Junior Brother, Can You Really Keep Going?

As the years turned, the year's end arrived again in the blink of an eye. The Longevity Points were still added to his mana.

Chen Xun led Big Black Ox and brought medicinal herbs to the Sect Main Hall, where he steadily collected 200 contribution points.

"Old Ox, save them. No spending anymore—we're entering the Sect Competition!" Chen Xun carefully placed the Trigram Token into his Storage Bag.

"Moo!" Big Black Ox was overjoyed.

Chen Xun registered himself and Big Black Ox as well. There was now an extra talisman in his hand; when the time came, it would tell him which Combat Arena to head towards.

A few days later, the Bell Sound rang out. The competition mountain was packed with people, as lively and bustling as in previous years.

However, Ge Shuang and Bai Shi did not participate this year. He heard that some elder had taken them in as disciples, and they had become Inner Sect Disciples.

"The Sect Competition officially begins!" A vast voice echoed through every corner.

The talisman in Chen Xun's hand lit up. He immediately looked towards one of the arenas, then led Big Black Ox over, eager to give it a try.

On the arena stood an Qi Condensation Eighth Layer disciple named Zhang Song. Surprise flashed in his eyes. The man opposite him was also at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer and even had a spirit beast with him. This looked to be a hard battle.

"This Senior Brother, please go easy on me. I only just broke through to the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer."

Chen Xun chuckled, his eyes full of vigilance. These disciples had strange methods and numerous spells; he could not afford to be careless.

From his observations over the previous year, he had found that reaching the top five hundred at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer was fairly safe and would not draw attention.

"Of course. The Sect Competition ends at the first touch; I will not harm Junior Brother's life."

Zhang Song wore an odd expression. This man and ox were both wearing straw hats, making for a truly comical and strange sight.

"Senior Brother, shall we begin?"

"Mm..."

Zhang Song was slightly speechless. This man had three Mountain-Splitting Axes hanging at his waist. One glance showed they were forged from ordinary iron, not even magical artifacts. Still, he could not underestimate his opponent.

His gaze gradually sharpened. His two fingers suddenly flicked in rapid succession, and streams of water vapor abruptly formed into ice crystals, flowing like drifting clouds and running water as they trailed countless afterimages.

Ice Cones shot towards Chen Xun. Big Black Ox was only at Qi Condensation Stage 3, so Zhang Song targeted its master instead—capture the bandits first by capturing their king.

"Powerful!" Chen Xun shouted as he continuously dodged, fleeing in a wretched scramble under pursuit. "Worthy of Senior Brother!"

The Ice Cones nearly struck Chen Xun every time, but with a shift of his feet, he narrowly avoided them again. The spirit beast fled alongside him without pause.

"Junior Brother, you should stop dodging." Zhang Song remained unmoving, his finger techniques growing faster and faster as the Ice Cones came from increasingly tricky angles.

Chen Xun drew a Mountain-Splitting Axe and split one apart with a swing, then resumed his constant evasions. His entire body was drenched in sweat, and his eyes brimmed with terror.

"Junior Brother, how long are you planning to keep dodging?!"

Impatience showed on Zhang Song's face. Why could he never hit him? The mana within his body had already been greatly depleted. "I won't hold back anymore!"

As soon as the words fell, veins bulged on Zhang Song's forehead. His palms and fingers struck together, and a glint of brilliance appeared in his eyes.

Several ice blades appeared out of thin air at that moment, slashing at Chen Xun without warning. Zhang Song stepped forward with his sword in hand, following behind the ice blades and sealing off every route of retreat.

"Too terrifying." Chen Xun and Big Black Ox shrank back and vanished on the spot.

Zhang Song's pupils contracted. Both he and his spells struck empty air.

"Fireball Spell!" Chen Xun shouted, and several small fireballs shot towards him. Zhang Song's gaze sharpened as he swept a hand behind him, summoning Ice Cones.

A large pool of water was melted into existence at the center of the arena. Zhang Song now knew this opponent was troublesome; defeating him with spells would likely be difficult.

The two swiftly tangled in battle on the arena, locked in a fierce and indecisive fight. Zhang Song was frantic within. Why couldn't he hit him?!

Big Black Ox watched the show from the side, repeatedly crying "Moo Moo" as though cheering him on. On other arenas, some people had already won two matches.

After fighting for more than Half an Hour, Zhang Song was drenched in sweat. Chen Xun also sat on the ground, gasping heavily, as if he would be unable to hold on the Next Moment.

"I can only use my trump card. I never expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent in the first match of the competition."

Hesitation filled Zhang Song's face, but he did not wish to waste any more time. He slapped his Storage Bag, and several formation flags landed in the four directions.

A fierce gust suddenly swept through. Before Zhang Song Had Not Yet Realized what was happening, two of his formation flags were pulled out... pulled away?!

Hey, a sneak attack!

A Black Figure lunged in. Big Black Ox violently rammed him, sending Zhang Song flying through the air with a bewildered expression before he crashed heavily outside the arena.

"Who am I? Where am I?! What just happened?!"

Zhang Song cried out in pain, his eyes still filled with confusion. He looked at Chen Xun, a giant question mark written across his face.

"Senior Brother, you let me win, you let me win." Chen Xun staggered off the arena and returned the formation flags to him, an embarrassed smile still on his lips.

"Junior Brother, that truly was incredible speed."

Zhang Song took a step back and accepted the formation flags. Fear flashed in his eyes. Could that speed really be fast enough to interrupt spellcasting?!

"I only won through a trick. Without the arena restrictions, how could Junior Brother be Senior Brother's match?"

"Hehe, Junior Brother is too modest." Zhang Song shook his head. He had actually encountered something so absurd.

Chen Xun walked with difficulty to an arena steward and respectfully said, "Martial Uncle, this disciple wishes to continue."

"Mm." Martial Uncle answered indifferently, sending a stream of mana into Chen Xun's Yellow Talisman. He would battle the winner of the first round again.

In the second round, he faced a cold-faced disciple named Liu Tao, who was actually at the Qi Condensation Ninth Layer.

"Junior Brother, it is still not too late to admit defeat. You can spare yourself the pain of flesh and bone."

Liu Tao looked expressionlessly at Chen Xun and Big Black Ox. One look showed that the latter was in very poor condition.

"Then please, Senior Brother... instruct me." Chen Xun forced a smile and even sat down cross-legged, seemingly recovering his mana.

"Hmph, you don't know what's good for you."

Liu Tao raised a hand, and a massive black ring appeared. It expanded from small to large as it continuously revolved in midair. A black wind howled, seeming to lock onto Chen Xun.

The massive black ring suddenly trembled and shot straight at Chen Xun—a mid-grade Yellow-rank killing artifact!

A cold glint flashed in Chen Xun's eyes. He left an afterimage where he stood, but the giant ring seemed to possess a lock-on of its own as it relentlessly pursued him.

"Junior Brother, if you can't hold on, it is still not too late to admit defeat." Liu Tao sneered as he watched Chen Xun flee in disarray, while his hand movements did not slow in the slightest.

He raised his right hand and swept it out. Golden light flashed from the massive ring as it grew another size larger and descended from above Chen Xun.

"Worthy of a Senior Brother at the Qi Condensation Ninth Layer." Chen Xun did not forget to praise him before suddenly throwing a punch that smashed fiercely into the giant ring!

Just then, sudden Changes arose!

Clang! A violent collision rang out. The punch dimmed the giant ring's golden light considerably. Chen Xun seized that brief pause and ran again.

Liu Tao's expression changed drastically, and extreme shock filled his eyes. The artifact appeared unharmed to outsiders, but he clearly heard the internal reverberations.

His expression gradually turned solemn. Although this Junior Brother was in terrible condition, as though he had just gone through a fierce battle and Had Not Yet recovered, he could no longer underestimate him.

"Fireball Spell!" Chen Xun formed a hand seal, and several small fireballs surged towards Liu Tao.

Disdain filled Liu Tao's eyes. A low-grade spell like Fireball Spell dared to show off before an expert? He opened his mouth wide and roared, "Flame Fire Spell!"

Flames blazed across the arena, instantly swallowing the small fireballs. Chen Xun suddenly charged out of the sea of fire, a Mountain-Splitting Axe in hand as he chopped at Liu Tao!

Liu Tao snorted coldly and summoned a longsword. The arena fell into fierce battle again. Liu Tao pressed forward step by step, beating Chen Xun back in steady retreat.

Half an Hour later, Liu Tao was sweating profusely. Even channeling his mana had become much weaker, and his face was full of rage.

"Junior Brother, can you really keep going?!"

"I... I'm fine." Chen Xun replied weakly, looking as though he would collapse the Next Moment.

Liu Tao's mana was nearly depleted, and his Eye Sockets bulged wide. Why was Chen Xun always just one step faster than him? His mind was now severely exhausted.