Duan Kun felt some concern.
But an arrow shot from the bow could not be recalled.
The matter had come to this, and there was no point in saying more.
They could only continue the match.
"The second round of assessment officially begins!"
Han Zongyuan gave the order.
Someone nearby lit a common sandalwood incense stick.
This signaled the official start of the competition.
The young man named Guo Yu, though young, was quite skilled.
He had actually reached the first level of the Caiyin Realm.
The first level of the Caiyin Realm seemed weak.
But this Guo Yu came from a humble background.
To possess the cultivation of the first level of the Caiyin Realm at eighteen years old, one could imagine how much effort he had put in.
Lord Ge suppressed his cultivation to the first level of the Caiyin Realm and then fought Guo Yu with one hand.
Chen Nan and Ma Jun did not step forward.
Since only the three of them remained, there was no need to deliberately show off.
It would be time enough to go up when Guo Yu was no match for the opponent.
Guo Yu's strength was not great.
But his eyes were filled with fighting spirit.
Moreover, he had not systematically learned any martial arts techniques.
Yet, it was precisely his unmethodical fighting style that caught the opponent off guard.
Yes.
Because he had not learned any martial arts techniques, one could never guess his moves.
However, he ultimately could not defeat the opponent.
Relying solely on the breath in his chest, he lasted less than two minutes before being defeated and losing his combat ability.
Though defeated, he had no regrets.
"This fellow's talent is not bad; he can be cultivated." Chen Nan had a good impression of Guo Yu. If this fellow were cultivated, he would definitely become a powerful figure in the future.
Guo Yu weakly stood up, "Brother Chen, the rest is up to you."
The reason he did not choose to give up was twofold: first, he wanted to strive for a chance and leave no regrets; second, he wanted to face this unfair fate together with Chen Nan.
He disliked how the powerful casually controlled the destinies of others.
Even if he couldn't change anything, he wanted to use his meager ability to protest against them.
Chen Nan nodded slightly, then walked towards Lord Ge.
He cupped his fists in greeting.
Before he could raise his head, he exerted force with his right foot.
Using this terrifying explosive power, his figure became like a cannonball flying out.
He instantly appeared before Ge Chun'an.
His speed was so great that it even caused a sonic boom.
"What happened? Why was there a thunderclap?"
"Such speed!"
"Is Constable Chen's strength so terrifying?"
The surrounding common people felt immense shock.
They hadn't expected Chen Nan's strength to be so formidable.
Not just them.
Even Duan Kun narrowed his eyes slightly.
Chen Nan's strength was far greater than he had imagined.
Fortunately, this assessment did not require contestants to fight each other.
If that were the case, Ma Jun would have no chance of defeating Chen Nan.
"Seventh level of the Caiyin Realm?" Ge Chun'an's eyes also revealed a hint of solemnity.
He immediately adjusted his cultivation and engaged Chen Nan in battle.
However, his heart remained turbulent.
Chen Nan, at such a young age, without power or influence, and without any cultivation resources, had managed to cultivate to the seventh level of the Caiyin Realm.
This could definitely be considered extraordinary talent.
"No, why is this fellow's blood energy so robust?"
As the fierce battle ensued, a tremendous wave of shock surged within Ge Chun'an.
He could feel that Chen Nan only had the cultivation of the seventh level of the Caiyin Realm.
However, his blood energy was exceptionally robust, and his physical body was exceptionally strong.
As a result, when it came to a pure physical confrontation, Chen Nan was evenly matched with him.
He even felt a sense of pressure.
As a master of the Shihu Realm, he had never imagined that a junior in the Caiyin Realm would make him feel so uneasy.
Another point that he found troublesome was that Chen Nan did not seem to have systematically learned any martial arts techniques.
However, his every move was deadly and exceptionally vicious.
This was far beyond what the novice Guo Yu could compare to.
From this alone, one could tell that he had frequently engaged in killing.
Otherwise, his techniques would not be so venomous.
"This is the moment!"
Chen Nan's eyes gleamed as he successfully captured a flaw in Ge Chun'an.
He clenched his right fist, channeled the yin energy within him, and ferociously struck Ge Chun'an's chest.
This punch was as swift as lightning.
This punch was destructive.
It exuded a terrifying aura, causing the space to distort momentarily.
Although Ge Chun'an had suppressed his cultivation, he was ultimately a master of the Shihu Realm.
His reaction speed was exceptionally fast.
He quickly parried with his palm.
The instant his fist and palm collided, Ge Chun'an's pupils trembled violently.
He felt a surge of immense power erupting in his palm.
This power was ferocious and merciless, like a breached flood.
Unstoppable, it forcefully injected into his arm, causing a tearing pain.
He cried out in surprise, his eyes filled with unexpected admiration. "Good heavens, I underestimated you."
"I didn't expect you to have a cultivation comparable to the eighth level of the Caiyin Realm!"
A gasp!
Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly astonished.
They were shocked by Chen Nan's powerful strength.
But they were more delighted.
With strength comparable to the eighth level of the Caiyin Realm, this round of the competition should be a sure win.
"Again!"
Chen Nan continued his assault, as ferocious as a wolf.
He completely overwhelmed Ge Chun'an in terms of momentum.
Although Ge Chun'an's strength was great, he had already suppressed his cultivation to the seventh level of the Caiyin Realm.
Now that Chen Nan had displayed strength comparable to the eighth level of the Caiyin Realm, Ge Chun'an could not shamelessly increase his cultivation.
If he were to do so, where would his dignity go?
He continued to attack.
Although he was initially at a disadvantage, he was, after all, a master of the Shihu Realm.
Even though his cultivation was suppressed, his perceptiveness was not.
"You can withdraw now!"
With a raise of his hand, he unleashed a terrifying wave of yin energy.
It struck Chen Nan's chest, sending him flying over ten meters. A trickle of blood inevitably oozed from his mouth.
Chen Nan was defeated.
Like Guo Yu, though defeated, he had no regrets.
For no one today could defeat Ge Chun'an.
They were merely using the battle to showcase their abilities.
Chen Nan's ability to persevere for so long was already admirable.
His strength was worthy of the reputation of Tongcheng's number one divine constable.
At this moment, an elder looked at the sandalwood incense in the censer and shouted, "Only one-fifth of the sandalwood incense remains. Even though young Master Ma displayed great strength, he has already been defeated."
"Indeed, there is no need to continue this battle," voices cried out from the crowd.
Three people were to share the time of one incense stick. Chen Nan alone had taken up nearly four-fifths of it. Even if Ma Jun's strength was extraordinary, so what?
Justice resided in the hearts of the people.
Even if his strength far surpassed Chen Nan's, his performance was not as good as Chen Nan's.
"Since that incense has not yet completely burned, I still have the right to challenge Lord Ge!" Ma Jun's face was grim. He had thought today would be his day to show off.
But he never expected Chen Nan to steal all his thunder.
This filled him with intense anger.
In an instant, Ma Jun moved.
With a wave of his right hand, over a dozen fine golden needles, to the surprise of everyone, pierced into Ge Chun'an's body.
He sent Ge Chun'an spitting blood and flying dozens of meters away.
The scene fell into stunned silence.
A meaningful smile appeared on Ma Jun's face. "Excuse me, I defeated Lord Ge in just one second. What do you have to say now?"