Hearing True Person Tianbo's announcement, the disciples of the Seven Outer Courtyards were all fired up.
Seven Courtyards Area.
Elder Willow Wood wore a gratified expression.
This time, no fewer than three disciples from the Seven Courtyards had made it into the top twenty on the Scoreboard.
One had to know that in the last Outer Court Competition, Qing Yang had been the only one.
But this time, aside from Qing Yang,
Chen Changqing and Liu Ruyan had also entered the top twenty.
Moreover, Chen Changqing was ranked second on the Scoreboard.
Such a record had set a new high for the Seven Courtyards.
Never before had a disciple of the Seven Courtyards climbed so high on the Scoreboard.
"How did that girl Ruyan make it into the top twenty?"
As he pondered it, Elder Willow Wood frowned slightly and subconsciously glanced at Liu Ruyan.
When Liu Ruyan saw that she, too, had entered the top twenty on the Scoreboard, her heart surged with excitement.
After all, it meant that she could be promoted to an Inner Disciple next.
With her Half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation, her chances of reaching the top twenty on the Scoreboard had originally been minuscule.
But earlier, in the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had helped her seize quite a few points from disciples of other courtyards.
Thinking of this, Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes shifted, her gaze brimming with affection as she looked Chen Changqing over.
At that moment, Chen Changqing stood calmly where he was, as immovable as a mountain, as still as a deep pool.
"Second on the Scoreboard?"
Chen Changqing muttered to himself, not paying much attention to the ranking.
After all, after intercepting Li Yang and the others' opportunity, he had been teleported into True Lord Qingxu's cave abode and obtained the inheritance of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique.
Afterward, he had remained in AFK Cultivation and had not gone on to seize more points.
Otherwise, taking first place on the Scoreboard would not have been difficult.
"The first round was entering the Void Realm to slay Realm Beasts."
"What about the second round?"
Chen Changqing pondered.
Just then, True Person Tianbo's voice rang out again:
"The ultimate victor of this Outer Sect Competition."
"This Peak Master shall bestow upon them an insight into heaven and earth."
As he spoke, True Person Tianbo stood with his hands behind his back. Though there was no wind, his robes fluttered, and the laws of heaven and earth faintly circulated around him.
The instant those words fell, the entire venue erupted!
"What?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"An insight from a Nascent Soul powerhouse?"
"This... this is simply a heaven-sent opportunity!"
"With such insight to aid one's cultivation, one would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort in the future."
"..."
Every disciple below the stage was stunned.
None of them had expected the final reward for this Grand Tournament to be an insight into heaven and earth from a Nascent Soul powerhouse.
At the same time, the elders of the various Outer Sect courtyards changed expressions one after another.
"Nascent Soul Insight!?"
Only upon reaching the Nascent Soul level could one communicate with heaven and earth and comprehend Divine Abilities.
One had to know that this was enlightenment touching upon the laws of heaven and earth—a fortune that even Golden Core cultivators dreamed of!
And now it was to be bestowed upon Foundation Establishment disciples?
A fiery gleam flashed through Elder Willow Wood's eyes.
He thought that if he could obtain an insight into heaven and earth from a Nascent Soul Cultivator, he might find the opportunity to break through into the Violet Mansion Realm.
Chen Changqing stood among the Seven Courtyards' ranks with an expression as light as drifting clouds and as calm as a gentle breeze.
"Nascent Soul Insight?"
"It seems to have made a lot of people covet it!"
As he spoke, Chen Changqing smiled inwardly and muttered:
"What use was even the strongest insight? It still belonged to someone else."
"Besides, this insight was truly useless to me."
"Could it compare to the joy of AFK Cultivation with the system?"
Of course, Chen Changqing knew it well.
Though he had no need for it, the other disciples' eyes had already turned red with envy.
Just then, True Person Tianbo's voice came again:
"The second round of the Outer Sect Competition will use arena battles."
True Person Tianbo swept his sleeve, and a massive White Jade Arena rose from the ground. Runes flickered around it, forming a sturdy barrier.
Rumble!
"The rules of the arena battles are simple: victors stay, losers leave."
"The one who remains standing at the end shall receive the insight!"
Looking at the White Jade Arena that had appeared in the center of the plaza, many disciples' eyes burned brightly.
Yet while the disciples from each courtyard who had made the top twenty on the Scoreboard were exhilarated, no one was the first to step onto the arena.
After all, in their eyes, the earlier one stepped onto the arena, the greater the disadvantage.
To claim first place in the second round of the Grand Tournament, one would need to defeat the remaining nineteen people.
"Hmph!"
Seeing that no one had stepped onto the arena for a long time, a cold snort came from the Fifth Courtyard's area.
When they looked again, a young man had already leaped onto the arena. His aura was deep and powerful, and he was clearly at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
"Lü Tianlei of the Fifth Courtyard!"
"I wonder who wishes to offer guidance?"
After taking the stage, Lü Tianlei swept his gaze around, his fighting spirit soaring.
"Jiang An of the Third Courtyard, here to exchange pointers!"
Suddenly, a response came from the Third Courtyard's area.
The next moment, an elegant and refined man flew onto the arena.
His cultivation was the same as Lü Tianlei's—Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
"So it is Senior Brother Jiang. Please!"
The moment his words fell, Lü Tianlei attacked directly without waiting for Jiang An's response.
Boom!
Seeing this, Jiang An smiled faintly and met his attack.
The two clashed in an instant. Spiritual power collided, and waves of force churned!
Lü Tianlei's fist technique was fierce and forceful, each strike carrying the heavy weight of a mountain.
Jiang An, meanwhile, moved with uncanny footwork. Forming seals with his fingers, he sent countless wind blades pouring down like a torrential rain!
Pfft!
In the end, Lü Tianlei carelessly revealed an opening. A wind blade conjured by Jiang An struck him in the chest, making him cough up blood as he flew backward and fell off the arena!
"Jiang An of the Third Courtyard wins!"
The presiding elder announced loudly.
After defeating Lü Tianlei, Jiang An smiled smugly and swept his gaze across the various Outer Sect courtyards.
"Who else wishes to offer guidance?"
"Zhou Kuang of the Second Courtyard!"
Immediately afterward, a burly man let out a wild laugh as he strode onto the arena.
Boom!
His aura burst forth, and his cultivation was also at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
Next, Zhou Kuang and Jiang An engaged in a fierce battle.
At the beginning, Jiang An was suppressed by Zhou Kuang's violent spiritual power.
But he gradually adjusted afterward.
In the end, he blasted Zhou Kuang off the arena with a single strike.
After losing, Zhou Kuang ground his teeth in anger, wishing he could return to the arena and fight Jiang An again.
On the arena, Jiang An smiled smugly and cupped his hands toward Zhou Kuang.
"Senior Brother Zhou Kuang, thank you for letting me win!"
Zhou Kuang was so angry that he ignored Jiang An. Flicking his sleeve, he returned to the Second Courtyard's area.
Then Jiang An swept his gaze around, looked toward the areas below occupied by the various courtyards, and spoke again:
"Who else wishes to offer guidance?"
In the Seven Courtyards Area, a resolute glint flashed through Liu Ruyan's eyes upon hearing those words.
"Liu Ruyan of the Seven Courtyards!"
Immediately afterward, a graceful figure floated onto the arena. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her gaze was cold and clear.
"Oh?"
"So it is Junior Sister Liu of the Seven Courtyards."
Jiang An smiled at Liu Ruyan. He had naturally heard of this frosty beauty from the Seven Courtyards.
Yet when he sensed Liu Ruyan's cultivation level, Jiang An could not help but sneer.
"Junior Sister Liu, why not simply admit defeat?"
"With Half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation, you are no match for me."
Seeing Jiang An look down on her so much, a fierce glint flashed through Liu Ruyan's eyes. Without another word, she raised her sword and attacked.
Bang!
But against Jiang An, who was at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage,
Liu Ruyan was no match for him at all.
After only a brief exchange, she was knocked off the arena by Jiang An's punch.
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