The Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples had dedicated residences: ten separate mountain peaks, to distinguish their status.
This treatment was even better than that of Inner Sect disciples.
After all, Inner Sect disciples could not have a mountain peak to themselves.
But the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples could.
After all, the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples were the face of the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect.
They were the foremost figures among tens of thousands of Outer Sect disciples.
They truly drew the eyes of all!
At this moment, Luo Feng sat cross-legged within the tenth mountain peak.
Several Outer Sect disciples stood before him as well.
Every one of them was a renowned Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer disciple in the Outer Sect.
"Senior Brother Luo Feng, Zhang Su's letter of challenge has already been delivered. What do you think?"
Someone spoke up and asked.
"Zhang Su..."
Luo Feng murmured under his breath.
He held a letter of challenge in his hand.
In truth, Luo Feng knew that anyone eyeing a position among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples would try to challenge him.
After all, he was the "gatekeeper" among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
Luo Feng had long since grown sick of being ranked tenth.
He had struggled before as well.
He had tried to challenge the person ranked ninth.
Unfortunately, he had failed.
But even if he could only barely hold onto tenth place among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, that did not make him a soft persimmon anyone could squeeze.
"I accept this challenge!"
Luo Feng said bluntly.
"Senior Brother Luo Feng, they say Zhang Su has even mastered an unparalleled sword art, the Light Shadow Killing Sword. You must make proper preparations."
"The Light Shadow Killing Sword? I know a little about it, so naturally I will prepare accordingly. And this time, I will make everyone understand the price they must pay for daring to challenge me!"
A trace of killing intent flashed through Luo Feng's eyes.
Challenging one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples was different from an ordinary fight.
In fights between ordinary disciples, crippling or killing was forbidden.
But challenging the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples meant entering the Life and Death Arena, within the sect's permitted bounds.
Casualties and deaths were allowed.
Luo Feng had already made up his mind.
This time, he would slaughter!
He would ruthlessly intimidate those restless fools who wanted to challenge him.
He would tell every Outer Sect disciple that he was no soft persimmon!
If they wanted to challenge him, they had better be prepared to die!
Time passed day by day.
After Luo Feng accepted Zhang Su's challenge letter, the atmosphere in the Outer Sect changed.
As time went on, the news fermented and grew ever larger.
It had practically become the focus of all attention.
Nearly every Outer Sect disciple was discussing it.
Would Luo Feng prove superior and keep his position among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples?
Or would Zhang Su be stronger, stepping on Luo Feng to become one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples?
No one knew.
But everyone looked forward to it.
However, the clamor outside had no effect whatsoever on Zhang Su.
Because ever since he taught Liang Zitao a lesson that day, he had shut himself in his room to cultivate bitterly and had not stepped outside even once.
Whatever needed handling was entrusted to Chu Dachuan and the other two.
Zhang Su simply focused on swallowing Blood Replenishing Pills and cultivating his Blood Qi.
Four Blood Qi Pills a day allowed him to cultivate eight strands of Blood Qi through the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique.
Such speed was simply astonishing.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
Whoosh.
Zhang Su opened his eyes.
"304 strands of Blood Qi..."
Zhang Su murmured softly.
Over ten days, he had gained eighty strands of Blood Qi. Added to his previous 224 strands, his total Blood Qi had exceeded three hundred strands.
That was an extremely impressive number.
Among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, possessing two hundred to three hundred strands of Blood Qi was commonplace.
Even among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, having more than three hundred strands of Blood Qi was relatively rare.
With 304 strands of Blood Qi alone, Zhang Su already ranked among the outstanding figures of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
And this was not even his limit.
He still had plenty of Blood Replenishing Pills left—one hundred and twenty of them.
However, the time had come.
Today was the day he would challenge Luo Feng.
Zhang Su rose to his feet.
Chu Dachuan, Zhao Feng, and Du Tian had long since made their preparations.
There was even an intense fire in their eyes, carrying a trace of anticipation.
They had surely waited for this day for a long time.
Following Zhang Su and following one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples were entirely different matters.
Once Zhang Su succeeded in his challenge and became one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, their own status would rise like a boat lifted by the tide.
How could they not be excited?
In contrast, Zhang Su, the person at the heart of it all, was exceptionally calm.
After breakfast, Zhang Su changed into a brand-new set of Outer Sect disciple robes.
Even the Lengshuang Sword had been polished clean by Chu Dachuan and the other two.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
The three stepped aside and followed behind Zhang Su as they headed toward the Outer Sect Life-Death Arena.
At this moment, the area around the Life and Death Arena was packed three layers deep inside and three layers deep outside, so crowded that not even water could flow through.
Most were Outer Sect disciples, who had arrived early to secure good positions near the Life and Death Arena, eagerly awaiting this spectacular battle.
But it was not only Outer Sect disciples.
In fact, some Inner Sect disciples had come as well.
After all, the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples represented the highest honor of the Outer Sect.
Those who could become Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples and then advance into the Inner Sect would still be among the best in the Inner Sect.
No one would overlook the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.
Several Inner Sect disciples stood in the distance, gazing at the Life and Death Arena and occasionally speaking among themselves.
"This contest for a position among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples seems quite interesting. The challenger is an Outer Sect disciple who joined only a little over a year ago. Moreover, he failed to cultivate Blood Qi throughout that entire first year, yet after changing cultivation techniques, he advanced by leaps and bounds in a short time and has now reached the point where he can challenge the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples."
"It truly is somewhat inconceivable. I heard that this Zhang Su has even mastered the unparalleled sword art, the Light Shadow Killing Sword. I do not know whether he has brought it to perfection, but he has at least reached great mastery."
"An unparalleled sword art... it is far too difficult! He actually mastered it? His talent for sword arts must be extraordinarily high. What a pity he is overage..."
Being overage was a major flaw.
Being overage often meant one's talent was insufficient.
Having talent only in martial techniques merely meant strong combat ability.
It was equivalent to being a powerful enforcer.
But if one could not advance in cultivation, one could not receive the sect's focused training.
These Inner Sect disciples understood this point all too well.
There were differences among Inner Sect disciples as well.
In fact, the differences could be as vast as heaven and earth!
Many Outer Sect disciples believed that once they developed Internal Force and advanced into the Inner Sect, everyone would be about the same, standing on the same starting line.
In reality, the gap within the Inner Sect was beyond imagination.
Many people had shone brilliantly in the Outer Sect.
Yet after entering the Inner Sect, they faded into the crowd completely within just a few years.
"No matter what, I have long yearned to see the unparalleled sword art, the Light Shadow Killing Sword. This time, I finally have a chance to witness it..."
These Inner Sect disciples had come to watch because they were very interested in both sides.
Before long, Luo Feng arrived.
He walked directly onto the arena, then sat cross-legged there, quietly waiting.
He showed no concern at all for the discussions outside.
Time passed bit by bit.
About the time it took for one incense stick to burn.
Three figures slowly approached from the distance.
When they saw those three figures, many Outer Sect disciples perked up.
Because Zhang Su had arrived!
Everyone quickly made way for him.
Countless gazes fell upon Zhang Su.
Many people were seeing Zhang Su for the first time.
They had only heard of Zhang Su's various deeds before.
But they had never actually seen him.
Now, they finally did.
Dressed in white robes and holding a longsword, he possessed a gentle air.
He did not look like a martial artist at all. Instead, he resembled a frail scholar.
"So he is Zhang Su?"
"Truly... one cannot judge a person by appearance. I heard he is quite ruthless when he acts."
"Zhang Su is finally here. He looks rather calm, but the person he is challenging is Senior Brother Luo Feng, one of the genuine Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples. This is no small matter. I wonder whether he can succeed?"
As Zhang Su walked step by step onto the arena.
The discussions around him gradually fell silent.
Zhang Su saw Luo Feng seated cross-legged opposite him.
It was also Zhang Su's first time seeing Luo Feng.
"Actually, you are afraid."
Zhang Su suddenly spoke.
Whoosh.
Luo Feng instantly opened his eyes.
His gaze was filled with icy indifference.
"I am one of the dignified Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples. Would I fear a disciple who joined only a little over a year ago?"
Luo Feng sneered.
"If you were not afraid, why did you have Liang Zitao deal with Chu Dachuan and the others, trying to disturb my state of mind?"
"Whether you are afraid or not, only you yourself know."
"However, none of that matters now. Since we have stepped onto the arena, let the swords in our hands do the talking!"
Luo Feng's eyes narrowed slightly at those words.
He immediately became wary of Zhang Su.
He slowly rose to his feet.
His hand gripped the hilt of his sword.
For a moment, the entire arena was filled with an icy, murderous aura!
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