"Have you heard? There was quite a commotion at Talisman Peak yesterday. The entire peak shook for a long time!"

  "Yes, I'm a disciple of Talisman Peak. It suddenly started shaking yesterday."

  "This morning, I saw the peak master of Talisman Peak looking particurly grim. Could it be that there's a problem with the formations at Talisman Peak?"

  "Probably. Elder Chen from the Internal Affairs Hall also looked a bit upset today. I guess it will take a lot of Spirit Stones to repair the formations."

  "Stop chatting, Ye the direct disciple is about to take the stage..."

  The disciples were buzzing with conversation.

  But as the third match of the day began, the scene suddenly quieted down.

  Everyone looked towards the stage in unison.

  The stage was in front of the main hall of the Qingyun Sect.

  A group of elders sat high in front of the hall.

  The peak masters of each peak, and even the sect master at the Golden Elixir Stage, were present.

  Because today was the st day of the sect's grand competition.

  The top twenty-five disciples would compete today to determine the sect's number one.

  The winner would receive a Foundation Establishment Pill personally awarded by the sect master.

  "Did Ye Chen make it into the top twenty-five? He's only been in the sect for less than a year, and achieving such results is already impressive. Elder Chen, aren't you being too harsh?"

  The sect master, who looked so old that his eyes could barely open and seemed as frail as an ordinary old man, squinted at the stage below and transmitted his voice to Elder Chen standing behind him.

  Elder Chen's mouth twitched...

  He hadn't expected that Ye Chen, with his mere third-grade spiritual roots, would break through two yers in a year.

  Nor did he expect that Ye Chen's combat power had also increased.

  With a giant palm magic that no one had ever seen before, he swept away all opponents.

  If he had known this earlier, would he have bothered to report to the sect master?

  He didn't have any personal grudge against Ye Chen; it was just out of consideration for the sect's interests and reputation.

  Previously, Elder Chen certainly had no issues with Ye Chen personally.

  But now, that might not be the case.

  Watching Ye Chen step onto the stage, Elder Chen's mouth twitched.

  Ye Chen had compined to Gu Yunyun, saying that Kong Xiangli bullied him, which was one thing.

  But he also accused Elder Chen of standing by and not stopping it, watching him get bullied without fulfilling his responsibilities as an elder.

  Yet, Elder Chen had been paying attention at the time, ensuring that Kong Xiangli wouldn't dare to make a move, which was why he didn't intervene.

  Last night, after Kong Xiangli got beaten, the peak master of Talisman Peak apologized and gave Ye Chen dozens of top-grade talismans for self-defense.

  Elder Chen himself was also approached by Gu Yunyun.

  He gritted his teeth and apologized with a top-grade flying sword.

  The more Elder Chen thought about it, the angrier he became.

  Ye Chen was simply incorrigible.

  Meanwhile, on the sect master's right side, Gu Yunyun, dressed in a red robe, leaned zily on her chair, showing none of the sharpness expected of a sword cultivator.

  But from the corner of Gu Yunyun's mouth, it was clear she was in a good mood.

  Ever since Ye Chen gave up his spot in the Five Elements Cave, Gu Yunyun had been uninterested in her direct disciple.

  She thought Ye Chen would surely embarrass himself in the sect's grand competition.

  But to her surprise, Ye Chen not only didn't embarrass himself but also brought her a pleasant surprise.

  Being in the top twenty-five was far beyond Gu Yunyun's expectations.

  At this moment, she naturally found Ye Chen pleasing to the eye.

  Yesterday, when Ye Chen came to compin, he didn't waste a moment and went straight to confront each one.

  If Ye Chen's performance could be a bit better, it would be great.

  After all, she had never been inferior to anyone in her life.

  During her disciple years, she had never taken second pce in the sect's grand competition.

  If Ye Chen could perform simirly, it wouldn't tarnish her reputation.

  However, Gu Yunyun quickly shook her head.

  She knew she was asking for too much.

  Ye Chen's current performance was already commendable.

  Even if he lost, it didn't matter, as long as he wasn't defeated by a direct disciple from Law Peak.

  She and the Law Peak Master were sworn enemies.

  She couldn't lose face!

  At this moment, the match on the stage began.

  ...

  Ye Chen's opponent for this match was an old acquaintance.

  Li Xiaoyao wore a calm smile on his face.

  Ye Chen's giant palm was indeed terrifying.

  But he had already figured out a way to counter it.

  His swordsmanship had reached an extremely high level.

  Any giant palm could be broken with a single sword strike.

  Although this kind of sword that breaks spells consumed a lot of energy, he could only swing it three times at most.

  But Ye Chen's giant palm would consume even more.

  Ye Chen, at the mere Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, hadn't even been to the Five Elements Cave.

  Managing to unleash one or two palms would be impressive.

  As long as he broke them all, he could easily suppress Ye Chen.

  He would let the Sword Peak Master and Yao Xi watch him trounce Ye Chen.

  Let them know they chose the wrong person!

  "Junior Brother Ye, in battle, bdes and swords have no eyes, and it's hard to control."

  "If you feel in danger, remember to squat down, cover your head, and admit defeat immediately. Otherwise, I'm afraid I might not react in time, and it wouldn't be good if you get hurt!"

  Li Xiaoyao gently stroked the bde with his fingertips, his face carrying a calm smile as he spoke gracefully.

  Ye Chen rolled his eyes at this.

  You don't even have a Ling'er by your side; clearly, you're just a minor character with the same name.

  Does your family know how good you are at pretending?

  For those he could defeat, Ye Chen never liked to waste words.

  Instantly, the magic power within him surged, activating the Heaven Destroying Hand.

  About ten meters above Li Xiaoyao's head, a massive purple-gold palm condensed and came crashing down.

  The terrifying momentum left the disciples in awe, while they were also curious about how Li Xiaoyao would respond.

  Li Xiaoyao's lips curled into a cold smile.

  All his magic power surged into the magic sword in his hand.

  A terrifyingly thick sword aura sshed directly towards the purple-gold palm.

  In everyone's eyes, the two collided with a thunderous crash.

  The rumbling sound echoed across the disciples' square.

  The disciples looked up in shock, seeing a massive gap being cut into the spiritual energy hand, which slowly dissipated.

  The sword aura also vanished in the csh.

  "As expected of Senior Brother Li, his swordsmanship is almost divine!"

  "Ye the direct disciple's giant palm magic was broken just like that."

  "It seems the outcome is decided; ultimately, Senior Brother Li is stronger!"

  "Ye the direct disciple has been in the sect for less than a year and is only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, one yer lower than Senior Brother Li. It's normal to lose."

  The disciples were buzzing with conversation.

  The elders on the stage also showed expressions of approval.

  "Li Xiaoyao's move already shows the beginnings of a sword that breaks ten thousand spells. His talent in swordsmanship is indeed remarkable."

  "Indeed, if he wins first pce this year and gets the Foundation Establishment Pill to break through, our Qingyun Sect's strength will surely rise significantly."

  "Ye the direct disciple's magic is indeed powerful, but it also consumes a lot. That strike just now almost drained all the magic power of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. The outcome is decided!"

  "Ah, I was hoping my disciple could spar with Gu Daoyou's disciple for some exchange. It seems there's no chance!"

  The Law Peak Master began to speak with a sarcastic tone.

  Gu Yunyun's mouth twitched slightly.

  She also felt that Ye Chen was out of luck.

  But Law Peak Master, just wait. I'll see if I won't beat you up when I get the chance!

  However, soon, Gu Yunyun raised an eyebrow.

  ...

  The uproar at the scene quieted down again.

  Because the moment the giant palm was broken, Ye Chen's expression didn't change at all.

  And high above, a new spiritual energy hand condensed and came crashing down without hesitation.

  Li Xiaoyao's expression changed.

  How could Ye Chen still unleash such magic?

  Without time to think, Li Xiaoyao once again exerted all his strength, raising his hand to unleash a thick sword aura.

  Boom...

  The two collided again, dissipating each other.

  Li Xiaoyao breathed a sigh of relief.

  Two giant palms were definitely Ye Chen's limit.

  Next, it would be his turn...

  However, before Li Xiaoyao could finish his thought, he looked up in disbelief.

  Another giant palm had condensed and was crashing down...

  Li Xiaoyao: "..."

  But he immediately unleashed another thick sword aura, colliding with it.

  At this moment, Li Xiaoyao's face turned a bit pale.

  The sword that breaks spells consumed a lot of energy.

  After unleashing three strikes, he had less than one-tenth of his magic power left.

  But Ye Chen, having activated three giant palm magics in a row, must be in worse shape, possibly even overdrawn.

  However, just as Li Xiaoyao was about to charge at Ye Chen with his magic sword, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at him.

  And the faint spiritual energy fluctuation he sensed above his head made Li Xiaoyao's expression change dramatically.

  When Li Xiaoyao looked up, he couldn't believe his eyes. Above him, another purple-gold hand had condensed and was crashing down.

  Li Xiaoyao's pupils contracted, his eyes filled with disbelief.

  He, at the ninth level of Qi Refining, had just come out of the Five Elements Cave.

  Yet, in a battle of attrition, he couldn't outst someone at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining?

  How was this possible?

  But Li Xiaoyao had no time to think.

  The giant palm was too fast.

  In the next moment, like Kong Xiangbei yesterday, he was directly spped down by the giant palm.

  The entire pce erupted in astonishment...

  CPDD