miss.

Shiming then retreated back to distance himself from Guiren's barrage of attacks, but Guiren bend his knees and kicked off the ground, closing in the distance between them once more.

‘Thud! Thud! Thud!’

The two began exchanging blows, showcasing their raw strength and hand-to-hand combat ability.

Both the crowd of experts above the stage and in the Pavilions, as well as the disciples below, could tell that Guiren and Shiming were equally matched in raw strength, speed, and combat ability.

This wouldn’t surprise anyone if they were both the same age, but remember, Guiren had entered the Academy almost three years ago, with that much cultivation time between Shiming’s own four months he should have at least been on the winning side from the get-go.

As he pressed forward it was obvious to anyone that Shiming had no problem matching him blow for blow.

With another clash, Guiren separated from Shiming stopping his barrage of attacks.

With a calm expression, Shiming said, “Are you done with your testing?”

Hearing Shiming’s words, Guiren smirked and answer, “All done, and from probing you I guessed that you must have reconstructed about 2/3rd of your bones, including your arm and leg bones as well as your sternum and a few of your ribs. You tried to avoid getting hit on your back, so I’m guessing that you haven’t reconstructed your spine as yet.”

Shiming frowned a little when he heard Guiren’s accurate description of the current state of his body.

As it turns out, this Guiren wasn’t only testing Shiming's strength, but he was also searching for any weaknesses.

The disciples down below couldn't help but looked at Guiren with admiration, praising him in their hearts. If it was them they wouldn’t have been able to figure out all of that from just exchanging blows with someone.

Narrowing his eyes, Shiming said in a cold tone, “So what if you know all of that?”

Guiren stared at Shiming with a nonchalant expression before he said, “Well now I know where to aim my sword to cut you down.”

Immediately after saying that, an overwhelming amount of Spiritual Qi burst forth from Guiren's figure, which even caused the stage to quake a bit.

As the Spiritual Qi swirled around his clothed white figure, it gave off a black aura signally that it contain the properties of the metal element.

The contrast of his white robes and the black Spiritual Qi emanating outward, caused a striking visual impact on the onlooking disciples.

Stretching his hand out, a long sword with a dragon design on its handle appeared in Guiren’s palm.

As a talented member of the younger generation in the Sua Clan, he was given a precious storage ring.

Unlike the majority of his fellow clan members and what his clan was known for, Guiren hadn’t cultivated in a water-type cultivation method. The fighting methods involving cultivating water-type techniques didn’t suit his nature. So he went against his family norm and cultivated the Academy’s Ten Thousand Celestial Metal Scripture.

This was a cultivation method found on the fourth floor of the Techniques Library on the Inner Disciple's branch Sword Pavilion. It was a cultivation method that focused on attacking your opponent relentlessly with devastating attacks.

Guiren liked this way of battle, his life motto was, ‘A good defense is a strong offense.’

Which was the complete opposite of water-type techniques that focused on blocking, or absorbing a person’s attack and using it against them.

Because of Guiren's battle-style preference, he had come to be known by a nickname, Battle Crazed Guiren.

Seeing Guiren releasing the full brunt of his power, Shiming narrowed his eyes as he got what Guiren was trying to say and he did the same.

Raging red Spiritual Qi burst out of Shiming’s figure, which obscured him in a fiery red tempest. The heat that radiated from him caused some of the disciples below to start sweating profusely.

All the experts' eyes light up like the sun at midday.

Sensing the power emanating from Shiming, it wasn’t any less than Guiren’s own. This made their hearts start to pound in excitement, and a few of them had even secretly sent out their Divine Will towards Ghuanyu requesting his method of cultivating through the Four Physical Realms.

The fact that Shiming’s aura and power were on par with Guiren’s own, meant that the number of meridians he opened while being in the Bone Reconstruction Realm was around the same amount as Guiren’s.

Xi Shen, who was lazily sitting in his seat, glanced towards Shiming’s figure covered in fiery Spiritual Qi with a bit of scorn in his eyes.