The Inner Sect Grand Competition Begins

When they arrived at the main hall, it was already packed with people, and countless Inner Sect disciples had poured in.

Everyone was filled with anticipation for this mysterious Tenth Elder. Even more shocking was the strength of this Tenth Elder.

As everyone knew, Azure Cloud Sect had only two Golden Core cultivators: one was the Sect Master, and the other was the Supreme Ancestor.

However, neither of them accepted disciples. Now that a Golden Core cultivator had suddenly appeared and begun accepting disciples, everyone was incredibly excited.

"I heard that the Tenth Elder seems to be a female cultivator. I wonder if that's true."

"Who cares whether she's a woman or a man? As long as we can become the Tenth Elder's disciples, it'll be a blessing we could only have earned over ten lifetimes."

At that moment, five streaks of Sword Qi shot over from the horizon, and the five personal disciples arrived one after another.

Seeing the personal disciples make their entrances, quite a few Inner Sect disciples frowned. What the hell are they putting on airs for?

At that moment, a terrifying aura came from above the main hall, and an aged figure appeared overhead.

"It's the Ninth Elder."

At that moment, a disciple spoke in a low voice.

The Ninth Elder was the ninth elder of Azure Cloud Sect's Inner Sect, possessing the terrifying cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

"Everyone, today is the triennial Inner Sect Grand Competition. The Arena has been set up outside the main hall."

"The rules this time are the same as before. It will be a melee, and the ten people who remain on the Arena at the end will be the top ten of this Grand Competition."

"The top ten will each receive different rewards. In the end, the top ten will draw lots and fight one another until the first place is decided."

At that moment, the Ninth Elder began announcing the rules of the competition.

After hearing the rules, all the disciples below erupted into an uproar. The rules this time seemed different from those of previous years.

"Everyone, the Arena has risen. Please enter it. Remember, do not strike to kill."

After the Ninth Elder finished speaking, the ground began to shake. Outside the main hall, an enormous Arena slowly rose from the ground.

The first to ascend the Arena were the five True Disciples. Their graceful figures seemed like exiled immortals descending into the mortal world.

Behind them, the figures of the Inner Sect disciples began leaping onto the Arena. Ye Lin also climbed up, putting on an affected show of effort.

"This time, all five True Disciples are at the Foundation Establishment Realm. There are also three Foundation Establishment senior brothers in the Inner Sect. In other words, only two spots belong to us."

"One of those two spots must be mine."

On the Arena, some disciples spoke up. As long as they managed to get into the top ten, they would receive generous sect rewards. Even if they had to pay a price, they had to force their way in.

"I announce that the Grand Competition begins!"

Once everyone was standing on the Arena, the Ninth Elder let out a thunderous shout. Immediately afterward, the Inner Sect disciples all around began attacking.

Meanwhile, the five True Disciples standing at the very center remained calmly in place. They simply disdained taking action. Surely, no Inner Sect disciple lacking sense would dare provoke them.

"What? You still haven't dealt with that guy? Can you handle it or not?"

At the center of the Arena, a chubby disciple looked at Ye Lin, who stood motionless in the distance, and teased Lin Zisheng beside him.

"It's my business. You don't need to stick your nose into it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zisheng snorted coldly.

"Junior brother, get down!"

At that moment, a loud shout came from beside Ye Lin. A disciple was charging at his shoulder with a Long Sword in hand.

Ye Lin took a step back to evade the Long Sword, then slapped the disciple in front of him and sent him flying off the Arena.

At the same time, an old man with an immortal bearing and a beautiful woman in white palace robes stood in the sky.

"Junior sister, what do you think? Have you found any disciple you like?"

The old man beside her spoke to the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman merely shook her head indifferently. Seeing this, the old man sighed.

However, the battle below had already entered its most heated phase. The various disciples fought one another with all they had, locked in mortal combat.

Throughout it all, Ye Lin barely took action. Yet he could always evade the various attacks from the others, leaving the other disciples baffled.

Time trickled by. Fewer and fewer disciples remained standing on the Arena. By then, only eleven people were left.

"Junior brother, my name is Wang Hu. Get down. Once this is over, I'll reward you handsomely."

A burly man with a back like a tiger and a waist like a bear glanced at the few people before him before turning his gaze back to Ye Lin.

What? They're treating me like a soft persimmon?

Seeing this, Ye Lin muttered inwardly.

"Senior brother, I'm afraid I can't comply."

"In that case, junior brother, you'd better be careful."

After Wang Hu finished speaking, a layer of violet light appeared over his right fist. He punched toward Ye Lin's chest.

"Junior brother, be careful. This is a Yellow Grade upper-grade Thunderbolt Fist."

Wang Hu laughed loudly.

Seeing this, Ye Lin shook his head. Though the punch before him carried tremendous force, in his eyes, it was no different from a child's punch.

To prevent Lin Zisheng from noticing anything amiss, Ye Lin turned slightly and dodged Wang Hu's fist.

Then he grabbed Wang Hu by the shoulder and shoved him forward.

Thud, thud, thud.

Wang Hu's face was filled with astonishment as his feet kept retreating. He only barely stopped when he reached the edge of the Arena, his eyes full of shock.

"Thank you for showing mercy, junior brother."

Wang Hu cupped his fists toward Ye Lin, then turned around and leaped off the Arena.

"What cultivation level does that person have? Wang Hu has remained at Qi Refining Level 9 for three years. Across the entire Inner Sect, there are no more than five people who can force him back head-on at Qi Refining Level 9."

"That junior brother didn't reveal the slightest aura when he acted just now, so I can't see his cultivation. At most, he should also be at Qi Refining Level 9."

Seeing Wang Hu defeated so effortlessly, the Inner Sect disciples watching below began discussing among themselves.

"I announce that the first stage is over. We will now draw lots."

At that moment, the Ninth Elder's voice came from above, hoarse and dry.

A wooden box descended from the sky and arrived before Ye Lin. Ye Lin reached out and caught it. Inside was a slip of paper, and two words were written clearly upon it.

Ren Dong.

"Ren Dong? He seems to be some Inner Sect disciple."

Looking at the slip of paper in his hand, Ye Lin muttered to himself.

At that moment, his heart was filled with battle intent. He dared say that, among those present, only Lin Zisheng could catch his eye. As for the other Foundation Establishment disciples, whether True Disciples or Inner Sect disciples, he could defeat them with ease.

"Since everyone has finished drawing lots, we'll begin the first battle. The personal disciple Lin Zisheng versus the Inner Sect disciple Zhang Lei."

Following the Ninth Elder's thunderous shout, two figures slowly walked onto the Arena.

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating the fight, Zhang Lei voluntarily surrendered. Thus, Lin Zisheng won the battle.

This outcome was only natural. After all, personal disciples possessed numerous methods. Even with equal cultivation, Inner Sect disciples still did not dare provoke personal disciples.

"The second battle: Ye Lin versus Ren Dong."

After the Ninth Elder finished speaking, Ye Lin lifted his foot and stepped onto the Arena. Before him stood a man with a Long Sword strapped to his back and a black cloth covering his eyes.

"Damn, it's Senior Brother Ren! This junior brother is in for it."

"Who says otherwise? Senior Brother Ren honed one sword for ten years. By now, the Sword Qi within the sword behind him has reached perfection. Once it leaves its sheath, even a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator wouldn't be his opponent."

When the Inner Sect disciples below saw Ren Dong, they began discussing animatedly.

"Make your move. I'm afraid that if I strike first, you won't even have a chance to react."

Ren Dong spoke coldly, his tone devoid of the slightest emotion.

What a show-off.

That was Ye Lin's first thought.