The sound of the bell spread throughout the entire outer sect melodiously.
On this day, every outer sect disciple came out from their residences and hurriedly gathered at the outer sect plaza.
It was the day of the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
Young disciples from the outer sect formed groups and made their way on the mountain path, traveling together.
“There’s so many people!” Chen Fan couldn’t help but exclaim when he arrived at the outer sect plaza.
The plaza was full of people. Heads bobbed up and down, filling the area. At least 10,000 people had gathered here.
It was said that the Spring Autumn Sect had slightly more than 13,000 outer sect disciples. Only during the triennial Outer Sect Grand Competition did everyone assemble in one place, fiercely competing against each other, with some shining brightly.
Even the disciples who usually trained outside the sect would rush back before the competition began to participate and assess the results of their three years of training.
Ten massive fighting arenas had been constructed in the center of the plaza.
Each fighting arena was spacious, about three meters tall, and a hundred meters long and wide. It provided ample space for Qigong realm martial artists to engage in intense combat.
The ten fighting arenas were lined up in a row, looking very impressive, and the outer sect’s top 10 disciples would be decided on them.
Surrounding the arenas were numerous seats for spectators to sit and watch the battles.
The seats were already filled with people, including elders, executives, and even inner sect disciples.
As an outer sect elder, Qin Changkong was also among them.
Chen Fan didn’t have many friends in the outer sect. He could only find a corner to stand in, waiting for the grand competition to begin. The others gathered in small groups, eagerly discussing the upcoming event.
“I've heard that the sect is offering generous rewards this time. Every participant in the top 10 will be awarded 10,000 primeval stones, a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills, a bottle of Qi Recovery Pills, and a bottle of Recovery Pills. Not only that, I heard rumors saying they will also get to practice a quasi-profound tier martial art.”
“Our sect wants to produce more geniuses in the inner sect for the upcoming Grand Sect Conference of the Great Chu Empire. They wouldn't be stingy in rewarding the top performers, as it would enhance our sect's reputation. After all, the top 10 can enter the inner sect after the new year.”
“I'm afraid that the Heaven's Alliance, led by Senior Brother Zhong Li, will claim more than half of the top 10 positions, leaving only a few spots for others, maybe just two or three.”
“I know, right? But we can't do much about it. Senior Brother Duan Jingtian founded the Heaven's Alliance, and every disciple aspires to join it. People like us aren’t even qualified to be errand boys of the alliance; only those with decent talent and strength can enter.”
“I wonder what kind of results Chen Fan will get. He killed Zhao Hu in front of people half a month ago and had displayed extraordinary strength, standing toe to toe with sixth-level martial artists at the very least. He should be able to enter the top 100.”
“Hehe, things won’t be so easy for him. He offended both Senior Brother Zhong Li and Senior Brother Chen Changfang. One of them is the alliance leader for the outer sect, and the other is the grandson of an inner sect elder. I think things won’t end well for him in this Outer Sect Grand Competition. His prominence will be a short-lived one.”
“Hmph! Top 100? I’m afraid he won’t even get to keep his life intact! This person is arrogant and cocky, even daring to talk back and humiliate Senior Brother Zhong Li to his face! The Heaven’s Alliance has numerous seventh and eighth-level Qigong experts. Will they let him off?”
“That’s true. Of all people, he had to offend Senior Brother Zhong Li. He’s simply courting death.”
Countless whispers filled the air as the outer sect disciples conversed among themselves. Chen Fan was stuck within the crowd, unaffected by the surrounding commotion, as serene and pure as the untouched snow, impervious to external influences.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted in exclamations.
“Look, Senior Brother Lu Yun and Senior Sister Mei Ling are here.”
“There’s also Senior Brother Wei Rufeng.”
“Senior Brothers Mu Chen and Gu Zhan are also here.”
The noise grew louder as everyone turned their heads toward the mountain path outside the plaza.
Chen Fan was no exception, following the crowd’s gaze and looking over.
There, a group of four young men and one woman were walking together.
Each of them possessed their own unique charm—some were handsome and refined, others tall and imposing, while some exuded grace and beauty.
The five each had different demeanor, but there was one common trait among them—their powerful auras. They were all powerful cultivators.
Qi currents swirled around them, a characteristic only seen in Qigong martial artists at the seventh level or above.
Their auras were deep, like an abyss, capable of erupting with violent powers at any moment. The other disciples were far from being comparable to them.
“They’re all so strong!”
Chen Fan thought to himself, his eyebrows raised as he watched the five from afar.
Under the watchful gazes of the crowd, the five martial artists made their way to the plaza.
“Did any expert pop up in the outer sect recently?”
Gu Zhan, towering over two meters tall like an iron tower, casually asked as he scanned the entire plaza.
“I have heard about someone named Chen Fan. He is stirring up a storm in the outer sect. He killed the boss of the three tigers, Zhao Hu, in front of many people and had a small confrontation with Zhong Li,” said one of the youths with a fair complexion, Lu Yun.
Lu Yun's cultivation was unfathomable, and he could make it into the top ten in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
Gu Zhan, seemingly unconcerned, said, “Zhao Hu is nothing. Only the man standing behind him, Chen Changfeng, counts for something. As for Chen Fan, his strength is at the peak of the sixth level at best. The five of us can easily suppress him with just one hand.”
“That’s true. Chen Fan doesn't pose a threat to us. Our opponents are those guys from Heaven’s Alliance.”
The five stood there, chatting casually.
The crowd soon fell silent; suddenly, they erupted into commotion again.
“The Heaven’s Alliance’s people are here!”
“Look, Senior Brother Zhong Li is here. He’s already a Qi Grandmaster. Although the competition will only determine the top ten, he’s undoubtedly the number one among them—the number one of the outer sect!”
“There’s also Senior Brothers Fei Kuang, Yang Feng, He Junyang, and Senior Sister Bing Ye.”
“So many experts! As expected of Heaven’s Alliance members. Every one of them looks so vigorous and strong. At this Outer Sect Grand Competition, they’ll take all the glory and occupy more than half the top 10 spots.”
The crowd was heating up.
Among them were numerous infatuated female disciples, their faces flushed with excitement as they openly professed their love.
After all, every disciple hoped to become a member of Heaven’s Alliance, but not everyone could have their wish come true.
A big group of Heaven’s Alliance members were walking toward the plaza on the mountain path.
This group’s numbers weren’t small, around three to four hundred people, approaching majestically. Their expressions exuded pride, and their auras intertwined as if they were an unstoppable force capable of shaking the very foundations of the world.
Walking at the front most was a dashing youth in white, his expression cold, his face sharp and chiseled. This person was none other than Zhong Li, the alliance leader for the outer sect.
Walking half a step behind him on both sides were six young men and women, each emanating powerful auras with qi currents flowing around them. They appeared extraordinary, their gazes sharp and piercing.
Chen Fan’s gaze fell onto Zhong Li, sweeping over and looking behind him.
His pupils involuntarily contracted as he truly grasped the deep foundations of the Heaven's Alliance. And yet, this was merely the outer sect's Heaven's Alliance. One could only imagine the power and cultivation levels of the members within the inner sect.