Contention for the Champion

Before the Outer Court Grand Competition officially begins, there's an appetizer that needs to be savored first.

This is a fixed segment of the annual Outer Court Grand Competition.

"Whoosh!"

It sliced through the air, embedding itself directly into the center of the "Heaven" shaped arena. Following this, a spirited and tall Outer Court Disciple leaped onto the stage.

"That sword is actually a spirit artifact!"

Below the arena, a disciple exclaimed in shock.

Spirit artifacts, magic artifacts, immortal artifacts.

These are the tiered classifications for various magical treasures and tools in this world.

The Falling Star Sword, held by Su Hongzhen, the foremost sword cultivator of Chenping Continent seven thousand years ago, was an immortal artifact and his natal artifact.

After all, looking back at the historical records of the entire Chenping Continent, there were probably no more than ten immortal artifacts that had ever appeared.

Currently, the Empty Mountain Sect's treasured artifact was a high-grade, seventh-tier magic artifact named the Mountain Shaking Bell.

This treasured artifact ensured that even if the Empty Mountain Sect had no successors and not a single cultivator in the Upper Three Realms, anyone who dared to offend the Empty Mountain Sect would have to seriously consider the weight of the Mountain Shaking Bell first.

Legend had it that above immortal artifacts, there were even higher-tier magical treasures and tools, known as Dao artifacts.

But that was just a legend.

The spirit sword held by the disciple on the arena, though only a low-grade, second-tier spirit artifact, was still not something an ordinary disciple could obtain.

Even Inner Sect Disciples needed to rely on chance to find a spirit artifact.

The disciple who ascended the "Heaven" shaped arena bowed grandly to the crowd below and on the viewing platform:

"I am Xu Aotian, the champion of the previous Outer Court Grand Competition. I humbly request guidance from all of you!"

Every year, before the Outer Court Grand Competition begins, there is this segment where the previous champion is challenged.

If the previous champion manages to achieve seven consecutive victories, they can then directly challenge the current year's champion after the competition concludes.

Winning that would make them the Outer Court champion.

Once one becomes the Outer Court champion, they would receive cultivation resources and spirit stone stipends comparable to those of an Outer Court Steward.

If the challenger succeeds, they inherit the rights of the previous champion.

The challenger, acting as the arena master, must then achieve seven consecutive victories to earn the right to challenge the current year's champion.

Regardless of whether the current year's champion wins or loses, they cannot become the Outer Court champion in the current competition.

Conversely, if they lose to the previous champion, it signifies that they will lose the right to challenge the next year's champion and compete for the Outer Court champion title.

"I'll do it!"

From below the arena, a disciple leaped up and then onto the stage.

Xu Aotian on the arena first sized up the disciple who had jumped onto the stage. Then, he bowed to him, kicked the spirit sword embedded in the stage to draw it out, sheathed it at his waist, and placed it at the edge of the arena.

In the Outer Court Grand Competition, naturally, no magic artifacts, talismans, or pills could be used.

Of course, some cunning disciples would secretly hide pills like the Qi Gathering Pill, which replenished True Qi or stamina.

However, if discovered, they would be disqualified.

The Empty Mountain Sect was one of the five major sects on the Chenping Continent, a genuine righteous sect.

They still had some reputation to uphold.

Although the elders of the sect always taught their disciples that when encountering trouble or danger outside, they shouldn't be afraid of losing face.

If you can't win, find a way to run. If you can't run, play dirty.

But on the arena of the competition, such actions were not permitted.

It would be undignified.

"I am Li Bao, the Archivist Supervisor of the Empty Mountain Sect's Outer Court. I hope the champion will grant me guidance!"

The disciple who had entered the arena later said.

"Please!"

Xu Aotian took half a step back as a gesture of courtesy, allowing Li Bao to attack first.

As the previous competition's champion, Xu Aotian was sufficiently confident.

Although Chen Yan had been in seclusion and detached from worldly affairs, he had heard Xu Aotian's name in previous cycles of reincarnation.

Looking back a hundred years and forward a hundred years, Xu Aotian was the only Outer Court champion of the Empty Mountain Sect.

When Chen Yan was forty years old, Xu Aotian had already become an Outer Court Supervisor.

He was then promoted to Yuanhua Mountain, and when Chen Yan turned a hundred, Xu Aotian became a Steward in the Law Enforcement Hall of Yuanhua Mountain.

That's right, in the original reincarnation, Xu Aotian first achieved seven consecutive victories and then defeated the champion of the current Outer Court Grand Competition, becoming the Outer Court champion in one fell swoop.

Therefore, this match between him and Li Bao should not hold much suspense.

Both Xu Aotian and Li Bao were in the Qi Condensation Realm. If they were to compare the richness of their True Qi, Xu Aotian would undoubtedly have the upper hand.

If the fight dragged on, Li Bao would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Li Bao knew this very well, so he went all out from the start, lunging at Xu Aotian.

Li Bao quickly stepped forward, unleashing a palm strike infused with True Qi, aimed directly at Xu Aotian's chest.

This wasn't some profound technique, just a simple, unadorned, full-power palm strike.

Xu Aotian naturally wouldn't take the hit head-on and quickly dodged to the side, attempting to evade.

Li Bao followed up with a backhand grab, continuing to strike at Xu Aotian's chest.

Xu Aotian's center of gravity shifted, preventing him from dodging again. He had no choice but to block Li Bao's move.

He raised his elbow, blocking Li Bao's powerful grabbing palm. True Qi was driven into his bones and muscles, causing Xu Aotian's meridians to tremble slightly.

Then, Xu Aotian quickly recovered, thrusting his knee towards Li Bao's abdomen. Li Bao hastily retreated to dodge.

This was the opening!

Xu Aotian brought his two fingers together and pointed them at Li Bao's body.

Kongshan Finger!

A stream of True Qi shot directly towards Li Bao's chest, completely throwing him off balance. He stumbled towards the edge of the stage.

Li Bao clutched his chest, a pained expression on his face. He looked up at Xu Aotian, then waved his hand, signaling his surrender.

"I concede."

Xu Aotian bowed towards Li Bao again. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that his forearm, which had blocked Li Bao's palm strike, was trembling slightly.

But it could still be considered a one-sided crushing victory.

Following that, challenger after challenger stepped onto the stage, wanting to challenge the previous champion of the Grand Competition.

In the end, they were all defeated by Xu Aotian. One challenger, in particular, who was the most resilient, fought for over ten more rounds with Xu Aotian even after his left leg suffered a bone fracture from a clash.

Only when he collapsed and could no longer stand was he stopped by a Steward from the Training Ground, who declared Xu Aotian the victor.

With seven consecutive wins, Xu Aotian stood tall on the stage, though his complexion was somewhat pale.

Afterward, Xu Aotian cupped his fists towards the crowd below the stage and then towards those in the viewing stands before stepping off the stage.

The crowd automatically parted a path for him.

"What do you think of him?"

Lin Qifeng asked Chen Yan.

"This disciple believes this person has a solid foundation, profound True Qi, and rich combat experience, which can be seen from his change of tactics," Chen Yan replied.

"Mm."

Lin Qifeng nodded, it was unclear whether he was agreeing with Chen Yan's answer or expressing admiration for Xu Aotian.

"Even in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, this young man might pass a few rounds if he gets lucky."

The champions of the Inner Sect Grand Competition were always the true prodigies of the Sect.

"Chen Yan, listen carefully," Lin Qifeng said.

"Once you break through to the Qi Condensation Realm, you must be able to crush disciples of this level, otherwise, you'll bring shame to your master."

"Yes."

Chen Yan nodded in agreement.