47: Who is Zhang Yang?

The entire morning was the designated time for Disciples to head to the registration areas.

The crowds surged, and their Battle Intent ran high.

Zhang Yang followed the flow of people and imprinted his name onto the registration jade scroll for the unlimited group.

At the highest point of the viewing platform, Ling Yue, the Sect Master of the Clear Wind Sect, looked down with a faint smile and turned to his old friends beside him.

"So? Shall we continue with this year's tradition?"

"Naturally!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Wang and Jiang Dao both wore knowing smiles.

This had long since become an indispensable side entertainment for them during every Inner Sect Grand Competition.

Each would pick a Disciple they favored and bet on their final ranking; whoever chose the Disciple with the highest rank would be the winner!

"Then I'll choose Du Qi. That fellow didn't participate in the last Inner Sect Grand Competition; it seems he was aiming for this one."

Ling Yue said casually. He had actually been paying attention to Du Qi since the last competition, but Du Qi hadn't participated then!

"Who will you two choose? Or do you want to observe a bit more?" Ling Yue asked with a laugh.

"I choose Zhang Yang!" Elder Wang Xiao responded immediately, almost without thinking.

"Zhang Yang?" Ling Yue's brow furrowed imperceptibly, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Who is that? I don't seem to have heard of him. Is he a Disciple who joined in the last two years?"

He had been in secluded cultivation for the past two years and had only just emerged today, so he truly didn't know much about the new Disciples.

Hearing the name Zhang Yang, Jiang Dao's eyes flickered. He gave Wang Xiao a meaningful glance, then also revealed a smile and said loudly:

"What a coincidence, I also choose Zhang Yang!"

"Oh?"

Ling Yue was truly surprised now, his gaze scanning back and forth between the faces of Jiang Dao and Wang Xiao.

"Jiang Dao, even you are choosing this Zhang Yang? I thought you would choose your son, Jiang Haochuan?"

Jiang Dao shook his head; he knew his son was far inferior to Zhang Yang.

Jiang Dao's choice caused Ling Yue's curiosity about this Zhang Yang to grow intensely.

"To answer the Sect Master, Zhang Yang is a Disciple who only joined the Sect a year ago," Wang Xiao reported truthfully.

"A year ago?!" Ling Yue's confusion deepened upon hearing this, almost thinking he had misheard.

"You two aren't joking with me, are you?"

Even with his exceptional talent back then and a never-ending supply of resources, after one year of cultivation, he had only reached around the Spirit Aperture Realm Eighth Level.

This Zhang Yang had only been in the Sect for a single year? To what level could he have possibly cultivated?

How could he compete with Disciples like Du Qi, who had deep foundations?

"Are you sure you want to choose him? Wei Chen and Xiao Yu would also be excellent choices, wouldn't they?"

Ling Yue's brow was tightly knit as his curiosity about Zhang Yang grew wildly.

"Quickly tell me, which one down there is Zhang Yang?"

His gaze was like lightning, instantly scanning the vast sea of people below.

"Hehe, Sect Master, you'll know once the grand competition officially begins! Don't even think about checking the records!" Wang Xiao laughed.

"You rascals!"

Ling Yue immediately laughed and cursed, pointing at the two of them. "It seems you two are holding back, hoping to make a huge profit off me!"

"Fine, I won't look! I want to see for myself if this Zhang Yang can defeat Du Qi!"

Below, after Zhang Yang finished registering, he found a spot and closed his eyes to begin comprehending Saber Intent.

The surrounding Clear Wind Sect Disciples were also tactful enough to leave a certain amount of empty space around Zhang Yang.

At noon, the registration for the Inner Sect Grand Competition concluded.

The Clear Wind Sect's Inner Sect Grand Competition would last for many days and would run 24 hours a day.

After all, everyone present was a Martial Artist; enduring a mere 100-plus hours of watching battles was something they could all easily handle.

The first two days were for the meridian opening realm group matches.

This had nothing to do with Zhang Yang for the moment, so he stayed on the viewing platform comprehending Saber Intent until the next morning.

Last night, the meridian opening realm group matches had concluded.

Zhang Yang didn't care much about the results of this group; after all, it was just the Meridian Opening group. Anyone even slightly talented would generally head to the unlimited group.

The sun rose, and the bell rang!

The unlimited group matches were about to begin!

Zhang Yang also stood up, left the viewing platform, and arrived at the Martial Arts Stage.

Once all the participating Disciples had arrived on the Martial Arts Stage, Sect Master Ling Yue appeared in the air above it.

Following that, a massive Formation light screen appeared on the Martial Arts Stage, enveloping the entire area.

On the stage, the light screen began to crisscross, dividing the battlefield and neatly splitting the entire Martial Arts Stage into sixteen sections.

Each section contained many Disciples. On the Formation light screen stones above each section was a number; Zhang Yang's was 16.

Finally, countless points of light drifted down from the Formation light screen overhead, landing on the Disciples and forming a light membrane that covered their entire bodies.

"These light points can negate one fatal blow. Once the light membrane is shattered, it means you are eliminated."

"Those eliminated will be sent out of the Martial Arts Stage area. The last sixteen people remaining on the stage will be the Top Sixteen of this Inner Sect Grand Competition."

"The sound of the bell will signal the start of the competition!"

"The matches will only end when only one person remains in each section."

After introducing the rules, Sect Master Ling Yue returned to the viewing platform.

"Well? Which section is the Zhang Yang you chose in?"

Ling Yue returned to the viewing platform and looked at Jiang Dao and Wang Xiao, asking with a smile.

"Sixteen."

"Number sixteen?" Ling Yue nodded slightly and looked toward the area numbered sixteen.

"Isn't that the Grand Elder's son, Yu Feng? Has he already reached the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level? Not bad at all!"

Ling Yue saw a familiar face.

Not far away, the Grand Elder had a bitter smile on his face; he had also seen Zhang Yang in section sixteen.

Although under his guidance, his son Yu Feng's cultivation had reached the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level and his Saber Intent had reached the first stage,

if his luck were a bit better and he wasn't grouped with some of the favorites to win, entering the Top Sixteen would have been simple.

But as luck would have it, he was actually placed in the same section as Zhang Yang. Wasn't he destined to be eliminated?

On the top level of the viewing platform, most of the Infant Transformation Realm Martial Artists were staring intently at the Formation light screen above the Martial Arts Stage.

A Formation with the power of spatial transfer was not simple; at the very least, it required a Grotto-Heaven Realm Martial Artist to set it up.

If they could comprehend even a bit of it, it would be very helpful for breaking through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm. Many of the surrounding Infant Transformation Realm Martial Artists didn't want to miss this opportunity!

This was also one of their purposes for coming to the Clear Wind Sect to watch the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

Within the section sixteen arena, Yu Feng stared at Zhang Yang not far away.

He had long heard of Zhang Yang's recent rise, and now they were actually in the same section.

Although his chances of winning against Zhang Yang were very low, Yu Feng looked around and saw that many others were like him, quietly staring at Zhang Yang.

They all had the same thought: join forces first to eliminate Zhang Yang, and then they would compete for that Top Sixteen spot!

Many people around exchanged glances; they were all smart and knew what they had to do now to have the greatest hope of securing a spot in the Top Sixteen.

Zhang Yang watched the exchange of looks from those around him.

Feeling the ill-intentioned gazes from his surroundings, he also understood their thoughts.

However, Zhang Yang didn't care.

Even if he were still at the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level, he was confident he could send every enemy here out, one strike at a time.

Not to mention that Zhang Yang had already broken through to the Profound Core Realm.

"Dong!"

With the ring of the bell, the Top Sixteen elimination matches officially began.

"Senior and Junior Brothers! Eliminate Zhang Yang first! Only then will we have a chance to fight for the Top Sixteen! Kill!"

The instant it began, the sounds of battle erupted. Those around Zhang Yang let out a roar and then charged at him in unison.

Hearing this, the Disciples who hadn't yet reacted also instantly joined the fray, attacking Zhang Yang.