After staying long in beast clan territory, one would definitely accumulate killing intent.

Li Qingyang, Xiao Ziji, and the others also had it, but due to their personalities, they all suppressed it well.

Ye Xingchen was different.

He needed to maintain his aloof and cold persona, so he often wouldn’t deliberately suppress his killing intent. Even a simple furrowing of his brows could release it.

Persona?

Ever since sleeping in a livestock pen, that had long since collapsed to the heavens.

Competitors from other sects in the distance were also shocked, thinking to themselves, “Fierce person!”

“This disciple of mine is somewhat ruthless.”

Jun Changxiao hadn’t expected that Ye Xingchen would startle all the competitors from a certain sect just by looking over.

The Senior Brother from Severing Emotions True Sect’s expression became even more grave.

This kind of gaze emanating demonic beast killing intent brought him enormous pressure. If he could choose, it would be best not to encounter him in the early competition rounds!

Intimidated before even fighting.

This was a great taboo in warfare!

Competitors from other sects also felt weak.

They’d originally thought their biggest rivals for the championship would be disciples from the four True-rank sects. They hadn’t expected a Myriad Ancient Sect disciple to suddenly emerge halfway through.

“Please don’t let me meet him in the first round!”

After lining up in their respective queues, most competitors were praying in their hearts not to encounter that guy who resembled a wild beast.

“Begin drawing lots to determine first-round opponents!” City Lord Tao announced.

Competitors from each sect successively mounted the platform, reaching into array-protected boxes to draw numbered plaques.

Shortly after.

It was the Myriad Ancient Sect’s turn.

Lu Qianqian, Xiao Ziji, and the others drew their number plaques in succession without drawing much attention. When Ye Xingchen stepped forward, everyone began to tense up and feel anxious.

A Niu had disrupted formations with one glance, becoming the competitor everyone was most wary of.

“Number three!”

The referee announced.

Everyone instinctively looked at their own plaques. Confirming they weren’t adjacent to his number, they immediately breathed long sighs of relief.

The sect disciple holding plaque ‘number four’ lay on the ground like mud, finally being carried away by official personnel—looking exactly like someone from a certain region who drew a red conscription slip and had to enlist.

“Good, good.”

A sect disciple looked at the harmless-looking Su Xiaomo, secretly celebrating, “My opponent is him!”

Because Ye Xingchen appeared so ruthless, competitors were wary of him. People like Li Qingyang who looked very honest posed no great threat.

The competitor drawn to fight Lu Qianqian was delighted inside—after all, regardless of the opponent’s strength, at least she was beautiful as a celestial maiden.

“Competitors holding plaques one-two, three-four, five-six, seven-eight, nine-ten, mount your corresponding combat platforms!”

After a brief rest, City Lord Tao shouted loudly.

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

Competitors successively mounted several combat platforms.

Ye Xingchen also mounted the platform. When he saw his opponent being carried up by official personnel, he uttered his classic catchphrase: “Trash.”

“Ah.”

In the VIP section, that competitor’s sect leadership shook their heads helplessly.

This session’s Sect Grand Competition had four True-rank sects, so from the start he hadn’t recommended participating. But the Sect Master wouldn’t listen and insisted on sending disciples to try. As a result, they didn’t encounter any of those four in the first round, but instead encountered an even fiercer one!

Losing was certain.

They could only pray to lose with dignity.

“Begin!”

Just then, the referee shouted loudly.

However, before the words even finished, that terrified competitor raised his hand, saying, “I conc—”

“Boom!”

Ye Xingchen’s large hand pressed down, directly pinning him to the ground, his gaze cold as he said, “A man must fight to the end!”

The words weren’t wrong, but the killing intent revealed in his gaze instantly disturbed the competitor, forcing his eyelids to roll back as his limbs went slack and he fainted.

It began, and it ended.

After confirming the number four competitor had lost consciousness, the referee announced with a bewildered expression, “Myriad Ancient Sect’s Ye Xingchen advances to the second round!”

“…”

The expressions on the audience’s faces became interesting.

The first round battle ended way too quickly—couldn’t they give everyone time to eat a peanut or crack a melon seed?

“Swish!”

Ye Xingchen released his hand and jumped down from the platform, his gaze unable to conceal his disappointment.

Su Xiaomo gave a thumbs up, saying, “Junior Brother Ye is no longer the Junior Brother Ye who was bullied by Junior Brother Sun Mucheng back in the day.”

Ye Xingchen’s expression darkened.

Can we move on from this kind of humiliating past, can we not bring it up!

The other three combat platforms were still fighting intensely. After Jun Changxiao observed, he discovered that most competitors’ strength was between Semi-Saint and Martial Saint levels. He shook his head, “If I’d known, I would have sent Li Shangtian and the others.”

…

The competition continued.

Lu Qianqian was the second to appear.

As a relatively rare female competitor who was also stunningly beautiful, she naturally drew the entire venue’s attention. However, once the match began, after her opponent rather courteously saluted, he was sent flying by a single long-distance Ice Palm strike.

“Eh?”

Jun Changxiao said in surprise, “Did my eldest disciple cultivate martial arts in the Ice Phoenix Clan?”

“Myriad Ancient Sect’s Lu Qianqian advances to the second round!”

After the referee announced, it immediately sparked heated discussion.

At first everyone had focused on Lu Qianqian’s appearance, never expecting that this woman’s strength was actually this formidable—capable of instantly defeating a Profound-rank sect disciple.

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

Su Xiaomo also mounted the platform. As her footsteps moved, they immediately formed intricate and complex afterimages, instantly making that competitor who had been secretly celebrating dizzy. When she stopped, he sat down covered in spinning little stars.

“Such fast speed!”

“This disciple’s strength is also considerable!”

Everyone was startled.

Li Qingyang appeared next. Due to his steady personality, though he ultimately won the match, the entire process was conventional and didn’t bring great shock.

“Phew!”

Martial artists from all walks breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to themselves, “Finally a normal person.”

A sect that had just ascended to the Upper Realm not long ago having three disciples all defeat competitors by instant knockout was really somewhat exaggerated. So Li Qingyang appearing very ordinary made them feel this was within reason.

The last to appear for the Myriad Ancient Sect was Xiao Ziji. Though he also wanted to keep a low profile like Second Senior Brother, his opponent didn’t live up to expectations—one punch sent him flying outside the arena.

“No way.”

He collapsed inside, thinking, “I only used a tiny bit of strength!”

This kind of invisible showing off deeply embodied Gou Sheng’s true teachings.

…

After the first round.

All five Myriad Ancient Sect disciples advanced.

Moreover, due to their overwhelming strength, they took the subsequent second and third rounds with absolute advantage.

“Good, good.”

Jun Changxiao grinned widely.

Though he came to participate in the Sect Grand Competition for the rewards, the more important reason was to test his disciples’ cultivation results from two years of training. Judging from now, the results were excellent.

He was pleased.

The sect leaders, however, were filled with despair.

As the rounds progressed and opponents became stronger, the Myriad Ancient Sect disciples could still easily defeat their opponents. Only then did they deeply understand that it wasn’t just one Ye Xingchen who was impressive—the other four were too!

“No chance!”

“This Sect Grand Competition definitely belongs to the Myriad Ancient Sect!”

“From the start of matches, they’ve crushed every opponent they’ve encountered. Even that disciple called Li Qingyang who looked very ordinary still effortlessly defeated a True-rank sect competitor!”

What was originally an event for sect disciples to compete with each other—once Li Qingyang and the others tore off the sheepskin covering them, revealing their wolf nature—immediately lost its excitement and suspense.

Of course.

The True-rank sects had competitors with decent strength, such as Severing Emotions True Sect’s eldest disciple.

In the next round of battles, he was matched with Ye Xingchen.

“As I understand it, Cui Wuqing has already severed three emotions. His strength directly approaches Core Formation Realm. Perhaps he can check the Myriad Ancient Sect’s momentum!”

“If even he can’t win, then there’s really no suspense.”

Everyone pinned their hopes of blocking the Myriad Ancient Sect disciples’ advancement on Severing Emotions True Sect’s eldest disciple.

“Only severed three emotions?”

Jun Changxiao heard everyone’s words and shook his head, “Compared to my disciple who was betrayed and murdered by his own woman, he’s far inferior, because he has already achieved emotionlessness!”

The system couldn’t help but complain on Ye Xingchen’s behalf: “Can we move on, can we not bring it up!”