At this moment.
The sun had risen high in the sky.
The heavens were bright and clear, the blazing sun hung overhead, and not a cloud stretched across ten thousand miles.
Only the rustling of bamboo throughout the mountain rang without end. Even the several thousand cultivators had settled down obediently.
There was no other reason: Steward Li of the Azure Profound Sect, who oversaw the mining of Little Bamboo Peak's spirit mine, had appeared.
He had a lean face and a head of silver hair, yet his eyes shone brightly. Without even showing anger, he commanded awe.
More importantly, his cultivation had reached the peak Foundation Establishment mid-stage, making him the highest-cultivated cultivator present.
It was also this man who had set the terms for the contest between the Chen and Luo families.
When the cultivators leading the Chen and Luo families saw Steward Li appear atop that magnificent pavilion, they did not dare delay. They immediately led their respective people forward to pay their respects.
"Greetings, Steward Li!"
The cultivators leading the Chen and Luo families spoke in unison, taking the lead in saluting him.
The people behind them followed suit, bowing and cupping their fists, not daring to put on airs.
Although Steward Li's cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and the patriarchs of the Chen and Luo families—long-established Foundation Establishment Families under the Azure Profound Sect—were no weaker than him.
Still, with a great tree at one's back, one could enjoy the shade. Even if the two family patriarchs stood before him, they would have to step forward and offer greetings first.
"Mm!"
Steward Li nodded, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "Everything will proceed according to the old rules. We begin with those of higher cultivation. Do either of your families have objections?"
Naturally, neither family dared object. They hurriedly nodded in assent.
Steward Li glanced at the list of contestants handed over by the attendant beside him. "Then for the first match, Chen Xingyuan of the Chen family will face Luo Rufeng of the Luo family!"
As soon as those words fell, the unrelated members of both families promptly scattered to the sides.
Only the two contestants remained in the open space.
At that moment, everyone's gaze gathered on the two men standing in the clearing.
Chen Heng was no exception. Perhaps the Chen family would lose both matches and be defeated in this contest outright.
Then he would not need to take the field.
His gaze passed over the utterly calm Chen Xingyuan and settled on Luo Rufeng opposite him.
The man was tall and broad, with thick brows, large eyes, and a square face. He could not be called handsome, but he brimmed with masculine vigor.
His muscles were knotted like coiling dragons, and he had likely cultivated some sort of body-tempering technique, giving him an air of steadfast decisiveness.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, please."
Chen Xingyuan remained expressionless as still water in an ancient well as he cupped his fists toward Luo Rufeng.
"You are too polite. Luo will send you on your way now."
Luo Rufeng tilted his head and deliberately provoked him, hoping to anger the expressionless cultivator before him.
The Luo family's intelligence had said that Chen Xingyuan possessed only a fourth-grade wood spiritual root, his aptitude no more than mediocre.
Yet he cultivated a strange technique known as the Withered Wood Dragon's Roar Art.
It was a rare cultivation technique containing sonic attacks.
At the beginning of its cultivation, one not only had to practice a vow of silence, but also sit motionless for years like withered wood.
Only by remaining as quiet as an ancient tree, with immense steadfastness in one's heart, could one have the slightest chance of glimpsing its entrance.
Chen Xingyuan was one of the few cultivators of the Chen family's current generation who had mastered this art. Only then had he accumulated strength over time, erupted at last, and surpassed those who had come before him.
At merely thirty-nine years old, he had already cultivated to the ninth layer Qi Refining, only one step away from the great circle of Qi Refining.
He still had ample time to consolidate his foundation and charge toward the Foundation Establishment realm.
With that thought, a dark yellow radiance surged from Luo Rufeng's body. Then his figure flashed, and he bore down on Chen Xingyuan!
The instant he moved, he went all out.
His momentum came crashing in like towering waves. Even Chen Heng, watching from far behind Chen Xingyuan, felt as though he had been targeted by some monstrous beast, an inexplicable thought of being unable to evade rising within him.
The gap between a late Qi Refining cultivator and an early Qi Refining cultivator was truly no small matter.
In an instant.
Luo Rufeng appeared three zhang before the mountain-still Chen Xingyuan and threw a punch.
The crushing pressure of earth-element spiritual energy bore down head-on, nearly tangible.
Mountain Splitting Seal!
A rather renowned first-rank top-grade earth-element spell!
In a flash, earth spiritual energy within a radius of roughly one li swirled in like a vortex, converging upon the fist radiance of that blow.
There was no doubt that once this punch landed, just as its name implied, splitting mountains and shattering stones would be effortless.
At that moment, Luo Rufeng's decisive manner and mastery of spells must have left an exceptionally deep impression on most of the observing cultivators.
Even Chen Mingyun, that somewhat unruly scion of an Aristocratic Clan with arrogance in his eyes, wore a solemn expression.
He was clearly extremely wary of this spell.
Chen Heng, however, glanced at the two elders and saw them sitting as placidly as old gods, without the slightest worry on their faces.
Unable to understand, he could only turn his gaze back to the two combatants.
Yet what happened the very next moment shocked everyone present.
Even Steward Li of the Azure Profound Sect, seated in the magnificent pavilion, stirred slightly in expression.
Many Azure Profound Sect cultivators who had specially come to watch were so stunned that their jaws dropped.
Though most were Outer Sect disciples, as disciples of a great sect, their knowledge could not have been shallow. Yet they were still shaken to the core.
Before everyone's eyes, Chen Xingyuan did not move in the face of the menacing fist radiance. He did not even open his mouth.
Yet every spectator heard a strange sound, like the roar of a dragon from withered wood.
The incoming dark yellow fist radiance instantly dissipated, while Luo Rufeng flew backward like a kite with its string cut.
Blood streamed from his seven orifices, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.
He had clearly lost the ability to fight. Steward Li's voice rang out: "First match, Chen family—Chen Xingyuan wins!"
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
After hearing this, Chen Xingyuan bowed toward Steward Li, seated high in the pavilion, before retreating as calmly as an ancient well to the area occupied by the Chen family.
Great Elder Chen Xingzhou and Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen naturally looked deeply gratified, offering several words of congratulations.
Chen Mingyun and Chen Heng also saluted this elder who had returned so easily victorious and congratulated him.
Chen Xingyuan responded to each of them, but his face remained as placid as an ancient well.
Naturally, the Luo family sent people forward to support Luo Rufeng back.
Yet judging from their expressions, even if he was not dead, his foundation had likely been completely ruined.
Still, more discussion in the crowd centered on what technique Chen Xingyuan had used.
Although everyone could roughly guess that it was a rare sonic spell.
No one understood how it was circulated or how it took effect.
Within the magnificent pavilion, a disciple on good terms with Steward Li stepped forward and asked, "Steward Li, this disciple dares ask: what method did Chen Xingyuan of the Chen family use?"
Hearing this, Steward Li glanced at the questioner and said calmly, "The Withered Wood Dragon's Roar Art, an unusual technique passed down from ancient times. The sect's Scripture Pavilion also has a copy."
"That Chen boy likely mastered the first realm by chance and unleashed a special sonic attack that struck directly at spiritual awareness."
"If a Qi Refining cultivator has not prepared beforehand, it truly cannot be avoided."
As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of many cultivators immediately grew animated. They were likely all thinking of returning to the sect and exchanging for the technique to study it.
Seeing this, Steward Li promptly poured a bucket of cold water over them. "Hmph. Do not let your hearts be too greedy, like snakes trying to swallow elephants. This art is exceedingly profound and obscure."
"According to Azure Profound Sect records, fewer than a palmful of disciples have learned this technique."
"Besides, once Foundation Establishment cultivators have their spiritual awareness transformed into divine sense, its power cannot be mentioned in the same breath. Sonic spells are still easy enough to guard against."
At once, many people extinguished their thoughts of learning the technique.
"Next match, Chen Mingyun of the Chen family versus Luo Qi of the Luo family!"
Luo Qi!?
No generation character!?
Chen Heng froze. He had not expected this man to be like himself, an illegitimate descendant.
While he was still stunned, Chen Mingyun had already stepped onto the field with complete confidence.
Quite a few Azure Profound Sect cultivators in the pavilion were his fellow disciples and friends, and some even cheered for him directly.
Yet the development of the battle once again exceeded everyone's expectations.
Chen Mingyun had joined the Azure Profound Sect, and once he broke through to late Qi Refining, he could become an Inner Sect disciple.
Apart from trading blows evenly at the beginning, he was later pressed and beaten all the way by the obscure Luo Qi.
Even after using ten first-rank middle-grade talismans in succession, he merely delayed his defeat.
Had he not reacted in time, that single saber strike would have beheaded him on the spot.
Even so, it severed Chen Mingyun's right arm, leaving him completely unable to fight.
Afterward, Luo Qi returned to the Luo family's side with a regretful expression.
The Luo family was naturally overjoyed.
But on the Chen family's side, it was as though the sky had collapsed. The highly anticipated Chen Mingyun had not only been easily defeated, but had also lost his right arm and damaged his foundation.
The Chen family's final victory in this contest had unexpectedly fallen upon the unnoticed Chen Heng.
For a moment, Great Elder Chen Xingzhou and Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen could not help feeling a sense of absurdity rise in their hearts.
On the other hand, Chen Xingyuan, who had previously been reticent and expressionless as an ancient well, took the initiative to offer Chen Heng some encouragement.
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