Chapter 6: Breakthrough
Regarding the question of who will become the next leader of the Clear Breeze Sect, the elders’ varying influences have made it impossible to reach a consensus for the moment. But as for the next chief disciple of the Inner Sect, the result is nearly certain—it will undoubtedly be Chen Jingrong!
Precisely because of this, even though several inner sect disciples were seated on the dais, the steward instinctively handed over the decision-making power to Chen Jingrong, turning to her for guidance.
“Very well, I leave all arrangements to you. Today, I am but an observer,” Chen Jingrong nodded lightly, saying no more. She then turned and walked toward her seat.
Observing her demeanor, Liu Xiaoxi, previously seated nearby, couldn’t help remarking, “Heh, it seems you’re not here for the selection at all today, are you?”
“Are the two envoys any different?” Chen Jingrong’s expression shifted ever so slightly; after glancing at the two women, she resumed her calm composure and sat down.
“You—” Liu Xiaoxi was about to retort, but Liu Xuanxian beside her pulled her back, pointing toward the plaza ahead. “Enough, the selection is about to begin. You’d best keep an eye on that young man!”
Buzz—
Just as Liu Xuanxian finished speaking, a sudden commotion rippled through the square. Accompanied by the hum of activating formations, several dozen square platforms, resembling arenas, slowly rose into view before the assembly.
The crowd of disciples instantly fell silent.
Lin Hao likewise held his breath. Though excitement surged within him, he restrained his impulses and stood firm, listening to the inner sect steward announce the rules for the grand selection.
The rules were simple.
One look at the arenas made it obvious—in a world where strength reigns supreme, everything else is mere illusion. Status, talent, lineage—all pale before the test of true combat.
Indeed, the so-called Inner Sect Grand Selection demanded that each contestant give their all to defeat every opponent who stepped before them.
Such a blunt selection method inevitably had flaws. Sometimes, a lucky contestant might avoid strong adversaries and win a ranking far beyond their abilities—
But even so, the sect leader of Clear Breeze had never seen fit to change the rules. By his reasoning, luck was just as vital a talent for cultivators; only those blessed with extraordinary fortune could hope to encounter true opportunities.
Lin Hao, however, was clearly not one of the lucky ones. As soon as the steward finished announcing the rules, he discovered that his first opponent was a formidable cultivator already at the Foundation Establishment stage!
Seeing Zhou Yichen’s sneer in the distance, Lin Hao immediately understood the machinations at play. Yet his face remained composed; he knew that, for someone eager to prove his strength, this was the perfect opponent.
Just then, as Lin Hao and the Foundation Establishment cultivator ascended the platform, two stern-faced cultivators quietly approached Zhou Yichen.
They glanced at the two men confronting each other on stage and then said, “Young Master Zhou, everything you requested has been arranged. Rest assured.”
“That’s right. Whether it’s Senior Brother Yun on stage now or Senior Brother Li coming up soon, both are Foundation Establishment experts. No matter how skilled Lin Hao is, he stands no chance,” one of the cultivators said confidently.
Zhou Yichen’s expression turned smug. “Hmph, he dares to challenge me? I’ll make sure he learns the meaning of death today!”
He then looked at the two cultivators. “And remember, you must hold back in the match later. I hear the selection is being watched by envoys from Heaven Gate. If we can seize this opportunity…”
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Zhou Yichen couldn’t help but smile, casting a lecherous glance toward the two women seated atop the distant dais.
Meanwhile, Lin Hao’s demeanor shifted to seriousness as soon as he stepped onto the arena. Though he too had reached Foundation Establishment, and possessed the protection of the system, his ultimate goal was to win a splendid victory—so he dared not underestimate his opponent.
But this thought lasted only a moment. When his opponent finally took the stage, Lin Hao’s expression changed, then relaxed considerably.
“So this fellow cultivates a fire-type technique?” Sensing the intense flame aura emanating from the man, Lin Hao murmured to himself.
He himself possessed an innate fire spiritual root, had mastered the Taiqing Purple Profound Art—a fire technique—and with the rewards gained from upgrading his spiritual root, it was no longer a matter of how to win, but whether he could even lose if he tried!
What Lin Hao thought, however, differed from how it appeared to those around him. Several young cultivators immediately whispered among themselves.
“Ah, Senior Brother Lin is so unlucky! His first opponent is Senior Brother Yun, who’s been Foundation Establishment for ages.”
“Hmm, look at Senior Brother Lin—maybe he’s giving up?”
“Hard to say…”
Even Liu Xiaoxi on the distant dais frowned at this moment. “Tsk, that fool must have offended someone in the sect, meeting the strongest opponent in his first match.”
Liu Xuanxian nodded, but his gaze toward Lin Hao held a hint of expectation, as if he had already discerned something.
Just then, Senior Brother Yun stepped forward, eyeing Lin Hao as he spoke slowly, “My name is Yun Fei. May I ask your name, junior brother?”
“Lin Hao,” Lin Hao replied softly, seeing Yun Fei’s courteous manner.
“Lin Hao, is it?” Yun Fei glanced at him, then his tone shifted. “You can’t beat me. Better surrender now!”
“Uh…”
Lin Hao was momentarily stunned. This fellow seemed quite confident in his own strength.
But Lin Hao was even more confident in himself, so he just shook his head lightly. “Sorry, that’s actually what I meant to say to you, Senior Brother Yun.”
“What!” Hearing Lin Hao’s apparently arrogant retort, Yun Fei became furious. “Do you think you can defeat me?”
He seemed to forget his own earlier bravado. As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful aura surged from him. With Foundation Establishment fully unleashed, he sought to crush Lin Hao with sheer presence.
Yet Lin Hao didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow. He calmly took a step forward and replied, “Of course!”
“Arrogant!”
Yun Fei’s expression changed, and with a sudden sweep of his right hand, a flaming serpent coiled around his arm.
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“Hiss~”
Seeing this, the spectators immediately gasped. Several cultivators’ faces changed, their voices trembling. “Crimson Flame Fire Python! Senior Brother Yun’s Divine Fire Technique has reached this stage?”
“Divine Fire Technique!”
Even Chen Jingrong in the distance was taken aback, murmuring, “I never imagined such a talent among the outer disciples. It seems I have been too ignorant…”
Their astonishment was understandable. Though Yun Fei’s Divine Fire Technique was technically only a high-level Yellow-grade art, its power rivaled that of Profound-grade techniques. Its classification as Yellow was due solely to its difficulty.
Not only had Yun Fei mastered it, he had advanced to the stage of wielding the “Crimson Flame Fire Python.” For most cultivators using mere Yellow-grade arts, it was an impressive feat.
Liu Xiaoxi and Liu Xuanxian exchanged nods. “Indeed, to cultivate a Yellow-grade art to this degree is truly remarkable…”
But Lin Hao’s reaction differed from everyone else’s. Upon seeing Yun Fei’s attack, his expression remained unchanged. “Is that all? This isn’t nearly enough!”
What Lin Hao meant was that winning wasn’t enough—he wanted to win beautifully. But to Yun Fei, these words were a brazen provocation. He shouted, “You’re courting death!”
With the word “death,” Yun Fei launched the fire python, sending it hurtling toward Lin Hao, its vicious form clearly intent on killing.
Boom—
A loud explosion echoed in midair, and at some point, a crimson lotus of flame rose from Lin Hao, forming a red shield that blocked the python’s attack!
“What!”
Yun Fei’s face was filled with shock, and he involuntarily stepped back.
Since mastering this move, it was the first time he’d failed against an opponent supposedly weaker in cultivation.
No—!
Yun Fei suddenly realized something, staring at Lin Hao as he shouted, “You’ve reached Foundation Establishment too!”
“What!”
Several exclamations rang out almost simultaneously. Not only from the outer disciples below, but from Chen Jingrong and Liu Xiaoxi on the dais, both of whom had stood up.
Looking at the young man on the distant stage, their expressions shifted repeatedly. “He’s broken through again? Not long ago he was still at the tenth layer of Qi Refinement—how is this possible?”