Chapter 63: Holy Land Opportunity, Ye Chen Awakens

"The Central Continent's Yanhuo Holy Land's centennial grand election is about to begin. Six months from now, the Southern Region's Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition will be held. Wenxian Sect has twenty guaranteed spots for the Semi-finals! No Preliminary Round required."

"By the decision of the Sect's high-level management, the top ten newly promoted Core Disciples from this round of the Asking Immortal Tower competition, as well as the top ten ranked Core Disciples of the Sect, will receive these guaranteed spots."

"In six months, the Ten Thousand Sects Arena Battle will be set up. Any Disciple between the Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul stages, and under thirty years of age, may go to Baishi City on their own to register for the preliminary selection. Those who pass can participate in the Semi-finals."

The voices in the crowd below suddenly exploded like boiling water!

"Ten Thousand Sects Arena Battle! Preliminaries!"

"Even ordinary Disciples have a chance to join the Holy Land!"

"The Yanhuo Holy Land, guarded by a Sage Realm powerhouse!"

"The Yanhuo Holy Land has countless opportunities; Cultivation Techniques and opportunities are all available!"

"Legend has it that there is holy fire left behind by the ancient Divine Beast, the True Phoenix!"

The Disciples' enthusiasm soared, their eyes burning with fervor; after all, who wouldn't want to reach the heavens in a single bound?

Zhou Chen's eyes shifted slightly. The Central Continent… meant a broader stage and more powerful opponents!

The ceremony had already reached its end, and the rewards had long been distributed according to ranking.

However, Ye Chen was still unconscious, so someone else had to collect them on his behalf. Grand Elder Li Hu took them for Ye Chen first.

An ancient token appeared in Zhou Chen's hand. It was cold to the touch, and the words "Core" were carved on it in a bold, flowing script.

However.

Just as the Law Enforcement Elder was about to announce the end of the competition…

On the other side, Ye Chen, on a stretcher, suddenly opened his eyes. Intense pain hit him, and his head felt like it was splitting.

In a daze, he seemed to remember something.

The sixth floor! The Source Suppressing Stone Stele! The brick! First place in points? Zhou Chen!

Yes, it was that familiar brick!!!

It was as if everything became clear to Ye Chen.

"Master!" he screamed in his heart toward the ring in his hand, but the only response was a silent stillness.

Suddenly, Ye Chen broke free from the stretcher, his eyes bloodshot as he staggered to his feet!

"Zhou Chen, I’m going to kill you!"

Ye Chen looked like a madman, his finger trembling uncontrollably as he pointed straight at Zhou Chen.

"My storage ring!"

"And the points!"

"And the Tian Yuan Sage Mystic Realm, it must be you!"

"You took everything!"

The originally bustling square suddenly fell silent, and everyone's gaze froze!

Li Hu chased after him, "Dust! Calm down!"

Zhou Chen turned around, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Why does Junior Brother Ye say such things? You were heavily injured and unconscious by a demonic Cultivator; it was I who helped you activate your identity jade plate to teleport out. Do not vent your anger on me just because of our previous misunderstandings."

He spread his hands, looking at Ye Chen with an innocent gaze.

"Yeah, yeah, if it weren't for Senior Brother Zhou Chen, it's hard to say if Ye Chen would even be alive."

"Exactly, I didn't expect someone to be so shameless, returning kindness with enmity and making false accusations."

"I felt from the start that Ye Chen wasn't a good person. Maybe Senior Brother Zhou Chen was kind enough to take him into the sixth floor."

"If that's the case, then this Ye Chen is really a piece of work."

"Nonsense!" Ye Chen roared, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"Only you and I were on the sixth floor! I was knocked unconscious by a sneak attack with a brick! Who else could it be but you! And before in the Tian Yuan Sage Mystic Realm, it was you too, wasn't it!"

Ye Chen staggered forward, his Spiritual Qi beginning to surge in chaos due to his agitation.

"Junior Brother Ye Chen, I admit we've had misunderstandings before, but you cannot slander me like this. I, Zhou Chen, have lived my life with integrity; why would I need to harm you? If I had made a move, do you think you would still be alive?"

Zhou Chen put on an arrogant expression, looking like a man of righteous indignation.

His apparent cultivation of the seventh level of Foundation Establishment erupted with full force, its invisible Aura making it difficult for some Disciples to even move.

"That's right, Ye Chen is only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. If Zhou Chen wanted to kill him, his bones would have been gone long ago. I really don't know where he gets the nerve."

"He must be jealous because he saw Senior Brother Zhou Chen take first place in the competition."

"I bet this second place was mostly charity from Senior Brother Zhou Chen as well."

"Exactly, exactly."

The Disciples gossiped among themselves, their eyes filled with disdain and contempt as they looked at Ye Chen.

"Enough!" Liu Qingtian's voice was like thunder from the Nine Heavens!

An invisible, terrifying pressure was released, seemingly freezing the entire space in an instant!

Ye Chen spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees, his bloodshot eyes still fixed on Zhou Chen with an expression of deep-seated hatred.

"Ye Chen! Step down!"

Grand Elder Li Hu's spiritual power erupted, firmly holding Ye Chen down.

Liu Qingtian glanced briefly at Zhou Chen before turning to Ye Chen.

"The Law Enforcement Hall will investigate this matter impartially. If anyone has harmed a fellow Disciple, they will not be shown mercy. However, if there is no solid evidence—"

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Slandering a Sect's Core Disciple shall be severely punished!"

"This Disciple has a clear conscience…" Ye Chen opened his mouth, struggling to say something more.

"Stop!" Grand Elder Li Hu barked, his spiritual power locking Ye Chen in place.

"Sect Master, I will take him to heal and calm his mind first. I will investigate this matter myself; there's no need to trouble the Sect!" The last few words were squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Originally, Li Hu had greatly admired Ye Chen, but the Heart-Nature he displayed today began to disappoint him.

Liu Qingtian nodded slightly, and Li Hu's figure turned into a flash of light, sweeping toward a distant peak.

"Once things here are settled, come find me." Liu Qingtian gave Zhou Chen a deep look and then turned to leave.

Although the turmoil had momentarily subsided, the square became even noisier after Ye Chen's outburst.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen! You've really made the Sect Master proud this time!"

A crisp and pleasant voice rang in his ear. Zhou Chen looked up and saw it was Liu Qianru.

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister. It was all thanks to your excellent guidance!"

Zhou Chen cupped his hands slightly, his tone very low-key and humble.

A hint of cunning flashed in Liu Qianru's eyes. "Junior Brother Chen, I've helped you so much; shouldn't there be some kind of reward?"

After saying this, she even extended her snow-white hand and blinked at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen was dazed for a moment, then didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So she was here to scrounge for benefits.

Fortunately, his current wealth was no longer what it used to be; otherwise, he wouldn't have anything decent to give.

Zhou Chen was still very grateful for the help Liu Qianru had given him.

"Certainly, Senior Sister. But after taking my benefits, if I get into trouble in the future, I'll be counting on you to back me up!"

Liu Qianru suddenly felt a chill in her hand as a delicate small porcelain bottle appeared.

Before she could check what it was, Zhou Chen had already walked away.

Liu Qianru probed the porcelain bottle with her spiritual sense, and her expression immediately changed.

"It was actually a Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Accumulation Pill! Wasn't this the reward Zhou Chen received for taking first place in the competition?"

This Spirit Accumulation Pill was a rare treasure even for Core Formation Cultivators. Moreover, with the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition approaching, Zhou Chen just gave it to her so casually?!

Liu Qianru stared blankly at Zhou Chen's departing back, a hint of complexity flashing in her heart. She knew Zhou Chen's temperament; once he made up his mind, he wouldn't change it, so she didn't chase after him to return it.

Last time it was a Top Grade Youth Retaining Pill, and this time it was the Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Accumulation Pill she exactly needed for her Breakthrough. Counting it up, she owed Zhou Chen a significant favor.

"I can't exactly offer myself in marriage, can I?"

Liu Qianru was startled by her own thought. A blush flashed across her cheeks, she spat in embarrassment, and fled the scene.

Little did she know that Zhou Chen had a hundred more such Spirit Accumulation Pills.

The crowd in the square gradually dispersed.

…