ISWI Chapter 96-100

Chapter 96: Sect Competition!

Nearly four months had passed in the blink of an eye. Winter had arrived, bringing with it days upon days of heavy snow, blanketing Sword Peak in a thick layer of white.

"Young Master, did you really break through? Sometimes I even wonder if you're really a third-grade spiritual root! Your cultivation speed is just as fast as the geniuses!"

Ye Chen was about to leave. His two maids, Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er, had become increasingly competent, carefully adjusting Ye Chen's clothing and appearance.

Ye Chen looked at the two of them, a smile on his face. His breakthrough was entirely due to his own efforts; the system had only provided minimal assistance.

"I managed to break through, but you two also played a huge part."

Hearing this, the two maids didn't blush. Instead, they exchanged flirtatious glances, their eyes glinting with longing as they gazed at Ye Chen. "If that's the case, should we help the Young Master with his cultivation tonight? Tonight, I'll go first. Yesterday, Lin Ke'er got lazy and took my turn, even though it should've been mine."

The two women were no longer as shy as they had been when they first arrived at Green Cloud Sect. They had fully let go of their inhibitions. Their enthusiasm was high. After all, the benefits they received had been numerous. Since becoming Ye Chen's maids, they had access to nearly every kind of medicinal pill they could imagine. Plus, they could enjoy the cultivation benefits of the Stalactite Jade Spirit Bead Bed. Evening training sessions were provided as well.

This treatment was, honestly, better than most disciples at Green Cloud Sect. Their cultivation levels had also skyrocketed, both of them breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Ye Chen smiled lightly at the two women, who were now squabbling over who would go first. He didn't intervene, instead strolling out the door. The reason he didn't cultivate this morning and went straight down the mountain was that today marked the third day of the Sect Competition.

The Sect Competition was the biggest event of the year for Green Cloud Sect. Any disciple who had reached the middle stage of Qi Refining was required to participate. And if they performed well, they might be taken in as a disciple by one of the elders. Even if they weren't selected, anyone who made it into the top hundred would still receive rewards.

Naturally, this made the disciples of Green Cloud Sect extremely enthusiastic. As for Ye Chen, he was determined to win the Foundation Establishment Pill offered as a prize for this year's competition. He certainly wouldn't miss it.

Why was he so confident? Because Ye Chen had the strength.

After breaking through again, Ye Chen had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. As for the Five Elements Pills, he had already consumed them to their limit. His dantian had expanded three times its original size. His spiritual power was now far beyond that of a typical ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. With greater spiritual power, his endurance in battle was significantly stronger.

At the same time, his meridians had been enhanced. The output of his spiritual power was far greater now, making his spells more powerful. Not to mention his magic tools and spells.

Looking across the entire Green Cloud Sect's Qi Refining cultivators, no one could match him. And it wasn't just the Green Cloud Sect. Even in some of the larger sects or even sacred places, finding someone in the Qi Refining stage who could challenge Ye Chen was not an easy task.

Ye Chen was feeling confident, truly confident. Arriving at the sect's plaza, he was greeted by a throng of disciples. Even those who had been eliminated in the past few days had come to watch. The reason Ye Chen arrived on the third day of the competition was due to sect rules.

Direct disciples and those at the ninth level of Qi Refining didn't have to go through the preliminary rounds—they could directly participate in the final selection of the top one hundred. Otherwise, it would be unfair to the regular disciples.

"Junior Brother, you're here?"

Ye Chen looked over at the announcement board posted by the Internal Affairs Hall, eager to see who his opponent would be. It would be perfect if it was Li Xiaoyao. Even though almost half a year had passed, Ye Chen still hadn't forgotten the ridicule Li Xiaoyao had directed at him.

However, before Ye Chen could find his name, a light laugh sounded from behind him. He turned around to see none other than Yao Xi, his senior sister. Her aura was visibly stronger than it had been during the Five Elements Cave competition. Clearly, all the gifts Ye Chen had given her over this period had greatly benefitted her.

"Senior Sister, do you have confidence?" Ye Chen asked, a playful smile on his face.

Yao Xi immediately nodded. "If I face Li Xiaoyao again, I believe I have the strength to fight him now. However, the direct disciples might be a different story. But sometimes, winning first place depends on luck. It's not always the strongest who wins. Still, it's worth competing for. How about you, Junior Brother?"

Yao Xi turned to ask him.

Ye Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. "Since I'm here, of course I'll compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Yao Xi chuckled and covered her mouth, thinking Ye Chen was joking. "In that case, if I face you, Junior Brother, I won't go easy, so don't expect me to go easy on you either."

Ye Chen nodded. If he faced Yao Xi, he definitely wouldn't hold back.

For Ye Chen, even if he didn't take first place, it wouldn't be the end of the world. After all, he wouldn't reach the ninth level of Qi Refining until next year.

Waiting another year wasn't an issue. But when it came to first place, anyone could have it—except for Yao Xi. Because if Yao Xi somehow got lucky, secured first place, and won the Foundation Establishment Pill, breaking through to Foundation Establishment...

What would he do then? No. Yao Xi had to lose.

Yao Xi, unaware of Ye Chen's thoughts, heard her name called by the Internal Affairs Hall, signaling it was time for her match. She smiled and bid Ye Chen farewell.

Ye Chen, meanwhile, continued scanning the list for his name. It didn't take long before he found it. However, when he saw the name of his opponent, a smile spread across his face. His first opponent was Ye Tian. It seemed this guy was actually somewhat impressive. He had made it into the top 100—there was something to him after all!

It was fine though. Ye Tian hadn't been able to adapt to the sect and was always spreading rumors about him. Ye Chen had been planning to give Ye Tian a good lesson for a while.

Just as Ye Chen was lost in thought, Ye Tian's voice came from behind him.

"Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, I saw it, we're opponents!"

Ye Tian looked incredibly excited.

"Indeed, what a coincidence!" Ye Chen replied with a smile, giving off a warm, friendly vibe. "Seventh Brother, let me tell you, I've broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining now. I've been sweeping my way through to the top 100. By rights, I should be aiming for an even higher position, maybe even the top ten. But since we're brothers, I can't ignore family ties.

"As a direct disciple, if you lose in the first round, it will be too embarrassing. So, if you give me a high-quality spirit stone and let me have the Five Elements Cave spot for the next two years, I'll deliberately take it easy in the match… A good performance in the Sect Competition might get us noticed by the elders and earn a chance to be taken in as a disciple. I'm doing so much for you, Seventh Brother, I'm really being generous here!"

Ye Tian leaned in close to Ye Chen and whispered, making Ye Chen's mouth twitch. His so-called "cousin" couldn't stop talking about spirit stones whenever they met.

Ye Chen had long suspected Ye Tian had fallen for a scam. And now, it seemed like that suspicion was right. Though they weren't real cousins, Ye Chen couldn't just watch Ye Tian continue to go down the wrong path.

So, Ye Chen smiled and patted Ye Tian on the shoulder, "Since you called me Seventh Brother, I'll let you have a chance. I'll go easy on you in the match."

With that, Ye Chen leisurely walked towards the arena, preparing to watch Yao Xi's fight.

Ye Tian stood frozen for a moment. A third-grade spiritual root, and a direct disciple, sure. But he gave all the good things to women. What could he possibly use to fight me?

However, since Ye Chen didn't appreciate the offer, Ye Tian thought, it was time to stop showing any mercy. Beating a direct disciple in front of everyone would definitely boost his reputation. He might even catch the eye of an elder and be accepted as a disciple. Once he became an elder's disciple, he could easily get out of paying his debts. And then, let's see if any of those creditors still dared to ask him for spirit stones!

Ye Chen had no idea that Ye Tian's little mind was filled with so many strange thoughts. As Ye Chen walked through the arena, he noticed a lot of people staring at him. Among them was Li Xiaoyao. And there were also some people Ye Chen didn't recognize.

For example, a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, who seemed to be looking at Ye Chen with some displeasure. There were also a few cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, each with three cloud-like patterns on their chest, their expressions full of amusement as they watched him.

Ye Chen could clearly feel their malice. However, he didn't care in the slightest. He didn't even bother trying to figure out who they were.

After all, if you're not envied, you're just mediocre.

Whoever they were, if they crossed paths with him in the arena, all they'd get was a beating. Simple as that!

Chapter 97: Go All In!

"Yao Xi wins!"

"Li Xiaoyao wins!"

"Kong Xiangbei wins!"

"Lin Feng wins!"

"…"

Cultivator battles were usually quite numerous. Especially now, with the competition still being in the 100-to-50 round. The level difference among the disciples was large. Naturally, the matches were decided quickly.

Before long, it was Ye Chen's turn. As soon as Ye Chen stepped onto the stage, he immediately attracted everyone's attention. There weren't many elders present today. Important figures like the Sect Master and Peak Masters didn't attend. They valued their time and would only come on the final day to watch the final matches.

However, Ye Chen had made quite a name for himself. He was known as the most useless direct disciple, and also as the passionate simp. This made everyone curious—just how strong was Ye Chen really? If he couldn't even make it into the top 100-to-50 round, that would truly be humiliating.

On the stage, Elder Chen shook his head. Before the competition started, he had already spoken to the Sect Master about expelling Ye Chen. The Sect Master had said they would judge based on Ye Chen's performance. But given Ye Chen's track record, it was highly unlikely he would even make it to the final day of the competition.

So, expelling him had become almost certain. Unless Ye Chen somehow made it into the top ten. But how could that be possible?

Meanwhile, Li Xiaoyao and the others, who held a grudge against Ye Chen, were watching with cold eyes. They were all waiting for Ye Chen, the most useless direct disciple, to be eliminated by some nameless outer disciple in the first match. That would definitely make Ye Chen the laughingstock of the entire sect. And so, under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, the competition officially began.

Ye Tian didn't hold back. He immediately raised his hand, and within an instant, dozens of ice blades appeared behind him, shooting toward Ye Chen with a resounding roar. The initial strike was fast, and the ice blades were thin, sharp, and incredibly fast.

The most impressive thing was that there were ten ice blades fired at once, and their activation speed was astonishingly quick. It was clear that Ye Tian had a solid grasp of the Ice Blade technique.

Some of the disciples even thought to themselves with malicious intent, "Ye Chen can't possibly block this move, can he?"

But right before everyone's eyes, Ye Chen casually raised a finger. A half-circular golden barrier appeared at his fingertip and effortlessly blocked all of the ice blades. The crowd immediately erupted in astonishment.

Ye Tian, hearing the uproar, froze for a moment. "It's just my Ice Blade technique being blocked, isn't it? Why is everyone so surprised? How useless must my cousin be to get such low expectations from the crowd?"

But before Ye Tian could process this, he suddenly felt a gust of wind beside him. When he turned around, he was horrified to see a giant palm appear beside him, seemingly out of nowhere.

"What kind of spell is this? When did it appear? How did it make no sound at all?"

Ye Tian didn't have time to dodge. He hastily activated a defensive spell, hoping to withstand the attack. But the moment the defense shield touched the giant palm, it exploded instantly.

The giant palm slapped Ye Tian without any delay, sending him flying like a fly, crashing heavily against the barrier at the edge of the arena. His body was in agony, and he couldn't get up. The arena fell into an eerie silence. All those waiting to see Ye Chen's humiliation now looked on in stunned disbelief.

"Ye Chen won already?"

"What kind of spell was that?"

"I've never seen anything like it before."

Most surprisingly, when Ye Chen cast the spell, the flow of spirit Qi in the air revealed something even more shocking—Ye Chen was also at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

When did Ye Chen break through? Wasn't Ye Chen supposed to be a third-grade spiritual root? How many pills must he have consumed to break through twice in a year?

The crowd was left confused and astounded. Some even started to suspect—"Could this be a fixed match?"

After Ye Chen came down from the arena, the news of the "simp direct disciple" defeating his opponent and advancing to the next round spread quickly.

However, it was accompanied by rumors of a fixed match. Some disciples confidently confirmed that Ye Tian and Ye Chen were cousins, both disciples of the Ye family from Green Cloud City. Others mentioned that they had seen the two whispering to each other before the match started.

There were even friends of Ye Tian who claimed that Ye Tian had told them personally that he had intentionally lost to Ye Chen for the sake of the family and asked them not to spread the word. When even the people involved had admitted it, it became hard for anyone to deny.

Many understood why Ye Chen would engage in a fixed match. After all, Ye Chen was a direct disciple, and if he lost in the first round, it would be incredibly embarrassing.

Ye Tian, on the other hand, was just a regular disciple. For the long-term benefit of the family, he had sacrificed himself and lost to Ye Chen, which seemed perfectly reasonable.

A number of disciples who had already been eliminated gathered to watch. They were curious to see just how badly Ye Chen would be beaten by his opponent in the next round, the 50-to-25 elimination.

...

Ye Chen was, of course, aware of the rumors circulating. But since these were just baseless claims with no real benefit, Ye Chen didn't care much about them.

However, while he didn't care about his reputation, Ye Chen would never go out of his way to pretend to be weak. When there was something to gain, he would definitely reveal his strength. But the fact that Ye Tian had used the situation to spread rumors and elevate himself still irked Ye Chen.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have gone easy on you just now. You'd better watch out, kid."

As Ye Chen casually chatted with Yao Xi, time quickly passed, and the afternoon arrived. The afternoon marked the 50-to-25 elimination round. When Ye Chen saw the name of his opponent, he immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Kong Xiangbei!"

The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. However, Ye Chen didn't dwell on it. After all, to him, it didn't matter who the opponent was!

Soon enough, it was time for Ye Chen to take the stage. His match was noticeably more lively than the others. At least a thousand people had gathered to watch.

Ye Chen had truly become one of the top figures in Green Cloud Sect. When he finally saw his opponent's appearance, Ye Chen furrowed his brow.

The opponent was a man with a thick neck and large ears. And the most important thing? The opponent had sent him a voice transmission.

"Direct Disciple Ye, are you finally ready to settle the score for stealing the woman I had my eye on?"

"Stole your woman?"

Ye Chen appeared confused. It wasn't that Ye Chen wanted to claim he hadn't done it. It was just that he had no idea who this so-called "woman" was. Could he be talking about one of Yao Xi's suitors?

Seeing Ye Chen's puzzled expression made Kong Xiangbei even angrier.

"You stole my woman and you still look confused?"

This clearly meant that Ye Chen didn't even see him as a threat. He didn't even recognize him.

"This is too much! I have been stuck at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining for so long..."

He had his sights set on Sun Ruoxin's body, planning to use her as a furnace to break through. Originally, with the Green Cloud Sect disciple spot and the pressure from his father's position as an elder, it would've been easy to manipulate Sun Ruoxin and her father.

But then, that idiot Ye Chen, the simp, had to give the Green Cloud Token to Sun Ruoxin, ruining everything. Now his cultivation was still stuck, and he couldn't find a way to break through.

In the cultivation world, stealing a woman wasn't usually a mortal enemy. But blocking someone's path to advancement? That was unforgivable. What infuriated Kong Xiangbei the most was that Ye Chen didn't even realize what he had done.

"Simp, you deserve to die! Ye Chen, today I'll beat you half to death! And as for Sun Ruoxin, does she think just because she's become a Green Cloud Sect disciple, I can't do anything to her? What's meant to be mine will always be mine! You, a useless piece of trash who'll never break through to Foundation Establishment, just wait and see how I'll deal with you in the future!"

Kong Xiangbei was a smart person, so all of these words were through voice transmission.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen understood exactly who his opponent was.

"This is Elder Kong's son!"

To be honest, Ye Chen didn't have much interest in Sun Ruoxin anymore. Her "multiples" were inadequate, and her long legs were the only thing that stood out. Whether or not he pursued her really didn't matter much. But since Kong Xiangbei wanted her so badly...

Now, Ye Chen felt a surge of excitement.

Chapter 98: I Might Have to Report You!

Even though Ye Chen was the direct disciple of the Sword Peak Master, Kong Xiangbei was not intimidated by him. He had no fear of offending Ye Chen. After all, with Ye Chen's talent, it was already a miracle that he managed to hold on to his position as a direct disciple.

As for breaking through to Foundation Establishment? That was nothing more than a pipe dream. A third-grade spiritual root attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was as difficult as moving mountains.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills might allow you to attempt the breakthrough a few more times, but each time they would consume your original essence. After two or three attempts, you would have no chance left.

Only a top-tier Foundation Establishment Pill could allow you to break through without depleting your original essence, enabling the cultivator to keep trying. But there wasn't even a single top-tier Foundation Establishment Pill in all of Green Cloud Sect. So, Ye Chen was destined to never reach Foundation Establishment.

Meanwhile, Kong Xiangbei, with his ninth-grade spiritual root, had a very high chance of succeeding in his own Foundation Establishment breakthrough. The future belonged to him. Once he reached Foundation Establishment, he would have no problem dealing with Ye Chen. For today, however, he just wanted to teach Ye Chen a lesson and vent his frustration. He wanted Ye Chen to understand the consequences of competing with him over a woman.

Kong Xiangbei's malicious gaze fixed on Ye Chen as he considered how best to punish him. Killing Ye Chen was, of course, out of the question. There were elders watching over the arena. There was no way he could cause someone's death. But hurting Ye Chen, and tormenting him slowly—now that was something Kong Xiangbei could do.

As Kong Xiangbei thought about his plans, a cruel smile appeared on his face. However, at that very moment, a voice exploded in his mind: "Idiot, move!"

It was his grandfather's voice through a transmission. Kong Xiangbei immediately sensed something was wrong above his head. He quickly raised a defensive shield and leapt to the side.

But it was too late. A nearly human-sized hand made of spirit Qi suddenly appeared above him, crashing down with immense force. With a loud crash and a furious shout of "Stop!"

The hand slammed down without hesitation. The bricks below the arena exploded instantly, and the disciples within a radius of several hundred meters could feel the tremendous vibrations.

As the spirit Qi hand slowly dissipated, everyone watched in stunned silence. There was a clear, deep palm print on the arena, at least half a meter deep. And Kong Xiangbei lay within the palm print. His eyes bulged out, blood pouring from his mouth, his limbs unnaturally twisted. It was obvious—his limbs were broken. The tragic sight stunned all the spectators.

Kong Xiangbei was somewhat well-known within the sect. The grandson of an elder with notable strength. Although he hadn't broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining in two years, his strength was only slightly weaker. He had consistently placed in the top ten in every competition.

Among the disciples of Green Cloud Sect, he was undoubtedly considered strong. Yet this formidable figure, in front of a seemingly inconsequential simp direct disciple, couldn't even block a single move?

And Kong Xiangbei was in such a miserable state, it was clear there was no money involved. After all, he was the direct grandson of an elder—how much money would it take for him to tolerate this?

So, this simp direct disciple, who had been ridiculed behind his back every day, wasn't just a weakling? The ordinary disciples were undoubtedly shocked by the reality before them.

Li Xiaoyao, who had been waiting to see Ye Chen's embarrassment, and several other direct disciples were also stunned. The spell Ye Chen cast was terrifyingly powerful. But most notably, it was almost silent. There was no need for any hand seals. The energy fluctuations during the hand formation were so minimal, it was extremely difficult to detect.

And the speed was too fast. There was no time to defend against it. If they hadn't been prepared, being struck by that hand might have had similarly disastrous consequences for them.

This moment, which had initially seemed like it would be a joke, made them seriously reconsider how they would deal with Ye Chen if they encountered him.

On the arena, the attendant was still stunned, unable to announce Ye Chen's victory.

At that moment, a figure with snow-white hair rushed onto the stage. As he lifted Kong Xiangbei and fed him a pill, he glared fiercely at Ye Chen. "I told you to stop. Why didn't you listen?!"

Even though the man didn't do anything immediately, the terrifying pressure from his Foundation Establishment realm came crashing down on Ye Chen.

"Foundation Establishment!"

Ye Chen activated his spiritual power to resist the pressure. "Since when does the Sect Competition stop just because someone says so? I can't just stand here and take a beating!"

As soon as the man shouted, Ye Chen knew exactly who he was.

Kong Xiangbei's grandfather, Kong Xiangli, an elder of the Talisman Peak, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. He was also Sun Ye's master. Despite knowing the man was a strong Foundation Establishment cultivator, a mid-stage one at that, Ye Chen didn't feel intimidated.

Ye Chen was never the type to avoid confrontation. Since he had made an enemy, he didn't mind making that enmity even greater.

Kong Xiangli's expression grew colder. "Why are you being so ruthless against a fellow disciple?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "Well, he sent me a voice transmission saying that once he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he would have plenty of ways to play with me and kill me. But I didn't get angry, nor did I want to kill him in retaliation! I just didn't expect him to be this weak. Had I known, I wouldn't have wasted my spiritual power! Sorry about that!"

Ye Chen's nearly provoking words made Kong Xiangli's eyes flash with murderous intent. The pressure from his Foundation Establishment cultivation grew even stronger, as if it could crush Ye Chen in an instant. But instead of resisting head-on, Ye Chen raised his head and shouted, "Master, an elder is bullying me…"

As soon as Kong Xiangli heard Ye Chen call out for his master, the murderous glare in his eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by clarity. The overwhelming pressure from his Foundation Establishment cultivation also receded like a tide. After giving Ye Chen one last glance, Kong Xiangli flew off with his grandson in tow.

Ye Chen grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The world of cultivation wasn't just about fighting and killing; it was also about interpersonal connections. Having been in the Sect for nearly a year, Ye Chen had come to understand his master better.

A person who was ruthless and didn't waste words. He had chased down the Peak Master of Magic Peak several times. With such a master backing him, what was a mere Kong Xiangli to Ye Chen?

As Ye Chen watched Kong Xiangli's retreating figure, he shouted again, "The elder interfered in the arena, bullying the weak with his power. I will report this to my master and ask him to take action for me!"

Ye Chen could clearly see Kong Xiangli stiffen for a moment after hearing him. However, he quickly regained his composure and flew off!

Ye Chen turned to the attendant and snapped his fingers.

The attendant, still stunned, quickly came to his senses and hurriedly announced, "Ye Chen wins!"

Only then did Ye Chen show a satisfied smile, descend from the arena, and head back to Sword Peak. The competition for the day was over.

Ye Chen was off to report the incident to his master. Of course, he would complain. Ye Chen had never been the type to suffer in silence. If he could win, he would. If he couldn't, he would report it. He was never going to lose out.

Even back in school, Ye Chen had followed this logic. If there were bullies in class, he'd confront them head-on when he could. If not, he'd run straight to the teacher. This strategy had made Ye Chen the one the school's bullies most dreaded.

...

After Ye Chen left, the arena fell silent for a moment before it erupted into astonished chatter. Ye Chen's match had completely changed everyone's perception of him.

In the past, all the disciples had thought Ye Chen was just a useless person who had only gotten his position through connections. But as soon as he made his move, his combat strength was terrifying.

Kong Xiangbei had been knocked down to near death with a single slap. What was even more shocking was that when faced with Kong Xiangli, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment elder, Ye Chen didn't flinch in the slightest. He even dared to speak back to him.

Such an audacious attitude was completely different from the harmless simp who had run to Green Cloud City to buy gifts for Yao Xi, waiting an entire day for her. It was like they were two different people.

All the disciples quickly realized that while Ye Chen was indeed a simp direct disciple, he wasn't the useless person they had thought.

Could it be that Ye Chen's position as a direct disciple wasn't just due to connections? Was there something unique about him after all?

Once the news that the simp direct disciple wasn't useless spread, it sent shockwaves throughout the disciples of Green Cloud Sect.

Ye Chen had truly become the top figure in Green Cloud Sect today. Tomorrow's competition was bound to be even more exciting.

Chapter 99: Versus Li Xiaoyao

"Have you heard? It seems like there was quite a commotion at Talisman Peak yesterday. The entire peak was shaking for a long time!"

"Yeah, I'm a disciple from Talisman Peak. It suddenly started shaking yesterday."

"This morning, I saw the Peak Master of Talisman Peak with a particularly grim expression. Could it be that something went wrong with the peak's formation?"

"Maybe, Elder Chen from the Internal Affairs Hall also looked a bit upset today. I bet fixing the formation is going to cost a lot of spirit stones."

"Stop chatting, stop chatting, Direct Disciple Ye is about to go up to the stage..."

The disciples were buzzing with gossip. However, as the third match of the day began, the atmosphere immediately became tense and quiet. Everyone looked towards the arena almost in unison.

The arena was located in front of the main hall of the Green Cloud Sect. A group of elders sat high on the stage. The peak masters, and even the sect leader who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, were all present.

This was the final day of the sect competition. The top 25 disciples would be decided today. The winner would receive a Foundation Establishment Pill personally awarded by the sect leader.

"Wait, Ye Chen made it to the top 25? He's been in the sect for less than a year, and to achieve this is already impressive. Elder Chen, are you being too demanding?"

The sect leader, whose eyes were almost too squinted to open and who appeared as frail as an old mortal man, squinted at the arena and asked Elder Chen in a low voice.

Elder Chen's mouth twitched. He hadn't expected Ye Chen, with his third-grade spiritual root, to break through two levels in just one year. He hadn't anticipated that Ye Chen's combat strength would rise so dramatically. With a never-before-seen giant hand spell, Ye Chen had easily swept through all his opponents. Had he known this would happen, would he have even needed to report Ye Chen to the sect leader?

Elder Chen had no personal grudge against Ye Chen. It was purely out of concern for the sect's interests and reputation. But now, his views on Ye Chen were beginning to change.

As Ye Chen ascended the arena, Elder Chen couldn't help but twitch his lips. This Ye Chen had gone to report to Gu Yunyun, claiming that Kong Xiangli had bullied him. That was one thing, but he had also reported "him"—saying that he was present at the time and did nothing to stop it, standing by as Ye Chen was bullied. He even accused him of failing to fulfill his responsibilities as an elder.

But at the time, Elder Chen had been observing, confirming that Kong Xiangli didn't dare make a move, and that was why he hadn't intervened.

Last night, after Kong Xiangli was beaten, the Peak Master of Talisman Peak had come to apologize, sending dozens of high-grade talismans to Ye Chen for self-defense.

Elder Chen had also been summoned by Gu Yunyun. Gritting his teeth, he apologized by giving Ye Chen a high-grade flying sword. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

...

To the right of the Sect Leader, Gu Yunyun, dressed in a red robe, was casually reclining in her chair, her posture relaxed and laid-back. There was no sharpness or edge that one might expect from a swordsman. But judging by the curve of her lips, it was clear that Gu Yunyun was in a good mood.

Ever since Ye Chen had given up the Five Elements Cave slot, Gu Yunyun had been ignoring her direct disciple, convinced that Ye Chen would undoubtedly embarrass himself in the Sect Competition. But what she didn't expect was that Ye Chen didn't embarrass himself at all—quite the opposite, in fact. He had brought her a pleasant surprise. Making it into the top 25 was far beyond her expectations. At this point, no matter how she looked at Ye Chen, he was pleasing to the eye.

Yesterday, when Ye Chen came to report, he didn't stop for a second and went directly to every door to complain. If only Ye Chen's performance could be a little better, though. After all, Gu Yunyun had never been one to fall short of others. When she was a disciple, she never placed lower than second in the Sect competition.

If Ye Chen could perform similarly, it wouldn't tarnish her reputation. But Gu Yunyun soon shook her head, knowing she was asking too much. Ye Chen's performance was already impressive. Even if he lost, it wouldn't be a problem, as long as it wasn't to a Magic Peak direct disciple. She and the Peak Master of Magic Peak were bitter enemies. Losing face in this way was something she simply couldn't accept.

And at that moment, the match was about to begin. As Ye Chen's opponent stepped forward, he couldn't help but notice that it was none other than Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xiaoyao wore a calm smile on his face. While Ye Chen's giant hand was certainly terrifying, Li Xiaoyao had already devised a way to counter it. His swordsmanship had reached an exceptionally high level. Any giant hand could easily be sliced through with a single strike.

Although this kind of sword technique was extremely taxing, Li Xiaoyao believed he could only use it three times at most. But that was enough. Ye Chen's giant hand would require even more energy to maintain, and with Ye Chen's current cultivation of just the eighth level of Qi Refining, without stepping into the Five Elements Cave, Li Xiaoyao believed Ye Chen could only strike one or two times before his energy was depleted.

Li Xiaoyao smiled faintly, speaking in a condescending tone, "Junior Brother Ye, in battle, swords and blades have no eyes. It's hard to control. If you feel threatened, remember to immediately crouch down and surrender, or else I'm afraid I won't be able to react in time and might accidentally hurt you."

Ye Chen rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested in wasting time with the taunts. "You're not even worth wasting my breath on," he thought to himself.

With that, Ye Chen's energy surged, and his hand quickly formed a spell. The Heaven-Destroying Hand technique gathered a massive, golden-purple hand above Li Xiaoyao, and it came crashing down with terrifying force. The audience gasped at the sheer power of the attack, eager to see how Li Xiaoyao would respond.

Li Xiaoyao, however, just smirked. His spiritual power flowed into his sword, and with a swift motion, he unleashed a colossal sword strike, meeting Ye Chen's hand head-on.

The two forces collided with a tremendous crash that shook the entire arena. The deafening sound reverberated across the disciple square.

Looking up, the disciples could see that Ye Chen's enormous spiritual hand had been cleaved open by the sword strike and was slowly dissipating. The sword energy also vanished in the aftermath of the impact.

"Impressive! As expected of Senior Brother Li, his sword technique is almost godlike!" one disciple murmured in awe.

"That giant hand technique of Ye Chen's was indeed strong, but it consumed an enormous amount of energy. It seems like the victory is already decided; Senior Brother Li is clearly superior."

"Ye Chen has only been in the sect for less than a year, and he's only at the eighth level of Qi Refining. It's not surprising that he couldn't win against Senior Brother Li."

Disciples continued to murmur amongst themselves. Meanwhile, the elders watching the match nodded in approval.

"Senior Brother Li's strike is already showing signs of being able to break any technique with a single sword strike. His talent in swordsmanship is indeed remarkable."

"Indeed, if he wins first place this year and gets the Foundation Establishment Pill, Green Cloud Sect's strength will undoubtedly improve by a large margin."

"Ye Chen's technique was powerful, but the consumption was too great. That one strike nearly exhausted all of his energy, leaving him with little chance of victory."

The Magic Peak Master commented with a mocking tone, "I was hoping to have my disciple spar with Ancient Fellow Daoist's disciple to exchange techniques, but it seems like there won't be an opportunity for that now!"

Gu Yunyun, sitting beside the Sect Leader, raised an eyebrow. She, too, had started to think that Ye Chen might not win this match. However, she was also a little more skeptical now, noticing the slight surprise in her expression.

"Let's see what happens next," she thought, her eyes narrowing in anticipation.

The entire arena fell into stunned silence. When Ye Chen's giant hand was shattered, his expression remained unchanged. But in the next instant, a new, even larger spiritual hand condensed in mid-air without hesitation, slamming down once again.

Li Xiaoyao's face changed instantly. How could Ye Chen still summon such a technique? Before he had time to think, Li Xiaoyao quickly exerted all his energy, swinging his sword to unleash a massive sword energy to counter the attack.

Boom...

The two forces collided, both dissipating into the air. Li Xiaoyao exhaled in relief. Two giant palms—this must be Ye Chen's limit, right? Now, it was his turn to strike.

But before Li Xiaoyao could even fully think that thought, his eyes widened in disbelief. Another giant hand formed above Ye Chen's head and came crashing down once more.

Li Xiaoyao was speechless. Without wasting any more time, he once again summoned a massive sword energy to strike at the hand, desperate to break it. But this time, even the slightest sign of fatigue began to show on Li Xiaoyao's face.

The consumption of breaking these giant hands with sword energy was enormous. He had already unleashed two powerful sword strikes, and now the third was pushing him to his limits. His spiritual energy was running dangerously low.

Li Xiaoyao hoped that Ye Chen would finally collapse after this final strike. He couldn't possibly keep summoning these giant hands. But just as Li Xiaoyao prepared to strike at Ye Chen with his sword, he felt a weak fluctuation of spiritual energy above his head. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up.

Yet again, another massive purple-golden spiritual hand appeared above him, descending rapidly.

Li Xiaoyao's pupils contracted as he gazed at the incoming hand. The disbelief in his eyes was clear. He was a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. He had just emerged from the Five Elements Cave. How could he lose to a mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator in a battle of endurance? How could this be possible?

But it was too late for Li Xiaoyao to react. The giant hand moved too quickly. In the next instant, just like Kong Xiangbei, he was struck by the massive palm, sent flying through the air, crashing hard into the protective barrier of the arena.

The audience exploded with shock.

Chapter 100: I Will Not Show Mercy!

The scene fell into complete silence as everyone watched Li Xiaoyao lying on the ground, barely in better condition than Kong Xiangbei had been the day before. Since the contest for the Five Elements Cave spots, Li Xiaoyao had held the position of the strongest disciple under the direct disciples. He had been widely recognized as such. Yet, no one had expected that Li Xiaoyao would be defeated by Ye Chen...

This...

The entire hall stood speechless. The disciples were at a loss for how to express their astonishment. Even the elders displayed expressions of surprise.

"Why is Direct Disciple Ye's spiritual power so overwhelmingly powerful? Didn't he fail to enter the Five Elements Cave?"

"Moreover, his output of spiritual power is exceptionally fierce, indicating that his meridians are extraordinarily robust."

"Li Xiaoyao was considered a minor genius even within the ninth level of Qi Refining. Even among the direct disciples, few could definitively suppress him, yet he was defeated by Direct Disciple Ye, who was at a higher cultivation level."

"Could it be that Direct Disciple Ye is also a genius, only we haven't recognized it until now?"

"Master Gu is truly sharp-eyed!"

The crowd buzzed with conversation, surprised by the turn of events. Some still remembered to flatter Gu Yunyun, the sect leader, as they spoke. After all, the sect leader was now 270 years old. She only had about thirty years of life left.

Gu Yunyun was the most likely to break through to the Golden Core stage and become the next sect leader. Though Gu Yunyun herself was equally stunned by the turn of events, she only knew that Ye Chen had a third-grade spiritual root and never slept at night. Beyond that, she had little information.

But to be praised for having sharp eyes? Well, yes! That's true.

However, the master of the Magic Peak, standing nearby, couldn't resist a sarcastic remark.

"How wonderful that Fellow Daoist Gu's disciple has advanced! If only my disciple could face such a challenge; then we'd have a proper exchange!"

Once the Master of Magic Peak spoke, the atmosphere grew tense and quiet.

Fa Zhen, the direct disciple of Magic Peak, possessed a fire-type root. His fire-based magic was unparalleled, reaching the pinnacle of mastery. He was universally acknowledged as the strongest combatant among this generation of disciples. He had claimed first place the previous year. Not only had he upgraded a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill to a high-grade one, but this year, he intended to win again as a safeguard.

Truthfully, everyone expected the direct disciple of Magic Peak to secure first place this year. Even Gu Yunyun thought as much. However, if the disciples didn't win, it wasn't a problem.

Gu Yunyun gritted her teeth. She planned to find an opportunity soon to challenge Magic Peak and settle the matter. As for the sect leader sitting in the middle of the viewing platform, he was unconcerned about the discord between the elders as long as it didn't escalate.

After watching Ye Chen's match, he turned to look at Elder Chen. Though no words were spoken, the meaning in his weathered eyes was unmistakable.

Elder Chen: ...

I didn't expect Ye Chen to have such immense mana, capable of defeating even Li Xiaoyao!

Above the arena, fireballs soared through the air, spells shot in all directions, and the explosive sounds of magic filled the atmosphere. In the world of cultivators, prolonged battles were rare. It was all about finding an opening, seizing an opportunity.

The outcome was often determined swiftly. By noon, only four figures remained on the field. Ye Chen, Yao Xi, Fa Zhen, and the direct disciple of Artifact Peak.

The disciples marveled in awe. Who could have predicted that the seemingly unassuming direct disciple would suddenly reveal such immense power? Though his talent appeared ordinary, his combat ability was enough to place him among the top ranks of the disciples.

After the drawing of lots, the crowd erupted in surprise. For Ye Chen and Yao Xi had been placed in the same group. Who in the sect didn't know the relationship between Ye Chen and Yao Xi?

Ye Chen's infamous words, "I love you, and it has nothing to do with you," had long spread far and wide. The gossip had even reached the city of Green Cloud.

Now, the two of them were to face each other for a chance at the finals. The disciples shook their heads, feeling that there was no need to watch further. The outcome seemed already decided.

Earlier, Ye Chen had even given up his spot in the Five Elements Cave for Yao Xi. One could easily imagine how important the Foundation Establishment Pill was for her. So, there was no need to think twice.

Ye Chen would surely concede. The sect leader and elders were watching, it would be difficult to declare a direct surrender. However, he might subtly ensure that Yao Xi claimed the victory.

At this thought, the disciples lost all interest. Ye Chen had risen swiftly. On his journey, any opponent he encountered was immediately subdued by his powerful spells. They hadn't even had a chance to see Direct Disciple Ye use other forms of magic. They had hoped to witness Ye Chen's limits!

But now, it seemed they would only face Yao Xi. Though Ye Chen had shattered all expectations regarding his strength, no one doubted his identity as a simp. If they wanted to witness the full extent of Ye Chen's true power, they would likely have to wait until next year.

The crowd buzzed with conversation.

The sect leader, at the Golden Core level, with his exceptionally sharp spiritual sense, naturally overheard the chatter. He furrowed his brow and asked, "The Foundation Establishment Pill is the foundation for cultivating the Dao. Will Ye Chen truly surrender simply because of personal feelings?"

He had a favorable impression of Ye Chen. But if Ye Chen were to lose voluntarily due to matters of love, then his interest in Ye Chen would quickly fade. After all, in the world of cultivation, one must fight for progress.

Loose cultivators must fight, disciples of the Green Cloud Sect must fight. Even those high-ranking disciples from the Holy Lands must fight. Those who refuse to fight for whatever reason are destined to accomplish nothing of significance.

The Master of Magic Peak immediately chuckled. "Sect Leader, you might not know, but Gu Fellow Daoist's direct disciple is notorious for his deep affection. That phrase, 'I love you, and it has nothing to do with you,' it touched my heart deeply."

The sect leader's face darkened at these words. Though the phrase sounded heartfelt, upon reflection, wasn't it just unrequited love? Wasn't it simply a hopeless simp?

Gu Yunyun had been pleased watching Ye Chen dominate his opponents, her mood quite pleasant. But now, a shadow crossed her mature face, unable to suppress her displeasure.

Before stepping onto the stage, Ye Chen immediately heard his master's cold voice in his mind: "No mercy, no surrender. If you dare surrender, I'll have you trapped on Sword Peak for three years without stepping down the mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit helpless. He had overheard the disciples' whispers, and now even his master was reminding him not to concede.

Wait a minute… Did they really think I'm a simp? Am I that kind of person? Master, rest assured, I, Ye Chen, will prove with my actions that all the rumors are false. I am not a simp.

With a sharp crack, the match began.

Ye Chen transmitted a mental promise to his master, and upon receiving a satisfied smile, he stepped onto the stage.

Yao Xi was already standing there, smiling at Ye Chen. Truth be told, Ye Chen's performance in this sect competition had truly surprised Yao Xi.

In the past, Yao Xi had always believed that her strength far exceeded Ye Chen's. But after witnessing Ye Chen effortlessly defeat Li Xiaoyao, Yao Xi finally realized just how wide the gap between them really was. She probably wasn't even Ye Chen's match.

This realization left Yao Xi feeling a mixture of disappointment and happiness for Ye Chen. After all, what female cultivator wouldn't want the man she admires to grow stronger? And yet, despite Ye Chen's overwhelming strength, he had still given up his spot in the Five Elements Cave for her. This only confirmed how deeply Ye Chen's feelings for her ran.

Yao Xi overheard the disciples' whispers. Truth be told, Yao Xi didn't want Ye Chen to throw the match for her sake. She too wanted Ye Chen to go further, to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill. After all, Ye Chen's spiritual root was too weak, and his chances of breaking through were slim. The more Foundation Establishment Pills he could get, the higher his chances of success.

Thus, Yao Xi spoke earnestly, "Junior Brother, I hope you will give your all in this fight against me. Regardless of the outcome, I will never blame you! But if you deliberately hold back, that will be what truly saddens me."

Yao Xi made her stance clear with her words.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen chuckled softly and nodded. He had no intention of conceding or holding back. Letting you win wouldn't be considered a gift, would it? Besides, this wasn't even the final round—what if you lost? Only by personally handing you the Foundation Establishment Pill would it truly count. So, no, he wouldn't throw the match. He intended to end the battle as quickly as possible.

...

Seeing Ye Chen's indifferent response, Yao Xi understood that he must have had his own thoughts and would likely hold back during the battle. She felt as though he hadn't taken her words seriously. This must be because Ye Chen knew that his spiritual root was too poor and that even if he obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, it would be of no use. That's why he was willing to give it to her. The depth of his affection stirred a complex mix of emotions in Yao Xi.

Yet, at the same time, she made a firm decision. She would never let Ye Chen's feelings for her go to waste. In the final match, she must defeat her opponents and claim the Foundation Establishment Pill. And once she broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, the first thing she would do was formally bind herself as Ye Chen's Dao partner. Together, they would live their lives, raise children, and grow old.

...

As the crowd silently grappled with their thoughts, the steward gave the order, and the match officially began!