The Bai Clan participants numbered around 40.
But that was only for those going through the Bai Clan’s selection. Others, like Bai Xueqing, decided to join through their respective sects.
Out of those 40, nearly 20 openly opposed Bai Zihan and were even ready to fight him.
Among them, only three were in the Nascent Soul Realm, while the rest were in the Golden Core Stage.
However, they didn’t think that Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were necessary to beat down Bai Zihan, who was only at the Golden Core Stage.
Even if the rumors were true—that he had gained mastery over the Heaven-Grade Technique, Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword—they believed that with their numbers, it was impossible for them to lose.
The others chose not to get involved, either because they didn’t think it was necessary or because they didn’t want to be caught up in the clan’s politics.
“Then, are you all ready? Begin!”
Bai Feng announced.
But just as the words left his mouth, Bai Ming suddenly stepped forward, a smug smile on his face.
“Everyone else, stand back. I don’t need your help to deal with this arrogant heir of ours.”
His voice dripped with confidence, and the others paused—some nodding, a few even stepping back willingly.
After all, Bai Ming was one of the strongest among them. If he was going to humiliate Bai Zihan on his own, why should they bother?
Moreover, even though they agreed to fight Bai Zihan, they hadn’t planned to gang up on him unfairly.
Most of them wanted to teach him a lesson and believed they could do it alone.
Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
Not that he expected these prideful idiots to group together and attack him anyway.
WHOOSH!
Bai Ming moved at insane speed, his figure blurring as he shot toward Bai Zihan, his fist crashing forward like a thunderclap.
“This isn’t personal, but you need to learn your place!”
Bai Ming roared.
Bai Zihan didn’t even blink.
His figure shifted, a blur of movement that seemed almost lazy, and then—
Crack!
Bai Ming’s voice died in his throat, his eyes bulging as Bai Zihan’s fist buried itself in his gut.
The sheer force sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
“Guh—!”
Bai Ming’s face twisted in pain, and before he could even react, Bai Zihan’s knee slammed into his chin, lifting him off the ground.
Then a casual palm strike crashed into his chest, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll.
Bai Ming hit the ground, skidding, tumbling, and finally coming to a stop, motionless, dust settling around his body.
BANG!
The others stared in stunned silence.
“That… that was Bai Ming! One of the strongest in his generation when it comes to pure physical strength!”
“And he was… knocked out so easily?”
“How… How can Bai Zihan be that strong without using any Qi?”
“Is his body even more powerful than Bai Ming’s? That can’t be! He hardly even trains.”
They couldn’t believe how easily and quickly Bai Zihan had taken out Bai Ming, supposedly one of the strongest among them.
Bai Zihan and Bai Ming’s clash was mostly physical, with little to no Qi involved. Yet Bai Zihan came out on top?
It seemed impossible to the Bai Clan members, who knew just how lazy Bai Zihan was—he wouldn’t even spare an hour for training.
Bai Zihan waited for another challenger, but they were still too shocked to move.
His mocking voice cut through their disbelief.
“Come on, don’t tell me you were just here to watch?”
His grin widened, dripping with contempt.
“Twenty of you against me, and you’re too scared to even move? Well, let me help you with that.”
Whoosh!
Bai Zihan’s figure blurred again.
In an instant, he was in front of another disciple, his palm slamming into the poor guy’s face, sending him crashing back.
The guy was caught off guard and couldn’t even react—Bai Zihan’s speed was beyond what anyone expected.
A girl quickly tried to swing her sword at him, but Bai Zihan’s hand snatched her wrist like a vice.
“Gah!”
Her reaction was quick, but Bai Zihan’s was faster—like her attack was in slow motion.
He yanked her forward, his knee slamming into her stomach, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
“Next!”
Bai Zihan roared, his voice brimming with battle lust.
And then the chaos began.
The remaining disciples finally snapped out of their shock, their pride and anger overwhelming their shock.
“Don’t let him mock us! Take him down!”
Bai Jian yelled angrily.
He was still processing how the supposed joke of the Bai Clan had taken down one of the strongest among them, Bai Ming, and now two more in a split second.
Though those two weren’t as strong as him or Bai Ming, they were still elites chosen as participants.
And yet the so-called waste took them out like it was nothing.
The older generation didn’t take orders from Bai Jian despite his greater talent. He didn’t deserve that authority.
But the younger generation was different—they were used to following Bai Jian, who acted like their leader.
Seven disciples immediately surrounded Bai Zihan, leaving no way for him to escape.
“Bai Zihan, you have nowhere to escape.”
Bai Jian declared arrogantly, forgetting he had to rely on so many disciples just to contain the one he thought was a weakling.
“Escape? Who, me?”
Bai Zihan almost laughed.
If he wanted to escape, would he have deliberately approached them first?
There was no use explaining common sense to someone drunk on the illusion of victory.
They surged forward, weapons drawn, Qi surging—with all their attacks converging on Bai Zihan.
One of them lunged first, his sword slashing down with a fierce glow.
But before his blade could touch Bai Zihan, a blur of motion flashed.
Crack!
His wrist twisted at an unnatural angle, the sword flying from his grip, and a brutal kick slammed into his chest, sending him flying back, his body crashing into another disciple.
“Bastard!”
Another one shouted, his palm glowing with a fiery red light as he aimed a flaming fist at Bai Zihan.
But Bai Zihan sidestepped easily, grabbing the attacker’s outstretched arm and yanking him forward.
THUD!
His knee met the disciple’s face, a sickening crunch echoing as the man’s nose shattered, blood spraying.
From above, the elders watched in shock.
Bai Feng’s smile was long gone.
Where was the untalented, problematic young master whose only talent was causing trouble?
He was completely different from how they had known him.
Bai Tianheng’s gaze was sharp, but a slight smile played at his lips.
(So… this is the strength my son has been hiding.)
Too strong!
Although the result was yet to be decided, Bai Zihan had already proven himself to all of them.
He was no longer the person they used to know and could even take on multiple elites of the Bai Clan.
Just defeating the three geniuses earlier proved that he was a genius like his sister, Bai Xueqing.
Not to mention, even more, despite being surrounded and outnumbered.
Previously, he was happy to know that at least his son’s cultivation had reached the level of a genius, but this was completely different.
Cultivation level doesn’t always mean someone can also fight well, especially against so many at the same level.
It was clear that his cultivation wasn’t the only thing at the level of a genius—his combat technique and physique were also on par with a top genius.
(No wonder the Grand Elder looked so excited when talking about Zihan’er!)
“What are you doing? Attack him from all sides!”
Bai Jian shouted angrily.
But it was like fighting a storm.
Bai Zihan’s figure flickered, moving between them like a ghost.
A punch shattered a jaw. An elbow cracked against a temple. A sweeping kick sent another one tumbling.
In seconds, four more were on the ground, groaning in pain.
Bai Jian’s face twisted with rage. He wasn’t going to stand by and watch his so-called “waste” of a cousin humiliate them all.
“Everyone, focus! Don’t attack blindly! Keep him occupied!”
Bai Jian shouted, and his voice seemed to snap the others out of their panic.
His own sword flashed as he charged in, his blade sweeping toward Bai Zihan’s shoulder with a precise, controlled strike.
Clang!
Bai Zihan’s palm met the flat of Bai Jian’s sword, and a shockwave rippled out.
“Oh? Finally joining in, Bai Jian? I was wondering how long you planned to sit around and shout.”
Bai Zihan taunted, his grin sharp.
“Shut up!”
Bai Jian spat, twisting his wrist, his sword flaring with blue Qi as he tried to push Bai Zihan back.
But Bai Zihan didn’t budge. His hand gripped the blade, fingers tightening, Qi flaring around his palm like a shield.
“Not bad!”
Bai Zihan commented with genuine compliment.
“But you’ll need a lot more than that.”
Suddenly, he shoved the sword aside, sending Bai Jian stumbling, and in the same motion, his leg lashed out in a sweeping kick.
Bai Jian barely managed to twist his body, avoiding the full impact, but the force still sent him skidding back.
(How is his body so powerful?)
Bai Jian thought hatefully.
Previously, he had also been beaten down and slapped by Bai Zihan, and he remembered how physically strong Bai Zihan was. Now, he was reminded of it again.
The other disciples tried to take advantage of the moment, but it was like attacking a hurricane.
Another went down with a broken arm, a girl’s sword was ripped from her grip and used to smack her aside, and yet another disciple was sent flying with a brutal knee to the gut.
Bai Jian, however, refused to back down. His sword danced, strikes fast and precisely, and he managed to keep his footing, avoiding being overwhelmed.
Indeed, compared to the other disciples who were getting knocked out like flies, Bai Jian was in a league of his own—able to take the hits without losing consciousness.
It was clear he was the strongest among the group now—he wasn’t just lashing out in panic like the others but trying to coordinate their efforts.
But even with his leadership, it was of no use as other disciples weren’t able to keep up with him.
The last one, a girl with a spear, thrust it forward, her expression desperate.
“Stay back!”
Her voice trembled, but her attack was sharp.
Bai Zihan caught the spear’s shaft with one hand, his grip like iron.
“Nice spear,” he mocked, yanking it forward, and the girl stumbled toward him, wide-eyed.
Bang!
His hand snapped forward, striking the back of her neck, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Bai Zihan spun the spear around and casually tossed it aside.
He looked around. Seven of them lay on the ground—some groaning, some unconscious and the only one who could fight was Bai Jian.
“Wow, that was it? Pathetic!”
Bai Zihan sneered, his voice carrying over the stunned silence.
“Is this really the best of the Bai Clan?”