Hearing True Person Tianbo's announcement, the disciples of the Seven Outer Courtyards were all stirred with excitement.
Seven Courtyards' area.
Elder Liu Mu wore a gratified expression.
This time, no fewer than three people from the Seven Courtyards had made it into the top twenty on the points leaderboard.
One had to know that in the last Outer Courtyard Grand Competition, Qingyang had been the only one.
But this time, aside from Qingyang,
Chen Changqing and Liu Ruyan had also entered the top twenty.
Moreover, Chen Changqing ranked second on the points leaderboard.
Such a record was unprecedented for the Seven Courtyards.
Never before had a disciple of the Seven Courtyards climbed so high on the points leaderboard.
"How did that girl Ruyan get into the top twenty?"
The more Elder Liu Mu thought about it, the more he frowned slightly, unconsciously casting a glance at Liu Ruyan.
After seeing that she too had entered the top twenty on the points leaderboard, Liu Ruyan's heart surged with excitement.
After all, this meant she could advance to become an Inner Sect disciple.
With her half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation, her chances of entering the top twenty on the points leaderboard had originally been slim to none.
But earlier in the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had helped her seize quite a few points from disciples of other courtyards.
Thinking of this, Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes shifted, and she gazed affectionately at Chen Changqing.
At this moment, Chen Changqing stood calmly in place, as steady as a mountain and as still as an abyss.
"Second on the points leaderboard?"
Chen Changqing muttered to himself, not paying much attention to the ranking.
After all, after intercepting Li Yang and the others' fortuitous opportunity, he had been teleported into True Person Qingxu's cave abode and obtained the inheritance of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique.
Afterward, he had remained idle-farming in cultivation and had not gone to seize any more points.
Otherwise, taking first place on the points leaderboard would not have been difficult.
"The first round was entering the Void Realm to slay Realm Beasts."
"What about the second round?"
Chen Changqing pondered.
Just then, True Person Tianbo continued his announcement:
"The ultimate victor of this Outer Sect Grand Competition."
"This Peak Master will bestow upon him a share of insight into heaven and earth."
As he spoke, True Person Tianbo stood with his hands behind his back. His robes fluttered without wind, while the laws of heaven and earth faintly circulated around him.
The moment these words fell, the entire venue erupted!
"What?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"Insight from a Nascent Soul powerhouse?"
"This... this is simply a heaven-sent opportunity!"
"With such insight to guide one, cultivation in the future would surely yield twice the result with half the effort."
"..."
The disciples below the stage were all shaken.
None of them had expected the final reward of this competition to be a share of insight into heaven and earth from a Nascent Soul powerhouse.
At the same time, the elders of the various outer courtyards all changed expression.
"Nascent Soul Insight!"
Only upon reaching the Nascent Soul level could one communicate with heaven and earth and comprehend divine abilities.
One had to know that this was insight touching upon the laws of heaven and earth, a fortune that even Golden Core cultivators dreamed of!
And now it was to be bestowed upon Foundation Establishment disciples?
A fiery gleam flashed through Elder Liu Mu's eyes at the sight.
He thought that if he could obtain a share of a Nascent Soul Cultivator's insight into heaven and earth, he might find the opportunity to break through into the Purple Mansion Realm.
Chen Changqing stood among the Seven Courtyards' ranks with an utterly calm expression.
"Nascent Soul Insight?"
"It seems quite a lot of people are coveting it!"
As he spoke, Chen Changqing secretly smiled and muttered to himself:
"So what if the insight is powerful? It still belongs to someone else, doesn't it?"
"Besides, it really isn't of much use to me."
"Could it possibly be better than the system's idle cultivation?"
Of course, Chen Changqing knew as well.
Though he had no need for it, the other disciples' eyes had already turned red with envy.
Just then, True Person Tianbo's voice rang out again:
"This second round of the Outer Sect Grand Competition will use arena battles."
With a sweep of True Person Tianbo's sleeve, a massive White Jade Arena rose from the ground. Runes flickered around it, forming a sturdy barrier.
Rumble!
"The rules of the arena battles are simple: the victor remains, the defeated withdraws."
"Whoever stands until the end will receive the insight!"
Looking at the White Jade Arena that had appeared in the center of the plaza, many disciples' eyes burned brightly.
Yet although the disciples from each courtyard who had entered the top twenty on the points leaderboard were excited, no one was the first to step onto the arena.
After all, in their view, the earlier one went up, the greater the disadvantage.
To claim first place in the second round, one would need to defeat the remaining nineteen people.
Hmph!
Seeing that no one had stepped onto the arena for a long while, a cold snort came from the Fifth Courtyard's area.
When they looked again, a young man had already leaped onto the arena. His aura was dense and powerful, and he was clearly at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
"Lv Tianlei of the Fifth Courtyard!"
"Which of you wishes to offer guidance?"
After taking the stage, Lv Tianlei swept his gaze around, his fighting intent soaring.
"Jiang An of the Third Courtyard, here to seek instruction!"
Suddenly, a response came from the Third Courtyard's area.
The next moment, a refined and elegant man flew onto the arena.
His cultivation was the same as Lv Tianlei's—Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
"So it is Senior Brother Jiang. Please!"
The moment his words fell, Lv Tianlei did not wait for Jiang An to respond before attacking directly.
Boom!
Seeing this, Jiang An smiled faintly before meeting the attack head-on.
The two clashed in an instant. Spiritual power collided, and waves of air churned violently!
Lv Tianlei's fist techniques were fierce and forceful, each strike carrying the weight of a mountain.
Meanwhile, Jiang An's movement technique was elusive and uncanny. With hand seals formed at his fingertips, countless wind blades poured down like a torrential rain!
Pfft!
In the end, Lv Tianlei carelessly revealed an opening and was struck in the chest by a wind blade Jiang An unleashed. He spat blood as he flew backward and fell from the arena!
"Jiang An of the Third Courtyard wins!"
The referee elder announced loudly.
After defeating Lv Tianlei, Jiang An smiled smugly and swept his gaze across the outer courtyards.
"Who wishes to offer guidance?"
"Zhou Kuang of the Second Courtyard!"
Immediately afterward, a burly man laughed wildly as he climbed onto the arena.
Boom!
His aura burst forth, and his cultivation was unexpectedly also at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
Next, Zhou Kuang and Jiang An began a fierce battle.
At the beginning, Jiang An was suppressed by Zhou Kuang's violent spiritual power.
But he gradually adjusted afterward.
In the end, he blasted Zhou Kuang off the arena with a single strike.
After losing, Zhou Kuang gnashed his teeth in fury, wishing he could return to the arena and fight Jiang An again.
On the stage, Jiang An smiled smugly and cupped his hands toward Zhou Kuang.
"Senior Brother Zhou Kuang, thank you for yielding!"
Zhou Kuang was so furious that he ignored Jiang An. With a sweep of his sleeve, he returned to the Second Courtyard's area.
Then Jiang An swept his gaze about, looking over the areas of the various courtyards below the stage before speaking again:
"Is there anyone else who wishes to offer guidance?"
In the Seven Courtyards' area, a trace of resolve flashed through Liu Ruyan's eyes upon hearing this.
"Liu Ruyan of the Seven Courtyards!"
Immediately afterward, a graceful figure floated onto the arena. Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her gaze was cold and clear.
"Oh?"
"So it is Junior Sister Liu from the Seven Courtyards."
Jiang An smiled at Liu Ruyan. He had naturally heard of this cold beauty from the Seven Courtyards.
Yet after sensing Liu Ruyan's cultivation strength, Jiang An could not help but sneer.
"Junior Sister Liu, why don't you just admit defeat?"
"With half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation, you are no match for me."
Seeing Jiang An look down on her so much, a fierce glint flashed through Liu Ruyan's eyes. Without another word, she drew her sword and attacked.
Bang!
But against Jiang An, who was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage,
Liu Ruyan was simply no match for him.
Before they had exchanged many blows, she was sent flying off the arena by Jiang An's punch.
Before you continue