Image Ruined

The Martial Arts Stage area was packed shoulder to shoulder, with a vast number of Outer Sect Disciples gathered here.

Some had come to participate in the competition, while others had come to watch it.

Those watching the competition could not enter the Martial Arts Plaza and could only remain in the outer areas. Many people also stood on the nearby mountains to watch. Everyone was a Qi Refining cultivator, so their eyesight was fairly good and they could see clearly.

Besides the Outer Sect Disciples, the Outer Sect stewards and elders were also present. Most of them hovered in the air on flying swords, hands clasped behind their backs, looking every bit like immortals.

Compared to Qi Refining cultivators, who could not use Sword Flight, their bearing was far more impressive.

At that moment, two streaks of sword light cut across the sky, arriving outside the Martial Arts Stage before landing on the ground.

They were Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi. Lu Gaoyang was even carrying someone in his hand—Lu Yi.

Feeling the gazes of the nearby Outer Sect Disciples, Lu Yi's face flushed slightly. He was at least a somewhat notable figure in the Outer Sect, yet he had actually been carried through the air?

My mighty and heroic image is completely gone...

Lu Yi gritted his teeth inwardly. He had to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm as soon as possible and learn Sword Flight at the first opportunity!

Lu Gaoyang set Lu Yi down and patted him on the shoulder. "Brat, just do your best in everything. Don't force it too much."

Wang Siqi smiled gently. "Yi'er, do your best. Mother believes you're the best."

Lu Yi smiled at the two of them. "I understand."

Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi nodded slightly, then transformed into streams of light and flew into the sky, where their colleagues were waiting.

Lu Yi, meanwhile, headed toward the Martial Arts Plaza.

Along the way, the Outer Sect Disciples all smiled and greeted Lu Yi when they saw him.

"Senior Brother Lu Yi."

"Senior Brother Lu Yi, you're here!"

"Senior Brother Lu Yi..."

Lu Yi smiled and nodded in response. Before long, he entered the Martial Arts Plaza, where everyone present was participating in the competition.

Compared with the entire Outer Sect, there were far fewer people participating in the competition, but there were still more than ten thousand of them.

The plaza was still packed with people. These Outer Sect Disciples either closed their eyes alone to rest and compose themselves, or gathered in groups of two or three to converse. When they saw Lu Yi, most simply smiled and nodded in greeting.

"Junior Brother Lu Yi! Over here!"

At that moment, Lu Yi heard a familiar voice. Turning his head, he saw Lu Ling, Wang Wulian, and Wang Xinqi standing nearby. Lu Ling waved at him, his face full of smiles.

Lu Yi smiled and walked over. "Three senior brothers."

"Junior Brother Lu, you finally made it. The Preliminary Selection is about to begin. I thought you might not make it in time," Wang Wulian said with a smile.

Lu Ling smiled. "Junior Brother Lu is Steward Lu Gaoyang's son. Steward Lu would definitely bring him here. What are you worried about?"

"Wasn't I worried about losing an opponent?" Wang Wulian grinned.

Lu Ling rolled his eyes and said faintly, "During our last spar, the two of us didn't win even once."

"This time is different! My swordsmanship has already reached the Transformation Realm!" Wang Wulian grinned, brimming with confidence. "This time, my goal is to make the top thirty!"

Hearing this, Lu Yi smiled. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Wang."

"I have you to thank for that, Junior Brother Lu. I should be thanking you." Wang Wulian looked deeply grateful.

As the four chatted, before long, a figure streaked across the sky and landed on the Central Arena. It was an elderly man with graying hair, a stern expression, and white robes.

He was Dugu Fang, the White Cloud Sect's Outer Sect Grand Elder. It was said that his cultivation had already reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm, and he could Break Core Form Infant at any moment. He was considered the strongest person in the entire Outer Sect, and even within the White Cloud Sect, he was a powerful figure.

As Dugu Fang appeared, the previously noisy crowd gradually fell silent. Everyone looked at Dugu Fang atop the Central Arena. This was the majesty of the Grand Elder.

Dugu Fang's gaze swept over the crowd below as he spoke. "It is time once more for the annual Outer Sect Competition. I hope that this time, someone can make this old man's eyes light up and distinguish themselves within the White Cloud Sect... Now, the Preliminary Selection begins. This Preliminary Selection is no different from previous years. You need only withstand this old man's pressure for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

As he spoke, an ordinary stick of incense appeared in Dugu Fang's hand. Without any visible movement from him, it ignited on its own.

Dugu Fang then flicked the incense away. Its wooden stick was like gold and iron, plunging directly into the stone slabs of the Central Arena as it slowly burned.

"Begin."

As he spoke, an incomparably powerful pressure erupted from Dugu Fang's body and spread in all directions, eventually slowly enveloping the entire Martial Arts Plaza.

At once, the disciples participating in the competition felt their chests tighten. Quite a few disciples immediately turned pale, while some even coughed up blood and collapsed unconscious on the ground.

Most of those who had come to take part in the competition were cultivators at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer or above. But there were always young and reckless Outer Sect Disciples who believed themselves to be special. Even at the Qi Refining Third or Fourth Layer, some would come to participate, thinking they might rise to fame in a single stroke.

Every competition had many disciples like that.

Clearly, however, they were not special. Under the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator, they could not endure even a single breath.

Compared to them, ordinary Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators felt a stifling pressure in their chests, but as long as they circulated their Spiritual Qi to resist it, they could still hold on.

The higher an Outer Sect Disciple's cultivation, the better they performed. Facing such pressure, Lu Yi felt as though a gentle breeze was brushing against his face. He barely reacted at all.

He glanced at the people beside him. Wang Wulian and Lu Ling looked relaxed, as though they felt nothing. Wang Xinqi was somewhat worse off, his face slightly pale, but compared to those Qi Refining Fifth and Sixth Layer cultivators, Wang Xinqi was already doing exceptionally well.

Just then, Lu Yi thought of something and muttered inwardly, I want to pass the Preliminary Selection.

He had already accepted the competition mission, but what if he could obtain another mission for the Preliminary Selection?

However, Lu Yi waited for a moment, and the panel showed no change. Clearly, he could not accept another mission.

Lu Yi felt somewhat regretful, but he was not surprised. This loophole was far too obvious. Based on his understanding of the mission panel, the chances of success had never been high.

Lu Yi stopped dwelling on it.

As time passed, quite a few Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators began to sway, unable to stand steadily. Some Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators even fell directly to the ground, unable to pass the Preliminary Selection.

Wang Wulian and Lu Ling also began circulating their Spiritual Qi. They glanced at Lu Yi and could only concede in admiration. He was clearly only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, yet he did not even need to circulate his Spiritual Qi to effortlessly withstand the Grand Elder's pressure.

Before long, the time it took an incense stick to burn had passed. Dugu Fang withdrew his pressure, and fewer than half the disciples in the Martial Arts Plaza remained standing.

Most Qi Refining Fifth Layer disciples could not even pass the Preliminary Selection. Those who made it through were mostly above the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Dugu Fang glanced at these disciples, feeling somewhat disappointed. The quality of this batch of Outer Sect Disciples had not changed much.

Still, he was not particularly surprised. He merely said, "Those who passed the Preliminary Selection may remain. Everyone else, leave the Martial Arts Plaza."

The failed Outer Sect Disciples wore bitter expressions as they supported one another out of the plaza. Those who had fainted were also carried away by acquaintances.

Soon, only the disciples who had passed the Preliminary Selection remained in the plaza. Even so, there were still nearly ten thousand of them, an astonishingly large number.

Every previous competition lasted several days, and it was not without reason. After all, the White Cloud Sect simply had too many disciples.

Thanks to big boss Poor Bookman for the 100 reward.