Chapter 294 - 43: Passing Trials in Succession

Chapter 294: Chapter 43: Passing Trials in Succession

"Du Dao."

"Excellent! A man of few words!" Xue Shan roared with laughter and downed his drink in one go as well. "Brother Du, that Saber Technique of yours is truly miraculous, simply breathtaking."

"Just a few clever Dharma Gates, nothing to write home about," Chen Ye said lightly.

"Clever tricks?" Xue Shan shook his head, his face a mask of disbelief. "To control your force with such precision, to the Micro Realm, and shatter an opponent’s Power flow with a single strike... If that’s just a ’clever trick,’ then ninety-nine percent of the Dharma Gates in this world are just child’s play."

Xue Shan himself was an expert with the saber, so his eye for such things was incredibly discerning.

He had seen it with perfect clarity. Chen Ye’s strike seemed simple, but in reality, it was utterly terrifying.

At the very least, he knew he couldn’t have done it himself.

"Brother Du, for someone with your abilities to participate in that so-called Immortal Ascension Ceremony... it’s a real waste of your talent." Xue Shan refilled both their bowls with wine and remarked with a sigh.

"Oh? And why do you say that?" Chen Ye asked, feigning confusion.

"Hah, you really don’t know?" Xue Shan sneered, a look of contempt on his face. "Celestial Sword Manor puts this thing on... to put it nicely, they claim it’s to give the world’s Loose Cultivators a path to advancement. But in reality? It’s just to eliminate potential threats and shut people up, to keep them from saying the Manor has monopolized every path to promotion and every resource."

"But the truth is, they look down on us Loose Cultivators, us ’mud-legs.’ Even if you’re incredibly talented, the best you can hope for is to become an Outer Sect Steward, doing all the dirty, exhausting work. You’ll be the first to be sent into danger, but you’ll never see any of the real rewards. And if something goes wrong? You’ll be the first to take the blame."

Chen Ye said nothing, simply drinking his wine.

Xue Shan, however, had had a few too many, and his tongue was loosening.

"I used to know a young fellow, just like you. A genius with the saber." Xue Shan’s eyes glazed over, lost in memory.

"The kid was even younger than you are now, but his ferocity, his insight... I’d truly never seen anything like it. I just knew back then that he was destined for greatness."

"Such a waste..." Xue Shan sighed heavily. He drank most of the wine in his bowl, then tipped it over, pouring a little out onto the ground.

"He was too proud, didn’t know when to bend. He offended Celestial Sword Manor, and in the end... Sigh. Better not to speak of it."

As Chen Ye watched him, a strange emotion stirred in his heart.

This seemingly rough man was actually a person of deep and true feeling.

’He still remembers me. He’s still lamenting my fate.’

’That’s truly rare.’

"A real shame, indeed." Chen Ye also lifted his wine bowl and, mimicking the other man’s gesture, poured some out onto the ground.

It was a gesture of respect for his "dead" self.

"Yeah, a real shame." A flicker of approval flashed in Xue Shan’s eyes as he watched Chen Ye. "Brother Du, you’re a man who gets it."

"I’m not saying all this for any particular reason, just wanted to give you a heads-up." Xue Shan lowered his voice. "Celestial Sword Manor is a pit of vipers. Especially that Young Manor Master they hype up to the heavens, Jian Wuchen. I’ve met the guy. He’s the type to hide a dagger behind a smile—petty and small-minded. Definitely bad news. So if you get in, you have to be careful. Don’t let him get the better of you."

"Thank you for the warning," Chen Ye nodded.

They shared a few more drinks, and as dusk began to fall, Chen Ye rose to take his leave.

Xue Shan didn’t try to make him stay. He just clapped him on the shoulder and told him to come by for drinks anytime, saying it would be his treat.

Chen Ye returned to his inn and fell asleep as soon as he lay down. Perhaps it was due to the drinks, but he slept soundly and peacefully.

The next morning, at the same West City Martial Arts Arena, the atmosphere was even more tense and grim than the day before.

After a brutal round of elimination the previous day, the several thousand Loose Cultivators had been whittled down to fewer than three hundred.

And today, the vast majority of those three hundred would be eliminated, leaving only the final thirty.

Chen Ye stood in the crowd, listening as the Outer Sect Elder, Zhao Xin, announced the rules for the second round.

The rules for the second round were simple: hold the stage!

In the center of the martial arts arena, ten platforms, each about ten feet high, had been temporarily erected.

Soon, ten initial defenders would be selected by drawing lots. After that, anyone would be free to go up and issue a challenge.

A victorious challenger would take the defender’s place, becoming the new person to beat.

If a defender could fend off five consecutive challengers, they would advance directly to the next stage. Once they advanced, a new defender would be chosen by lot to take their place.

The selection would end as soon as the first thirty people had advanced.

These rules tested an individual’s raw power even more than yesterday’s free-for-all.

Once you became a defender, you would have to endure a grueling war of attrition against a stream of challengers.

Most importantly, the spots were limited. First come, first served.

This meant the fighting would be intense right from the start.

Soon, the lots were drawn.

Ten initial defenders were selected. Without exception, all were Sea Condensation Realm experts who had distinguished themselves the day before.

Chen Ye wasn’t chosen, but he was in no hurry. He remained in the crowd, observing with a cool detachment.

"Begin!"

As Zhao Xin gave the command, all ten stages erupted in chaos.

Countless Loose Cultivators, unable to hold back any longer, surged madly toward the stages.

"I’ll be your challenger!"

"Get out of the way! This defender is mine!"

"Whoever dares to fight me for this spot, I’ll cripple them first!"

The scene briefly descended into chaos, as people below the stages started fighting amongst themselves before they could even get on.

Disciples from Celestial Sword Manor had to step in and forcefully suppress the brawls, barely managing to restore order.

Chen Ye didn’t join the scrum. He used his Tribulation Eye to observe the situation on the ten stages.

These ten defenders really knew their stuff.

Most of them were in the early or Middle Stage of the Sea Condensation Realm. Their Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques were varied and impressive, and they all handled the swarming challengers with ease.