37: His outrageous words startled the sect, stirring up unrest beneath the surface!

"That's true! For Du Qi, I'm afraid no one will be his match in this year's Inner Sect Grand Competition."

One person nodded in agreement, a look of awe on his face.

When Du Qi had first burst onto the scene back then, he was like a scorching sun in the sky, causing all his fellow Disciples to lose their luster. Now that he had returned, that oppressive Aura of his had become increasingly unfathomable.

"That might not be entirely true."

Another person shook his head, his eyes flashing with sharp light. "Our Clear Wind Sect has such profound heritage and recruits prodigies from all over every year. How could there be no true geniuses?"

"There might be one or two people who can condense a High Grade Golden Core and are qualified to participate in this competition."

"Even if their cultivation Realm is a level or two lower than Senior Brother Du Qi's, there shouldn't be too much of a gap in terms of Concept, combat experience, and Cultivation Technique."

Clear Wind Sect was, after all, the number one Sect in the Southern Region. With its deep heritage, it could recruit talented Disciples from the entire Southern Region every year.

Even Disciples from some high-ranking families would join the Clear Wind Sect.

For example, Jiang Haochuan. His Family, the Jiang Family, was a high-ranking Family, and his father was Jiang Dao.

His Saber Technique alone dominated the Southern Region!

"Everyone!"

Just then, a voice rang out, clearly spreading to all sides of the Martial Arts Stage, instantly grabbing everyone's attention.

Zhang Yang stood in the center of the Martial Arts Stage, his posture as upright as a pine tree, as he spoke loudly:

"From today until the start of the Inner Sect Grand Competition—"

"I, Zhang Yang, will be here at the Martial Arts Stage every day at noon, awaiting your challenges!"

"No matter your purpose—whether you want to scout my strength, want me to get injured before the Inner Sect Grand Competition to affect my performance, or even want to severely injure me so I cannot participate in the competition!"

Zhang Yang paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like cold lightning. "For just eight hundred Purple Sun Pills, I, Zhang Yang, will take on all comers!"

"Remember, this might be the only chance for those of you who want to defeat me!"

"Every day at noon. I will not wait past the hour!"

Before his voice had even faded, an Aura erupted from within Zhang Yang's body, like a sleeping Vicious Beast awakening!

His Spirit Aperture Realm Eighth Level cultivation was released without reservation. With the enhancement of Saber Intent, it formed visible air ripples that boomed outward, instantly enveloping the entire Martial Arts Stage area.

That heavy, concentrated pressure caused the expressions of the Disciples below the stage to change. They clearly sensed the Realm level that Zhang Yang currently stood at.

After speaking, Zhang Yang took the Jade Box handed over by Elder Wang, whispered a word of thanks, and quickly walked toward Xuan Yuan Peak.

He knew very well that after this battle, this arrogant declaration would surely spread throughout the Sect.

Anyone in the Sect who regarded him as a formidable rival in the competition would likely be unable to sit still and would definitely move upon hearing the news.

As for the price of eight hundred Purple Sun Pills, it was also a suggestion sent to him via secret transmission by Elder Wang.

The six hundred he had originally asked for was truly too cheap.

A count of eight hundred was more in line with the market rates of previous years.

Returning to the Jia-rank Meditation Chamber, Zhang Yang immediately opened the Jade Box, and the thick, pure Medicinal Pill Origin Qi instantly filled the air.

Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and began to swallow and refine the Purple Sun Pills without pause.

The vast energy contained within these six hundred Spirit Pills was enough to support his Breakthrough to the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level and fill more than half of the ninth Spirit Aperture.

While Zhang Yang was racing against time to Cultivate, his arrogant words had already struck like a bolt from the blue, setting off a massive wave throughout the entire Clear Wind Sect!

On the eve of the Inner Sect Grand Competition in previous years, even if the Martial Arts Stage was lively, it was only for Disciples who knew they had no hope of making the top twenty and hoped to gain some cultivation resources through it.

When had there ever been a high-profile seeded contestant like Zhang Yang, who had the strength to challenge for the top ten or even the top five,

actively standing on the stage and opening his doors to accept challenges from all sides?

This was simply unheard of since the founding of the Sect!

"Arrogant! Simply arrogant to the extreme! Does this Zhang Yang really think he is invincible in the Spirit Aperture Realm?" someone shouted indignantly, feeling that Zhang Yang's actions were too condescending.

"To dare to speak such arrogant words! If he really gets severely injured and it affects the Inner Sect Grand Competition, I bet he'll regret it until his face turns blue!" someone sneered, thinking Zhang Yang was being overconfident.

"Hmph, he only won against Fu Lei once by luck, and now his head is in the clouds! Those true old-timers in the Sect haven't even shown themselves yet!" someone mocked.

"In my view, tomorrow at noon will be the time Zhang Yang meets his downfall, leaving the stage severely injured and completely missing out on the competition arena!" some even directly predicted Zhang Yang's defeat.

However, after that clean and efficient battle where he defeated Fu Lei at noon today, the Disciples who had witnessed Zhang Yang's strength were inwardly chilled.

They knew well that Zhang Yang's strength was no illusion; he definitely possessed the terrifying capital to squeeze into the top ten of the Inner Sect Grand Competition, or even aim for the top five!

Among the mountains of the Clear Wind Sect, within many caves or elegant lodges rich in Spiritual Qi and beautifully furnished, some people's state of mind could no longer remain calm.

"Heh, what bold words! He is young and impetuous after all, too reckless."

Inside an elegant lodge atop a mist-shrouded Peak, a young man with a steady Aura and sharp eyes slowly shook his head, a trace of coldness at the corner of his mouth.

In his eyes, Zhang Yang's move was undoubtedly the rashness of the ignorant and the naivety of someone who had never truly experienced a cruel blow.

Thinking that because he was exceptionally talented, he could look down on those of the same rank—he was truly a frog at the bottom of a well.

He understood clearly: a Spirit Aperture Realm Martial Artist's Lifespan could reach three hundred years!

Those over thirty who had no hope of ever condensing a Profound Core because their Innate Qi had dissipated could only remain in this Realm forever.

Within the Clear Wind Sect, the number of such Martial Artists was not small.

Some might live aimlessly, but there were also those who, even if their path was severed, never gave up on tempering their martial arts.

Although their cultivation had stagnated, they had devoted hundreds of years to the martial path. The Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills they practiced had long since been refined to the point of perfection and reached the Peak of mastery!

Some had even spent their years reading through countless scriptures and painstakingly practicing hundreds or even thousands of saber, sword, and fist techniques.

Relying on this vast, ocean-like accumulation and precipitation, they achieved a Breakthrough after long accumulation,

finally touching upon profound martial Concepts such as Saber Intent, Sword Intent, and Fist Intent!

These 'old monsters' who had polished their Spirit Aperture Realm martial techniques and experience to the Peak,

their combat power was so formidable that it was not inferior to any strong contender for the top ten of the Inner Sect Grand Competition, and might even surpass them!

They were the living fossils of the Spirit Aperture Realm, a terrifying combat force precipitated by time.

And this Inner Sect Grand Competition involved a major Opportunity. If one could use a mere eight hundred Purple Sun Pills as a price to exhaust or even severely wound a strong opponent like Zhang Yang,

it was simply a godsend for those geniuses aiming for the top ten!

"Zhang Yang, oh Zhang Yang, you've only been cultivating for a year and a half at most. No matter how high your talent, your foundation is shallow after all."

"Against these 'old ghosts' who have hundreds of years of martial accumulation and have pushed Spirit Aperture Realm techniques to the limit, the outcome is almost self-evident..."

A cold light flashed in the young man's eyes. Even if Zhang Yang had reached the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level by now, wanting to defeat these opponents unscathed would be no easy task!

Those extra one or two hundred years of combat experience and tempered battle instincts weren't for nothing!

"Someone, come!"

The young man no longer hesitated and spoke coldly, a command being quickly passed down.