Shi Jian's Arrogance, Zhong Bai's Might

This year's Maoshan Grand Competition was exceptionally grand. When Zhong Bai arrived at the arena, Ming Wanqian was just announcing the rules.

"The rules for this Grand Competition are simple: on these five arenas, whoever can stand until the very end will be among the top five of this competition!

All disciples under thirty years old are eligible to participate!"

Yes, Maoshan didn't intend to distinguish between first and second place this time; they only wanted the five disciples who could persevere until the end.

In such a defensive match, luck was almost impossible.

As Ming Wanqian's voice faded, a young man, dressed in a yin-yang robe with his hair tied and crowned, slowly stepped forward from the crowd.

"This humble Daoist, Shi Jian, welcomes guidance from all Senior and Junior Brothers!"

Standing on the first arena, Shi Jian's gaze was fixed intently on the assembled Senior and Junior Brothers below. At the same time, the aura of a peak Qi Condensation fourth layer cultivator subtly emanated from him.

As streaks of lightning inadvertently radiated from his body, everyone felt an intense pressure!

Even Zhong Bai had to admit at this moment that Shi Jian, the future "Thunder Archmage," was already showing his true prowess.

Peak Qi Condensation fourth layer, Lightning Thunder Fist at minor accomplishment. Tsk, tsk, tsk, truly worthy of you, Shi Jian. With this strength, if I didn't have a cheat, I'd really only be able to look up to you in the future…

After a slight moment of reflection, Zhong Bai felt a stir of intention. Shi Jian had already occupied the first arena.

And from the look of it, he was determined not to yield. How difficult would it be to challenge him?

When speaking of guidance, Shi Jian's gaze swept around before landing on a disciple from the Talisman Hall.

To be precise, it landed on Lin Fengjiao, who was also at the Qi Condensation fourth layer.

Thirty years old was a threshold. While some disciples older than Shi Jian were participating in this competition, they were mostly outer sect disciples, whose cultivation typically topped out at Qi Condensation third layer.

Some hadn't even reached Qi Condensation third layer…

Therefore, the top five spots were almost certainly destined for the core disciples of each hall.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Fengjiao's brows furrowed. Deep down, he didn't really want to compete with Shi Jian, but the other party's gaze was too provocative.

They were both around twenty years old; who could truly suppress their own arrogance?

What's more, Shi Jian's past disdain for the Talisman Hall was still vivid in Lin Fengjiao's memory.

"Calm down, restrain yourself!

This Grand Competition isn't about competing with Shi Jian; it's about gaining the qualification to descend the mountain and eliminate evil for justice. Lin Fengjiao, you can do this…"

After taking a heavy, deep breath, Lin Fengjiao's brows finally relaxed. Without any hesitation, he tiptoed, performed the Eight Trigrams Roaming Dragon Steps, and easily ascended the second arena.

Seeing that Lin Fengjiao didn't choose to contend for the same arena as him, the domineering expression on Shi Jian's face disappeared, replaced by regret.

Shi Jian desperately wanted to prove that his talent could crush Lin Fengjiao, to prove that he was the number one core disciple of this generation!

Unfortunately, Lin Fengjiao didn't give him that chance.

Seeing the second arena occupied by Lin Fengjiao, Zhong Bai no longer waited. After waiting a year, he finally had such an opportunity. If he didn't act now and seize it firmly, did he really want to have a fight with someone else?

In an instant, a flash of lightning streaked across. Before any of the disciples could react, Zhong Bai had already used the Thunder Escape Technique to arrive at the third arena.

Crackling sounds rang out, followed by the resounding of bones. Terrifying vital energy surged continuously, accompanied by occasional flashes of lightning. At this moment, Zhong Bai truly made all his Senior and Junior Brothers understand what "gap" meant!

On the high platform in the distance.

This was where the elders observed the Grand Competition. They found the pressure Shi Jian and Lin Fengjiao exerted on their peers to be nothing surprising, something they were used to.

But… the moment Zhong Bai, this "little transparent," stepped onto the stage, and his vital energy surged, they noticed something different.

"Oh my goodness, Senior Brother Qianyuan, you're not being very honest!

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Junior Nephew Zhong Bai has only been initiated for less than five years. Having Qi Condensation third layer cultivation is one thing; we can just attribute it to the initial effects of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art.

But this perfected Thunder Escape Technique and the vital energy intensity of the perfected Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art—Senior Brother Qianyuan has truly hidden his abilities deeply!"

"Indeed, Junior Brother Changsheng is spot on. Senior Brother Qianyuan just said that it would be a stroke of luck for Junior Nephew Zhong Bai to even make it into the top five. Heh heh, now it seems that even if my disciple Lin Fengjiao is already at Qi Condensation fourth layer, he probably isn't a match for Junior Nephew Zhong Bai!"

Lin Fengjiao's master, from the Talisman Hall, added to the criticism.

Immediately after, the elders from other halls looked at True Immortal Qianyuan with strange gazes.

It's often said that a disciple is like their master. Zhong Bai was so hidden, if it weren't for the Grand Competition, they would never have known his true depth.

So… did True Immortal Qianyuan, as his master, also have a trick up his sleeve?

Feeling the suspicious gazes of his fellow disciples, True Immortal Qianyuan felt as if the sky was falling.

Heaven and earth bore witness, he truly didn't know when Zhong Bai had cultivated the Thunder Escape Technique to perfection, or the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art. Zhong Bai had never mentioned these to him.

As for whether he himself had a hidden trick, True Immortal Qianyuan couldn't deny it, because he really did have some reservations…

"Cough, cough, Junior Brother Changsheng, Junior Brother Lin, what are you saying? This Senior Brother has been in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall for decades, when have I ever hidden anything from the two Junior Brothers?

I truly don't know about Zhong Bai's situation either. As for other matters, let's focus on the Grand Competition for now…"

Forcibly changing the subject, hearing about the Grand Competition, everyone finally shifted their gazes back to the arena.

………………………………………………

"Junior Brother Zhong Bai, I never imagined such astonishing changes in just one year. Fine, I'll yield this third arena to Junior Brother. I'll go contend for the fourth arena instead!"

With that, Four-Eyes leaped lightly, landing on the fourth arena. As his Qi Condensation third layer aura became apparent, Four-Eyes was also ready to invoke a deity at any moment!

Seeing that only one arena remained unclaimed, just as everyone was about to rush for it, a woman from the Talisman Hall disciples quickly ascended the stage.

This person was none other than Auntie Zhe, Lin Fengjiao's junior sister.

However, they didn't share the same master; Auntie Zhe's master was Huang Zhen, the third elder of the Talisman Hall.

When Auntie Zhe took the stage, the expressions of the other disciples immediately turned awkward. Auntie Zhe's strength was rather ordinary, just a typical third-level Qi Condensation cultivator.

But… Auntie Zhe was a woman after all, and they all hailed from Maoshan. They simply couldn't bring themselves to contend with her for the arena.

So… everyone's gaze fell upon Zhong Bai and Four-Eyes!

To be precise, most of the attention was on Four-Eyes. While his spirit possession ability was extraordinary, there was still a chance to try and challenge him.

As for the three before them, Shi Jian and Lin Fengjiao were out of the question; their cultivation levels utterly dwarfed everyone else's.

Zhong Bai's proficiency in Thunder Techniques was considerable, and his vital energy was immense; any discerning person could tell he was not to be trifled with.

Therefore, while some harbored intentions of challenging him, they weren't many.

With five people occupying the arenas, the next phase was a struggle for dominance lasting the duration of an incense stick.

Everyone was straining with all their might; even Zhong Bai and the others dared not relax their vigilance, as it wasn't impossible to "capsize in a ditch."

"Junior Brother Four-Eyes, please forgive me, your senior brother has come to seek your esteemed guidance!"

The first to make a move was an outer disciple, Lei Gang!

He was almost thirty years old, at the third level of Qi Condensation, and could have already applied to leave the mountain.

But… the top five in this grand competition could directly establish their own daoist temples, which was vastly different from outer disciples simply leaving the mountain.

To put it plainly, outer disciples were on their own after descending the mountain, responsible for their own lives and deaths. Establishing a daoist temple, however, meant having a base within Maoshan. If they encountered evil spirits they couldn't handle, they could request assistance from Maoshan, and the speed of reinforcement was incomparable to what an ordinary outer disciple could expect.

So, Lei Gang wanted to take a gamble!