24: Chapter 24: The Grand Competition Begins, First Battle a Success

Early the next morning, the Outer Sect Square was already a sea of people.

Thousands of Outer Sect Disciples packed the area around the ten bluestone arenas in the center, and the air was filled with a sense of tension, excitement, and the faint smell of gunpowder.

On the high viewing platform, some of the Sect's Deacons and Elders were already seated, their scrutinizing gazes sweeping over the young Disciples below, hoping to discover a few good prospects among them.

Tang Xun mingled with the crowd, looking like a bumpkin who had never seen the world, curiously looking around and letting out exclamations of "Wow" and "Whoa," perfectly blending into the ranks of the spectating crowd.

"This spectacle is much livelier than the New Year's markets in our village," he grumbled silently to himself.

Soon, the Deacon in charge of hosting the Great Competition stepped onto the high platform and announced the rules.

The rules were simple: draw lots for battles, single-match elimination, until the final first place was decided.

The rewards were also very generous. The top sixty-four would receive contribution points and Medicinal Pill rewards, and the top ten could even obtain high-grade Magical Artifacts and the opportunity to enter the Sect's Scripture Pavilion to select a Cultivation Technique.

And the reward for first place was a supreme treasure that countless Qi Refinement Stage Disciples dreamed of—a foundation establishment pill!

When the words "foundation establishment pill" came out of the Deacon's mouth, the entire venue instantly boiled over!

The eyes of all the Disciples turned red, and their breathing became heavy.

A foundation establishment pill was the key to a higher Realm! A single foundation establishment pill was enough to increase the success rate of a Qi Refinement Cultivator's Foundation Establishment by thirty percent out of thin air!

"A foundation establishment pill... It seems the Sect has really invested heavily this time." Tang Xun licked his lips, his heart also burning with excitement.

Although he had the simulator and Foundation Establishment was only a matter of time, who would complain about their path being a bit smoother?

This foundation establishment pill, he was determined to get it!

The drawing of lots soon began, and each person's identity token displayed their battle information.

Tang Xun glanced at his token.

"First round, Arena Three, Tang Xun versus Wang Mang."

Wang Mang? That name sounded quite reckless.

He slowly squeezed out of the crowd and walked toward Arena Three. Along the way, many people were pointing and whispering about him.

"Look, it's that newcomer Tang Xun! I heard he's a Body Cultivator, very fierce!"

"Fierce my foot, isn't he just at the First Layer of Qi Refining? His opponent is Wang Mang, Third Layer of Qi Refining, whose 'Flame Blade' is used with perfection. This kid is going to be unlucky."

"There's a good show to watch. Let's see if the Body Refining technique is harder, or if Wang Mang's Flame Blade is sharper!"

Tang Xun turned a deaf ear to these discussions. He was currently pondering how to act in the first match.

"Hmm... surrendering directly is too fake; people will say I'm a coward. Winning doesn't fit my persona. It's best... to let the opponent have a little accident on his own."

Thinking this, he stepped onto the arena.

His opponent, Wang Mang, was already waiting there early.

He was a burly man with a face full of scars, looking at Tang Xun with a gaze full of disdain and cruelty.

"Kid, I heard you're quite a fighter?" Wang Mang clenched his fists, his knuckles making a crisp cracking sound. "Perfect, I love crushing tough bones the most! I advise you to kneel down and kowtow in surrender now, otherwise, don't blame me for not warning you when you end up with broken arms and legs later!"

Tang Xun still wore that same kind smile as he cupped his hands toward him. "Senior Brother Wang, please give me some guidance."

As he spoke, he silently activated the [Crows Mouth] trait in his mind.

"Sigh, this Senior Brother Wang looks radiant, but his forehead is a bit dark. He definitely didn't sleep well last night. I hope he doesn't suffer a Qi blockage during the match today, or it'll be a huge joke."

With the Deacon referee's shout of "Begin," Wang Mang immediately roared and charged toward Tang Xun.

His whole body surged with spiritual energy, and he merged his right hand into a palm-blade. A burst of crimson flame instantly ignited at the edge of his palm, turning into a half-foot-long Flame Blade that brought a scorching wave of air as it slashed fiercely toward Tang Xun's head!

This move was powerful and extremely fast, causing the audience below the stage to let out a burst of gasps.

However, just as the Flame Blade was about to strike Tang Xun, a sudden change occurred!

Wang Mang's forward-charging body suddenly froze without any warning.

The expression on his face instantly distorted, turning from ferocious to painful, and the veins on his forehead bulged as if something inside his body was turning upside down.

"Ugh..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only let out a pained syllable.

Then, under the dumbfounded gaze of everyone, the Flame Blade in his hand extinguished with a "poof," and he fell straight backward, crashing to the ground, twitching all over and foaming at the mouth.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned.

What was going on?

He fell down before even hitting the person?

Was this some new kind of insurance scam technique?

Tang Xun on the arena also "froze." He blinked, looking at the twitching Wang Mang on the ground, his face showing a "bewildered" and "innocent" expression.

"Senior... Senior Brother Wang? What's wrong? Don't scare me!" He cautiously approached and gave Wang Mang a little kick.

Wang Mang was still twitching, having completely lost consciousness.

The Deacon referee was also completely dazed. He had lived for so many years and hosted so many Great Competitions, but he had never seen such an absurd scene.

He hurriedly jumped onto the arena, checked Wang Mang's condition, and then his expression became strange.

"Spiritual energy blockage, Qi Deviation... fortunately it's not serious, he just temporarily fainted."

The Deacon announced the results of the check and then looked at Tang Xun with a gaze as if he were looking at a monster.

This kid... what kind of luck does he have?

His opponent actually practiced himself into a wreck?

He cleared his throat, suppressing the sense of absurdity in his heart, and announced loudly: "In this match, Wang Mang is unable to continue due to personal reasons. Tang Xun wins!"

Whoosh—!

The crowd below instantly erupted!

"Holy crap! That works? He defeated himself?"

"Is this Tang Xun some kind of chosen one? He won just by standing still?"

"This luck is too Heaven-Defying! Even winning the lottery isn't this ridiculous!"

"I feel like... it's a bit fake. Did Wang Mang take money to put on an act?"

Various discussions rose and fell, but most people were still inclined to believe that Tang Xun had run into Heaven-Defying dumb luck.

Tang Xun climbed up from the ground, patted the dust off his clothes, and looked at the back of the already carried-away Wang Mang, revealing a "lucky" and "lingering fear" honest smile.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wang... for letting me win."

After saying that, he limped down from the arena under the gazes of the entire crowd, which were mixed with envy, jealousy, and mockery.

He kept his head down, his shoulders twitching slightly, looking as if he were feeling embarrassed by his "lucky win."

But in reality, his heart was already blooming with joy.

"[Crows Mouth] is awesome! The first time I use it, the effect is so good! This is simply a must-have divine skill for home travel, killing, and looting!"

He successfully won the first match in the most bizarre and most memorable way.

From today on, the name "Tang Xun" would have a brand new label added after words like "trash" and "reckless" in the Outer Sect—the "King of Dumb Luck."

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

No one would truly care about a "trash" who advanced by luck.

Contentedly, he found a corner and continued to be a spectator, watching the matches in other arenas with great interest.

Just then, he felt a cold gaze land on him.

He turned his head and happened to meet Su Qinghan's gaze.

She was standing under another arena not far away, her white clothes as pure as snow, cold and clear like the moon. She had also just finished her first match; her opponent had surrendered voluntarily before even forcing her to draw her sword.

Her gaze stayed on Tang Xun for about two seconds, with a hint of... confusion in her eyes.

She seemed to be wondering how this Mortal, who had been bullied in the Laborer Courtyard back then with no power to fight back, could appear here and even win a match in such a ridiculous way.

Tang Xun grinned at her, showing a row of big white teeth.

Su Qinghan's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and then she looked away, as if looking at him for one more second was a waste of time.

Tang Xun didn't mind; instead, he felt it was even more interesting.

"An iceberg beauty, huh? Just wait, one day, I'll make you shocked for me, moved by me, for me... Forget it, just being shocked is enough; being moved is too cheesy."

He hummed a little tune, waiting for the next round of lot-drawing in a happy mood.