Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

Draw - Matchups

Advancement - Defeat

Going on stage - stepping off stage

The ten arenas erupted with intertwined and explosive spiritual light, accompanied by shouts of battle, the clash of swords, and bursts of spiritual energy, pushing the fervent atmosphere of the centennial celebration to its climax.

Lin Yan had just stepped down from the seventh arena when countless astonished gazes were instantly cast upon him. The disciple who had once fallen off a cliff and was thought to be dead had today easily won against someone of the same cultivation level, cleanly advancing to the top two hundred inner disciples. The news swept across the plaza like a thunderbolt, and many disciples whispered among themselves. In their eyes, there was no longer any contempt for Lin Yan, only astonishment and awe.

Yunxi stood quietly to the side, seeing his calm demeanor and spotless clothes, her heart finally settled, and a faint smile appeared between her cool brows: "You've always been very measured in your actions."

"With the grand ceremony underway, it's best to stop when fellow disciples are sparring, as long as the skill is just enough," Lin Yan replied calmly, his gaze sweeping over the bustling arenas. "Let's see who they are first."

Yi Azhu skipped over and grabbed his arm, her eyes sparkling: "Brother, you're amazing! That big guy couldn't even touch the hem of your clothes! When I go on stage, I'll play just as cool!"

Ye Qing approached slowly, smiling gently: "Zhao Kui's physical body is incredibly strong; few among his peers can suppress him head-on. You overcome strength with skill and hardness with softness; your foundation is far more stable than ordinary people. If you ever encounter Su Chen in the future, you will still need to be just as composed."

Chen Dagang nodded heavily, his voice gruff: "Brother Lin Yan, I'm truly impressed! After I'm done fighting, I'll definitely ask you for a few pointers!"

Before they could finish speaking, a dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from a distant arena.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Su Chen standing proudly on the top of the platform. His metal-elemental spiritual energy rose like the blazing sun. His opponent only managed to withstand three moves before being struck on the shoulder by a sharp metal sword aura. Su Chen coughed up a little blood and fell off the platform in a sorry state.

"Su Chensheng!"

The disciple in charge announced loudly.

Su Chen didn't even glance at the defeated one. His cold gaze pierced through the crowd and fixed directly on Lin Yan. A cruel and sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips.

That look couldn't be clearer:

You live on, and I will crush you with my own hands.

Lin Yan remained indifferent, but inwardly sneered.

He couldn't have asked for more; it was the perfect opportunity to settle old scores at Moshan Pass, one by one, in front of everyone.

Before long, Yunxi gracefully stepped onto the stage.

Clad in white, her figure as graceful as a crane, her superior water spirit root rippled with waves around her as she circulated her energy, ethereal and light. Though her opponent was also a rising star, her moves were exposed by Yunxi's clear swordsmanship. After only a few exchanges, Yunxi lightly touched her opponent's wrist with her sword, forcing her to drop her weapon and winning decisively.

Her unparalleled beauty and ethereal grace drew frequent nods of approval from visitors from all directions of the immortal sects.

Next up was Yi Azhu.

The little girl appeared delicate and lively, but once she started fighting, she was fierce and ruthless. Her fiery spiritual energy blazed fiercely, and her moves were tricky and swift, keeping her opponent busy and flustered. In the end, she was forced to the edge of the arena by a ring of fire and had no choice but to admit defeat.

Ye Qing won by maintaining a steady pace, his wood-type spiritual energy flowing continuously, as steadfast as a mountain. He waited for his opponent's spiritual energy to be exhausted before calmly launching a counterattack, remaining neither arrogant nor impatient, and easily securing victory.

Although Chen Dagang was simple and honest, his strength was extremely terrifying. Every swing of his axe was as heavy as a thousand pounds, causing the arena to tremble. He used his brute strength to knock his opponent off the stage, which drew cheers from the disciples below.

In the blink of an eye, the first round of the competition was drawing to a close.

Some were overjoyed at advancing, some were dejected by defeat, and some were injured and hung their heads, being helped down by their disciples to heal. The spots outside the top 100 were gradually decided. Many inner sect prospective disciples who had previously been full of pride were ultimately not strong enough and could only be relegated to the outer sect, their faces ashen and their hearts full of resentment.

Master Qingxuan raised his hand in mid-air, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy calmed the aftershocks, his voice resounding throughout the entire arena:

"The first round of competition has ended, and 207 people have advanced."

Three breaths later, the second round of drawing lots will determine the top twenty official inner sect seats!

The atmosphere instantly became tense again.

The draw was completed in an instant, and the matchups were revealed in mid-air.

Lin Yan, Yun Xi, Yi Azhu, Ye Qing, and Chen Dagang each drew their opponents, and none of them clashed beforehand. Su Chen, on the other hand, drew a rogue cultivator from beyond the realm, whose cultivation was profound and should not be underestimated.

The second round of battles was far more brutal than the first.

Everyone used all their skills, their spirits blazing, their spells roaring, and the arena's barrier trembling frequently.

Su Chen held nothing back in this battle, his wood-elemental killing intent fully revealed. His attacks were ruthless and fierce, suppressing his opponent in just a few breaths and sending him flying off the stage with a single sword strike. He won with an overbearing and arrogant air. As he passed Lin Yan on his way off the stage, his voice was as cold as ice:

"Lin Yan, don't get eliminated too early. I'm going to crush you myself."

Lin Yan raised his eyes, his tone calm yet sharp as a sword:

"Don't worry, you will have this opportunity."

Not long after, Lin Yan took to the stage again.

His opponent was a seventh-level Qi Refining stage inner disciple, who, despite knowing he was no match, relentlessly attacked without fear of death. Lin Yan remained calm, using the Canglan Step to dodge and weave, effortlessly deflecting all attacks, and finally gently tapping his opponent's shoulder with a finger, sending him off the stage.

To win cleanly and with dignity.

After several battles, Yunxi, Yi Azhu, Ye Qing, and Chen Dagang all advanced, firmly entering the top 200 and officially securing their status as inner disciples.

Those who failed to advance could only hang their heads in dejection, their lamentations echoing endlessly.

On the high platform, Master Danxuan stood up and said loudly:

"The second round is over, and 200 people have advanced!"

From this day forward, you are officially listed as inner disciples of Laoshan Sect, registered in the Jade Register, entitled to stipends, and orthodox in the Immortal Sect!

Two hundred disciples bowed in unison, overjoyed.

Su Chen stood tall and proud, full of vigor; Elder Hailan's expression softened slightly, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But Master Qingxuan's next words instantly made everyone's hearts race again:

"The top two hundred have been decided, but the positions of the Ten Outstanding Talents and Twenty Outstanding Warriors are still vacant. Tomorrow at dawn, the battle in the arena will continue, and we will strive for the highest ranking!"

"The higher your ranking, the greater the reward and the greater the opportunity. I hope you will all rest well and prepare for tomorrow's decisive battle!"

The moment those words were spoken, the fighting spirit not only did not subside, but instead burned even more fiercely.

Personal disciples, spiritual cave dwellings, superior sword techniques, the secret realm of Canglan Abyss...

Each and every one of these events is an unparalleled stroke of luck that could drive cultivators mad.

Su Chen's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he stared intently at Lin Yan, regarding him as the only stumbling block on his path to the top.

Lin Yan met that fierce gaze with a calm and composed expression. Within his dantian, the Jianghai Sword Intent lay dormant, waiting to unleash its power the next day.

Although Zhao Kui was defeated by Lin Yan, he still managed to squeeze into the top 100 despite all the ups and downs and was not eliminated.

His gaze toward Lin Yan was filled with resentment, yet also concealed a strange ruthlessness, as if he were waiting for an opportunity to avenge his humiliation.

Unbeknownst to anyone, both Su Chen and Zhao Kui possessed a faint, chilling aura that did not belong to the orthodox Laoshan martial arts. This aura was fleeting, yet it was quietly detected by a wisp of divine sense from the Guanhai Daoist on the high platform.

As the sun sets, the sacred mountain is bathed in gold.

The first day of the centennial celebration has now come to a close.

But a more brutal, more dangerous, and more truth-seeking showdown is quietly brewing in the night.

In tomorrow's battle of the top ten, some will reveal forbidden techniques, some will expose evil skills, some will dredge up old cases, and some will settle blood feuds.

Laoshan is about to be shaken.