C10 Not Qualified

"Let's skip the small talk and dive right into today's main event," Xiao Tianhai said with a smile. "Who among you brave souls is ready to step up and showcase your skills?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent as the business tycoons, the wealthy, and company owners all focused their attention. A skilled bodyguard was in high demand, sometimes sparking bidding wars among potential employers. To these affluent individuals, their personal safety was paramount, and they spared no expense when it came to hiring protection.

Within seconds, a towering figure rose from a corner of the hall. He bounded onto the stage, bellowing, "I am Chen Guangyun of the Eight Extreme Sect. Who dares to come forward and spar with me?"

Chen Guangyun stood an imposing 1.9 meters tall, his arms thicker than the average person's thighs, marking him as a formidable opponent. Many wealthy onlookers were visibly impressed by his imposing presence.

From the opposite side of the hall, a voice rang out, "Eagle Claw Sect, Hee Qinghao." A scar-faced middle-aged man leaped onto the stage, his palms as large as fans and his fingers unusually thick.

"Let's keep it friendly and avoid any serious harm," Xiao Tianhai cautioned with a single sentence before effortlessly leaping up to the VIP room on the second floor. His display of agility drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.

"Could this be the legendary Light-body Technique?" someone whispered in awe.

"Indeed, Mr. Xiao is the unparalleled master," another agreed.

Chu Xuan assessed the two combatants below with just a glance. Chen Guangyun was at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage, while Hee Qinghao was around the fifth level. In his eyes, they were hardly a challenge.

"Mr. Chu, who do you think will win?" Xiao Qianxue inquired with curiosity.

"The one from Eagle Claw," Chu Xuan answered without hesitation.

The two fighters saluted each other with a fist and palm before engaging in combat. Despite the rule to fight until a clear point was scored, their blows were delivered with ferocious intensity. These lower-tier martial artists, often short on cash, seized the opportunity to impress and performed with zeal.

The crowd erupted into cheers as the fierce exchange unfolded. In less than twenty exchanges, Hee Qinghao exploited a weakness in his opponent's defense, launching a relentless assault that drove Chen Guangyun to the edge of the stage. With a powerful grip of his claw on Chen Guangyun's shoulder, Hee Qinghao flung him off the stage with a swift toss.

The outcome was clear!

"Great!" The crowd erupted in cheers.

Chen Guangyun let out a sigh and reluctantly withdrew to a corner. He lingered, holding onto the hope that a prospective employer might notice him, even if the pay were modest.

Hee Qinghao boasted with confidence, "Is there anyone else who wishes to test their skills against me?"

Shortly after, a 69-year-old veteran who introduced himself as the Sect Master of the Primordial Form and Will Tai Chi Sect, Master Ma, ascended the stage.

Regrettably, Master Ma was swiftly defeated by Hee Qinghao with a single move, eliciting jeers from the audience.

"Shouldn't you be at home with your grandchildren instead of trying to con people at your age?"

Several more skilled martial artists took to the stage, only to be cleanly dispatched by Hee Qinghao.

"Anybody else? Who will challenge me next?"

Hee Qinghao stood triumphant and beaming on the stage, basking in the adulation of the enthralled tycoons below.

"Master Hee, join my team. I'll offer you an annual salary of three million."

"Only three million? Is that the best you can do? Join me, and I'll give you five million, plus a villa in Beijing's Third Ring."

Hee Qinghao swelled with pride, standing tall and chest out like a rooster reveling in victory.

From a VIP room on the second floor, a cold snort cut through the air: "Such arrogance from a mere Outer Strength Martial Cultivator. I'll go down and give him a lesson."

"Guo Hao, we're here for Dr. Chen's spot. Don't squander your strength," an elderly voice cautioned.

"No worries, Elder Hu. It won't take me more than three moves to beat him. I'll be right back." Ignoring the advice, Guo Hao leapt out of the VIP room window.

"Let it be," Elder Hu muttered, resigned to the young man's penchant for grandstanding.

To this point, all the combatants on the stage had come from the first floor, while the martial powerhouses from the VIP rooms on the second floor had remained still.

Guo Hao was the first warrior to descend from the VIP area.

"Guo Hao, I welcome your guidance."

Upon hearing his name, everyone gasped.

"That's Fourth Young Master Guo from the Guo family. Rumor has it his strength has reached the Inner Strength Stage, which is quite impressive."

"The Guo family from the capital is truly a breeding ground for talent. Becoming friends with Fourth Young Master Guo would be worth any amount of money."

"Keep dreaming. Do you really think you can buy Fourth Young Master Guo's friendship?"

Hee Qinghao, who had come from afar, was unfamiliar with the Guo family. Seeing Guo Hao as merely a young man in his twenties, he underestimated him.

"Kid, don't bite off more than you can chew. I tend to go all out, so you might as well throw in the towel now."

After defeating several opponents, Hee Qinghao was feeling quite inflated.

"Admit defeat?" Guo Hao let out a cold laugh and vanished in an instant.

Such incredible speed!

Hee Qinghao's face paled.

By the time he came to his senses, it was as if a massive hammer had struck his chest. He was sent flying off the stage like a kite whose string had snapped, blood spewing from his mouth as he landed on his back.

Hee Qinghao couldn't believe he had been defeated without landing a single blow.

"He's a master of Inner Strength..." he said with a bitter smile, finally recognizing the vast gap between them.

In the VIP room, Chu Xuan shook his head.

Guo Hao was somewhat better, but his power was only on par with the seventh level of the Qi Refining Stage. A billion years ago, he wouldn't even match the lowest-ranked disciples of a ninth-grade sect.

Xiao Qianxue also smiled wryly to herself at the sight of Chu Xuan's dismissive look, suspecting that no one at today's Martial Dao Exchange Conference would catch his interest.

Guo Hao, basking in the adulation of the crowd, arrogantly challenged, "Who dares to fight me?"

"I'm Zhao Yi of the Five Tiger-Breaking Blades. Please, enlighten me," declared a burly man, stepping forward with a tiger-head broadsword in hand.

Within ten rounds, Zhao Yi was defeated.

"Li Ran of the White Crane Sect, please enlighten me."

In eight rounds, Li Ran was defeated!

"Fierce Tiger Fist, Wang Qiang!"

And in seven rounds, Wang Qiang met the same fate!

...

In under ten minutes, a total of six challengers had fallen to Guo Hao.

The crowd was in awe. Guo Hao was truly formidable, and the Guo family's reputation in the capital was well-deserved.

Chu Xuan watched Guo Hao basking in his triumph and was at a loss for words.

He was in his twenties, yet his strength was merely at the seventh stage of Qi Refinement. Was there really cause for such pride?

Back in the Ancient Times, failing to establish a foundation by the age of ten would label one worthless.

Though times had changed and direct comparisons were unfair, Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow.

Martial arts had declined so drastically!

Lost in thought, Chu Xuan involuntarily let out a long sigh.

The sigh was neither loud nor soft, but amidst the shower of compliments for Guo Hao, it struck a discordant note.

The common folk in the hall missed it, but the martial artists in the surrounding VIP rooms, including Guo Hao himself, heard it loud and clear.

Guo Hao's displeasure was immediate. He raised his voice and challenged, "To my friend in VIP room nine, do you find my abilities unsatisfactory? If so, why not come down and enlighten me?"

Instantly, all eyes were on the ninth VIP room on the second floor, everyone speculating about the identity of the person inside.

Silence reigned from the VIP room.

Guo Hao grew impatient. "Are you a coward? Brave enough to scoff at me, but too scared to face me?"

"My friend is preoccupied with other matters and did not laugh at you," Xiao Qianxue suddenly appeared at the window, her brow furrowed as she spoke.

Those who recognized her were taken aback. It was Qianxue, the daughter of War God Xiao from the Xiao family! She was in attendance!

Next door, Xiao Tianhai from the adjacent VIP room was surprised, "Qianxue came as well?"

Guo Hao clearly knew who Xiao Qianxue was, and a trace of apprehension crossed his face, but he was not about to back down.

The Guo family might not rival the Xiao family, but they certainly weren't afraid of them.

"So you're a friend of Miss Xiao. Could you ask Miss Xiao to step out for a moment?"

Xiao Qianxue's expression soured. "I don't wish to repeat myself."

"I merely wish to meet your friend. Surely they're not too afraid to show their face?" Guo Hao concluded that the person must be feeling guilty, hence their reluctance to appear.

He was quite irritated by this!

As Xiao Qianxue was about to respond, the person who had sighed earlier finally spoke up, "You're nowhere near qualified to challenge me."

The voice was youthful, not even sounding twenty years old.

The crowd was instantly abuzz. Was he really that bold?

Wasn't he worried about offending the Guo family?

Clearly, he must be someone with a significant background.

After all, anyone accompanying Miss Xiao of the Xiao family was bound to be no ordinary individual.