Chapter 181: Sect Competition
Time returned to the present.
Chen Chang'an stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the empty ground, his robes fluttering lightly in the wind. His gaze slowly swept over the four disciples before him—Xiao Chen was as calm as an abyss, Han Yu was sharp and astute, Ji Lingxiu was cold, detached, and proud, and Jiang Che was free-spirited and unrestrained.
The four were all geniuses of the current age, the arrogance in their bones impossible to hide.
"As your master, I originally intended to be carefree," Chen Chang'an spoke, his voice calm, "but you are all geniuses. If you cannot contend with your peers, would not this life be lived in vain?"
The four were silent, but the fighting spirit ignited in their eyes was almost tangible, causing even the surrounding air to stir faintly.
Chen Chang'an looked at them and sighed inwardly.
—He had known this day would come since he took them on as disciples.
Sons of destiny, how could they be content with mediocrity?
"So I established the 'Immortal Spirit Holy Land'," he continued, "how it develops from now on will be entirely up to the four of you. However..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the four.
"A sect cannot be without a leader for even a day. I have no intention of emerging into the world, so—"
He had intended to say, "Xiao Chen, as the senior brother, will act as the interim sect leader," but he swallowed the words back down.
Which of these four disciples was not a proud and arrogant person? If he were to force an appointment, he was afraid it would plant a seed of discord.
"—In that case, with me as the witness, you four will hold a competition. Draw lots to determine your opponents, and the winner will temporarily assume the position of sect leader."
As soon as the words fell, the fighting spirit in the four's eyes grew even stronger!
Xiao Chen and Ji Lingxiu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with gravity; Han Yu and Jiang Che, on the other hand, looked at each other and smiled, one rubbing his fists, the other lifting his wine gourd to take a swig.
"Come, let the drawing of lots begin."
Chen Chang'an raised his hand and waved, and four spiritual lights floated in the air, transforming into four jade slips.
The four acted at the same time, each grabbing one.
—Xiao Chen versus Ji Lingxiu!
—Han Yu versus Jiang Che!
Xiao Chen gripped his jade slip and looked towards Ji Lingxiu: "Junior Sister, please grant me your guidance."
Ji Lingxiu's gaze was cold as she nodded slightly: "Senior Brother, you need not hold back."
On the other side, Han Yu smiled as he shook his jade slip: "Fourth Brother, it seems we'll have to have a proper 'exchange'."
Jiang Che clicked his tongue, hanging the wine gourd at his waist: "Second Senior Brother, what a bother!"
Chen Chang'an looked at the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere of the four and couldn't help but rub his brow.
—Although he was mentally prepared, now that it had come to this, he could not help but fantasize: if only these disciples were like him, just wanting to lie flat...
But immediately after, he gave a self-deprecating smile.
—If that were truly the case, they would not be sons of destiny.
Come to think of it, he would have to rely on them for his old age in the future...
If the system hadn't forcibly bound him to the Sect Leader position, let alone the acting leader, he would wish to immediately throw away even the position of Sect Leader itself.
He muttered something under his breath, then said in a loud voice:
"In that case, first will be Xiao Chen versus Ji Lingxiu. The competition—begins!"
Chen Chang'an flicked his sleeve, and a semi-transparent barrier instantly expanded, enveloping Xiao Chen and Ji Lingxiu. A world of its own formed within the barrier, instantly isolating the sounds from the outside world.
"Junior Sister, it has been a long time since we last exchanged moves." Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his lips.
Ji Lingxiu let out a soft hum, raising her fair hand slightly: "Senior Brother, you had better be careful. I will not hold back this time."
"That suits me perfectly." A trace of fighting spirit flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. His right hand clenched empty air, and a long sword shimmering with purple lightning appeared out of thin air.
Ji Lingxiu said no more. With a light tap of her jade-like finger, four spiritual swords flew out, suspended around her. The light of green, red, white, and black flowed, and the faint sounds of a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl echoed.
"Azure Dragon position, rise!" The green long sword suddenly bloomed with dazzling green light. An Azure Dragon's phantom shadow spiraled out, its scales and claws flying, bringing with it gusts of fierce wind.
Xiao Chen was unhurried. The purple lightning sword in his hand trembled slightly: "Nine Heavens Thunder Move: Awakening of Insects." A bolt of purple thunder erupted from the sword's tip, transforming into a net of lightning in mid-air and firmly locking the Azure Dragon's phantom shadow.
Ji Lingxiu's gaze sharpened: "Vermilion Bird position!" The red long sword chimed in response. Its scorching sword energy transformed into a fire phoenix with spread wings, carrying monstrous flames as it pounced toward Xiao Chen.
"Bring it on!" Xiao Chen laughed loudly, his left hand forming a seal. "Ancient Thunder Method: Heavenly Dipper Righteous Thunder!"
A bolt of golden lightning descended from the nine heavens, colliding violently with the fire phoenix. The wild energy fluctuations rampaged within the barrier but could not shake it in the slightest.
"White Tiger, Black Tortoise, rise!" Ji Lingxiu shouted crisply. The remaining two long swords activated simultaneously. Although they were not empowered by divine beast blood, under the drive of her pure sword intent, they still conjured vague beast-shaped phantom shadows.
The Four Symbols Sword Formation was completely formed. The spiritual energy within a radius of several hundred feet was instantly drained. Under the shroud of the sword formation, even space seemed to twist faintly.
Xiao Chen felt the pressure increase sharply but showed no panic. "Junior Sister's sword formation is truly exquisite."
"However... that thunder method from before was one that I, your senior brother, only just barely grasped a year ago. I have now only just managed to integrate it into the Nine Heavens Thunder Move Sword Art. Junior Sister, be careful—"
The purple lightning sword in his hand suddenly flared with immense light: "Nine Heavens Thunder Move: True Solution of Ten Thousand Thunders!" Countless bolts of purple thunder erupted from the sword's body, weaving into a gigantic net of lightning in mid-air. Even more astonishing, strands of golden lightning were mixed within these bolts, which was the essence of the Ancient Thunder Method.
"Boom—"
The lightning net and sword formation collided violently. The entire barrier was filled with flashing lightning and crisscrossing sword energy. The two figures flickered within the wild energy but always maintained a perfect balance.
"Senior Brother's thunder method has improved again," Ji Lingxiu praised while maintaining the sword formation. Xiao Chen laughed loudly: "Likewise, Junior Sister's sword formation has also become ever more proficient."
As they spoke, the movements of their hands did not stop in the slightest. Ji Lingxiu's sword art changed, and the Four Symbols Sword Formation began to slowly rotate, its power increasing by another fraction. Xiao Chen, meanwhile, pointed his sword at the firmament, drawing more thunder into the battle.
The crowd watching from outside the barrier stared without blinking. Han Yu stroked his chin and sighed: "Eldest Senior Brother and Third Junior Sister's strength has improved again."
Jiang Ze rarely put down his wine gourd, staring motionlessly at the battle within the barrier.
Chen Chang'an stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The progress of these two disciples had indeed exceeded his expectations.
...
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