A Victory Within Reason, A Defeat Beyond Expectation

At this moment.

The sun was high in the sky.

The sky was clear and bright, the sun blazing overhead, with not a cloud in sight.

Only the sound of bamboo swaying on the mountain could be heard incessantly, and even the thousands of cultivators present had quieted down.

The reason was simple: Steward Li of the Azure Profound Sect, who was in charge of the spirit mine excavation at Little Bamboo Peak, had appeared.

He had a gaunt face, silver hair, and his eyes were sharp and piercing, exuding an imposing aura without needing to speak.

More importantly, his cultivation realm was peak Foundation Establishment mid-stage, making him the highest-cultivated cultivator present.

It was also this person who had set the terms for the competition between the Chen and Luo families.

Seeing Steward Li appear in the magnificent pavilion, the cultivators leading the Chen and Luo families did not dare to delay. They immediately led their respective personnel forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Steward Li!"

The leading cultivators of the Chen and Luo families spoke in unison, taking the lead in bowing.

Those behind them followed suit, bowing their heads and cupping their fists, not daring to be disrespectful.

Although Steward Li's cultivation realm was only Foundation Establishment mid-stage, and both the Chen and Luo families were established Foundation Establishment families under the Azure Profound Sect, their family heads' cultivation realms were not inferior to his.

However, it was said that relying on a big tree offered cool shade. Even the family heads of the two families, upon seeing him, would proactively step forward to greet him.

"Hmm!"

Steward Li nodded, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "Everything will proceed according to the old rules, starting with those of higher cultivation. Do your two families have any objections?"

Naturally, the two families dared not have any objections and quickly nodded in agreement.

Steward Li glanced at the contestant list handed to him by a nearby attendant and said, "Then for the first match, it will be Chen Xingyuan of the Chen family against Luo Rufeng of the Luo family!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the unrelated personnel from both families immediately dispersed.

On the open ground, only the two participants remained.

At this moment, all eyes converged on the two individuals in the clearing.

Chen Heng was no exception. If the Chen family lost both matches, they would directly lose this competition.

In that case, he wouldn't have to step onto the stage.

His gaze passed over the impassive Chen Xingyuan and landed on Luo Rufeng opposite him.

Luo Rufeng was tall, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face. While not handsome, he exuded a masculine aura.

Furthermore, his muscles were well-defined, suggesting he had cultivated some kind of body refinement technique, giving him an impression of fortitude and courage.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, I offer my regards."

Chen Xingyuan, still with an impassive expression, cupped his fists towards Luo Rufeng.

"You are too kind. I shall send you on your way now."

Luo Rufeng tilted his head and said provocatively, hoping to anger the expressionless cultivator before him.

The Luo family's intelligence had stated that Chen Xingyuan only possessed a fourth-grade wood spirit root, with mediocre aptitude.

However, he had cultivated a peculiar technique called the [Withered Wood Dragon's Roar Art].

This was a rare cultivation technique that contained sonic wave attacks.

In its early stages of cultivation, one not only had to practice the vow of silence but also sit in meditation like a withered tree for many years, remaining motionless.

One had to be as quiet as an ancient tree, with great mental fortitude, to have even a slight chance of glimpsing its essence.

Chen Xingyuan was one of the few cultivators in the current generation of the Chen family who had mastered this art, allowing him to accumulate strength and surpass others.

At only thirty-nine years old, he had already cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Refining, just one step away from the great circle of Qi Refining.

He still had ample time to solidify his foundation and attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

With this thought, mysterious yellow light surged around Luo Rufeng, and then his figure flashed as he pressed towards Chen Xingyuan!

From the very first move, he went all out.

The momentum was so immense that even Chen Heng, standing far behind Chen Xingyuan and observing, felt as if he were being targeted by a fierce beast, inexplicably feeling a sense of inescapable doom.

The gap between a cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage and one in the early Qi Refining stage was not small.

In an instant.

Luo Rufeng appeared three feet in front of the unmoving Chen Xingyuan and threw a punch.

The oppressive earth element pressure that swept towards him was almost tangible.

Mountain Splitting Seal!

A well-known first-grade top-tier earth path spell!

In that instant, the earth element spiritual energy within a radius of about half a mile surged like a vortex, converging onto the fist aura of this punch.

There was no doubt that this punch, as its name suggested, could split mountains and shatter rocks with ease.

At this moment, most of the observing cultivators must have been deeply impressed by Luo Rufeng's decisive actions and exquisite spellcasting.

Even Chen Mingyun, a scion of a noble family with a somewhat cynical demeanor and arrogant eyes, looked grave.

He must have been extremely wary of this spell.

However, Chen Heng glanced at the two elders and saw them sitting calmly, without a trace of worry on their faces.

He was puzzled and could only shift his gaze back to the combatants.

But what happened next shocked everyone present.

Even Steward Li of the Azure Profound Sect, seated in the magnificent pavilion, showed a flicker of emotion.

Many Azure Profound Sect cultivators who had specifically come to watch were stunned into silence.

Although most of them were outer disciples, as disciples of a major sect, their knowledge was certainly not shallow, yet they were still shaken.

In the eyes of the crowd, facing the aggressive fist light, Chen Xingyuan made no move, not even opening his mouth.

But all the spectators heard a peculiar sound, like the roar of a withered dragon.

The aggressive mysterious yellow fist light was instantly dispelled, and Luo Rufeng was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

Blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his life was unknown.

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, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xingyuan bowed to Steward Li, who was seated high in the pavilion, before calmly returning to the area where the Chen family members were gathered.

Elder Chen Xingzhou and Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen naturally looked gratified and offered a few words of congratulation.

Chen Mingyun and Chen Heng also bowed and congratulated the elder who had won so easily.

However, Chen Xingyuan responded to them one by one, but his expression remained as calm as ever.

The Luo family naturally sent someone forward to help Luo Rufeng back.

However, judging by their expressions, even if he wasn't dead, his foundation was likely completely ruined.

Still, the greater discussion in the arena was about what kind of spell Chen Xingyuan had used.

Although they could all roughly guess that it was a rare sonic wave spell.

But how it was operated and how it took effect were completely unknown.

In the magnificent pavilion, a disciple who had a good relationship with Steward Li stepped forward and asked, "Steward Li, your disciple dares to ask, what method did Chen Xingyuan of the Chen family use?"

Upon hearing this, Steward Li glanced at the person who asked and said calmly, "Withered Wood Dragon's Roar Art, a peculiar ancient cultivation technique. The sect's Scripture Pavilion also has a backup copy."

"The Chen family brat should have luckily mastered the first level, unleashing a special sonic wave attack that directly targets the spiritual sense."

"If a Qi Refining cultivator is not prepared in advance, it is unavoidable."

As soon as these words were spoken, many cultivators' expressions became enthusiastic, likely thinking of returning to the sect to redeem it and learn it.

Seeing this, Steward Li appropriately poured a basin of cold water: "Hmph, don't be greedy. This method is extremely profound and obscure."

"The number of disciples in the Azure Profound Sect who have mastered this technique does not exceed five."

"Moreover, for cultivators in the Foundation Establishment realm, their spiritual sense transforms into divine sense, and its power is incomparable. Sonic wave spells are still easy to guard against."

Instantly, many people, upon hearing this, extinguished their desire to learn this technique.

"Next match, Chen Mingyun of the Chen Family versus Luo Qi of the Luo Family!"

Luo Qi!?

Not part of the generation?

Chen Heng was stunned. He hadn't expected this person to be like him, a child born out of wedlock.

While he was stunned, Chen Mingyun had already stepped onto the stage with full confidence.

There were many Azure Profound Sect cultivators in the pavilion, his fellow disciples and friends, who even cheered him on directly.

But the development of the situation in the arena once again exceeded everyone's expectations.

Chen Mingyun, who had joined the Azure Profound Sect and would become an inner disciple as long as he broke through to the late Qi Refining realm.

After an initial back-and-forth exchange, he was subsequently suppressed and beaten by this inconspicuous Luo Qi.

Ten mid-grade first-tier talismans were used in succession, but they only served to delay his defeat.

If he hadn't reacted in time, that saber strike would have decapitated him on the spot.

However, it also severed Chen Mingyun's right arm, causing him to completely lose his combat effectiveness.

Afterward, Luo Qi returned to the Luo family's side with a look of regret.

The Luo family, naturally, was overjoyed.

But the Chen family was devastated, as if the sky had fallen. Not only was Chen Mingyun, on whom they had placed great hopes, easily defeated, but his right arm was also severed, damaging his foundation.

The final victory of this Chen family competition unexpectedly fell upon Chen Heng, whom no one had paid attention to.

For a moment, Elder Chen Xingzhou and Fourth Elder Chen Xinshen couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.

On the other hand, Chen Xingyuan, who had been quiet and whose expression had always been calm, took the initiative to encourage Chen Heng.