On the arena platform, Xena Xiao beamed at Ethan. "Alright, I'm counting on you to win first place!"
The third round of the Xiao family competition was the Guardian Spirit battle. Every young member could participate, regardless of their results in the second round. Of course, they could choose to forgo the battle, as this round held some risks. If a Guardian Spirit was on the verge of defeat and the Awakener failed to retract it in time, the Guardian Spirit could be shattered. Though it wouldn't die, it would fall into a deep slumber, and reviving it would require a significant cost.
Many family members, worried about potential injuries to their Guardian Spirits or feeling their Guardian Spirits were too weak, opted to withdraw from the round. Eventually, over twenty members decided to participate, primarily those with mid-tier or high-tier Guardian Spirits, with only a few possessing low-tier ones.
"Bring out the Guardian Disc!" called an elder steward.
With a loud rumble, a towering ten-meter-high Guardian Disc descended from above. Shaped like a hollow globe, it had multiple platforms on its outer frame where participants could stand and connect to the device.
The Awakeners selected a platform, each grabbing a handle on the Guardian Disc, which then established a link to their Guardian Spirit space.
A soft glow appeared in front of Xena, gradually solidifying into Ethan's figure.
"Finally, I'm here!" Ethan looked at Xena, clenching his fists, feeling the thrill of real presence rather than just a projected image.
"Ethan, watch out for the two high-tier Guardian Spirits: one is an ancient withered vine, the other a powerful deity from over a hundred thousand years ago. Though both have been restricted to the ninth level of the Purification Stage, they still possess extensive combat experience and knowledge," Xena cautioned.
"I know," Ethan replied with a nod, though he was far from concerned. Those high-tier Guardian Spirits might be formidable, but without a Divine Skill, they were no match for him.
Unlike Xena, who had only recently started learning the Vajra Palm, Ethan was its true inheritor and had cultivated his understanding to an impressive depth. If martial proficiency were divided into stages such as Entry, Proficient, Mastery, Perfection, Insight, Domain, and Law, Ethan's mastery of Vajra Palm was already at the Perfection stage, just a step away from grasping its profound essence.
Even if Vajra Palm wasn't at the pinnacle of Divine Skills, it was at least a ninth-tier skill. A perfected ninth-tier Divine Skill could rival the domain level of other techniques, and few deities possessed such high-tier techniques, let alone mastered them to this level. Confident in his abilities, Ethan felt assured that he could overpower any of the Xiao family's high-tier Guardian Spirits.
At that moment, the steward began explaining the rules of the Guardian Spirit battle. The rules were straightforward: a Guardian Spirit could challenge others, with each allowed three refusals. Once defeated, they could no longer re-enter the fight, as the Guardian Disc only supported Guardian Spirits for a limited duration.
The steward called out, "Who will issue the first challenge?"
The first position held some risk. Whoever initiated would likely face multiple challenges afterward, so most opted to wait.
Just as Toby Xiao prepared to send his Guardian Spirit into battle, a voice rang out across the arena.
"If no one else is willing to start, I will!" Ethan stepped boldly into the central field of the Guardian Disc.
"Is that Xena Xiao's Guardian Spirit? A mere low-tier Guardian Spirit dares to go first?"
"This Guardian Spirit may have limitless potential, but potential doesn't equate to strength. If it faces a high-tier Guardian Spirit, it'll probably get knocked out in one hit."
"Don't underestimate him—maybe this Guardian Spirit has something up its sleeve. We all underestimated Xena earlier and ended up surprised. We might be in for another surprise if we do the same to her Guardian Spirit."
At Ethan's bold entry, several Awakeners were quick to challenge him, including Liana Xiao.
The first challenger was a mid-tier Guardian Spirit Awakener.
"Blaze Xiao challenges Xena Xiao's Guardian Spirit!" he announced.
Xena looked at Ethan, giving him a reassuring nod, leaving the decision to him.
"I, Ethan Lin, accept the challenge!" Ethan's voice echoed within the Guardian Disc.
The crowd now learned Xena's Guardian Spirit's name.
A mid-tier Guardian Spirit versus a low-tier Guardian Spirit—most onlookers naturally favored the mid-tier, though a few harbored hopes for Ethan, given his unique nature and limitless potential.
With the referee's signal, Ethan and Blaze Xiao's Guardian Spirit squared off in the arena's center.
Ethan extended a single finger, a hint of arrogance in his tone as he declared, "One move!"
With that, he threw a single punch.
It appeared simple, yet it was imbued with the raw power of his Indestructible Vajra Physique. Despite the cap at the ninth level of the Purification Stage, Ethan's physique was far sturdier than most, even among those at the same stage.
Boom!
With a thunderous impact, the mid-tier Guardian Spirit was sent flying, crashing against the Guardian Disc's inner wall.
Stunned, Blaze Xiao immediately recalled his Guardian Spirit, conceding the match.
Having won his first match, Ethan didn't retreat. Instead, he turned to Liana Xiao and pointed directly at her. "I challenge your Guardian Spirit!"
The entire arena erupted in shock.
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