With the Potential test concluded, the combat assessment was about to begin.

On the martial stage, the supervising elder spoke in a clear, resonant voice:

"Next is the combat test. The rules are simple: you will draw lots to be divided into groups. Each pair of newcomers may dispatch one person to represent them in battle. The victor advances, and the last one standing shall be crowned the champion of the martial competition."

Hearing this, the veteran disciples in the audience finally perked up.

"The main course is here!"

"Hmph, I want to see what that trash duo can actually do!"

"With their aptitude, even if their physics are compatible and they cultivate rapidly in the early stages, it's nothing but a hollow facade. Talk of combat prowess is laughable; they'll probably be obliterated in a single breath!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, and the vast majority of the topics still centered on Ning Fan and his partner. After all, their results in the Potential test had been far too astounding, making them an unavoidable topic of conversation.

As the various groups of newcomers finished drawing their lots, the supervising elder swept his long sleeve, and the combat ranking board displayed the list of match-ups.

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao happened to be placed in the very first match.

All the spectators immediately looked toward their opponents, and a collective gasp filled the air-it was Zhao Yuankai and Bai Ruo!

The arena erupted into an uproar!

"Hahaha, the trash duo has truly struck an iron wall this time. Their first match is against Zhao Yuankai's group!"

"Good luck always runs out eventually."

"No matter which of them steps forward from Zhao Yuankai's side, that useless pair won't last a single exchange."

"That is a absolute certainty. Their cultivation advanced too quickly, leaving their foundation unstable. Combined with their inherently weak aptitude, and the fact that Zhao Yuankai is a whole minor realm higher than Ning Fan, this is simply too tragic!"

Seeing that his match was up first and that his opponents were Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao, Zhao Yuankai's lips curled into a smug smile.

"Very well. Let us bring this farce to a swift end."

On the other side, Ning Fan was also slightly stunned when he saw his opponent.

With his fourth-layer Yellow Extreme Realm cultivation and the extraordinary Tianxuan Heart Sutra, he believed he did not need to fear any newcomer.

Yet, facing the strongest of the new disciples in the very first round still caused a thread of tension to rise within him.

He was one minor realm below his opponent, so this battle was not entirely guaranteed.

After a moment of thought, Ning Fan looked at the innocent young girl beside him and asked tentatively, "Qingyao, do you think I have a good chance of winning this match?"

Yun Qingyao blinked her clear eyes and smiled brightly. "Husband, you are the best. I believe in you!"

Ning Fan was momentarily speechless.

This Dao partner of his was acting entirely too well, looking as though she truly knew nothing at all.

But on second thought, if Yun Qingyao believed in him, it meant that in her eyes, he was fully capable of fighting Zhao Yuankai-and even winning!

With this realization, Ning Fan's heart settled completely.

He hesitated no longer and strode firmly onto the martial stage.

Seeing Ning Fan step out, Zhao Yuankai, who had long been eager for blood, tapped his toes against the ground. His body drifted like a gust of clear wind, landing gracefully on the stage.

This display of movement technique instantly drew a chorus of praise from the surrounding crowd.

Even the enforcement elder nodded in approval, his gaze toward Ning Fan carrying a hint of pity.

Sect competitions strictly forbade killing, so no weapons were permitted-only fists and feet.

Facing a serious and fully alert Ning Fan, Zhao Yuankai smiled faintly, his voice dripping with contempt. "If you surrender right now and package Yun Qingyao to be sent to my residence, I might consider letting you leave this stage in one piece."

However, Ning Fan remained completely indifferent, not uttering a single word. This made Zhao Yuankai feel as though his boasts had merely struck soft cotton, yielding no satisfaction.

"Let the match begin!"

At the supervising elder's command, the battle commenced.

"Since you are courting death, do not blame me."

Zhao Yuankai snorted coldly. He executed seven rapid steps, as if treading upon the Seven Stars. His body transformed into a shooting star and his fist crackled like sudden thunder, carrying a whistling gale as it aimed straight for Ning Fan's face.

Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit. Zhao Yuankai understood this principle well. He intended to use absolute power to utterly crush this little insect before him!

Although Ning Fan had been on guard, Zhao Yuankai's speed still exceeded his expectations.

He dared not delay. Circulating the Tianxuan Heart Sutra to its absolute limit, he unleashed a heavy punch!

Zhao Yuankai did not dodge, choosing instead to meet the strike directly, intending to shatter Ning Fan's offense head-on!

However, the moment their fists collided, the cold smirk on Zhao Yuankai's face instantly collapsed into utter horror!

Boom!

A muffled explosion shook the air. Before the crowd could even register what was happening, a rapid succession of bone-cracking sounds echoed like a string of firecrackers.

Zhao Yuankai had charged forward like lightning, but he flew back even faster. Spitting a torrent of fresh blood, his body soared through the air like a heavy cannonball.

Thud!

Following a tremendous crash, Zhao Yuankai was violently embedded into the stone gate at the edge of the square. His arm was twisted abnormally, his chest caved in, his hair disheveled, and his face covered in blood. Hanging from the cracked stone gate while dripping crimson, his life or death was unknown.

The sheer destructive power of the strike plunged the entire arena into stunned silence.

Even Ning Fan looked down at his own fist in disbelief.

"I... I didn't even use that much force. How did you just collapse?"

The spiritual energy condensed by the Tianxuan Heart Sutra far surpassed his wildest estimations!

Everyone had expected Zhao Yuankai to crush Ning Fan, yet none had anticipated that he would be the one instantly annihilated.

The vast square fell into a deathly stillness once more.

"The victor: Ning Fan!"

After a long pause, Elder Xu finally snapped out of his shock and announced the result.

The crowd seemed to wake from a dream, and the arena instantly erupted into absolute chaos!

"Did I see that correctly? Zhao Yuankai was a whole minor realm higher, yet he was instantly defeated in a single blow? What kind of terrifying strength does Ning Fan possess?"

"Trash? If someone with this level of combat power is considered trash, then what are the rest of us?"

"It seems our previous assumptions were entirely wrong. Ning Fan definitely didn't just break through three realms because his physique happens to complement his partner's. He must have gained some other heaven-defying fortuitous encounter!"

"Could it be that both Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao possess some hidden dual cultivation physics that were fully awakened during their session last night? Otherwise, how could his strength have reached such an absurd level?"

"If I had known, I would have chosen Yun Qingyao back then! That is a supreme dual cultivation physique!"

"What a massive loss! Such a peerless beauty who also possesses a dual cultivation physique was actually picked up by a kid like Ning Fan!"

Many of the new disciples were filled with intense regret; they had all held the opportunity to choose Yun Qingyao during the pairing process.

One male disciple looked at the breathtaking Yun Qingyao, then looked at his own partner who resembled a bloated pig, and nearly choked to death on his own rage. He had deliberately passed over Yun Qingyao to select this current partner of mediocre aptitude!

Even many of the female disciples were consumed by regret. If they had known that Ning Fan might possess a special dual cultivation physique, they would never have rejected him.

At this moment, everyone present understood a single truth:

Ning Fan was no longer the useless individual whom anyone could bully at will.

Even veteran disciples at the sixth or seventh layer of the Yellow Extreme Realm would now have to think twice before provoking him.

However, a few stronger and more talented veteran disciples began to look toward Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao with deepened interest.

Within the Yin Yang Divine Sect, a dual cultivation physique would always be the most coveted treasure.

Amidst the gaze of tens of thousands, Ning Fan walked back to the resting area.

Smack!

Before the envious eyes of everyone around them, Yun Qingyao happily wrapped her arms around Ning Fan's neck and planted a firm, fragrant kiss on his cheek.

"Husband is so amazing! Truly wonderful!"

Ning Fan's face flushed red. "There are so many people watching!"

Seeing this scene, the male disciples felt their hearts gnawed by jealousy, wishing they could violently replace him.

This kid Ning Fan was truly blessed with unparalleled luck!

From that point onward, until the very end of the martial competition, any newcomer who drew Ning Fan's group considered themselves cursed. The moment they stepped onto the stage, they immediately chose to forfeit.

With Zhao Yuankai's horrific example fresh in their minds, they all possessed self-awareness and lacked any desire to be brutally beaten.

When the final opponent surrendered before even stepping onto the platform, the supervising elder formally announced the end of the evaluation. After uttering a few conventional words of encouragement, he waved his silver sleeve, causing the comprehensive rankings to manifest upon the combat ranking board.

Unsurprisingly, the final results placed Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao at the absolute top of the A-rank.

As for the miserable Zhao Yuankai, though he had ranked second on the Potential list, his immediate defeat in the first round of combat led to his elimination. His final comprehensive score placed him dead last in the B-rank-and rumor had it that the supervising elder had only granted him that spot out of sheer pity for his gruesome condition.