The Ground Competition for Prime Disciple Honor! . . .
The specialized training regimen left no room for traditional cultivation. Any disciple who embarked on this grueling journey had to confront the relentless challenges posed by this program. The primary objective of this training was to fortify a disciple's foundation in cultivation. Typically, completing such intense training would leave a disciple drained and, in many cases, weakened in their cultivation. However, Cha Chongxiao defied these norms. Instead of a decline, he ascended by two levels during the training. This unexpected outcome perplexed those who observed his progress.
A member of the group mused, "Isn't it odd? Cha Chongxiao consumed the inner core of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish, which did lead to an increase in his cultivation. That's logical, but we anticipated he would suffer a temporary setback in the ground competition. Nevertheless, he emerged victorious over his peers, and, remarkably, his cultivation continued to rise."
Some wondered if his sudden breakthrough was mere happenstance, but it seemed highly improbable. One would expect a surge in strength to be a one-time occurrence. Yet Cha Chongxiao defied this expectation by continuing to ascend even after reaching level seven.
What baffled them further was that he went on to defeat disciples at level eight, despite being at level seven.
As the Spirit Origin Stage disciples reeled from this anomaly, they sought answers, but none were readily available.
Their confusion deepened when Cha Chongxiao defeated every disciple in his level, without experiencing any setbacks. Then, he further defied expectations by ascending to level eight.
The sect's Prime Master, Yue Changtian, found himself perplexed by the situation.
"How can this be?" he pondered. "A level seven cultivator defeating level nine disciples? That would be surprising on its own, but Cha Chongxiao defeated not just one, but an entire group of level nine disciples. He only reached level seven a day ago, and now he is swiftly advancing toward level eight. Is this another instance of an abrupt surge in strength?"
He was incredulous, but two days later, the situation took a turn for the even more extraordinary.
"Cha Chongxiao has achieved level eight!" a message reported. "All level nine disciples have been vanquished. A short while ago, my group's Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple, Cheng Feiyu, fell to Cha Chongxiao's attacks in just five moves. The new Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple of my group is now Cha Chongxiao. Prime Master, please arrange Cha Chongxiao's battle for the honor of being the Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple of the sect."
This news left Yue Changtian's face contorted with shock.
In less than three days, Cha Chongxiao had not only usurped the title of Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple but had also bested all other disciples without experiencing a single defeat. The sect's leadership had anticipated Cha Chongxiao would be tested in the battles, allowing him to push his limits and grow stronger through cultivation. Instead, he had chosen to pummel his competition relentlessly.
Cheng Feiyu, once the best Spirit Origin Stage disciple under Xiao Mufei, now found himself bested after a mere five exchanges. The throne of Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple now belonged to Cha Chongxiao, a change that had occurred within a span of just three days.
Yue Changtian had seen enough and promptly gave the order. Cha Chongxiao was permitted to compete for the esteemed title of Prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple. Without hesitation, he proceeded to the competition ground the next morning, where Spirit Origin Stage disciples from various groups had gathered.
The competition ground was teeming with more than three hundred Spirit Origin Stage disciples. Each one, prepared for their moment of glory, anticipated their introduction as they took their first step onto the stage. Among them was Cha Chongxiao, whose presence was marked with an extensive introduction.
"Welcome to the ground competition for prime disciple honor!" the introducer's voice echoed throughout the area. "Cold Moon Palace, twelfth branch, thirty-ninth subbranch, first group, Cha Chongxiao, officially joins the competition!"
The formalities seemed excessively lengthy even for Cha Chongxiao. He couldn't help but find the introduction perplexing, given its thoroughness. It was then that he realized that Xiao Mufei was the master of the thirty-ninth subbranch in the twelfth branch, while Fang Dalong led the first group. Cha Chongxiao was Fang Dalong's sole disciple, a fact that the elaborate introduction highlighted.
The sheer size of Cold Moon Palace became evident through this process. It was a formidable force, one where even Spirit Origin Stage disciples, who would be invincible in the Land of Han-Yang, were regarded as the weakest contingent. This competition for prime disciple honor required the victor to defeat hundreds of other disciples, highlighting the vast numbers that comprised the entire sect.
Cha Chongxiao, now introduced, stepped onto the moonlit stage. The moonlight path beneath his feet was a clear indicator that this was the battleground. It was a place where one could initiate a battle or await challenges from others.
However, he maintained a nonchalant demeanor, refusing to engage with others. His eyes remained closed, and his expression radiated an air of arrogance, blatantly disregarding his peers. He appeared to look down upon every other disciple present.
This attitude was intended to provoke his fellow competitors. By conveying a sense of superiority and arrogance, he aimed to enrage the others, luring them into challenging him. The thought of having to request battles from others seemed tedious and wearisome, and Cha Chongxiao was content to stir the pot instead.
Predictably, his actions succeeded in provoking the other disciples, who simmered with anger. Their sense of injustice was palpable. How could a level eight disciple display such arrogance when they were all peak level nine Spirit Origin Stage cultivators, and many had achieved great victories within their respective groups?
The fury in their eyes was evident, and the mere mention of his name, "Cha Chongxiao," intensified their ire. They were unaware of the secrets surrounding his past. It was only the leadership that knew of his accidental consumption of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish's inner core, a fact hidden from the lower-ranking disciples.
Among those who challenged Cha Chongxiao was Song Chenglun, the prime Spirit Origin Stage disciple of the second group in the 23rd subbranch of the 15th branch. He rose from his seat and sneered at Cha Chongxiao. "Cha Chongxiao, I am Song Chenglun. I challenge you!"
With a hint of contempt, Cha Chongxiao stood up and appeared ready to leave the stage. In a single breath, he nonchalantly declared, "One strike."
Song Chenglun's anger surged, and he lunged at Cha Chongxiao. However, in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying. Cha Chongxiao had casually raised his foot and executed a kick, so swift and subtle that it was nearly imperceptible to the onlookers. Song Chenglun found himself hurtling across the stage until he collided with the floor. The other disciples watched in shock, recognizing that Cha Chongxiao was akin to a wolf amidst a flock of sheep, possessing unrivaled strength and speed.