The sun was rising.
On the high platform in front of the Pure Yang Hall, there were eight seats in a row.
The sect master of the Pure Yang sect, Daoist Qingxu, sat in the middle, and on both sides sat the chief seats of the seven branches.
At this moment.
The disciples of the Pure Yang sect of the nine branches had all gathered in the square below.
On the square, there had been many square arenas since some time ago. Each square arena was 20 meters long and wide.
At this moment, all the disciples were whispering about who would win first place in today's competition. They also discussed who might be in the top 10.
All the disciples were talking about Luo Feng and Wang Yuzhe. None of them actually acknowledged Su Chen, and none of them talked about Tempered Spirit Peak. In their eyes, Su Chen's cultivation base was definitely at the bottom among the younger generation. They thought that he had wasted a spot by coming to the competition.
"Luo Feng, Wang Yuzhe?" Su Chen sneered. His gaze swept across the crowd of disciples, paying attention to the young disciples who might be his opponent today.
He had met Wang Yucheng.
However, at this moment, he no longer had his previous arrogance.
It was probably because after he heard about the rules of this inner sect competition, he could not be arrogant anymore.
The rules of this inner sect competition were different from the previous ones. In the past, there would be ten people from each of the nine great peaks to enter the inner sect.
However, it was different this time. Only ten people would be able to enter the inner sect!
Finally, he looked at a handsome young man beside him and said something. He would look at Su Chen from time to time.
At this moment, Su Chen also saw a young man around 20 years old standing at the front of the group of disciples.
Su Chen knew that this person was the eldest senior brother of the sect master's faction, Luo Feng.
Since entering the sect, although Su Chen had never seen him before, his reputation was still very resounding.
Luo Feng could be said to be a genius cultivator worshiping the sect master's lineage. Before the age of 20, he had already stood out among a group of young disciples. He was at the peak of the ninth stage of the Qi Refinement realm, allowing him to firmly sit at the number one position among the young disciples.
Luo Feng's appearance was rather unremarkable. He did not have an outstanding appearance, nor did he have a slender figure. However, he displayed extraordinary talent in cultivation.
It had to be said that in the cultivation world, there were some people with outstanding talent, and in every era, there were many geniuses who appeared.
'Luo Feng is definitely a good opponent!' Su Chen thought to himself.
A body refinement cultivator of the same realm, in close combat, was stronger than a Qi refinement cultivator. Once a Qi refinement cultivator was close to a body refinement cultivator of the same level, it meant that the Qi refinement cultivator had lost.
The body refinement cultivator had an absolute advantage in close combat. Once a body refinement cultivator used a close combat technique, his opponent would either die or be injured. Even if he did not get close, the body refinement divine ability could still resist the Qi refinement cultivator's spells.
Therefore, the outcome of a body refinement cultivator of the eighth stage against a Qi refinement cultivator of the same level was self-evident. It was likely that he could even defeat a Qi refinement cultivator of a higher level.
At this moment, the chief of Clearcloud Peak, Daoist Zixu, stood up beside Daoist Qingxu. He walked to the front to look at the disciples in the square.
He then said slowly, "I announce that the inner sect competition has officially begun. Disciples who are participating in the competition, come forward."
Out of the nine Pure Yang branches, the other eight branches had each sent out ten disciples. Only one person from Tempered Spirit Peak was participating in the competition, and that person was Su Chen.
As soon as Daoist Zixu finished speaking, ten young disciples from the various branches immediately walked out.
Su Chen also walked up. He was the only disciple of Tempered Spirit Peak, and he had directly obtained the right to participate in the competition. Unlike the other branches, the more people there were, the more they had to compete internally before they could determine who would come out.
81 disciples were gathered at the bottom of the steps in front of the square. The top ten disciples for this inner sect competition would be selected from this group of disciples.
When the group of disciples walked out, a middle-aged elder and two Dao disciples walked down the steps at the same time.
The middle-aged elder who walked in front held a pen in his right hand and a book in his left hand. Behind the middle-aged elder, two Dao disciples were carrying a big wooden box together.
The middle-aged elder stood at the bottom of the stairs. The two Dao disciples carried the big wooden box and walked to the participating disciples.
"We shall draw lots!" Daoist Zixu's voice spread across the whole place. Drawing lots was the fairest way to decide each disciple's opponent.
After all, fortune could also be regarded as a part of strength for cultivators.
Luo Feng was the first to step forward. He reached out his hand into the round hole in the wooden box, took out a jade stick, and handed it to the middle-aged elder at the side.
The middle-aged elder looked at the jade stick and then used the pen in his hand to record a person's name on the booklet.
In the square, the surrounding disciples discussed in a low voice. They were all very curious about who would be the opponent of the number one expert of the younger generation. It would be unlucky to meet an expert like Luo Feng right off the bat.
There was a total of 81 jade sticks in the wooden box, with the names of 81 disciples written on it. Whoever was drawn would be his opponent.
After Luo Feng drew the jade lots, he retreated to the side. Then, the other disciples walked forward one after another and drew their opponents in the wooden box.
Just as Su Chen was about to draw the lots... A discordant voice was heard.
"Trash! You really dare to participate in the inner sect competition?" said a disdainful voice. Then, an extremely handsome young man in white walked past Su Chen with an arrogant look on his face.
"Wang Yuzhe?" Su Chen stared at the youth who walked forward, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Today, I'll make you pay for all the trouble the Wang clan has put me through.
Su Chen could not help but feel a wave of anger in his heart.
The Wang clan had made a move to seize the Tempered Spirit Peak medicinal garden and had almost exposed his Herb Modification System. It caused Su Chen a lot of anguish.
This debt would definitely be settled.
Then, Su Chen went forward.