Chen Xing sprayed a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.
The humiliation! The disgrace!
Just monts ago, he had tried to teach Hong Yu a harsh lesson under the guise of a "spar for guidance," only to beco the one who was taught a lesson himself.
On top of that, Hong Yu's infuriating comnt—"It's no cri for a man to cry"—deeply wounded Chen Xing's arrogant pride and fragile spirit. It was already a miracle he had the courage to go on living after being defeated so humiliatingly by a new Half-Step Earth Soul Realm disciple in front of everyone.
As for his fainting, well, Hong Yu wouldn't hold it against him.
He clapped his hands, stood up, and sighed dramatically. "Alas, wasn't this just a friendly spar? Was it necessary to be so serious?" He looked at the stunned new disciples and grinned. "Wouldn't you agree?"
The crowd's expressions froze for a mont before they all began nodding vigorously...
"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Hong is right!"
"It was just a spar. Senior Brother Chen was the one who took it too seriously!"
"I agree, it's not a big deal. Senior Brother Hong is blessed by the heavens. Losing to you is nothing to be upset about..."
The sa crowd that had just been confidently proclaiming Hong Yu's certain defeat had completely changed their tune.
It was a good thing Chen Xing had passed out. If he had heard them, he probably would have coughed up a few more mouthfuls of blood.
Hong Yu was satisfied. He knew he had intimidated the crowd, and no one foolish would be bothering him anyti soon. He gave Liu Liyun a nod and headed for the hall's entrance. Liu Liyun scrambled to keep up, and everyone along the way moved aside to let them pass.
After all, who didn't know that Liu Liyun was Hong Yu's best friend?
'This young master truly has a keen eye for talent, wahahaha!' Liu Liyun thought smugly, feeling a new spring in his step.
The two walked side-by-side back to the cave residence on the mountainside of Cyan Cliff Peak.
As soon as the cave door closed, Liu Liyun exclaid excitedly, "Brother Hong, you're incredible! Even a Mid-stage Earth Soul Realm expert was no match for you!"
"There's no one else here, so you can stop showing off!"
Hong Yu took off his tattered Sword Robe, tossed it aside, and sat down bare-chested. "Even among those at the Mid-stage Earth Soul Realm, Chen Xing's strength is only average," he said calmly. "He's nothing compared to geniuses like Hong Long. Even though I beat him today, I would've been utterly defeated if I had faced Hong Long."
"That's true. Chen Xing's talent is average at best. Forget comparing him to Inner Sect Disciples, he couldn't even make it onto the Earth List in the Outer Sect!"
Liu Liyun nodded.
His gaze suddenly fixed on Hong Yu, giving him goosebumps. Hong Yu quickly pulled a sheet over his shoulders.
But Liu Liyun's eyes were filled with astonishnt as he asked, "Brother Hong, why do you have so many scars on your body?"
"These?"
Hong Yu paused.
His gaze grew distant.
Every scar on his body was from his ti as a Hunter, from missions in the Dead Soul Mountain Range. So were from animal attacks when he was weak, others were from battling Desolate Beasts, and still more were from fighting other people. Each scar held its own story, an indelible mory.
Hong Yu couldn't help but think of Yun ngyao, and the corners of his lips curved up slightly. 'Yaoyao, I'll be in the Inner Sect soon. I'll get Elder Zhu's help as quickly as possible. I know she can cure you!'
His thoughts shifting, Hong Yu looked at Liu Liyun. "By the way, what's this Earth List you just ntioned?"
Liu Liyun paused, then rembered that Hong Yu had been isolated on his mission in the Beard Iron Tree Forest ever since joining the Outer Sect and was out of the loop. He quickly explained, "The Earth List is a ranking for us Outer Disciples. It's a very short list, with only ten spots in total. Everyone on it is a powerhouse strong enough to aim for a position in the Inner Sect."
"Chen Xing couldn't even make it onto the Earth List?" Hong Yu asked.
"Chen Xing is already twenty-seven and only just reached the Mid-stage Earth Soul Realm. The only reason the Sect let him be in charge of the Task Hall is because he possesses a rare Thunder Primordial Vein. As for his actual strength, if you were to rank him, he'd probably be the number one person just below the Earth List."
Liu Liyun chuckled. "Of course, the number one person below the Earth List is definitely you now, Brother Hong!"
"Stop with the flattery and tell more about the Earth List and the gap between the Inner and Outer Sects," Hong Yu said.
Liu Liyun nodded. "Brother Hong, you should know that even two people at the sa cultivation level can have completely different combat power!"
Hong Yu nodded.
Cultivation was only one part of a person's strength. Besides one's realm, many factors influenced combat power, such as one's Cultivation Technique, Martial Skills, and the strength of their Primordial Vein.
Liu Liyun continued, "Chen Xing's Primordial Vein isn't weak, but his cultivation talent is very average, and his comprehension of Martial Skills is nothing special. That's why even at the Mid-stage Earth Soul Realm, he can't compare to the disciple ranked tenth on the Earth List, who's at the Early-stage Earth Soul Realm. I heard the ten disciples on the Earth List were all geniuses who entered the Inner Sect directly, but they couldn't handle the intense competition and ended up being demoted to the Outer Sect!"
Hong Yu was aware of this.
For example, among the current batch of new disciples, of the group that entered the Inner Sect directly—like Ling Tian, Dongfang Lang, and Duan Hong—only about half would probably be able to stay. The rest would likely be unable to adapt to the brutal competition and eventually be demoted back to the Outer Sect.
This didn't an they lacked talent, only that they were new to the Sect and couldn't yet compare to the prodigies who had been cultivating in the Sect for several or even dozens of years.
Given enough ti, they were destined to return to the Inner Sect!
The ten experts on the Earth List were exactly this type of person!
They absolutely could not be underestimated!
Liu Liyun went on, "Even so, you can't underestimate those guys on the Earth List. Especially the number one, Guo Fei. He's a monster whose strength could rank in the top thousand of the Celestial List. I heard that after he was challenged and kicked out of the Inner Sect, he swore he wouldn't go back unless he was strong enough to break directly into the top one hundred of the Celestial List!"
"Guo Fei?"
Hong Yu committed the nas on the Earth List to mory. "So the so-called Celestial List is the ranking for Inner Sect Disciples, right?"
Liu Liyun nodded and pulled over a chair to sit. "Compared to the Earth List, the Celestial List has a full thousand spots. Brother Hong, don't be fooled by the numbers—hundreds of thousands of Outer Disciples competing for ten spots on the Earth List, versus just over ten thousand Inner Sect Disciples competing for a thousand on the Celestial List. In reality, the competition for the Celestial List is far more intense."
After a pause, Liu Liyun added, "That Hong Long is an expert on the Celestial List. I heard his strength ranks him sowhere around 500th."
"Hong Long is only ranked around 500th?" Hong Yu was stunned.
'If I want to beat Hong Long, I'd have to condense all nine Qi Vortexes. And even then, that would only put around 500th place!'
'So, if I want to compete to beco a True Disciple, does that an I won't have a chance until after I officially break through to the Earth Soul Realm?'
Hong Yu frowned. "Are there any restrictions on becoming a True Disciple?"
"Of course there are," Liu Liyun said. "The True Disciples hold the top ten spots on the Celestial List. If you want to challenge a True Disciple, you must be ranked in the top twenty of the Celestial List. Otherwise, you're not even qualified to apply for a challenge!"
"And where does the Chief Disciple rank?"
Liu Liyun replied, "The Chief Disciple holds an incredibly respected position in the Sword Sect. If he were to compete, he would be the undisputed number one. However, the Chief Disciple doesn't compete for a spot on the Celestial List. Once soone becos the Chief Disciple, they focus solely on pursuing the Supre Martial Dao!"
Hong Yu fell silent for a mont, processing the information Liu Liyun had shared.
The talented disciples of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect were divided between the Celestial and Earth Lists.
The Earth List had only ten spots, representing the ten strongest individuals in the Outer Sect.
As for the Inner Sect's Celestial List, it had a thousand spots, but only the top twenty powerhouses were truly qualified to compete for the rank of True Disciple.
'If I want to beco a True Disciple, I have to secure a spot in the top twenty of the Celestial List.'
Hong Yu's mind raced. 'I have to find a way to break through to the Earth Soul Realm as soon as possible. But each successive stage of the Nine Refinents of the Primordial Spirit is incredibly difficult. The only way is to find a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land or refine Spirit Pills. A Grotto Heaven Blessed Land can only be chanced upon, not sought out, so it looks like I'll have to try refining so Pills.'
With this in mind, Hong Yu prepared to enter the space within the Profound Celestial Tower and look through the Divine dicine Scripture again, searching for a Pill Recipe that could help him advance the Nine Refinents of the Primordial Spirit.
Liu Liyun was perceptive enough to see that Hong Yu wanted to cultivate, so he took his leave.
HUFF!
Hong Yu let out a long, turbid breath and entered the Profound Celestial Tower.
「anwhile...」
Atop the cloud-piercing summit of Cyan Cliff Peak, ten magnificent pavilions rose from the ground.
These were the residences of the Top Ten Powerhouses on the Outer Sect's Earth List.
As the ten strongest individuals in the entire Outer Sect, they naturally enjoyed many privileges that ordinary Outer Disciples did not. For example, these pavilions were countless tis more luxurious than the cave residences down the mountain, and ordinary disciples were forbidden from setting foot in this area without permission...
At this mont, however, six people were gathered in the largest central pavilion.
The six of them sat in a circle in the main hall, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive. In the center of the hall, lying on a stretcher, was the pale, bloodless Chen Xing.
A thin-faced youth, sitting second from the left, frowned and spoke in a low voice, "Chen Xing, you were wounded this badly by a re Half-Step Earth Soul Realm cultivator, and you still have the nerve to co ask for our help?"
"Useless trash. Can't even handle a new disciple at the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm," a slightly chubby youth to the right said with contempt.
Chen Xing's face flushed with embarrassnt, but he didn't dare get angry. He forced a bitter smile. "Please, stop digging at . That Hong Yu is no ordinary Half-Step Earth Soul Realm cultivator. His realm isn't high, but his combat power is terrifying. I'm afraid he's not much weaker than Shi Tao, if at all."
Shi Tao, the thin-faced youth, snorted coldly, slightly angered. "Bullshit! I am ranked tenth on the damn Earth List! How can so punk at the re Half-Step Earth Soul Realm possibly compare to ?"
Chen Xing gave another bitter smile. "Shi Tao, don't be angry. I have no reason to lie to you." After a pause, he continued, "Shi Tao, let ask you: if you and I fought, could you defeat in a single blow?"
"Well..."
Shi Tao hesitated.
He certainly had the strength to defeat Chen Xing, but the gap between them wasn't large. He would need to go through a tough battle to win. As for defeating him in a single blow, that was simply impossible!
Chen Xing said seriously, "But that Hong Yu did it. He defeated in a single move."
"That's impossible! How can a Half-Step Earth Soul Realm cultivator be that strong?" Shi Tao said angrily.
Chen Xing gave a bitter smile. "How should I know why he's so strong? With his level of power, he should have entered the Inner Sect directly, but he offended Senior Brother Hong Long and was forcibly struck from the list of direct entries. Senior Brother Hong Long even personally instructed us to teach this Hong Yu a good lesson, but I'm powerless against him now. I can only rely on you all."
"Damn it, I don't believe a new disciple can be that strong," Shi Tao gritted out, his eyes glinting with anger.
From the head seat, a burly youth finally spoke.
His voice was low and heavy, carrying a stifling pressure. This was the number one on the Earth List, Guo Fei!
Guo Fei's cold gaze swept over Chen Xing, showing no emotion, before finally landing on Shi Tao. He said indifferently, "Shi Tao, aren't you hosting the new disciples' group trial tomorrow? Since Chen Xing failed to deal with him, you can be the one to teach that kid nad Hong Yu a lesson."
Shi Tao grinned, a ferocious look on his face, and slowly nodded...
"Don't worry, Brother Fei. I'll be sure to give that kid a warm welco!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers