Still One Move

There were nearly twenty functional departments of all sizes in the Outer Court, such as the Martial Arts Arena and the Library Pavilion.

According to what Chen Yan had learned, Zheng Fuyue, steward of the Spirit Herb Workshop, and Zhao Yishan, officiant of Shang Gong Hall, both came from Panshi County in the Southern Region of the Qingque Kingdom.

As fellow townsmen, the two had looked out for each other ever since they had joined the Empty Mountain Sect, one after the other.

In fact, Zhao Yishan had only been appointed acting steward of Shang Gong Hall because Zheng Fuyue had strongly recommended him to the Outer Court elders and supervisors.

"I want to get one thing straight."

Chen Yan said:

"I want to know what happened to Steward Song's belongings."

At that, Sun Lu's expression shifted slightly. He lowered his voice, and after making sure no one was paying attention to him and Chen Yan, he finally spoke:

"Why does Senior Brother Chen want to know?"

"Don't ask too much. Just tell me what you know."

Chen Yan said.

"I don't know the specific details. Martial Uncle Zhao is extremely tight-lipped about what happened after Steward Song's death. I only know that Qingchan Peak seems to have had a hand in it."

Sun Lu said.

This was exactly what Chen Yan had expected.

It seemed the people from Qingchan Peak hadn't found anything either.

"What was the relationship between Steward Song and Officiant Zhao?"

Chen Yan continued.

"As far as I know, they were just ordinary fellow disciples."

Sun Lu replied.

It seemed they hadn't been close. Most likely, Zhao Yishan knew nothing about Song Mingde's affairs.

"Was anyone particularly close to Steward Song?"

Chen Yan asked again.

"As for that, I really don't know."

Sun Lu shook his head.

Just as expected.

"When you get a chance, investigate who was close to Steward Song. And remember, don't tell anyone about this."

Chen Yan said.

"Understood. I'll take my leave now. I wish Senior Brother Chen the best in the competition."

Sun Lu said.

Chen Yan wasn't worried in the slightest that Sun Lu would reveal what he'd asked him to do. Right now, he was indeed the backing Sun Lu and his master, Zheng Fuyue, relied on.

Zheng Fuyue was currently at the late stage of the Martial Spring Realm, and he was still young, not yet sixty.

With his talent and the resources of the Spirit Herb Workshop, it was only a matter of time before Zheng Fuyue broke through to the Qi Sea Realm.

He had his eye on the position of Outer Court elder.

Lin Qifeng would leave the Outer Court sooner or later. Even if he didn't return to Kongyuan Mountain, he would eventually go to another peak as an Attendant or Guest Elder.

If no inner sect cultivator was parachuted into the Outer Court by then, Lin Qifeng's opinion would carry considerable weight in choosing the next Outer Court elder.

That was the fundamental reason Zheng Fuyue and Sun Lu were currying favor with Chen Yan.

So Sun Lu would never do anything that might offend him.

BANG!

A tremendous crash rang out from the arena, followed by an uproar from the crowd.

The second match of the Profound Group's second round had finally ended. Just as both fighters were on the verge of exhaustion, one disciple punched the other in the temple, then promptly collapsed.

"At long last!"

"Fantastic! Before the match everyone's been waiting for, there's always some clueless fool who refuses to lose!"

The audience below the arena called out.

The highlight of the Profound Group's second round had finally arrived.

It was the match between Chen Yan and Li Fu.

Across the arena, Chen Yan saw the nine-foot-tall giant standing opposite him. The terrifying great ax stood by his side.

Even an ordinary Qi Condensation Realm cultivator would struggle to swing an ax weighing several thousand pounds without using true qi.

Across the arena, Li Fu was also staring directly at Chen Yan.

"Profound Group, second round, third match: Chen Yan, personal disciple of Elder Lin Qifeng of the Outer Court's Wenyuan Hall, versus Outer Court disciple Li Fu!"

The Consular Disciple announced the names of Chen Yan and the burly man.

Then the two of them stepped onto the arena from the east and west sides.

"Chen, little brother!"

The burly man stepped onto the arena and stared straight at Chen Yan, a hint of scorn in his expression.

The way he addressed him was even more contemptuous.

Chen Yan was the personal disciple of an Outer Court elder. His fellow disciples should ordinarily have addressed him as Senior Brother.

But Li Fu didn't.

He knew a little about Chen Yan.

Chen Yan had always been unknown, until a little over two months ago, when he suddenly became the personal disciple of Elder Lin Qifeng of the Outer Court.

There were only two possible explanations.

Either he had some extraordinary talent that had caught Elder Lin's eye,

or he'd gotten unbelievably lucky.

Li Fu leaned toward the latter.

He'd always disliked Chen Yan, and the way Chen Yan had stolen the spotlight in the first round of the competition had made him even angrier.

He was determined to crush the little bastard's spirit and show Chen Yan that without his master, he was worth less than dirt.

"I hear you've been in the Empty Mountain Sect for ten years, two years longer than me. You should be calling me Senior Brother."

Li Fu said arrogantly.

"Those with greater ability come first. That's been the rule since ancient times."

Chen Yan said calmly.

"Then you'd better call me Senior Brother Li."

Li Fu sneered.

"Three moves."

Chen Yan said.

"What about three moves?"

"I promised my master that if I ran into you in the competition, I'd take you down in three moves."

"That's quite a promise."

Li Fu clearly didn't take him seriously.

"Now I've changed my mind."

As he spoke, Chen Yan raised one finger:

"One move. I'll take you down in a single move."

"One move?"

Li Fu laughed. The muscles bared across his body seemed even more ferocious.

"And what if you can't?"

"Then I'll expel myself from the sect."

Chen Yan said calmly.

The moment he said this, the crowd below the arena erupted.

There was no backing out of an oath sworn before so many disciples.

After saying something like that, it wouldn't just be Lin Qifeng—even Sect Master Yun Yichen couldn't keep him.

But Li Fu's expression suddenly changed. His face grew grave.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

If Chen Yan had merely been talking big, Li Fu wouldn't have given it a second thought.

But such a solemn vow made his heart pound with unease.

What gave him the nerve to make such a boast?

"Ready?"

Just as Li Fu was growing hesitant and second-guessing himself, Chen Yan asked.

"Bring it on!"

Li Fu gripped the handle of his ax and braced himself to give it everything he had.

The next instant, Chen Yan drove his foot hard into the ground and shot toward Li Fu.

In less than half a breath, Chen Yan crossed more than ten meters and appeared right in front of Li Fu.

Then he whipped out a kick, swinging his leg toward Li Fu's abdomen.

Li Fu reacted quickly, raising the ax handle to block.

Even the handle of his great ax was made of solid Black Iron.

But when Chen Yan's kick landed, the ax handle bent out of shape like a noodle. It couldn't stop Chen Yan's attack at all.

Chen Yan's Body Penetrating Force then passed through the handle and into Li Fu's powerful body.

Li Fu shot straight into the sky like a boulder hurled by a trebuchet.

By the time Li Fu landed on the ground dozens of meters beyond the arena, Chen Yan's foot had only just touched down.

A one-hit kill.