Chapter 84: The Competition Begins, Wei Yan Is Smug

Blood Wuhen's cold gaze lingered on Xu Kong's large face for a moment, as if trying to recall if he knew this monk.

"Hmph."

However, Blood Wuhen ignored Xu Kong, instead casting a deep look at Zhou Chen before snorting coldly and leaving with his subordinates.

"Phew… scared this poor monk to death. That little star of calamity's gaze looked like it wanted to devour someone."

After Blood Wuhen and his group walked away, Xu Kong exaggeratedly patted his chest and turned to look at Zhou Chen with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you… know him? This poor monk saw that the way he looked at you just now wasn't quite right!"

"I don't know him. Perhaps he just found me unfamiliar and took a few extra looks. Fellow Daoist Xu Kong, with the competition imminent, I shall return to the inn first."

Zhou Chen shook his head, his expression as calm as a deep well.

"Oh… alright, see you at the competition! Take care, Fellow Daoist Zhou!"

Xu Kong nodded and bid Zhou Chen a warm farewell.

"Strange, truly strange… This Zhou Chen seems like an honest person, but with such vast blood and Qi, he doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with either…"

Looking at Zhou Chen's departing figure, Xu Kong muttered to himself.

Over the next two days, Zhou Chen spent most of his time meditating in a quiet room at the inn to consolidate his cultivation.

Regarding the geniuses Xu Kong mentioned, Zhou Chen didn't feel the slightest bit of fear; instead, he felt a faint sense of anticipation.

Two days flashed by, and the day of the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition finally arrived.

The massive central square of Baishi City was already packed with people.

In the center of the square were hundreds of massive arena stages floating in mid-air, their surfaces carved with profound and complex runes.

The arena stages were situated at the bottom-most level of the square, with layers upon layers of spectator stands above, providing an unobstructed view of all the stages.

There were even massive light screens that perfectly displayed the live battle conditions of the competition.

The spectator stands were already full, with representatives from various Sects across the Southern Region, Disciples from different families, and Loose Cultivators all gathered here to watch.

Directly to the east of the spectator stands, a particularly luxurious and massive viewing platform hung high in the air.

Seated at the main seat of the platform was a man.

Wearing a dark black robe, with a cold and stern face, showing no trace of a smile, his terrifying aura of the tenth level of Nascent Soul Perfection was fully displayed. He was the City Lord of Baishi City, Bai Bing.

In the seat beside him sat a young woman in a bright red brocade robe with a stunning appearance and a faint air of arrogance between her brows. She was Wang Yue of the Yanhuo Holy Land.

Bai Bing's gaze slowly swept across the entire venue as he stood up.

"Silence."

Although the square was very noisy, everyone heard his voice clearly at this moment.

With just two words, the vast pressure instantly suppressed all the noise in the venue, making the entire square so quiet that a needle drop could be heard.

"I announce that the Southern Region's Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition has officially begun."

Immediately afterward, a City Lord's deacon beside him began to read out the rules.

"The competition is divided into three rounds. The first round is an arena melee. All participating Cultivators will draw lots; those who draw the same number will be assigned to the same arena stage. Each stage will only have ten slots for advancement. One can withdraw midway, but life and death are at one's own risk."

As soon as the rules for the first round were read, the crowd below broke into a flurry of discussion.

"Hiss, this is simply too cruel. There are only a few hundred arena stages, so the majority of Cultivators will be eliminated in the first round."

"But it's also quite fair. It prevents Disciples from large Sects from grouping together and allows Genius Disciples among Loose Cultivators to stand out."

"Exactly. Whether one can soar to the heavens depends on whether they can stand out in this competition."

"Keep dreaming. It's very hard for Loose Cultivators to make it unless you are a peerless Prodigy capable of carving out a path through blood."

Next, the City Lord's deacon read out the remaining rules.

"Starting with the rules for the second round: the ten advancing Cultivators will face off in cross-battles, and only one person from each arena stage will successfully advance."

"The third round is a points-based system with one-on-one arena battles. Rankings are based on points from highest to lowest, and the top 30 will advance."

The City Lord's deacon's voice was sonorous, and with the enhancement of the Magic Array, it could be heard clearly throughout the entire square.

"The rewards for this Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition are generous! Those in the final top 30 will each receive ten thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones and one Heaven Rank Low Grade Spiritual Artifact! The top 10 can additionally choose between a Heaven Rank Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact or a Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique! The top 3, besides the aforementioned rewards, will also receive one Heaven Rank Peak Grade Medicinal Pill and the Opportunity to Cultivate in Baishi City's Heaven-Reaching Tower for three days!"

The City Lord's deacon paused, and the entire venue held its breath.

"And the champion of the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition will be directly promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple of the Yanhuo Holy Land, rewarded with the Yanhuo Holy Land's Saint Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, 'Sky-Burning Manual'! Furthermore, they will have one Opportunity for Body Refining in the Yanhuo Holy Land's Chaos Fire Pool!"

Once the rewards were announced, the atmosphere in the square was instantly ignited. Countless Cultivators showed fanatical expressions, eager to get started.

A Saint Rank Cultivation Technique, even a Low Grade one, is enough to establish a cultivation Family. Moreover, it is granted by the Yanhuo Holy Land, so no one would dare to snatch it!

An overwhelming Opportunity!

Not to mention the Chaos Fire Pool Body Refining, which can cleanse the marrow and refine the bones, allowing one's Physique to advance even further.

Hearing this, Blood Wuhen couldn't help but lick his lips. This Chaos Fire Pool would also be of immense benefit to his Mystic Heaven Demon Body.

Zhou Chen's gaze turned toward Wang Yue on the viewing platform.

"Check Opportunity," Zhou Chen muttered in his heart.

[Name: Wang Yue.]

[Cultivation: Third level of Nascent Soul.]

[Fate: Holy Land Elite (Purple), Outstanding Talent (Purple).]

[Destiny: A Core Disciple of the Yanhuo Holy Land. She has lived a smooth life since childhood with no lack of resources. She is the one who guides Ye Chen into the Yanhuo Holy Land and gradually tilts all her resources toward him, becoming one of Ye Chen's harem members. She eventually stops at the first level of the Saint Realm and becomes an Inner Sect Elder of the Yanhuo Holy Land.]

[Recent Opportunity: One month later, while cultivating in the Fire Lotus Forbidden Land of the Yanhuo Holy Land in the Central Continent, she accidentally triggers the core of a Restriction and obtains a trace of residual Ancient Fire Lotus Essence. This can significantly increase the purity of a Fire Spiritual Root. Wang Yue gives this Opportunity to Ye Chen.]

[Holy Land Elite (Purple): Born in a Holy Land, has no worries about resources, and Cultivates faster within the Holy Land.]

[Outstanding Talent (Purple): Fair Comprehension Ability and good cultivation talent.]

As if sensing Zhou Chen's gaze, Wang Yue looked toward the people of the Wenxian Sect and frowned.

Wang Yue's main purpose for coming to the Southern Region this time was to find treasures that could enhance her Dao Foundation and strength. Ultimately, she was not disappointed, making her long suppression of her strength worthwhile.

However, she indeed had no good feelings toward the people of the Wenxian Sect.

Zhou Chen withdrew his gaze, understanding the situation.

Although Wang Yue was a high-status Holy Land Disciple, her fate and Aptitude were clearly inferior to Liu Qianru's, and her future potential was limited.

Ye Chen had established a connection with the Yanhuo Holy Land and was directly fast-tracked, exempting him from this competition.

Wang Yue's ill-will toward the Wenxian Sect clearly stemmed from Ye Chen's provocation.

"Competition draw, begin!"

Following the deacon's command, countless streaks of spiritual light flew out and landed in the hands of Disciples from various Sects.

Zhou Chen looked at his draw number: arena stage 17.

"Junior Brother, I've been assigned to arena stage 19. What number are you?"

Lin Feng's voice rang out, and Zhou Chen shook the token in his hand as a sign.

Coincidentally, Wei Yan was also assigned to arena stage 17.

Wei Yan's lips curled into a malicious smile. From across the crowd, he said to Zhou Chen, "See you on the arena stage, my dear Junior Brother."

Anyone with eyes could see Wei Yan's ill intent. The Third Elder frowned but did not say anything more.