Is it too late for me to quit now?

After a moment of silence, the field suddenly erupted into an uproar.

"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?"

"Damn! This guy is looking for death. Has he always been this brave?"

"To dare provoke all of us, this little bastard is too arrogant!"

For a moment, all the Outer Sect Disciples participating in the Outer Sect Grand Competition were filled with righteous indignation, glaring over one after another. Some with explosive tempers even rolled up their sleeves and surrounded them.

"I'm definitely going to kill you today."

The fierce-looking young man also recovered from his astonishment, glared viciously at Qi Yuan and Lin Zhen, and immediately prepared to take action.

"What are you doing? Fighting is strictly prohibited before the Outer Sect Grand Competition begins. Violators will be disqualified immediately!"

Just then, a team of Internal Affairs Hall Disciples responsible for maintaining order hurried over, bringing the situation that was on the verge of spiraling out of control under control.

Seeing that they couldn't teach Qi Yuan a lesson, everyone could only temporarily suppress the fire in their hearts, staring hatefully at Qi Yuan and Lin Zhen, and threatened one after another:

"You'd better pray you don't run into me during the Outer Sect Grand Competition, otherwise... hmph, just you wait."

"That's right, count me in. If we don't eliminate these two smelly brats first, where will the face of us Outer Sect Disciples go?"

"And me! If I don't beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy, my name, Li Dali, will be read backwards!"

"No, buddy, your name read backwards is still Li Dali."

"Damn! Don't worry about those details. Anyway, my name is Li Dali, so what?"

...Hearing the curses coming from around him, Qi Yuan was not afraid at all. With a sneer on his lips, he said with a face full of disdain:

"If you want to target me, then you'd better work hard. I'm not afraid to tell you, I'm taking the first place in today's Outer Sect Grand Competition. Even the Dao Ancestor can't stop me, I said it!"

As soon as these words came out, they once again caused public outrage. Almost all the Outer Sect Disciples participating in the Outer Sect Grand Competition were exploding with anger, each one gnashing their teeth as if their Battle Intent had been ignited.

"This guy is simply too arrogant. We must teach him a lesson when the time comes."

"Damn it, I can't take it anymore. Even if I don't get a ranking this time, I'm going to make sure he's the first one eliminated!"

"Exactly, when the time comes, everyone should unite first to deal with this big-talking kid and see how he can act so smug."

...Seeing that his goal was achieved, Qi Yuan gave a faint smile and pulled Lin Zhen to quickly retreat.

The scene was too agitated; if they didn't leave, even the people from the Internal Affairs Hall might not be able to control the situation.

"Brother Lin, why is your face so pale?"

After leaving the crowd, Qi Yuan suddenly noticed Lin Zhen's abnormality and couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

Lin Zhen wanted to cry but had no tears, "Brother Qi, do you think it's too late for me to quit now?"

He was truly scared. He was currently only at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, and the reason he signed up for the Outer Sect Grand Competition was just to see the world.

Now, before the Outer Sect Grand Competition even started, he had offended all the participating Outer Sect Disciples. How was he supposed to play?

In the current situation, once the Outer Sect Grand Competition began, he would probably be ganged up on immediately. His survival was in doubt... "What's the panic?" Qi Yuan patted Lin Zhen's shoulder with a confident look, "Just follow me when the time comes, I guarantee nothing will happen."

Lin Zhen forced a smile and said:

"Forget it, I probably won't even pass the first round."

Qi Yuan didn't say much more. The reason he provoked the other competitors in the Outer Sect Grand Competition was to increase the difficulty for himself, so that the outcome of the Outer Sect Grand Competition would achieve the effect of 'shocking the audience.'

After all, the target of the bonus mission was [Shock the Audience, Claim First Place].

Given the System's nature of being lenient with itself but strict with others, the 'shocking the audience' in the mission goal was likely not an adjective, but a hard requirement!

Although a Utility Disciple winning the Outer Sect Grand Competition with a cultivation of the Fifth Level of Qi Refining was already shocking enough, the word 'shocking' was too subjective. It was hard to say how surprised one had to be to count as 'shocked.'

Moreover, Qi Yuan had once sent an Outer Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer flying with his Physical Body and fists in front of everyone, and had even received an entry evaluation of [Heart-Nature: Perfect]. Many people would subconsciously overestimate his strength.

If these people weren't shocked by him winning the first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition, wouldn't that be bad?

Since it concerned improving his Spiritual Root Aptitude, he was unwilling to bear even a hint of risk of mission failure!

In short, to make everyone shocked, he had to win first place in an even more soul-stirring way... Just as Qi Yuan's thoughts were turning, a burst of noise resounded across the square.

"Look, the Sect Head True Lord is here too!"

Along with this sound, the chaotic noise immediately ceased. Everyone looked up toward the distant horizon.

Soon, dozens of streaks of light swept across the sky, landing on the open space in front of the square in the blink of an eye. They were the many high-level members of Falling Cloud Valley.

Leading them was a refined middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe. His face was solemn and his aura powerful; he was the Sect Head of Falling Cloud Valley, Bai Qingwu.

However, a trace of decay lingered between the eyebrows of this valley master. Clearly, his previous attempt to Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Peak had failed.

"Elder Yang, let's begin."

Bai Qingwu looked around and then nodded to the Internal Affairs Hall Elder behind him.

"Yes."

Yang Xiude, the Internal Affairs Hall Elder responsible for this Outer Sect Grand Competition, nodded, then stepped forward slowly and said loudly:

"This year's Outer Sect Grand Competition officially begins now!"

The next moment, he rose into the air, and a pressure of the Golden Core Realm suddenly radiated out.

In an instant, all the Disciples participating in the Outer Sect Grand Competition felt a huge pressure attacking them. Their breathing immediately became rapid and they were panting, one after another circulating their True Qi to resist this pressure.

Qi Yuan perfunctorily squeezed out two beads of sweat on his forehead and then stood quietly, waiting for the screening of this first stage to end.

Lin Zhen, who was next to him, suddenly relaxed his expression, fell to the ground with a thud, and said sheepishly:

"Brother Qi, sorry, I... I really can't hold on anymore."

Qi Yuan knew that the other party was far from reaching his limit; such a performance could hardly be said to be unintentional.

Of course, with the character of this Child of Destiny, it definitely wasn't because he was a coward, but because he was afraid of dragging his friend down in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Qi Yuan didn't mind this. Instead, he nodded slightly and said:

"Go and rest. Remember to bet on me winning in the Outer Sect Grand Competition betting pool later."

Lin Zhen: "..."

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

...Soon, more and more people could not hold on and collapsed on the ground, some even fainting on the spot.

Finally, after a full half-stick of incense's time, Yang Xiude withdrew the pressure, his gaze sweeping over the remaining Disciples, and he said in a deep voice:

"Everyone who fell to the ground just now is disqualified. Only those standing are eligible to participate in the subsequent Outer Sect Grand Competition."

Hearing this, many people gasped. This meant that at least half of the people were out before even touching the competition grounds.