The Arena

Crushing victory!

It was, without a doubt, the cleanest and most decisive crushing victory in this year's Outer Court Grand Competition so far!

If you'd let your attention wander for even a moment, you might not have realized what had happened!

"Chen Yan, victory!"

Even the Consular Disciple serving as referee had first frozen for a moment before announcing the result of the match.

Chen Yan walked down from the ring at an unhurried pace.

The voices in the crowd had changed dramatically, too.

"As expected of an Elder's Personal Disciple. I doubt even many Body Tempering Realm disciples in the Inner Sect could pull off something like that, right?"

"Though Senior Brother Chen is only a Body Tempering Realm cultivator at seventeen, who can rule out the possibility that he's a late bloomer?"

"And is reaching the Body Tempering Realm Peak at seventeen really that bad? His slow progress early on could have been caused by all sorts of factors..."

Praise and flattery immediately began to fill the crowd.

Chen Yan paid it no mind. He knew that if he had lost, those compliments and words of praise would have turned into mockery and abuse in an instant.

Who didn't want to see lofty figures like an Elder's Personal Disciple make a fool of themselves?

It was human nature to gloat over others' misfortune.

Of course, people didn't mind sucking up to you when you were on top, either.

It was a lesson Chen Yan had understood even before crossing over into this world of cultivation.

After defeating the Outer Court Disciple named Zhao Wei, Chen Yan headed toward the viewing platform.

As he passed Elder Lan Wei, the elder smiled and gave him a slight nod, looking as calm and unconcerned as ever.

Elder Lan Wei had undoubtedly watched Chen Yan's match, but he said nothing.

There really wasn't anything for him to say.

In the eyes of an Inner Sect elder, defeating an ordinary Outer Court Disciple of the same realm in one move was something any Inner Sect Disciple ought to be capable of.

It was Chen Yan's own master, Lin Qifeng, who seemed somewhat surprised by his performance.

Lin Qifeng had never invested any effort in Chen Yan.

He had taken Chen Yan on as a disciple purely on a whim, by sheer coincidence.

All Lin Qifeng needed was for Chen Yan to serve as his messenger and, whenever he had to show his face, not embarrass him too badly.

That was all.

But Chen Yan's performance had clearly exceeded Lin Qifeng's expectations.

In Lin Qifeng's eyes, Chen Yan was merely an ordinary Outer Court Disciple with average, or even below-average, aptitude.

Even with the long-term cleansing effects of Body Tempering Fluid, he shouldn't have been able to make such an outrageous leap in progress.

"How did you do it?"

When Chen Yan returned to Lin Qifeng's side, he asked him that.

"This disciple doesn't know what Master is referring to."

Chen Yan clasped his hands in salute.

"Heh."

Lin Qifeng gave a dismissive chuckle and didn't press him further.

He knew perfectly well that Chen Yan was playing dumb, but Lin Qifeng couldn't be bothered to expose such petty tricks.

What could he possibly do, turn the world upside down?

The Outer Court Grand Competition continued.

There were sixteen matches in total in the first round of the Profound Group, with thirty-two contestants.

Once they were over, they would begin drawing lots for the second round.

Chen Yan's second-round match was the third one. His opponent was Li Fu.

The result of the draw caused an uproar across the venue.

Li Fu was the burly man who wielded a giant axe. Like Chen Yan, he was considered overwhelmingly powerful in the Profound Group. After the first round ended, the two of them had already been regarded as the only contestants in the group certain to advance to the top sixteen.

But no one had expected Chen Yan and Li Fu to face each other in the second round.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.

That meant one of them would inevitably be eliminated this round.

And when the result came out, the most raucous corner of the martial arena was the southeast section of the viewing platform.

"Place your bets, place your bets!"

A rather disreputable-looking disciple wove through the crowd. His right hand had no thumb; it had been chopped off years ago after he was caught cheating at a gambling den.

After that, the disciple had sworn never to gamble again. And the result—

"A match between Elder Lin's Personal Disciple, Chen Yan, and the axe-wielding Li Fu! Bets are closed once placed! Chen Yan's current odds are three to one, while Li Fu's are one point four to one!"

A dog couldn't change its habit of eating shit, and neither could a gambling addict.

"Senior Brother Chen's odds are really that high?"

"It just means most people favor Li Fu."

"Are they crazy? Senior Brother Chen is Elder Lin's Personal Disciple. How could he not have a few tricks up his sleeve? What can Li Fu possibly do against him?"

"Maybe Chen Yan's win in the first round had something to do with luck and a weak opponent, but the visual impact of Li Fu's performance was the real deal. It's only natural that most people favor Li Fu."

"Bullshit! How could that big oaf possibly be Senior Brother Chen's match?"

"Fellow Daoist, how much did you bet?"

"Fifteen Spirit Stones, all on Senior Brother Chen. What about it?"

"No wonder you're so devoted to Chen Yan, calling him Senior Brother Chen at every turn. If he really wins the second round, won't you have to start calling him Dad..."

"Fuck you!"

"Hey, stop fighting! Stop!"

The southeast corner of the viewing platform descended into chaos. Soon, Consular Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall arrived to calm things down.

The competition continued. It was almost Chen Yan's turn to enter the ring for the next match in the Profound Group.

At that moment, he was waiting below the ring, watching two Outer Court Disciples grapple with each other in a deadlock.

It was a battle of attrition, and the winner might not be decided for a while.

"Senior Brother Chen's skills just now were truly eye-opening."

A familiar voice came from behind Chen Yan.

He turned his head slightly. A smiling young man stood there.

It was Sun Lu.

"You flatter me."

Chen Yan replied indifferently.

"They were taking bets on the match between you and Li Fu at the viewing platform just now."

Sun Lu continued:

"I bet fifty Spirit Stones on you, Senior Brother Chen. Don't let me lose every last coin. If you win, I'll make it worth your while."

Chen Yan didn't respond.

"By the way, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Chen Yan said.

"Go ahead, Senior Brother Chen."

Sun Lu replied.

"I heard something major happened at Shang Gong Hall a few days ago."

Chen Yan said.

"That's right, Senior Brother Chen. I know a little about it, too."

Sun Lu said.

Song Mingde's death had not been announced publicly. Even now, most Outer Court Disciples still believed Steward Song had gone down the mountain on official business and had yet to return.

Shang Gong Hall was currently being run by its original ceremonial officer, who was temporarily filling the position of steward.

"How was the ceremonial officer at Shang Gong Hall getting along with Steward Song?"

Chen Yan continued.

"I may not know much about the relationships between people at Shang Gong Hall."

Sun Lu paused briefly, then went on:

"However, my master gets along fairly well with Zhao Dianyi, and I'm acquainted with him, too. What is it you want to know, Senior Brother Chen?"