Chapter 117: The Challenger, Qingyun Sword Immortal Cao Xuan!

The scene at the Qingyun Arena was not only amusing to the contestants but also entertained the spectators in the stands.

Some Foundation Establishment stage contestants who had been eliminated sat in the audience. Unable to gauge Cao Xuan’s true cultivation level, they subjectively commented, “This disciple from a minor sect probably got used to being regarded as a genius within his sect, so he’s acting recklessly by stepping onto the stage like this!”

“Is it really that bad? Whether you’re eliminated early or late, it’s still elimination. Might as well take the opportunity to show off a bit. Look up there!”

Since the Six Sacred Lands and the Ancient Lord Qingmu had revealed themselves, everyone, though unable to see through others’ true power, could still discern their intent and aura clearly as Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Seeing the Six Sacred Lands and Qingmu’s gaze fixed on Cao Xuan’s arena stirred something in everyone’s hearts.

Some, knowing the strength of these formidable figures, overheard conversations both on and off the stage and in the audience. With ill intent, they sneered, “Just stepping on stage first—what, does that mean he has the heart of a strong cultivator?”

“I think it’s just a reckless stunt. Such foolhardy bravado won’t get you far on the path of the Dao.”

“Cultivation isn’t something achieved overnight.”

“Although not everyone here will make the top ten in this Qingyun Conference, winning more rounds means gaining more cultivation resources. Isn’t that a better way to advance on the path?”

“Exactly, exactly...”

Their words revealed a mindset of insufficient strength compensated by strategy.

There was also a hint of jealousy toward Cao Xuan’s boldness—after all, they had already been eliminated and felt secretly resentful compared to those still on stage.

Famous peak Foundation Establishment geniuses like Qiu Qianliu and Meng Weizhi dared not express such thoughts openly, but for a minor sect disciple like Cao Xuan, they felt free to comment without restraint.

Nine mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, eager to snatch Cao Xuan’s opponent’s spot, employed subtle tactics that neither disrupted subsequent battles nor wasted the chance to showcase themselves early on.

Meanwhile, Xing Mengfan seemed to understand the underlying tension and told Li Yao and Ru Hanhang before heading towards Meng Weizhi to initiate the first duel.

The girl in the red dress, Meng Weizhi, wasn’t angry about being challenged first but asked with some surprise, “Why choose me first?”

She wasn’t surprised that a minor sect disciple wouldn’t recognize her, but choosing her—did that mean she was seen as an easy target?

Xing Mengfan shook her head. “I’m a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Whoever I face, I must give it my all.”

“Choosing senior sister is just because you’re so beautiful, I thought you might go easy on me!”

After days of bantering with the sharp-tongued Cao Xuan, Xing Mengfan had learned a thing or two about compliments!

Hearing this, Meng Weizhi immediately smiled. “Fine then, little sister, you may strike first. I promise I’ll go easy on you!”

Xing Mengfan nodded expressionlessly, then drew a broken-demon greatsword taller than herself.

Meng Weizhi exclaimed, “Let’s begin!”

With a thunderous crash, the fierce battle erupted!

...

Elsewhere, finally, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped forward to face Cao Xuan on the arena.

The remaining eight had no choice but to seek other arenas to challenge.

Almost all of them apologized in advance, hoping their seniors would be merciful.

On the stage, twenty contestants, and eighty late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators including Ru Hanhang looked up at the ten arenas.

They all wanted to see what was special about these ten peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Fortunately, when choosing opponents, they could pick a suitable one for the match.

Of course, this was after a group of late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had forcibly taken to the stage, expending their true energy, sometimes both sides suffering injuries.

Defending the arena was meant to handle the onslaught of continuous battles. If one lacked the ability, they could hardly blame others for showing no mercy.

Some even secretly hoped all nine challengers would go up and end up severely injured along with the peak cultivators, so they could reap the benefits!

This Qingyun Conference, compared to vague self-promotion, being valued by the Six Sacred Lands meant securing a spot in the top five and becoming one of the coveted “Thirty Golden Core” cultivators was the safest path.

The cultivators at the Qingyun Arena all looked up in unison, wondering, “Just how strong is this minor sect disciple?”

To them, Cao Xuan’s arena was likely to have a real fight, unlike the other nine arenas where there was no suspense.

---

Jiang Yunsheng’s heartbeat quickened as he picked up on the meaning behind a teammate’s words.

“Big brother, do you mean that after a battle, spiritual energy automatically recovers?”

“Boom!” Another ink-horned wolf was slain and collapsed. The teammate confidently replied, “Of course! Otherwise, why would so many come to hunt in the wilderness?”

“Making money is one thing, but increasing strength is just as important. It’s the key to surviving the upcoming outbreak period.”

“You don’t know, when facing the overwhelming wave of beast invasions, if your strength isn’t enough, you won’t even survive the first attack!”

He patted Jiang Yunsheng’s shoulder. “I know it’s tough to exhaust your spiritual energy the first time, but if you endure, your body will absorb spiritual energy from the air quickly, like a sponge, and your strength will rise fast.”

“Be content. The first battle is when the improvement is fastest. Later on, spiritual energy is harder to deplete, and your advancement slows down.”

“I heard that the Advanced Heroic Spirit Academy has specialized Spirit Expellers and spirit forging methods, but that doesn’t concern people like us!”

Jiang Yunsheng understood then that Spirit Expellers had corresponding training techniques, but low-level ones had none—they relied solely on combat consumption and self-recovery.

It was somewhat like ordinary people building muscle in a gym, while cultivators enhance their power through “internal skills.”

Though, in his current state, it felt a bit like leveling up by defeating monsters.

After slaying the ink-horned wolf, the crystal card in his mind trembled faintly, spiritual energy enveloping it and flowing into its intricate patterns, making the human-shaped design on it more vivid.

Reflected in reality, Jiang Yunsheng’s heroic spirit form became more solid.

‘So, does this single ink-horned wolf provide 4 points of spiritual energy, or do all ink-horned wolves yield that much?’ he thought.

He had increased from 11 to 15 points of spiritual energy—still not high, but significantly stronger than an ordinary person.

Moreover, he noticed that the spiritual energy gained from killing the wolf directly increased his maximum capacity, while the rest replenished naturally from the air.

Because it was his own body, he felt the spiritual energy value within him clearly.