Keeping the Appointment

The entire venue fell silent.

Everyone had expected a clash of titans, but to their surprise, it turned out to be another one-sided annihilation with no chance for the opponent to fight back.

Chen Yan's attacks were even more brutal than in the first round.

Just as Chen Yan had said, he defeated Li Fu easily within a single move.

Not only the ordinary Outer Court Disciples watching from below, but even the Inner Sect elders seated on the viewing platform, along with disciples and gatekeepers from various peaks, were deeply shocked.

Could they have easily defeated Li Fu in one move when they were at the Body Tempering Realm?

Hardly any cultivator in the Inner Sect present dared to claim they had a 100% certainty.

Except for one person.

The Chief Disciple of Qingchan Peak, Chu Xiyao.

At seventeen, she was already at the mid-stage of the Martial Spring Realm, with hopes of breaking through to the Qi Sea Realm before the age of twenty.

She was undoubtedly the Empty Mountain Sect's most gifted prodigy.

However, comparing Chen Yan to Chu Xiyao was also a form of high praise for Chen Yan.

Lin Qifeng's judgment was excellent; he had found an exceptionally talented disciple.

This was the general consensus among the Inner Sect elders present.

But in reality, the most bewildered person at this moment was Lin Qifeng himself.

What was going on with this kid?

Chen Yan walked off the stage and slowly made his way towards the viewing platform.

No one present continued to fawn over Chen Yan as they had in the first round; they merely stared at him as if he were a monster.

It seemed the final winner of the Body Tempering Realm group in this Outer Court Grand Competition had already been decided.

However, the winner of the Body Tempering Realm was just that – a winner.

Taking the Outer Court Grand Competition as an example, only the final winner of the Qi Condensation Realm could be called the champion.

Similarly, in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, only the final winner of the Qi Sea Realm would be called the champion.

Chen Yan easily won the third round as well. In fact, no gamblers on the viewing platform were even setting odds for Chen Yan's matches anymore.

The odds were one to zero; what fun was there in that?

There was one last round of matches for the Body Tempering Realm group today, which would determine the final top sixteen.

The matches beyond the top sixteen would begin one by one tomorrow.

Chen Yan's opponent in the final round was an obscure, unknown Outer Court Disciple, dark-skinned and short, appearing quite simple and honest.

His realm was late-stage Body Tempering, not even at the peak.

Before drawing Chen Yan's name, this disciple had relied on luck, only facing weaker opponents in his spar matches, which allowed him to reach the fourth round.

But it was clear that his luck had run out this round.

As the gong sounded, the fourth round of matches officially began.

Everyone had initially expected another quick victory, a one-second kill, but events unfolded in a way that once again surprised everyone.

The dark-skinned Outer Court Disciple took a white cloth from his robe and threw it on the ground.

"I concede."

The disciple smiled honestly and then said.

Since there was no chance of winning, why endure a beating?

No one thought he was a coward; instead, they found it perfectly reasonable.

The dark-skinned, honest disciple took a few steps forward and bowed to Chen Yan with clasped hands:

"Disciple Zhang Xishun, greetings Senior Brother Chen!"

His attitude was one of utmost respect and trepidation, placing himself extremely low, as if he wished he could kneel and lick Chen Yan's shoes the next second.

"...Hello."

Being treated like this under everyone's gaze made Chen Yan quite awkward.

"Today, this disciple personally witnessed Senior Brother Chen's three consecutive victories. My admiration for Senior Brother flows like a river, unending..."

Chen Yan was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this seemingly honest and simple disciple to be so skilled at flattery.

"I humbly request Senior Brother Chen to grant me an opportunity. After all the matches of today's competition conclude, please offer me some guidance on my cultivation."

Zhang Xishun said.

"Alright."

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Yan agreed.

Chen Yan was by no means someone difficult to approach or unreasonable.

Perhaps the experience of over twenty reincarnations, and his previous actions to conceal his true cultivation, made him appear somewhat distant and indifferent.

But he simply couldn't refuse such a request.

Because the fawning posture of the honest, dark-skinned disciple before him seemed to remind him of himself, who, after a hundred years of age, was still only in the Qi Condensation Realm mid-stage.

Chen Yan understood too well the feeling of begging someone for help when trying to save oneself.

Because in that lifetime, before his lifespan was about to run out, Chen Yan had also humbly fawned over an encountered Inner Sect Disciple, asking how he could break through from the Qi Condensation Realm to the Martial Spring Realm the fastest.

Who wouldn't want to improve, to live better?

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chen!"

Zhang Xishun was first slightly stunned, then quickly showed a look of overjoyed surprise.

"It's a small matter."

Chen Yan smiled.

Now, he was a solid cultivator of the Martial Spring Realm.

After entering the Martial Spring Realm, Chen Yan's understanding of the Empty Mountain Art naturally deepened, and guiding a Body Tempering Realm disciple would certainly be effortless.

As for the Outer Court Grand Competition that would continue tomorrow, Chen Yan didn't need to care at all.

As a dignified cultivator of the Martial Spring Realm, apprehending a few Body Tempering Realm disciples was naturally within his grasp.

That night.

As per Zhang Xishun's request, Chen Yan headed to the open space in front of the Outer Court market.

Still from a distance, Chen Yan saw that honest, dark-skinned, and thin figure standing before the market.

"Senior Brother Chen!"

Upon seeing Chen Yan's figure appear, Zhang Xishun's face lit up with joy, and he quickly hurried over.

"You're quite early."

Chen Yan said.

"Not early, not early, I just arrived too!"

Zhang Xishun replied.

"Speak, what difficulties have you encountered in your recent cultivation? We are both Body Tempering Realm cultivators, so I should be able to help."

Chen Yan said.

"Reporting to Senior Brother Chen, I am now also at the Body Tempering Realm late-stage cultivation. I am getting closer and closer to the stage of opening the meridians and drawing True Qi."

Opening meridians and drawing Qi was a mark of a Body Tempering Realm disciple officially entering the late-stage of Body Tempering.

Once True Qi could complete a full cycle within the body's meridians, they would become a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator, capable of using True Qi to perform some simple techniques.

"Recently, I can often feel free-floating True Qi within my body, but whenever I try to guide it into my meridians, I feel a particularly sluggish sensation."

Zhang Xishun continued.

"This is very normal. Because you haven't opened your meridians yet, keep trying and persist with Body Tempering. In a few days at the shortest, or half a year at the longest, you will be able to draw Qi into your meridians."

Chen Yan explained.

He had also gone through such a stage before.

"So that's how it is, then..."

Following that, Zhang Xishun asked Chen Yan a few more questions about cultivation, and Chen Yan answered them one by one.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chen. I've basically finished asking my cultivation questions. Today has been very rewarding."

Zhang Xishun clasped his hands in thanks.

"It's nothing. Then that's all for today..."

"However, I have one more thing to ask."

Zhang Xishun looked up and said with a smile:

"I heard that Senior Brother Chen has recently been investigating Steward Song of Shang Gong Hall?"