Cultivation starts from simplifying the exercises

Chapter 2217 Chaotic Showdown

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruxu's delicate body trembled slightly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to comfort him, but found that her throat seemed to be blocked by something, and she couldn't utter a single word.

She knew what Xu Ziqian was referring to.

She had heard of Chen Fei's secret technique of integrating celestial and divine status into the Dao domain, and she knew its dangers. Xu Ziqian also knew of this secret technique, and with his aptitude and perseverance, he might even be able to cultivate it.

But he did not choose that path.

Was it because he was afraid? No, Xu Ziqian was by no means a coward.

He dared to fight three half-step Heavenly Lords in succession despite his severe injuries, demonstrating a mental fortitude far exceeding that of ordinary people.

He didn't choose this path, perhaps because his path differed from Chen Fei's. His path was a combination of the Divine General Body and the Broken Army, a direct crushing force, a way to prove his path through power.

Chen Fei's path is more unpredictable and more dangerous.

But at this moment, looking at Chen Fei, who shone brightly in the Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects and even surpassed all his fellow disciples of Dan Chen Sect, Xu Ziqian couldn't help but feel a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

There was resentment, disappointment, and a hint of admiration that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

Liu Ruxu was silent for a moment, then finally spoke slowly, her voice soft:

“Ziqian, I used to really dislike Chen Fei. Because he caused you so much pain and embarrassment, I even hoped that he would be completely defeated in the competition.”

Xu Ziqian turned his head slightly to look at her.

Liu Ruxu met his gaze without looking away: "But today, watching him defeat Yu Jinsheng, defeat Zhang Jianzhou, and step by step reach the top 20, I suddenly felt that I didn't dislike him as much anymore. In fact, I even admired him a little."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts: "He got to where he is today not because of luck or scheming, but because of real strength and the determination to risk everything."

The path he walked was more dangerous and more difficult than any of ours. Yet he walked it with such determination and composure.

She gently squeezed Xu Ziqian's hand, looked into his dim eyes, and said earnestly, "Ziqian, you are also very strong. You fought against three half-step Heavenly Monarchs while severely injured, and you also won everyone's respect."

You and Chen Fei have simply chosen different paths. I believe that once you recover, you will become even stronger. Then, a fair fight with him wouldn't be out of the question.

Looking at Liu Ruxu's earnest face and feeling the warmth from her palm, Xu Ziqian felt the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipate somewhat.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Outside another quiet room in the Danchen Sect's residence.

Elder Zhang Duchuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the quiet room where Chen Fei was, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He originally intended to summon Chen Fei to inquire about his physical condition and the specifics of the secret technique, to see if he could offer any help or advice.

But in the end, he didn't ask.

Ultimately, the path one chooses is one's own.

Since Chen Fei has chosen this most arduous path, he must have already been prepared for it.

As an elder, he can provide protection and resources, but he cannot walk this path for him. Excessive interference may disturb his peace of mind and affect his judgment.

Zhang Duchuan sighed inwardly. If Chen Fei's Dao Domain were to shatter during the battle tomorrow, causing his Heavenly Rank to collapse and his cultivation level to drop, then Danchen Sect would definitely provide Chen Fei with a suitable Rank Spiritual Material to help him rebuild his cultivation and return to the peak of the Tai Cang Realm.

The Dan Chen Sect would never bury such a prodigy with unlimited potential.

That night, even the gods couldn't sleep.

Countless people recalled the spectacular battles of the day, speculating about the outcome of tomorrow's final showdown.

Chen Fei sat cross-legged in the quiet room, slowly circulating the three internal cultivation techniques within his body, absorbing the vital energy of heaven and earth.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds and illuminated the ancient capital, a magnificent bell tolled, resounding throughout the heavens and earth.

The grand competition of ten thousand sects has finally arrived.

Above the capital, the nine enormous martial arts arenas began to slowly move closer and eventually merge.

Amidst a deafening roar and dazzling light, the nine training grounds merged into one, transforming into a single training ground larger than any of the previous ones.

This martial arts arena, suspended directly above the capital, resembles a divine arena, overlooking the masses below.

In front of the quiet room at the deepest part of the Dan Chen Sect's residence, the air was so still that it seemed as if water droplets could condense, yet there was also a faint sense of oppression and heat before a volcanic eruption.

Cao Feiyu held Chen Fei's hand tightly, her fingertips icy cold.

She looked up, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, reflecting Chen Fei's calm face, filled with unspeakable worry and longing.

Today is the day of the final battle.

The top five in the Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects will be determined, and they will receive the seventeenth-grade low-rank spiritual material that can change one's path to immortality and drive countless cultivators mad.

The competition will be far more intense than ever before.

Cao Feiyu understood Chen Fei's desire for that spiritual material. She knew that at this point, Chen Fei would never give up, even if the road ahead was an endless abyss, he would step into it without hesitation.

"careful!"

Her voice was soft, a thousand words stuck in her chest, but in the end, they all turned into this simplest piece of advice.

Chen Fei could clearly feel the coldness and trembling of her palms, and could read the worry that was almost overflowing in her eyes.

Chen Fei smiled slightly, took her cold little hand in his, and warmed it little by little with the warmth of his palm.

"Boom!"

A bell, seemingly from beyond the heavens, suddenly rang out again.

The sound waves, like a tangible tide, instantly swept across the entire capital, dispelling the last wisp of morning mist and completely awakening this sleeping megacity.

As the sound of the bell resounded throughout the heavens and earth, the thick array light screen surrounding the martial arts arena, which was suspended above the capital, began to slowly become transparent and fade, eventually rippling out like water.

"It's open, the training ground is open."

"Quick, hurry up and get a good spot."

"This day will surely be recorded in history; we must not miss it."

In an instant, countless streaks of light of various colors shot up from the ground, from pavilions, from mansions, and from sect headquarters, tearing through the sky and surging wildly toward the suspended martial arts arena.

When all the cultivators came to pay homage, the entire sky was covered with countless streams of light, creating an extremely spectacular scene.

Everyone wanted to be there in person to witness this grand event and see for themselves who would ultimately claim the glory and the ownership of the seventeenth-tier lower-grade spiritual material.

Today is destined to be the most intense, dazzling, and cruel day of the Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects.

At the Dan Chen Sect's headquarters, Chen Fei grasped Cao Feiyu's wrist and whispered, "Let's go."

Before Cao Feiyu could react, she felt a gentle force lift her up.

Chen Fei moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of bluish-gray light, carrying Cao Feiyu steadily into the sky, finally landing at the edge of the massive martial arts arena.

Just as everyone had settled down and the commotion subsided slightly, a voice, seemingly imbued with the will of heaven and earth, slowly resounded from the heavens above, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present:

"The rules for the Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects are hereby announced."

The sound wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced all the noise, plunging the entire training ground into complete stillness. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the final competition format.

"The first round is a top 20 to top 10 competition. It will still be a one-on-one duel, with opponents determined by drawing lots. The winners will advance to the top 10, and the losers will be eliminated in the top 20."

Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly. This was no different from the previous competition format, which tested both hard skills and performance on the spot. Of course, there was also an element of luck in the draw.

"After the top ten are determined, the top ten geniuses in the second round will no longer face off one-on-one."

There was a pause, as if giving everyone time to process the information, before the voice announced clearly, word by word:

"The top ten will all enter the Blazing Sun World."

The World of Blazing Suns? Many people looked puzzled, clearly unfamiliar with the name.

"Once ten people enter, there is only one rule: no-order duels."

"No arena, no restrictions on methods, regardless of alliances, concealment, or ambush, all methods are permitted."

"The last one remaining in the Blazing Sun World will be the champion of this year's Grand Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects."

"Whoosh!"

The moment the rules were announced, the entire capital city was engulfed in a tsunami-like uproar and commotion.

Chaotic Showdown!

"A chaotic duel? What kind of rule is that?"

"A free-for-all among the top ten? Good heavens, wouldn't that be utter chaos?"

"This is unfair. If the strong are surrounded by multiple opponents or ambushed, wouldn't they be eliminated early?"

"Yes, and if one has strong concealment techniques, wouldn't they be able to hide forever and survive until the very end?"

"I think this rule is very good. On the path of cultivation, competing for opportunities is not a martial arts contest in the arena."

While strength is important, luck, strategy, decisiveness, and even the choice of allies are crucial. This seemingly chaotic confrontation is actually closer to the true, brutal competition.

"That's right. Who among those who makes it to the top ten doesn't have some means of survival and concealment? It all comes down to who can adapt to this chaotic environment better and seize the opportunity better."

"This is getting interesting. I originally thought the top ten would be decided by head-on competition, but now there are too many variables."

"Haha, I like this rule. It's definitely more exciting than playing one match at a time."

"Chen Fei, now Chen Fei has a chance."

The discussion erupted like boiling water in the crowd. Supporters and opponents argued endlessly, each sticking to their own arguments. But regardless, the rules were set and could not be changed.

This chaotic competition undoubtedly elevates the elements of luck and strategy to an unprecedented level.

In the vast universe, strength is certainly fundamental, but factors such as how to avoid risks, how to choose opponents, when to strike, when to hide, and even whether to find temporary allies can all determine one's final ranking.

Furthermore, if one's concealment skills are skillful enough and one's temperament is patient enough, hiding until the very end is not impossible to obtain a good ranking, or even that precious seventeenth-grade low-rank spiritual material.

Many people subconsciously turned their attention to those prodigies who were known for their stealth, ambush, or special survival skills.

Of course, many more people turned their complicated and unspoken gazes to Chen Fei, the only one still standing among the top twenty at the peak of the Tai Cang Realm.

"Has Chen Fei's opportunity arrived, or is the risk greater?"

"It's hard to say. His Dao Domain attack is powerful, but it makes him an easy target. In the chaotic interdimensional battle, he could easily become the target of everyone's attacks."

"But if he's lucky, he can find a place to hide in the Fiery Sun World. With the defensive and concealment characteristics of his Dao Domain, he might actually be able to sneak into a decent ranking."

"Top five? You mean he has a chance to get into the top five and obtain a 17th-grade low-level spiritual material?"

"Why is it impossible? The strength he's showing now is definitely top ten. Once he's in the top ten, in a chaotic battle where luck plays a big role, he might have a chance."

"But don't forget how dangerous his secret technique is. In the extreme environment of the Blazing Sun World, he also has to be constantly on guard against sneak attacks. How long can he maintain his Dao Domain? What if the Dao Domain is forced to manifest or is damaged..."

"Yes, there are risks and opportunities. But in any case, this rule doesn't seem to be all bad for him."

Countless gazes fell upon Chen Fei, filled with scrutiny, speculation, curiosity, and even a hint of schadenfreude.

In most people's eyes, although Chen Fei's strength was recognized by defeating Yu Jinsheng, the drawbacks of his secret technique of integrating his innate status into the Dao Domain were too obvious.

In a one-on-one arena, he might be able to win by sheer power. But in a chaotic and unpredictable world where he might face a series of attacks or sneak attacks, his weaknesses could be magnified infinitely.

Conversely, if he can maintain his composure, make good use of the rules, and utilize his potential for concealment, he might just be able to pull off a miracle amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, Chen Fei's reputation among the crowd became increasingly uncertain.

Those who initially thought he would likely only make it into the top ten now believe he might have a chance to break into the top five. Meanwhile, those who were never optimistic about him think that under these new rules, he will fail even faster and more miserably.

Cao Feiyu listened to the surrounding discussions and nervously looked at Chen Fei, only to find that he remained calm and indifferent to the surrounding discussions.

Feng Butong had arrived nearby at some point. He glanced at Chen Fei, his brows furrowing slightly. These rules were indeed full of uncertainties for Chen Fei.

Whether it will bring good fortune or misfortune is hard to predict.

Just as everyone was discussing the new rules and feeling excited, the huge golden light screen in the sky lit up again and began to roll and arrange itself rapidly.

Finally, the complete match-up list for the first round of 20 to 10 was finalized.

Countless gazes swept across the light screen, searching for the names they were interested in and their opponents in the first round.

"Yuwen Xuan is facing Leng Shuang from Hanyue Palace. Goodness, Yuwen Xuan has met a tough opponent in his very first match."

"Ling Qingxue is facing Qianjizi of the Heavenly Puppet Sect. Qianjizi's puppet array is not easy to deal with."

"Zhan Wuji is facing Liao Kong. Liao Kong is really unlucky to run into Zhan Wuji, this jinx."

"Tang Yin versus Lei Zhen of the Shenxiao Sect, a formation master versus a thunder cultivator, this is going to be interesting."

"Look at Chen Fei, is Chen Fei facing Cheng Jing?"

When their gazes fell upon Chen Fei's name and the name opposite him, the entire spectator area fell into a brief silence, followed by an even stranger uproar and discussion than during the earlier rules-following debate. (End of Chapter)