The Big Shots Scramble for Him, Xiao Chen Fights His Way into the Top Ten

Damn!

This old fox is making things difficult for me, Chu Feng, plain as day!

After grumbling to himself, Chu Feng said, "Senior, I won't interfere with where Xiao Chen chooses to cultivate after the competition.

"But I have one condition. Seniors, you may try to persuade Xiao Chen to join your institutes, but you must not use force to compel him."

Nobody had expected Chu Feng to be so generous.

They hadn't even had a chance to make threats.

But on second thought, the boy knew nothing about cultivation. Forcing Xiao Chen to stay would only lead the disciple astray.

"Naturally."

The Carefree Sword King spoke with a serious expression. Seeing Chu Feng put the bigger picture first, he felt a little more favorably toward him.

"You've nurtured a prodigy like Xiao Chen. No matter what happens after this competition, your Miscellaneous Dao Institute may remain, and resources will be allocated according to its number of disciples."

"Senior, you are just."

Chu Feng cupped his fists toward him.

The other big shots nearby raised no objections. The Miscellaneous Dao Institute had now proven its reason to exist, and resources would be allocated according to its number of disciples anyway.

If the Miscellaneous Dao Institute had no disciples, there would be no need to allocate it any resources. Keeping it or not would make no difference.

They could all come away with a good reputation as well.

The institute heads had already begun considering what terms they could offer to recruit Xiao Chen.

A prodigy who had comprehended sword intent in the Dao Foundation Realm was a sight seen once in a century, or even a millennium, at the Dao-Seeking Academy.

No price was too great to pay.

Chu Feng, meanwhile, sat as steady as a fisherman on his platform, not the least bit worried that Xiao Chen would leave to become another big shot's disciple.

What he was considering now was what cultivation technique he should make up next for the disciples who would soon come to acknowledge him as their master.

With Xiao Chen as his golden signboard, his Miscellaneous Dao Institute could gain a few more disciples.

If nothing else, the Pill Dao Institute would send one over, guaranteeing him at least ten years of cultivation.

If eight or nine came at once, he would be sitting pretty.

He could gain eighty or ninety years of cultivation in one go. With a century of cultivation at his disposal, even these big shots would have to think twice before making trouble for him.

At that thought, the corners of Chu Feng's mouth involuntarily curved upward.

He glanced at the big shots. You have your eyes on my disciple, but how could I, Chu Feng, not have my eyes on yours?

The Outer Sect Grand Competition continued.

After the top hundred had been decided,

the elimination matches that followed also drew everyone's attention.

Xiao Chen won four matches in a row, fighting his way straight into the top ten. In all four matches, he fought alone with his sword and won cleanly. No matter who he faced, he never needed a second strike, leaving the big shots in the stands deeply satisfied.

The disciples watching below were full of amazement as well. Only those still in the competition began to consider how to deal with Xiao Chen.

By the third round of the top hundred elimination matches, thirteen disciples remained in the competition.

Apart from the lucky one who drew a direct place in the top ten, the remaining twelve would fight in pairs. The winners would advance to the top ten, while the losers could take part in a revival round and still make the top ten if they won.

With the revival round over, the top ten places in the Outer Sect Grand Competition were decided.

Besides Xiao Chen, the three favorites to win before the competition-Lin Qingyu of the Sword Dao Institute, Mo Qingwu of the Spell Dao Institute, and Jin Gang of the Body Cultivation Institute-had all advanced without incident.

The remaining six places went to Tang Feng of the Sword Dao Institute, Liu Xiu of the Beast Taming Institute, Cao Youde of the Pill Dao Institute, Tie Xin of the Artifact Refining Institute, Zhuge Diji u of the Formation Institute, and Chen Xu of the Dharma Cultivation Institute.

In the stands, the Carefree Sword King rose and slowly said, "After several days of fierce competition, the tournament held once every three years is about to enter its most exciting stage, the top ten matches.

"The top three in this competition will not only advance to become inner sect disciples, but will also receive generous rewards. The champion may choose a mid-grade treasure artifact, while second and third place may each choose a low-grade treasure artifact."

The outer sect disciples all looked envious when they heard this.

Let alone a treasure artifact, even a supreme-grade magic artifact would make them too happy to sleep.

They would be afraid that if they had a dream, their supreme-grade magic artifact would disappear.

The ten people on the arena wore a variety of expressions.

Lin Qingyu, Jin Gang, Mo Qingwu, and Xiao Chen all looked determined to win.

Of the other six, some were excited, some were eager to try, and others looked indifferent.

The Carefree Sword King continued, "As always, the elimination matches to narrow the field from ten to eight will be held tomorrow morning, and the quarterfinals will begin in the afternoon. Now, we'll draw lots."

This was to prevent disciples from drawing their way into the finals through sheer luck and then taking advantage of it to claim the championship.

Thus, the top ten matches in the Outer Sect Grand Competition did not consist of paired battles that would leave only five people after one round.

Instead, the three who had advanced through the revival round and the lucky disciple who had gone from the top thirteen straight into the top ten would compete for two places, then contend with the remaining six for the championship.

Elder Changqing began presiding over the draw for the elimination matches and the quarterfinals.

After the draw, everyone dispersed.

Xiao Chen found Chu Feng at once. "Master, I've made it into the top eight."

Chu Feng patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder. "I was right about you after all. Three days from now, I hope to see you take the championship."

"Of course."

Xiao Chen looked confident. Of his opponents in the top eight, only Lin Qingyu, Jin Gang, and Mo Qingwu were worthy of drawing a second strike from him.

And that was without even mentioning his trump card, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin, which he had yet to use.

Chu Feng smiled. "Confidence is good, but you mustn't let your guard down."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Yes, I understand, Master."

Master and disciple left the square as they talked.

After watching the two disappear from sight, Tang Feng began considering how to deal with Xiao Chen the following afternoon.

Although he had to fight Zhuge Diji u of the Formation Institute in the morning, Zhuge Diji u had exhausted himself considerably in the revival round. Barring any surprises, Tang Feng could make it to the next round and face Xiao Chen.

Just then, a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Junior Brother Tang, congratulations on making the top ten."

Tang Feng's expression changed slightly when he heard it. He turned around respectfully and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Lin."

The newcomer was none other than Lin Qingyu, the current chief outer sect disciple of the Sword Dao Institute.

"No need for formalities."

Lin Qingyu smiled. "Are you confident you can force Xiao Chen to use his full strength tomorrow afternoon?"

He had crossed swords with Xiao Chen for years. Before, he could have said he knew Xiao Chen inside and out, but after Xiao Chen went to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, he had become a different person.

Lin Qingyu could no longer quite see through him, and in this Outer Sect Grand Competition, Lin Qingyu was determined to take the championship.

Tang Feng was a clever man. How could he fail to hear what Lin Qingyu was implying? He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm willing to give it my all."

"I believe in you."

Lin Qingyu smiled and said nothing more.

"I'll take my leave."

After paying his respects, Tang Feng turned and left.

The outer institute disciple standing behind Lin Qingyu said, "Senior Brother, Tang Feng has only awakened an acquired physique. He hasn't even comprehended an innate physique or sword intent. Can he really test the full extent of Xiao Chen's strength?"

Lin Qingyu smiled. "It doesn't matter if he can't. Isn't Jin Gang's tortoise shell still there? Sword intent at the second level of the Dao Foundation Realm and a high-grade magic sword alone can't break through Jin Gang's Golden Bell Shield.

"Xiao Chen, this time I'd like to see what surprises you can bring me."