Infinite Save: I Cultivate Immortality Through Reincarnation

Chapter 23: The Battle for Top Honors

Before the outer court competition officially began, there was an appetizer that needed to be tasted first.

This was a fixed segment of the annual outer sect competition.

“Whoosh!”

Something flew through the air, embedding itself directly in the center of the “Heaven” platform, followed by a dashing, slender outer court disciple leaping onto the stage.

“That sword—it’s actually a spiritual artifact!”

A disciple below the platform exclaimed in shock.

Spiritual artifacts, magical instruments, immortal artifacts.

These were the tier classifications for various magical treasures and tools in this world.

The Falling Star Sword wielded by Su Hongzhen, the first sword cultivator of Chenping Continent seven thousand years ago, was an immortal artifact and also his life-bound treasure.

After all, looking back through the historical records of the entire Chenping Continent, the number of immortal artifacts that had emerged probably didn’t exceed ten fingers.

The current treasure guarding the Kongshan Sect was a high-grade seventh-tier magical instrument called the Mountain-Shaking Bell.

This sect-protecting treasure ensured that even if Kongshan Sect had no worthy successors, not even a single cultivator from the upper three realms, anyone wanting to invade Kongshan Sect would first have to carefully consider the weight of the Mountain-Shaking Bell.

Legend said that above immortal artifacts, there existed even higher-tier magical treasures and tools, referred to as dao artifacts.

But that was just a legend.

As for the spiritual sword held by that disciple on the platform, although it was only a low-grade second-tier spiritual artifact, it wasn’t something an ordinary disciple could obtain.

Even inner sect disciples needed to rely on luck to find a spiritual artifact.

The disciple who had ascended the Heaven platform cupped his hands proudly toward the crowd below the platform and those on the viewing stand:

“This disciple is Xu Aotian, last year’s champion of the outer court competition! I humbly request your guidance!”

Every year before the outer court competition began, there was this segment where challengers could face last year’s champion.

If the previous champion could achieve seven consecutive victories, then they would earn the right to challenge this year’s champion after the current competition concluded.

Winning again would make them the outer sect supreme champion.

Once becoming the outer sect supreme champion, one would receive cultivation resources and spirit stone allowances comparable to those of an outer court supervisor.

If a challenger succeeded in their challenge, they would inherit the rights of the previous champion.

As the new platform master, if they could then achieve seven consecutive victories, they would gain the right to challenge this year’s champion.

However, the current year’s champion, regardless of win or loss, could not become the outer sect supreme champion during that year’s competition.

Instead, if they lost to the previous champion, it meant they would lose the right to challenge next year’s champion and compete for the outer sect supreme champion position.

“I’ll go!”

Below the platform, a disciple leaped high into the air before landing on the stage.

Xu Aotian on the platform first examined the disciple who had jumped up, then cupped his hands toward him, hooked the spiritual sword embedded in the platform with his foot, sheathed it at his waist, and placed it at the edge of the platform.

In the outer court competition, naturally, no magical treasures, talismans, or pills were allowed.

Of course, some cunning disciples would secretly hide pills like Energy Gathering Pills that replenished true energy or physical strength on their persons.

But once discovered, they would face automatic disqualification.

Kongshan Sect was one of the Five Great Sects of Chenping Continent, a genuine orthodox righteous sect.

They still had to maintain some dignity.

Although the sect elders taught disciples that if they encountered trouble or danger outside, they shouldn’t worry about losing face.

If they couldn’t win, they should find a way to escape; if they couldn’t escape, they should resort to underhanded methods.

But on the competition platform, they couldn’t do this.

It would damage their elegance.

“I am Li Bao, manager of the outer court library of Kongshan Sect! I humbly request guidance from the champion!”

The disciple who had later mounted the platform said.

“Please!”

Xu Aotian stepped back half a step as a courtesy, allowing Li Bao to attack first.

As last year’s competition champion, Xu Aotian had sufficient confidence.

Although Chen Yan had been lying low, detached from worldly affairs, he had heard Xu Aotian’s name in previous cycles.

Looking back one hundred years and forward one hundred years, the only outer sect supreme champion of Kongshan Sect was Xu Aotian.

By the time Chen Yan was forty years old, Xu Aotian had already become an outer court supervisor.

Later he was promoted to Yuanhua Mountain, and by the time Chen Yan reached one hundred years old, Xu Aotian had become an Enforcement Hall executive at Yuanhua Mountain.

That’s right, in the original cycle, Xu Aotian first achieved seven consecutive victories, then defeated that year’s outer court competition champion, becoming the outer sect supreme champion in one fell swoop.

Therefore, this match between him and Li Bao probably wouldn’t hold much suspense.

Both Xu Aotian and Li Bao were at the Qi Circulation Realm, and if comparing the depth of their true energy, Xu Aotian undoubtedly had the advantage.

In a prolonged battle, Li Bao would definitely fall behind and be at a disadvantage.

Li Bao was clearly aware of this, so from the very beginning he went all out, pouncing toward Xu Aotian with killing intent.

Li Bao quickly stepped forward, striking out with a palm wrapped in true energy, heading straight for Xu Aotian’s chest.

This wasn’t some profound technique, just a simple, full-power palm strike.

Naturally, Xu Aotian wouldn’t take this strike head-on, immediately sidestepping to evade.

Li Bao followed with a reverse grab, continuing to strike toward Xu Aotian’s chest.

Xu Aotian’s shifted center of gravity made it impossible for him to evade again, forcing him to directly receive Li Bao’s technique.

He raised his elbow to block Li Bao’s powerful grabbing palm, the true energy striking into his bones and tendons, causing slight turbulence in Xu Aotian’s meridians.

But Xu Aotian quickly adjusted, lifting a knee to strike toward Li Bao’s abdomen, forcing Li Bao to hastily retreat and evade.

This was the opening!

Xu Aotian brought two fingers together, pointing toward Li Bao’s body.

Kongshan Finger!

A stream of true energy shot straight toward Li Bao’s chest, completely destroying his body balance, causing him to stagger and fall toward the edge of the platform.

Li Bao clutched his chest, his face showing pain as he glanced up at Xu Aotian, then waved his hand to signal surrender.

“My respects.”

Xu Aotian again cupped his hands toward Li Bao’s direction, though upon closer observation, one could see that the forearm he had used to block Li Bao’s palm was trembling slightly.

But it could still be considered a one-sided domination.

Immediately after, challengers came one after another, wanting to challenge last year’s ultimate champion.

They were successively defeated by Xu Aotian, with the most resilient challenger continuing to fight for over ten more rounds with Xu Aotian even after fracturing his left leg in a direct clash.

Only when he fell to the ground unable to stand was the match stopped by the Training Grounds executive, who declared Xu Aotian the winner.

Having achieved seven consecutive victories, Xu Aotian stood tall and straight on the platform, though his complexion was somewhat pale.

Then, Xu Aotian separately cupped his hands toward the crowd below the platform and those on the viewing stand before descending from the platform.

The crowd automatically parted to make way for him.

“What do you think of this person?”

Lin Qifeng asked Chen Yan.

“This disciple believes this person has solid foundations, profound true energy, and rich combat experience, as can be seen from his technique variations.”

Chen Yan replied.

“Mmm.”

Lin Qifeng nodded, though it was unclear whether he agreed with Chen Yan’s assessment or was expressing appreciation for Xu Aotian:

“This youngster, with good luck, might even survive several rounds in the inner sect competition.”

In the inner sect competition, the champions throughout history were inevitably the true heaven-chosen talents of the sect.

“Chen Yan, listen carefully.”

Lin Qifeng said:

“When you break through to the Qi Circulation Realm, you must be able to thoroughly defeat disciples of his level, otherwise you’ll be losing face for your master.”

“Yes.”

Chen Yan nodded in acknowledgment.