Xiao Chen, I've Found Your Weakness!

The following afternoon.

The Dao-Seeking Academy's square was a sea of people.

Everyone had gathered around a single arena to watch the first match of the quarterfinals: Xiao Chen against Tang Feng.

Starting with the top ten, all the disciples fought in the same arena, so that everyone could watch the experts face off.

In the arena.

Tang Feng was in a sorry state, his magic robe riddled with holes.

He looked at Xiao Chen, who stood motionless a short distance away with a longsword in hand. Though his heart was filled with unwillingness, he still closed his eyes and spoke:

"I lost."

Hearing this, the referee shouted, "The winner of this match is Xiao Chen!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd below the arena.

"Senior Brother Xiao is so strong! He beat Senior Brother Tang in just three sword strikes!"

"Senior Brother Xiao, take first place!"

"..."

Tang Feng walked down from the arena looking utterly dejected. He had paid a considerable price for this battle.

Besides a supreme-grade Vajra Talisman, he had brought a high-grade defensive magic artifact, and even the clothes he wore were a middle-grade magic robe.

Even so, against Xiao Chen, he had lasted only three sword strikes before both the Vajra Talisman and the high-grade defensive magic artifact were destroyed.

Not far from the arena.

Lin Qingyu and Jin Gang had also been watching the fight.

Both regarded the freak Xiao Chen as their strongest opponent.

"Jin Gang, are you confident you can defeat Xiao Chen in tomorrow's match?" Lin Qingyu asked first.

"Of course. Xiao Chen may look like he'll slay any god or Buddha who stands in his way, but his weakness has also been exposed."

Jin Gang spoke with a confident expression.

Lin Qingyu smiled. "It seems you noticed too. All three of Xiao Chen's strikes were basic sword moves, and they were all the same move, Sword Swing Form. It seems that's the only sword move he learned at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."

"As expected of you. You spotted Xiao Chen's weakness after only three strikes. Unfortunately, first place in this competition is mine."

With that, Jin Gang turned and left.

Lin Qingyu watched his departing figure, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he thought:

Jin Gang, I'd like to see just what method you come up with to block Xiao Chen's Sword Qi.

Once you've both suffered heavy injuries, first place in the outer court competition will be mine.

The big shots in the stands had also noticed Xiao Chen's shortcoming, but none of them intended to point it out.

They were all competing in secret, hoping to take Xiao Chen under their own tutelage.

Xiao Chen's shortcoming was a good thing for them, as it would let them devise ways to address it and attract him.

In the arena, the quarterfinals continued.

There were no upsets. Lin Qingyu, Jin Gang, and Mo Qingwu advanced smoothly to the semifinals.

The result was just as everyone had expected.

The followers of Lin Qingyu and the others had already begun to cheer. They had even decided where to drink and celebrate after their champions won.

As the saying went, some rejoiced while others grieved.

At the Pill Dao Institute.

Cao Youqian, his face full of worry, went to find his ancestor.

"Your great-grandson pays his respects, Ancestor."

The Profound Fire Pill King looked at the youngster before him, who seemed to have been carved from the same mold as his younger self, and his mood immediately brightened.

"Little Qian, what brings you to see your ancestor today? Have you decided to break through to the True Fate Realm?"

As a grandmaster of pill refinement, he could easily provide his descendant with a few pills to break through to the True Fate Realm.

If he was willing to throw pills at him, he could even use them to force his descendant into the Heavenly Origin Realm.

But since the boy had said nothing, he, as his ancestor, naturally would not bring it up.

After all, flowers raised in a greenhouse could not withstand the wind and rain.

"No."

Cao Youqian shook his head, looking miserable. "Ancestor, I came to ask whether Xiao Chen really can take first place in the competition."

"You don't seem to want Xiao Chen to take first place?"

The Profound Fire Pill King looked at his descendant in some surprise.

"To tell you the truth, Ancestor..."

Cao Youqian told the Profound Fire Pill King about the bet Xiao Chen had placed with him.

"That's it?"

The Profound Fire Pill King said irritably, "It's just a few spirit stones. Even if you can't scrape together enough, a word from me could get some of it waived. But you'll have to put up everything you own first, so no one can say our Cao Clan can't afford to lose."

???

Cao Youqian was dumbfounded. Is that my point?

Seeing his grandson like this, the Profound Fire Pill King couldn't help but smile like a doting aunt. "All right, although Xiao Chen seems invincible right now, he won't necessarily take first place.

"If I'm not mistaken, Jin Gang, Lin Qingyu, and Mo Qingwu have already discovered his weakness.

"It'll be hard for Xiao Chen to take first place."

Phew...

Cao Youqian let out a long breath at those words. Even his ancestor said it would be hard, so Xiao Chen had no chance.

"Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor. Your great-grandson will take his leave."

"Mm, you may go."

The Profound Fire Pill King waved him off. Watching his great-grandson leave, he looked thoughtful. Soon, his eyes lit up and a sly old fox's smile appeared on his face.

"If that boy Xiao Chen takes first place, that's what I'll do!"

The following morning.

The semifinals of the outer court competition officially began.

The first match was between Jin Gang and Xiao Chen.

Nearly all the outer court disciples had gathered there.

Even some inner court disciples had appeared in the square.

In the stands, besides the nine chief seats, including Chu Feng, quite a few inner court elders were also present.

It was a battle that had drawn everyone's attention.

The Profound Fire Pill King looked at the two men in the arena and smiled at Chu Feng. "Little Feng, do you think Xiao Chen can advance without trouble in this match?"

Chu Feng smiled in response. "Of course. As long as Little Chen takes it seriously, defeating Jin Gang won't be a problem."

His words instantly drew several angry looks from the Body Cultivation Institute's elders.

Chu Feng paid them no mind and simply sat there quietly drinking tea.

The result would be out soon enough anyway. There was no point trading words now.

In the arena.

Jin Gang cupped his hands and bowed slightly to Xiao Chen, his face full of arrogance. "Brother Xiao, please enlighten me."

Xiao Chen returned the salute. "Brother Jin, please enlighten me."

After the two had bowed, the referee immediately announced, "Begin the match."

Clang!

Xiao Chen drew his longsword in an instant.

A streak of Sword Qi came slashing down.

"Hmph!"

Jin Gang snorted coldly and sank into a horse stance, raising his fists in a starting posture. At the same time, a golden protective shield appeared around him.

Boom!

With just one strike, Jin Gang's Golden Bell Shield shattered.

He was sent staggering back several steps. Just as the Sword Qi was about to strike his body, something unexpected happened.

A golden light instantly enveloped him once more, deflecting the Sword Qi.

"That move again."

Xiao Chen murmured the words and swung his sword again.

Clang! Clang!

Two strikes fell, but the golden light around Jin Gang remained. The corners of his mouth rose slightly. "Xiao Chen, I've found your weakness! Peerless Fist!"

With those words, he thrust both fists out. Terrifying fist force roared toward Xiao Chen, aimed straight at his vital point...