Chapter 374 - Swift Blade Lin Qi

“That’s right, it is a Paramita Divine Flower.” Wei Buyu said, “As for its origin, it's not something you need to worry about. My question is simple: do you dare to wager against me using this flower? The bet is whether Chen Fan can secure a spot in the top three!”

“Count me in!” exclaimed a grand elder from the Floating Cloud Sword Sect, promptly taking out a precious treasure.

“I’ll bet as well," Fengyunzi chimed in, eyeing the Paramita Divine Flower with a hint of greed. "I'll put forth the Wind and Cloud Banner as my stake..."

"I'm game too," added several elders in succession, all eager to claim Wei Buyu's flower.

After all, that flower was an unparalleled treasure. It could help experts strengthen their divine souls and increase their chances of advancing to the Divine Nascent realm. One could only imagine how attractive it was to these Core Formation realm grand elders.

Were it not in Wei Buyu's possession, some might have resorted to outright force to obtain it.

Who among them did not wish to break through to the Divine Nascent realm?

However, reaching the Divine Nascent realm was too difficult. Without a strong enough divine soul, they might even perish while trying to break through.

However, with this Paramita Divine Flower to strengthen their divine souls and give birth to a divine nascent, their chances of breaking through to the next realm would increase by thirty to forty percent. It was simply an item to die for.

“Very well! With so many people present here today, I’m sure none of you will renege on your bets. Let’s wait and see.” Wei Buyu’s expression changed subtly, and he sat down in the space. His expression didn’t change as he continued to watch the ongoing battles.

Chen Fan knew nothing about the bet, and he focused wholeheartedly on the battles.

He sent a Mountain River Sect disciple flying with a palm strike, making them spew a large mouthful of fresh blood and defeating another in one move.

Pfft!

Dong Wanshan, a Floating Cloud Sword Sect disciple at the fifth level, trained extensively in the outside world. He rarely returned to the sect and had yet to get promoted to being a core disciple. He, too, found himself bested by Chen Fan's palm strike and promptly conceded defeat.

Dong!

Next, Cheng Yi, a Spring Autumn Sect disciple at the fifth level and an alliance member, threatened Chen Fan as soon as he entered the stage. He demanded that Chen Fan surrender or the Heaven’s Alliance wouldn’t let him off.

“Hoho, you seem a bit ignorant. Have you heard about the guy who injured Zhang Tao with a slash? You likely don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t have made a fuss in front of me.” Chen Fan laughed coldly.

“What?!” Cheng Yi’s expression changed drastically.

Chen Fan did not waste any time talking. He flicked his finger, sending out a wisp of sword qi that swiftly destroyed Cheng Yi’s protective primeval force. Next, it rushed into Cheng Yi, cutting and twisting his meridians. He collapsed onto the stage, writhing in agony before being carried away.

As the rounds of the competition continued, day turned into night.

The inner sect disciples from the four major sects engaged in fierce battles across the central battlefield. Victories and eliminations unfolded with each passing moment.

Chen Fan even witnessed many miracles.

Some inner court disciples—Qi Grandmasters—displayed remarkable prowess, defeating Yuanfu realm experts at the first level consecutively. They made a big splash and progressed through the rounds—a series of occurrences akin to miracles.

These people were all dazzling stars, shining brightly.

Some top experts cruised through the competition the whole way, which was considered normal.

During the battles, Mu Chen and Lu Yun were eliminated early on after surviving just two rounds, becoming mere spectators of this grand event. They could only watch as the geniuses made it through the rounds with envy.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Meanwhile, Chen Fan had yet to encounter anyone who could withstand more than a single move from him. Some of them failed to even see him making his move.

A messenger entered the stands reserved for the higher-ups with urgent news.

“Reporting! Chen Fan has progressed to fighting core disciples. He just made a core disciple at the eighth level faint with a palm strike. His strength is at the ninth level.”

Following Wei Buyu's earlier disruption, the attention of nearly every elder from the four major sects remained fixed on Chen Fan.

Chen Muyang, Fengyunzi, and the others’ expressions grew increasingly uglier as the battles progressed.

Throughout the day and night of competition, Chen Fan faced numerous adversaries. Yet regardless of their strength, he defeated them with a single blow.

“Chen Fan’s cultivation is really at the ninth level!”

“Looks like only Yuanfu experts at the ninth level can deal with him.”

“That’s just as well. He will fight core disciples now. It’s time for him to show his true strength.”

The elders of the four great sects were all paying attention to Chen Fan’s battles, secretly surprised.

“Hoho, Wi Buyu, that good disciple of yours has indeed made his way into the core disciples' battles. Let's see how much further he can go. Don’t be too reluctant to take out your Paramita Divine Flower when the time comes,” Fengyunzi said, chuckling.

Wei Buyu glanced at Fengyunzi and said, “Just keep your eyes wide open and watch, Fengyunzi. Don’t be too sad when your Wind and Cloud Banner becomes mine.”

"Look, Chen Fan's next opponent is Swift Blade Lin Qi!" someone exclaimed, drawing attention.

Apart from the grand elders, even some organizational forces of the four great sects began discussing among themselves.

“Swift Blade Lin Qi is at the ninth level, and his blade art is as fast as lightning. Often, his blade strikes its target before they can even react. Chen Fan might be in for a defeat.”

“That’s right. Lin Qi should be able to stop Chen Fan’s winning streak.”

“Hoho, Swift Blade Lin Qi is a member of Heaven’s Alliance. This time, not only is Chen Fan going to lose, he might even die. Surrender probably won’t even be an option for him.”

The martial arts competition went on for a day and night, spanning tens of rounds of battles. A huge number of disciples were eliminated during this process. It was inevitable that some of them suffered heavy injuries due to carelessness or even lost their lives.

Now, the disciples still in the competition were the core disciples of the four sects. Every one of them had high cultivation levels, possessing ultimate skills and having stumbled upon fortuitous encounters. They could skip ranks and challenge those with a higher cultivation level, being experts who could fight one against many.

Chen Fan leaped into the arena, and Lin Qi appeared opposite him.

Lin Qi had a very normal appearance, the kind that no one would notice in a crowd.

However, he stood there, with blade qi whistling and sweeping around him, cutting through space, emanating a powerful and incredibly oppressive pressure.

“Hmph!” Lin Qi directly snorted coldly, not concealing the icy killing intent in his eyes at all. “Chen Fan, you shall meet your end in this round! How dare you steal Senior Brother Duan Jingtian’s Fountain of Life. And don’t you dare make any excuses! If I say that you stole it, then you did it. Today, you’re destined to die under my blade!”