Chapter 84: An Old Acquaintance, Chen Shi

In this world of cultivation, Aptitude itself is a part of strength.

Some people spend their whole lives Cultivating but can never catch up to others; the reason is nothing else but their own insufficient Aptitude…

Aptitude and age determine a Cultivator's potential and upper limits. Unless one is a true late bloomer, without Aptitude, one can only be a grain of sand in the long river of cultivation…

Xiao Fan felt this most deeply. If it weren't for the Zhou Tian Star Chart helping him cleanse his marrow and improve his Aptitude…

He would probably still be at the second level of the Body Tempering Realm, the "trash" in everyone else's mouths.

The next day, early morning.

When it came to the final test, the combat selection, everyone left the rest area under the guidance of the Outer Sect stewards and Outer Sect Disciples.

Arriving at the Outer Sect's Arena area, hundreds of Outer Sect Disciples in blue robes stood around, each exuding a cultivation base of at least the eighth level of the Huaqi Realm.

This was not an Arena area in the traditional sense. It subverted everyone's understanding; upon arriving, the sound of people gasping in shock was everywhere.

Xiao Fan looked around. Before him were dozens of massive Arenas, all paved with gray stone bricks. In the center of the numerous Arenas, there was an even larger and more magnificent main Arena.

Everyone gazed around, and even the direct descendants of great Families were no exception…

Just as everyone was marveling, He Yutang appeared out of nowhere, floating in mid-air.

"The third strength test will begin right here. Next, we will announce the scores for everyone's Realm and bone age. Then, five hundred people will be divided into each Arena to compete. The twenty people with the highest scores in each area will become Outer Sect Disciples."

"Each person can only challenge and be challenged ten times. Each successful challenge rewards five points. The loser does not lose points, and the challenged person can voluntarily admit defeat."

"The third test lasts for three days. Those who have not used up their challenge permissions by the end will be considered to have forfeited. Each Arena will be co-hosted by ten Outer Sect Disciples. When your name is called, proceed to your respective Arena."

After speaking, He Yutang's figure turned into a streak of light and departed from the Void Realm.

The remaining people looked at each other. Just then, two hundred Outer Sect Disciples walked out, each holding a Jade Slip with everyone's names recorded on them.

These two hundred Disciples called out names simultaneously, the sound noisy and chaotic. However, everyone present was a Cultivator, and their hearing far exceeded that of ordinary people, so they could still hear their own names clearly in such an environment.

"Li Dong, bone age and cultivation score: eight points, Arena six."

"Shan Yanghui, bone age and cultivation score: nine points, Arena three."

"Chen Feixing, bone age and cultivation score: nine points, Arena two."

"Nangong Lingxuan, bone age and cultivation score: ten points… Arena one."

"Xiao Fan, bone age and cultivation score: nine points, Arena four."

Before long, an Outer Sect Disciple called Xiao Fan's name.

The order in which the names were called was random, not based on the height of the scores.

The Arena he was assigned to was Arena four, while Zhu Gang was not with him and had been assigned to Arena sixteen.

Xiao Fan had noticed the scores for the bone age and cultivation test earlier; most were around five points, while Li Dong's score was eight points.

Shan Yanghui and Chen Feixing both had nine points, just like him.

Up until now, the only person given ten points was Nangong Lingxuan.

Xiao Fan arrived at Arena four, where five hundred people stood together, with ten Outer Sect Disciples standing before them.

Xiao Fan also discovered that Chen Shi had unexpectedly been assigned to Arena four, just like him.

Seeming to notice Xiao Fan's gaze, Chen Shi kept his head down, not daring to meet his eyes…

The people around Xiao Fan consciously kept their distance from him; this was an Innate fear of the strong.

Xiao Fan looked around; among the five hundred people, there was no one he recognized other than Chen Shi.

Furthermore, the strongest among these people was only at the seventh level of the Huaqi Realm…

"So that's how it is…" Xiao Fan muttered to himself, finally understanding the Jixian Sect's rules for Arena allocation.

They would not arrange geniuses with good talent and Aptitude together; instead, they would be evenly distributed across each Arena, the purpose being to ensure these budding geniuses would not fail in the combat test.

Moreover, their own scores were already higher than others, so even if they encountered an opponent they couldn't defeat and admitted defeat, winning fewer matches, their final scores could still reach the top twenty.

Just then, one of the ten Outer Sect Disciples in front stepped out. Judging by his aura, his cultivation was at the ninth level of the Huaqi Realm.

It looked like he was the captain of the ten-person team.

"Junior Brothers, we are now entering the final assessment to become Outer Sect Disciples. I imagine some of you may feel it is unfair because everyone's current scores are different, but this is reality."

"Elder He has already stated that the twenty people with the highest final scores in each Arena will become Outer Sect Disciples. Next, everyone has a total of ten challenge and being-challenged permissions. Alright, who will go first?"

This blue-robed Outer Sect Disciple had a loud voice and a superior attitude.

It was just like a Senior Brother teaching his Junior Brothers.

Xiao Fan didn't make a sound; he looked around. His score was the highest among the people present, giving him an Innate advantage.

And among these people, no one would be his match.

"I'll go!"

Immediately, someone responded. He cupped his fists at the blue-robed Outer Sect Disciple, then leaped onto the Arena, and said loudly: "I am at the sixth level of the Huaqi Realm. Which brother would like to offer some pointers?"

The sixth level of the Huaqi Realm was not low among those participating in the selection; it could be considered average.

"I'll go!"

Hearing this person's words, someone rushed up; their cultivation was also remarkably at the sixth level of the Huaqi Realm.

The two sides cupped their fists at each other and began the duel…

Duel after duel began in this manner, and in less than half an hour, over twenty matches had already been fought.

Xiao Fan had no interest in battles of this level, and he didn't enter the Arena to challenge anyone…

Of course, no one dared to challenge him either.

Just then, Chen Shi entered the Arena. His cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Huaqi Realm, which was much stronger than his spar at the mine previously.

His opponent was also a Cultivator at the fifth level of the Huaqi Realm. The two sides battled, and in the end, Chen Shi narrowly won. He let out a sigh of relief, looked around, and discovered that Xiao Fan was staring at him.

He lowered his head abruptly, not daring to meet Xiao Fan's gaze… he had always been intentionally avoiding him.

Xiao Fan smiled; he was very curious how he had encountered Chen Shi here.

"I'll go…"

Chen Shi's battle had just ended, and before he could get off the stage, Xiao Fan flashed and leaped up in one step.

Seeing that it was Xiao Fan who had come up, the five hundred people at Arena four didn't even dare to breathe loudly…

How strong The Terror was—even if they hadn't seen it, they had heard of it.

And as one of the three people with a score of nine, it would be strange if he were weak.

Seeing Xiao Fan come onto the stage, Chen Shi intended to bolt… but it was too late.

"I want to challenge Chen Shi."