The Outer Sect Grand Elder stood at the front of the plaza, with the solemn-faced true disciple Xu Anlan by his side. Gathered on the plaza were a large number of outer sect disciples. The Grand Elder swept his gaze across the crowd, and seeing that the time was right, he announced in a clear voice: "This outer sect competition is presided over by me. First, let me address the rewards you care about most. As in previous years, those who make it into the top twenty will receive rewards. The top twenty will be awarded 100 sect contribution points. The top ten will receive 200 contribution points. The top three will receive 500 contribution points. Second place will be awarded 1,000 contribution points. First place will be awarded 3,000 contribution points."
As his words fell, the crowd erupted in uproar. All the disciples were shaken and extremely excited. Even the top three experts of the outer sect were no exception. After all, in previous competitions, the top twenty were lucky to get at most 50 contribution points. The first place never exceeded a thousand. But now, the rewards were at least doubled, and first place had tripled! How could they not be overjoyed? Even Chen Yuze, the top outer sect disciple who had already broken through to the Qi Transformation stage, was overjoyed. With another 3,000 contribution points coming in, he had definitely made the right choice by coming this time.
In the crowd, Lin Xuan's eyes flickered: "Contribution points?" He murmured to himself. He had some understanding of contribution points—they were essentially the currency circulating within Flowing Cloud Sect. They could be used to exchange for martial arts at the Martial Arts Pavilion or to purchase cultivation resources. With enough contribution points, one could even request personal guidance from an elder. In short, within Flowing Cloud Sect, aside from the major inheritances, you could buy almost anything you desired. The most direct example was that ten contribution points could be exchanged for one inferior-grade spirit stone, but not the other way around. That gave you an idea of their value. Still, he hadn't expected the competition to offer so many contribution points. If he could secure a top ranking, he would have enough resources to break through to the Qi Transformation stage. With that thought, he became even more focused on the competition.
"Silence!" The Grand Elder pressed his hands down, and a thunderous sound rang out, causing the disciples' blood and energy to churn. "So this is the might of a Spirit Opening realm expert?" Lin Xuan's eyes burned with fervor as he felt the pressure, his desire for martial arts growing even stronger. The crowd immediately fell silent. None of the disciples dared to make a move, looking up at the Grand Elder with reverence.
The Grand Elder continued: "Alright, now the competition begins. The first event is the Puppet Tower challenge. Follow me!" With that, he turned and walked out of the training ground. True disciple Xu Anlan walked alongside the Grand Elder, followed by the outer sect stewards. Behind them came the disciples. This was the tradition of past competitions: first, the Puppet Tower would eliminate most participants, narrowing it down to the top twenty, who would then face off in duels. The disciples were all accustomed to this.
The top ten outer sect disciples stood at the very front, followed by the older disciples. At the back were the weaker, less talented older disciples or new disciples who were just there to watch. This was an unspoken rule of the outer sect. But Lin Xuan walked straight forward, pushing his way to the front. The area where the top ten stood was very close to the Grand Elder and Xu Anlan—within ten meters. That was within his replication range. Lin Xuan wasn't about to miss such an opportunity.
His unusual behavior immediately drew the attention of many disciples. "Who is this guy? How dare he push forward? That spot is reserved for the outer sect experts!" "You don't even know him? Seriously, he's the top newcomer in potential, the recently famed outer sect genius Lin Xuan!" "If it's Lin Xuan, even if his cultivation isn't high, he should be qualified to stand at the front alongside the top ten, right?" "..." The disciples murmured among themselves, buzzing with noise.
Amid the chatter and stares, Lin Xuan quickly reached the front of the crowd, standing alongside the top ten. The top ten disciples frowned at the sudden addition. A few of them moved to drive him away. This was their domain, a symbol of their status. For an ordinary disciple to intrude was a provocation. How could they ignore it? But when their gazes fell on Lin Xuan, they froze, their movements halting. As the top ten, they were not only strong—most had reached the peak of the Qi Gathering stage—but also had followers who kept them informed. They knew the outer sect inside and out. They were well aware of Lin Xuan's sudden rise. His various displays had left them shocked and wary. Fortunately, Lin Xuan had only recently joined the sect. By the time he rose to prominence, they would have already entered the inner sect. They wouldn't be crushed by him. That thought eased their minds.
Now, seeing Lin Xuan charge to the front, the top ten exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do. In theory, Lin Xuan's current strength couldn't match theirs, so he didn't qualify to stand with them. But his talent was too high, too terrifying. If they drove him away, and he later rose to power seeking revenge, they would be in dire straits. Yet if they let a new disciple into their domain, it would damage their prestige and authority. Reluctantly, they turned to Chen Yuze, the top outer sect disciple. Chen Yuze nodded, signaling them not to act. The others relaxed. Since the boss had spoken, they didn't need to do anything. They would let Lin Xuan stay. They would ignore him, pretending not to see him. After all, though Lin Xuan was hailed as the outer sect's top genius, he wasn't their match yet. They wouldn't stoop to flattering him.
What they didn't know was that when their boss, Chen Yuze, glanced over, Lin Xuan happened to sense it and turned his head. Their eyes met, and Chen Yuze felt a tremor in his heart, as if Lin Xuan were a formidable enemy. That was why Chen Yuze dared not act, allowing Lin Xuan to stay at the front in the top ten's domain. But it was only a fleeting moment, and Chen Yuze wasn't sure if it was an illusion. Still, he couldn't help but feel a hint of wariness toward Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan, of course, had no idea that his push to the front had caused such a stir. Nor did he know that a single glance had intimidated Chen Yuze. He was also unaware of the various unspoken rules of the outer sect. But even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. This was a martial world where strength reigned supreme. What were unspoken rules? A single punch could break them. If anyone dared to stop him, he would make them taste his fists. Among the outer sect, aside from the top three experts, he was confident he could handle the rest of the top ten.
At that moment, Lin Xuan wasn't paying much attention to anything else. He didn't realize the commotion his presence in the top ten's domain had caused behind him. His eyes were fixed on the Grand Elder and true disciple Xu Anlan, who were less than ten meters away.