Before long, under Elder Willow Wood's guidance, Chen Changqing and the others arrived at the site of the Outer Sect Competition.
The enormous plaza had already gathered quite a few Outer Sect disciples from the Mount Shu Sect.
Looking around, Outer Sect disciples could be seen everywhere in small groups of three or five, whispering among themselves about something.
The voices surged like a boiling cauldron; the atmosphere was extraordinarily lively.
The arrival of the Seven Courtyards did not draw much attention. Instead, several mocking remarks rang out, especially grating to the ear.
"Heh! The Seven Courtyards people are here."
"The weakest Outer Courtyard—coming here only makes them background decoration."
"Every year's Outer Sect Competition, the Seven Courtyards always seem to come in last, right?"
"If I were a disciple of the Seven Courtyards, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face outside."
"This time, they'll probably become stepping stones for our other courtyards again."
"..."
Hearing the ridicule and mockery from all around them,
the Seven Courtyards disciples all looked awful, yet they had no strength to refute it.
After all, among the Seven Outer Courtyards of the Mount Shu Sect, the Seven Courtyards truly ranked last in strength.
For that very reason, the Seven Courtyards received the fewest cultivation resources.
This, in turn, had trapped the Seven Courtyards in a vicious cycle.
Without more resources to nurture gifted disciples, the courtyard naturally could not produce any dazzling, peerless talents.
Thus, they could not achieve good results in the Outer Sect Competition.
The cycle repeated over and over, as though there would never be any hope in sight.
After hearing those taunts, Chen Changqing remained calm. His gaze swept over the entire plaza, and his heart was without the slightest ripple.
"Strength is the best response!"
"Without sufficient strength of one's own, one cannot earn the respect of others."
Elder Willow Wood's eyes remained as still as an ancient well upon hearing this.
Yet deep inside, his heart still stirred.
"In this year's Outer Sect Competition, my Seven Courtyards cannot come in last again!"
Willow Wood sighed softly, his gaze passing over Qing Yang and the other disciples participating in this Grand Tournament.
Finally, his gaze lingered on Chen Changqing for two extra seconds.
"I wonder whether this brat will give me some surprise during the Grand Tournament?"
Willow Wood narrowed his eyes slightly.
In his view, the strength of the other disciples was already set in stone.
Chen Changqing, on the other hand, was an unknown variable.
Perhaps he might shine brilliantly in this Outer Disciple Grand Competition.
Seeing Willow Wood looking at him, Chen Changqing gave him a faint smile.
Just then, the crowd in the plaza suddenly stirred.
"Look!"
"The Second Courtyard people are here!"
"..."
At those words, Chen Changqing and the others all looked over.
Focusing their eyes, they saw a group of disciples clad in orange robes striding through the air.
A sharp, fierce aura radiated from every one of them.
The Second Courtyard was second only to the First Courtyard among the Seven Outer Courtyards.
Its disciples were generally formidable, making it a favorite to win this Grand Tournament!
Chen Changqing's gaze swept across the Second Courtyard disciples.
He could sense that several among them possessed exceptionally powerful auras, not even weaker than Qing Yang's.
"The Second Courtyard disciples all seem very strong!"
"They may be formidable opponents in this Grand Tournament."
Chen Changqing murmured softly.
Before long, under their own elder's leadership, the Second Courtyard disciples landed in the plaza.
Seeing this, quite a few disciples crowded forward to enthusiastically greet them, their fawning desire to curry favor impossible to conceal.
That scene formed a stark contrast with the mockery the Seven Courtyards had received upon arriving earlier.
Just then, the sky abruptly darkened.
Boom!
Immediately afterward, a vast, majestic pressure descended in an instant.
Sensing that pressure, everyone raised their heads in unison.
At a glance, they saw another large group of figures flying through the sky on swords.
"The First Courtyard!"
"The First Courtyard people are here."
"The strongest Outer Courtyard!"
"..."
Upon seeing the newcomers, the plaza instantly erupted.
The First Courtyard disciples were all dressed in red robes, each with an arrogant expression and a disdainful gaze.
Especially those participating in this Grand Tournament—their auras were powerful, unmistakably at the Foundation Establishment level.
"The First Courtyard's prodigies truly are terrifying!"
"Just sensing those auras a little makes one shudder with cold."
"Several Foundation Establishment disciples!"
"This Outer Court Competition won't end with them taking first place again, will it?"
"..."
Discussion swept through the entire plaza. After seeing the First Courtyard people, many disciples even revealed looks of awe.
Chen Changqing frowned slightly at the sight.
"Whether it's the First Courtyard or the Second Courtyard, both have several Foundation Establishment disciples."
"Among the ten people selected by our Seven Courtyards, only Senior Brother Qing Yang has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"This Outer Court Competition will surely be a fierce clash between dragons and tigers."
Chen Changqing muttered softly.
Among the Seven Courtyards disciples who had come to participate in this Grand Tournament,
Qing Yang ranked first in terms of cultivation, having already reached the Foundation Establishment level.
After him came Liu Ruyan, a disciple at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm.
As for Chen Changqing and the rest, they were all around the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining.
Just as everyone was still astonished by the First Courtyard's arrival, an unexpected change suddenly occurred in the sky.
Boom!
A thunderous rumble rang out.
Then, the heavens actually split open with a crack!
The next moment, a figure slowly stepped out through the air from that fissure.
He wore a black battle robe, his long hair unbound and falling freely over his shoulders.
His eyes were terrifying, like abysses, with the faint birth and death of lightning within them.
The moment he appeared, an utterly horrifying pressure spread out from his body.
Under the pressure of his aura, everyone felt as though the heavens had overturned and the earth had collapsed. The weaker disciples even felt as if they were about to suffocate.
Chen Changqing's expression suddenly changed at the sight.
He had naturally felt the terrifying aura and pressure of the newcomer as well.
"So... so strong!"
"Who is this person?"
"He is probably even stronger than Elder Willow Wood!"
Chen Changqing muttered inwardly, his expression incomparably grave.
At the same time, many of the Outer Sect disciples present exclaimed in shock:
"What?"
"I... I'm not seeing things, am I?"
"That is... the War Dome Peak Master, True Person Tianbo?"
"A Nascent Soul mighty cultivator! He actually descended in person!"
"..."
The many disciples sucked in cold breaths, their faces filled with shock.
Within the Mount Shu Sect, there were the Inner Sect and the Outer Sect.
The Outer Sect had Seven Outer Courtyards, while the Inner Sect had seven peaks:
Burning Heaven Peak, War Dome Peak, Suppress Peak, Void Breaking Peak, Jade Void Peak, Azure Luan Peak, and Cloud Perch Peak.
True Person Tianbo was precisely the War Dome Peak Master, a Nascent Soul Realm mighty cultivator and a supreme expert who had comprehended the grand momentum of heaven and earth.
After True Person Tianbo appeared, his lightning-sharp gaze swept over the entire plaza.
Merely meeting his icy gaze made everyone feel as though they had fallen into an ice cellar. Their bodies stiffened, and even breathing seemed to become difficult.
The might of Nascent Soul was terrifying indeed!
After sweeping his gaze across the area, True Person Tianbo raised a hand and waved it. An ancient token immediately appeared in his palm.
Without any delay, he directly cast the Spirit Vein into the void!
"Void Realm, open!"
Following True Person Tianbo's shout, the void immediately underwent a strange change.
"Rumble..."
The token burst forth with dazzling light, and the surrounding void twisted.
Before long, a gateway slowly opened in the void, revealing a small world within.
Then True Person Tianbo announced in a voice like thunder:
"I will preside over this Outer Sect Competition."
"The First Trial of the Outer Sect Competition is to enter the Void Realm and slay Realm Leaders."
"The time limit is ten days."
"For every Realm Leader slain, one point may be obtained."
"The top twenty in points will advance to the next round."
Before you continue