22: Chapter 22 You're teaching me how to chop wood? The whole room bursts into laughter!

A month of time, like sand slipping through fingers, passed in the blink of an eye.

The annual Sect Grand Competition of the Taixuan Sect officially began, amidst the eager anticipation of tens of thousands of Disciples.

The Main Peak Martial Arts Arena.

The deafening roar of the crowd almost threatened to overturn the clouds in the sky.

Thousands of Disciples gathered here, rubbing their hands and eager to show their skills, with flames burning in everyone's eyes—that was the longing for fame and power.

This was not only a touchstone for testing cultivation, but also the only chance for a carp to leap over the Dragon Gate.

"Have you heard? The reward for the champion is a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill! And you can enter the second floor of the Myriad Dharma Pavilion!"

"What is a Foundation Establishment Pill! The top three can go to the 'Eastern Wasteland Trial'! That is the true great Opportunity, able to compete with the Prodigies of the entire Eastern Wasteland!"

In the crowd, hushed exclamations rose and fell one after another.

"Then, is the champion this time likely already decided?"

"Need you ask? Senior Brother Zhao Wuji of the Heavenly Sword Peak has been at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage for half a year, and his 'Blazing Fire Sword Technique' is divine; who can stop him?"

Countless gazes of awe and envy turned simultaneously toward a corner of the Martial Arts Arena.

There, a young man dressed in luxurious brocade was resting with his eyes closed. Within a three-foot radius around him, there was no one, and further away, it was surrounded by fawning Inner Sect Disciples, yet no one dared to approach.

He was Zhao Wuji, the acknowledged king of this Grand Competition.

Amidst the worship of the strong, a few discordant voices of discussion quietly arose.

"Do you think that newcomer from Changge Peak will participate?"

"Ye Qingyao? The Disciple of the Little Martial Ancestor? She has only been apprenticed for a month, what kind of skills could she have?"

"Heh, I heard that for this past month, she has been practicing sword techniques in the back mountain every day, practicing only three moves: hacking, chopping, and thrusting."

A Disciple mimicked the motions vividly, drawing a burst of sneers.

"It's the same style as Auntie Wang who chops wood in our kitchen! Hahaha!"

"What exactly is the Little Martial Ancestor thinking? I thought he would teach some supreme Divine Ability, but it turns out he's teaching someone to chop wood?"

Unscrupulous laughter spread through the crowd, filled with a cheap sense of superiority.

Just at this moment, there was a commotion at the entrance.

The deafening roar of the crowd instantly died down.

"The Sect Head and the Elders are here!"

They saw Sect Head Qing Yunzi following closely beside a young man, his face wearing a hint of fawning respect, leading him toward the highest spectator stand.

The young man wore a set of white-washed coarse linen clothes, but his temperament was completely out of place with his surroundings.

It was Su Changge.

He had originally wanted to play dead to the end today and refused to come no matter what.

In this kind of occasion where all eyes were on him, the risk of exposure increased by one point for every extra second he stayed.

But that old man Qing Yunzi was like a chanting monk, running to Changge Peak time and again, saying things like "Your beloved Disciple is competing, how can the Revered Master be absent?" He was truly so annoyed that he had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow him.

As soon as he sat down, the surrounding Elders were like cats smelling fish, instantly swarming around him, their old faces smiling like chrysanthemums.

"The Little Martial Ancestor's personal arrival truly makes us feel flattered!"

"Little Martial Ancestor, your brilliant Disciple Ye Qingyao has peerless talent. I wonder, regarding this Grand Competition, what are her chances of winning?" an Elder asked, holding a wine cup and tentatively probing.

This question instantly made all the Elders prick up their ears.

They all wanted to hear what this living Immortal thought of his first Disciple.

However, Su Changge hadn't even heard clearly what he was asking.

He sat upright, his eyes slightly closed, putting on the posture of a peerless Master who was wandering beyond the heavens and unconcerned with worldly affairs.

In reality, his inner self was frantically pounding the floor.

"Don't ask me! How would I know!"

"I don't even know if she is at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage now!"

"What if she goes up there and gets taken out in one move? Where would I put this old face of mine? Will the System judge my act as a failure and electrocute me to ashes?"

"No, I must remain aloof and act like I know nothing. This way, regardless of winning or losing, it will appear that I have already foreseen everything, and the outcome is all within my control."

Thus, facing the Elder's expectant gaze, Su Changge couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids.

He merely squeezed out a single syllable from his nose, extremely indifferently.

"Watch."

One word.

Only one word.

One could not hear joy or anger, yet it contained an absolute confidence that brooked no argument.

As if saying: Facts speak louder than words; you all just wait and see.

The questioning Elder's heart jumped violently, and he almost spilled the wine cup in his hand. He only felt an invisible pressure cover him, making him break into a cold sweat instantly.

He understood.

The Little Martial Ancestor was reprimanding him!

Yes, how could a mere mortal like himself fathom the plans of such an Immortal figure?

His question was too stupid, too shallow!

"Yes, yes, yes, this Disciple is foolish; this Disciple has been taught!" The Elder hurriedly bowed and retreated, not daring to say another word.

Seeing this, the surrounding Elders also felt a chill in their hearts, and in their gazes toward Ye Qingyao, the anticipation and awe grew even heavier.

With an order from Sect Head Qing Yunzi, the Grand Competition officially began.

"First match!"

The voice of the Deacon Elder spread throughout the arena.

"Dan Ding Peak, Zhang Yuan, versus—"

"Changge Peak, Ye Qingyao!"

The moment the words fell, the entire Martial Arts Arena fell into an eerie silence.

Countless gazes, mixed with curiosity, contempt, and expectation, focused collectively on the corner of the contestant area.

A young girl in a white dress slowly stood up.

She had a cold expression and an elegant figure, walking step by step toward the central ring, turning a blind eye to all the gazes around her.

Her opponent, Zhang Yuan of Dan Ding Peak, also walked onto the stage.

He was an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Inner Sect Disciple, always known in the Sect for his ruthless methods.

Zhang Yuan looked up and down at the girl in front of him who was unbelievably beautiful but several years younger than himself, a curve he thought was handsome hooking at the corner of his mouth.

He had long treated the rumors about Ye Qingyao practicing the "Wood-Chopping Sword Technique" for a month as a joke.

He crossed his arms, lifted his chin slightly, and said in a teasing tone: "Junior Sister Ye, I heard that you received personal instruction from the Little Martial Ancestor at Changge Peak and have been bitterly practicing the Wood-Chopping Sword Technique for a month? Come on, don't be shy; you must let me, your Senior Brother, and everyone else have an eye-opening experience!"

"Boom!"

The crowd under the stage instantly erupted into uproarious laughter.

Facing this undisguised, wave-like mockery, Ye Qingyao remained expressionless.

On that cold and beautiful face, there wasn't even the slightest emotional fluctuation.

She just slowly placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.

It was just such a simple action.

In an instant.

The deafening laughter came to an abrupt halt.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had suddenly grabbed the throats of everyone in the arena!

The temperature of the air seemed to plummet at this moment.

An unspeakable sense of sharpness permeated from the slender girl, making everyone's skin break out in goosebumps.

It was as if an invisible, peerless, malevolent sword was hanging above their heads.