The Small Competition Ends

Three days later, the Outer Sect plaza was a sea of people.

In the center of the plaza, bluestone arenas were lined up, with an Inner Sect senior brother serving as a referee for each one.

"The Outer Sect Tournament, begin!"

"All disciples, draw lots to form groups. Twenty people per group, a free-for-all on the arena. Only the final five remaining may advance to the next round."

Lin Ye drew "C-3," meaning he was in the third arena, and Zhou Ming was also assigned to this group.

"Lin Ye!" Seeing him, Zhou Ming hurried over and lowered his voice, "We're in the same group! When the fight starts, let's team up and clear out the weak ones first..."

"No need." Lin Ye shook his head, "Let's rely on our own abilities."

"You! Wang Meng is in this group! He's at the peak of the fifth level of Body Tempering, and he has mastered the Kaishan Palm to perfection. If we don't team up, we'll definitely be cleared out first!" Zhou Ming wanted to say more, but the referee had already stepped onto the stage.

"Group C-3, get on the stage!"

Twenty disciples leaped onto the arena one after another.

The arena was quite spacious, so it didn't feel crowded even with twenty people standing on it.

Everyone looked around vigilantly, searching for potential allies and enemies.

"Start!"

The referee gave the order.

"Boom!"

In an instant, the arena descended into chaos.

Some immediately formed small groups, some fought alone, some tried to launch sneak attacks, and some tried to protect themselves.

Lin Ye moved his feet, his figure sliding toward the edge of the arena like a fish, his back against the railing.

This was the safest position.

"Bang!"

A disciple at the fourth level of Body Tempering was sent flying by a palm strike from Wang Meng, falling directly off the arena.

"So strong!"

"Let's team up to deal with Wang Meng first!"

Someone shouted, and three or four people immediately surrounded Wang Meng.

Wang Meng sneered, "Overestimating yourselves!"

He struck out with both palms, the wind from his palms whistling as he forced all four back simultaneously.

On the other side, Zhou Ming and a fourth-level Body Tempering disciple were working together to besiege a lone disciple.

Lin Ye just watched coldly, not in a hurry to make a move.

"Kid, you sure know how to hide!"

A cold voice rang out.

Lin Ye turned his head and saw a youth staring at him with malicious intent.

"Fourth level of Body Tempering, and you dare to participate in the tournament? Get lost!"

The youth flashed forward, his claws swiping toward Lin Ye's throat.

Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.

The moment the youth's claws were about to touch his throat, Lin Ye shifted his feet, dodged to the side, and simultaneously threw a punch with his right hand, slamming it into the opponent's ribs.

"Bang!"

The youth let out a muffled groan, retreated three steps, and his face turned deathly pale.

"You..."

He hadn't expected Lin Ye to react so quickly and possess such strength.

"Do you want to continue?" Lin Ye asked calmly.

The youth gritted his teeth and finally turned to attack someone else.

On the arena, the battle grew increasingly intense.

In just half a cup of tea's time, seven or eight people had already been knocked off the arena.

Wang Meng was like a tiger among a flock of sheep, having already eliminated four people, his momentum soaring.

"It's about time."

Lin Ye scanned the area; there were eleven people left on the arena.

He moved.

His figure flashed, appearing behind a disciple who was struggling in a bitter fight, and he lightly tapped a palm against the opponent's back.

"You..."

The disciple hadn't even reacted before he was pushed off the arena.

"Ten people left!"

Lin Ye counted silently in his heart, then turned and lunged toward another target.

His speed was not fast, but his timing was precise, always striking when his opponent was at their most relaxed.

In just ten breaths, two more were "sent" off the arena by him.

"Stop!"

The referee suddenly shouted.

"There are eight people left on the arena. Since it exceeds five, continue the battle. The rules have changed: the remaining people will challenge each other one-on-one; the winner advances, and the loser is eliminated."

The referee scanned the eight people: "Now, you may challenge anyone. The challenged party must accept, or it will be considered a forfeit. Each person only has one chance to challenge and only needs to accept one challenge. Now, begin!"

The rules had changed from a chaotic brawl to a duel.

Lin Ye frowned slightly.

"I challenge him!"

Lin Ye looked over to see a disciple at the fifth level of Body Tempering pointing at him; it was the very youth he had repelled with a single punch earlier.

"Zhao Liang, fifth level of Body Tempering, challenges Lin Ye, fourth level of Body Tempering. Both parties, take the stage!"

The referee announced.

Lin Ye walked to the center of the arena.

Zhao Liang looked at him coldly: "I was careless before. Now, I will let you know the gap between us!"

Lin Ye didn't speak, simply settling into his stance.

"Begin!"

The moment the referee's voice fell, Zhao Liang moved.

He opened with the killer move of the Eagle Claw Technique, "Goshawk Hunting Rabbit."

His hands were like hooks, aiming straight for Lin Ye's eyes.

Lin Ye's gaze turned cold.

Since the other party was playing dirty, he didn't need to hold back either.

He stomped his foot, advancing instead of retreating, and threw a punch.

"Clang!"

Fist and claw collided, producing the sound of clashing metal.

Zhao Liang's expression changed as he felt a massive force surge through him, his entire arm going numb.

"How is this possible?!"

He was at the fifth level of Body Tempering; his strength should have crushed someone at the fourth level!

Lin Ye didn't give his opponent a moment to recover, his second punch following immediately.

"Layered Wave Force!"

"Bang! Bang!"

With two consecutive punches, Zhao Liang spat blood and flew backward, tumbling off the arena.

The entire venue fell silent.

A fourth level of Body Tempering defeating a fifth level in three punches?

The crowd below erupted.

"Who is this Lin Ye? I've never heard of him before!"

"He seems to be a new disciple; he defeated a fifth level of Body Tempering during the assessment!"

"No wonder, he's a genius!"

"A genius? I think it's just luck; Zhao Liang was too arrogant."

The discussions rose and fell.

Lin Ye ignored them, walked to the advancement area, and sat down in a corner.

He didn't watch the following challenges, choosing instead to close his eyes and regulate his breathing.

Half an hour later, the first round ended.

Twenty arenas, five people advancing from each, totaling one hundred people.

"Second round, elimination tournament!"

The presiding deacon announced once more.

"One hundred people will draw lots for one-on-one matches. The winners advance to the top fifty and receive basic rewards. The losers are eliminated."

"Now, draw lots!"

Lin Ye drew the number "twenty-seven."

His opponent was a disciple named Sun Hai, a fifth-stage Body Tempering practitioner who was somewhat well-known among the outer sect.

"Lin Ye versus Sun Hai, Ring Number Three!"

Lin Ye stepped onto the ring.

Sun Hai was already waiting on the stage; he was a tall, thin youth with a sword at his waist and a sharp aura.

"Lin Ye, I've heard of you," Sun Hai said indifferently. "You defeated Chen Feng despite the level gap during the assessment, and you just beat Zhao Liang. Your luck ends here."

"Please, enlighten me." Lin Ye cupped his fists.

Sun Hai drew his longsword, the blade gleaming with a cold light; it was clearly a mid-grade mortal weapon.

With a flash of light, the sword thrust straight at Lin Ye's throat.

The Clear Wind Sword Technique, a mid-grade mortal skill, was known for being fast, accurate, and ruthless.

Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.

This was his first time facing an opponent who used a sword.

He utilized his footwork, his body flickering as he narrowly dodged the strike.

"Oh?"

Sun Hai let out a soft sound of surprise, his sword momentum shifting to form three sword shadows that lunged at Lin Ye's upper, middle, and lower sections.

"Clear Wind Triple Fold!"

This was the finishing move of the Clear Wind Sword Technique, with three sword shadows—some real, some illusory—making them difficult to distinguish.

Gasps erupted from the crowd below.

"Sun Hai's Clear Wind Sword Technique has improved again!"

"Lin Ye is going to lose!"

As the sword shadows closed in, Lin Ye seemed unable to dodge in time; his chest was grazed by the sword qi, causing his movements to stall abruptly.

The next instant, he was sent flying backward, landing heavily at the edge of the ring.

He tried to stand, but after a few struggles, he remained unable to rise and whispered, "I lost."

Lin Ye walked off the ring.

"Lin Ye, are you alright?" Zhou Ming ran over and asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just a minor injury," Lin Ye shook his head.

Lin Ye ultimately ranked ninety-ninth in this minor competition.

"The minor competition has concluded. The top one hundred disciples, come forward to collect your rewards!"

The voice of the presiding deacon rang out.

Lin Ye stepped forward to collect his reward: three hundred contribution points and three Qi Condensation Pills.

The Qi Condensation Pill was an auxiliary pill for the late stage of the Body Tempering realm, with one pill being worth ten Body Tempering Pills.

"Now, the top one hundred disciples may proceed to Chuangong Hall to select a cultivation technique."

"Yes!"

Inside Chuangong Hall, the elder in charge of exchanges glanced at Lin Ye and said indifferently, "Kid, you performed well. What technique do you want?"

"Senior, this disciple wishes to exchange for the Azure Origin Technique," Lin Ye said respectfully.

"The Azure Origin Technique?" The elder raised an eyebrow. "It is a mid-grade mortal technique. The Azure Origin True Qi it produces is balanced and steady, but its power is mediocre. Are you sure?"

"I am sure." Lin Ye nodded.

"Fine, three hundred contribution points." The elder deducted the points and handed a cyan-covered manual to Lin Ye.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Lin Ye took the manual, tucked it away carefully, and turned to leave.

He found a quiet, secluded spot in the back mountain, set up a simple warning formation, and then sat cross-legged to take out the Azure Origin Technique.

Finally, I have a decent cultivation technique.

Now, let me see to what extent my points can deduce this.

With a thought, a string of pale golden text appeared:

[Points: 256]

[Deduce Azure Origin Technique (mid-grade mortal), requires 100 martial points. Proceed with deduction?]

A phantom image appeared and began to practice the Azure Origin Technique.

Deduction complete.

[Azure Origin Technique (mid-grade mortal) optimized. Cultivation speed increased by 80%, True Qi purity doubled, recovery speed increased by 50%.]

[Additionally deduced three subsequent layers; can now be cultivated to the "Hundred Turns of True Qi" realm, comparable to a low-grade spirit technique.]

Lin Ye opened his eyes, a sharp glint flickering within them.

True Qi Hundred Revolutions?

This was the first time he had ever heard of such a realm.

It seems the True Qi Realm also holds secrets unknown to most. Just like the tenth level of Body Tempering.

I should try practicing it first.

Lin Ye began to cultivate according to the deduced Azure Origin Technique.

At this rate, I can break through to the fifth level of Body Tempering in ten days at most.

Lin Ye put away the technique manual and looked into the distance.

The Outer Sect Tournament had concluded; he had placed in the top hundred and obtained the technique he desired.

What followed next was to develop in silence and accumulate his strength.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and headed toward his living quarters.

In the distance, from atop the pavilion of the Chuangong Hall, an aged gaze fell upon Lin Ye's receding back, narrowing slightly.

"This boy clearly chose the most ordinary Azure Origin Technique, yet that trace of aura just now..."

The old man pondered for a moment, eventually shook his head, and withdrew his gaze.