Chapter 272 The Challenge
On the training ground, the crowd was buzzing.
When Yu Wanru led the group of new disciples to arrive, the area was already packed with excited Outer Gate disciples, with cheers rising and falling. Clearly, the news that Chen Xingcai was coming had already spread and was no secret.
"It seems everyone already knows..." Yu Wanru sighed with some regret, but she quickly perked up and stood on her tiptoes to look around.
Shen Qingwu stood in the crowd, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings as he sneered inwardly. These Outer Gate disciples were craning their necks, their faces full of expectation, as if just seeing the Holy Maiden would allow them to absorb some of her immortal aura.
"Truly ridiculous." he thought disdainfully, but his face betrayed none of it, maintaining his gentle and jade-like demeanor.
Just then, from both sides of the competition stage, four figures slowly walked out.
"It's the Four Outer Gate Talents!" a disciple exclaimed.
The four of them were the most top-tier geniuses of the Outer Gate. At this moment, their expressions were solemn, their gazes like lightning. As they looked at one another, their fighting intent was fierce. What they were fighting for today was not just victory or defeat, but the one and only direct advancement spot to the Inner Gate!
The ground immediately erupted with a wave of heated discussion.
"I heard Senior Brother Zhao's 'Mysterious Ice Palm' is already perfected. A single palm strike can freeze the spiritual energy within a thirty-foot radius!"
"Heh, Senior Brother Li's 'Heaven-Burning Sword Art' is the truly powerful one. I heard even Elder Li has praised it!"
Over the years, by virtue of the immense financial power from monopolizing the sale of spirit medicines in the two prefectures, the Sacred Land of Immortal Spirits was not lacking in powerful cultivation methods, which were even available for disciples to choose from according to their own aptitudes.
Shen Qingwu listened to the discussions around him, his heart completely unmoved. In his eyes, these Outer Gate geniuses were nothing more than jumping clowns.
Suddenly, the entire training ground fell silent.
All eyes, as if by prior agreement, turned to the entrance on one side of the competition stage.
A slender figure slowly approached. It was the Outer Gate Elder, Li Hanzhou. His expression was stern, his gaze like a knife. Wherever he passed, disciples fell silent, not daring to be presumptuous.
However, what truly made the entire crowd hold its breath was the graceful figure beside him.
She wore a light yellow long dress, its hem swaying gently with her steps, like the brightest ray of warm sun on a spring day.
Her skin was like snow, her features picturesque. A pair of eyes was clear and bright, yet held a hint of clever slyness. Her black hair, like a waterfall, was loosely tied up with a simple jade hairpin, which accentuated her otherworldly temperament, as if she did not partake in the food of mortals.
"The Holy Maiden! It's really the Holy Maiden!" a disciple exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.
Chen Xingcai gave a slight smile and waved to the disciples below the stage, her smile as bright as if it could disperse all gloom.
"Ah—!"
The entire training ground instantly boiled over, the cheers nearly lifting the roof.
Shen Qingwu narrowed his eyes, his gaze locked tightly onto the figure in the light yellow dress.
"As expected... she lives up to her reputation."
He thought to himself that this daughter of the Holy Lord was indeed as peerless and unparalleled as the rumors claimed.
The entire training ground was a cacophony. If Chen Chang'an were here, he would surely sigh that it was no less impressive than the celebrity fan meetings of his past life.
It wasn't until Li Hanzhou walked forward with a cold face, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, that the noisy training ground fell silent in an instant.
"Today's competition concerns the Inner Gate spot. I hope the four of you will go all out." His voice was low but carried an unquestionable authority. "The Sacred Land of Immortal Spirits never nurtures mediocrity. If you wish to ascend to higher realms, you must show your true abilities!"
His gaze swept over the four people on the stage one by one, and he continued: "On the path of cultivation, one either advances or retreats. Today's victor may enter the Inner Gate and enjoy more abundant resources. The defeated need not be disheartened. As long as your Dao heart is firm, you will eventually have your day."
Hearing this, the four of them all looked solemn and cupped their hands in a salute: "We will heed the Elder's teachings!"
Li Hanzhou gave a slight nod, then took a step back and said in a deep voice: "The grand competition—begin!"
As his words fell, the atmosphere on the entire training ground instantly became tense to the extreme.
Shen Qingwu stood in the crowd, but his gaze never left Chen Xingcai.
Fortunately, the attention of most of the youths was captivated by Chen Xingcai, so Shen Qingwu was not conspicuous in the crowd.
But after all, they had the mentality of youths. When the tense and exciting competition began, the crowd's gaze was gradually drawn to the intense fighting on the stage.
The four top Outer Gate disciples each displayed their strengths. With spiritual energy surging, their moves were fierce, drawing gasps of astonishment from the disciples below.
Most people had already shifted their gaze from Chen Xingcai, focusing entirely on the battle on the stage.
However, in the midst of the crowd, Shen Qingwu still stared fixedly at the graceful figure in yellow on the high platform.
His gaze was burning, making no attempt to hide his attention. In an atmosphere where the surrounding disciples were all focused on the competition, he appeared particularly conspicuous.
Chen Xingcai frowned slightly, keenly sensing this line of sight that was different from the others. She glanced sideways and saw a white-robed youth staring at her brazenly, his eyes holding a discomforting glint.
She felt a flicker of displeasure, but on second thought, he was just an Outer Gate disciple. Why should she stoop to his level? Soon, she withdrew her gaze and turned her attention back to the competition stage.
Unknowingly, an hour had passed.
On the stage, the final battle had entered a white-hot stage.
A sword-wielding youth's momentum was like a rainbow, each move carrying a sharp edge. On the other side, a youth skilled in fist techniques was steady and firm, his fist style fierce, causing the air to hum.
The sword-wielding youth suddenly changed his move, his sword style shifting from dense to sharp. A move, "Long Rainbow Pierces the Sun," went straight for his opponent's throat. This sword was as fast as lightning. The crowd below only saw a flash of white light, and the sword tip was already three inches from the fist-wielding youth's throat!
At this critical moment, the fist-wielding youth threw his head back sharply. The sword's edge brushed past the tip of his nose. He followed the momentum into an iron bridge pose, his right leg sweeping like a whip toward his opponent's lower body.
"So close!"
The sword-wielding youth hastily leaped up, only to see the fist-wielding youth use the momentum to flip over, his twin fists like a dragon emerging from the sea, roaring with wind as they bombarded the opening in his chest.
"Bang!"
The sword-wielding youth, who had hastily raised his sword to block, was forced back seven or eight steps by this punch. The sword body hummed and trembled, and his tiger's mouth went numb.
Seizing the advantage, the fist-wielding youth pressed on, closing in with a lunge, his right fist glowing with a golden light.
The sword-wielding youth simultaneously turned his sword tip, drawing an arc in front of him.
The fist wind was deflected by this sword, brushing past his sleeve and shattering a floor panel behind him.
...
"Good!"
The disciples below the stage watched, their blood boiling. Cheers rose and fell.
Chen Xingcai also couldn't help but nod slightly. The abilities of these few were indeed outstanding; even in the Inner Gate, they would be able to hold their own.
"It seems the news about the Sacred Land of Immortal Spirits promoting personal disciples has already spread far and wide..." she thought to herself. "I wonder which of the senior and junior martial siblings will take a liking to these disciples?"
The battle grew more intense. In the end, the fist-wielding youth won by a narrow move, taking first place. He stood on the stage, panting, his face filled with the joy of victory.
Li Hanzhou once again walked onto the stage. He first patted the defeated disciple on the shoulder and said in a deep voice: "The path of cultivation is long. A single victory or defeat means nothing. As long as your Dao heart is firm, you will eventually have your day."
The disciple's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded heavily.
Then, Li Hanzhou turned to the victorious youth, rarely revealing a hint of approval: "Not bad. You have not failed to live up to the Outer Gate's nurturing."
The youth excitedly cupped his hands in a salute: "Thank you, Elder Li!"
Watching this scene, Chen Xingcai couldn't help but a faint smile form on her lips.
That taciturn youth from back then had now grown into an Outer Gate Elder who could stand on his own.
...
Just when everyone thought the grand competition had concluded, a clear voice suddenly rang out:
"This disciple, Shen Qingwu, wishes to challenge this senior brother!"
The entire crowd was in an uproar!
Yu Wanru's face changed drastically, and she hurriedly shouted: "Junior Brother Shen, come back quickly!"
However, Shen Qingwu acted as if he hadn't heard, walking directly onto the competition stage.
His white robe whiter than snow, he stood firm amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd and gave a deep bow to Li Hanzhou: "Elder Li, this disciple does not seek to enter the Inner Gate. I only wish to spar with this senior brother to prove myself. I wonder if that is permissible?"
His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire training ground.
Chen Xingcai, who had been about to leave, paused her steps and turned around with interest.
Could it be that he was looking at me just now for this reason? Chen Xingcai had never disliked those who worked hard. The slight disgust she had felt for this youth gradually faded.
Li Hanzhou frowned, his sharp gaze sweeping over Shen Qingwu.
He remembered this youth—the one who had accidentally intruded on the Inner Gate's trial grounds. Seeing his aptitude was passable, he had made an exception and accepted him into the Outer Gate.
"Early-stage Profound Connection Realm..."
Li Hanzhou thought to himself. The four who had just competed were at the very least in the late-stage Profound Connection Realm, not to mention the fist-wielding youth who had just won was already at the peak of the Profound Connection Realm. To dare to challenge someone two minor realms higher was either arrogance born of ignorance, or...
Just as he was about to refuse, his peripheral vision caught Chen Xingcai winking at him.
Those lively eyes were filled with the meaning of "Let him try."
Li Hanzhou's stern expression loosened for an almost imperceptible instant, a hint of doting he himself didn't even notice appearing at the corner of his mouth.
This was his... and Han Yu and the others' precious younger sister, whom they had doted on since childhood.
Thus, Li Hanzhou looked at Shen Qingwu and, after a long moment, nodded:
"You may."
...
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