Chapter 12: The Outer Sect Competition Begins, Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole

Zhou Chen concealed his Cultivation and arrived at the Core Disciple residential area.

The Sect's Core Disciples reside halfway up the Sect's main peak.

Each Core Disciple has a private residence with its own Formation, making forced entry difficult.

The Spiritual Qi here is exceptionally abundant; Cultivating anywhere in this area allows for a Cultivation speed two to three times faster than the Outer Sect.

"Senior Sister, I have an urgent matter and need to see Liu Shijie. Please inform her," Zhou Chen said, cupping his hands to a female Utility Disciple outside Liu Qianru's residence.

"You may leave. Liu Shijie is not someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can meet," the female Utility Disciple said, frowning as she looked at Zhou Chen's Outer Sect Disciple attire, her eyes revealing a hint of disdain and disgust.

"Please still inform her. There are some matters you cannot decide on," Zhou Chen said, seeing her attitude. Naturally, he wouldn't humble himself, nor would he humor her.

"You're truly a toad trying to eat a swan's flesh! I've seen too many people like you, all using the excuse of having something urgent or knowing Liu Shijie to try and curry favor. Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror!" the female Utility Disciple shrieked.

Zhou Chen's temper flared up instantly. He glared coldly at the female Disciple, about to retort.

"Enough! Is this how I usually teach you to treat people? Considering your hard work, I'll punish you by having you face the wall at Thought Cliff for one month."

A soft, scolding voice rang out beside their ears.

"Senior Sister, I was wrong! I won't dare again! Never again!" The female Utility Disciple instantly turned pale and dropped to her knees with a thud.

"Zhou Chen, come straight in."

Ignoring the female Disciple, the voice came again.

A gap opened in the Formation ahead, and Zhou Chen walked directly into the courtyard.

A figure in white, purer than snow, stood with her back to Zhou Chen, like a Fairy from the heavens.

Liu Qianru's beauty was indeed striking, and coupled with her cold temperament, she possessed a fatal attraction.

Even Zhou Chen, who had seen countless beauties in his previous life, had to admit that Liu Qianru before him was truly beautiful.

"Is there something you need to see me about? My previous promise to you is still valid," Liu Qianru broke the silence first.

"Ahem, Senior Sister Liu Qianru, it's like this: tomorrow is the Sect's Outer Sect Grand Competition, and I indeed have something I'd like your help with," Zhou Chen said awkwardly.

"With your strength, you shouldn't need my help to pass the Outer Sect Grand Competition. Is there some other situation?" Liu Qianru asked.

"Senior Sister, I suspect I've been poisoned, or I might be poisoned during tomorrow's competition. Could you come to the venue then and help me find the person who poisoned me?" Zhou Chen said seriously.

"Are you so certain the person harming you will poison you tomorrow? The Sect has its own laws; if such a situation occurs, you will definitely receive justice," Liu Qianru said, turning around, her voice clear and melodious.

"Yes, Senior Sister. I didn't advance to the Inner Sect before, and later I was poisoned with demon boiling powder, causing my Cultivation to regress. I'm certain the person behind this will act again," Zhou Chen said with certainty.

"Alright, I'll come tomorrow," Liu Qianru said indifferently.

Zhou Chen cupped his hands to Liu Qianru and quickly left.

Liu Qianru, however, was momentarily stunned watching Zhou Chen's retreating figure, not expecting him to be so decisive.

Many Disciples in the past had wished to speak with her longer, making her quite annoyed. She couldn't help but think more highly of Zhou Chen.

The next day.

The Outer Sect Grand Competition began.

The Outer Sect Disciple Grand Competition was divided into two rounds. The first round involved attacking the Wenxian Sect's strength-testing stele.

A value of three or higher on the strength-testing stele meant passing, with the maximum displayed value being ten.

The second round involved Disciples battling each other to determine the top ten, and these top ten would then be promoted to Inner Sect Disciples.

An Outer Sect Disciple walked up to the strength-testing stele, concentrated his Qi, and struck it with all his might.

The strength-testing stele glowed faintly. After the light dissipated, the displayed value was "one."

"Zhang San, strength-testing stele failed! Next!" the Sect Deacon announced loudly.

Zhou Chen also knew this Deacon; it was precisely Deacon Zhang of the Outer Sect, who had previously wanted to stand up for Zhang Xiaoxin.

"Deacon, I don't want to be a Utility Disciple! Please, give me another chance!" Zhang San cried profusely, kneeling before the Sect Deacon and kowtowing repeatedly.

With a bang.

The next moment, Zhang San's pupils widened as he was sent flying by Deacon Zhang's palm strike.

"Someone, drag this trash away! Anyone else who disrupts the order of the Sect Grand Competition will face the same fate as Zhang San!"

The entire venue fell silent, and the Outer Sect Grand Competition testing resumed.

"Senior Sister Liu is here!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, and everyone looked towards the graceful figure on the distant high platform. Instantly, the scene became noisy again.

Beauty is always the center of attention, no matter where, and even more so for a female Disciple like Liu Qianru, who possessed extraordinary strength and high beauty. Wherever she went, she was surrounded by admirers.

"Perform well later! If Senior Sister Liu takes a liking to you, even a small reward would be a huge Opportunity for us!"

"Indeed, but Senior Sister Liu is truly beautiful! Like a Fairy from the heavens!"

"Put away your old toad-like face, you're hilarious! Talk about it after you pass the assessment!"

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples discussed animatedly.

"Next, Zhou Chen!"

"Hey, it's the famous former Outer Sect's number one. I didn't expect him to become trash! I bet he'll be thrown out just like Zhang San earlier."

An Outer Sect Disciple said with disdain.

"Exactly, exactly. What's he doing here if he can't Cultivate anymore? It's just self-humiliation."

Other Outer Sect Disciples chimed in.

"If I were him, I would have already used connections to secure a cushy Utility Disciple job. He can't face reality, still thinking he's the former Outer Sect's number one."

Sarcastic remarks rose and fell, after all, Zhou Chen was once the Outer Sect's number one.

Zhou Chen didn't pay attention to what they were saying. In his eyes, these people weren't worthy of his attention; killing them wouldn't take more than a breath.

Zhou Chen slowly walked forward. The Outer Sect Disciple Grand Competition was merely a formality for him.

However, to lure out the person who wanted to poison him, he concealed his Cultivation, only displaying a Body Refining eighth-layer Cultivation.

"This kid is interesting; I can't even see through his Cultivation anymore."

Liu Qianru was certain that Zhou Chen definitely possessed a Cultivation Technique for concealing Cultivation.

However, she was only surprised, as there were countless bizarre Cultivation Techniques for concealing Cultivation, and many could achieve it.

But she also guessed why Zhou Chen wanted to conceal his Cultivation and watched with interest.

At this moment, Zhou Chen walked to the strength-testing stele, concentrated his Qi, and retreated his right leg half a step.

He slightly gathered power in his right fist, shifted his body's center of gravity downwards, and put on a show of going all out.

Without hesitation, he punched out, heavily striking the strength-testing stele.

Boom!

The strength-testing stele emitted dazzling light. After the light dissipated, a "ten" was clearly displayed.

Whoa!

The surrounding Disciples were all shocked.

Deacon Zhang's mouth was even agape. He looked at Zhou Chen with disbelief, then swallowed hard.

"Strength-testing stele value ten! Zhou Chen! Passed!" Deacon Zhang shouted loudly.

Deacon Zhang's gaze towards Zhou Chen underwent a huge change.

Before, it was disdain, but now there was a hint of complexity.

He had been poisoned with demon boiling powder, his Foundation destroyed, yet his Cultivation had actually returned.

One must know that in previous years, Outer Sect Disciples who achieved a strength-testing stele value of ten or higher were as rare as a Phoenix feather!

And without exception, these Disciples, as long as they didn't die prematurely, eventually became Core Disciples.

Ye Chen, who had previously been promoted to Inner Sect, also had a strength-testing stele score of ten!