The Annual Competition (2)

The sky above the outer sect was tinged with the warm hues of dawn as crowds gathered in the vast arenas to watch the annual competition. In the VIP section of the stands, Kaelen observed the arenas intently.

Beside him, Elder Xuan Bei and the energetic Lu Hong watched the matches with expressions blending curiosity and anticipation.

"Look at the candidates, Senior Brother Xuan Bei and young Kaelen. This is their chance to obtain rare resources and ascend to the inner sect," commented Lu Hong, his eyes gleaming.

Xuan Bei nodded slowly, his thoughts drifting through the nuances of the competition.

"Yes, every battle here can be a turning point for these disciples. There have been cases of inner sect elders who came from the outer sect. There is even one case of a core elder, so anything can happen."

As the murmurs of the audience grew louder, the thunderous sound of bells and the warriors' shouts echoed through the arenas.

Amidst the excitement, a young man with a serene demeanor but a piercing gaze began to stand out. His name was Lin Ming, and his strength was evident in every fluid movement he executed.

In one of the arenas, Lin Ming faced an opponent with remarkable skill, seemingly dominating the fight entirely. His strikes were swift and precise, cutting through the air with an energy that made the spectators wince in admiration.

Lu Hong leaned toward Kaelen and commented.

"Do you see, young Kaelen? Lin Ming is the top favorite this year. Last year, he placed second. The one who took first place, Chen Yu, entered the inner sect after a few opportunities and finally broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Kaelen furrowed his brows, absorbing Lu Hong's words.

"Chen Yu, huh? He must have been incredibly close to breaking through during last year's competition. That must have been quite a spectacle."

As the battles continued, the scene transformed into a whirlwind of energy and adrenaline. Roars, shouts, and the metallic clash of weapons echoed in unison, creating a chaotic yet powerful symphony.

In an arena with few spectators, the focus shifted to Zhou Fan, a disciple who had, until then, gone unnoticed in the crowd. In a dimly lit corner, he observed the battlefield with a calculating and serene gaze. As his opponents engaged in breath-stealing confrontations, Zhou Fan murmured to himself.

"If I want to win this competition, I need to use my intelligence as much as my strength. Every battle is an opportunity to improve. I believe I have real chances this year."

Zhou Fan took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment to focus his spiritual energy.

When the fights resumed, Zhou Fan moved with surprising agility. In a duel against a disciple known for his aggressiveness, Zhou Fan skillfully dodged the attacks, taking advantage of every opening to counterattack with precision and dexterity.

The disciples around began exchanging looks of surprise and admiration. Murmurs spread through the arena.

"Look at that! With that level of skill, maybe he's this year's dark horse."

"I never thought Zhou Fan could be this skilled..."

"What's going on? I remember last year Zhou Fan was in the late stages of Essence Forging. How is he already at the advanced stage of Qi Refining?"

Back in the stands, Xuan Bei, Lu Hong, and Kaelen exchanged glances of interest. Zhou Fan's performance was drawing as much attention as Lin Ming's. Lu Hong, with a confident smile, said,

"It seems the dark horse has appeared early this year. Last year, I remember Chen Yu didn't stand out until the later stage of the competition."

Kaelen was immediately intrigued by the disciple Zhou Fan, his eyes narrowing as he accessed his system's status.

[Name: Zhou Fan][Cultivation: Qi Refining (7)][Talent: Broken Root (Celestial Root)][Constitution: Celestial Thunder Body][Age: 25/190][History: Mahayana cultivator reincarnated – Partially awakened memories (only muscle memory for combat)][Recent Events: Recently obtained an opportunity outside the sect that allowed him to leap several cultivation levels.][Techniques: Basic technique of the Celestial Dragon Sect.][Favorability: No impression]

Zhou Fan continued to attract attention. His control over spiritual energy and his ability to anticipate his opponent's movements demonstrated an uncommon level of combat experience for outer sect disciples.

Beside Kaelen, Lu Hong smiled, noticing Kaelen's focus on Zhou Fan.

"Ah, you notice, young Kaelen?"

Lu Hong crossed his arms and explained, understanding that Kaelen was still new to the world of cultivation and might not grasp the nuances of combat.

"While Lin Ming imposes his presence through strength and aggression, Zhou Fan moves like a shadow. Zhou Fan analyzes his opponent before attacking. He may be behind in terms of cultivation and brute strength, but his cunning makes him dangerous."

Xuan Bei nodded, his expression as calm as ever.

"It seems he has incredible combat experience. The way Zhou Fan moves is almost instinctive."

Kaelen gave a slight smile but remained silent. Though he was merely observing, he found himself increasingly interested in the competition.

Indeed, it was worth coming to the outer sect for a bit of entertainment.

"Next fight! Zhou Fan versus Wei Rong!"

Wei Rong was one of the favorites for the top 10, a cultivator at the 7th level of Qi Refining, known for his low blows and shamelessness in attacking fallen opponents.

His body was robust, and his fighting style aggressive, specializing in offensive techniques.

Zhou Fan took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage, his expression impassive. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before the fight began.

"You defeated a few weak disciples and already think you're the greatest?"

Wei Rong sneered.

"Let's see if you can take a direct hit from me!"

As soon as the fight began, Wei Rong charged mercilessly. His fist gleamed with condensed energy, releasing a wave of pressure across the arena.

The disciples around held their breath.

However, instead of dodging immediately, Zhou Fan remained still until the last moment, allowing Wei Rong's energy to accumulate before dodging in a calculated manner. Wei Rong's fist grazed past, and Zhou Fan, seizing the opening, counterattacked with a precise strike to his opponent's side.

The impact seemed small at first, but Wei Rong staggered, surprised.

"What?!" exclaimed Wei Rong, touching the spot where he had been hit, feeling his spiritual energy circulation tremble for an instant.

In the stands, Lu Hong narrowed his eyes.

"Zhou Fan hit a vital point..." he murmured.

Xuan Bei smiled faintly.

"Zhou Fan has experience. This fight won't be easy for Wei Rong."

Kaelen listened attentively, trying to grasp the intricacies of the battle. But the truth was: he had no idea what was happening, only seeing exchanges of punches that looked like a choreographed dance.

The fight continued with Wei Rong trying to regain his posture, attacking with more aggression.

However, Zhou Fan remained calm, dodging and counterattacking with precise strikes. In no time, Wei Rong began to pant, while Zhou Fan seemed to have energy to spare.

Finally, with a swift movement, Zhou Fan circled behind Wei Rong and, with a single precise strike to the nape of his neck, knocked his opponent down, ending the fight in a surprising manner.

Silence fell over the audience for a brief moment before murmurs and exclamations of astonishment erupted.

"Zhou Fan won!"

"He defeated Wei Rong without taking a single hit!"

"How did he get so strong so fast?!"

Lu Hong laughed, satisfied.

"This tournament is getting more and more interesting."

The battles proceeded monotonously for the remainder of the competition. In fact, most opponents facing disciples with superior cultivation surrendered immediately. There were few confrontations, and the ones that did occur ended quickly.

Lin Ming faced a disciple from the dwarf race, a robust warrior with an impressive physique. However, the fight lasted only a single strike, with Lin Ming winning absolutely.

Zhou Fan, on the other hand, faced a cultivator specialized in speed, but a single well-placed blow was enough to secure his victory.

The competition followed a predictable course until the Top 20 was determined and, subsequently, the Top 8.

When the eight finalists were decided, Lu Hong abruptly stood up and spoke in a powerful voice.

"The competition ends for today! Rest well, for tomorrow we will have the quarterfinals!"

The eliminated disciples headed to the Task Hall to claim their rewards for participating. Unlike the inner sect disciples, who received monthly resources, the outer sect disciples depended on missions to obtain cultivation materials. The outer sect competition was one of the rare opportunities to secure resources without major risks.

Kaelen, reflecting on the fights, turned to Xuan Bei.

"I'm interested in Zhou Fan. Shall we talk to him?"

The elder raised an eyebrow, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"Oh? The dark horse managed to catch your attention, young Kaelen?" Xuan Bei touched his own chin, thoughtful.

"Very well. Let's go to him, but let's wait for the right moment to speak in private."