Novel Full Chapter 25: Between Scenes
Overwhelming victory!
This could be called the most decisive and complete overwhelming victory in this year’s outer court competition so far!
If you blinked for even a moment, you might have missed what happened entirely!
“Chen Yan, wins!”
Even the manager disciple responsible for refereeing was stunned for a moment before announcing the outcome of this match.
Chen Yan slowly walked down from the arena platform.
And the voices among the crowd underwent a dramatic change.
“Truly worthy of being an elder’s personal disciple. I doubt even many inner sect Body Forging Realm disciples could achieve this level, right?”
“Although Senior Brother Chen is still only a Body Forging Realm cultivator at seventeen, who can rule out the possibility that he’s a late bloomer?”
“And is reaching the peak of Body Forging Realm at seventeen really that bad? Slow cultivation speed in the early stages could be due to various factors…”
Words of praise immediately began to overflow among the crowd.
However, Chen Yan paid no attention because he knew that if he had lost, these compliments and praises would instantly turn into mockery and curses.
Who wouldn’t want to see someone in a high position like an elder’s personal disciple make a fool of themselves?
Human nature revels in others’ misfortune.
Of course, they also don’t mind flattering and currying favor with you when you’re in power.
This was a truth Chen Yan understood even before transmigrating to this cultivation world.
After defeating the outer court disciple named Zhao Wei, Chen Yan headed toward the viewing stand.
As he passed by Elder Lan Wei, the elder smiled and gave him a slight nod, appearing completely calm and composed.
Elder Lan Wei had undoubtedly watched Chen Yan’s recent match but said nothing.
Indeed, there was nothing for him to say.
Because in the eyes of an inner sect elder, defeating an ordinary outer court disciple of the same realm with one move should be something any inner sect disciple should be capable of.
Instead, it was Chen Yan’s own master, Lin Qifeng, who seemed somewhat surprised by his performance.
Lin Qifeng had never invested any effort in Chen Yan.
Because taking Chen Yan as his disciple was entirely a whimsical coincidence.
Lin Qifeng only needed Chen Yan to serve as his messenger and not embarrass him too much when public appearances were required.
That was all.
But Chen Yan’s performance clearly exceeded Lin Qifeng’s expectations.
Because in his eyes, Chen Yan was just an ordinary outer court disciple with average or even below-average talent.
Even with long-term cleansing from Body Forging Liquid, he shouldn’t have achieved such exaggerated progress.
“How did you do this?”
After Chen Yan returned to Lin Qifeng’s side, his master asked this question.
“This disciple doesn’t know what master is referring to.”
Chen Yan bowed respectfully.
“Hmph.”
Lin Qifeng just let out a rather disdainful laugh and didn’t press further.
Of course he knew Chen Yan was playing dumb, but Lin Qifeng couldn’t be bothered to expose such petty tricks.
What, could he possibly turn the world upside down?
…
The outer court competition continued.
The first round of Xuan Group consisted of sixteen matches with thirty-two participants.
After it concluded, the drawing for the second round matches began.
Chen Yan was scheduled for the third match of the second round, with Li Fu as his opponent.
When this drawing result was announced, the entire venue erupted in uproar.
Because Li Fu was that giant man who wielded the massive axe, and like Chen Yan, he was considered to be in a class of his own in terms of strength within Xuan Group. After the first round matches ended, these two had already been tacitly acknowledged as the only two disciples in Xuan Group who could advance to the top sixteen.
But no one had expected that Chen Yan and Li Fu would actually meet in the second round.
This meant one of them would inevitably be eliminated in this round.
And when this result was announced, the most chaotic area in the Training Grounds was the southeastern corner of the viewing stand.
“Placing bets! Placing bets!”
A disciple who looked quite unscrupulous moved through the crowd. His right hand was missing a thumb, severed years ago when he was caught cheating in the Gambling Den.
After that incident, this disciple swore he would never gamble again. As for the outcome—
“Elder Lin’s personal disciple Chen Yan versus axe expert Li Fu! Bets are closing! Current odds: Chen Yan at three to one, Li Fu at one point four to one!”
A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit, and neither can a gambling addict.
“Senior Brother Chen’s odds are actually that high?”
“Let’s just say most people still favor Li Fu more.”
“Are you crazy? Senior Brother Chen is Elder Lin’s personal disciple, he must have some trump cards. What does Li Fu have to compete with Senior Brother Chen?”
“Perhaps Chen Yan’s first-round victory had some element of luck and his opponent being too weak, but the visual impact Li Fu delivers is undeniable. It’s normal that most people favor Li Fu more.”
“Bullshit! How could that rough brute possibly be Senior Brother Chen’s match?”
“Fellow cultivator, how much did you bet?”
“Fifteen spirit stones, all on Senior Brother Chen. What about it?”
“No wonder you’re so devoted to Chen Yan, calling him Senior Brother left and right. If he actually wins the second round, you’ll probably start calling him father…”
“Go fuck your mother!”
“Hey, stop fighting! Stop fighting!”
The southeastern corner of the viewing stand descended into chaos, and soon Enforcement Hall manager disciples went to restore order.
The competition continued, and the next match in Xuan Group would soon be Chen Yan’s turn.
At this moment, he was waiting below the arena platform, watching two outer court disciples fighting and struggling on the stage.
This was a battle of attrition that might not be decided anytime soon.
“The skill Senior Brother Chen displayed earlier was truly eye-opening.”
A somewhat familiar voice came from behind Chen Yan.
He slightly turned his head to look behind him, where a young man with a smile on his face stood.
It was Sun Lu.
“You flatter me.”
Chen Yan said indifferently.
“Earlier on the viewing stand, they were taking bets on the match between Senior Brother Chen and Li Fu.”
Sun Lu said:
“I bet fifty spirit stones on Senior Brother Chen. I hope Senior Brother Chen won’t make me lose everything. If you succeed, I will surely repay you generously.”
Chen Yan didn’t respond to this.
“By the way, I have something I’d like to ask you.”
Chen Yan said.
“Please speak, Senior Brother Chen.”
Sun Lu said.
“I heard that some time ago, something major happened at the Merit Hall.”
Chen Yan said this.
“Yes, Senior Brother Chen, I also know a little about this matter.”
Sun Lu said.
Song Mingde’s death hadn’t been publicly announced. Even now, most outer court disciples only thought Steward Song had gone down the mountain on official business and hadn’t returned yet.
The current Merit Hall was temporarily managed by the former Merit Hall ceremonial official acting as steward.
“How was the relationship between the Merit Hall ceremonial official and Steward Song?”
Chen Yan continued asking.
“I may not be very clear about the interpersonal relationships within the Merit Hall.”
Sun Lu said, then paused for a moment:
“However, my master’s relationship with Ceremonial Official Zhao is quite good, and I’m also somewhat acquainted with Ceremonial Official Zhao. May I ask what exactly Senior Brother Chen wants to know?”