Before the Outer Court Grand Competition officially began, there was one appetizer to be savored first.
It was a fixed part of the Outer Court Grand Competition every year.
"Whoosh!"
A sword streaked through the air and plunged straight into the center of the Heaven-sized arena. Then a tall, spirited Outer Court Disciple leaped onto the platform.
"That sword is actually a spiritual weapon!"
A disciple below the arena exclaimed in shock.
Spiritual weapons, magical weapons, and immortal weapons.
These were the grades used in this world to classify all kinds of magical treasures and implements.
The Falling Star Sword, wielded by Su Hongzhen, the greatest Sword Cultivator on Chenping Continent seven thousand years ago, was an immortal weapon—and his life-bound treasure.
After all, looking back through the historical records of Chenping Continent, there had probably been no more than ten immortal weapons unearthed.
The Empty Mountain Sect's current treasured possession was a seventh-tier upper-grade magical weapon called the Mountain Shaking Bell.
This treasure ensured that even if the Empty Mountain Sect had no successors and not a single cultivator in the Upper Three Realms, anyone who wanted to invade the sect would first have to carefully consider the weight of the Mountain Shaking Bell.
It was said that above immortal weapons, even higher-grade magical treasures and implements existed, known as Dao artifacts.
But that was only a legend.
Like the spiritual sword held by the disciple on the arena: though it was merely a second-tier lower-grade spiritual weapon, it was still beyond the reach of ordinary disciples.
Even Inner Sect Disciples had to rely on luck to find a spiritual weapon.
The disciple who had ascended the Heaven-sized arena raised his hands to the crowd below and the spectators' stand, his spirit soaring.
"I am Xu Aotian, champion of last year's Outer Court Grand Competition. I welcome your challenges!"
Before the Outer Court Grand Competition began each year, there was always a challenge round for the previous year's champion.
If the previous champion won all seven matches, then after this year's competition ended, he could challenge this year's champion directly.
Win again, and he would become the Outer Court Champion.
Once someone became the Outer Court Champion, he would receive cultivation resources and a Spirit Stone stipend on par with an Outer Court steward.
If a challenger won, he could inherit the previous champion's privileges.
As the arena's defending champion, the challenger could then win seven matches in a row to earn the right to challenge this year's champion.
Regardless of whether this year's champion won or lost, he could not become the Outer Court Champion during the same competition.
If he lost to the previous champion, however, he would forfeit the right to challenge next year's champion and compete for the title of Outer Court Champion.
"I'll take him on!"
A disciple sprang high into the air from below and landed on the arena.
Xu Aotian first sized up the newcomer, then cupped his hands to him. He lifted a foot, hooked the spiritual sword from the platform, sheathed it at his waist, and set it aside at the edge of the arena.
Naturally, no one was allowed to use magical treasures, talismans, or pills during the Outer Court Grand Competition.
Of course, some slippery disciples would secretly hide pills like Qi Gathering Pills on themselves to replenish their qi or stamina.
But if they were caught, they would be disqualified on the spot.
The Empty Mountain Sect was one of the Five Great Sects on Chenping Continent, a genuinely reputable and righteous sect.
It still had some pride to uphold.
Though the sect elders taught their disciples that, if they encountered trouble or danger outside, they shouldn't be afraid of losing face—
if they couldn't win, they should find a way to run; if they couldn't run, they should fight dirty.
But they couldn't do that on the competition stage.
It would be beneath their dignity.
"I am Li Bao, Archivist Supervisor of the Empty Mountain Sect's Outer Court Library. I ask the champion to grant me a match!"
The disciple who had just stepped onto the arena spoke.
"Please!"
Xu Aotian stepped back half a pace to yield the initiative, letting Li Bao attack first.
As last year's champion, Xu Aotian had every confidence in himself.
Though Chen Yan had long lain low, keeping out of worldly affairs, he had heard Xu Aotian's name in a previous Reincarnation.
For a hundred years before and a hundred years after that time, Xu Aotian had been the Empty Mountain Sect's only Outer Court Champion.
By the time Chen Yan was forty, Xu Aotian had already become an Outer Court Inspector.
He was later promoted to Yuanhua Mountain, and by the time Chen Yan was a hundred, Xu Aotian had become a Law Enforcement Hall steward there.
That was right. In the original Reincarnation, Xu Aotian had first won all seven matches, then defeated the champion of that year's Outer Court Grand Competition, becoming the Outer Court Champion in one fell swoop.
So there should be little suspense in his match against Li Bao.
Xu Aotian and Li Bao were both in the Qi Condensation Realm. If they compared the depth of their qi, Xu Aotian was undoubtedly superior.
If the fight dragged on, Li Bao would inevitably fall behind, putting him at a disadvantage.
Li Bao knew this perfectly well, so he went all out from the start, charging at Xu Aotian with murderous intent.
Li Bao rushed forward and struck with a palm wrapped in qi, aiming straight for Xu Aotian's chest.
It was no profound technique, just a plain, full-force palm strike.
Xu Aotian naturally didn't try to meet it head-on. He hurriedly turned sideways, trying to slip away.
Li Bao immediately twisted his hand and struck again at Xu Aotian's chest.
With his weight shifted, Xu Aotian couldn't dodge a second time and had no choice but to take the blow.
He raised his elbow to block Li Bao's heavy, forceful palm. The qi slammed into his bones and tendons, making his meridians tremble.
Xu Aotian quickly recovered, however, and drove a knee toward Li Bao's abdomen. Li Bao hurriedly retreated to evade it.
There!
Xu Aotian joined two fingers and pointed them at Li Bao.
Kongshan Finger!
A streak of qi shot straight into Li Bao's chest, throwing him completely off balance. He staggered toward the edge of the arena and fell.
Clutching his chest, Li Bao grimaced in pain. He looked up at Xu Aotian, then waved his hand to concede.
"Thank you for the match."
Xu Aotian cupped his hands toward Li Bao once more. A close look, though, revealed that the forearm he'd used to block Li Bao's palm was trembling slightly.
Even so, the fight could only be called a one-sided crushing victory.
One challenger after another stepped forward, eager to challenge the previous year's ultimate champion.
Xu Aotian defeated them all in turn. The most tenacious challenger even fought him for more than ten exchanges after breaking his left leg in a clash.
Only when he fell and couldn't get back up did an arena steward stop the match and declare Xu Aotian the winner.
After seven straight victories, Xu Aotian stood tall on the arena, though his face had grown somewhat pale.
He then cupped his fists to the crowd below and the spectators on the viewing platform before stepping down.
The crowd parted automatically to make way for him.
"What do you think of him?"
Lin Qifeng asked Chen Yan.
"This disciple thinks his fundamentals are solid, his qi is deep, and he has plenty of combat experience. You can tell from the way he changes his moves."
Chen Yan answered.
"Mm."
Lin Qifeng nodded. It was hard to tell whether he agreed with Chen Yan's assessment or admired Xu Aotian.
"If this boy competes in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, he might make it through a few rounds if he's lucky."
The champions of the Inner Sect Grand Competition were always the sect's true chosen talents.
"Chen Yan, listen carefully."
Lin Qifeng said:
"Once you break through to the Qi Condensation Realm, you must thrash disciples at his level. Otherwise, you'll make your master lose face."
"Yes."
Chen Yan nodded in agreement.
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