Chapter 241 - 221: The Grand Competition Begins

Chapter 241: Chapter 221: The Grand Competition Begins

On the mountain path, Lu Jingxing walked side-by-side with Chen Yue, telling him amusing stories from past Celestial State Prefecture Grand Tournaments.

He spoke of which sect’s disciple had made a fool of himself on stage, which year’s competition had a dark horse emerge, and which duel had been earth-shatteringly spectacular.

Chen Yue listened with great interest, occasionally chiming in with a few questions.

A short while later, the group arrived at the Affairs Hall. Presenting their Waist Tokens, they each received three bottles of Elixirs.

The other disciples in the Affairs Hall watched Chen Yue’s group with looks of reverence.

This was because they represented the strongest combat power of the Panshi Sect at the Refining Organ Realm, and in the future, several Innate Realm experts would be born from their ranks.

A moment later, Chen Yue returned to his courtyard. He closed the gate, sat on a stone bench, and took out the three bottles of Elixirs one by one, placing them before him.

The first bottle contained Healing Pills for internal use. When he opened the stopper, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. The elixirs were deep brown and smooth-surfaced, clearly of high quality.

The second bottle was Healing Medicine for external use, a white powder for applying to wounds to stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration.

The third bottle contained Calm Spirit Pills.

These Calm Spirit Pills weren’t Elixirs used for cultivation, but rather to nourish the Heart Spirit, allowing one to calm their mind and remain unshaken by external disturbances.

The Sect had clearly distributed these Calm Spirit Pills in the hopes that the disciples participating in the Grand Tournament could maintain a calm state of mind before the competition and face the challenges in their best condition.

Chen Yue carefully stored the three bottles of Elixirs, then closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

Meanwhile, within the major sects surrounding Celestial State Prefecture, disciples participating in the Grand Tournament also began to gather.

In the Xuanqing Palace, on the edge of a cloud-shrouded cliff, an ancient, gnarled tree grew by the precipice.

A figure hung upside down from a branch, the soles of their feet pressed against the wood, their entire body suspended in mid-air without any other support.

As fierce winds howled along the cliffside, his body swayed up and down with the branch, as if he had become one with the gales.

In the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, atop a freezing pool permeated with a chilly aura, the water’s surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the gloomy light of the sky.

A shadowy figure stood silently on the water’s surface, not stirring a single ripple.

Without looking closely, one would not even notice the dark figure’s presence. He seemed to be a part of the freezing pool itself, merged with the surrounding cold and somber atmosphere.

Within the Liuyun Sword Sect’s Sword Grinding Pool.

He Linxi sat cross-legged in the center of the pool, his hands tightly gripping a jet-black Whetstone.

The Whetstone was covered in fine, intricate patterns and emanated an ancient, piercing aura.

As he continuously poured his Sword Intent into it, the patterns on the Whetstone’s surface began to glow. Then, with a CRACK, the Whetstone suddenly shattered, turning into countless tiny fragments that fell into the pool.

Immediately after, a piercing and pure Sword Intent erupted from He Linxi’s body, soaring into the sky. It stirred the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, forming an invisible vortex above the Sword Grinding Pool.

Celestial State Prefecture City, within the Divine Forest Prefecture.

A figure sat casually on the ground, leaning against a wall, continuously stuffing roasted meat into his mouth.

He ate in an extremely crude manner, not caring in the slightest as grease dripped down his chin.

He casually glanced into the distance. Thinking of the disciples from the various sects he would encounter in three days, a bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes.

He grinned, revealing teeth flecked with strands of meat. Then he shoved the last piece of meat in his hand, bone and all, into his mouth, and with a CRUNCH CRUNCH, chewed it to pieces and swallowed.

...

The night was deep, and a profound silence had fallen over the courtyards of Dan Peak.

Chen Yue sat cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber, his eyes lightly closed, his breathing long and steady.

Outside the window, moonlight like water spilled onto the courtyard’s bluestone floor, casting a faint, silvery-white sheen.

At midnight, the familiar ripple arrived as expected.

[Daily Settlement]

[Diligent Cultivation. Cultivation +823]

[Diligent Cultivation of Ten Thousand Forms Tiger Roar Golden Bell. Experience +16,733]

...

Chen Yue stared at the information on the panel, his eyes widening slightly.

’My Cultivation increased by 823 points. That number is about what I expected.’

’After the transformation of my Saber Intent, I can now actively draw upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within a ten-zhang radius.’

’It can’t compare to an environment with extremely dense Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi like the Gathering Essence Spirit Platform, but it’s a significant improvement in efficiency compared to before, when I could only draw it from the narrow area around the surface of my skin.’

’Going from the usual 570-ish points to 823 is quite a substantial improvement.’

What truly surprised Chen Yue were the Experience Points for the Ten Thousand Forms Tiger Roar Golden Bell.

16,733 points!

’That’s a number I could only reach in a special environment like the Wenda Corridor.’

’I never expected this. After my Saber Intent transformed, I used the Celestial Demon Burning Technique to burn my Qi Blood. The process of forcibly absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and refining it into Blood Essence actually produced such a powerful cultivation effect.’

’Looking at it this way, the remaining two hundred thousand or so Experience Points for the Ten Thousand Forms Tiger Roar Golden Bell suddenly don’t seem so unattainable.’

Chen Yue slowly closed his eyes. The next moment, a massive surge of enlightenment flooded his Sea of Consciousness—it was the cultivation insights for the Ten Thousand Forms Tiger Roar Golden Bell, organized by the panel, flowing like a gentle stream into the depths of his mind.

He quieted his mind and began to absorb and refine these insights one by one, converting them into his body’s instincts.

「Three days passed in a flash.」

In the early morning, the atmosphere throughout the Panshi Sect was buzzing with excitement.

A large number of disciples had gathered in the plaza before Cloud-Gazing Hall, their voices a roaring din. Today was the day of the Celestial State Prefecture Grand Tournament. All participating disciples would assemble here before departing together for Celestial State Prefecture City.

Chen Yue and the other few disciples participating in the Grand Tournament had already arrived early and were standing in the center of the plaza.

Shortly after, some Innate True Disciples also appeared one after another. They were here to see off the disciples participating in the Grand Tournament.

Then, the figures of Meng Yu Jin, Mo Ciqiu, and Liu Zhengyi appeared in the plaza. Seeing his master and two elders arrive, Chen Yue hurried forward to bow.

Mo Ciqiu looked at Chen Yue and said with a smile, "You were injured and should be resting properly in your courtyard. But who could have guessed you’d be going to the Celestial State Prefecture Grand Tournament? I had no choice but to come and cheer you on."

Meng Yu Jin shot Mo Ciqiu a look, then turned to Chen Yue and instructed him seriously:

"Don’t listen to Elder Mo’s nonsense. She just wants to see you crush everyone at the Celestial State Grand Tournament. But Chen Yue, you must be careful.

If you truly encounter an opponent you can’t defeat, don’t try to force it. The Divine Forest Prefecture is very strong. In past tournaments, their people have always taken first place. You must be extra cautious."

Chen Yue cupped his hands. "Disciple understands. I will act with caution."

A moment later, the figures of several Elders appeared before Cloud-Gazing Hall.

Feng Hansheng, Zheng Tongchen, and Song Mingke were among them. When the three of them saw Chen Yue, smiles appeared on their faces.

Feng Hansheng’s gaze swept over the disciples participating in the tournament. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he wasted no more words and, with a wave of his right hand, commanded, "Depart!"

In an instant, the figures of several hundred disciples flickered and shot off like arrows loosed from a bow, speeding toward Celestial State Prefecture City.

In less than an hour, the towering city walls of Celestial State Prefecture City were already visible in the distance.

Led by Feng Hansheng and the other elders, the several hundred disciples of the Panshi Sect passed through the city gates and proceeded along a wide street.

The streets were lined with shops, and the air was filled with the rising and falling cries of vendors, bustling with the lively energy of the mortal world.

But the disciples in the procession were in no mood to admire the streetscape. Their gazes were all fixed ahead, on the magnificent structure situated in the center of the Prefecture City.

The Divine Forest Prefecture.

It was a city within a city. Before its gates stood two enormous stone pillars, carved with intricate cloud patterns that exuded an ancient and solemn aura.

The main gates were wide open, and standing at the entrance were several Innate Realm experts in uniform attire, clearly the reception personnel from the Divine Forest Prefecture.

Seeing the people from the Panshi Sect arrive, a middle-aged man among them strode forward to greet them. With a perfectly appropriate smile on his face, he cupped his hands and said:

"Esteemed guests of the Panshi Sect, you have come from afar. Please forgive us for not greeting you sooner. Follow me, please. We have already arranged your seating."

Song Mingke stepped forward and exchanged a few pleasantries with the man, then turned back, called out to the group, and led the people from the Panshi Sect through the gates of the Divine Forest Prefecture.

The moment he stepped into the Divine Forest Prefecture, Chen Yue’s expression flickered.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi here was clearly a great deal denser than outside.

’It’s still not on the level of the Gathering Essence Spirit Platform, but this is just the entrance to the Divine Forest Prefecture. We haven’t even gone deep inside yet.’

As the group continued to advance, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi grew ever denser, as if its concentration increased with every step they took.

By the time they reached a corridor, Chen Yue felt that the concentration of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi had already reached the level of the Gathering Essence Spirit Platform.

And judging by the layout of the surroundings, this still seemed to be just an outer area of the Divine Forest Prefecture, not its true core.

’This Divine Forest Prefecture... it really lives up to its reputation,’ Chen Yue thought.

This small glimpse was enough to reveal the kind of foundation and power the Divine Forest Prefecture possessed, and why it could suppress the other major sects in the region.

A short while later, the people from the Panshi Sect were led to the front of an enormous Martial Arts Arena.

The Martial Arts Arena was circular, a full hundred zhang in diameter. The ground was paved with a special blue-black stone and covered with dense Array Patterns. It had clearly undergone special reinforcement, enough to withstand the impact of a full-powered exchange between peak Refining Organ Realm experts.

Surrounding the Martial Arts Arena were circular, tiered Observation Platforms, capable of seating several thousand spectators at once.

The moment the people from the Panshi Sect stepped into the Martial Arts Arena, countless gazes from the Observation Platforms shot toward them like tangible arrows, focusing on them in unison.

Chen Yue raised his head and followed the direction of those gazes.

In the eastern section of the Observation Platforms, he saw a group of familiar figures: the people from the Liuyun Sword Sect.

They had arrived a step ahead of the Panshi Sect and were now seated on the Observation Platforms.

Leading them were several Elders of the Liuyun Sword Sect, including Bei Sujian and Ding Yuli. Their gazes fell upon the members of the Panshi Sect, lingering on Chen Yue for a moment with a hint of malice.

In the area where the Liuyun Sword Sect disciples were seated, Chen Yue also saw a few familiar faces—people he had defeated on the Sword Heart Ranking.

When they saw Chen Yue, their expressions soured, and some even instinctively averted their gaze.

And at the very front of the Liuyun Sword Sect disciples, a figure sat quietly, resting with his eyes closed.

He wore a set of black martial attire, his aura contained, but a faint Sword Intent, even more piercing and pure than before, flowed around him.

He was like an peerless sword hidden in its sheath; though not yet drawn, its sharpness was already impossible to ignore.

He Linxi!

As if sensing Chen Yue’s gaze, He Linxi slowly opened his eyes.

Their gazes met in mid-air, spanning the entire Martial Arts Arena.

There was no killing intent, only a calm, momentary exchange of looks. Then, He Linxi closed his eyes again, as if nothing had happened at all.