Chu Feng: Setting a Small Goal-Taking First Place in the Outer Sect Competition

"The Outer Academy Competition is a chance for that kid Xiao Chen to show his face. As long as he gets a good ranking, I can sweet-talk a few disciples into joining me."

After muttering to himself, Chu Feng returned to his room and took out his fishing tackle. He would make red-braised fish for dinner tonight.

Beneath the waterfall, Xiao Chen was still training hard.

Ever since he had comprehended sword intent beneath the waterfall, Xiao Chen had considered it his blessed land, so he had made it his place of cultivation.

He began cultivating Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin, following the manual his master had given him.

The days passed, and ten days later...

Xiao Chen's eyes snapped open. He formed swords with two fingers on each hand, crossed them before him, and slashed fiercely in every direction.

In an instant, countless streams of Sword Qi burst from his body.

Rumble!

A tremendous roar rang out.

Water sprayed everywhere, and the waterfall flowed backward!

Xiao Chen leaped out of the water and murmured, "So this is Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin? It really is profound, and it's stronger than every sword technique I've cultivated before.

"I'll tell Master this good news right away."

After muttering to himself, he flew swiftly toward the courtyard where his master lived.

At that moment, Chu Feng was lying in a wicker chair, basking leisurely in the sun.

"Ding! The host's disciple has successfully cultivated Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin. The host receives a tenfold reward-Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin at Great Perfection."

As the voice rang out, images of that figure cultivating Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin appeared in Chu Feng's mind.

By the time the images ended, Chu Feng had completely mastered the technique.

"System, I can learn this without crippling my own cultivation?"

"Rewards from this system are exempt from all side effects," the system's mechanical voice rang out again.

"System buddy, nicely done."

Chu Feng couldn't help praising it in his mind, but unfortunately, the system gave him no response.

As a mature host, Chu Feng was already used to the system's tsundere ways.

He shifted into another position and continued lying in the wicker chair.

A short while later, a rustle of footsteps came from outside.

"Your disciple Xiao Chen requests an audience, Master."

"Come in."

Chu Feng spoke the words calmly.

Creak!

Xiao Chen pushed the door open and entered. He respectfully saluted Chu Feng and said, "Master, your disciple has successfully cultivated Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin."

"Mm, I know. Did you come to see me just to tell me that?"

Chu Feng asked lightly.

Xiao Chen scratched his head. "I did run into some problems while cultivating Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin. When I use Sword Rushing Through Disabled Acupoints, a tremendous suction force suddenly arises inside me, and I feel an impulse to absorb other people's cultivation."

Chu Feng smiled. "That's normal. Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin has two parts.

"Ten Thousand Qi Self-Generation is a gradual cultivation method. Although you must first cripple your cultivation, a stream of Sword Qi can arise on its own within your body, helping you control swords, invigorate your spirit, heal injuries, and protect your heart meridian. From the look of you now, you've already converted that Sword Qi into spiritual power, haven't you?"

Cultivation for practitioners on the Profound Heaven Continent was itself a process of absorbing the Qi of heaven and earth and converting it into their own spiritual power.

Ten Thousand Qi Self-Generation simply produced Qi within the body by a different method.

Xiao Chen nodded. "Master, you have a discerning eye."

Chu Feng continued, "Sword Rushing Through Disabled Acupoints, on the other hand, requires you to absorb outsiders' spiritual power to open your own disabled acupoints. It's used specifically to defeat enemies and protect yourself in a crisis, and the spiritual power you absorb can also be used to heal injuries. Once you've used the absorbed spiritual power, you must immediately expel whatever remains. Otherwise, the residual foreign spiritual power will surely turn against you and harm your body."

"So that's how it is. Thank you for the lesson, Master."

After hearing Chu Feng's words, all the doubts in Xiao Chen's heart were swept away, and the look he gave Chu Feng grew even more respectful.

"By the way, what are your plans next?"

Chu Feng asked.

Xiao Chen said, "Master, I plan to go down the mountain and gain some experience, and see whether I can find any opportunities."

"Good. Reading ten thousand books can't compare to traveling ten thousand miles. It's good to go down the mountain and gain some experience."

Chu Feng continued, "But you can only go down the mountain for two months this time. The Outer Sect Grand Competition is coming up soon, and our Miscellaneous Dao Institute will be taking part too."

A hint of excitement appeared on Xiao Chen's face when he heard this.

"I understand. I'll definitely return before the competition, and I absolutely won't make you lose face, Master."

Chu Feng said casually, "Then let's set a small goal. First place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Chen was stunned by his master's words. He froze on the spot, not knowing what to say.

Chu Feng smiled. "What is it? You don't believe in yourself, or you don't believe in me?"

Xiao Chen scratched his head awkwardly. "Master, I just haven't emerged from the shadow of what happened before."

Chu Feng said, "Then this Outer Sect Grand Competition will be the battle where you prove yourself, and where our Miscellaneous Dao Institute proves itself too. You have to believe that you're no worse than anyone else!"

Seeing how highly his master valued him, Xiao Chen was deeply moved. His expression grew especially resolute as he said,

"I'll give it my all! I definitely won't let you down, Master!"

After giving his disciple a shot of chicken blood, Chu Feng patted him on the shoulder. "All right, go down the mountain and gain some experience."

"I'll take my leave, Master."

With that, Xiao Chen turned and left.

Chu Feng watched Xiao Chen's retreating figure and thought, I wonder what opportunities that kid will encounter down the mountain.

He walked back to the wicker chair and lay down to continue basking in the sun.

After leaving the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, Xiao Chen didn't go down the mountain immediately. Instead, he changed his clothes and waited until nightfall before quietly leaving Dao-Seeking Academy.

Since he intended to take first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition, he couldn't expose his true strength before it began.

Otherwise, people would set their sights on him. "Xiao Chen the waste" was his best camouflage for now.

At dawn.

Xiao Chen had already left the Dao Inquiry School and arrived at Dao-Seeking City at the foot of the mountain.

The city was under the Dao Inquiry School's jurisdiction.

Most of its residents were relatives of Dao-Seeking Academy disciples or students who had come seeking instruction but failed to gain admission.

Xiao Chen was now wrapped from head to toe in a black cloak. Even his former fellow disciples would have had trouble recognizing him at a glance.

Xiao Chen went to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion in Dao-Seeking City, intending to take on some tasks there to gain experience.

As soon as he entered, he heard the people around him discussing the upcoming Outer Academy Competition.

"The Dao Inquiry School's Outer Sect Grand Competition starts in a little over two months. Who do you think will take the top spot this time?"

"Lin Qingyu of the Sword Dao Institute, of course. He and Xiao Chen were known as the two prodigies of the Sword Dao Institute's outer academy. Now that Xiao Chen, the chief disciple, has been crippled, who else can stand against Lin Qingyu?"

"..."

Xiao Chen paid the crowd no mind. Instead, he walked over to the task board and began carefully choosing a task.

He soon settled on a bounty task. When he accepted it, he deliberately made up a false identity.

The Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion had no particular requirements for people who accepted tasks. As long as they completed a task, they could collect the bounty, which made things much more convenient for Xiao Chen.

After accepting the task, Xiao Chen quietly left the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion...