Lin Tao's Turn

Dai Qing returned to Elder Gu's side who quickly began reprimanding him through whispers. Dai Qing couldn't help but frown upon hearing his master's words. They were only some random Outer Disciples while he was considered the top of his class. Why did he deserve to be berated for hurting them a bit?

"Moving next we have Elder Yang's student Wang Xinyi, please come up on stage." The Outer Sect Disciplinary Elder made the call Elder Yang confidently looked towards his student. She nodded seeing her master's gaze and took only a few steps. Her figure seemed to turn into nothing but a shadow as she appeared onto the stage.

The crowd of Outer Disciple's had their eyes widened when they saw such a display. Such speed seemed to make her untraceable. Only a dark shadowy figure remained where she once stood before fading. In the period between its creation and her movement, she was invisible to anyone below the Eight Stage of the Spirit Profound Realm.

"What kind of Movement Technique is that? I couldn't even see her!" Feng Mu within the crowd couldn't help but voice his surprise and awe.

"I'm not sure, it's nothing I've ever seen in it within our Technique Pavillion…" Lai Mai and Feng Mu remained confused until Ye Men spoke up.

"I may be wrong, but I believe it's Elder Yang's Delusional Shadow Steps. From what I've heard it's a Movement Technique passed down through his clan."

Some of the Elders couldn't help but look towards Elder Yang in shock.

"You actually taught her the first stage of your Delusional Shadow Steps? I thought you would take that Movement Technique to the grave before giving it to someone outside of your clan." Elder Yang could only laugh hearing those words.

"Of course, I would, however, Wang Xinyi is a special case." Elder Cao couldn't help but raise a brow to that.

"What exactly do you mean?" Elder Yang simply raised his hand and waved.

"Don't be so anxious, let us just enjoy the show shall we?" Lin Tao couldn't help but feel a bit curious as he looked down onto the stage. He could see and sense the trail of Profound Energy she left behind, however his actual movements were a bit of a blur even to him.

This time around Ten Outer Disciples volunteered quite eagerly. Wang Xinyi was quite well known within the Outer Disciples, however, that recognition mostly came from her looks. She could be qualified as being a fairy amongst swans within the Outer Sect in comparison to other girls.

Slightly pale skin that looked almost enticingly smooth, gentle features that one couldn't akin to a Cultivator and her clothes which clung tightly to her accentuated her nearly perfectly. That paired with her neither warm nor cold and melancholy expression was more than enough to make her popular.

On Top of that, the Mystery around her capability also drew people to her. In comparison to Dai Qing, it was obvious why a lot of people were looking forward to finally seeing her fight.

"I hope Senior Xinyi will be courteous." The Ten Outer Disciples gave their bows which Wang Xinyi reciprocated with a nod while taking something from the Yellow Spatial Ring on her finger. The Ten Outer Disciples were surprised by what appeared to be simply a normal umbrella.

Two of the Outer Disciples who were wielding spears as weapons initiated ignoring the umbrella in her hands. With a heavy step, they launched themselves towards Wang Xinyi as the other Outer Disciples spread out surrounding her.

"Heaven Piercing Ascent!"

"Nether Wind River Strike!"

A bright and vibrant display of Profound Energy golden and crimson in color exploded from their bodies into their spears. These two Outer Disciples were both in the Spirit Profound Realm midway through the Seventh Stage. Together their power was not to be taken lightly, proven as the air itself seemed to tremble and shake.

The moment they were in range they struck out at Wang Xinyi. The next moment the entire Arena shook violently as if an earthquake had just occurred. A shockwave swept over the arena and blew across the crowd who could feel the power from those two strikes. However, once the chaos was over all that was left was silence.

The people-watching could hardly believe their eye's and the two attacking Outer Disciples stood there dumbstruck. Wang Xinyi had opened her umbrella and stopped both strikes dead in their tracks. Not a single hair on her head had been rustled and her clothes did not shift a bit.

"How…"

"She-"

The two Outer Disciples didn't get a chance to speak as she lightly pushed the force of the umbrella overwhelmed them instantly sending them flying back. Waking from their shock the Outer Disciples that had surrounded her attacked. They were out of sync obviously however it was still a bunch of Sixth and Seventh Stage Spirit Profound Realm Cultivators attacking.

Placing her umbrella over her shoulders, her eyes dashed from right to left. Each of the Outer Disciples utilized their own Profound Skill's attacking in a variety of ways. All kinds of sounds echoed through the air and the arena shook nonstop. However, despite all of this, not a single attack touched her.

Like a leaf amidst a storm, Wang Xinyi drifted between each attack without utilizing her Delusional Shadow Steps. It was completely different from Dai Qing's outburst, yet at the same time showed the difference in power perfectly. They attacked for nearly twenty minutes straight pushing attack after attack.

Since this was a sparring match against a higher Realm Cultivator they pushed their Profound Energy as much as possible. Yet still, not a single attack hit. Leaping back dodging an attack from above Wang Xinyi came to a stop and raised her umbrella into the air.

"Void Shrieking Divine Storm..." These words came out like silk as her Profound Energy ruptured. With a twist of her hand, the umbrella above her began to spin as purple Profound Energy invaded the world. Before anyone knew it a miniature tornado had begun to form indoors.

"So this is what an Eight Stage Spirit Profound Realm Cultivator can do…"

"What powerful Wind Elemental Laws…"

The tornado completely crushed the Profound Strength the Outer Disciples were displaying. They were like twigs in the wind and were sent flying from their places. The air howled like a banshee's screech as the Outer Disciples flew through the air.

In the end, she only kept up the storm for a few seconds before lowering her umbrella and closing it. Subsequently, the indoor tornado began to end as well. Lin Tao and the other Elder Students watching could tell she didn't use that Profound Skill to its fullest potential.

But even then it was so powerful that nearly half the arena was obscured by high-speed winds. By the end, the Outer Disciples had been hurt, but not seriously injured. In their eyes, all they had was awe and reverence as they looked towards Wang Xinyi.

Putting away her umbrella she walked towards the two Outer Disciples who first attacked her with spears.

"You two are quite skilled, however, your Profound Skills need to be refined to reach their full potency. The density of your Profound Energy while striking is putting too much strain on your forward movement, lowering the overall power you're able to display. More specifically when it comes to your 'Heaven Piercing Ascnet' you should…"

Like a recital, she began to give brief yet insightful advice to each Outer Disciple one after another. She pointed out nearly two flaws for each of them and how to rectify them. The crowd of Outer Disciples felt amazed.

"She managed to catch all of that in the midst of fighting? I could barely remember their attack stances."

"Of course, Wang Xinyi is an Elders Student for a reason. She's on a totally different level from us."

"Truly this is what a Senior Sister should be like."

Even the Elders were a bit surprised along with their Students. Dai Qing clicked his tongue as Shi Yi glanced towards Wang Xinyi briefly with a penetrating gaze. He hadn't even bothered to look at Dai Qing when he was fighting.

"She's good, really good. I've never seen an umbrella used in combat like that before." Lin Tao couldn't help but give out his praise. Her movements were just too fluid to be ignored, she had clearly studied the Elemental Laws of Wind extensively. While most Wind Law users focus on speed and precision, she focused on reading the flow of a battle.

Hearing him Elder Cao agreed and subsequently asked a strange question that Lin Tao didn't expect.

"How would you see yourself measuring up against her?" After his last comment Elder Cao felt like Lin Tao was hiding a bit more than he originally thought. He stared at Lin Tao who was a bit taken back from the sudden question. Wang Xinyi went back to Elder Yang's side as Lin Tao gave his answer.

"Hmm… She's good and her movements are refined to the level of mastery. But in the end, all she's doing is playing around with the wind, nothing that impressive." Despite how quiet he was, his words reached nearly every Elder and their students. After all, they were Cultivators, how could they possibly miss such a comment?

"Oh ho, such bold words were spoken as if they are fact! Your student must be quite confident in his abilities, Elder Cao!" Elder Yang raised his voice a bit as he glanced over at Lin Tao. Elder Cao couldn't help but nervously chuckle.

"It's impossible to tame the spirits and flames of youth."

"Indeed, but it is also important for one to keep their baseless boasting to a minimum don't you agree?" This was a direct jab at Lin Tao, who did not pay Elder Yang any mind. Wang Xinyi herself glanced at Lin Tao trying to sense anything from him. But in the end, she could feel nothing.

Elder Cao didn't give another comment as he turned his attention back to the arena. Truly it did seem as though Lin Tao was overconfident in his ability. And so for a little over three hours, the competition continued. Each Elder sent out their student to display their abilities, some less impressive than others while others displayed great talent and guidance.

While Wang Xinyi and Shi Yi were definitely the top brass, there were a few that seemed to come close to their level. If Ye Men was representing Elder Cao there was no doubt he would be outclassed by quite a bit. Amongst the crowd Outer Disciples were talking with each other.

"The only two remainings are Elder Jin's and Elder Cao's."

"Oh, I thought Ye Men was injured?"

"He is apparently Elder Cao got a substitute, someone from outside The Purple Raven Sect."

"Is that even allowed?"

The Outer Sect Disciplinary Elder on the arena raised his voice as he spoke.

"Next we have Elder Cao's student, please come on stage." Feng Mu, Ye Men, and Lai Mai all knew this was Lin Tao's turn and held their breath. Lin Tao was strong, but he was an outsider and was at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the Elder's Students in the competition.

"Looks like I'm up." Lin Tao cracked his neck before jumping from where he stood onto the stage. Elder Cao also had the worries of Feng Mu and the others. This entire time Lin Tao looked as if he was more entertained than anything. Nothing he did voted an ounce of the fact he was taking this seriously.

Despite his movements, no one could sense any Profound Energy from Lin Tao. In the end, they could only assume he had some kind of Profound Artifact on him blocking it off. Somewhere a bit reluctant to get on the stage considering Lin Tao's origin was unknown, however eventually Ten Outer Disciples did volunteer.

As Lin Tao glanced over all of them, his eyes seemed to drill into each and every one of them. At the same time, he pulled out Ruyi Bang transforming it to its normal size.

"Let the lesson begin shall we?"