Chapter 85: Gathering of Heavenly Pride

## Chapter 85: Prodigies Gather

The next day, the Heng Yue Sect pulsed with a multitude of figures.

Today, the sect was exceptionally vibrant, for it was the eve of the outer sect grand competition.

At this moment, the outer sect disciples of Heng Yue were already converging in twos and threes towards a designated area. The grand competition required registration, and not all disciples would participate. Those with weak cultivation would wisely avoid stepping onto the stage only to suffer discomfort.

When Ye Chen arrived, a considerable crowd had already assembled. The constant stream of coming and going disciples left him somewhat dazed.

"This is the Qian Kun Pavilion?" Stroking his chin, Ye Chen couldn't help but gaze upwards.

The Qian Kun Pavilion was truly majestic. Atop its pinnacle, a Qian Kun treasure seal hung suspended, radiating a brilliant spiritual light.

"Truly magnificent," he sighed, then stepped inside.

His eyes immediately fell upon a battle platform spanning approximately a hundred zhang square. The open space surrounding it stretched several thousand zhang. The outer sect grand competitions of previous years were all held within this very arena.

"Heaven help me, may I not encounter any powerful opponents."

"I don't want to remain in the outer sect for another three years."

"God, please bless me!"

Along the way, Ye Chen overheard such fervent prayers. Each disciple, as if possessed, clasped their hands together in supplication.

Hmm?

Ye Chen's appearance instantly drew the gazes of passing disciples.

He was now a figure of considerable renown within Heng Yue, a probationer disciple who the three peaks had initially refused, yet who, in the span of mere months, had transformed into a dark horse known to all within the sect. It truly caused one to sigh endlessly.

"He must not encounter me."

"I also do not wish to face him."

"He is a monster. Anyone who meets him will face ill fortune."

Ye Chen paid no heed to the whispers around him, heading directly towards the main hall of the Qian Kun Pavilion.

Head-on, he encountered an old acquaintance. Looking closely, was it not Zhao Long from Di Yang Peak?

"Ye Chen!" Upon seeing Ye Chen, Zhao Long immediately gnashed his teeth.

Ye Chen simply ignored him, too lazy to engage with this fellow. Even when he was at the first layer of Qi Condensation, he had already defeated Zhao Long. Now, having reached the ninth layer, his cultivation far surpassed Zhao Long's. They were, indeed, no longer on the same level.

Being ignored by Ye Chen caused Zhao Long's teeth to grind with frustration, yet he was helpless. With more than half of the true disciples crippled, he no longer possessed the qualifications to compare himself to Ye Chen.

Ahead, the disciples queuing to register had very tacitly made way for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen naturally didn't stand on ceremony, stepping directly before a white-robed elder named Li Dao Tong.

"Elder, I wish to register," Ye Chen said, already presenting his identity token.

"You are Ye Chen?" Li Dao Tong glanced at the name on the token, couldn't help but size Ye Chen up and down, sighing, "Truly, talented people emerge in each generation!"

"The elder overpraises."

"Mm, work hard." Li Dao Tong smiled warmly, already etching Ye Chen's name onto a jade slip.

After registering, Ye Chen turned to leave, only to once again encounter many old acquaintances.

The disciples of Ren Yang Peak arrived in groups, led by that person named Jiang Hao. And on the other side, the disciples of Di Yang Peak also arrived, naturally led by that one in purple.

Indeed, enemies meet with particularly reddened eyes.

When the disciples of Ren Yang Peak and Di Yang Peak saw Ye Chen, their faces instantly darkened. In these past days, the disciples of their two peaks had completely lost face at Ye Chen's hands.

"Boy, you'd best pray you don't meet me, otherwise your death will be extremely unpleasant," Jiang Hao and Zi Shan stepped forward, both with a cold smile.

"Is this an intimidation?" Ye Chen met their gazes directly, his eyes deep and sharp.

The momentum within the three surged forth unbidden, climbing continuously, creating a posture of fighting on the spot.

"Truly lively, ah!" A playful, mocking laughter sounded. Yin Zhi Ping, lightly fanning himself with a folding fan, also walked in, coldly laughing at Ye Chen, his eyes still flashing with a cold light.

Ye Chen glanced at Yin Zhi Ping, the killing intent in his body forcibly suppressed.

That day in the Disciplinary Hall, he had heavily injured Zhang Feng Nian. He had always kept it deeply in his heart, secretly vowing that one day he would exterminate that vile wretch.

"Killing intent is too heavy. Even if you are strong, it will be difficult to achieve positive results." The moment this sentence was uttered, Ye Chen knew without looking who had arrived. Besides Su Xin Yue of Ren Yang Peak, who else would say such a thing?

Following closely, many more individuals arrived, mostly those who harbored grudges against Ye Chen.

Such a large group of people staring coldly at Ye Chen made his figure appear somewhat isolated.

"Are they going to fight here?" The surrounding disciples whispered.

"This is the Qian Kun Pavilion. Fighting here is courting death."

"What? Why are you all blocking the way?" Next, an impatient voice broke the oppressive atmosphere.

The one who arrived was a purple-clothed disciple carrying a purple-gold hammer, his physique uncommonly burly, his entire being exuding a hearty temperament.

His arrival caused the eyes of the surrounding disciples to brighten one after another.

"Mission Pavilion's chief disciple, Huo Teng." Immediately, someone recognized this person.

"I just said, today must be very lively." Following Huo Teng, another five figures appeared, causing the surrounding disciples' eyes to brighten once more.

"Spirit Tool Pavilion's chief disciple, Zhao Yan."

"Enforcement Hall's chief disciple, Xiao Jing."

"Spirit Fruit Garden's chief disciple, Wang Lin."

"Is that Book Collection Pavilion's chief disciple, Lu Xuan Er? She actually came too."

After these three, another graceful figure walked in. Looking carefully, it was precisely Qi Yue from the Spirit Pill Pavilion.

The top ten disciples of the outer sect, excluding the one from Tian Yang Peak, were all gathered. This caused the already lively Qian Kun Pavilion to become bustling with people. These prodigies, perhaps, would only gather together during the outer sect grand competition.

"No need to say, you are Ye Chen." Huo Teng of the Mission Pavilion was very familiar, his gaze already fixed on Ye Chen.

Similarly, the gazes of the others also converged.

When Ye Chen had arrived at the Heng Yue Sect, they were still in secluded cultivation. Only in the past two days had they emerged, hearing the name of Ye Chen the most. Now seeing the person himself, it still left everyone somewhat curious.

"I just said he's in the Qi Condensation realm! You still didn't believe it."

"Believe it now? Although he's in the Qi Condensation realm, his aura is not weak compared to ours at all!"

"This kid, he looks quite pleasing to the eye."

Several genius disciples each stroked their chins, looking at Ye Chen as if observing a monkey, making Ye Chen feel uncomfortable all over.

"Little junior brother, don't be afraid, senior brother has your back." Huo Teng boldly draped an arm around Ye Chen's neck, saying this and not forgetting to glance at Jiang Hao, Zi Shan, and Yin Zhi Ping. "Seeing these three goods just displeases me."

"What did you say?" The three's faces instantly darkened.

"I said, looking at you displeases me. What about it?"

"You..." Zi Shan was about to charge forward, but was stopped by Jiang Hao and Yin Zhi Ping.

"We will see on the battle platform," the three coldly snorted, each leading their respective junior brothers inside.

Tch.

Huo Teng didn't mind, then patted Ye Chen's small shoulder, grinning widely, his voice very rough. "Little junior brother, another day, find me for a drink."

"Let's go, let's go, stop dawdling," Xiao Jing urged everyone, also walking towards the main hall.

"Feeling the pressure?" After the others had left, Qi Yue stepped forward and softly asked.

"There's pressure, but not much," Ye Chen replied.

Indeed, since breaking through to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation a few days prior, he possessed absolute confidence in facing disciples of the True Yang realm and below. Although the top ten disciples of the outer sect were strong, they were all at the peak of the Human Yuan realm, entirely within his ability to handle.

"That's good," the usually cold Qi Yue rarely displayed a slight smile.

"Why don't I see the outer sect's top-ranked disciple?" Ye Chen asked Qi Yue doubtfully.

"Him, ah! Who knows where he's run off to drink again," Qi Yue shrugged, then walked away.

"Still has time to drink?" Ye Chen raised his eyebrows, then slowly lifted his foot to walk outside.

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