Ranking Battle, Faction Rivalry

Azure Cloud Sect.

Outer Sect Square.

A conspicuous ranking list had been hung up.

Ten days after the Outer Sect Ranking opened.

The Outer Sect Disciples had formed numerous factions, competing over the rankings.

Where there were people, there was jianghu.

They formed small groups of three or five, and the largest faction had already grown to a hundred people.

Not only could disciples within a faction help one another, but when they went out on missions in the future, they could also plan collaborations.

This was also what the sect was happy to see. Competition brought motivation.

The prerequisite was that they could not violate sect rules.

"Hey, brother."

An Outer Sect Disciple was walking along when someone suddenly appearing startled him.

"What do you want?"

"Ahem, let me introduce myself. I'm Qing Hai of the Exploding Heavens Sect."

"Seeing that Junior Brother has extraordinary bones and steady footwork, would you be interested in joining our Exploding Heavens Sect?"

"The Exploding Heavens Sect?"

That disciple was stunned as well.

He had heard of the Exploding Heavens Sect.

It seemed to be the largest faction in the outer sect, with many geniuses and experts among its members.

"Our Qing Yan Senior Brother is currently ranked third on the Outer Sect Ranking."

"Our Exploding Heavens Sect alone occupies thirty spots on the entire ranking."

"If you join now, then when the senior brothers advance to the inner sect in two months, you'll have Inner Sect Senior Brothers to back you up. What do you say?"

"I'll join, Senior Brother!"

That disciple had never expected the top-ranked major faction to take the initiative to invite him.

"Very good. I'll take you to meet the faction's senior brothers later."

Qing Hai patted his junior brother's shoulder and said happily.

Over just these few days, he had recruited quite a few people through his silver tongue, and the Exploding Heavens Sect had rapidly expanded within the outer sect!

For a time, its fame soared like a crane rising into the sky, its momentum unmatched.

"Hehe, Long Aotian, what are you going to use to fight my Exploding Heavens Sect?"

The Dragon Gate he spoke of was led by Long Aotian and was their greatest competitor.

The second-largest faction in the outer sect.

The disciples of the two factions constantly competed with one another for positions on the ranking.

The third-largest faction was the Heavenly Dance Sect, founded by Luo Wu, who ranked fifth. The Heavenly Dance Sect consisted entirely of female Outer Sect Disciples.

However, the Heavenly Dance Sect was not very strong. It occupied only ten spots on the ranking, nowhere near a match for those two major factions above it.

Outer Sect, Exploding Heavens Sect.

The faction's disciples had gathered inside a disciple hall.

"How did it go, Yuan Chu? Did Qin Han Senior Brother agree to join us?"

"No. Qin Han Senior Brother said he wasn't interested in our little squabbles."

"What about Ning Yan Senior Brother?"

"No, either. Ning Yan Senior Brother told me not to disturb his cultivation, sob sob..."

"Sigh..."

"It seems that if our Exploding Heavens Sect wants to keep growing, we'll have to rely on our own strength."

"That Long Aotian's Dragon Gate has been developing far too fiercely lately. Its ranking positions are almost catching up with ours."

"Qing Yan Senior Brother, don't worry."

"With me here, Dragon Gate will never surpass our Exploding Heavens Sect."

"No! I'm going into seclusion for a month right now!"

"I'll draw my sword a hundred times every minute, every day! A hundred times! A hundred times!"

"When my Sword Drawing Technique reaches minor mastery, I'll definitely charge into the top ten!"

One disciple frantically practiced drawing and sheathing his sword.

After witnessing the sect's might, their horizons had broadened considerably.

These disciples gathered together all shared one goal and one dream.

That was to forge ahead with all their might and cultivate into Great Emperors.

So what if their talent was poor? Then they would defy the heavens!

So what if they were born humble? A true man could bend and stretch!

"Good! Our Exploding Heavens Sect is the number-one faction!"

"Everyone, go and cultivate diligently. We'll probably have to face quite a few challenges next."

Qing Yan of the Exploding Heavens Sect rose to his feet and said.

He was currently third on the ranking. Qin Han was first, and Ning Yan was second.

Fourth was Long Aotian of Dragon Gate. As for challenging Qin Han Senior Brother and Ning Yan Senior Brother, that would have to wait until he was confident enough.

Right now, the most important thing was to hold onto his third-place position and not let Long Aotian raid his base.

"Qing Yan Senior Brother! Qing Yan Senior Brother!"

Just then, a disciple hurriedly ran over.

"Junior Brother Xiao Si, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Come, sit down and tell us slowly."

"Senior Brother, Long Aotian of Dragon Gate has sent a challenge letter. He wants to challenge you."

Xiao Si said it the moment he entered.

Well then. He had just said he needed to hold onto third place, and Long Aotian had come to challenge him.

"Let's go take a look."

Outer Sect, Martial Arts Arena.

Quite a few disciples had already gathered around the Martial Arts Arena.

A disciple who did not understand what was happening asked the disciple beside him.

"Brother, what day is it today? Why are so many people gathered here?"

"Could it be that Qin Han Senior Brother and Ning Yan Senior Brother are about to battle again?"

The disciple asked expectantly.

The ranking battle between those two senior brothers had taken place only a few days ago. That battle had truly been a feast for their eyes!

Everyone admired the strength of the two senior brothers.

In the end, it had concluded with Ning Yan Senior Brother's defeat, but Ning Yan Senior Brother had declared that he would issue another challenge before long.

"No, Long Aotian Senior Brother is challenging Qing Yan Senior Brother."

"That works too!"

Fourth on the ranking challenging third.

It looked like another exciting battle was about to unfold.

The man immediately joined the crowd in watching the spectacle.

Before long, the people from Dragon Gate and the Exploding Heavens Sect had both arrived.

"They're here, they're here!"

"Who do you favor, Senior Brother?"

"Hard to say. In their last ranking battle, these two senior brothers were separated by only a single move. It's uncertain who will win this time."

Before the fight had even begun, the senior brothers and junior brothers below had started discussing who would win and who would lose.

Long Aotian and Qing Yan stepped onto the arena together.

Long Aotian's long hair draped over his shoulders, his strands moving despite the lack of wind, every inch of him exuding carefree dominance.

Qing Yan was a refined-looking young man, holding a folding fan in his hand, with an elegant scholarly air flowing from him.

"Exploding Heavens Sect! Exploding Heavens Sect!"

"Qing Yan Senior Brother will win! Qing Yan Senior Brother will win!"

The disciples of the Exploding Heavens Sect all cheered for their own senior brother.

"Dragon Gate! Dragon Gate!"

"Aotian Senior Brother is sure to win! Aotian Senior Brother is sure to win!"

The Dragon Gate disciples were unwilling to be outdone and shouted as well.

This was a contest of momentum. Whether they could win or not, they could not lose in momentum first.

"Long Aotian, only a few days have passed, and you've already come to challenge me?"

"Hmph, I, Long Aotian, refuse to accept it. Last time, you only won by luck."

"Again!"

"Fine, as you wish."

Long Aotian circulated his spiritual energy and launched an attack, revealing his Golden Core Peak cultivation.

Qing Yan met him head-on as well.

The folding fan in his hand countered every move, and the two fought inseparably.

Spiritual energy swept across the entire arena as two Golden Core Peak cultivators collided.

Other than Qin Han and Ning Yan, the two of them possessed the highest cultivation in the outer sect.

They were only one step away from breaking through the Golden Core realm and entering the Nascent Soul realm.

As they fought, Qing Yan deliberately revealed an opening. Seeing that his chance had come, Long Aotian attacked directly.

"Hehe, this kid really took the bait."

Qing Yan seized the opportunity and struck out with his folding fan, sending Long Aotian flying in one blow and crashing onto the arena.

"Qing Yan Senior Brother! Qing Yan Senior Brother!"

Seeing their own senior brother win, the people of the Exploding Heavens Sect shouted even louder.

Long Aotian, who had fallen down, opened his eyes and found Qing Yan standing before him with a hand extended.

"Get up, Brother Aotian."

"You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine. Brother Qing Yan, you..."

Long Aotian was pulled to his feet, utterly puzzled.

"We're all from the same sect. It's enough to stop at the right point."