33: Chapter 33 Preliminary Round

Upon hearing the voice of the First Senior Sister, Cao Yang walked out of his room, while the four maidservants vanished into the Void Realm.

After leaving their rooms, many Disciples emerged one after another, heading toward the main gate of the courtyard.

After greeting his Senior Sisters and his Revered Master, Cao Yang followed them toward the gate.

The Sect Master and several Elders were already there, along with most of the Disciples. Once everyone had arrived, under the leadership of Sect Master Mo Nantian, they set off with the other two factions from the Northern Province toward the competition grounds of the Xingyun Sect.

After Mo Nantian and his group arrived at the competition grounds, the three Sect Masters headed to the seats on the stage, while the Elders led Cao Yang and the others toward the center of the venue, which was already crowded with people from many Sects.

There were competing Disciples and Elders from the Central Province Sects, including those from the Xingyun Sect, Xianlin Pavilion, and Falling Flower Valley; there were also Sects led by the Seven Kill Sect from the Southern Province, as well as Disciples and Elders from the Desolate City of the Eastern Province.

These Cultivators were all wearing distinct Sect uniforms, except for those from Xianlin Pavilion, who dressed casually and lacked a unified uniform.

Led by the Elders, Cao Yang and the others walked into their designated spots in the competition venue.

On the stage, sitting in the very center was the Sect Master of the Xingyun Sect, Hu Wanqing, an elderly man with graying beard and hair, possessing a cultivation of Mahayana Peak.

To his left and right were the Valley Revered Master of Falling Flower Valley, Liu Caiyi, and the Pavilion Revered Master of Xianlin Pavilion, Xiao Yibai—a beautiful middle-aged woman in a lace dress and a stout, middle-aged man in brocade robes, respectively—both possessing a cultivation of Mahayana Late Stage.

To the left of the three sat the Elders of the three Sects; there were twelve of them, all with cultivation levels above Undergoing Tribulation. To the right were the Sect Masters from the other three provinces; a few were at the Undergoing Tribulation stage, but most were at the Body Integration Peak, also totaling twelve.

An Elder from the Xingyun Sect walked out onto the stage and waved his hand to signal silence to the Disciples and Elders below.

Once the venue quieted down, he spoke loudly: "Today, the preliminary round of the Exchange Friendship Competition officially begins. Elders of each Sect and the deacons of this Sect, please take the Disciples below the Soul Transformation Realm to the competition platforms on the right to determine the top ten Disciples of each Realm. Disciples in the Soul Transformation Realm will compete on the left side, where the top ten will also be determined, and I will personally preside over that."

The various Elders and Disciples headed to their respective competition areas.

Cao Yang and his three Senior Sisters headed toward the competition platforms on the left.

Fourth Senior Sister Fu Xiaoya went to the Golden Core competition area, while Third Senior Sister Hua Xinyu went to the Nascent Soul competition area.

The competition platforms here were not much different from those at the Moyang Sword Sect, only larger, with stronger barrier Formations; the rings could withstand attacks from the Body Integration Peak.

The surroundings were also crowded with Xingyun Sect Disciples, along with a few outsiders dressed in miscellaneous attire.

The number of participating Disciples in the Soul Transformation competition area was not large, only two hundred, most of whom were Disciples from local Central Province factions.

Cao Yang quickly drew his number; surprisingly, it was number 2, while the three Senior Sisters all drew numbers in the one-hundreds.

"Two Junior Sisters, have you also broken through to the Soul Transformation Realm?"

After drawing lots, Mu Wanying looked at the two Junior Sisters in disbelief. She had thought they only came along to watch the Soul Transformation competition area.

"Yes, Junior Brother helped us, that's how we broke through. Now, both I and the Fifth are Void Refining Cultivators!" Su Xuan replied with a giggle.

"How is this possible?" Mu Wanying looked at Xiao Lingxue in disbelief.

Xiao Lingxue nodded with a smile, "Second Senior Sister is right."

Only when she sensed the aura emanating from the two women did Mu Wanying truly believe this unrealistic fact.

Now, she was becoming increasingly curious about this new Junior Brother.

Seeing that the participating Disciples had finished drawing lots, the gray-robed Elder stood up, stated some competition rules, and then said, "Now, please have number 1 and number 2 come on stage to compete."

Cao Yang was in no hurry to go on stage; he wanted to see who his opponent was, who was so unlucky as to be eliminated in the first round. Although, there would be opportunities to challenge for the top ten later.

Just as the Elder finished speaking, a handsome youth in fluttering white robes flew out from the crowd. The youth had sharp features; he was a beautiful boy, and although not quite up to his own standards, he was comparable to how he was before he started cultivating.

The First Senior Sister hurriedly introduced him, "He is Hu Jiutian, the Young Lord of the Xingyun Sect. I heard he possesses the Wind Spirit Immortal Body; you must be careful, his speed is very fast."

Under normal circumstances, with Cao Yang's Soul Transformation Middle Stage cultivation, he definitely wouldn't be able to defeat Hu Jiutian. However, she had a feeling that Cao Yang would win; after all, there were too many miraculous things about Cao Yang, and he could not be judged by conventional logic.

"Alright, First Senior Sister, I understand." Cao Yang didn't mind. If the opponent were stronger in other areas, he might last a few more moves against him, but if he wanted to rely on speed, well, he would have to apologize, for he had cultivated the Immortal Stealth Technique.

Seeing that the second person had yet to come on stage, the Elder on the stage frowned and said, "Where is Disciple number 2? If no one comes on stage within ten breaths, it will be counted as forfeiting the match, an automatic concession."

Cao Yang flew toward the competition platform. The Elder said, "The match begins."

The two bowed slightly to each other and began to take out their Magic Treasures. Hu Jiutian took out a Nine-Feather Fan, a High Grade Magic Treasure.

Hu Jiutian quickly swung his fan toward Cao Yang, and nine streaks of spiritual light shot rapidly toward where Cao Yang was standing. Each streak of light possessed the power of the Void Refining Early Stage, causing the air to explode with sound.

Besides that, Hu Jiutian himself vanished from his spot and appeared on Cao Yang's left, quickly swinging his fan to attack Cao Yang's neck, leaving behind many lingering afterimages in the air.

"Such fast speed, truly worthy of the Wind Spirit Immortal Body. This Fellow Daoist is unlucky to encounter Hu Jiutian in the first round; he is the number one Genius of the Xingyun Sect."

People below the stage were already whispering that Cao Yang was doomed to lose.

Mu Wanying was also full of nervousness. Although she believed in Cao Yang, the difference in cultivation Realm was there, so she couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Most people also felt that Cao Yang was sure to lose.

Among them, Su Xuan and Xiao Lingxue remained calm.

Cao Yang also took out his Gale Sword and swung it forward. The sword light collided with the attack from the spiritual fan in front of him, canceling each other out in the air.

At the same time, Cao Yang extended one hand to the left, and with two fingers, pinched the incoming fan.

When the crowd below saw clearly, they exclaimed, "What? He caught the attack of a Magic Treasure with his bare hands! What a powerful Physical Body!"

"Hiss, this Physical Body is terrifying..."

Exclamations were everywhere below the stage, and discussions were buzzing.

First Senior Sister Mu Wanying's eyes were also shining, "As expected of Junior Brother, truly extraordinary."

On the competition platform, Hu Jiutian was also shocked. From the beginning, he had sensed that Cao Yang gave him an invisible pressure, like an insurmountable mountain.

That was why he had struck first and used his full strength from the start.

He hadn't underestimated him because of his lower cultivation Realm, but he hadn't expected the opponent to be so strong.

He not only dispersed his Void Refining strength attack but also caught his Magic Treasure, the spiritual fan, with his bare hands.

Hu Jiutian tried to pull out his fan, but even using his full strength, he couldn't move it even a little bit.

Helplessly, he said, "Fellow Daoist, I concede. May I ask which Sect you are a Prodigy of?"

Originally, he had no interest in knowing his opponent's Sect or name during the preliminary round; after all, in previous times, he would only encounter real opponents in the finals.

Cao Yang replied with a smile, "I accept the concession. I am Cao Yang from the Moyang Sword Sect."

At the same time, he released the fan he was holding and returned the bow.

"Fellow Daoist is too modest. I am Hu Jiutian, Young Lord of the Xingyun Sect. It is a pleasure to meet Brother Cao; if you are free, I invite Brother Cao for a drink." Hu Jiutian smiled faintly and also bowed in return.

"Good, then thank you in advance, Brother Hu."

The presiding Elder stepped forward and announced, "Number 2 wins!"

The Elder looked at Cao Yang with an expression of admiration; just a moment ago, he had almost suspected that Cao Yang was a Vicious Beast cub.

The two flew off the stage and returned to their respective teams.