Eloquent Ascent

Slowly, Miss Lin felt a mix of embarrassment and admiration as she watched her own attacks being redirected back to her.

She took a deep breath and focused her qi to mold her resonate with the primal elements of fire into a giant fireball.

Xu Qi told her to give it her all and not hold back against him. His consideration had touched her heart and she didn't want to disappoint him.

With a fiery determination, Miss Lin launched a more powerful volley of attacks. Each one was more intricate and beautiful than the last but Xu Qi was ready for them.

He agilely stepped to this side, his Celestial Eloquence guiding the wind to swirl on the space between them, creating a gentle barrier that weakened the fireballs with mesmerizing grace which made it seem like a dance of the elements rather than a duel.

Then with a blur of his flickering figure, he closed their distance again as he performed a series of Wind Whisper Art moves.

Each motion of his hand, each step of his feet, every whisper that left his mouth sent out waves of wind that met her fiery blasts with a dance. It was like watching a leaf gracefully dodge a raging bonfire.

Miss Lin found it mesmerizing as much as it was frustrating. Since she was ready to hand him the win, losing like this became an experience she never imagined she'd have. She couldn't help but admire the way he moved, the way his words shaped primal elements around him like they were obeying him and the way he looked at her with genuine respect.

She felt her cheeks flush even more whenever Xu Qi's hands would touch hers with each block, each parry.

After a few minutes of their elegant dance of fire and wind, Xu Qi sensed that Miss Lin had reached her limits. He knew that pushing her further would only harm her reputation and pride. So, he decided to end the match with a display that would not only win him the round but also leave a positive impression on her and the watching crowd.

He furtively whispered a string of words as his sleeves fluttered in the air. Calling forth the obedient primal elements around them, a gentle tornado of wind began to spiral, enveloping the body of Miss Lin, lifting her off of her feet without harm. The flaming arrows dissipated into sparks as if the wind itself had blown on them like a candle and Xu Qi carried her off the stage, landing gently on the sidelines.

The spectators watched in awe, not only at his control over the wind but also at his chivalrous act of not letting a lady fall in disgrace. Miss Lin, though defeated, had a smile on her face that was brighter than any of the flaming attacks she had sent at him. She was carried out of the arena like a damsel in distress, yet she looked more like a victor than a vanquished.

"That damn flirt." Ling Lian couldn't help but murmur under her breath, watching Xu Qi charm his way through the match with Miss Lin. Despite the obvious attraction, she felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that he had once again used his words and wit to win not just the match, but the hearts of the audience as well.

On the other hand, Xiao Yue silently giggled to herself. She had seen Xu Qi's unique way of handling his opponents, but to see it unfold in such a dramatic and gallant manner was something else entirely. It was clear that he had once again used his charm to disarm Miss Lin, both literally and figuratively.

"Thank you for going easy on me, Miss Lin." Xu Qi bowed gallantly with his voice carrying a gentle sincerity that washed over the flustered female disciple.

With this, he secured his second victory.

Elder Liu's spectacles glinted as a small smile played on her lips, watching from the sidelines. She had seen Xu Qi's potential from the very beginning, and his performance in the Test of Competence was a confirmation of his unique talents. Her eyes met Elder Sun's, and she could see the spark of curiosity in the latter's gaze. She was also pleased with Xu Qi's performance.

Unbeknownst to each other, both of them were supportive of the young man. They had both provided him with resources to aid his cultivation and their appreciation.

Elder He enigmatically hummed, her Divine Insight aura pulsating slightly at Xu Qi's very entertaining show.

After bowing down to his audience and earning the claps and praises from them, Xu Qi walked off the stage and landed next to his opponent. Miss Lin remained dumbstruck as she watched him in awe.

Xu Qi offered his hand, guiding her out of that stage's vicinity.

"You fought well," he said with a genuine smile, his eyes meeting hers with a gentle warmth.

"... Thank you." Miss Lin replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

After escorting her through the parting disciples, Xu Qi returned to Ling Lian whose cheeks were puffed up.

"I can't believe you did that," She pouted, "You're going to have all the girls in the sect swooning over you from that performance."

"Ling Lian," Xu Qi chuckled before winking at her, "I only have eyes for those I find special."

"You flirty glib tongue," Ling Lian grumbled as she feigned annoyance but her eyes gleamed with affection. "But you do know how to put on a show... Dance with me like that next time."

Xu Qi couldn't help but laugh at her playful banter. "If it's a dance you want, it's a dance you'll get."

The next few matches passed swiftly and soon, it was Ling Lian's third match. However, instead of Zhang Han, the third outer court disciple that she had drawn was the one he defeated.

She was already at two wins and only needed one last victory to pass this Test of Competence. It wasn't truly going to be a challenge for her but something that was just there to showcase her competence to the crowd.

Xu Qi had already noticed the eyes of the Inner Court Elders focusing on her. The next Inner Court Exam would just be a formality as her admittance to it was all but secured.

Of course, Xu Qi also noticed some interest thrown his way considering he became the spectacle that showed something different in the competition. But he couldn't care less about those. He knew he'd go under Elder He at some point for being his benefactor. She's the one who provided this different path for him and while he's still unaware of what she planned to do, he'd trust his gut that she was trustworthy.